Today is the day I've been waiting for. The day I will finally begin my plan to discover who killed my father.
My flight to the SVC will depart in a few hours. All I have to do is wait...
MEANWHILE, FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
"Good morning, Dad. How are you today?"
"I'm fine, Nadia, my daughter. Are you ready for another day in command?"
"Of course, Dad. I'm always ready!"
"Nadia, I've told you several times already. At the base, I'm not your father. I'm the Colonel."
"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I always end up forgetting."
"It's fine. Anyway, changing the subject, several new recruits will enlist in our army tomorrow. You will be their commander and decide whether they're fit to fight in the war."
"Okay, I'll analyze them and choose the best ones for you, but Da— I mean, Colonel... how much longer is this war going to last? You know, there's someone I really want to see again."
"Commander Nadia, that's something I can't tell you. However, if you're talking about that boy you met during your childhood, he probably isn't alive anymore. His father was killed in the war ten years ago. There's no way he could have survived on his own. As far as I remember, all of his relatives had already passed away."
"Yes... But... What if he survived? I want to see him again someday."
"Keep doing your excellent work as a commander. When this war is over, perhaps you can find out where he was buried."
"COLONEL!"
"Get back to work, Nadia. I need to get back to mine."
"Okay... See you later."
Life in Veldorgrad, the capital of the SVC, has been getting better and better ever since my father became a colonel. Thanks to that, the people no longer suffer because of the war. Everything is under control.
Even today, the newspaper said that we could even go to the beach because there would be no rain and no attacks against us.
But for some reason, I feel like something isn't right. As if something is happening and my father is hiding it from me.
However, there's nothing I can do except obey him. After all, besides being my father, he's also my colonel.
He said that my work wouldn't take very long today, and as soon as I finished, I could take the rest of the day off so I would have enough energy to test the new recruits tomorrow.
"Activating... Raid-Link. Good morning, soldiers. Is everyone prepared for today's battle?"
"Good morning, Commander. We're getting ready. Is the enemy already approaching?"
"Not yet. I think they're a little hesitant to advance. They must think it's a trap."
"Good. Then we still have time to finish preparing. By the way, I heard that new recruits will be selected for our battalion tomorrow. Who will be selecting them?"
"Oh, yeah. Wow, news travels fast. Yes, there will be new recruits, and I'll be the one personally selecting them tomorrow."
"Oh, then we don't have to worry about whether the new recruits will be good, since you're the best at this."
"Thank you, but I'm just doing my job."
"We're ready, Commander. We're heading out."
"Perfect, wait... What is that? LOOK OUT!"
"What is happen—"
"No... No... NO!!!"
"Commander, what happened?"
"They... They're all dead. The enemy launched a missile at their base."
"Don't worry, Nadia. You can be sure we'll pay our respects to them and comfort their families."
"This is the first time I've lost so many soldiers at once. I'd better go home and rest. See you tomorrow, Sergeant Nikolai."
"See you, Miss Nadia."
This is all that war causes.
Sadness. Pain. Suffering.
All I want is for this stupid war to end.
Knowing that new recruits will arrive tomorrow, and that they could end up suffering the same fate, only gives me more determination to achieve my goal of becoming a commander and ending this war that has already taken the lives of so many people, whether allies or enemies.
I just want this war to end soon.
That's why I became a commander. So that I can at least help our allies survive on the battlefield.
Of course, mistakes happen. I wish they didn't. I wish everyone could return home safely, but that's something unavoidable.
I'll probably be transferred to another squad after the new recruits are selected.
Well, I should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.
---
"Ah, I finally made it to the SVC. What was the capital called again? Veldorgrad. The capital of the communist nation.
From now on, I'm no longer Zephyr Wolfe. I'm simply an orphaned unemployed man named Ivan Petrov.
I've already hacked into the government's system and registered my name. That way, there won't be any suspicion that I'm not from here.
For now, I need to find somewhere to stay.
Huh? Why did that girl walk past here crying?
She had hair similar to Nadia's, but I don't think she could be her. White hair is pretty common around here, anyway.
It's none of my business. I'll just look for a hotel."
"This city is really huge. I don't even know where to start.
I think that building might be a hotel or an apartment building, so I'll take a look."
It's a very tall building. I'd guess it's around thirty or forty stories.
"Veldor Inn. Yeah, it really does look like a hotel."
"Good morning. I'd like to know if you still have any rooms available."
"Yes, we do. We have two vacant rooms, one on the second floor and another on the twenty-eighth floor."
"I'd like to rent the room on the second floor. How much is it?"
"Of course. It costs 800 rubles."
"Okay... Here you go. Thank you."
"The room number is on the key, so I'll just head upstairs.
I need to rest. Tomorrow is the day of the new recruit selection. I can't be late, so I'll set an alarm for 8:00 a.m. That way, I'll have plenty of time to get ready."
---
"Well... the long-awaited day of the selection has finally arrived.
What time did my father say it would be again?
Oh, right. 11:00.
What time is it?
Ah!! 10:45!
I overslept! I have to hurry to headquarters so I won't be late."
"Da— I mean, Colonel. Sorry I'm late. Have the new recruits arrived?"
"You really can't get used to calling me Colonel, can you, Nadia?
Yes, they're already here. However, remember: when you introduce yourself, don't give them your real name. You have a codename they must use when referring to you: Crimson Blood."
"Yes, I know, Colonel. I'll go introduce myself to them now. See you later."
"I arrived a little early. It's only 10:00.
I wonder how many people there will be in this batch of new recruits.
Ah... I guess I'll have to wait to find out."
"Huh... Who are you, and what are you doing sitting there?" a strange person standing in front of me asked.
"I don't owe you any explanation. Who are you?"
"I'm one of the oldest soldiers here. I'm the great and highly skilled Maksim, so watch your words when you're speaking to me."
"To me, you're just a narcissistic idiot. Anyway, just leave me alone."
"Argh, you idiot!"
Maksim said this as he prepared to attack Ivan.
Ivan easily dodged Maksim's attack and countered with an arm lock. At that moment, the Colonel suddenly appeared and saw what was happening.
Ivan released Maksim and saluted the Colonel.
"That's the Colonel. If my infiltration plan is going to work, I can't do anything suspicious."
"What are you doing? Soldier Maksim! How were you taken down so easily by one of the new recruits?" the Colonel asked in a strong, authoritative voice.
"I was just passing by, and this guy caught me off guard. He's crazy. He won't be fit to fight in our army," Maksim argued.
"Is that true, recruit?"
"Huh? No. I was just defending myself because he was about to attack me."
"What is your name, recruit?"
"Ivan... Ivan Petrov."
"Hmm... Just make sure it doesn't happen again. You may enter. The selection will begin in fifteen minutes."
"Well... I have everything under control. I'll be selected without any difficulty. All I have to do is wait."
The fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the selection was about to begin.
"Welcome, all new recruits!
I will be supervising the selection. You may call me Crimson Blood.
I will only select the best of the best. So, if you want to join the army, you'll have to demonstrate strength, endurance, agility, and other abilities such as swimming and running.
If you want to become soldiers, you'll have to prove that you possess all of these qualities and much more.
I wish you all good luck!
The first test will be the running test."
"This will be easy. Let's get started."
"The race will take place on this field. It is three kilometers long, and the recruits will have to complete the course within a ten-minute time limit.
The clothes will be in the changing room. Go there and get changed. The test will begin in five minutes."
*"Hmm... Ten minutes to run three kilometers.
When I did this for the first time, it took me nine minutes, but I was still a beginner back then. I wonder how long it will take me this time."*
"What size do you wear, sir?"
"Oh, no need. I brought my own. I already knew I'd have to wear it for this test. Thank you."
"I'll wait for the other recruits on the track."
Suddenly, someone approached me.
I saw a person with beautiful white hair who began asking me a few questions.
"Hello. You got ready quickly. May I know your name?"
"Yes, I came prepared and brought my clothes from home. My name is Ivan Petrov. You're the one selecting the new recruits, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I have a question. What made you want to pursue a career as a soldier?
You know that there are very high risks of dying on the battlefield, right?"
"Yes, I know. The reason I'm enlisting is because I want to defeat the best soldier in the AAE someday.
From what I've seen in the news, the AAE has a soldier who is considered the best soldier in the world."
"Oh... Really? May I know his name?"
"If I remember correctly, it was something like Zephyr or Zephyrus. Something like that."
"Huh?!"
*"Could it be the Zephyr I'm thinking of?!
That means he's alive!
But apparently, we've become enemies.
Ah, Zephyr... I want so badly to see you again. However, it seems that the reunion we might have won't exactly be a pleasant one."*
"That's basically why I decided to enlist."
"Congratulations. That's a great goal. I hope you achieve it, Ivan."
"And you, Crimson Blood? I'll call you Blood for short, if that's okay."
"Of course!"
"Why did you join the army?"
"To tell you the truth, I joined the army because I want to try to end this war. But I also joined because of my father. He's the Colonel. He hasn't introduced himself to you yet. Usually, he only introduces himself after the selection is over."
"I already had a short conversation with him when I arrived."
"What?! What happened?"
"A guy named Maksim tried to attack me, so I defended myself. Your father happened to walk in at that exact moment."
"Ah... Maksim has always been an enormous narcissist, especially after what happened ten years ago."
"What happened ten years ago?"
"Well... I can tell you another time. The test is about to begin."
"Okay. I'll do my best. Wish me luck."
"Of course!" she replied with a beautiful, sincere smile.
*"I can't look suspicious, but every piece of information I can obtain is necessary.
My best chance of reaching Friedrich, and my best option, is to gain Blood's trust.
So I can't show any weakness.
I'll finish this race as quickly as possible."*
"And the test will begin now!
You will run through a three-kilometer course. The test starts now, at 11:15. You will have ten minutes to reach the finish line.
Anyone who fails to finish in time will be eliminated and sent home.
There will be several obstacles along the course, including running through mud and climbing.
Sergeant Oleg and I will be evaluating you.
Good luck to everyone!"
*"Now it's time to begin.
My vision tells me that there will be around five hundred meters of normal running ahead, and after that I can see a drop in the terrain. That must be where the mud is."*
"Well... let the fun begin!" I said with a sinister smile.
*"First, the normal running. Then the mud.
If it's like the one at the AAE, the mud will reach my waist. I'll have to find a way to cover as much of it as possible before it gets that deep.
Maybe a jump?
Hmm... I don't know if I'd get very far. Not to mention that after the jump, I'd lose some of my speed and sink completely.
Yeah, there's no way around it. I'll just have to run through as much of it as possible."*
"Three... two... one... GO!"
And so the first test began.
I immediately shot ahead of all the other recruits. Unlike them, I was already trained.
When I looked to the side, I saw the surprised expression on Blood's face.
She had said she would root for me, but I believe she only said that to encourage me in case I was nervous.
No one expected someone like me, who didn't look particularly strong, to put such a surprised expression on their faces.
Anyway, I had reached the mud.
Now it was time to cross it as quickly as possible.
I had to do this to give myself more time.
Everything for my goal.
Everything for my father.
"Wow, this recruit is good. He's really determined. I wonder what his goal is," Sergeant Oleg said to Blood.
"I talked to him a little before the test started. He told me that his goal is to defeat the best soldier in the world, Zephyr, a soldier from the AAE."
"Ah... I've heard of him before.
Well... if that's his goal, I believe he's on the right track.
However, something about him makes me distrust him.
That look he had before the test started...
That wasn't simply the look of someone who wanted to defeat another person.
It was a vengeful look, as if he were doing this because he wanted revenge against someone."
"What could he possibly want revenge for?"
"That, I don't know.
Well, he's already crossed the mud. Now all that's left is the climbing section. Let's see how he does."
*"Now for the climbing section.
I'm much more skilled at this than running through mud. This will definitely be the easiest one.
Let me analyze the wall for a second.
There are some rocks I can use to jump my way up. I won't even need to use my hands.
Let me move back a little and start running from here again. I'll need some speed."*
"Huh? Why is he moving away from the wall, Oleg?"
"I don't know either, Commander Blood. Let's just watch..."
At that moment, Ivan ran and jumped toward the wall, leaping from rock to rock until he quickly reached the top.
He then jumped back down to the ground and ran toward the finish line, which was about two hundred meters away.
"Now all I have to do is run to the finish line, and I'll pass the test."
Suddenly, someone tried to hit him.
It was Maksim, who couldn't accept the idea of someone like Ivan joining the army.
Ivan dodged the attack and continued running toward the finish line.
Maksim kept trying to hit him the entire time.
*"I don't want to take this guy down again. That would compromise my goal of getting closer to the higher ranks.
The finish line is right there.
I'll just keep dodging his attacks and running.
I can already see Blood."*
"He's coming. Wait, why is Maksim over there? Is he trying to hit the recruit?" Oleg asked.
"Looks like it. From what Ivan told me, the two of them had a little disagreement earlier. I think Maksim doesn't want Ivan to be selected."
"Just a little farther. I can see them clearly now."
...
...
*"This guy really doesn't know when to quit.
But I made it."*
"Congratulations, Ivan. You finished the test in an incredible seven minutes and surprised everyone.
But this is only the first test. There are still two more tests to complete.
You'll only do one more today: the marksmanship test."
"Well... while I wait, I'll go change my clothes."
*"I passed the first test without any trouble, even with Maksim trying to stop me.
Now it's going to be the marksmanship test.
They'll be testing everyone's aim.
I've already been a sniper, so getting through this should be easy."*
"Well... time to go back.
Huh? Blood? What are you doing here?"
"I was waiting for you. I want to talk to you."
"Okay. What do you have to tell me?"
"Actually, it's about your goal. Why do you want to defeat him?"
"It's a bit of a long story. Don't you think it would be better to talk about it another time?
After all, I'm also curious about what you said happened ten years ago."
"Sure, that works! Shall we go to the second test?"
"Let's go!"
*"The second test is about to begin.
I wonder what it'll be like.
Since I've already been a sniper, my aim should be better than that of all the other recruits."*
"Now we'll begin the second test.
You will have to hit all the targets.
You will take one weapon at a time and try to hit as many targets as possible.
Each weapon will have ten rounds.
Once you run out of ammunition, that stage will end, and you'll switch weapons and distances.
We'll begin at a distance of twenty-five meters with a simple pistol.
We'll go in order based on the winners of the previous test.
Ivan Petrov, you will be first."
*"Let's do this.
It won't be difficult at all.
I just have to imagine that the targets are my father's killer. That'll make things even easier."*
I picked up the weapon and aimed at the first target.
I hit it directly in the heart.
And so it went for all ten shots.
Once again, I saw the surprise on Blood's and the Sergeant's faces.
I handed the weapon back to them and moved on to the next stage, where the distance increased to one hundred meters and the weapon was a carbine, this time with twenty rounds.
Once again, I achieved a perfect score.
Then I moved on to the final stage of the test.
The distance was five hundred meters, and the weapon was a sniper rifle with only three rounds.
It couldn't have been easier for me.
Of all three stages, the third was actually the easiest.
I hit all three targets directly in the head.
With that, the test was over.
Only one final test remained: swimming.
However, that would take place tomorrow.
The army had prepared a dormitory for all the recruits, but before I left, Blood handed me a letter.
It said:
"Meet me in the courtyard at 6:00 p.m. so we can talk."
I went to the dormitory and rested for a while until it was time.
Soon enough, the hour arrived.
I then headed toward the courtyard.
Blood was already there.
She looked at me and smiled.