I was sitting in a large conference room with fifteen of the strongest ability users from Britannica and a mixture of other nations that offered to help. In that mix, we were counted and had little input on the mission plan.
"Currently, the south coast of Worset is overrun by strange fish-like creatures with the upper bodies of fish and lower bodies of humans." A male who seemed stiff spoke, showing small videos of creatures that reminded me of a famous game, and they were called Murlacs.
In the image, they cut down hundreds of people and began constructing their little huts and totems by the sandy beaches below the huge white cliffs.
Midori's expert-looking voice interrupted the video. "Ability knights, why have no large abilities taken them all out?"
This accurate question made everyone look towards Midori and a few others while making some unpleasant whispers, and blame seemed to be shifted several times. "Some monsters evolved and resisted the powers, ma'am."
"What about the second gate to the west? How many you have saved?" She didn't give the poor guy a chance, making him think carefully, giving us an answer I wasn't pleased about.
"None; we have lost over fifty thousand people while trying to close the gate; the only knight with earth abilities and forcefields fell against an enormous troll creature."
Damn, bastards! Is a bit of money and praise worth sending ability users to their deaths this way? Not one was capable enough to adapt and switch the tide, resulting in them dying a terrible death to that monster... Or was it related to that Alan guy changing the plans... Somehow, I cannot help but feel if he and his team were added...
However, my thoughts stopped here, and I just watched onwards with a quiet look. Midori explained a few points, showing that the southern gate might be the trickiest due to their already comfortable state on the ground; while the trolls were powerful, they were not as intelligent as the Murlacs.
"Then if we send eight knights to seal the gate, Midori, will you lead Rai and the five ability users from Austrinia... to defeat the murlacs and aid the rescue teams protecting the city residents?" Alan seemed to recover as his arrogant voice broke my thoughts, suggesting a complete change in plans...
Why this bastard was stepping in made something feel off. Was there something in the south hidden from us? It felt strange that almost all foreign ability users would be sent to the south, with only the three from the justice federation and Ruzza empire... left in the troll mission.
"That is fine; we will not listen to orders from your knights, though. Understood?" Midori made her point before taking the tablet and all the information they gave on the Murlacs as we left the room. The Austrinia ability users looked lost but seemed to stay behind and didn't follow us.
They would probably be in on the plot; somehow, I felt a bad feeling that there was something in the South that everyone in that room feared.
"Midori?"
"Hmm, Rai?"
"Would these guys risk everything to cover something up and need Austrinians and foreigners to take the hit?"
Midori stared into my sharp blue eyes that contained a hint of green in the light—the stare she shared lasted a while as her beautiful nose grazed against mine lightly while her hot breaths spread a sweet fragrance on the tip of my tongue. "So you're not just a big dick and powerful body, fufu."
"Should we run...?"
"Fufu~ there is a saying that if one risks their life for honour, it becomes a grave," Midori replied, moving beside me and handing me a strong beer can.
Our cans met with a bang as our eyes locked and showed her adamant will. "We will fight, not for those idiots but for the poor people on the land who don't have any idea what happened and might die if those monsters are left to expand their power."
"Hmm, or no one will know what the government and knights have done and sacrificed Austrians ability users to keep the secret and let thousands, even millions die, huh."
It seems we held the same views... This country had such corruption in the heart, or rather in its shield; the people meant to defend it with honour were too selfish and cared only about their gains.
We finished the rest of the beers before planning all night and ended up having another wild night, leaving one of the bugs live just to annoy that idiot.
At 5 in the morning. Alan knocked; his face looked terrible, with black bags under his eyes and a pale face, before inviting us to the dining room for breakfast; luckily, he didn't expect us to continue our romp for a second night, even more, intense than the first, as he must have enjoyed our shouting last night, hahaha.
"Seems you can't sleep much without hearing his groans; are you a fan, Alan, fufu~ did you get hard and pleasure yourself to his grunts and my screams? I admit it sounds incredible."
"Ugh..." He was so annoyed that if a laser came out of his eyes, Midori would have had a new head piercing.
***
"Have you both prepared for today? This mission is of the utmost importance." Alan asked while the Austrinians were completely different from last night.
They looked at us without emotion and seemed to have recovered from their fear, but I knew somehow that in this mission, the only person I could count on was Midori—these guys were on the side of that bastard for sure.
"Is the equipment ready as promised?" Midori didn't allow Alan to hold a conversation after her question; these bastards forgot the most significant things—equipment to save and secure the area.
Although ability users can fight, maybe even shoot energy and beams out of their palms, some monsters require the power or skills of bullets and weapons. If we wanted to save the civilians trapped, we couldn't stand alone.
Alan seemed to notice my frown, finally coughing before answering.
"Please understand... we too are understaffed and lack everything we might want for the mission..." His face and eyes were filled with the thick scent of bullshit as he looked away from me and then seemed to move the topic along.
This mission would be even more dangerous than we first thought.