The Achievement Junkie 254 Under Attack Yet Again

"What's the matter, soldier? Is something wrong?" A well-built man sat up from his cot, giving the tired soldier a curious look.

Amidst his heaving, the soldier managed to squeeze out the news. "Sir, Assitant Loire just returned in critical condition. They need you in the back tent immediately!"

Back on his feet, the official's eyes shook. "What?! What happened?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is that he cam back with a hole in his chest."

"Out of the way!" The official threw his coat back on and nudged Jack to the side to exit with utmost haste.

"But Official…"

Turning back with annoyance in his eyes, the official barked back, "What else is…"

Silenced by a knife through his throat, the official shivered as the soldier who did him in whispered, "I'm sending you to him now…"

As the official tried to reach out to the soldier he gave up the ghost and fell lifeless to the floor.

'I'm screaming in 3… 2… 1…'

"AAAAAHHH!!" Jack burst through the tent door with his vocal cords stressed beyond what he thought possible. "The official… The official's been killed!"

All surrounding soldiers bolted into action, dropping everything as Jack's voiced expanded through the camp. And thanks to Jack's worry, the entire camp came to life in search of the truth.

Everyone ran around slightly manic, yet orderly enough to keep things in order. That was until another shout sounded out from across the camp, followed by a pillar of fire destroying one of the tents.

As the confusion and chaos ensue beyond what the camp had prepared for, Jack slipped away with the crowd, changing his face and appearance yet again.

*****

Daliea patiently waited near her target, visualizing what would take place once she made her move.

The best choice of action would be to assassinate the official with her first move and then deal with the captain afterward since he wasn't even lv. 30. It may cause some noise but that would be unavoidable in her predicament. 

However, when Jack's target suddenly changed and he was then supposed to make a scene, it was exactly what Daliea needed. With some luck, she thought it might be possible to kill the captain while the rest of the camp is abuzz about the first official's death.

'Okay, I'm entering the tent now.'

Hearing her cue Daliea waltzed up to the tent door, yet another voice sounded in her head.

'Daliea, don't be afraid to cause a scene. No matter what, a fight will break out after Jack draws everyone's attention, so adding to the chaos is fine.'

'Understood, Rydel.'

Surprised to hear that, Daliea kept the thought in mind as she announced herself, "Sir, I have news from Assistant Loire."

"Well get in here and make it quick!"

Following orders, Daliea pushed the tent door aside. "Excuse me."

The official nonchalantly flapped his hand up and down to the messenger, not daring to look away from his poker game. "What is it? Is the assistant back already?"

"Yes, sir. He just arrived and is wanting all officials and captains to meet him in the back tent."

"Oh? Looks like we're both unlucky this time," joked the official, looking at the frown of the man across from him. "How urgent is it?"

"He requests you come immediately. It seems that we may need to leave sooner than expected," replied Daliea, bowing her head to not disrespect the superior officers in any way.

"Looks like I win again!" The captain snatched the pile of silver and copper coins from the center of the table. "Now we can go."

Sighing in displeasure, the official stood up and stretched his back before grabbing the coat lying across his cot. "The back tent, right? We can get there on our own so you're dismissed."

"Sir, I was given orders to inform you, as well as escort you as quickly as possible," retorted Daliea. "Please understand sir, I'm just following orders."

"Sounds like Assistant Loire is as uptight as ever," sighed the captain. "Whatever, it doesn't change anything. Let's go."

'I'm screaming in 3…' Jack's warning caused Daliea to take another moment to breathe and commit to her targets.

Finishing the last of his buttons, the official agreed, "Right, off we go."

'2…'

Daliea bowed one last time, then she held the tent flap open for the other. "After you."

"Well, at least you respect your superiors!" The captain quickened his pace to beat the official out.

'1…"

As the official stepped up, his casual face became tense and serious, like he was putting on a show for the whole camp to see.

"AAAAAHHH!!"

Jack's jolting scream was heard from across the camp, alerting the official and the captain of danger. Sadly for them, they were looking around the camp and near the manor walls, not behind them.

Without any noise, a dagger was thrust through the officials throat, forever silencing him without letting him know how he was done in.

The captain turned back to speak with the official about the sudden shout but was aghast at what he found.

Blood was draining from the official's throat, trailing off the dagger and dripping to the ground. And behind the official, he saw that same infantryman that delivered the message but the soldier's eyes were glowing bright red and flames were gathering around his outstretched hand.

"Cyclonic Flame."

"Aaahh!" Being roasted alive and reduced to cinders caused the captain to spend his last breaths in agony, alerting the rest of the camp of another anomaly.

The tent also went up in flames, threatening to burn down the rest of the camp. However, the neighboring tents had no chance of escaping the fire as Daliea set fire to all nearby tents with no regard to who was inside.

With everyone focused on the fire and stopped the spread, Like Jack, Daliea altered her disguise and blended in with the confused troops.

*****

'I'm screaming in 3…'

Grateful for Jack's countdown, Rydel relaxed his breathing temporarily and easily followed Jack's timing.

'2…'

Not having to think quelled Rydel's nerves momentarily. His hands remained firm and on target.

'1…'

One last breath, long and deep enough to keep Rydel backing out of his portion of the mission.

*****

"Dirk, you know I trust you more than anyone, but you know that Loire is more than capable of such a simple task."

"General, it's not that he can't complete the task. What I fear is that he's too easily goaded and distracted to understand the urgency of his assignments, especially during such a critical situation like now."

General Toms leaned back in his chair, taking Assistant Dirk's words into consideration. "Maybe you're right, but he's already left. All we can do now is wait for the man, though I think you're right about him getting distracted again, given how late he is."

"General, I think we should back off and allow these troops to regroup with our units posted on the border," reasoned Dirk. "It would show that we haven't broken the war pact yet it would still provide the extra push we need to break their front lines."

"Dirk, you misunderstand our objective."

Toms scratched his neck and stood up, meeting Dirk's gaze at eye level. "We're not trying to break their frontline. What we're after is a complete and total invasion. We've already proven that we can break the front lines, but with the aid of this secret army we can storm Trodar and burn it all as we pass over it."

Slightly stunned at the general's frankness, Dirk blinked. "You mean…"

"Correct. We're not trying to break their frontline. We're trying to cripple Trodar to the point that their people give up. So what if we break the war pact? That only matters if we fail, which is impossible so long as we strike now."

"But General, what's the point of winning if we gain nothing from it?" asked Dirk.

With a chuckle, General Toms answered, "Victory. That's all that matters. The winner is made king, and the loser is vilified. No matter what it takes, success is all that matters in the end. Don't let your own personal morals get in the way of results. That's something that Loire has mastered, unlike you."

"I…" Unsure how to respond, Dirk took a moment to think.

"AAAAAHHH!!"

"What was--"

"Aaahh!!"

As Jack's initial shout reached their tent, both men turned toward the front of camp instinctively. Dirk's reflex to question the situation was fast, but not as quick as General Tom's shout in pain.

"General!" Mortified, Assistant Dirk caught the falling General Toms. He found the arrow that had pierced Toms back and attempted to remove it.

"N-no! Don't touch it!" General Toms gritted and went stiff from the pain as Dirk grabbed the arrow.

"But General--"

"This isn't an ordinary arrow… I can feel something… seeping out of it…" Toms broke into a heavy sweat. "I'm not sure… What happens if you remove it."

"But--"

"Warn… The camp… But don't leave me… It's happening again…"

Reaffirming his resolve through the general's pain, Assistant Dirk shouted at the top of his lungs and with all the might of a lv. 36, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

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Chapter end