Chapter 106: Masquerade Party (20)

Chapter 106: Masquerade Party (20)

Hunting is a culture that boasts a long history, dating back to when humans were not considered humans but beings closer to animals.

Inside the innermost part of the Raptors formation, within the commanders exclusive tank covered with not only a 240 mm thick panel and tank shield but also protected by numerous armored vehicles and soldiers, was Sol Amar, watching over the situation with binoculars as he spoke to his adjutant.

Its a culture worthy of celebration. It signifies that the species has decided to stand above the others as predators, does it not? Which is why the ancient humans considered hunting sacred. Such as Artemis in Greek mythology, Rudra in India, Skadi in Northern Europe, Masarai in Papua New Guinea, and so forth Are you listening?

It was a question from Pack Leader Sol Amar, commander-in-chief of the Raptors troops, but his adjutant did not answer. That was because just ten minutes ago, he was beaten to death with Sols studded gloves when he was angered.

Of course, Sol had no interest in his adjutants state and was merely displeased by his adjutants lack of response.

It means that this is a sacred tradition. Hunting, that is. And today is the day where the Raptors are not going on just any normal hunt, but a hunt with five of the Raptors corps participating that will be recorded in history. But why?

Thump!

Why?

Thud!

Why?!!

Splurch!

In this moment, when those pieces of scrap metal are just about to be presented under the Raptor banner, why are there rats running around inside of our formation, you incompetent pieces of s?

Sol continued to crush his foot down on his adjutants head for a while, then settled back down. His doctor had told him to watch his blood pressure, so he needed to calm down. It would be nonsense for him to shorten his lifespan over puny rats like these. He needed to live a long time. Long enough to see the day the great Raptors objective was reached. How could he, Sol Amar, miss the day of such honor?

Kicking the adjutants corpse away, which was sprawled on the floor like melted ice cream on a hot table, Sol turned around and glared at the Noisy Pack soldiers that were tapping away on the dashboard inside.

I believe I heard that the armored vehicle will be impossible to start. But I see, that was a false report, wasnt it?

W-were investigating the problem the best we can, sir!

Do you not know the meaning of impossible? Im doubtful that a soldier lacking enough intelligence to understand the mere meaning of a word is able enough to carry out such an important duty for the Raptors

P-please! Just give me one more chance, sir!

Looking at the terrified expression of the soldier, Sol let out a deep sigh. He was scared. Wasnt the emotion that the soldier should be feeling right now shame, not fear? Give him a chance. He already had the honorable chance of serving the Raptors, threw it away like garbage, and wants another chance?

Sol Amar sadly raised his favorite gun, the Luger. No matter how carefully he selected and selected again, these disgraces as humans continued to appear. He had much too heavy a load to bear on his shoulders.

A-ahhhhh!

But just as he was about to pull the trigger

I found it! We identified the cause!

Another soldier, who seemed to have been looking through several other things on his screen to the point his eyes went bloodshot, raised his hand.

Oh, I see. There is still at least one who does their job, even among the useless. So, what is the reason why the impossible lock that idiot mentioned broke?

Itwas accessed by the Executive Rank.

Executive Rank?

Yes. A code with higher authority than the Noisy Pack forcefully unlocked the encryption and took control.

Youcan you hold responsibility for what you just said?

Huh?

Click!

The barrel that had been pointed at the terrified soldier turned its head toward its new prey.

The Executive Rank youre talking about is referring to the four Swarm Alphas that exist in the entirety of the Raptor Society. If what you said is true, then that means that one of them personally came here alone without any bodyguards or prior announcement and logged into an armored car full of kids. No matter how you think about it, there is no reason for them to do so. Or, do you have some explanation that can fill in the parts my lack of imagination missed?

I-i-its true! But But it definitely says on the access history that an Executive Rank logged in!

Keeping the gun pointed at the shaking soldiers head, Sol turned his gaze towards the screen that the soldier was desperately pointing at. It definitely said so on the screen. Administrator code, access denied. Executive Rank request. Code

IanDesmont

In that moment, a silence that made it hard even to breathe enveloped the air within the commanders tank. Sol was a very expressive person. But none of the soldiers inside the room were able to find a word that fit the description of the mans expression at that moment.

Phehahahahah

But it felt like they had just witnessed something terrifyingly unpleasant.

Hahahahahahahahah!!!

Sol brought his vacant hand up to his head and started to laugh as if he just heard something absolutely hilarious, almost as if he were choking.

Oh, my goodness gracious! General Ashfield, hes back! I thought he had died! Right! There were originally five Swarm Alphas! Hahahahahahah! Adjutant! Adjutaant!!! Bring me my inhaler! I might actually die of laughter!!!

Sol, who had been waving his hands wildly and slapping his knee like a character in a play, then raced towards the trembling soldier that found the access history and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

Congratulations! Youre promoted!

P-pardon?

Youve done a great deed! Starting today, youre my adjutant! So Id like you to hurry and start preparing instead of messing around with these machines.

What preparations do you mean, sir?

What a foolish question!

Bang!

The wide smile on Sols face turned to an expression of disappointment at the soldiers question, then he turned and shot the soldier who claimed something about it being impossible, then shifted his attention back to his new adjutant and grabbed him by the collar.

A ceremony, of course! The founder of Raptor, the God of Hunting, has returned, so how can I greet him with my current outfit? Ian Desmont, General Ashfield, has returned!

I crawled out here on purpose, you fat hog.

It would have looked foolish if he was running away. From the moment he stepped foot outside, he was exposed to the crossfire of the tanks.

But were not the only ones out here right now.

A T-7 tank and armored car slipped out of the tight formation. There was now a gap in the massive steel wall, and the fire that was trained on the Domes Exosuit squad was turned toward them.

Even if those Dome guys are a bunch of hammerheads, they know how to bite like one too. Theyll end you with one shot!

Clunk! Clunk!

And as if responding to Ians expectations, the Exosuits released their protective field and charged towards the empty gap in the middle of the Raptors tank line.

Among them, Ian turned the armored car towards an Exosuit that was running with the others at the tail of the formation.

Ezel! Ezel Raiden!!!

Thoomp!

It looked like he couldnt hear, so he crashed into the metal frame. After momentarily swaying, Ezel pointed the massive Exosuits pulse rifle towards him.

Thunk!

Its me, you fing bastard!

[Youre Metal Jaw?]

Yeah! Come over here and take the wounded!

[Tzzt EZ-07! Hurry up! The Dome will disappear if we dont turn the tables right now!]

Im at least a hundred times better at fighting than you, so take Vex and the kids here to a safe place!

While Ezel was still conflicted, Ian released the bindings around Vex and dragged him out of the armored cars hatch. Instantly seeing how serious of a state he was in, Ezel quit hesitating and carefully wrapped the suits two arms around the body. While he was doing so, the children inside the armored car ran out and started to hang onto the empty spots on Ezels Exosuit.

[W-woah! Whats with the kids? Its not just a couple of them?]

Theyre expendable pilots!

[Expendable what?]

Ill tell you later! Anyway, you take the kids and Vex to the hospital! Left abdomen ruptured by a large caliber bullet! It looks like a little bit of his kidney and small intestine were ripped out, so I stopped the bleeding with the spray and shot a revival kit into him! Tell them that!

[Hes basically as good as dead]

Save him no matter what! Ill believe in you.

One elderly man and three children were in the tank that went ahead. Eight more were currently hanging onto Ezels Exosuit. And Vex, who was wrapped in his arms.

The people that he risked his life saving and himself were all in the hands of a trustworthy person.

Ive done my job, Vex.

Kr-g-g-g-g-k!

The armored car that had changed directions according to Ians steering started to return to where it came from. Looking at the panels, the comms were on hold but still connected.

When he pressed the call button, gunshots and curses as violent as theirs came out of the speakers.

[You idiots! Block! Block them! Turn the tanks into scraps and push the formation forward to fill the hole!]

[We dont have enough troops to drive the tanks because of the intruders damage!]

[Damaged 6 enemy units! 2 completely destroyed! The remaining 18 units are passing the line!]

[Dispatch the Mini Shooters on the side! Everything will be finished once we kill them! Its over!]

Tzzt

Sol Amar. I always told you, your loyalty towards the Raptor and ability to rule your subordinates with fear are remarkable, but you lack on-hand combat ability.

[Hup!]

He could hear the man hold his breath. He had always been that way. He was always the first to crush down the weak, but when his life was in danger, he was first to tuck his tail and run away.

[H-have you returned? Ashfield?]

Skreeeeek!

Boom!

From beyond the Raptors tank line, he heard the Exosuits that managed to break through venting their anger on the T-7s wide, open back.

There are no misfires

He did hang the white shirt flag that Vex made on the back of the armored car, but he had been prepared to take a few hits from the pulse rifles in the midst of the chaos. It seems that Ezel told them something through the comms.

Returned you say

It did feel like that. Smoking the Raptors cigar, sitting in a Raptors vehicle, and talking through the Raptors comms, it really did feel like he was back to the old days. But

Tzzt

As if. Ian Desmont died three years ago. The one thats going to kill you today isnt the psychopath Ian Desmont, but the Wastelands spice merchant, Metal Jaw! You piece of blubber!

As Ian stepped on the axel, his cold expression returned to his usual bizarre grin.

Crkch!

The armored car that drove through the mini shooters and their large-caliber gatling guns crushed them alive as its engine roared fiercely.

The situation was reaching its final melee phase.