Pat… pat… pat…
The sound of the boot mats slamming on the sticky ground as a result of being drenched with water could be heard echoing throughout the forest.
The owner of the voice was racing with all his might over the forest areas in the mountains, which were pitch black with mountainous circumstances that were now pouring quite a bit.
The moon’s faint glow, which was covered in thick clouds, was the only source of visible light.
“Lieutenant Robby!”
Shout someone while running following him from behind.
He disregarded the cry and continued gazing forward; he caught sight of a cave whose position was obstructed; as he checked the area around him, he raised his hand and motioned for those behind him to run towards the cave.
They stood for a moment when inside, recovering while adjusting their gasping breaths.
They looked to be dressed in black clothes, long-sleeved shirts, and striped pants, as well as long black robes that wrapped their entire bodies, including their heads.
Their bodies emitted a sharp and heavy aura as if they’d been through numerous battles. At first glance, it was obvious that they were army soldiers.
Including Lieutenant Robby and 3 other people, they currently have expressions that look very serious, gloomy, worried, confused and various other emotions.
Neither of them spoke including the one who called out ‘Lieutenant Robby’. The silence inside the cave was stifling.
“What should we do now, Lieutenant?” One of them, the first Soldier who had summoned Lieutenant Robby earlier, finally gave in and ask hesitantly.
Lieutenant Robby did not respond, and the room once more fell into silence. The second soldier, who was standing close to soldier 1, tried to open his mouth but couldn’t make a sound; in the end, what he could do was sigh tiredly and close his mouth again.
“… All we need to do right now is continue to hang on and regroup with the captain,” said a third soldier near to Lieutenant Robby, wearing a neckerchief on his head.
‘Captain!’ they exclaimed in their hearts, their bodies clenching a little after hearing that call. Respect and awe appeared on the faces of soldiers 1 and 2, Lieutenant Robby was silent with a thoughtful face.
His mind drifted back to the past, remembering a certain people, a tall and handsome man with a cold and flat face without expression. He couldn’t recall his other expressions, such as smile, sadness, anger, and so on, even after 15 years of knowing him.
As a result, he nicknamed the man a ‘wooden plank.’
‘If it’s him… I don’t think there will be a problem, maybe.’ Lieutenant Robby thought to himself.
“Rest for 15 minutes, after which we get ready to move again.” He ordered.
“Yes sir!”
….
Somewhere in the mountain area, from one of the trees directly above it, hidden behind the leaves. There are two shadows that blend with the surrounding area.
“Sergeant Helmi, the location has been found.”
“Is he alone?”
“Yes!” Answered a soldier with a scar on his left cheek. Sergeant Helmi remained silent.
See no response from Sergeant Helmi, the soldier continued, “Shall we move now?”
‘The captain has foreseen everything; the rest is only waiting for the team to catch up…’ Sergeant Helmi pondered. Before he could answer, something caught his eye.
“Lieutenant Robby!” Shouted the soldier beside him, then Sergeant Helmi and the soldier moved down from the tree and saluted to the newcomer.
“Un.” Lieutenant Robby nodded his head and asked directly, “What about the situation now? Where’s the captain?”
For a little moment, Sergeant Helmi and the soldier with the scar on his left cheek remained silent, but when Sergeant Helmi want to open his mouth to reply…
Bang Bang bang!
A loud gunshot can be heard not too far from where they are. They all throw their bodies to the ground, face down, and stay still in an instant. For about six seconds, gunshots could be heard throughout the forest before coming to a stop.
“Huh?! Who was fighting there ?!” Soldier 1 exclaimed quietly.
The soldier beside Sergeant Helmi answers hesitantly, “Captain ….”
“What?!” Soldier 1 returned the reply with a shocked expression.
“How can?” Asked soldier 3 who wore a neckerchief on his head.
‘Isn’t the captain in a hidden base? Why did he get here?’ He asked doubtfully in his heart.
Sergeant Helmi replied, “The captain’s plan has been changed a bit. The main purpose remains the same. It’s just that the captain asked to capture the enemy leader himself. To make our mission much easier.”
‘Immediately disable the enemy leader? But, for the company leader to move on his own….’ Lieutenant Robby thought for a moment then asked, “Did something happen?”
Sergeant Helmi looked at Lieutenant Robby with a look of admiration. He thought Lieutenant Robby would ask why the plans were changed. If he asked that, perhaps he would be a little hesitant to say it.
‘Judging by his reaction, it looks like Lieutenant Robby had expected it.’ He thought.
The corners of Lieutenant Robby’s mouth twitched. Seeing his amazed expression, he knew what was on Sergeant Helmi’s mind. Lieutenant Robby feels he has fooled an innocent little boy.
‘I’m not completely lying. The captain just said there would be a change, and for the main reason, he didn’t tell me. Yup, I wasn’t wrong.’ He convinced himself.
Sergeant Helmi replied respectfully, “Yes! It’s certain that there are spies in the team lineup and we’ve found out who the traitor is.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “To be precise the captain knew it from the start…”
“”………””
Everyone fell into silence and the silence engulfed the area around them.
Lieutenant Robby and his inner world, ‘I take back what I said earlier. I was wrong, I didn’t know anything. Knowing there was a traitor since from the start? Hehe, I already roasted him without waiting until now. That wooden plank… He knows who? And from the start? Why didn’t he say something important like that!?’
Whereas in other locations the sound of fighting continues, now no longer can the sound of gun be heard, but instead replaced by the sound of the body friction exchanging kicks, punches, and various other movements.
Judging from the expressions of Lieutenant Robby and his soldiers, they already suspected a traitor in their group.
‘Suspicion’ and ‘assurance’ are two different things. If suspicious, it’s not necessarily true and maybe it’s just their imagination.
But hearing the confirmation of a spy… Instantly their bodies felt heavy.
Soldier 1 responded with an irritated face, his body trembling slightly. While soldier 2 sighed while putting on a sad and disappointed face.
The soldier with the neckerchief on his head remained silent, and the Last, Lieutenant Robby did not change his expression at all and kept a calm face.
“Who?” Lieutenant Robby broke the silence.
Before Sergeant Helmi answered, he glanced deeply at Lieutenant Robby and then sighed, “Lieutenant Robby need not worry, he is not part of our army but a member who was just dispatched from above a few months ago.”
The expressions on the faces of everyone except Sergeant Helmi and the soldier with a scar on his left cheek.
“Second Lieutenant Andar!” Exclaimed soldier 2.
“Tsk!” Soldier 3 put on an expression ‘as I thought.’
The slightly careless Pajurit 1 couldn’t stop himself and immediately shouted, “Damn! Arrogant son of-hmmp umn hmp!” Before his words were finished, a hand closed his mouth.
“Be quiet.” A cold, emotionless voice sounded beside him which gave him goosebumps and he stopped talking.
When he raised his head and looked towards the source of the voice, his body spontaneously shuddered.
Lieutenant Robby looked calm on the outside, but the aura emanating from his body said otherwise.
“How many enemies are there?” Lieutenant Robby continued calmly.
Sergeant Helmi replied, “2 people, one Andar and the other is from the enemy and is thought to be of the same rank as the captain and possibly the leader of the enemy.”
When mentioning the name ‘Andar’, Sergeant Helmi did not add the title of Second Lieutenant in front of him and only made a disgusted face without feeling guilty for calling his superiors with such a nickname.
From there it was clear that Second Lieutenant Andar had completely lost the trust of Sergeant Helmi and the soldiers, betrayal was the most taboo in the military.
“He used Andar to pull the enemies lurking from the dark out.” Sergeant Helmi continued.
Hearing this the soldiers felt a little relieved and the cold aura emitted by Lieutenant Robby decreased slightly.
‘Was this what he meant by ‘adapt’? Haah, again, that fellow always acts alone… Tsk tsk tsk.!’ He thought to himself.
Feeling annoyed, he can’t help but grumble a little loudly, “Tsk, dammit, he didn’t say anything to me… well, even though his face is always as flat as a plank of wood, at least his brain doesn’t disappoint and it looks like his plan is working pretty well.”
“Uuh, Lieutenant Robby …” The soldier with a scar on his left cheek was sweating nervously at Lieutenant Robby’s comment.
Lieutenant Robby just waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter, the guy’s not here.”
All soldiers including Sergeant Helmi could only give a speechless look at Lieutenant Robby.
“What about the formation now?” Lieutenant Robby asked.
“Team B and Team E have been given orders to join Team A and continue the mission. Meanwhile, to block the enemy team, the captain ordered Team C and Team D to set traps at several locations where the enemy will appear.” Sergeant Helmi replied.
Lieutenant Robby nodded his head then decided, “I will help the captain.”
With a serious face, he gave orders to all the soldiers, “You guys move and arrest Second Lieutenant Andar, whether alive or dead.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “But it’s better if he’s still alive.”
A cold light flashed across his eyes.
Without thinking he ran towards where the captain was. The other soldiers didn’t stay still and moved in the other direction.
….
In a dark place 1 kilometer away from where Lieutenant Robby and his soldiers were.
“…So we got caught?” Asked someone without anyone knowing where his voice was coming from.
Near him was a group of people in black robes kneeling facing a direction they thought was where the voice was.
“…Yes sir” Looks like we underestimated them too much. I think the punishment this time is more severe than before…
Continuation of the sentence they don’t dare to say it, they seemed to have given up on their fate.
“Who is the one replacing me?” Asked the cold voice again.
“…Darkmatter, sir.”
After answering that, neither of them continued the conversation. The sound of raindrops rang clearly in their ears.
“…Oh.”
Hearing that voice, some of them unknowingly flinch feeling nervous.
“…Continue.” The voice continued in a cold tone.
“…Lead them towards the temple. No, rather lead ‘him’ in that direction.”
‘…Guiding ‘him’? That Captain? Not blocking their way anymore?’ Even though they feel doubtful and don’t know what their leader is thinking but orders are orders.
They quickly accepted it and put it into action.
After they all left, all that was left was the silence of the surroundings.
Then someone mumbled, “…Not yet.”
After that, the presence aura of the voice disappeared instantly without leaving the slightest trace.
