"What is he doing?"
Marta, lying on the ground, opened her pink lips in surprise and said, "Why would he commit suicide for no reason? It doesn't look like he's seriously injured!"
Laskey adjusted his dark red glasses and, after carefully observing, speculated, "It seems he was bitten on the calf by a Kabane, so he chose to kill himself to avoid threatening his companions."
"If that's the case, then the resolve of the soldiers in this world is truly remarkable. In our world, not even the Navy soldiers would blow through their own hearts without hesitation, let alone the Army."
Hearing Marta's words, Laskey nodded and said, "This also shows how much pressure these Living Dead called Kabane have brought upon them."
"However, I'm more curious now. Judging from their current manpower and efficiency in clearing the Kabane, it's clear they can't handle all the Kabane here. And I'm certain there are a large number of Kabane inside that city as well!"
Marta looked at the open city gate and agreed, "Indeed, it must have fallen. You can see the fires burning everywhere inside from here."
"So, what do we do now?"
"Notify the rear base and have them send troops over. Although the city has fallen, there must be a lot of intelligence inside!" Laskey pondered for a moment and said. Marta beside him looked at him in confusion and asked, "What about us? Aren't we going in to take a look?"
"We'll follow this armed group. A fallen city is dead and won't go anywhere, but these people are alive. Keeping a close eye on them is more valuable!"
"Contact the base immediately!"
Seeing that he had made a decision, Marta didn't say more and cautiously retreated. After moving a certain distance away from the top of the hill, ensuring she wouldn't be noticed by the people below, she took out the Den Den Mushi and quietly reported the situation to the rear.
Five minutes later, the call ended.
"Done."
Marta crouched and walked back, lying down beside Laskey again. The latter lifted his chin and reminded, "Look at what they're doing."
The former squinted her eyes and looked down from above.
She saw that after paying a small price in casualties and clearing most of the Kabane on the plain, the black-clad soldiers began using large pincer-like tools to capture some Kabane whose limbs had been broken but were still alive. They then dragged them toward the dark iron-armored train.
"They're capturing them alive too!"
Laskey nodded and said, "Yes, perhaps their goal is the same as ours—to study these Kabane."
"But this also means they're about to leave. Let's hurry and follow them, find a way to board that train. Stay hidden and don't expose ourselves!"
After saying this, Laskey and Marta turned into blurs again, quickly approaching the area below.
Sure enough.
Just as Laskey had thought, after capturing twenty to thirty Kabane and locking them in the train cars, the black-clad soldiers began an orderly retreat, taking the muskets and yellow canister-like equipment from their fallen comrades.
When the last batch of motorcycle squads returned to the train, the open armor automatically closed tightly, and a loud whistle sounded from the front locomotive.
Soon, the 'dark beast' under the starry sky roared forward, gradually picking up speed. But whether it was the 'beast' itself or the people inside it...
No one noticed the two shadows under the moonlight catching up from behind at a speed faster than 'it,' then leaping effortlessly onto the tail end of the train just before it reached its maximum velocity.
However, their landing produced no noticeable sound, the entire process blending seamlessly into the clattering noise of the train.
Marta clung to the iron exterior of the train car, keeping a wary eye on the orange-yellow light emanating from inside, and whispered, "What do we do next?"
Laskey, expressionless, replied, "Find a way to capture someone, change into their clothes, and blend in. Since they're also using the same language, we'll likely understand what they're saying. First, we need to figure out the identity of this group."
As he spoke, he removed the glasses from his nose, folded them, and placed them in his coat pocket, revealing his sharp, cold eyes.
"From their performance in the previous battle, although they're soldiers, their strength is very weak—even weaker than the marines from the four seas branches. They're just ordinary civilians with some military training and a few who are somewhat agile."
Marble nodded, then suddenly asked a strange question, "True, but there's one problem. How do you plan to solve it?"
"What problem?"
"I noticed that most of these people are under 1.8 meters tall, averaging around 1.7 meters. As for me, I'm 1.85 meters, and you…" The golden-haired, black-dressed beauty glanced up and down at Laskey and said, "I remember you're around two meters tall, right?"
"..."
Laskey's cold face froze in place.
He never thought there'd be a day when he'd be troubled by being too tall. The problem was, in his home world, he wasn't even considered tall! Meanwhile.
The Stargate base, having received Marta's report, became even more bustling.
The managing officials quickly relayed the discovery of a large city and an armed force to the Stargate base on the other side, which then reported it to the Cipher Pol headquarters. Finally, CP0 was tasked with contacting the Five Elders above.
And ultimately, it was the Five Elders themselves who personally informed Lord Imu.
However, Imu's response was to leave the exploration and development of the New World entirely in their hands. Upon receiving this order, the Five Elders immediately decided to dispatch a large army to enter.
In the Chamber of Authority.
"Should we send Bullet along as well?"
Topman Warcury Saint looked at Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro and asked. The latter squinted as he examined the half-exposed blade of the First Generation Kitetsu in his arms and replied, "He'll find out sooner or later. Let him go."
"True, Crocodile has already gone. There's no reason Bullet can't go. Perhaps knowing this will make him more obedient," Marcus Mars Saint chuckled.
"But if we want to mobilize Bullet, we'll need to request Lord Imu to issue the order. That guy won't listen to us…" Shepherd Ju Peter Saint said with dissatisfaction. "And this Crocodile, he's been gone for so long without sending back any news. I don't believe he hasn't discovered anything at all."
"Let him be. This is also Lord Imu's will," Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sheathed his blade, speaking unhurriedly, as if he wasn't the least bit anxious.
"As long as he returns in the end, the Army will gain another combat force. By then, we'll have to focus on training Crocodile. He's still too weak now."
"At the very least, we need to address his shortcomings in Haki and physical combat. When the time comes, send him to your Cipher Pol headquarters for training. That's your area of expertise."
Truthfully, the best option would be to have Crocodile spend a year in Zed's training camp. But that would make him part of the Navy, and Zed might not even be willing to accept him.
"Agreed."
The five leaders made the decision, and the order quickly cascaded down the chain of command, soon reaching Army Headquarters Landforce.
Upon receiving the order, two thousand fully armed Army soldiers swiftly assembled—a full regiment.
Not a large number.
But then again, the Stargate is only so big. Too many people would just mean more time spent queuing.
Ten minutes later, the entire unit, clad in hard leather gloves, metal arm and leg guards, black military uniforms, and armed with automatic rifles, grenades, and long swords strapped to their waists, mounted military motorcycles. Led personally by Bullet, they roared out of the steel Justice Gate of the headquarters with an overwhelming clamor.
By now, he was dressed in a full dark blue suit, black leather boots, and the black Justice Coat with white lettering draped over his shoulders.
Army Vice Admiral, Douglas Bullet.