On this day, the weather remained as gloomy and cold as before, and it was as if even the heavens knew it would be an unsettling day, casting a sense of oppression over the entire sky.
Outside the Russian Branch, in a vast open space, many people gathered here. It wasn’t just people; there were military helicopters and tanks stationed there as well.
God Eaters wielding their God Arcs and soldiers carrying their weapons and equipment were all gathered here, some boarding the helicopters and tanks, while others discussed some matters on the spot.
Fang Li’s entire group was also present there.
As Fang Li watched the military helicopters and tanks start-up, getting ready to set off, his gaze turned to Amamiya Rindou, Tachibana Sakuya, and Soma, the three God-Eaters of the Far East Branch.
At this moment, the three God-Eaters were fully prepared and ready to set off at any given moment.
“Captain Amamiya, Sakuya-San, Soma-San,” Hibari said with great concern. “Please be careful.”
Hibari, as an Operator, couldn’t participate in the battle. Therefore, she was the only one from the Far East Branch who would stay behind, and she would also be responsible for communication and relaying information to everyone.
Originally, the Far East Branch’s support was limited to their entire group. Now, apart from Hibari, everyone else had to go into battle, and it was natural for Hibari to feel uneasy about the situation.
What made Hibari even more uneasy was Amamiya Rindou and the others’ mission.
“No matter how careful we are, if it’s our time to die, there’s no escaping it,” Amamiya Rindou shrugged helplessly as he spoke. “After all, we’re responsible for the most critical part, right?”
“Yeah,” Tachibana Sakuya also sighed helplessly and muttered, “It’s hard to believe that they entrusted us, the foreign reinforcements, with the task of subjugating the most important target.”
“Hmph,” Soma turned around and didn’t speak anything but he gripped his God Arc tightly in his hand.
There was no other choice.
Even though they were regarded as the Far East Branch’s most excellent Aragami subjugation unit, this mission was extremely dangerous for Amamiya Rindou’s entire group.
During the strategy meeting, Amamiya Rindou’s entire group was assigned only one mission.
‘Target Aphrodite’. This was their mission.
“The threat this time can be entirely attributed to Aphrodite,” Amamiya Rindou said, holding a cigarette in his hand but not lighting it, speaking to himself. “Naturally, to neutralize this crisis, we have to deal with Aphrodite first.”
The Aragami gathering to attack the Russian Branch appeared here due to Aphrodite’s manipulation. In other words, as long as Aphrodite was eliminated, the Aragami forces would disperse automatically, no longer launching coordinated attacks on the Russian Branch.
Conversely, if Aphrodite wasn’t dealt with, the only option to resolve this incident would be to annihilate all the attacking Aragami.
However, the number of gathered Aragami was terrifyingly high.
To truly subjugate them, reinforcements from Fenrir Branches worldwide would have to be sent, or else it would be impossible to succeed.
Given the circumstances, the Russian Branch had to start with Aphrodite and subjugating Aphrodite was absolutely necessary.
Now, this mission fell upon the First Unit from the Far East Branch and the reasons behind it weren’t hard to guess.
“Leaving aside whether or not the Far East Branch’s First Unit has the strength to successfully subjugate Aphrodite, those God Eaters who came from the Far East Branch aren’t from the Russian Branch. Even if we die in battle, it doesn’t matter to them,” Fang Li said, and it was as if he was discussing someone else’s business, with a tone unrelated to himself. “We’re truly being used as tools.”
“…In any case, it’s a mission,” Tachibana Sakuya’s expression grew more helpless when she heard Fang Li’s words, but she showed no signs of wavering as she spoke, “Since it’s a mission, we must complete it.”
“Yes,” Amamiya Rindou raised his God Arc and shrugged, saying, “And it’s not just us going to the frontlines. Our mission is solely focused on Aphrodite. As for the other Aragami, they will be dealt with by the Russian Branch’s God Eaters.”
“I will keep everyone updated with the latest information,” Hibari quickly added, “You all are formidable, and I believe you will safely overcome this challenge.”
Upon hearing this, everyone smiled faintly.
Only Fang Li had a meaningful look as he spoke to Amamiya Rindou, “Not only have you been assigned the most dangerous mission, but even I have been sent to the frontlines to stop the Aragami’s advance and plant Oracle Cells as landmines. Except for Hibari, who isn’t a threat, the rest of us have been deployed.”
It made one suspect that some observant and conscientious person didn’t want Fang Li’s entire group to continue staying in the Russian Branch, hence this particular arrangement.
That was what Fang Li meant to express.
“In other words, they ultimately see us as a threat,” Amamiya Rindou closed his eyes momentarily but quickly opened them, jokingly saying to Fang Li, “If you’re scared, you can still run away.”
“I’ll consider it,” Fang Li smirked and said, “But only after I complete my mission.”
If there were no Main Quest One and Main Quest Two, Fang Li might have disregarded the Russian Branch’s arrangements, disobeyed orders, and continued lurking in the Russian Branch to find an opportunity to complete the Side mission.
However, considering the Main Quests, Fang Li also had to take to the battlefield.
“Perhaps that’s why the Side mission has an A-Rank difficulty,” Fang Li said. “If it conflicts with the Main mission, the difficulty naturally increases.”
In the end, the course of action would depend entirely on Fang Li’s arrangement.
“Compared to me, you guys are definitely in a more dangerous situation, right?” Fang Li looked at Amamiya Rindou and spoke with a faint smile on his face. “Do you have any last words to leave with me?”
“No last words, but I have three orders,” Amamiya Rindou couldn’t help but smile, then he looked at Fang Li.
“The first order is: Don’t die.”
“The second order is: Escape when you’re about to die.”
“The third order is: Hide afterward.”
“If you see an opportunity, then go defeat the enemy.”
Leaving behind those words, Amamiya Rindou waved his hand and boarded the helicopter with Tachibana Sakuya and Soma. Fang Li silently watched the departure of Amamiya Rindou’s entire group and sighed after a while.
“There were clearly four orders.”
“Fang Li-San,” Hibari said very seriously to Fang Li, “Please make sure to come back alive.”
“Don’t worry,” Fang Li smiled faintly, though his expression was filled with tranquility.
“I’m not that easy to kill.”
……
