CHAPTER 9
EVIL ORGANIZATION
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The Red Zone was a military complex designed to counteract dimensional threats. Its protocols were strict, with armed soldiers stationed around. There were dozens of companies, the equivalent of two battalions, from diverse units. The Surabaya Red Zone, in instance, was a gigantic construction covering over 50,000 hectares of land. The space was divided into four sections that resemble a multi-layered ring. Almost identical to the popular anime city of man-eating giants.
Attack on giants or whatever.
Sector 4 was the outer ring where otherworldly beings resided. It had been constructed as a miniature of another world with more than 200 thousand inhabitants. They received various kinds of basic needs according to United Nations of Ethereal Management and Security's protocol. Sector 4 inhabitants learned to count, read, write, and speak their respective national languages, as well as the norms of earthlings. There was also a health clinic staffed by workers from the Army Medical Unit.
In the next inner layer, Sector 3 was decorated with army headquarters and all the details. Everyone could find barracks, training grounds, and large garages for armored vehicles.
Including the military police office where Varg just offered “friendly money.”
“I'm off duty, Sir.”
“Yes, you're off duty, sergeant.”
The elven prince casually snuck out of Sector 3 after bribing the blue caps. One month without women in a deserted island was hell. To make matter worse, he lived with a hot MILF who kept teasing him. Of course, Varg didn't dare touch any female soldiers, no matter how hot they were. The consequences were too severe. If they had a husband, Varg could be kicked out right away from the armed forces. And if they were single, Varg would end up being their husband.
He would rather get kicked than spend the rest of his life with only one woman.
Normal men had to have a harem.
“My Lord, have you finished work?”
Just as he was leaving Sector 3, a female voice spoke from above. Varg looked up and saw a slender figure flapping her wings.
“Yeah, I got something for you.” Varg replied with his sweetest smile.
The flying woman descended when the prince showed her a bag of tailored shirts. Showing features of the rarest humanoid in the Red Zone, she gained all the attention. The harpy was quite beautiful, with human-like facial features that resembled those of a popular girl in high school. But the rest of her body was covered in bird-like feathers, particularly her arms, which were fused with the wings. The legs were also exactly like those of the bird with a pair of claws. She was so beautiful that her black eyes made her more attractive.
“Can elven and harpies have children?” She walked next to him and asked to be embraced.
“Let's not talk about that, Sweetheart. I could get court-martialed if someone knew what we did last night.”
“What if I lay eggs?”
“Don't ask for child support.”
The world had changed. Differences between people were no longer racial traits. It was now spreading into inter-species differences. Humanoid creatures had blended in. The United States and NATO recognized humanoids as citizens, followed by other countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore. Indonesia, nonetheless, had not yet accepted it because politicians weren't interested at all. Even a full-pledged soldier like Varg had so many immigration issues.
“My Lord, when will I have an ID card? I've been here for 15 years. When can I see the outside?”
“Trust me, Sweetheart. I'm the man of his word.” Varg romantically kissed his other-species girlfriend. “You know, I fell for you even though your face is too young for me. Because what? I don't even know. And I don't care.”
“My species only knows mating. We don't know marriage like humans do. Even if I lay our eggs, I won't ask for any responsibility.”
“That's why I love you. Let's make another eggs tonight.”
The playboy brought her to a quiet place. He caught a glimpse of Harpy's t-shirt-covered chest, which was no different from a human's. He often tasted it. The bottom was also very human-like, although the taste was slightly different.
Hmmm ... like a marinade chicken.
“Well well well. I thought our 60-day honeymoon in a deserted island have suppressed your lust.”
“Here come a cockblocker.” Varg rolled his eyes when Captain Nadine approached. “What? She is on her mate season. And no male harpy around. I have responsibility to give her needs.”
“Needs, my ass.”
Captain Nadine crossed her hand while giving a head sign. The harpy flew back to her nest after getting kissed. Varg, meanwhile, was in such a bad mood. He was one touch away from exploding.
“You have to go to DOME's HQ next month.”
“For what?”
“Your ceremony as a new member. Cheer up, Pretty Boy.”
***
Indonesia Walker Association Executive Room, Surabaya City
“Our plan went smoothy.”
“The Dragon Army, Your Highness?”
“Yes. Count Vardant succeeds in sparking hostility toward the elves.” A person with a white mask, someone who was called “Your Highness” raised his glass.
“Cheer!”
A clink echoed around a magnificent medieval-age European interior. Around the round table, several people stood tall with their chins slightly raised. Their fingers pinched the bottom edge of the glass leg in a fabulous style. Vibrant color, glittering embroidery, extravagant buttons, and expensive-looking jabot's fabric and cuffs were their signature attire as 18th-century fancy nobles.
“The war with Valora is about to happen. Our next step is bringing the second prince to the throne.”
“All native nobles are supporting the first prince, Your Highness. Even King Armin III is obviously supporting his first son.”
The masked man slurped his wine and stared at his glass with a calm expression.
“I've talked with Hornietta. She's agreed to help us.”
“What! Are you serious?” All participants were surprised.
“Yes. Her support to the second prince will turn the table.”
The sound of clapping hands echoed in the room. They acted like legit medieval nobles with their attire. The modern nuance of the place had completely gone, replaced by ancient accents. Electronic devices were nowhere to be seen. Along with their luxurious masquerade, all the ‘noble’ wore Rococo-era men's wigs, exactly like the Europeans who colonized their ancestors three centuries ago. Ironically, they were talking about how to conquer a kingdom like colonialists did.
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“How about the dragon army, Your Highness? Has she guaranteed that she will be able to stop it?”
“Definitely. And I have a good plan to our enemy.” Once more, the white-masked man stared at his glass.
“Our enemy? The Armed Forces?”
“Yes. They dared to touch our business.”
Shakespeare's party escalated to its peak. Some ‘nobles’ seemed furious. And the reason was simple. All about business. The era of the monster brought the oil era to an end. There were no more gas stations in the world after the fuel transition to crystal energy. Everything had changed. And Walker had monopolized the industry because they easily got crystal from another world.
However, six months ago, the Indonesian Armed Forces somehow managed to extract crystal from monsters they killed in the Red Zone. Their act defied common sense. It was impossible for normal humans to do something that walkers did in another world. Crystal Energy was a multibillion-dollar business they had monopolized for 25 years. Of course, they didn't accept it being touched. The Walker Association was in such a tight spot that the white-masked man planned something unbelievable.
“We have a way to send the dragon army to Earth.”
All participants were shocked in disbelief.
“Your Highness, millions people will die!”
“They are just commoners. And the first thing they would destroy is the Red Zone. Our only business competitor will ... poof! Gone.”
Everyone nodded with fears and doubts. Millions of Surabaya's citizens would die if the dragon army were sent to earth. The biggest portal break would definitely happen. However, “His Highness” words were absolute. They had no choice but to go back to work with quills and parchment paper. Some others went out of the room to the small tower in the center of the garden.
Of course, they were all Walkers. To be precise, they were senior walkers who had influence both on earth and in Ethereal. The medieval syndrome couldn't be cured anymore. They applied medieval common sense to the modern world, where killing commoners was common. They were even escorted by several knights with swords and shining armor while walking to the tower.
“Your Highness, how about junior walkers? They will die in Crocosela. Please evacuate them.”
The white-masked man stopped walking when someone questioned something. His lips smirked. The air between them became dark and grim. Sacrificing young walkers wasn't an easy decision. Nevertheless, the white-masked man gave his final words with no burden on his tone.
“In the war, young men are destined to die.”
***
Crocosela City, Armin Kingdom
“Defend the fort! Main army will be arrived!”
On this day, hundreds of soldiers were fighting on the walls of Crocosela. Some walkers also joined in to help. The city was in tension since the dragon army had attacked. More and more warriors came from various surrounding areas to defend the city.
“A little bit more! We are about to win!”
“Huraaaaaa!”
Most of the villages had been destroyed, particularly on the north side of Crocosela. The attack had nonetheless been repelled. The soldiers were still able to brush it off because the number was in the hundreds on the first wave. Crocosela's army could even comb the entire forest to evacuate the fallen victims.
Still, hundreds of residents had died. 45 young walkers had also fallen from their claws and sharp teeth. The victim just happened to be hunting when the attack happened. All of them died horribly, with their bodies torn apart. Everyone was grieving as casualties continued to rise. Even though it was the first wave. The main troops had not yet arrived from the capital of the Armin Kingdom.
“What can we do? The distance between Crocosela and Renouil is so far. About 650 kilometers, you know? Almost as far as the Jakarta to Surabaya. And troop's marching rate is barely 20 km each day. Take more than one month since they were dispatched.” A smart-looking walker was grieving.
“Dozens of our friends died. This world is not as beautiful as we think.”
“Yes. I'm tired of being here. We've finally collected our quota. I'm running out of money. And no Janus mages around.”
In the courtyard of the Surabaya Guild, hundreds of walkers were gathering. There were over 12,000 Indonesian walkers from East Java, and all of them joined the Surabaya Guild in Crocosela, either as an entry or exit portal. The migration process was supposed to be done by portal mages in the guild. However, the Janus mage was nowhere to be found. The young walkers were afraid of being stuck while the dragon army attacked. Including the figures of the yellow-robed mage and the archer girl, who were still grim as they watched tens of human remains.
“Big Bro Harris, Big Bro Usman ....”
The archer girl was crying. So was the yellow mage next to her. Both of them embraced their knees when they saw the severed body. Most victims only had certain body parts left, especially the two corpses found at the mouth of the cave. Their conditions were too gruesome to explain. There was nothing else they recognized but the chainmail of the two party members.
“They are like my own brothers ....”
Dragon Minion, or Velomodrake in the earth index of code-naming, were the culprits of the murder. They were the smallest monsters in the Dragon Kingdom's habitat. Velomodrake were so agile despite their size, with an average speed of 60 km/h. Novice walkers were no match, even though they were stronger than the average human.
“Denata, don't cry anymore, okay? We will go back soon.”
“How? Janus mages are gone somewhere. We're stuck here.”
The two Walkers were innocent. The yellow mage was only 15 years old, while the archer girl was one year older. The incident had definitely hit them hard. The deaths of their comrades were too deep to forget. Both of the deceased were like their own older brothers.
The couple exhaled deeply, as they remembered the final message they would always keep in mind.
“Big Bro Harris said, keep away from Walker Association. They're bad guys.”
***
Armin Kingdom's royal palace, Renouil
Months since the attack on Crocosela, Renouil had been heating up. The palace residents were anxious about the disaster that would destroy their kingdom. All the people were terrified. They only prayed that the military could repel the Dragon Army, especially King Armin III. He was getting more wrinkles. The attack was just the beginning of a bigger war.
Because of the tragedy in Crocosela, his kingdom was threatened with civil war.
“Father, we can't keep quiet! We must prosecute the King of Falasa!” shouted the second prince, still adamant about blaming the neighboring kingdom. The prince glared even more as the king remained silent.
“What do you want, huh? A war? Valora Kingdom is our brother. Don't forget history!” The first prince was not to be outdone. He pointed at his brother's face in front of the nobles.
This was the real effect of the attack. Each crown prince was supported by a noble group that both rejected each other. The first son was fully supported by the original noble side of King Armin's close relatives. Meanwhile, the second prince was fully supported by nobles from the other world.
Because of the turmoil, King Armin III had not been able to hand over the throne. A civil war was bound to happen if he chose one of them. The king chose to remain silent because he was pressured by many choices.
“It is precisely because of tradition that Valora is guilty. The agreement is clear. Every seven years the elves must perform a sealing ceremony. This year they were absent. We're the ones who doomed! All because of the long-eared people!”
“Watch your mouth, Ramones!” The first son became even more inflamed.
The two sons were heatedly arguing. King Armin III also questioned Valora's action of not keeping a tradition. The Elf King was a close friend of the first Armin. Even the current Armin considered King Falasa his own grandfather. He was very sure there must have been a misunderstanding.
“Stop blaming neighboring kingdom. Our problems are more urgent.” King Armin III raised his voice, glanced at the noble figure, and said, “how many more crystals are we need?”
“We have collected 2340 Sacred Crystals, Your Majesty. There are only 500 crystals left.”
“Gather them immediately at any price.”
“By your command, Your Majesty.”
King Armin III didn't like to delay. From the moment he heard the news from Crocosela, he immediately mobilized the main army. King Armin also didn't hesitate to deplete his royal treasury, especially by buying the Sacred Crystals, which were each worth 100 Zlot. The crystal was his last hope to ward off the Dragon Army.
“When will the second wave appear?”
“About a month away, Your Majesty. We still have time.”
“What about other kingdoms? Will they send troops?”
“Only the Raffles Kingdom is willing to help us, Your Majesty. The other kingdoms have remained silent. Instead, they are setting up barricades on their respective borders. Just in case if our kingdom will be the first to be destroyed.”
King Armin III let out a long sigh. The news from Crocosela had spread throughout the continent and made other kingdoms frightened. But they hadn't taken a stand yet. Not even Valora Kingdom had given any news.
What was going on?
Why did the communication between them have to be cut off?
The old king was not a fool. His instincts were sharp. He felt that there were certain parties who deliberately isolated him from the elves. His carrier pigeon never returned. No messenger ever came back. King Armin slightly squinted when he saw the sly smile of the noble Walker.
Were they the culprits?
He squinted even more when he realized what plan they were hiding.