Arakawa, Koki...

The gate to the middle...

　In front of me is a huge gate that is heavily locked and sealed off. The Centipedes and Noah's army of engineers managed to pry open the entrance to the upper gate and raid the interior, but after breaking through five levels, the invading force was stranded in front of the huge gate in a vast space.

I've been told that it's almost the same material as the high-strength metal used in Noah, according to the Corps of Engineers. It's impossible to break through the gate by blowing it up. There's no other way but to melt it down steadily for now.

　The captain on the comm screen announces grimly. The Chernobog team members have already begun to take a temporary rest, smoking and chewing on the rations they have brought with them, while Noah's troops and Ursna Merkava's volunteer army have been keeping a vigilant eye on the area without loosening their guard at all, but they look quite appropriate.
　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's a good idea to have a look at it,

Yeah?　That's ..., that's how we're positioned now, right?

That's right. So, if you superimpose each of Chernobog's suit positions on this map on top of each of his visual field information...

'What?　Could this be all perimeter surveillance?!

And furthermore, if you set us at the center and show the space in a straight line from there, that's what happens.

Surrounded?

If you get shot, it seems like it's always going to hit another suit before it gets to us.

　　For now, there seems to be no danger in the present situation, so let's just take a step forward. No, but I have a bad feeling about this... But I'm curious about it....

"Hohoooo!

　Eventually I lose patience and shift the suit's position a bit. Then the suit holding a large shield with a flashy skull paint job seems to have moved to borrow fire from the next suit. The location of the move is still in a straight line with me. Apparently, it's completely my shield, just as Alice expected.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the city. I can't take care of you that well.

Yes, Captain. I'm sorry.

　It seems that my actions were easily discovered. It's not a good idea to piss off the captain any more, so I'll just be quiet. The centipede tribe is still trying to melt the gate, but there's no sign of progress. It is true that some of it is melting, but from the information we received from the data link, it seems to be at least 8 meters thick.

'It's going to take quite a while, isn't it, Captain?

Yeah, I just got off the phone with the commander of the unit that's working on it, and he estimates it will take at least another 15 hours. It's not just the suits that the commander wears, but also the batteries of our suits that we wear. Besides, if you take too much time, their defense capabilities will also...

What's going on?

"No, wait a minute.

　The communication from the Captain is abruptly cut off, and at the same time, the movement of the Chernobog's men changes. I'm going to have to say that I'm not going to be the only one who is going to be able to do this, but I'm also going to be the one who is going to be pushed by the other suits.

"Commander-dono, is Alice free?

Yeah, I'm not doing anything right now. I'm just checking the datalink periodically. Do you want me to take over the communications?

"Please.

　Turning back and nodding, Alice made a motion with her keyboard in the empty space before answering the Captain.

'I've taken over the comm, Alice Alford. In case you're wondering, I'm currently switching to a confidential line.

I'm sorry. Thank you. Can you hack into the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's main terminal and steal their data?

You could, but what data would you like me to steal?

Sato Taro, former member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, Central Readiness Force and 1st Airborne Division. Dishonorably discharged, but I need more information.

Give me a minute.

Yes, sir.

　Quickly, the Captain asked Alice to do something bad, and Alice usually agreed, but isn't that quite a problematic act?　If they find out you hacked into a government agency and stole their data, they'll take down Noah!　I think it would be better to ask Claire or Ellis or someone else to provide information through legitimate channels.

Alice, I don't think this is a good idea.

Well, I think it's going to be okay. Miki-san says that the Japanese Information Defense Force is trying to interfere with Noah's main terminal, and that they have been removing data from it once in a while. The last time they took out the data, so I don't think it's a problem for us. I heard that there is some kind of agreement.

　While saying that, Alice is moving her fingertips at a furious pace. Well, I guess it's okay because Alice, who is a cautious person compared to my mom, says so....... It's an act that's likely to destroy my stomach per Ellis-san again.

''There it is!　Let's see, Taro Sato's rank is Major, and he was a paratrooper sent overseas to the Alaska conflict six years ago. Apparently, he was court-martialed for violence against POWs during a battle with Russian troops. Convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison - but something's wrong with that. Has the detail been expunged?　I mean, we don't have any information about his past, either.　Also, there doesn't seem to be anyone else in the prison where he's incarcerated. And there's something wrong with his unit, there's no such thing as the 12th Supply Company in the 1st Airborne. I wonder if this is false information.

I knew it.

The captain who heard the contents of the material read out by Alice is nodding widely. I mean, this Sato guy is like....

Satou communicated to me, he is at this base. And he knows about us Chernobog.

So, is this the guy from your previous example that you got from the captain?

Ah, the most powerful trump card the Japanese are rumored to have hidden away. It's probably a top-secret unit [Sakura]. Satou's name is probably an alias too. A dishonorable discharge from the military is also suspicious.

And where is this Mr. Sato in this base?

"We're right underneath you, sir. It's going to be too much trouble, so make sure the other units don't notice. "You and your partner have a conditional request to surrender.

　I look down at my feet as the Captain told me to, and I see a figure underneath the wire mesh floor, thin with oil and dust, looking up at me and waving a hand smiling. It's the same person as the mugshot of Major Sato Taro attached to the data Alice stole, which is still displayed out of the corner of my eye. I'm sure the call on my personal device, which has been ringing since the moment I noticed it, is from this person. For now, let's connect the device to the suit and try to answer it.

Yes.....

"No!　Nice to meet you, Arakawa-kun. I'd like to surrender, but I was wondering if I could have a word with my old man...

　He disconnects the line at a second's notice. No!　This guy seems to be just as troublesome as Macho. It's right to ask the Captain to pull the communication here. When I was about to give the Captain Sato's number, the terminal's ring tone rang again──.

'Yes.........'

Isn't that a little harsh?　You don't have to cut it off out of the blue. Can you listen to your old man for a moment?''

'Okay but I have a question first. First of all, what is your real name? That and the unit you served in the self-defense force and the reason for your discharge. Furthermore, how do you know about Chernobog?

His name is Taro Sato, a former member of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, the supply unit of the 1st Airborne Corps of the Central Readiness Group. He was discharged for beating up a POW and diverting supplies to a supply unit. I know Chernobog because he was accidentally engaged during the Alaskan conflict. I found out about it after the battle, though, when it was explained to me. You see that big shield suit with the skull on it there?　I'd seen the same personal markings as that skull, so it just clicked for me.'

　Major Sato, who replied slurringly as if reading a memo, is so suspicious that one can only sigh. Anyway, let's check with the Captain as well.

''Captain, is it true about the Alaskan conflict?''

It's all true. We were sent as a force reconnaissance unit. We actually raided a land-based self-defense supply depot, but after the raid was completed, we were counterattacked by elite troops and withdrew. The shield bearer Andrei there was shot at at that time, but the estimated enemy firing point was more than 3,500 meters away.

There's no way a soldier from a rear support unit could successfully snipe at 3500 meters. They're definitely infiltrating the Antarctic base for some reason. So we better get on board.

"Yes, sir, ma'am. I accept your surrender. So when does the unit that's supposed to get you out of here arrive?　With Noah's fleet surrounding us, I'm guessing it's by air.

''No, no, Arakawa-kun, I think you've misunderstood something. ''Ojisan is just a mercenary now. There's no troops coming to cover our escape, you know?　So I suppose we'd prefer to blend in with your forces and disappear quietly. In exchange, we'll provide you with a way to bypass the gate in front of you, access to the mid-tier sector, and information on the disposition of your troops on the New World side. And if you listen to one more request, I have an additional gift for you........''

'I can handle that much, but what are the additional gifts?'

'I can provide you with proof that part of the United States and the French government are in cahoots with the New World. In return, I'd like to take my old man's partner's wife, who is sick, into Noah's hospital.　There's a new hospital in a resort in Italy. I'd like to be in there, at your expense, of course.

If that's true, I'll arrange as many as I can, but I didn't know there was a hospital in Italy. I mean, Major Sato knows everything..... How did he get my personal terminal number? It's not good to talk to Claire-san around here, as expected.
　It would be troublesome if my mom found out about this plan....... I think we should hold off on answering the question and ask Ellis, who is waiting in the sky, to link up with her first.