"I really don't get it. You're terrified of horror movies, but you're totally unfazed by spooky environments like this."
Standing behind the car, he watched Andrew make his final preparations while scanning the surroundings for any sudden surprises.
While doing those two things, he was also multitasking, using the H.D.D. System to run final diagnostics on Eous.
When Wise got serious, he was incredibly reliable. If only he wasn't wearing a McDonald's paper bag with two holes poked in it on his head.
"To be honest, after being a hunter for so long, I've gotten used to natural environments like this. But horror movies are different. That's more like... a conditioned reflex I picked up a long time ago."
Andrew, also wearing a McDonald's paper bag, slung the tachi from the back seat onto his back and hung the folded bow from his waist.
For a damn place like this, equipping both his primary and secondary weapon slots was the highest form of respect Andrew could show.
Wise pulled up the map they had charted earlier and studied the structure of the fissure, saying with confusion:
"According to the map, there are no entrances here suitable for a large-scale research facility. Are you sure your Scoutflies aren't leading us to the wrong place?"
"Is it possible you've misunderstood something? My target, from the very beginning, has been Anby, the leader of the Silver Squad. So the Scoutflies will only guide me to her. As for the route, as long as it gets me there, it's a success."
The main feature of the Scoutflies is that as long as they have a trail, even if there's no direct path, they'll automatically find a way through.
This route can include, but is not limited to, sewers, ventilation ducts, and hidden passages.
"By the way, is your car really okay? Won't it be dangerous if someone tracks it?"
Belle, who had already connected to Eous, gave a thumbs-up and chimed in:
"Don't worry! This is Uncle Enzo's masterpiece. It can change multiple details on the vehicle with one button and supports instant license plate switching!"
With that, she took the lead, turning back to urge Andrew to hurry up.
Trusting in the siblings' cautious nature, Andrew knew such an assurance wasn't an empty boast. He stopped worrying, gave Wise a heads-up, and followed Belle deeper inside.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
"Go get 'em! Make sure to give them a beating for me too!"
Wise was busy updating and comparing the map with the surrounding environment, while also organizing potential escape routes into nearby Hollows in case of an emergency.
Continuously preparing for any potential surprises, Wise didn't look up. He just gave a thumbs-up and went back to his work.
Although it was impossible to see his expression through the paper bag, it was clear that the two siblings, who took these matters very seriously, were giving it one hundred and twenty percent.
Andrew swapped on his helmet and began to formally explore the interior.
As he ventured deeper into the canyon, the evening sun began to set, and visibility within the ravine gradually decreased.
Fortunately, the constant green glow from the Scoutflies faintly illuminated the path ahead. Plus, Eous's pack was always stocked with all sorts of practical escape tools, and a small flashlight could also light up the way.
The two light sources complemented each other, and the encroaching darkness didn't slow Andrew's pace.
After about a ten-minute walk, a small clearing abruptly appeared before him.
Well, "clearing" wasn't quite right. An incinerator room stood starkly in the space, its exhaust pipes branching out in all directions under the cover of the canyon.
The siblings had scouted the vicinity before to gather topographical data, but this godforsaken place had used the terrain so well that even their specialized detection systems were only just now discovering it.
Telling Belle to wait where she was, Andrew took a throwing knife from his pack and loaded it into the launcher on his arm, then cautiously crept forward.
But upon closer inspection, he found the cold, cluttered ground covered in dust. Even the doorknob was coated in a thick layer.
Peering through a narrow window on the side, he could faintly see the incinerator inside. The dark scorch marks indicated it had seen heavy use, but for some reason, it had recently been shut down.
Based on the thickness of the dust, he estimated it had been abandoned for a good month or two.
Why? Could something have happened here?
'Strange. Judging by the soot stains around the furnace, this place should have been in continuous, long-term use.'
He didn't try to break down the door. After all, even if the place was abandoned, who knew if the alarm system was still active. Triggering it wouldn't be worth the risk.
The building wasn't going anywhere. It was better to avoid alerting the enemy before getting a clear picture of the situation. He could always come back and explore this spot later.
The Scoutflies led Andrew to an iron door set into a rock wall. A red light blinked on the heavy, high-tech door.
The lack of any visible buttons indicated it was a one-way passage. Combined with its heavy build, it could block any unwanted visitors.
The solid rock walls meant there was no way through other than blasting.
But who said you had to use the door to get in? The ventilation duct looked plenty spacious.
He tore off the iron grate covering the duct. The opening was more than wide enough for Andrew to crawl through.
After confirming it was safe, Andrew called Belle over to the entrance. The light from the Scoutflies pointed straight inside from here.
"You're saying you want to infiltrate?"
Belle looked dubiously at Andrew, who was dressed in all white and had a large build. Could someone of his size really pull off a stealth mission?
"Are you serious? It's not gonna be five minutes of stealth followed by an all-out assault, is it?"
Andrew didn't like the sound of that.
"What's that supposed to mean?! I'm the man who can sneak a Rathian egg right out from under her nose and get it back to base! A measly little research facility? Piece of cake, alright!"
As he spoke, he flipped the small crossbow on his right forearm to the inside of his arm, the throwing knife already loaded.
"Besides, I've learned from countless stealth masters. And if that's not enough, I have one last resort: the ultimate infiltration skill from a super-secret assassin organization."
He put on his helmet, wearing it like a hood, and continued:
"If I don't want to be found, no one will find me. As they say: Nothing is true, everything is permitted."
His profound words left both Belle and Wise, who was listening in via the H.D.D. System, completely bewildered. The ever-curious Belle couldn't help but ask:
"For real? The infiltration technique you learned from that assassin organization is that good? Can you tell us about it?"
"It really boils down to one simple rule: If I kill everyone who sees me, then no one will know I've infiltrated."
A flawless infiltration technique. Belle's mind spun. After careful consideration, she had to admit... you couldn't really call that a failure.
Looking at Andrew, who saw absolutely nothing wrong with this logic, Belle opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, then opened it again. She tried to gather her thoughts, and in the end... forgot what she was going to say.
-
Hello! Walnut here! Or... Miku Dayo in this case heheh...
Unfortunately, I had 2 stories deleted from my main account, "Walnut-chan," and I decided to post them here on this other account... I'm counting on your support to recover what we've lost!
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