West wilderness of Yilan City
Dense ranks of troops advanced swiftly along the long-abandoned ancient road.
Roger sat atop a tracked transport vehicle. Looking up, his gaze fell on the endless plain's distant horizon, where a faint bright glow flickered in the night.
That was Yilan City.
A chilly breeze brushed over his cheeks, forming tiny ice crystals in his hair.
He withdrew his gaze and looked toward the snow-covered road ahead.
After passing Yilan City, Dawn City would not be far to the north.
He turned around and looked southwest, toward where they had come from.
At the end of the dim night sky, faint lights and sounds seemed to be trembling.
That was the direction another Mercenary Group from the Nolanka Group had gone.
The flames of war seemed to have already been lit.
He withdrew his gaze, slowly climbed down the straight ladder on the side of the transport vehicle, opened the hatch, and entered.
"Doctor Roger, you're back?"
The young soldier in the front passenger seat had an apple clenched between his teeth. Hearing the sound from behind him, he turned to Roger, took the apple from his mouth, and smiled. "Told you it was freezing outside."
"Yeah."
A faint warm breeze inside the cabin swept over Roger's chilled, pale cheeks. He looked at the young soldier in the front passenger seat. "How much longer until we get there?"
"Let me check."
The young soldier lowered his head and glanced at the dashboard before turning back to Roger. "The lead vehicle sent word that we'll probably reach our destination tomorrow night."
Then he seemed to recall something. "Has it passed midnight already? Then that means we'll get there tonight? Is it really that late?"
He took a bite of his apple, yawned, and looked at Roger.