Chapter 526 (1/2)

“And what is our role?” Tatiana said. The group of volunteers stood around them, listening intently. They too wondered what exactly the military has in store for them.

Sergeant Phillip glanced at Tatiana, and then blinked, then looked at her again. Tatiana’s suggestive smile inched wider. It seemed that the good sergeant was so intent on his mission that he hadn’t truly looked at any of them. Now, he was momentarily struck dumb by Tatiana’s sensual appeal.

‘This woman regularly calls me Viking,’ Randidly thought, feeling deeply wounded at his own earlier mistake.

“Uh… hello ma’am… uh… you… um…” Sergeant Phillip stumbled for a bit, then seemed to regain his momentum. “You will form small groups and fan out among the buildings. No need to go in, because it looks to be a lot of apartment buildings. Just stand outside and direct people back towards where the reserve detachment of 25 men is waiting. They will evacuate the people into defensible shelters.”

“How will we know… when the monster Level reaches the danger zone?” Randidly asked quietly.

Twisting his mouth, Sergeant Phillip said, “That’s the difficult part. We will be partially relying on reports from the security detachment, but there will be a delay between the monsters spawning in the new areas, and wandering outward to the place where the squad is watching for monsters from higher Leveled areas.”

It seemed that Tatiana realized what Randidly meant after Sergeant Phillip answered. They exchanged a long glance. Basically, they would know because they would now be being attacked by Level 30 monsters. Everyone around them turned grim-faced. The truth of it hit them too. There was now a definite edge in the glances that looked towards Sergeant Phillip and his crew.

The Sergeant raised his hands. “I’m aware of the eventualities that are going through your head. But let me assure you, this won’t happen instantly. There will be a gradient. The Levels of monsters will be noticeably rising. I recommend you form groups with this in mind. Those that have the ability to handle something near Level 30, split up.”

Then he sighed. “We are all working under… less than ideal conditions. Congress isn’t giving us enough money to fund these rescue missions. Most of the soldiers who came are volunteers, using their off day to help. It is unfortunate that you were all swept up in this, but we need the bodies. Please. These people aren’t ready for the cruel realities of our new world. They need someone to be there to help them.”

The mood shifted. It was a small thing, but it was enough. Everyone remembered what it was like that first day, when everything went to hell, and no one knew what was going on around them.

Randidly was inwardly wondering how quickly the Levels would rise, and how quickly they could evacuate the populations. Because hidden in this scenario that was developing was a decision on Randidly’s part. Say only half of 10,000 people had been evacuated, and then the military withdrew due to the monster Level. Would Randidly choose his anonymity over the lives of these people?

Of course he wouldn’t. It was just a bitter thing, that all his work might be for nothing. But very quickly, Randidly crushed that feeling. After all, there was a lot he could do to assist without actually appearing to assist. The worry was just too many high-Level Skill uses would wear at the ‘substance’ of the illusion, whatever that was.

Sergeant Phillip continued to speak. “We recommend you focus on the realities that the people can grasp now, and not try to overwhelm them with the truth at the beginning. It can be, after all, a little overwhelming. Instead, tell them there has been a power failure, and that people are being evacuated to a station a mile away. We will be passing out cadet uniforms to give what you say a bit more weight. In addition, the firing from the Borderlands will be audible. That might scare the hesitant ones into moving.”

There were further explanations, but they were largely ignored. Sonya began to question the other people, dividing them into groups with enough strength to fight against something that was Level 30. Tatiana drew Randidly to the side. As it happened, Randidly was very aware of how Sergeant Phillip’s eyes followed Tatiana as she moved with Randidly.

“It’s annoying, but we should split up,” Tatiana announced as if she had only come to this decision after a large amount of thought. Randidly blinked. He hadn’t even thought for a second they would go together. Both of them were strong enough to resist the Level 30. They should be apart.

Then she gave him an amused look. “What? You thought we were just going to hang out the whole time?”

“No, you’re right. I was just surprised. You’re acting like we-”

Her eyes flashed dangerously, but Randidly ignored it. “-you are acting like we are friends. Ah, well, that came out wrong. I suppose we are.”

Now it was Tatiana’s turn to blink. Then she giggled girlishly, all the sensuousness falling away to reveal a pure mirth. “Ha, I suppose I deserve that. Well, I think neither of us are people that make friends easily. Me, because of my occupation, and you because… well, because you can’t be bothered. But it is a lonely thing, to be out in the country without a friend.”

Randidly nodded slowly. It had been a long time since he had thought about loneliness. It was… strange to consider now. Then he shook his head. “That’s fine, but promise me one thing.”

“Yes?”

“This isn’t all just a ploy to get closer to Sonya, is it?”

Rolling her eyes, Tatiana pushed at Randidly. He took a half step to the side so she didn’t just throw herself backward with the push on him. Then the two parted. Bemused, Randidly walked over to Sonya and she gave him the few people that would be under him during the evacuation. All looked at him with extremely respectful looks in their eyes. They likely saw Gregory, Sonya, and most of all Tatiana consulting him and accepted him as that sort of leader. Which felt like quite the hassle.