90 Ark Projec (2/2)

”Hey you! What do you mean boot up? That chain smoker, Red just barely managed to start exercising again. The dragon material required for this is very high! If you're greedy for it, you should just say so! What nonsense are you trying to spout?”

Octo plugged his ears. Smith who was almost exploding with anger seized Octo's collar. The engineering teams were not the best of friends with one another. They constantly competed and aimed for each other.

”You should stop this old man. Weren't you going to disassemble it and return everything anyway?”

”You'll be the last person I transfer it to! I won't! What joke are you trying to pull again?”

Alexander massaged his throbbing head. Chief of Team One, Charlie Smith, is a legend. After the first dragon died, he took the corpse of the dragon and conducted all sorts of experiments until he designed a skeleton reinforcement suit, the psychoframe.

All of the psychoframes are based off of Smith's designs. However, his personality was the main problem. He had an uptight personality which many young adults detested. Octo was not one to give way just because the other party was older in age. The hardest group of people to control were not the researchers, but the engineers.

”Octo, speak quickly before my eardrums explode.”

Octo took out some marshmallows and stuffed it into his mouth.

”We have a psyker who can work with the prototype. He is a unique case, so it will be more beneficial for us to develop it than to try and mass produce this.”

It was necessary for them to take in all the spare psychoframes, even just one more. Alexander had originally planned to recycle even the practice psychoframe, Oldman. It was urgent for them to stock as much dragon weapons as possible. If another dragon of Bahamut's rank would appear… humanity would be extinct. This wasn't an exaggeration, but the reality of their situation.

”Please submit your planned proposition.”

Alexander said shortly. Octo sent a smug smile to Smith's way.

***

Han had a rib guard, and his left arm was in a cast. His face was slathered in ointment. The Battle of Tirania ended with Ark's victory.

After the battle, the rookie, Han was the center of everyone's attention. He had fulfilled his role as the Squad Leader, and inflicted a blow on the dragon. The youth had done something even seasoned soldiers could not.

”Johnny Schwartz.”

Han had been the last to see Schwartz. He had witnessed Schwartz dragged into the dimensional crack while covered in blood. Officially, he was deemed missing, rather than dead. It was possible that he could have survived and wandering somewhere in this world. Though, the chances were almost close to none.

Grip.

Han fiercely gripped his hands into fists. He felt how much strength he lacked. He felt the need to grow stronger. Han's techniques, talents, resourcefulness, and battle tactics could not reduce the difference in the least. No matter how much an ant struggled, it was impossible to beat an elephant. The difference in strength was as such for Han against the dragon.

He felt impatient, but decided to thoroughly rest his body. He would rest until he made a full recovery. The leading members of Ark were busy, but the battle forces were mostly free of any agenda. Han didn't force his training. He heeded the advice of those around him, and rested.

”Is Silence inside?”

Han knocked Silence's room. Silence did not come out from his room for the last two days. He wasn't particularly injured in any major way.

Click.

The door cracked open a bit. Silence stuck his electric note out the crack of the door.

-Leave me alone.

Han scratched his head. A dark glum aura seemed to emanate from Silence.

”How long will you stay inside? Let's go eat.”

-I'm trash. I don't have the right to eat.

”…What's the problem?”

-I couldn't do a single thing. I could only watch you fight. I'm a disgrace and an embarrassment. I'm reflecting for my wrong by facing the wall. When I'm done reflecting against the wall, I will walk out on my own.

”Then come out when you're done meditating.”

The door closed. Han decided to leave Silence alone. Han asked the other soldiers, but it seems Silence did this whenever he made a big mistake in any of his missions. He locked himself in his room for a duration. Silence had been deployed in countless missions. He didn't always come back with good news. Everyone had their own ways to cope with failure.