Kill The Dragons - Chapter 57
Han was able to return to Squad 13 after a week’s time. Kijo and Canute were still rehabilitating in the hospital while a majority of the squad members had already returned to their normal lives. The squad battles were on hiatus, but the lectures and training drills continued.
“Pass me a biscuit.”
Han sat down at the table, next to Jose, for breakfast. Kuro used his telekinesis to pass a biscuit over from the serving table; this was a common sight in Ark. The second years at Ark were talents who used their telekinesis in their day to day lives.
“Thanks.”
Han sat at Squad 13’s dining table and began to eat. Soon, the other squads gradually filled the dining facility. A handful of people from the other squads spotted Squad 13 and waved.
Squad 13 used to be the outcasts, but now they had completely integrated with the rest of the second years and had a good relationship with everyone.
“I don’t see Kato, Squad 7’s leader.”
Han said as he looked at Squad 7.
The 7th squad started their meals although Kato wasn’t there.
“Kato is at the hospital ward; he tried to commit suicide while you were away. It’s a mystery if he’ll ever recover,” Jose said.
Han narrowed his eyes. He didn’t have a good relationship with Kato, but they were both youths of Ark.
Kato was strong in various ways. Even so, a single mistake had caused him to suffer a total mental breakdown.
‘I see…’
Han had felt that Kato was a bit off when they last met. Kato seemed to have a glass heart– a single touch was enough to shatter it.
‘If my own judgment caused Kuro or Jose’s death… If my squad members had died, then…’
Han roughly chewed his bread, just imagining the dreadful possibility. Kato Souki must feel that life was like hell itself.
Every night, his squad members would come haunt him in his nightmares, and Han perfectly understood that pain.
Han had also lost many important people in his own life, and could only watch his younger siblings die slowly from starvation.
“When will the squad battles begin again? Ugh, the food is horrible.”
Kuro said while drinking his protein drink. Even if the youths of Ark could eat until they were full, they were unable to fully consume the necessary nutrients for daily life. If they did not supplement their meals with extra nutrients, then all their muscles would instantly disappear.
“I heard that they’re selecting the most useful bunch from the first years to be transferred into second year.”
“There are too many squads that have been wiped out.”
“They need to fill the necessary numbers for the second years, I feel like there won’t be any transfers into third year for the time being.”
“That could be.”
Squad 13 continued to discuss what would happen in Ark’s future. Han thought of all the things that had happened in the Dimensional Crack Zone. Wuxiaworld for visiting.
‘They didn’t divulge much of the specific details to me since I’m only a second year, but this is a very important turn of events to pay attention to. After the recent crisis, the number of instructors has drastically decreased. They should be out participating in real battle.’
The first and second years were oblivious to any jobs and missions related to the third years. This included any of Ark’s secret missions…
‘Ark has always been short on human resources. Even so, they are selective when recruiting psykers so that unfortunate events such as Kato’s can be prevented.’
Ark’s ultimate goal is to win the war against dragons. If an untrained youth was sent out against the minions, the youth would most likely become permanently disabled or dead. It wasn’t a wise choice to sell out the future generation of youths for the sake of the present.
Han picked up his toast while lost in thought and noticed it had not been fully toasted.
“Jose, can you toast this for me?”
Jose’s eyes glowed. A tiny flame flickered across the toast. The soft bread toasted to a golden state.
The second years of Ark used their psychic powers daily which increased their handling skill. Psychic skills were not considered a rare or mysterious power by these youths any longer, but just another part of their daily lives.
Just as breathing and walking is natural to humans, using psychic powers felt natural. The first generation of the acquired psykers trained for ten years to get to the level the inborn psykers had become in a mere one or two years.
Han’s powers grew slowly compared to the usual second generation inborn psykers, but compared to first generation psykers, his powers grew at a monstrously fast rate.
– Second Year squad leaders, assemble after breakfast.
A message popped up on Han’s data bracelet. It had been awhile since the squad leaders held an assembly. Han finished his meal and headed to the assembly. He found his seat and waited for the other drill instructors.
“Hey, Han. Long time no see.”
Dimitri was cheerful like always, Han nodded in response. The rest of the squad leaders began exchanging small talk as they gathered.
Originally, there should have been thirteen squad leaders present, but many of the chairs remained empty. The 7th squad leader, Kato, was absent. Instead, a substitute squad leader had joined the meeting.
“Now, now. Quiet everyone.”
The drill instructor said while walking in. The meeting room quickly fell into silence. The drill instructor lightly coughed and began the assembly.
“There will be a three day long inspection by the higher-ups, beginning tomorrow. They have requested to inspect the second years of Ark due to recent events at the dimensional crack.”
“The higher-ups?”
“They are a team of inspectors that has been put together by the various governments and countries that sponsor Ark. They managed to grab hold of a good excuse to inspect our grounds, and we are unable to deny them. They never seem to like us.”
Ark is an independent military base, but is incapable of maintaining itself without financial support from third parties, and without them, the foundation of Ark would crumble in an instant.
All the countries across the world were busy trying to prevent as much damage from the dragons as they could. They held each other in check so that they would not be the ones left with the short end of the stick.
The countries thought of Ark as a necessity, but at the same time feared its existence.
If Ark were to take a side with a specific country or spur anti-government movements, the political balance would greatly shift.
If dragons are exterminated, Ark would become an unnecessary existence. Therefore, outside government forces constantly held inspections for the smallest of reasons and sent the bare minimum necessary to sponsor the military base.
“Won’t it be fine to act as we usually do?” Dimitri said.
A few of the other squad leaders nodded as well in agreement.
“It won’t be so easy to do as you say. The higher-ups will be pestering you nonstop for the next three days. We will not be able to prevent them from doing so in the least. The various inspectors will have been assigned a task to accomplish while they remain here in Ark. You must always be wary of what you say.”
The drill instructors repeated this over and over. No matter how brilliant these youths were, they were all in their early teens. The students could be easily tricked into revealing more information than intended, against these expert conversationalists, that had dealt with these situations throughout all of their adult lives.
“Once dismissed, you’re to let your squad members know of the contents of today’s meeting. Squad 13 leader, Han, you’re to remain here.”
“Yes sir.”
All the other squad leaders left the meeting room until only Han and the drill instructors were left in the meeting room. The drill instructors didn’t begin talking until they had made sure all the other squad leaders had left.
“Remain silent about all topics that relate to Squad Whiskey, Han. The higher-ups have not received a report on this secret military operation. People from the committee will attempt to dig some information out of you. Simon has also been informed of this as well.”
“Understood sir.”
Han didn’t ask why the information couldn’t be leaked. This was outside the area of Han’s understanding about Ark. This was probably related to Ark’s internal battle of power amongst all the countries around the world.
Everyone competed against one another for the sake of coexisting without ending up with the short end of the stick.
