Side Character Who Became the Pseudo-Protagonist

Chapter 56: Sting Operation (2)

There were five people in our group, though the other three weren’t strangers.

Edd had been placed in charge of us. He was a veteran who’d served at the base for ten years. Alongside him were Rich and Taylor, who had each been stationed here for around five or six.

Together with James and me, we made up Squad Echo.

Edd leaned forward with a projection device in hand. A three-dimensional map flickered into existence, displaying the Gondu coastline and the warehouses scattered along it.

"Listen carefully," he said, his expression serious. "Our squad shouldn’t be doing much tonight."

Two markers appeared near the front of one of the warehouses.

"Squads Alpha and Beta will make first contact. They’ll be posing as buyers, and we’ll be listening to their conversations through this device."

"If everything goes well, those two squads will be doing everything. We won’t even have to lift a finger."

That did sound quite reassuring, but knowing how narrative gravity works, it was probably not going to be the case.

"But if things go wrong," Edd continued, pointing toward the rear side of the area. "Squad Charlie and Delta will be moving to their supplies. Their priority is to confirm the presence of the monster materials and secure the entire stock before any of it can be moved."

"If containment becomes impossible, they’ve been authorized to destroy it."

Edd’s eyes passed over each of us. "Let me repeat this so there are no misunderstandings. Squad Echo is the reserve unit for Charlie and Delta. We do not move unless one of those squads requests support—or I give the order."

Yet something about the way he emphasized those names bothered me. "Then...what about Squads Alpha and Beta? What if they need help?"

"Listen to me, Nolan. Only Squads Charlie and Delta. Am I clear?"

I got the message, but that didn’t mean I liked it.

Nobody wanted to say it out loud, but Squads Alpha and Beta...might as well have been a suicide squad if the scale got too big to handle.

’Still...me being too far from the action isn’t great either. If Edd holds me back, I wouldn’t be able to investigate anything...’

’The again...it’s probably better than losing my life.’

As soon as the briefing ended, our car came to a stop. The window that separated the driver and us suddenly slid open.

"We’re here, standby."

"Copy."

Edd nodded before activating something on the device in his hands. Static crackled through the speakers before resolving into a voice.

"This is Squad Alpha. We’re approaching the suspects now. All squads, remain on standby. Do your jobs, and let’s protect Ygg."

All at once, the line flooded with voices, yelling out.

"FOR YGG!"

And then...

Everything went silent.

The only sounds coming through the device were distant footsteps and the faint whistle of the coastal wind.

Everyone in our vehicle leaned forward, straining to hear what was happening on the other side.

Before finally—

"You the buyer?" a thick, almost abrasive voice came through the channel. "Like we agreed, you’re only getting Class F and E parts. Everything above that is non-negotiable."

’Non-negotiable? Did that mean those parts already had a client...?’

The undercover agent must’ve reached the same conclusion. "Shame. My employer pays well for Class D and above. If your other buyer ever backs out, you know how to reach us."

"What’s it to ya?" the smuggler snapped. "Keep moving, or we won’t take responsibility for what happens next."

"Easy. I’m only trying to make sure the merchandise is worth the trouble."

The sound of their footsteps continued through the device.

"My employer had a shipment confiscated last month," the agent added casually. "Turned out the parts came from a registered Gate in Ygg. Nearly led the Bureau straight to us."

"And?"

"And he wants to know where these came from before he puts down a single coin."

Yet that was when the footsteps stopped. For several seconds, nothing came through the device except static.

"That’s strange? We already told your employer where the shipment came from?"

...

Click!

...BANG—!

A gunshot exploded through the speaker as something heavy struck the ground. Nobody inside our truck moved or even breathed.

Only then did the smuggler speak again.

"Fucking rats...the po’ are here! We need to move!"

And just like that, the line descended into utter chaos. Gunshots and the unmistakable roar of Spells overloaded the channel, forcing Edd to switch to another frequency.

I hadn’t even realized my mouth was hanging open until something lurched inside my stomach and forced me to gag.

Everyone noticed it, but decided to say nothing.

"Squad Beta, this is Edd," he spoke into the device. "Status on the mission?"

"...Anthony is dead. Squad Alpha is currently engaging the suspect on the northern coastline. Charlie and Delta are already moving. Your squad needs to move too."

"Copy."

Everyone rose and began collecting their gear, loading weapons and checking various pieces of equipment.

Meanwhile, I could barely force myself to stand.

I’d witnessed people die before, but this...it had been too brutal.

But I forced myself from thinking about it, grabbing onto Huginn tight and following my Squad outside.

We seemed to be on higher elevation, around the Northern side of where everything was happening.

Edd and the others moved through the city with such precision that I could barely keep up. If it weren’t for [Material Sight], I probably would’ve lost them between the buildings.

We eventually stopped inside an abandoned building overlooking the area. Only then did I realize the entire neighborhood had already been evacuated.

’They expected this to turn into a full-blown fight...’

Edd remained near the window, device in hand. "We’ll stay here for now until we receive an update from either Charlie or Delta."

As if summoned by his words, the device suddenly began to vibrate. Edd looked between all of us with a grim expression, before picking up the line.

"This is Edd from Squad Echo, what’s the situa—"

"EDD! WE NEED BACKUP!"

The voice on the other end was barely audible beneath the gunfire.

"SQUAD CHARLIE—THEY’RE... THEY’RE ALL DEAD! WE NEED TO ABORT! TO AB—ARGHHH!"

The transmission dissolved into static...

And without another word, Edd simply nudged his head toward the operation area. His helmet was covering his expression, but I could read it all the same.

This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.