The storm in the dark night roared and raged like a mighty beast that would never tire.
The sheet of metal over Tokalinu and Shutaner shook. They couldn't help worrying that the gale might rip it away.
After waiting for quite a while, the sheet of metal was still firmly anchored in the mud despite its shaking, and they both breathed a sigh of relief.
Tokalinu raised her voice a little; otherwise, the clanging of the metal would have drowned her out. "Looks like you know a lot about Gelman too."
"Yes." Shutaner nodded. When he saw Tokalinu shake her head and point at her ears, he caught on and raised his voice as well. "I know about him!"
"The Chimera Ant threat levels were assigned by the experts at our International Permit Agency!"
"I've seen the list of members who exterminated the Ant King last year. Gelman was the greatest contributor!"
"Still, the experts all think Chairman Netero deliberately gave Gelman most of the credit to boost the reputation of a promising young protégé!"
"It's like how our special affairs division chief sent me to represent the International Permit Agency. It's a senior supporting a junior!"
Tokalinu grinned. "Really? That's how you see the Chimera Ant Extermination War? Oh, right. Where are those experts now?"
"Two of them broke their necks falling aboard BW1." Shutaner shouted with a frown. He realized he didn't feel much grief at all over his colleagues' deaths.
"Some others are missing... More are at the refueling station or back on the Six Continents," he added.
"Well, they certainly are experts." Tokalinu sarcastically raised her short, chubby thumb.
She turned to Shutaner, her tone turning sincere. "You're braver than they are. At least you dared to come here with us professional Hunters."
Shutaner felt neither