Part Twenty-Six - Triple Threat Missions

“So the first thing we have to do is decide who’s doing what. We should try to choose based on whose the best fit for each job.”

Yep, the man speaks nothing but sense. I guess that’s exactly what you’d expect from a career soldier. He’s trying to reason with everyone and find a sensible solution. Now, how will that go?

“Does anyone have any preferences for what assignment they’ll get?”

“It might be best to send those not as sure of their skills on the sabotage mission. The other two sound really dangerous. A lot of us could get killed doing them. We’re not all that strong compared to some people.” Why the hell did you look at me!? And who are you?

There was a chorus of agreement from the others at his proposal. It looked like more people valued their own safety over the success of the mission. Seriously, who is that guy?

“It’s not a bad idea, but if too many go on that mission, the other two will lack fighters. We need a balance here, a way to keep ourselves from over extending. They do say that if you chase two hares, one will get away.”

Alright, now Kalia’s getting in on it. Hmm, do I have any ideas to contribute? Oh, that might work! Especially since a few new faces joined since the last meeting.

“How about sending the same number of people on the sabotage mission as last time? Twenty people worked well enough if you ignore certain events.”

And those events wouldn’t have happened if I’d been smart. Seriously, how was I to know that thing was C-Rank?

“It’s not a bad idea. It would leave us with an even eighty to distribute on the other two missions. Still, who should we send?”

Well what now? I’m not really an idea kind of person. I’m more of a doer.

“Well I happen to have an excellent solution. My group will handle it, plain and simple.”

And now Finnél’s volunteering!? What has the world come to? He’s up to something. I can’t see him ever volunteering for such an unprofitable mission. He’s the type to place merit above all else.

Alicia had told me about the things he’d said when I was missing, which hadn’t exactly improved my impression of him. I just couldn’t make myself stand the guy.

“It’ll be simple. I’ll take my group and round up a few of the others to pad out our numbers and to let them feel like they’re helping. Then you can deal with the other two with full confidence. It’s a win-win.”

That’s odd. His words are strangely persuasive. I can feel myself starting to agree with him. Hm.

“Well, if you would be willing to do that for us, we’d be most appreciative. Not having to worry about how many people to assign is reassuring.”

A quick glance around the table revealed that everyone seemed to agree. Everyone that is, except me and Kalia. Even the guy who’d proposed the first plan was in complete agreement.

Odder and odder. Why are they all going along with it? Even Sampson is nodding and he’s the first person I’d suspect of arguing just to argue. I don’t really have an objection, so I’ll just go along with it for now, but I should keep an eye on Finnél, just in case.

Sure, something about him irked me, but it was more than that. His armor for one. All of it seemed to be of high quality and probably D-Rank at the least. Now, I know, he could’ve just gotten it all from Dungeons, but I was skeptical. He had at least seven pieces of equipment that I could see and each was unique. How could he have gotten that many without even one generic piece? I hadn’t even done that.

“Since that is settled, I’ll go begin making my preparations. Gooday.”

Er, what?

***

[Sávos’s POV]

“Gather Numbers 20 through 30. Tell them to meet me at dawn tomorrow. And that I want no screw-ups.”

“Yes Young Master.”

“After that, deal with the peasant rat.”

Sávos had been listening in on the meeting, so there was no need to explain what had happened inside to him. This was an effect of his Unique Skill and one of the reasons Finnél valued his usefulness so much. Espionage made him a savant at gathering information and remaining undetected.

I’ll keep an eye on that boy. I'll have to wait for an opportunity to slip the attractant into his bag. I’ll only have one chance, so I’ll need to wait until he’s off-guard.

Finnél went off to make his preparations alone, leaving Sávos to find the pawns. He’d already memorized the locations of their rooms and so quickly made his way there. He didn’t even bother knocking on the door, showing that he held a certain level of disdain for them.

“S-Sávos!? W-what would you like sir?”

“Master Finnél is calling you. Numbers 20 through 30 are to report to the Master at dawn. Do not be late.”

“Erk, y-y-yes sir!”

Pathetic. Was I ever as hopeless as them?

By normal Earth standards, Genaap’s pawn system was completely inhumane. Children below the age of ten were often sold to organizations or powerful individuals as indentured servants. The fates of these children weren’t always pleasant. It depended on who owned their contracts, but they could be used as test subjects or nearly worked to death in horrid conditions.

House Valec did things differently. Because of the constant threat of monsters, pawns were conscripted into small platoons. Forced to live, eat, sleep, and die together, pawn platoons were usually tightly knit groups. If a platoon could distinguish themselves, they could earn both their freedom and an honorable position serving the House.

There were two things that caught Sávos’ attention as he turned to leave. That the mood in the room was rather somber and that there were two less than this morning.

“Number 1, what happened to the other two?”

The man he’d called out flinched, before looking to his comrades for help. Finding none, he reluctantly spoke up.

“Number 3 was killed by a Minotaur Soldier and Number 17 got snatched by some Hunter Hawks and carried over the monsters.”

“I see. What about their equipment and remains?”

“They were both so torn up that there wasn’t anything to salvage. We could only retrieve a few fragments of cloth from each.”

After he’d finished, the man hung his head like he was expecting to be executed. And I should. They broke protocol, but I can’t say I’ve never skewed the rules after the death of a dear friend.

“Very well. Next time, make sure to report in properly next time. I won’t be so lenient again.”

He left before they could respond. After all, he did still have one job to do.

***

[Protag’s POV]

We’d somehow talked ourselves into an impasse. With Finnél declaring he’d take his team to deal with one mission, we could divide up the rest of us between the two evenly. Except we ran into an unexpected problem.

You see, not every group had the same amount of people and after everyone had chosen what mission they wanted to do, we’d discovered that the rosters were uneven. It was 39 to 41.

Now I know what you’re thinking, why does it matter? And to tell the truth, I thought the same way. We’re just wasting time! Get over it dip-shit!

Braddock’s group had taken charge over the wolf mission and one of the smaller groups had joined them. Meanwhile, Sampson had taken over leadership for the mission to deal with the Mivians. We’d decided to join the second group, as dealing with enemies inside a structure was something we were used to.

I’d thought the discussion was over, until someone had spoken up and claimed that the rosters were uneven, which set off this whole mess.

“All we need is one person and the rosters will balance. That’s it, so why are you all so stubborn!?”

I’d never seen the guy before, but he was the leader of the group that joined with Braddock’s. My guess was that he was worried for the safety of the rest of his group, or that he personally wanted the best chances of surviving.

The problem was that everyone had agreed that the numbers should be even when we started, so no one was able to really counter his argument. No one had expected things to go so well and then to go to shit when we started. At this rate, we’ll still be arguing tomorrow!

“Hmph, is it really so hard to figure out?”

Sampson, who had once again stayed out of the conversation until now, spoke up. A shiver went down my spine, as if I’d somehow anticipated this turn of events.

“As far as I see it, me and that reckless idiot are the two strongest here. So why not switch him over? Having both of us on one team doesn’t make any sense to me.”

You BASTARD! What the hell have I done to you!?

“Yeah, that could work. I saw that guy take out multiple Minotaurs like it was nothing. It would be better than nothing.”

And now the background character is getting in on it!? I don’t like where this is going.

It was like as soon as it was mentioned, nearly everyone was on-board. The only people to seem a little dissatisfied were my companions and Braddock and Kalia. The latter two seemed more apologetic than anything, while Alicia and Cameron looked bothered, but strangely not upset.

“By that logic, you could switch him over instead. It doesn’t have to be me.”

I’d decided to try and reason with them. They were deciding this based off of some very unimportant criteria. It would be better to think who’d be the best choice to send.

“Not at all, it has to be you. I’m the leader of my group. They won’t function as well without me. And again, it would be best to send someone with some real combat strength, enough to deal with a Mid-boss if it shows up.”

That’s what he’s thinking!? Damnit, I’d love to argue that point, but I just can’t. Knowing my luck, a different Mid-boss could show up, though that won’t happen, right? I’m not jinxing myself, am I?

I’d run out of arguments. Even if I kept at it, I could tell it would be futile. Everyone else had already settled the matter in their minds. I was the only one dissenting.

“Fine, whatever.”

“Good. Well now that that’s settled, I’m going to go take a shit.”

And with that eloquent remark, Sampson left the room along with his men.

“Alright then. Now that everyone has their assignments, I suppose we’re done for the day unless something else happens. Though if anyone wants to discuss the System announcement we got, then now’s the time to do it.”

I do respect Braddock for trying to be serious about it, but when you say it like that, it sounds like you’re talking about a video game. This whole thing is still messed up, even after this long. I don’t think I ever get completely used to it.