The Difference Is Like Between a Dog and a Cow

80 – Imperial Night (4)

The movements of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion were much faster and more stealthy than when they were first deployed.

The two sentries who were dozing off at the guardhouse in charge of the north gate of the arsenal left for a dreamland from which they would never return, with blood pouring from their necks.

It was the same for those who were on duty at a nearby watchtower.

“Ah, when will I be discharged?”

“Sergeant, isn’t that a person?”

“What?”

“Kuk, gaug…… !!”

A god of death who falls from the sky and kills himself with a dagger. The soldiers, who were just chatting and chatting, became cold corpses without even being able to properly scream.

It’s quick. And sharp

The 1st Platoon boasted the most overwhelming combat power in the 1st Company. Knife fighting, which was handed down directly from the war hero Claude, was not something the Imperial Army could handle in defenseless Sobie.

The members of the 1st Platoon, who quickly overpowered the area near the north gate, opened the tightly closed north gate.

Immediately, the shabby-clad personnel waiting in the surrounding grass all entered the arsenal.

“Thank you for your hard work. Leave ground control to us from now on.”

“We will proceed in the direction of the barracks. Please be mindful of the mistake of our allies.”

“I will make it clear to my subordinates as well.”

The battalion commander of the 3rd Mobile Battalion added with a grin at Claude Lane.

“It is a great honor to operate alongside the hero of Quernen, the Butcher of Thunderbolt.”

“…… When it’s done safely, let’s all solve the problem together.”

Claude Lane threw out a word lightly and passed by the mobile battalion commander. Because there was no time to have a leisurely conversation during the actual operation.

Occupy the barracks.

I haven’t heard a gunshot yet, but it won’t be long before the arsenal will be in a mess. Before the swarms of ants woke up, they had to end their lives.

That time.

The 3rd Platoon sat down on the roof of a two-story concrete building that stood out even in the arsenal, waiting for the arrival of the 1st Platoon.

3Rd Platoon Leader Erwin Ruth stuck his head out through the railing and checked the condition of the platoon members who had landed on the backyard instead of on the roof. He was fortunate to be accompanied by his deputy platoon leader, Sergeant Randallman.

「Proceed to the right and join the 1st Platoon.」

「Okay.」

As soon as the order was announced with a pre-determined hand signal, they moved stealthily toward the front gate of the barracks.

From noble mtl dot com

Since it was the last 3rd platoon to descend, the fact that no gunshots have been heard so far means that the other platoons are performing very well.

‘It would be nice if taking down the barracks was simple, but it would be difficult.’

Soon, the 1st platoon appeared in front of the barracks. Erwin, who confirmed the signal that he was ready to enter by sticking out his fist, ordered his platoon members to follow behind him.

Assuming the lead, he carefully opens the roof door and descends the stairs below.

When Erwin reached the hallway on the second floor safely without incident, Erwin exquisitely met eyes with a man who appeared from the corner.

“…… ?”

As if he had just woken up, his mischievous eyes were wide open. Before he could open his mouth to let out his roar, Erwin’s pistol fired.

Taang—!!

A sharp gunshot reverberates throughout the building.

“Damn it, I was shocked…… !! Everyone move!!”

Since it has already been committed, there is no choice but to proceed as it is. At Erwin’s cry, the 3rd Platoon quickly dispersed into the hallway.

“Rush in!”

The 1st Platoon, who heard the gunfire, also kicked through the main gate and ran into the barracks.

In an instant, the inside of the building, where there had been only peaceful silence, was filled with merciless gunshots and screams.

***

“Whoa…… After! Whoa!! 2, 2Nd company…… The south gate has been occupied.”

I greeted Rumia, who had returned, gasping for breath. Since communication equipment is not sufficiently developed yet, the adjutants have no choice but to run around.

From how hard he ran, his forehead was dripping with sweat and his face was red. When I handed over the water bottle, Rumia gulped down.

“Pu, puhaa—!!”

“I had a hard time.”

“I checked while passing by and it seems that the 2nd and 4th platoons have also completed the occupation of the armory.”

“For now, things are going smoothly.”

Certainly, the gunshots that had been heard constantly from the direction of the barracks were gradually fading away, and the personnel of the mobile battalion deployed quickly deployed, and most of the ground facilities were also incapacitated.

‘Then is the basement the key now?’

According to the intelligence obtained by Sony Zeppelin, the Lemansk Arsenal was originally an arsenal that produced personal firearms.

But the factory hasn’t been operating in recent months.

The problem was that the time coincided roughly with the time when the Pearl of Omen was stolen.

Thanks to my close ties with the local rebels, Red October, I’ve also received information that I’ve also seen convoys evacuating what I believe to be the artifact in question.

It was clear that the Soviet Empire bastards were conducting special experiments with the artifact in the basement of this facility.

“Rumia, report that the first operation was successful.”

“Okay.”

She catches her breath to some extent and she takes her small lantern out of her pocket and lifts it to transmit her signal. There was no flash light, so it was a way to open and close the lid of a lit lantern.

Soon, the light on the airship, which rose like a shadow against the background of the moon, turned on five times.

「Good. Operation continuation wind.”

「Good reception, end of communication.」

After giving and receiving a series of signals, Lumia extinguished the light of the lantern and secured it to her forehand.

“Move.”

The other platoon members may have already gathered at the rendezvous point. I urged the two of them to head deeper into the arsenal.

The ground facilities of the Limansk Arsenal could be divided into three areas.

Area Area A where the North Gate and Barracks are located, Area B where the Armory is located, and Area C where the South Gate and Manufacturing Process are located. Among them, it was Area C where there was a passage to enter the underground facility.

Even that was connected by exactly three passages, so each company decided to take charge of one passage to enter.

Let’s get to the rendezvous point like that.

Fortunately, all thirty-nine members of the company were unharmed. Obviously, since it was a night assault, they succeeded in subduing them without any time to respond.

But the melee began now.

The gunshots must have already rang out several times, so the troops deployed in the underground facility must have responded immediately.

It is highly probable that they deployed all sorts of traps and defenses, including barricades and, at worst, booby traps.

If you are using it as a secret research facility, not just an arsenal.

Because of the geographical characteristics of being close to the border and having a lot of conflicts, there was a high possibility that the Imperial Army built defense facilities in Sobi.

“From now on, we will enter the basement. Always stay relaxed.”

“Yes!”

“This time, the 4th Platoon will lead the way, enter.”

Sergeant Hilton Calia nodded and went down the underground passage with his soldiers. Upon opening the rusted iron door and entering, it seemed as if a medieval underground dungeon had been transported as it was.

Illumination does not use magic or electricity, but in the form of a primitive candle.

「What do you see?」

「Watches cannot be secured. I will continue.”

The 4th Platoon, led by Hilton Calia’s platoon commander, headed deeper into the darkness, and after crossing the end of the aisle, a wide cavity opened up.

However, it was a place that could not be called a common place.

The smell of blood was clearly felt. Iron prisons and human-sized cages dotted around are stained with scorched bloodstains.

“f*ck, what is this?”

At the terrifying sight, one of the soldiers spat out curse words, and Bell Meyer, who was following the 4th platoon, turned white and began to vomit.

“Aww…… !!”

“Damn it! 2Nd Platoon, get back for now!”

As soon as Bell Meyer reacted, I quickly rearranged my ranks and rushed forward to inspect the facility in question.

Dozens of prisons that are connected like animal pens, filled with dried and twisted corpses.

On the other hand, there were also bodies that were mutilated as if they had been hunted by wild beasts. Some were crushed beyond recognition.

Is this the source of the rotten smell you’ve been feeling since a while ago?

A sight that makes even me, who has a strong stomach, feel uncomfortable.

Not only Bell Mayer, but everyone else’s expressions are stained with shock and fear.

The only calm person was, of course, Sergeant Claude. He drew a dagger from his bosom and approached the corpse in the most unfavorable condition.

“…… A body that has just died. Must have been yesterday. Besides, these wounds are not those of a beast of prey.”

I sat next to Claude, struggling to suppress the disgust I felt physiologically. Horrible state of disorganized organs. But if there is one trace that definitely caught my eye.

It was a round tooth mark.

It is not a trace of a tiger, a lion, or even a monster. Not dents from sharp fangs, but flat, square teeth ripping through the skin.

The moment I vaguely realized its identity.

I couldn’t easily keep my composure.

“Did you notice what?”

“…… It’s a human experiment.”

“Yes.”

Claude stood up from his seat and said.

“You bastards, it seems they were experimenting with mutants here.”