Eighth Division Conference Room
Bakuzan Katori is sitting at one end of the long table, and a picture of Bird of Paradise Flower Division Flag by Eighth Division is hung on the wall.
Lieutenant Wuchuan Benchang is sitting on the right hand side of Katori. The first person is holding a reconnaissance briefing that has just been delivered and is flipping through the pages.
The conference room door kept being pushed open and closed.
Some people lowered their voices when entering and asked the colleagues next to them, "What happened again?" Some people silently pulled out their chairs and sat down. Some people put the documents in their hands on the table, and there was a slight collision sound when the paper pages came into contact with the table.
All Seated Officer in 10th Seat, eight people from Third Seat to 10th Seat, arrived one after another within half a quarter of an hour after Wuchuan issued the notice
Katori waited for everyone to arrive before speaking, "50th District of West Rukongai found Quincy, Commander-in-Chief ordered Eighth Division to confirm again"
The air in the conference room froze the moment she said the three words "Quincy"
No one whispered to each other, no one made a sound of surprise, but a few people's sitting postures changed slightly at that moment, their shoulders tensed, their backs left the back of the chair, and their fingers unconsciously closed.
These subtle changes silently conveyed the same message in the quiet conference room: this word is remembered by every old man in Eighth Division.
Fourth Seat was the first to speak. His voice was calm, with a habit that can only be developed after staying in the intelligence team for a long time. He didn't ask why, only how to do it. "How many people do we need to send?"
Katori did not hesitate. Her eyes swept from Wuchuan to Third Seat, from Third Seat to Fourth Seat, and passed Fifth Seat, six seats, until the last one Seated Officer
Her eyes only stayed on each person's face for a moment, but that short moment was enough for everyone to understand: she was not asking for advice, she was confirming that they were all ready. "Lieutenant to Fifth Seat bring five people each."
Wuchuan closed the briefing in his hand and nodded.
He is Lieutenant. No additional instructions are needed. Third Seat and Fourth Seat responded almost at the same time. They are both old intelligence agents who have been with Eighth Division for decades. Such sudden dispatches have long been commonplace for them.
Katori's eyes finally fell on Fifth Seat.
Shunsui Kyōraku leaned on the back of the chair with his arms folded across his chest. There was no tension or excitement on his face. He sat up slightly when Katori looked at him, but his expression remained calm.
He didn't ask any questions, where was the destination, how many enemies were there, and what the mission objectives were. He didn't ask a single word of these questions before Katori opened his mouth to assign the mission.
The meeting did not last long. Katori was here to inform, not to discuss.
After the tasks were assigned, everyone Seated Officer stood up and left. The sound of chairs being dragged on the floor came and went. Someone was already at the door and began to discuss the formation candidates in a low voice.
50th District of West Rukongai
Eighth Division's team stopped next to a stream with a small flow of water. In the distance was the farmland.
This is the place where Quincy was first detected. The gravel on both sides of the stream glows gray-white in the midday sun. Several dead trees stand crookedly on the river bank. Most of the bark has peeled off, revealing the wood underneath that has been polished smooth by the wind and sand.
Katori Her Reiatsu perception spread out in all directions. The Reiatsu signals of 49th District, Fifty District, 51st District, and 52nd District were like stars in the night sky in her perception, some were bright, some were dark, and some were twinkling.
But there are no stars in the 50th district
"There is no Reiatsu reaction to Quincy in the 50th district"
Wuchuan stood a few steps behind her. He had already unfolded his Reiatsu perception. The range was slightly narrower than Katori's, but it was enough to cover the junction of 49th District and 51st District. After a few seconds, he nodded and confirmed Katori's judgment.
"The traces are still there"
Katori didn't speak. Her Reiatsu perception was stronger and thinner than Wuchuan's Reiatsu perception. The fifty area was empty, but the traces of Reiatsu were still there. Quincy had stayed here.
The perception of Reiatsu of Katori is stronger and thinner than that of Wuchuan, and the perception continues to be pushed outward, 51st District is sporadic Quincy Reiatsu, scattered among farmland and abandoned villages, without concentration or formation, just like 52nd District, some moving, some stationary, 49th District also exists, not a centralized army, but small units scattered in multiple areas, like a handful of beans randomly scattered on the map of three districts.
Randomly distributed, with someone under command, deliberately not allowing the troops to concentrate and prevent them from being locked in all positions by one reconnaissance.
"Wuchuan, you and Kyōraku will lead the team to continue searching westward. I will be stationed at 49th District."
"Hey? Me?" Kyōraku said subconsciously
"Understanding" Wuchuan started to name the five people he brought.
Two reconnaissance veterans, one perception type, and two Zanjutsu excellent defenders. This is the standard field reconnaissance team configuration. He and the five team members gathered around and whispered something
Kyōraku looked at Wuchuan. His movements were much slower than Wuchuan. He went through the order of roll call in his mind.
The perceptive type is at the front, Zanjutsu's good ones are placed on both sides, and he is in the middle. He has seen the attendance and formation records of his seniors repeatedly in Eighth Division's archives, and does not need anyone to teach him this formation logic.
He just never thought that his first official field reconnaissance would be to lead the team himself.
"You"
He pointed to a young perceptive team member among the five people he brought. Reiatsu has the widest perceptual range in this team. "Go ahead and keep Reiatsu perceptive at all times. If you find Quincy Reiatsu, report immediately. Don't approach without permission."
"Yes"
"You two"
He pointed at two strong old team members. "The distance between the left and right sides should not be more than ten steps. When encountering an enemy attack, defend first. Don't chase or disperse."
"Understand"
"You"
He pointed to the fourth person, a team member who looked gentle and quiet, but Kyōraku had seen his sparring record in the gym, Zanjutsu was tough and had quick reactions.
"Go behind, keep an eye on the rear, don't let anyone get behind us."
"Yes"
The last one of "You Follow Me" is the substitute brought by Kyōraku.
The twelve people quickly lined up by the stream. The six-person team of Wuchuan was in front, and the six-person team of Kyōraku was behind. The two teams maintained a distance just enough to see each other's gestures.
Wuchuan glanced at Kyōraku. There was no nervousness or overconfidence on his face, and he was trying to maintain a balanced focus.
Wuchuan I have met a lot of new people in Eighth Division. Most of them were either so nervous that they couldn't speak properly when they were leading a team for the first time, or they were so excited that they felt like they were going to a banquet. Kyōraku didn't fall into either of these two categories. He was very quiet.
"Let's go." Wuchuan looked back and waved to his team. Six black figures moved westward along the stream. The speed was not fast, but the pace was neat.
Kyōraku also waved towards his team
"Go"
Two groups of black figures separated by the stream and advanced in the direction of 51st District.