446 Chapter 446: Stealth

"My team can try again," Brown was telling Feng Hai as they gathered around at the base of a massive tree. "We can infiltrate the base again and check if the target is still there."

"What are your chances of success?" Feng Hai had a grim expression on his face, as if he didn't believe that it was a good idea. Brown hesitated and then gulped.

"Low, to be honest," she admitted. She sighed and ran a hand through her fairly short, chin-length brown hair. "Even though they probably didn't see us, they must have suspected something had gone amiss when those Barbaric Baboons escaped. A few preliminary investigations would reveal that there are possible signs of intrusion, so I wouldn't be surprised if they beefed up their security even more. Additionally, the Barbaric Baboons aren't the only monsters in the facility. There are other monsters, and they also possess acute senses that can pierce through our camouflage and stealth spells."

"So it would be pointless to send you guys again, because those other monsters will detect you and rampage, or the Dark Church would be on the lookout for intruders now."

"Exactly." Brown nodded, and then she blinked and waved her hands frantically. "No, not pointless. Just more difficult than before."

Feng Hai was barely paying any attention to her. He leaned back against the tree, a hand cupping his chin as he pondered. His brow furrowed further and he cast a glance across the gathered Silver Wolves, most of whom were using the chance to take a break.

Brent and Redfield returned their boss's stare, but said nothing. They looked stumped too, unable to come up with a solution. For now.

"If we create a diversion," Feng Hai began, turning toward the combat units. "Launch an attack on the base, and then withdraw into the forest, trying to lure out as many of their security personnel and combat forces as possible. Then the infiltration team will sneak in to confirm if Ling Dan has really been taken hostage or not."

"That sounds like a good idea!" Redfield jumped up brightly. He was raring for a chance at combat, and this allowed him to swing his spear. "Hit and run! I like it!"

"That doesn't solve the problem of the monsters, though." Brown was considering the validity of the plan, but she was quick to latch onto the one flaw of her leader's plan. Not that she objected to it, but rather she was thinking of a solution. "I guess we could try to fight them off, but there's still at least another fifty or so Barbaric Baboons who were locked up and didn't quite manage to escape from their cages. And that's also assuming the Dark Church didn't just slaughter the Barbaric Baboons but captured and locked them up again."

"Wouldn't they beef up security, though?" Brent asked, his arms folded. Brown nodded.

"They will try…but on such short notice? I bet they would only be able to perform the minimum amount of required repairs."

"That makes sense," Glacia agreed. She turned to Feng Hai. "I can be part of the diversion squad. I can slow them down with my ice abilities…"

While the adults discussed their new strategies, I remained silent and despondent. Adrian and Melina were some distance away, taking a break and resting after the earlier skirmish. Even though they didn't directly participate in it, they were still fairly active, keeping an alert eye out for any monsters that might approach us from behind. Even though we already had sentries on duty, the kids took the task I assigned them seriously.

They were really impressive. I wondered if I was ever as disciplined and determined at their age, back during my previous life when I was really fourteen and not a thirty-something year old in a fourteen-year-old body.

Neither of them was close enough to overhear the strategy meeting, and Feng Hai kept them out of it, anyway. Not because he didn't trust them, but because we couldn't afford to be distracted. Plus it wasn't fair to his other subordinates if they had to wait for the sergeants and officers to brief them, while the kids – who weren't even trained mercenaries – got a front seat with the bigwigs.

However, looking in their direction, I was suddenly reminded of something.

"Wait." Everyone turned to me when I raised my hand and spoke up. "I might have a better idea."

"What is it?" Feng Hai asked. That was the good thing about him. He didn't care about rank or status. If you had a suggestion, he welcomed you to air it, regardless of your position or role. He wasn't one of those arrogant, stuck-up officers who thumbed his nose at the grunts. Unlike a certain Lieutenant who was too good to eat with the grunts…

Okay, you probably didn't catch that obscure reference. Never mind.

"We have a state-of-the-art, latest, hi-tech stealth device here with us, don't we?" I turned toward Melina's direction. "Let's see if I can borrow it."

There was a few moments of silence before everyone snapped their fingers or widened their eyes in surprise.

"That's right!" Brown agreed vehemently. "Those kids snuck aboard the hovercraft without anyone noticing! Using that stealth device! If we have that, we might be able to sneak past the monsters undetected! We'll be able to get past all of the security systems undetected with that!"

"Eh?"

Poor Melina was looking confused when she caught sight of everyone staring in her direction. She blushed shyly and hid behind a bewildered Adrian, cringing as she wondered if she had done something wrong.

Pushing my glasses up my nose, I turned to Feng Hai. "I'll ask her if she can lend her device to us."

"Please do." Feng Hai nodded, and I set off without any hesitation.

*

"Well, I've good news and bad news," I began as the officers of the Silver Wolves watched me, their expressions tense. Beside me, Melina shuffled uncomfortably, not used to being the center of attention. Adrian reached out and squeezed her hand to offer support.

Aw, how sweet.

"The good news is that Melina is happy to help us out and lend us her stealth device."

The mercenaries relaxed and broke out into broad grins. Well, most of them, anyway. Only Feng Hai maintained his grim expression, his handsome face as serious as ever. He had been paying attention this entire time, as expected of the leader.

"What's the bad news?"

"Uh, well…" I glanced at Melina, who squirmed anxiously. "The device is set to her mana. Only she and Adrian can use them. Meaning that you'll have to send them along with any infiltration team you plan on sending."

"That's a simple enough task." Brown looked slightly relieved as she straightened herself. "I will guarantee their safety. My members and I will take care of them, and I promise no harm will befall on them. You have my word."

"I'll be counting on you…" I trailed off when I realized that Melina still had something to say, so I fell silent and allowed her to take an apprehensive step forward.

"I'm afraid the device has limited range," she explained softly. The mercenaries had to strain their ears to listen and I prodded her to get her to speak up in a louder voice. "It isn't enough to cover a whole team. As few people should be sent as possible to maintain its stealth effectiveness."

That changed everything. Brown withdrew a bit, her eyes narrowing as she tried to think of a new plan. It was obvious that she was revising her team roster in her head, and considering the possibility of just her going in by herself with the kids.

However, Feng Hai put paid to that idea with a single sentence.

"It's decided then. Richard, you'll be taking Melina and Adrian in."

"EH!?"

All the mercenaries spun about to gape at their boss. Even I was staring at him, astounded by the turn of events, and slowly raised a hand and pointed at myself without realizing it.

"Me?"

"Yes, you." Feng Hai nodded gravely. "I told you, didn't I? That you will be in charge of these kids. They are your responsibility. So continue looking after them."

"Um, you do realize that I didn't receive any training in stealth or whatever, right? I don't know if I can infiltrate the enemy base without getting caught."

"That's fine." Feng Hai smiled for the first time. "Those two kids snuck aboard our hovercraft without anyone noticing. And correct me if I'm wrong, but they haven't received any training in scouting or reconnaissance, correct?"

Both Adrian and Melina shook their heads silently, not daring to speak. Despite his smile, Feng Hai still resembled a terrifying wolf.

"And yet they stowed away on our dropship without anyone realizing it for…hours." Feng Hai turned to me. "You know them the best, so you will probably work best with them. And they trust you more than they trust the others here."

At that, he glanced at Adrian and Melina, but neither of them denied it.

"Also, given your experience, if you do get caught, you're the one person who can escape along with everyone else."

"You give me too much credit," I grumbled.

"You give yourself too little," Feng Hai countered without missing a beat. Sighing, I nodded and jabbed my chest.

"Leave it to me."

Famous last words…

*

"You guys okay?" I asked as we crept toward the enemy base. The noise of battle had died down by now, and though I couldn't see anybody in the exterior, I was sure they were still alive somehow. Otherwise we would be hearing the triumphant hooting and screeches of the menacing Barbaric Baboons.

Adrian and Melina glanced at me, and then nodded. They looked pale and afraid, clutching their stealth devices tightly as if their dear lives depended on them…which, they did, as a matter of fact. If the stealth field that the devices magically produced fail, then we would be visible to the Dark Church and Barbaric Baboons, and it would not end well for us.

Even though Feng Hai claimed that I could escape, I wasn't that confident. I wanted to cast a summoning spell in preparation, but I didn't know if the base was larger than a hundred meters, and for the stealth device to work, I would need to cast as little magic or emanate as little mana as possible. So preparing a summoning spell in advance was risky.

Well, whatever. I would worry about it when we get caught. For now, I could only move forward. Otherwise nothing would progress.

Gesturing to Adrian and Melina, I silently instructed them to follow me. Even though they were tense with dread, I could see excitement in their eyes. The two of them still managed to see this as some sort of adventure, and despite their anxiety they were looking forward to this.

After all, if they pulled this off, they would have quite the story to tell their friends. I stifled a smile. No doubt I would be feeling similarly back when I was at their tender age.

We crept past the damaged gates, which were still left open after the Barbaric Baboons fled from there. No repairs had been enacted – sparks were still flying from ruptured, trailing wires and we had to be wary while passing by dented, torn metal because of their sharp, jagged edges. I placed a hand on the hilt of one of my swords, glancing around cautiously for any sign of enemies, human or not.

"…where is everybody?"

Despite himself, Adrian couldn't help but ask. I didn't shush him because the same question burned in my mind. Carefully proceeding down the corridor, I took cover against the wall and peered around the corner. There was still no sign of any living thing in here.

"…ugh."

There was plenty of death, though. Corpses – both human and monster – lay strewn about, blood flooding the floor. Damaged lights hung from the ceiling and creaked, swinging slowly as their beams swept across the floor erratically.

The place looked like hell.

Taking a deep breath, I threw a hand out to stop Adrian and Melina from rounding about the corner. I needed to mentally prepare them before the grisly sight came into their view. Sighing, I wondered if we were wasting our time.

If Ling Dan had been here, he might very well be attacked and ripped apart by these stupid monsters long ago…