The Special Task Force 7th Division (2)
The Special Task Force 7th Division (2)
Rather than savoring the taste, the prepared food became a means to appease hunger.
After finishing a quick meal.
We moved to the conference room in the house, which had a long round table, a transmission bead, and other equipment.
"It's been a while since I've been here."
Harris sat down in the chair in front of him. He swept his hand across the table a few times, then looked at him and Rebecca and gestured.
“You guys sit down too.”
"yes."
Rebecca and Redin walked over to the other side of Harris and sat down. It wasn't long before Riena came in, carrying something.
Thud!
"Can you pass this around?"
"Okay."
Rebecca divided the papers.
She sorted them into three stacks, gave one to Harris, one to him, and kept the rest for herself.
Sigh
The paper was filled with details about the mission. Redin skimmed it quickly to get the big picture.
Clap!
Riena clapped her hands.
"Okay, before we get to the mission briefing, let me give you a quick rundown on the types of missions."
There are three types of missions in total
A solo mission carried out by the Task Force itself.
Support missions that assist other Divisions.
Kingdom missions that fulfill Kingdom requests.
"This is a support mission, class A. It's been assigned to us. It's to capture a member of the Magnes Organization who escaped from Burning Hell."
The Burning Hell jailbreak incident.
The Magnes organization had a boat prepared in advance, and quite a few people managed to successfully escape with it.
The warden could have stopped it if he wanted to.
-Getting them out of jail was part of the plan. We used the prisoners to gather information on Magnes.
And soon enough.
The war on Magnes is about to begin.
"The gang members we need to catch are two men named Harde and Lanto."
There was a face drawn on the back.
A total of two people.
Their faces and features and habits.
From the weapons they use to their unique abilities.
Redin put the things listed on paper in his head.
"According to information from the 1st Division, these two are currently hiding in the Miracul Estate in the Crane Kingdom."
"This is going to be tricky."
Not understanding Harris's reaction, Rebecca turned to Riena.
"Well, shouldn't we just fix it then?"
"There's a very big problem with that, there's a nobleman from the Crane Kingdom involved."
"Then request assistance from the Crane Kingdom via..."
"They won't do it."
The image of the kingdom is important.
Even the Crane Kingdom would rather pretend they don't know about this to save face than get involved and make a spectacle of themselves.
If it's real, pretend you don't know.
If it's fake, lay the blame on Burning Hell.
Or, to cover their tracks, send the Knights to clean it up first.
Harris looked at Riena.
"So we just need to get those two, right?"
"No. We'll take Baron Miracul, who's in league with Magnes, too."
"We're going after nobles? I've never caught a noble before."
Riena slapped a piece of paper on the table.
"I just received this, too, and it's an official letter from the top, stating that the 'Arresting Nobles' resolution was officially passed at the last Council meeting."
He checked the contents.
1. Only the 1st Division and the Division supporting the 1st Division may arrest the nobles who collaborated with Magnes.
2. However, the life of a noble cannot be harmed and there must be clear evidence.
3. The privilege may be revoked at any time.
Time-limited, targeted privileges.
It can be quite tricky if you have to provide evidence, but this is only an initial bill, and the authority will expand over time.
It's not just criminal gang members that the main trio took down, but also nobles.
"This is stamped with the Warden's seal, authorizing you to arrest Baron Miracul for this support mission only."
"Arresting an aristocrat. That'll make history in Burning Hell."
"It's not going to be easy, because if we don't have that evidence, we're going to be the ones who suffer."
Riena said with concern.
The mission stated that Magnes and the knights of the Miracul Territory would contact each other for smuggling.
There were plans for that, too.
If done according to plan, they could be apprehended without much trouble, and as long as they were on site, it didn't seem to matter.
What matters is the location of the mission on the map.
To capture Baron Miracul, he'll be traveling to a castle within his estate. And there's a hidden piece in that castle.
One of the items that Bahad had obtained.
Mask of the Dead.
This mission will be his way of getting it.
"Well, go get ready and meet back here in 30 minutes. Harris, I need to talk to you for a minute."
* * *
The moon was just beginning to rise.
Stepping out from the back of the compound, Riena and Harris looked up at the night sky.
There was a moment of silence.
Then Riena lowered her head and looked at Harris.
"Why did you do that?"
"What."
Harris's nickname was the Smiling Fool.
Part of it was because he was always smiling, but he was basically a very mild-mannered person. He was warm to everyone.
He was a mood maker.
He never did anything that others might not like. Even in his first year, he didn't participate in anything like hazing.
In fact, he was considerate enough to ask the instructors to stop.
But today was different.
"Don't pretend you don't know. That attack on Redin and Rebecca. It's not something you normally would have done."
Harris's eyes narrowed.
A serious look, different from the lighthearted one he'd shown the new kids.
"You asked me to help the new guys acclimate, so I did."
"You're doing something different than what you're used to."
"My way is wrong."
Caring and kindness only ruined the other person, and he'd lost too much to realize that one.
"Is this because of Justina?"
"...."
"If it's so hard, why don't you quit? You didn't come in here because you wanted to in the first place."
It was Daylon's suggestion.
At his invitation to join them, Harris accepted, and it's been five years. He thought about quitting dozens of times along the way.
He couldn't do that right now.
“I have to take revenge.”
“Me and Daylon can do that.”
"I promised Justina I'd get this guy with my own hands, and I'm not quitting until then."
Because they've been together for a long time.
There are some things we can agree on even if we don't talk to each other.
She can't change Harris's mind.
When Riena didn't say anything, Harris smiled and patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Everything hasn't changed as much as you think. I've just found a more efficient way to do it."
"okay. I will believe it.”
“I will definitely seize this opportunity.”
A privilege obtained by Special Task Force 1st Division.
Though limited to Magnes, it has the power to capture nobles. If only a 7th Division could have it.
He can hunt down the man who killed Justina.
To do so, he must prove his worth as a Special Force 7th Division. The other members of the group already have great skills.
The problem was these two new members.
There was still so much they lacked. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if they died at any moment.
“Two months. I will make it so that one person can do their part in just two months.”
Riena couldn't bear to tell him not to overdo it.
The current Burning Hell prison break has left many people injured and many others have died in the process.
The organization is severely understaffed.
It was the special task force that had to produce answers even in the absence of such answers like this.
"Huuuu..."
Riena sighed and rolled her shoulders.
"Let me know if you need anything, I will give you priority support.”
"As many missions as I can get."
Harris clenched his fist.
"That'll do."
* * *
Seven major criminal organizations.
Their main businesses include drugs, prostitution, human trafficking, and loan sharking, and they have made huge amounts of money in the shadows.
Specifically, the organization known as the Big Three.
Magnes, Pierre, and Hekan.
These three organizations are on a different scale than the other four.
The revenue they generate is enough to run a kingdom for a year, and the strength of their cadres is comparable to that of the kingdom's elite knights.
Moreover,
They bought off the nobility with vast sums of money. They used the power of the nobility to hide their presence and grow their business.
-It's not difficult to bribe a noble.
-You supply them with men, women, and drugs that suit their tastes, and they naturally become corrupted.
-That's when you find their weakness.
One of the stories you'll hear when you meet a Magnes executive. Miracul Manor is no different.
So they'll use that in this mission as well.
"I think we're ready to go, so let's have a final briefing on the mission before we leave."
Rebecca stepped forward at Riena's words.
“Operation name: ‘It is dark under the lamp.’ The details of the operation are as follows.”
Primary Objective.
In 1 hour, raid a Magnes Organization delivering goods to Miracul Territory and pose as them.
Secondary Objective.
Enter Miracul Castle in disguise, gather evidence to bring them in, and arrest the members of the Magnes Organization and Lord Miracul.
"That is all."
"okay. You understand it well.”
Riena nodded.
"The moment your identity is discovered, Baron Miracul and the Magnes organization will try to kill you and cover their tracks."
"Understood."
"I will remind you again, the number one goal is survival. Keep that in mind.”
Redin could see the concern in Riena's eyes.
That's how difficult this mission is, and yet they're sending him and Rebecca because they're short-handed.
That's the reality of the task force.
As a rookie, he may not be as skilled, but that doesn't mean he's going to be overshadowed.
And that works in his favor.
If he succeed in this mission, he'll not only get another promotion, but he'll also prove to others that he can do it.
"I know you'll do a great job."
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
"Well, let's see if they make it back alive."
"Hmph."
Harris coughed in vain, shouted attention, and then lightly saluted.
"Salute!"
"Salute!"
"Well, I'll be off then."
Harris turned around.
"I'll be back."
"Bye."
Redin waved to Rebecca and turned away.
* * *
A cool evening breeze.
He slipped on his clothes and made his way down the mountain. When they were out of sight, Harris turned and spoke.
"Get in the teleporter."
And then Harris disappeared.
The body blurred like a mirage and disappeared from sight.
Ghost Walk.
A skill mastered by those under Harris' tutelage. A stealth skill that, when mastered, can render one invisible.
If the opportunity presents itself, Redin intends to acquire it.
"Let's go."
He and Rebecca headed for the teleporter.
It wasn't hard to find, since we had already traveled this way once.
Just as we were about to enter.
At the sensation behind him, Redin spun around to find Harris smirking with his hands in his pockets.
"I'd have to get this close before he could sense me... He's a good fighter, but he's a terrible detector."
He pulled a notebook out of his pocket and scribbled something down.
Then he slipped it back into his pocket.
"Redin. Rebecca."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I forgot to mention, you two are the main people on this mission. You're free to stick to the plan, but you're also free to make situational judgments when things change."
Rebecca asked cautiously.
"What if the mission goes awry along the way?"
"It's okay, I'll have your back, you don't have to worry about ruining the mission."
'Is this a second test?'
Tests should have rewards.
"If I get through the mission... that technique you used. Can you teach me?"
Like being erased from the world.
An art of completely erasing all traces of existence.
"Um..."
Harris thought for a moment, then spoke again.
"Okay. This should give you a taste of what it's like to go on a mission, and I'll let you know if you do well."
Sigh.
"Okay."