Ch.72[Episode 72] Operation: S.P.Y

While Sir Dominic’s team was setting the mood with their dirge.

In another waiting room, Sir Dominica’s team was gathered, listening to a coder wearing several layers of hats.

“You must infiltrate the dictator’s residence and either eliminate the dictator M.A.N.I.A.C or find evidence to depose him.”

“The residence is under such tight security that not even an ant could slip through, but another team will create a diversion for you.”

“Complete the mission and return here. Then you’ll have cleared the event stage.”

After explaining solemnly, the coder smiled excessively to indicate he was finished.

“Actually, despite how I’ve described it, the difficulty isn’t that high. Most people cleared it during internal company testing.”

Though this was meant to ease their tension, Sir Dominica’s team members looked gloomy.

“Why aren’t we on the same team as Sir Dominic?”

“I should ask my brother why we’re on separate teams…”

Hime and Dr. Banshee had business with Sir Dominic, not Sir Dominica.

An awkward situation caused by the team division.

“…Did I say something wrong?”

Seeing the team members’ dark expressions, the coder seriously wondered if he had misspoken.

“Why all this whining, comrades!”

Sir Dominica made a bold decision to change this gloomy atmosphere.

Placing her right combat boot firmly on the waiting room desk, Sir Dominica leaned on her raised knee and began addressing her team members.

“It seems you all have business with my other self.”

Sir Dominica slowly examined Hime, who still wore fox ears, and Dr. Banshee, who had hidden behind Code Back Zero in surprise.

“I know my other self well, and he doesn’t like women like this. He likes those who are confident and certain! And those who diligently fulfill their assigned duties!”

Whether this was true or not, Sir Dominica believed that since Sir Dominic was her other self, he must be exactly like her.

“So, succeed in this mission decisively, and then approach Sir Dominic confidently! If you need a reward, complete the mission perfectly and ask him to pat your head!”

With those words, Sir Dominica removed her leg from the desk as if she had said all she needed to say.

Looking around at her team members again, she saw they were all staring at her with expressions of realization.

“At least your eyes are full of life now. That’s a good sign.”

Sir Dominica muttered softly with her remaining eye curved like a crescent moon in an eerie smile.

“Well then, everyone? Shall we begin? The other team seems to have finished their preparations.”

“Of course.”

Sir Dominica spoke on behalf of the team.

“Well, I suppose so.”

“Yes.”

Hime and Dr. Banshee responded reluctantly.

Though they still felt disappointed about being separated from Sir Dominic, they nodded.

Above all, this team had a structure where Hime with her indecisiveness and the timid Dr. Banshee couldn’t help but be swept along by Sir Dominica’s natural charisma.

The only one not intimidated by Sir Dominica was the android Code Back Zero, but since Zero followed the doctor’s orders, Sir Dominica naturally became the leader.

“Good. Then this door will open soon. The target location will be marked with fluorescent dotted lines on the floor, and arrows will point to objectives. Main objectives and optional objectives will be displayed in separate windows, so keep that in mind—”

The coder slightly lifted his hat and took out a pocket watch from inside.

Three, two, one. Now. As he called out, the door behind the coder opened.

“Let’s go, friends. The faster we finish, the sooner we can meet Sir Dominic, right?”

Sir Dominica took the lead with her shield. Then she waved her hand as if urging the team members behind her.

Hime and Dr. Banshee followed Sir Dominica.

Zero followed behind them.

…

Sir Dominic’s team.

Sir Dominic carefully opened the door to check outside.

It was around dawn, with darkness not yet fully dispersed.

The location looked like a back alley made of rotting pillars and twisted boards.

“There doesn’t seem to be any problems. Let’s move.”

Sir Dominic gestured to those behind him.

[Main Objective: Help the other team]

[You must create a disturbance to provide an opening for the other team to infiltrate. The bigger the disturbance you cause, the higher the success rate of the infiltration team.]

[Required: Create a commotion to draw attention.]

[Optional: Destroy the Imperial Central Factory.]

[Optional: Destroy the Imperial Coal Storage.]

[Optional: Destroy the Imperial Logistics Base.]

[Optional: Occupy the Imperial Parliament.]

.

.

.

Sir Dominic and his party looked at the objective window that appeared before them.

While the instruction to cause a disturbance seemed somewhat unhelpful at first glance, Sir Dominic realized that it wasn’t just about running wild.

The optional items listed below the required objective were quite detailed, with small arrows in the distance indicating their locations.

Perhaps completing these optional objectives would naturally fulfill the required objective.

“I think it would be best to choose either the logistics base or the central factory first.”

Tsugi suggested.

“For infiltration, one must capture the attention of nearby forces. To do that, it would be best to strike at locations sensitive to those forces.”

“I agree.”

Phantom concurred with Tsugi’s suggestion.

“Some of the items listed here might be traps. From the explanation we heard, we’re positioned as fighters against imperial dictatorship. If that’s the case, it would be better to abandon missions that would turn citizens against us.”

The three discussed the mission, developing a deep strategy.

Meanwhile, the crescent-shaped Zero was scanning the surroundings with a wide-angle lens, analyzing the current terrain.

“Analysis complete. Though not listed in the objectives, there appears to be a large steam pipeline running underground. If we blow it up, we might be able to complete two or three optional objectives at once.”

“That’s a good suggestion, Zero.”

Phantom agreed with Zero’s words.

“If all else fails, let’s just wing it. This is a one-time event stage anyway, right?”

“Hmm.”

Sir Dominic’s team also prepared a backup plan.

“Good. Then let’s start with the closest location.”

“Judging by the chimney and slanted roofs, it’s likely a factory. By the way, the path seems quite complex… Zero? Switch to navigation mode.”

“Confirmed. Leave the pathfinding to me.”

Sir Dominic’s team was proceeding smoothly.

…

“Bang! Haha!”

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you please consider infiltrating quietly?”

Unryu Hime chided Sir Dominica, who was kicking down doors to the secret passage leading to the dictator’s residence.

The imperial sewers formed one large interconnected maze, but there was no fear of getting lost as long as they followed the dotted line on the ground.

“Ugh. I hate narrow, damp places…”

“Affirmative. Moisture is detrimental to circuits.”

Dr. Banshee and Zero disliked this eerie and damp place.

But since it was a necessary path for their mission, they endured their discomfort as they traversed the maze-like sewers.

“…Huh?”

Dr. Banshee, grumbling at the back of the group, thought she saw something in a direction other than their path of travel as they passed through a four-way intersection.

“Zero. Is there something over there?”

“Checking… Scan results show nothing.”

After confirming there was nothing unusual even with Zero’s high-definition camera, Dr. Banshee tilted her head, certain she had seen something, then hurried to catch up with the others.

Zero paused momentarily, feeling an inexplicable electrical current through its circuits, but soon dismissed it as an error due to moisture and followed the doctor.

Long after everyone had passed.

Cracks began to form in the wall where the doctor had looked.

And from between those cracks, a broken sprite made of black shapes appeared.

[LV.■5 ■■im]

The black shape, moving despite its broken sprite, trembled briefly before stopping.

Then it split into two, from two to four, from four to eight, and began to corrode the sewer.

The corrosion that started at the edge of the sewer soon led to cracks, breakage, and decay.

…

“Hmm?”

The wandering swordsman Tsugi, turning a corner in the alley toward their objective, suddenly felt something off.

Until just now, the feeling of walking on the ground had been normal, but now it seemed as if there was some empty space beneath the ground.

But it wasn’t just empty space. With her keen senses, Tsugi noticed the subtle difference.

Well, they did say it wasn’t fully developed yet, so there might be such errors, she thought, dismissing this peculiar situation.

She could have mentioned this strange feeling to the others, but completing the objective was more important right now.

“We’ll arrive at our destination soon.”

“Good. Combat might begin soon, Sir Dominic.”

“Let’s go together!”

Tsugi suddenly noticed the others had gone ahead and ran to catch up with them.

And in the spot where she had been, broken black shapes began to seep in.