The air at the front gate was thick with tension. The soldiers' rules of engagement were clear and strict: they were to only return fire if engaged, with the exception of encounters with the undead. The troops operating the heavy artillery were fiercely determined to protect Bell and Moore, and resolved to prevent the elves from harming even a strand of their hair. Thankfully, the elves seemed to have no desire for reckless confrontation.

Bell, the base commander, attempted to ease the escalating tension with a tone of respect and openness. "I'm the commander of this base," he declared. "I understand your concerns, but abandoning this base isn't an option. Maybe we can find another way to resolve this peacefully?"

"The only resolution is your immediate withdrawal from our lands," responded the snow elf, his voice icy and unyielding.

Bell shook his head, firm in his stance. "As I've already mentioned, that's not feasible."

"Your presence here is poisoning our children, you accursed being!" an elf suddenly accused, his words sharp and cutting.

At this, Lisa, who had been maintaining her composure, lost her patience. "How does that even begin to make sense?" she shot back, her voice a blend of frustration and disbelief. She felt as though she was personally under attack. After all, she had meticulously followed the guidelines of the Global Coalition of Health (GCH) and military protocols in her operations at the base. She had been thorough in ensuring that the base was not the cause of any health crisis. "You can't simply attribute your problems to our mere presence here!"

This accusation felt like a direct assault on her professional integrity and the enormous effort she had put into upholding health and safety standards. She would later reflect that, despite the influx of refugees, her protocols had effectively prevented any outbreaks at this newly-established base.

[Eldrin Aldranar: Angry, Furious, Murderous | Hostile Relationship | -105]

Bell gently restrained Lisa as he noticed her growing anger, which was evident in the expression on her face. The elf scrutinized Lisa, clearly viewing her as more of a nuisance than anything else. He spoke, attempting to defuse the situation, "Look, Lisa, let's not provoke our neighbor, alright? Allow me to handle this. Why don't you take a moment to relax in the medical tent? Consider it an order." Bell accompanied his words with a soft, reassuring smile, aimed at calming her frayed nerves.

Lisa let out a sigh, acknowledging Bell's wisdom. "You're right, Bell. It would be nice to see someone later who's a little more appreciative of my presence." She turned away from the gate and headed back to the medical tent, her office, which was a spacious tent with adequate ventilation and a prominent red cross displayed on top.

Little did Bell realize that the tension was escalating rapidly.

The elf, visibly seething with anger, made a daring move, attempting to push past Moore and forcefully gain entry to the base. However, Moore, backed by his Air Assault team, stood firm like an immovable wall, sending a clear message of their unwillingness to allow the elves to breach their defenses. The soldiers maintained their resolute stance, signifying their determination to uphold the fragile order within the base.

Moore's gaze remained unwavering as he faced the elf, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "Sir, please understand, you won't be able to pass through here," he declared, his resolve unmistakable. He grasped the gravity of the situation; permitting entry to the elves could potentially lead to disaster, undoing the delicate equilibrium they had painstakingly maintained within the base.

Moore couldn't help but wonder why these elves had chosen such a confrontational approach. Tales should have circulated about a group of demons, cleverly disguised in green, navigating the forest, eradicating the undead, and bravely rescuing other demons from danger. Moore believed that these elves should have displayed a hint of diplomacy rather than blatant aggression.

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Despite the temptation to retaliate against the snow elves with a punch or two, Moore understood that any misstep could trigger a dangerous escalation of hostilities. Such an outcome was not in line with Bell's larger objectives. However, despite Moore's efforts to maintain composure, one of the elves suddenly struck him squarely on the jaw, followed by another elf landing a punch on his nose.

Moore winced, blood trickling from his nose, but he stood his ground and shouted, "HOLD YOUR FIRE!"

Multiple Air Assault soldiers took several steps backward, their rifles trained on the elves, who responded in kind by drawing their bows, their arrows emitting a soft, white glow. Sensing the escalating tension, a soldier beside Moore quickly pulled him backward and erected a magical barrier as a precautionary measure.

Bell intervened, positioning himself between Moore and the elves, a heavy crimson-red magical field enveloping his body. Both of his hands formed a dark red magical circle capable of unleashing the same crimson flames that had once consumed a juggernaut, and that was the weaker version of it, in which Bell was malnourished and tired. It was a fusion of modern tactical gear and magic, an unprecedented display of power.

"Let's not resort to hostility, Eldrin," Bell spoke firmly, prepared to unleash the crimson barrage if any of the elves released their arrows. Three soldiers, each armed with an M2 heavy machine gun, stood behind him, ready to unleash a devastating volley if needed. "If you doubt my sincerity, I'll personally visit your village to investigate the source of your outbreak with one of my most trusted soldiers."

Eldrin reluctantly gestured for his men to lower their bows but issued a veiled threat. "If you try anything against us..."

Moore, still wiping blood from his mouth, interrupted. "For the sake of your family, it would be wise not to." He glanced toward the machine gun and other weapons stockpiled for emergencies, including the 120mm mortar and artillery. On the roof of the command center, two M167 VADSs were equipped with 20mm Vulcan Gatling guns to handle potential airborne threats. In essence, Moore was warning them not to underestimate their firepower.

"I'll be waiting here, Bell," Eldrin replied, his hands crossed in front of him.

Bell wasted no time and sprinted to the command center, calling for Lisa to follow. Within moments, they convened in the meeting room, a hub of military efficiency. A large, circular table dominated the room, surrounded by sturdy leather chairs. Four figures in uniform occupied some of these seats. Military insignias and monitors adorned the walls, emphasizing the room's seriousness. The air was thick with urgency and the quiet authority that emanated from the center of strategic operations.

Among the familiar faces were Lukas, Amelia, and Harris. The discussion revolved around how to handle the elves who were now demanding they cease actions they weren't even engaged in. Proposed strategies ranged from aggressive to passive-aggressive approaches.

Harris offered his perspective, saying, "Isn't our display of power sufficient? I'm uncomfortable with them pointing fingers at us. We should investigate the root of the problem. Whatever we uncover will clear us of any wrongdoing. However, we must also prepare in case the elves escalate beyond just punching our officers."

Amelia, not typically in agreement with Harris, nodded in support. "I have to agree; it's a reasonable approach. We should fortify our defenses while delving into this matter. I suspect the elves may not be entirely at fault here, but that doesn't mean we won't face conflicts with them in the future. We should call in more soldiers, increase patrols, eliminate more undead, and secure additional resources. It's as simple as that, Bell."

Lukas added his input, "Basic reconnaissance, sir. We need to ascertain their intentions while you and your chosen team head out. Meanwhile, the Air Assault will observe from a distance without being detected, acting as both security and gathering intelligence on who's meddling with the elves."

Lisa sighed, reluctantly agreeing, "As much as I dislike it, those elves need assistance. Besides, the surgeon can manage things for a while. I'll accompany you, Bell. It'll be a welcome change to leave the base from time to time."

Bell made a decision, outlining their plan. "Alright, let's combine your ideas. We'll strengthen our defenses and launch covert reconnaissance. Harris, coordinate with Lieutenant Moore and the 120th for defense preparations. Lukas, you're in charge of reconnaissance; use the newly formed SPEAR Team 1, and keep it discreet. Lisa and I will investigate the elven territories. We need a balanced approach—strength and subtlety. We'll gather information and be prepared for anything. Let's move out. We'll use individual callsigns; I'm Overlord, Lisa is Amox, and so on."

"Solid plan, Bell. Let's get going," Lisa affirmed as they prepared to implement their plan.