Chapter 9: A Single Cocktail

POV - Kazuto

"Enemy contact! Five targets!"

"Combat formation, move!"

We deployed into a Y-formation with Blues acting as our primary shield, systematically confusing and eliminating the enemy units.

"Big Boar coming in!"

"Blues, angle your shield and flare the taunt light! You two, fall back and activate Phantom Spears!"

"Roger!"

The Big Boar, a heavy-duty assault machine, was lured by the crimson glow at the center of the shield and charged headlong.

"Deflect it to the left!"

"Hngh!"

A collision followed, the sound vibrating deep in my chest. Blues was shoved back ten meters, but her feet held their ground.

"Repel! Parry Shroud!"

An atmospheric distortion formed between the boar and the shield. Like two magnets of the same pole pushing apart, a massive lateral force shifted the machine, leaving its defenseless flank exposed to the other two girls.

"Haaah!"

With a powerful lunge, they moved so fast they blurred into afterimages. Their immaterial spearheads pierced through the metal hide.

"Just... stay down already!"

Leaving her spear embedded, Yellow drew a Phantom Dagger from her hip and severed the nervous system in its neck. That final blow sent the Big Boar crashing onto its side.

"Skirmish formation!"

From here, the rest was a cleanup. We moved quickly to eliminate the remaining targets while staying alert for any Corrupted Beasts lured by the sounds of battle.

The reason we were currently on the surface was due to the information A37 had provided a week ago.

"Are you suggesting we’re withholding information?"

"It’s not that I doubt you. We simply received a leak from a reliable source."

At the time, the conversation was between the General and the CEO of Naginami Trading Co. I had watched the negotiation unfold, enduring the oppressive aura unique to those in power.

Besides, what the General said wasn't entirely wrong.

Chrono is the A-series of the Lica line. Having survived for so long, her memory capacity was off the charts. It wouldn't be strange for her to treat knowledge we didn't have as common sense.

"Very well... but on one condition."

"Thank you. And what would that be?"

"It’s simple. This meeting must be framed as us requesting an investigation from you. The Singularity Project is Naginami’s flagship venture; we can't have internal morale plummeting. We’ll use this opportunity ourselves—we will retain command of the search."

"I’m generally in agreement. It’s better to have a specialist’s perspective. Though we’ll need total control over emergency command, as we are the experts in that field."

"That was the plan from the start. Furthermore, I’d like the dispatched personnel to be those who haven't yet built a major reputation. While we’d prefer veterans, high-profile individuals draw too much attention on the surface. We want to avoid making this public."

"Regarding that..."

The General looked at me.

"I’d like to recommend Officer Amane."

"General!"

"Despite being a rookie, he possesses exceptional situational judgment and survival instincts. I’m sure he’s up to the task."

"Commander, the shelter is in sight. What are your orders?"

"Let’s take a break. Scarlet, can you check our supplies?"

"Understood."

Our success here would directly contribute to saving humanity.

"And besides..."

Maybe it would serve as the single thread that would lead me back to A37.

POV - A37

"Phew..."

I looked down at the army from my vantage point, a cigarette between my lips.

"God... junk robots as far as the eye can see."

There were over two hundred mechanical dolls—definitely not the amount you’re supposed to run into in the original story.

"Haha, there's no way Newbie can handle that many right now."

I tapped the pommel of my Phantom Sword against my head as I organized my thoughts.

"It’s been a week. If there aren't any anomalies, he should be making contact with Burnatville soon. Knowing them, they won't play their trump card until their back is against the wall."

Basically, it’s like a trading card game. Burnatville has a broken ability that lets them draw two hundred cards from the deck for no cost and play them onto the field immediately. To stop that, what do you do?

"Easy. You just smash the deck. It’s called illegal real-world interference."

A low hum vibrated through the Phantom Sword as it activated. I used the heat it generated to light a fresh cigarette.

"Time to get to work. Once this is done, a cocktail at a bar would be a nice touch."