Arknights, but the family has fallen into decline again and again and again, Part 5

"Sorry, W. Deal's off. Doc Otter's tactics, as always!" Scout raised his gun.

In the original story, the deal between the reconnaissance squad and W rested on two simple facts. First, W needed to kill the mercenaries' current commander in order to seize command of the Sarkaz mercenaries within the Reunion Movement.

The second was somewhat more complicated...

After the Reunion Movement seized Chernobog, the Sarkaz mercenaries were responsible for defending the city's outskirts. Yet Rhodes Island had "broken through" W's defensive line by going in and out—twice.

From anyone's perspective, that looked highly suspicious.

In the original story, W needed a suitable excuse to explain both the "transfer of command over the Sarkaz mercenary forces" and the "repeated breaches of the Sarkaz defensive line" to Talulah. For a mind brilliant at tactical planning but questionable at strategic planning, that was a considerable challenge.

W's eventual plan was to strike a deal with the reconnaissance squad: Scout's team would take out the Sarkaz commander, and she would then execute the reconnaissance squad to settle the matter.

"Let me talk to Otter!"

"Th-this..."

"Scout! Give me the comms."

Now that Doc Otter had returned to the command seat, the tide of battle had completely turned! Perhaps all it would take was a word from Doc Otter, and W would...

Clinging to that delusion, Scout made his request to Oute. "Doc Otter, W wishes to speak with you."

"Hah!? Speak!?" W cursed again. "When have I ever used such a refined word?"

"W?" Oute's dry voice reached the Sarkaz girl's ears.

The Sarkaz girl lowered her beautiful eyes and paused before speaking. "...Forget it."

"Cursing you out through a communicator from so far away wouldn't be satisfying!" She enunciated every word. "Compared to that, I'd much rather interrogate you face-to-face and break every bone in your body!"

She practically squeezed the name through her teeth. "Doctor Oute!"

To avoid further upsetting Amiya and the others, PRTS's electronic voice sounded, communicating with W alone through Scout's device:

"Being addressed respectfully by my full name rather than a nickname during my amnesiac days is somewhat comforting."

"Amnesia!?" W's face twisted into an exaggerated expression. "Quit lying! You obviously still recognize me, don't you!?"

"No. I learned how to address you from Scout's earlier words."

"Doc Otter! Amnesia!? What the hell is going on?" Scout found it hard to believe.

"This may be a syndrome from after I awakened, or perhaps it is precisely why I was asleep. In any case, there was a problem with my aorta. To ensure my survival, Rhodes Island's medical staff performed surgical intervention."

"My memories suffered permanent damage."

"Based on what I heard earlier, W, perhaps you would prefer to call that damage 'brain damage.'"

"However, Scout, don't worry yet. All I lost was my memory."

Oute did not know whether Scout had shared the information with W just now, so he had no choice but to repeat it specifically for her. "The Reunion Movement's leader has temporarily lost combat capability. Our unit is near the extraction point. Scout, deal with your current business quickly and bring your team to the extraction point."

"...Scout, get lost." It was hard to imagine such a melancholy expression appearing on W's face. "The deal is canceled."

Frankly speaking, that melancholy expression made her seem more elegant than usual.

This was simply another interpretation of a still beauty.

"If even Talulah has been beaten through, then I can just transfer... Hm?"

W's eyes lit up. "I've got a new idea!"

After learning the one-sided news that "even Talulah was effortlessly humiliated by Doc Otter," W made another incorrect judgment.

She said excitedly, "If I have Scout lure my superior onto Rhodes Island's evacuation route while retreating, taking him out would work just as well..."

PRTS's calm, orderly voice interrupted W's delusion once more. "No. Though our unit has not yet suffered any operator deaths, the number of wounded has severely affected our combat capability. Entering another battle under these circumstances is highly likely to result in casualties."

"Casualties!?" W's pretty face was full of disbelief. "I'm starting to believe you really did lose your memory."

"That Evil Spirit of Babel actually cares about casualties!?"

"The Evil Spirit of Babel? I see. W, you used to serve under me, didn't you?"

"Tch."

"Judging from your reaction, the answer is yes."

"Then back then, you were one of my... frontline commanders?"

W's temper flared this time. She shut her mouth and thought, Let's see what you do now.

"Silence is the best answer."

"W, I don't know whether I taught you this before, but I can teach you now. One of the essentials of large-scale warfare..."

"Love your soldiers as your children; use them as mud."

"But now, I no longer command a great army. I am also a frontline commander. Every casualty drastically reduces the combat strength available to me. I must cherish every piece on the board."

"Dr. Oute, end communications."

No Matter How You Put It, Rhodes Island Is a Pharmaceutical Company

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" W furiously wrestled with the communicator. "Answer me, damn it! Oute!"

"Doc Otter has disconnected." Scout took back the communication device as well.

"Whether Doc Otter still retains his memories or not, his judgment is absolute. It's time to say goodbye, W."

"Tch!" The Sarkaz girl's pretty face turned cold as she threw an Originium bomb at him.

Scout pulled the trigger, and an etched bullet detonated the Originium bomb in midair.

W pressed her detonator-like staff. "See you never!"

The mines she had planted long ago exploded at once, and smoke and dust billowed up, as though the two had never spoken at all.

From concealment, a male Sarkaz swordsman vaguely witnessed the "conversation" and "battle" between the two old acquaintances.

"Oh? That uniform... Rhodes Island?" Flamebringer mused.

With the Sarkaz mercenaries still maintaining their organization, the swordsman had no immediate plans to leave. But seasoned Sarkaz mercenaries would not wait until after "resigning" to start looking for their next employer.

Flamebringer himself had already been wavering among several backup options for quite some time.

Now, this pharmaceutical company packed with Sarkaz might be a good choice.

Hmm...

A pharmaceutical company...

Meanwhile, at the extraction point.

Behind a piece of cover, Ace looked up at the sky. The terrifying dark clouds were gradually dispersing.

"The Catastrophe seems to be over," he said.

Oute nodded.

His orders came through the operators' earpieces. "Do not lower your guard. Ace, lead your squad in maintaining vigilance."

"Have the wounded gather here."

"Everyone else, clear the extraction point and wait for the transport aircraft."

This clearing had not been struck by the Catastrophe just now, but traces of battle still lay scattered everywhere. If it were extremely urgent, the aircraft could land directly without issue. But they had plenty of time, so it was best to clear the area.

"Doc Otter..." Amiya wore a worried expression. "You've barely spoken along the way. Could your throat also...?"

Oute spoke to her privately. "No, there is nothing wrong with my throat. It is only that... when I speak normally, it pulls at my sternum."

"For aortic surgery, the sternum must be split open."

"And repeatedly stressing that in public would not be good for Medic."

After all, this had been life-saving treatment. Insisting that the doctor who had to operate be held responsible was somewhat like causing trouble at a hospital.

Then he broadcast, "PRTS is far more useful than my throat right now. No operator will mishear my orders."

Amiya looked at everyone, then at Medic, and seemed to understand.

"Medical operators, treat the wounded."

Then Oute said to Amiya and Medic, "Let's help treat the wounded as well."

Amiya nodded repeatedly.

"Amiya? Doc Otter?" A wounded operator looked at the pair, like father and daughter, with tears of gratitude in his eyes.

"Wells, don't get up. Be careful of your wound."

He was eager to prove himself. "A wound like this is nothing! You have to know... Ah!"

Medic was disinfecting his injury.

"Don't push yourself, Wells," Amiya said seriously.

But because of her youthful face, everyone could only find her adorable.

"Nothing?" PRTS gave Oute's voice a faint hint of amusement.

"Th-this..." Wells awkwardly changed the subject. "Come to think of it, Doc Otter, how did you know my name?"

"When I was commanding you through the PRTS terminal, I remembered your name."

"Doc Otter?" Amiya found that somewhat surprising.

"Then doesn't that mean I performed exceptionally well!?" Wells asked happily.

Even Amiya wore an awkward expression.

"No, actually, not very well." Oute's voice came through everyone's earpieces. "When those three Reunion Movement members surrounded you, my order was for you to charge forward. But you instinctively hid behind the nearby Defender."

"That..." Wells recalled it. "That was the battle when we returned from underground!"

"Yes, but it was not your fault. It was also from that moment that I realized you could not obey my orders one hundred percent. A command style without sufficient flexibility would inevitably cause serious problems."

"It was also from that moment that I decided to announce my amnesia after matters had settled down."