Chapter 158
Protecting Yukina is the only thing that has never changed.
At this moment, tiny black dots, the size of sesame seeds, gradually appeared in the white mist.
The drone has returned.
13. Dust rises
A total of two hundred drones were sent out.
Only seven returned.
Generally speaking, it's considered lucky if five out of a hundred drones return.
"The Erosion Entity become interested in Erosion Entity like a cat discovering a ball of yarn. Of course, they're not as cute as kittens; comparing them to kittens would make the kittens cry!"
Anilas, like a tactical instructor, explained drone tactics to Yukina and Tobi, serving as both a lesson for new agents like Yukina and a review for inexperienced agents like Tobi.
"Therefore, it is precisely for this reason that we must avoid situations where agents and soldiers encounter danger. Simply put, in order to prevent soldiers and agents from taking risks when carrying out Beyond the Boundary reconnaissance missions, the method of obtaining intelligence by consuming a large number of drones is a very common tactic."
Anilas shook her head seriously, hands on her hips.
"By the way, the production cost of this type of drone is not low. At least for Xijing City, it is by no means a tactic that can be used repeatedly on a large scale. It is essential to make the most of it as a backup within the limits of logistical support, and it is usually supplemented by Lure Shell to carry out intelligence gathering missions. Ah--it seems to be raining?"
As soon as Anilas finished speaking, a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky.
Yukina looked up at the cloud-covered sky, stretched out her hand, and opened her palm, feeling the cool touch wash over her skin.
It's no different from the city.
"I must say, this rain really came at the worst possible time... It seems the only time in this world when everyone is 'unlucky' is when everyone is truly equal..."
Anilas sighed softly and looked at Yukina and Yuan.
"Miss Shiomi, and Tobi, you'd better be alert for the upcoming battle."
"So, there's no trace of the Apostle found within the Maesakagawa Garrison District?"
"Um..."
Anilas sigh of relief upon receiving a positive reply.
"It's much easier to deal with mindless Erosion Entity than with dangerous Apostle."
This conclusion was drawn from footage captured by a drone.
While what is captured may not be absolutely accurate, there is no doubt that the Apostle are far more dangerous than the Erosion Entity.
"Then... what about the Boundary Stele System?"
The Boundary Stele System is key to the success of this mission.
"It appears to be completely undamaged from the outside."
"Very good."
Anilas glanced in the direction of the troops behind them; behind the huge "train" were the shadows of engineering vehicles and Engineering Corps.
"In that case, it wouldn't be surprising if we chose to advance into the Garrison District now. As long as we can reactivate the Boundary Stele System, then this operation to retake the Maesakagawa Garrison District can be declared a victory."
If the Boundary Stele System can be successfully activated, the density of Erosion Entity in the Beyond the Boundary Region between Xijing City and Maesakagawa will decrease rapidly due to the Resonance phenomenon between the Boundary Stele System. This will allow more troops to be dispatched from Xijing City to Maesakagawa for suppression and cleanup operations. By using the Maesakagawa Garrison District as a temporary outpost, a position can be established that allows access to the Shimokitazawa Garrison District via waterway.
Of course, this is only the most ideal scenario.
"To be on the safe side, it's better to assume that 'there are Apostle lurking in places we can't see, waiting for us.'"
"Anilas said."
"In that case, the safest approach would be to go back and organize the intelligence, and wait for the next formal operation with Suzuda City. However, a conservative approach would naturally take more time and resources. The casualties that occurred in the troops today will be repeated next time, and will once again consume a large amount of supplies and time."
For soldiers, time and opportunity are extremely precious.
"Moreover, this time we came here to alert them. If there really are Apostle in the Garrison District, then we probably won't be so lucky next time we come. In short, it all depends on what the commander decides now."
Anilas had known Kusei Maki for more than half a year. Anilas neither liked nor disliked this unpredictable commander.
Because while Kusei Maki is an unlikable person, as a commander, she is competent, at least capable of making correct judgments.
"... What should we do next?"
Seeing the somewhat uneasy look in the kite's eyes, Anilas spread her hands.
"Keep your eyes peeled, make sure you see the direction of the signal flare, and report any developments immediately... That's all."
The agent will not contract any disease from this level of drizzle, but rain will reduce the agent's field of vision to some extent.
Yukina and Iris followed Anilas to the vehicle.
"Anyway, the main objective of this Beyond the Boundary operation was originally just to scout ahead and gather intelligence. Although there was an alternative of directly attacking, it just didn't feel quite right."
Anilas a moment before explaining.
"To be honest, the casualties during this march have exceeded expectations. People die in battle, that's normal, but the loss of manpower will eventually become unbearable for us... In short, we'll just stay here and wait for the commander's orders before deciding whether to advance or retreat."
At that moment, a signal flare rose from behind.
That's the direction of the rear troops, or rather, the direction where Kusei Maki is located.
Anilas looked up at the thinning mist and scattered bright spots in the rain and breathed a sigh of relief.
Clearly, Kusei Maki had given the order to retreat.
"Retreat!"
She gave the order loudly, boarded the vehicle, and reached out her hand to Yukina.
"Please get in the car, Miss Shiomi."
Anilas smiled.
But just then, another signal flare was launched.
From the direction of the vanguard.
Five minutes ago, the vanguard unit--
"Herul, let 'Lan' rest for a while. Jasmine and I will take over next."
Efnir tied her rain-soaked hair up with a ribbon and strode quickly toward the vanguard.
The light blue hair ribbon swayed gently with her steps.
Herul nodded and did not raise any objections.
The agent's reserves of Order Force are limited. Once the agent loses the support of Order Force, the agent will immediately become an ordinary person who is only slightly more powerful. Although the agent's physical strength is still much stronger than that of an ordinary person, the agent will be powerless against the Erosion Entity.
Therefore, planning the use of the Order Force is a crucial part of tactics in every battle.
Shift work and rest are necessary.
"It's raining now. Tell them to pay attention to their marching direction and speed, and to contact Canary and the others on the flank to tighten their formation so they don't lose sight of each other, and..."
Halfway through her sentence, Efnir suddenly stopped and looked towards the distant sky shrouded in dark clouds.
Herul stopped behind Efnir.
"What's wrong, sir?"
"Wait a moment..."
Efnir took a step back, walked around the back of the vehicle, and came to the front of the group. She narrowed her eyes slightly, stared intently at the distant horizon, and frowned.
Herul also looked in the direction Efnir was gazing, but saw nothing.
She looked away and then at Efnir again.
Efnir gently covered her left eye, gazing into the distance with her deep, ghostly right eye.
Something's not right...
Efnir pursed her lips, her hair clung to her cheeks, and cold rain dripped down her temples.
Behind the white mist lay a place beyond the reach of sight, but in Efnir's right eye, eerie "dust" rose from there.
What exactly was the "dust" seen through their right eye? Efnir and Nishizaki Yuki had never been able to figure it out, but there was no doubt that their eyes wouldn't lie. The appearance of this "dust" had always been accompanied by violent fluctuations in the Order Force or Corruption Energy, so this time... was there something within that white mist?
"Herul... prepare the signal flare."
"Efnir said."
14. Arrival
The signal flare in the distant sky slowly disappeared into the rain.
"This is...?"
Anilas frowned slightly as she looked in the direction of the signal flare, then gazed towards the troops behind her.
Immediately afterwards, bright lights rose in the sky above the rear troops.
No one spotted the enemy.
Anilas and Yukina had no idea what the vanguard had discovered, but since the vanguard had issued a danger warning, all they had to do was carry it out.
"With the Left Wing as the vanguard, retreat westward!!"
Under orders, the convoy turned around in an orderly fashion, not heading in the direction they had come from, but rather heading west, slightly away from the shortest return journey.
The "train," equipped with a "Shielding Device," slowly changed direction, dragging the carriages behind it.
The roar of engines and the sound of raindrops poured down were incessant.
The smells of soil and grass, steel and diesel fuel, were washed away by the rain.
The rain seemed to be getting heavier over time, obscuring visibility and making it difficult to see ahead. The convoy relied on compasses and the location of their Garrison District to determine their direction.
Anilas's crimson pupils were fixed on the distant eastern horizon, where nothing could be seen clearly beyond the hazy expanse shrouded in white mist.
There was nothing within her field of vision that was beyond her reach, but Anilas.
She believed that the vanguard would not issue an alarm signal without reason, and Kusei Maki did not ignore the warning from the vanguard.
However, the inability to pinpoint the enemy's location made her uneasy; this feeling was somewhat unfamiliar to Anilas, who was used to relying on her own eyesight.
She deactivated the visual enhancement in her eyes, her breath turning into mist in the rain and being dispersed by the cool wind.
Without giving it much thought, Anilas retreated into the car and unfolded the map to examine it.
Red ink marks run across the map.
She gently bit the pen cap, the scent of the oil-based pen lingering in her nose.
"If we retreat from the west... the 'power supply equipment' will soon reach its threshold, and we'll probably need to speed up our advance."
The energy that the "train" can carry is limited. The energy carried in this operation is enough to power the "Shielding Device" to operate at its rated load for about 14 hours, which is more than enough time for the Beyond the Boundary expedition.
From departure to now, including the time spent waiting for the drone to return, it has only taken five hours.
Returning via the west side would also take about five hours, and the "train" would still have plenty of energy remaining.
But this doesn't bring peace of mind.
"Anilas, how is the vanguard doing?"
Yukina leaned closer and asked with concern, while Anilas looked up and gazed out the window again.
"I didn't see anything."
"If that's the case, why retreat from the west? Wouldn't that waste a lot of time and prolong our march? Isn't that dangerous?"