00046 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary ---
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#Omens (4), Atascadero
Since a new mutant was discovered, it was necessary to give a mid-report. With the detonation of the shrapnel mine, noise support was also needed. The communication soldier clung to the radio, struggling. Usually, interference waves could be resolved by changing frequencies, but not this time. The communication soldier grumbled about how even monsters had good equipment.
The unit briefly split into two. Jeffrey moved with the communication soldier and one squad by vehicle to search for a point with communication availability.
Meanwhile, Gyeo-ul and the remaining soldiers focused on finding keys to the isolation ward. They had door breaching equipment, but it wasn't feasible to break through countless doors and iron bars. Noise and time constraints were the issues.
They equipped themselves nonetheless. Gyeo-ul selected a Halligan bar, shaped like a pickaxe with horns on the side and a crowbar beneath the handle. Made of solid steel, it was excellent as a weapon.
"Found them."
A soldier, rummaging through the police office, held up a set of keys. Gyeo-ul caught them as they were tossed.
"Keep looking. The more, the better."
The soldiers found additional sets of keys, a total of three. At that moment, the window vibrated. It was noise support from a noisemaker. Gyeo-ul checked the time, estimating how far Jeffrey might have traveled in the Humvee and calculating the monster's power output based on distance—though it was currently a stretch.
Jeffrey's return took longer than expected. Gyeo-ul secured an east watchtower and stationed monitoring forces to prevent the special mutant from escaping. It was almost 30 minutes later when three Humvees returned. Jeffrey explained the delay upon his return.
"The public health service brigade showed interest."
The public health service brigade is a paramilitary organization under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, currently overseeing the quarantine line in cooperation with the CDC and FEMA. It is also responsible for collecting information on infected mutants.
"Desk jockeys are out of touch with reality. One doctor was incessantly nosy. Unaware of the urgency, insisting on drafting a report first. Damn it."
That wasn't all. Gyeo-ul asked.
"So, what's the conclusion?"
"If possible, capture it. They'll send a helicopter if you contact them once captured, alive or dead."
"They speak as if it's so easy. Are there any other supports?"
"They asked if having you wasn't enough. I said no thanks. It's already late, and waiting for support seems like it'll take forever. Monsters won't just quietly wait for us, and we don't have enough to surround the building. That's my thought."
The high reputation did not help at moments like these. The more you proved your worth, the higher the expectations would be. Jeffrey also knew what Gyeo-ul was thinking.
"They don't know the lesson of Mogadishu, do they? That's why it's no good if 'the head' is stupid. It's filled with so-called experts smelling of book mold."
The United States, having intervened in the Somali Civil War, experienced a terrible defeat in the Battle of Mogadishu. It overly relied on Special Forces, expecting them to accomplish an impossible mission.
A solid voice came in.
"Why did you just come back? You should have at least cursed them out."
It was the squad's only sergeant who spoke. Jeffrey retorted.
"Well, that doctor was a lieutenant colonel. If I end up in the brig, who would lead?"
"It's okay. The backbone of the military is the non-commissioned officers. And there's another lieutenant here. You can go without worry."
There was no change in pitch when he said this. His expression was calm, earning him the nickname "Boar".
Marvin 'Boar' Lieberman. Jeffrey had an incredulous look.
"Sergeant, even if you joke, it doesn't sound like a joke because you have no expression."
"Perhaps. It's the truth."
"What the...?"
The soldiers chuckled. Gyeo-ul intervened.
"I know you don't want to, but let's leave it at that. The days are short this season."
It was a half-joking remark to blend in. As always, jokes when afraid were a sign of a veteran, also managing subordinates' tension. Sergeant Lieberman nodded.
"Indeed, our lieutenant is better than yours."
"What?!"
That was the end of the banter. The two officers, one sergeant, and corporals and privates laid out the facility map to plan their movement. Due to the vast area, moving in a big group would be time-consuming.
"Let's stop overworking ourselves. Sending this force and hoping for significant results is a thief's mindset."
Jeffrey set the tone from the start.
Gyeo-ul agreed.
"The monster seems smart. It tested our firepower with infected babies earlier. We should be cautious."
"We'll move in squads, but let's advance side by side since there are three corridors. We can support each other if needed. Relaying communications can handle it. Since it can detect our signals, this will be a sort of drive hunt."
The sergeant mapped the route and proposed. There was no need to avoid necessary communications. Jeffrey nodded in agreement, jotting down times at each point. Corporals and privates relocated their respective times and meeting points. In an emergency, which spots to regroup at, when and where allies would be present, and so on.
Gyeo-ul scanned the map as if imprinting it into his memory. Rather than relying on technical assistance, he depended on his memorization ability.
Investing in 「Cartography」 for immediate utility seemed low. Without enhancing 「Memorization」 alongside, updating the minimap took quite some time.
"Lieutenant Han, you're the core. No objections?"
"Yes. That's right."
Accepting it as if it was obvious, the soldiers reacted playfully with "oooh".
Jeffrey got up.
"Alright. Everyone, check your cams, and let's move!"
Finally, the search began. Gyeo-ul, Jeffrey, and Lieberman distributed the keys among themselves, and a spare bundle was left with the reserve team. They drew two soldiers from each squad, placing them at watchtowers and the lobby, so the search team consisted of approximately 9 people each, inclusive of commanders.
"Do you think the creature is still in the ward? It might have snuck out meanwhile."
Elliot, a private in Gyeo-ul's squad, asked. It was a consideration from Jeffrey.
"It's inside. The noise is still pronounced."
Gyeo-ul answered while opening the first section's door. To prevent a surprise from the rear, they would lock the doors after entry. If rushed, they could shoot the lock.
Cage partitions frequently appeared. Passing through, soldiers eyed the locked doors on either side.
"Lieutenant, look at this. The trapped ones aren't moving an inch."
A soldier called Gyeo-ul. Guarding in another direction, the young officer approached the door. Through the barred glass, he peered into the room. The mutant appeared still as a photo, standing toward the window, motionless.
"Is it dead?"
"Not sure."
Gyeo-ul instructed the soldiers to step back. Elliot had an uncertain look.
"It doesn't look starved at least. Is it perhaps conserving energy?"
That's the answer. Gyeo-ul replied somewhat ambiguously.
There was no need to prove it.
A thunderous roar. When storm clouds shone white-hot, the previously stationary mutant awakened with a start, clinging to the grille. It had been staring out the window from the beginning.
Amidst the soldiers' silent shock, the mutant only gazed out beyond the pane. Then gradually, it went back to being motionless.
"Wow, shit, that was startling."
Elliot muttered quietly.
After that, everyone tried to be quieter. Soldiers were attentive with each step.
The corridors were similar wherever they went: dark and silent. Filled with wards side by side, no nooks allowed even faint sunshine to peek in, nor outside sounds for that matter. Thunderstorms jolted mutants into seizing only unless silenced, and soldiers tiptoed without rest.
The scenery abruptly changed.
Upon reaching the third section, the blocking doors were open. Every visible door stood ajar. Gyeo-ul lowered his helmet-mounted night vision. His view filled with green shades, focusing on faint, red footprints remaining on the floor.
"There are a lot of footprints."
"Bloody hell!"
Gyeo-ul issued a warning.
"Huey, keep your voice down."
"... Sorry."
The soldiers kept glancing at Gyeo-ul. Their equipment couldn't pick up heat (infrared radiation).
Infected mutants had higher body temperatures than humans and walked barefoot. Yet the footprints' persistence was peculiar, indicating a recent passage and organized movement upon exiting.
'Where could they have gone?'
Gyeo-ul picked up the radio to report the situation. Interference was severe.
"Lieutenant Jeffrey. Sergeant Lieberman. Can you hear me?"
Thud thud thud thud thud. Heavy footsteps thundered overhead, moving from front to back. Simultaneously, the radio's static surged before normalizing. Everyone looked upward. Confirming the communication challenge, Gyeo-ul sighed.
"Seems what passed above is our target."
Elliot anxiously queried.
"What shall we do?"
"Follow me."
Gyeo-ul sprinted toward the empty corridor. Soldiers gasped, attaching fearfully.
"It headed back!"
"Feels like a trap."
It was a clever one. That loud ruckus was deliberate. When trying to communicate, it pinpointed their location.
In this uncertain moment, speed was crucial.
Defy predictions.
Reaching the corridor's end with a full sprint confirmed the next section was indeed accessible.
Here, conspicous traces were abundant. Bloodied handprints and footprints covered the walls and floors, all directed southward. Meanwhile, the northern corridor was remarkably clean. Soldiers were already concerned for Sergeant Lieberman.
Lieberman was south, Jeffrey north.
Interference lessened, and the radio buzzed.
「Oh, it's finally working a bit. Lieutenant Han. Can you hear me? This area is fishy. All doors are open. I'd seem to need assistance.」
It was Sergeant Lieberman's voice. Gyeo-ul didn't respond. He instructed the soldiers to maintain radio silence.
"Don't answer. It must not know our location."
"But...!"
"This is an order."
Subduing the soldiers, Gyeo-ul pulled down his night vision once more. Examining the northern and southern paths meticulously, he made a decision.
"We're heading north."
Immediate protest ensued. They wouldn't follow without explanation. Gyeo-ul tapped his night vision.
"There are more inconspicuous footprints to the north."
"Oh..."
Realizing the meaning, they were half scared, half amazed.
"My god, it truly is a trap!"
They chased after Gyeo-ul, who had already dashed off, desperate to keep up. After turning two corners and running roughly 80 meters, Gyeo-ul slowed.
Jeffrey had yet to advance to Gyeo-ul's current location. Moreover, the doors here remained locked. Individual rooms stayed shut.
Gyeo-ul unlocked the door but left it appearing closed.
Drawing from experience, Gyeo-ul perceived the enemy like a cunning human.
'If planning an ambush, they wouldn't make it tense.'
Why else would these doors remain locked?
Recollecting the map, the northern corridor's central intersection held a protruding auditorium structure. A suitable hideout for many mutants.
If an ambush occurred, it'd be right here.
They could wait, then launch a surprise counterattack.
Needlessly exposing this side might lead the creature to escape elsewhere.
Gyeo-ul extended a finger to his lips. Despite limited overall insight into the situation, the soldiers acquiesced to his command. They had come to assist, but why not immediately join? Yet they followed instructions, influenced by Gyeo-ul's confident demeanor.
Gyeo-ul turned down the radio's volume. Through the dense static, Jeffrey's voice came.
「Lieutenant Han? Sergeant Lieberman? Hello~? Damn it. Frustrating this is.」
The boy signaled the soldiers. Ready for combat.
---------------------------= Author's Notes ---------------------------=
1. Even though you've seen the announcement, we plan to transition to premium in 90 days. Those who purchased a 3-month subscription are not expected to incur any losses.
2. Readers currently going through this novel, what on earth are you doing? The Steam Summer Sale has started. Go buy some games quickly.
3. The game LIMBO was quite enjoyable. With a storyline full of a boy's innocent adventure seeking a girl, I strongly recommend playing it.