The moment the tiny star entered his head, he saw the path it offered him.
The starlight guided him as he looked at the Scavengers' base. The starlight fractured into blurred lines and then created something like projections.
Scavengers' transport stood out and looked like massive heaps of scrap from a distance...
But the starlight showed how a convoy of three modern armored vehicles would depart at first light. They were nothing like the usual Scavengers' transport.
And in one of them was the very item he had come for.
All in all, the conclusion was clear — Scavengers were preparing to move his target. Why were they doing this? No one knew.
The Guiding Star also showed the probable number of enemies. There would be five creatures in the first and last vehicles. And in the middle one, where his item was located, there were seven living creatures. He had a feeling that there was something strange about the creatures in the central vehicle... But he didn't attach too much importance to it.
With the prepared Interception plan, dealing with 17 was much easier than dealing with a hundred.
*Vroom...* He killed the engine and hid the motorcycle behind a dune.
The Guiding Star showed that the convoy would head east with the first rays of dawn.
Unfortunately, he didn't know if they would go exclusively east or turn somewhere along the way.
This was his only and best chance. To eliminate the risk, he had to organize an ambush in the early stages of the convoy's route.
"Phew..." he sighed wearily, carrying the heavy rifle on his back.
The motorcycle could give him away, so he had to hide it and walk part of the way.
After about 30 minutes, he reached the most advantageous position and lay down.
He positioned himself nearly two kilometers from the base, and also... lay directly across the road the convoy would take.
If he accidentally fell asleep, he would surely be run over, but this position was an important part of the plan.
"Paymax, how long until sunrise?"
"You will see the first rays of the sun in about 3 hours and 31 minutes."
"...And the sandstorm?"
"It will begin in exactly three hours and, according to initial estimates, is expected to peak during Operation Interception."
"Understood."
The night ahead was not too long, but not too short either.
For some time, he watched the Dirty Baals, who worked almost without interruption.
Sometimes he smiled sincerely at the actions of these creatures. He also tried to understand what they were hiding underground, but he couldn't see anything specific. Only occasional flickers on the thermal scope. But they invariably gave him an uneasy feeling.
"Paymax, how long until sunrise?"
"3 hours, 6 minutes."
"Damn..."
There was nothing much to do. He rolled onto his back and began to watch the starry sky.
Sometimes he genuinely loved looking at it. Sometimes it weighed on him.
However, every time he invariably found it incredibly captivating and beautiful.
"Paymax, where do you think that boy wanted to run away to? Tony."
"You believe he would have wanted to go to the Abode of Dreams — the Celestial Continent?"
"…I didn't say that."
"The boy's motives are unknown, but I can provide an answer based on a quick analysis of his personality and information from the database."
"Go ahead."
"Based on my analysis, the boy would most likely have chosen 'The Saladin Empire' — the land where Fortitude thrives."
"I see… I don't know much about them. Only that their Champion is a madman who portrays himself as the Red Son."
"Following your instructions, my initiative protocols limit unsolicited information. May I ask if you would like to know a little more about this..."
"Haah..." He sighed heavily. "Sometimes I'm sure someone created you just to have someone to talk to. I'm convinced whoever built you was bored… or lonely."
He was once again surprised by Paymax's talkativeness, considering that his friendliness and sociability were almost non-existent. Living every day alongside a walking encyclopedia was not as easy as it seemed at first glance.
After all, given Concord's peculiarities, some things were really better left unknown...
However, this time, Paymax's initiative gave him an idea.
"Wait. Who owns the wasteland we're in right now?"
"Under the right of war trophy, these lands fall under Concord's authority."
"But if we cross them. For example, moving straight east, like this convoy. Where will we end up if we cross the Concord border?"
"Beyond the border lie the lands where Fortitude thrives. The domains belong to the Peak of Fortitude."
A chain of logic flashed in his mind, and the first conclusion that came to mind was...
"Don't tell me we're involved in smuggling... Damn, I knew something was wrong with this gig!"
"Your conclusion is simplified and based on incomplete data, but..."
"But?"
"Would you like to hear my assessment of the situation? II apologize in advance if this seems inappropriate…"
"Haa… just say it."
The hologram of the planet emerged from the bracelet again. It was dressed in a red cloak and smiled maliciously.
"Mr. Nobody, it seems that you and I have become part of something truly massive." The hologram of the planet smiled even wider and made a gesture of silence. "Part of the Big Game... the real Big Boys."
"Paymax," he called.
"Yes, Mr. Nobody?"
"Reduce the friendly mode from five percent to one."
...
He greeted the first rays of sunlight, exhaling cigarette smoke.
"Phew..."
The sandstorm was already gaining momentum, and tiny grains of sand kept getting into his mouth.
"..." He adjusted his glasses, put out his cigarette, and completely covered his face with a scarf.
The wind began to howl so loudly that he could hardly hear anything.
"Paymax," he called quietly, lying down.
"Yes, user?!" An eccentric hologram emerged from the bracelet, holding a sign in its hands.
The wind had drowned out all sound.
"...Waiting for your command."
Without waiting for a response, he settled behind the rifle.
The coldness of the black steel could be felt even through his clothes.
*Click* He flicked the safety off and looked into the digital sight.
The hologram of the planet was already there, jumping right in front of the crosshairs. It held a red flag in one hand and hid the other behind its back.
Paymax was right in his sights.
"Ha..." He smiled dryly at the dances of advanced intelligence.
Seconds passed... minutes passed.
Soon, the sandstorm became so strong that he couldn't even see the sun.
All this time, he looked through the sight and saw only sand...
But then Paymax reacted and pointed his finger forward.
"..."
The outlines of the first machine and the glimmers of life appeared a kilometer away from him. The convoy was also caught in the storm.
In three seconds, the first vehicle would be 500 meters away from him, and then...
'1' Paymax changed the red flag to yellow and began gesturing with his fingers.
"Haah..." He held his breath and put his finger on the trigger.
'2' Paymax showed by throwing out the yellow flag.
The crosshairs settled on the target. They didn't shake. At all.
The first vehicle was exactly 500 meters in front of him.
Paymax smiled slyly and jumped over the crosshairs, revealing what he had been holding behind his back all this time.
It was a green flag.
'GREEN LIGHT!!!'
*BOOOM!!!* The shot tore through the storm.