The Kurotsukidoo Purge Operation

I let out a small smile at Nagumo Shian's playful words. I was genuinely curious whether she'd still be smiling or if she'd look flustered once she heard my request. Anyway, I needed to get to the real reason for this call—asking the Seryu Military Company folks to join us. We couldn't afford to waste any more time.

"Oh, and I'd appreciate it if the Seryu Military Company could support the attack on Kakunodate."

Departing right away? Their efficiency was impressive. Maybe Sawayanagi Azuma's precognition had let them prepare in advance. Actually, the fact that they'd left immediately made it almost certain she had foreseen this and was already heading our way.

I wanted to ask Sawayanagi Azuma when this war would finally end. If it dragged on too long and I couldn't take Yukiko on that trip, calming her down would be a real pain.

"Then I'll contact you again with good news."

"Understood. You take care not to get hurt either, ma'am."

I ended the call with Nagumo Shian and started stripping so I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could put on the cyber suit Mimata Chieri had brought. She was staring at my body like some perverted old man, practically licking me with her eyes. This wouldn't do. I'd have to properly discipline her in bed later.

"The Seryu team has already left?"

"Kakunodate and Daisen are much closer than Akita City, so they'll arrive in about twenty-five minutes."

Then we'd better get ready and depart in thirty minutes.

"Did you tell the East Weapon soldiers to prepare?"

"Yes. I mentioned it while bringing over your cyber suit earlier, Hubae-nim."

In that case, we wouldn't need a separate muster. We could head out immediately. I finished undressing and was about to put on the cyber suit when Mimata Chieri sidled up to me. Her expression was strangely coy, like she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was craving something.

"Hubae-niiiim…."

"We only have twenty minutes left? There's no time for that…."

She couldn't seriously be suggesting we have sex with only twenty minutes to spare, right? At my words, Mimata Chieri let out a small snort of laughter.

"Do I really look like such a pervert that I'd suggest doing it even in a situation like this?"

"Well…!"

"Ah, Hubae-nim!"

When I didn't answer right away, Mimata Chieri let out a sharp squeak. The aggrieved look on her face told me she hadn't approached me for anything lewd after all.

"Then what is it?"

"Hubae-nim, do you know you've become a huge celebrity?"

"Huh? What do you mean…!"

Oh, right. I'd filmed that music video. So the news had even reached Japan…. The mischievous, teasing look on Mimata Chieri's face made it clear she'd seen the music video. I quickly opened my mouth to make an excuse.

"My friend's mother is an actress, and the actor playing the male lead got caught with drugs, so they asked me as a last-minute favor. I couldn't refuse."

"Th-then… you kissed your friend's mother?"

We'd done a lot more than just kiss. But there was no need to give Mimata Chieri all the juicy details, so I kept my mouth shut. Her face had already turned bright red—she seemed incredibly excited just from hearing that I'd kissed Ha Juyun.

"Um, excuse me, Sunbae-nim."

"Heeeung… friend's mom…♥ Hubae-nim, you're such a pervert♥"

"Hey, it was just acting, you know?"

She didn't seem to be listening anymore, so I sighed and put on the cyber suit. It was the same model as the one I'd worn before and fit perfectly. I'd put the helmet on later. While waiting for the Seryu people to arrive, I turned on the tablet PC that Mimata Chieri had handed me along with the suit to review the data.

The map showed the Kakunodate area. They were probably monitoring the roads from a building near the post office. Since Kakunodate was a town in the Senboku region rather than a proper city, it consisted of low buildings lining the streets. With only single or two-story structures, it would be difficult for the Kurotsukidoo to keep watch from a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠distance.

Still, since the entire force from Akita City was mobilizing, there was no way we could avoid detection. A long line of transport vehicles driving through the night with their lights on would be obvious to anyone.

"Hubae-nim, the Seryu people have arrived."

"That was fast?"

I'd been studying the terrain on the tablet, but Mimata Chieri had snapped out of her daze. She relayed the message from the soldier at the garrison entrance.

Only fifteen minutes had passed. How fast had they driven? I set the tablet down and stood up just as the tent flap opened and Sawayanagi Azuma walked in. The moment she saw me, she ran over and threw herself into my arms. It had been a while since I'd held a woman, so I felt a slight stir in my Johnson.

"Investor-nim! I missed you so much~!"

"Have you been well, Azuma?"

Asking if she'd been well might have been a bit tactless. She'd probably been fighting nonstop for the entire six days I'd been gone. But my worry seemed unfounded—Sawayanagi Azuma nodded with a bright smile.

"Yes! The president of Taira Foods praised us for doing a good job~! We successfully recaptured Yurihonjo City, and we held off the enemy attack on Daisen City beautifully."

Well, with only ten people they had recaptured an entire city and completed multiple missions. It was only natural they'd receive high praise. If this war ended in victory, both the Seryu Military Company and East Weapon would gain quite a lot.

"If we succeed in this operation too, the evaluation will be even better. And…."

"And?"

"If we complete this operation within two days, I'll grant you one request. Of course, only something I can actually do."

"R-really?"

When I said I'd grant her a request, Sawayanagi Azuma's eyes sparkled as she asked again. Watching her, Mimata Chieri came running over with quick little steps.

"Hubae-nim! What about me?"

"Giving Sunbae-nim a request ticket sounds a bit scary, doesn't it?"

"Hubae-nim!!"

"I'm kidding… I'll grant your request too, Sunbae-nim. Keep this in mind—it's only if we succeed within two days."

"Yeees~!"

"Two days should be plenty."

At my mention of two days, Mimata Chieri raised her hand excitedly in response, while Sawayanagi Azuma closed her eyes for a moment before saying it should be enough. She must have checked with her precognition. So the battle would be decided within two days? That was good for me too—my schedule wouldn't get delayed.

Sawayanagi Azuma probably wouldn't ask for anything too big, and Mimata Chieri would likely just want me to let her watch me have sex with another woman. Both of them seemed completely distracted by the request tickets I'd promised. They grabbed my arms, urging me to depart quickly.

"Azuma and Tobey will take the vanguard with me. The rest of the Seryu members should fight using their specialties. East Weapon should wait until Azuma, Tobey, and I draw the enemy's attention from the front, then charge in. Even if we're outnumbered, we should be able to win."

"Then you'll be riding in the same transport as the Seryu team, Hubae-nim?"

"I have to go with Tobey, so yes."

Since I needed to draw aggro from the front alongside Sawayanagi Tobey with his steel transformation ability, riding with the Seryu team was convenient in many ways. Mimata Chieri looked a bit disappointed since we hadn't spent much time together since I'd returned from Korea, but it couldn't be helped.

"Understood. Please don't get hurt, Hubae-nim!"

"You be careful not to get hurt either, Sunbae-nim."

After a brief farewell, Mimata Chieri left to command the East Weapon forces, and I boarded the transport vehicle where the Seryu members were waiting. It was originally meant to be split between two vehicles, but they must have received a new one—it was a large armored carrier that could fit everyone.

"We received it in place of payment for the laboratory mission. The armor is excellent, it can carry a lot of personnel and cargo, so it's very useful."

I see. The laboratory recapture mission had been requested by Taira headquarters, so they were able to receive the reward right away.

"Investor-nim!"

"You came to help us?"

"We saw it! The music video with you in it, Investor-nim!"

"Oh! Movie Star!"

Ah…. It seemed the music video had already spread throughout Japan. Only Sawayanagi Tobey and Sawayanagi Shinya, who didn't seem particularly interested in it, appeared unaware. Most of the others clearly knew I'd appeared in the video.

I'd only watched it once when it first came out and hadn't seen it since. Just how popular had it become? After greeting everyone, I sat down in an empty seat. Once everyone was aboard, the vehicle departed for our destination—Kakunodate. I spoke to Sawayanagi Azuma, who was sitting across from me.

"Does the Seryu Military Company not recruit new members?"

"New members?"

"Yes. During my trip to Korea…."

I told them about the children I'd purchased in Kraskino. Everyone listened attentively, ears perked up. When I asked if it would be alright to have about four of the ability users—a boy and three girls—join the Seryu Military Company, they all readily agreed.

Since the Seryu people were much more familiar with ability users than ordinary people, it made sense they'd approve immediately.

"They're not fellow test subjects like us, but they've all been through hardship. We'll take good care of them."

"What kind of abilities do they have?"

When Sawayanagi Azuma nodded and said she'd look after them well, Sawayanagi Saeri, who was sitting nearby, asked me curiously.

"One of them has an ability similar to Tobey's—he can transform his body. That kid can turn his body into rock."

"Hmm…!"

Learning that a junior with a similar role would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be joining, Sawayanagi Tobey seemed slightly excited. He let out a small huff through his nose. The more tanks there were, the more stable the team became, so as long as the newcomer trained well, it would be good for the Seryu Military Company.

"One has regeneration abilities, another has clairvoyance. The last one is an electricity user."

Since all the abilities I'd mentioned were useful, the Seryu members all looked pleased. Even if the abilities had been mediocre, they would have welcomed them with smiles. They were probably just happy to be gaining new family members.

If we kept picking up ability users like this, the Seryu Military Company could become Japan's top PMC. I really hoped that would happen. As an investor, it would be incredibly satisfying.

In the current war situation, this is an incredibly vital strategic point!