Chapter 143

Jin ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Crow had originally estimated the schedule would take about a week.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍first day had already been consumed by the incident at the platform, and after meeting Rekem Ging, he had no choice but to return to the hotel without accomplishing much.

Still, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he couldn't afford to waste time forever.

On ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the other hand, acting personally came with too many complications.

His ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍relationship with Rekem Ging was one issue.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍although the capital, Pure Land, where the Governor-General's Office was located, enjoyed better public security than anywhere else on the planet, he had no desire to take unnecessary risks.

“Well then, Instructor, let's begin the briefing!”

In the end, there was only one answer.

Jin Crow let out a quiet sigh and looked once again at Obia Timist, who had set up a beam projector in the hotel room using her watch.

Turning his gaze, he found the Military Police already wearing resigned expressions.

No...

At this point, it was probably more accurate to say they had simply given up.

Back when he had first possessed this body, Obia had at least seemed to make some effort to maintain her image.

Now, however, it appeared there wasn't anyone left who didn't know what her personality was really like.

No... Has she stopped trying to hide it altogether?

Her smile, emphasizing her airheaded charm, remained as bright as ever.

Whatever the case, it suited him just fine.

The more people realized Obia wasn't exactly normal, the less troublesome it would be if they ever ended up turning against each other in the future.

Click, inhale.

Naturally, she had no idea he was entertaining such ruthless thoughts while calmly smoking his cigarette.

Though even if she did...

She'd probably find it more interesting than shocking.

Completely unconcerned, Obia smiled brightly after seeing him silently nod and began her report.

“First, Instructor, there are three candidate inspection sites you selected. Coincidentally, every one of them overlaps with the Dawn Church's area of activity.”

Jin Crow nodded.

She was exactly right.

There were other possible locations.

But all of them likewise overlapped with territories where the Dawn Church operated.

Moreover, every one of those areas was also an active battlefield where the Governor-General's forces were fighting Dawn Church followers.

Areas where the Dawn Church is active but public security is relatively stable. Areas where fighting is taking place in real time.

The balance was perfect.

Unless one intended to get the cadets killed, anyone would naturally choose the former.

“According to our investigation, every front line on the candidate list had been practically abandoned before being hastily reinforced after the Creatures' infestation. I also reviewed the local commanders' personnel files, and none of them appear particularly concerning. So I think we'll just have to inspect them personally, Instructor.”

He always thought the same thing.

If only Obia Timist didn't have such a twisted personality, she would make an excellent adjutant.

Back at Atla Colony, her intelligence gathering alone had been thoroughly satisfactory.

Of course...

That didn't mean he trusted her.

She was cooperative now for reasons unknown.

But the moment her mood soured or she lost interest, she was exactly the type of woman who would smile while stabbing him in the back.

I'll simply use her for as long as she's useful.

As though severing the lingering attachment he had unconsciously developed toward her, Jin Crow extinguished his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray atop the table and stood up.

His preparations were already complete.

Inside his coat were the black pills Viper treasured so dearly, pain-relief patches, cigarettes laced with stimulants, and alcohol.

The newly issued Special-duty equipment rested securely in the sheath at his waist.

“So where shall we visit first?”

Obia's red eyes curved into cheerful crescents as she smiled brightly.

Jin Crow answered bluntly.

“The Lumbini Front.”

“I figured you'd say that.”

Of course she had.

He had made it obvious it was his highest priority.

Rolling back words that never needed to be spoken, Jin Crow walked ahead toward the hotel entrance.

However...

The moment he reached the lobby, he narrowed his eyes after spotting a familiar pair of gray ears and a tail.

“It's Captain Lang Lang.”

“It's Lang Wei, Obia.”

As if he had just noticed them as well, Lang Wei flashed his usual cheerful grin and waved enthusiastically.

“Oh, Instructor!”

His face looked entirely human.

Yet from the neck down, thick gray fur covered his body.

No matter how many times Jin Crow saw it, it always felt strangely surreal.

Especially those sharp fangs revealed whenever he spoke...

And his twitching ears.

“Do you think Captain Lang Wei is a dog? Or a wolf? Ah, maybe he's a hye— Mmgh!”

“......Well done.”

Leaving behind the Military Police officers who hurriedly covered Obia's mouth before nearby beastkin could hear what sounded very much like racial discrimination, Jin Crow brushed back the black hair covering his forehead and walked toward Lang Wei.

He then glanced over not only him but also Squad A following behind before asking,

“What brings you here?”

“Hm?”

Unexpectedly, Lang Wei merely tilted his head in confusion.

Because of that, Jin Crow frowned slightly and looked at them questioningly.

Only then did Lang Wei realize where the misunderstanding lay.

“Surely you didn't think we'd let an instructor from the Central Special-duty Academy go alone? Squad A—our Security Division's finest—will be escorting you.”

“Vice Governor-General's orders?”

“......Well, yes. Haha.”

It wasn't difficult to understand.

Originally, all Jin Crow had wanted was a quiet inspection before returning.

It can't be helped.

Some might think having a larger escort was a good thing.

In reality, it merely made one a far more attractive target for the local resistance.

There was no need to look far.

Even if the circumstances differed somewhat, one only had to imagine Japanese soldiers moving around under the protection of the Japanese Governor-General's Office during Korea's colonial era.

Their trigger fingers must be itching.

Wouldn't anyone want to plant a lead slug in someone's forehead for a nice physical piercing?

Or slip a bomb beneath their vehicle and send it flying?

Even aside from that...

There was no way the locals would look kindly upon them.

No matter how rotten the Dawn Church was or how many atrocities they committed, not every Juin welcomed the Governor-General's Office or the Human Composite State.

Still...

He had no intention of refusing.

...Because circumstances had changed.

Even setting Rekem Ging's goodwill aside, the Dawn Church had only just carried out a terrorist attack. There's no reason to refuse moving alongside the Security Division.

What he desired was stability.

He had never been the type to seek danger.

To be perfectly honest...

If this world were fated to fall to the Creatures fifty years from now instead of soon, he would gladly throw away his position as an instructor, Jin Crow's past, and every complicated matter tied to it, then spend the rest of his life relaxing.

Before possessing this body, he had sworn to rest for five years after leaving the military.

In the end, he hadn't even managed two.

“I see.”

His thoughts had wandered briefly.

But the conclusion was simple.

There was no reason to refuse.

Thus, he nodded quite readily and walked toward the hotel entrance.

As he climbed into the military Letona Lang Wei had brought, the words escaped his mouth almost unconsciously.

“A one-armed man repaying his debt.”

“Pardon?”

“......Never mind.”

Vice Governor-General Rekem Ging.

Perhaps...

If he used the man well, things might actually work out in his favor.

Whether it was Aurum Planet...

Lemal Planet...

Or Mercato...

News of planets utterly devastated by the Creatures naturally spread even to the Colony Planets lying outside the Defensive Line but still officially belonging to the Human Composite State.

Yet unlike the public uproar raging throughout the Composite State...

The reactions on the Colony Planets remained remarkably indifferent.

“Well, Creatures have been around for about ten years already. I can understand why people are shocked now that their numbers have suddenly exploded. That's also why the Governor-General's Office reinforced the front lines after receiving reports.”

Most citizens of the Human Composite State believed the Creatures had appeared out of nowhere one day.

But on the Colony Planets, they were surprisingly common.

Professor Lee Su-jong himself was proof of that.

The reason he had become known as both the foremost authority on Creatures and an eccentric was because he had begun researching them from the earliest days of their discovery—long before anyone else took them seriously.

After all...

In a galaxy this vast, not every living creature could possibly possess intelligence comparable to humanity's.

On one primitive planet lived squid-like alien lifeforms, exactly as ancient humans had imagined.

Their intelligence, however, barely exceeded that of insects.

Elsewhere existed dragon-like beasts that breathed mercury and sulfuric acid.

“To be honest, I don't really think they're the kind of creatures the Ministry of National Defense should be paying attention to. I'm probably not the only one who thinks so. Most soldiers stationed on Colony Planets probably feel the same.”

Thinking as Lang Wei did wasn't unreasonable.

Likewise, Vice Governor-General Rekem Ging probably regarded the Dawn Church as a greater threat than the Creatures themselves.

Still...

After reviewing the combat records Lang Wei had handed him, Jin Crow frowned.

Nearly all of them are unnamed Mutants. Even then, when they encountered a Pawn, the local Triple Gear Special-duty officer suffered severe injuries.

He didn't know exactly how many Creatures inhabited Ju Planet.

But judging from the battle records, he finally understood why Juins like Lang Wei had become complacent.

The Creatures they fought were merely the lowest-ranking Mutants.

Even among named mass-produced variants, they encountered nothing stronger than a Pawn once or twice a month.

It's sufficient for giving the cadets real combat experience. But at the same time, it's the perfect environment for people to become complacent.

There wasn't a single record concerning Knights.

Naturally, despite fighting Creatures for quite some time, both their combat records and related intelligence were utterly inadequate.

He would stake his life on it.

If Mercato's incident repeated itself here on Ju Planet...

They would all be wiped out.

Tap.

Feeling frustrated, he closed the file.

Then he looked toward Lang Wei, who leisurely inhaled cigarette smoke through his furry hands with remarkable finesse.

“What do you know about the Lumbini Front?”

“I know enough. That used to be the homeland of the Myo Clan.”

“The Myo Clan?”

“Yes. My girlfriend, Seol-ah's clan.”

“You're awfully open about it.”

Lang Wei scratched his cheek lightly with one of his sharp claws before adding,

“Well, everyone who needs to know already knows. I think Seol-ah's the only one who doesn't realize she's been found out. Even the Vice Governor-General knows.”

“I see.”

Indeed...

Even without Obia telling him, anyone could tell there was something between the two.

Meanwhile, Lang Wei simply grinned as though amused, his tail wagging gently beneath his uniform as he continued.

“Anyway, because of that, it's a front mostly populated by the Myo Clan. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it. But considering your personality, Instructor... it might actually suit you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well... Ahem.”

After extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray, Lang Wei smacked his lips for a moment before finally answering,

“You've met Seol-ah, so you probably know already, but the Myo Clan is... Ahem.”

“I'd appreciate it if you'd stop dancing around the point.”

“Yes. To be honest... they've got pretty terri... Ahem... abrasive personalities.”

He had clearly been about to say they have no manners.

Watching Lang Wei deliberately avoid eye contact while pretending to look elsewhere, Jin Crow felt nothing in particular.

Instead, he simply gazed toward the steadily approaching front line.

It doesn't matter.

He had no interest in the local commander's personality.

As long as he completed the front-line inspection and accomplished his secondary objectives, that was enough.

However...

The moment they reached the front line, that thought shattered instantly.

“S-Sir, Colonel Myo Cheong, this person is—”

“I don't know who he is, but get lost, Lang Clan.”

The colonel called Myo Cheong, whose eyes were narrowed almost to slits and whose expression remained icy cold, slowly looked Lang Wei and Jin Crow up and down before adding,

“And take that Federal Army trash standing next to you with you.”

At that moment—

Jin Crow couldn't help letting out a quiet chuckle.