novelraw Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Two trucks race across the desert.
In one ride me, Ms. Eve, and Chacha-san; in the other, Ms. Ren (driver), Ms. Kurenai, and Nico-san.
"That girl's a monster."
Ms. Eve says in an exasperated tone.
"Who do you mean?"
"Chacha. I never thought she could finish that much weaponry in so short a time."
I glance from the passenger seat toward the cargo bed.
"Chacha-san said she saved time thanks to you, Ms. Eve."
"I only polished the details. From blueprints to assembly, ninety percent of it is her work."
Even the Six Sages praised her—Chacha-san really is a first-rate mechanic.
Ms. Eve grips the wheel with her right hand and taps the system menu with her left.
"I've set up a comm channel for everyone. Can you all hear me?"
"Chacha-san is OK!"
Chacha-san's voice rings in my ears.
She's still tinkering with the weapon in the cargo bed—final adjustments.
"Kurenai OK."
"Ren OK."
"Nico's OK too!"
All three in the other truck have a clean signal.
"I'm fine as well."
Once Ms. Eve confirms everyone can hear, she stubs her cigarette in the truck's ashtray.
"Now I'll hail our enemy. They'll sense hostility, but I hate a no-warning strike... We haven't fully proven Ms. Nadra's guilt yet. Final check—everyone listen silently."
After we all assent, Ms. Eve opens the channel.
It connects in seconds.
"Hey, Eve-chan. What's up?"
Ms. Nadra's voice comes through.
"Ms. Nadra. I need to confirm something."
"You mean that I tricked you?"
Before I can ask, Ms. Nadra gives the answer.
"I knew you'd caught on. You haven't touched your PC lately, and odd people have been coming and going from the workshop. Planning to storm my castle?"
So Ms. Eve's PC has been watched all along. Good thing we were told to leave it alone.
Her workshop seems to be under surveillance too—yet we never noticed. Hidden cameras nearby, perhaps. If Space Gulls or humanoids had been close, this crew would've spotted them.
"Ms. Nadra... How can you be so calm? You deceived me, betrayed me, and I've found you out!"
Anger colors Ms. Eve's voice.
When exposed, most people would at least sound sorry—or panic.
Her composure only proves Ms. Nadra's heart holds no kindness.
"Don't get so heated. It's just a game, right?"
Needless to say, the remark rubs everyone on the channel the wrong way.
"So, Eve-chan, how do you plan to crush me? I've left no evidence. The military police won't move. You can't send me to prison."
Good. The summons hasn't been exposed.
"That leaves one option: storm the lab and grab proof of my crimes. Am I right?"
"Yes, exactly."
She's completely underestimating us.
That's why the summons will work. Once she learns the MPs are behind us, Ms. Nadra will panic. A leader's panic means disarray in command.
The worst-case scenario is Ms. Nadra not boarding the spaceship. Without the summons she might flee inland, Pandora in hand. The summons keeps her within the Oceanus net—raising the odds she'll board.
The greater the shock, the further people try to run.
(Just get on the ship. My desire is simple.)
Board it. Please board, Ms. Nadra. If you don't, I can't enjoy myself.
"Brace yourself. I will never forgive you."
"So don't get serious over a stupid game. Or is it 'for a driver's pride'? How lame. Every time I asked you for work, you'd send me those long thank-you messages—hilarious. You never realized you were being tricked and exploited..."
Ms. Eve's expression is blank.
Beyond sorrow or rage—no expectations left.
"Out of pity, I'll crush you so thoroughly you'll never play again."
The call with Ms. Nadra cuts off.
"Ahh, good. When the enemy's trash, we can go wild without holding back."
Nico-san's cheerful voice comes through.
I agree. Now I can pull the trigger without hesitation.
"Haha! All right, we split here. Stick to the plan."
"Roger that."
The trucks, running side by side, part ways—Nico's team takes the lead while we stop among the rocks.
We've split into the "breach team" and the "sniper team."
We open the cargo bed walls and ceiling fully; Ms. Eve and I climb in.
"Chacha, final checks done?"
"Aye-aye! Exactly as Shikicchi wanted—perfect!"
I look at the weapon and grin.
"Thank you, Chacha-san. I'll be able to take the perfect shot."
---
Shiki's "sniper team" having split off, the "breach team" arrives before the lab's wall.
Ren opens the cargo bed fully and activates eight sniper-type humanoids. She and the eight humanoids mount wyverns—disc-shaped aircraft that fly via Space Gulls. By locking their feet they gain control. Ren and the eight snipers scatter through the sky.
Meanwhile, Nico and Kurenai's attacker pair head for the front gate on foot.
"They're here."
"Yeah."
The gate opens and humanoids pour out.
Kurenai raises her greatsword; Nico readies his twin blades.
"You like Musou games?"
"Love 'em, but never played one in full-dive."
"Then today's your lucky day."
"Hope it's not all small fry. Pray Lu Bu or Tadakatsu shows up."
Nico tilts his head.
"? Who're they? Japanese?"
History-nerd Kurenai groans.
"Seriously? Kids these days don't know the Three Kingdoms or Sengoku era? Generation gap, man. Fine—I'll gift you the full Romance of the Three Kingdoms e-book set. Or start you with the novel? Nah, the bias is too strong. Maybe Sangokushi comic? Actually, Paris-Pi Zhuge Liang might be easier—"
"Quit mumbling and focus, or you'll die."
The enemy vanguard alone tops thirty.
Plus a swarm of TWs on the gate. Yet the two never lose their relaxed smiles.
"Humanoids are one point, TWs two, Space Gulls three."
"Loser grants one request to the winner—sound good?"
"Yeah. Let's do this! —Let's party!!"