The news from the front sent Derrick's spirits plummeting just as he was preparing to celebrate victory in the rear.
"What did you say?!" The barrage of bad news infuriated him.
Three entire assault teams from the Blood Blade Marauder Group in Rust Canyon had gone silent without a trace, as though they had never existed.
Not only that, but the Bone Stripper Marauder Group, which was circling around the flank, also reported that several assault teams had encountered enemies with unidentified signals. The entire teams had seemingly evaporated.
Most importantly, none of those missing assault teams had managed to send back a single useful piece of information before disappearing.
"You mean we've lost eight whole assault teams, and we don't even know who the enemy is?!" On the verge of exploding with rage, Derrick seized the communications officer by the throat, terrifying killing intent in his eyes.
"Y-yes, Legion Commander."
The communications officer's eyes filled with terror as he spoke.
Crack!
A moment later, Derrick snapped his neck without hesitation.
Then he casually tossed the corpse to the floor and swept an icy gaze over the commanders of Bone Stripper and Blood Blade standing nearby. "Go! Get to the bottom of this! Find out who did it, and then... I don't need to spell out the rest, do I?!"
"Yes, Legion Commander Derrick."
Ross and Piero exchanged a glance and hastily acknowledged the order.
The two hurried out of the command room, desperate to return to the front and find out what had happened.
Yet an inexplicable shadow settled over Derrick's heart.
As though to confirm his suspicions, a staff officer spoke quietly. "Legion Commander Derrick, we've received news from the front. The insurgents' leader, the Forerunner Alvin, appears to have arrived in Rust Canyon."
"What?!"
Derrick's pupils widened