[6:30 AM]
Zeus and Surai were inside the black car, driving through the city.
After driving along the main roads toward the eastern side of the city, they arrived at a massive and distinct building.
This building was isolated from the others, surrounded by a large empty space that included abandoned gardens and some employee car garages.
There were also several military barracks and designated buildings around the large structure, which had the number "293" clearly displayed at the top.
Surai drove the car into the main garage beneath the building, which housed vehicles and combat armored units. After getting out of the car, Zeus asked:
— "Why didn't you compress the car into a wristband? It might be costly, but it would save you a lot of trouble."
— "The car does have that feature, but if I compressed it, I'd have to unload all the compressed gear inside it using the same tech—like the camping box."
— "Anyway, how much does a car like this cost? I'd like to buy one alongside my bike."
— "It costs about as much as a third-level Gene Fighter suit—like mine."
— "That's more than I expected."
— "It's a modified car. For example, the balancing system is more advanced than the original. It's a miniaturized version of the dodging system used in high-speed mechas."
— "That sounds interesting... I think the side-thrust system of your car is its most impressive feature."
They both entered an elevator and exited shortly after, arriving at the first floor.
They made their way to a large hall equipped with tiered seating and a stage displaying multiple screens.
Zeus noticed members of the division's covert operations unit—the same ones he met at the party—so he and Surai went to sit with them at the back rows.
A large number of soldiers from the official assault forces unit occupied the rest of the seats... and it was clear that the total number of people present exceeded 300.
All of them held ranks within the division, the lowest being the rank of Major—
A rank given to someone commanding a small group of no more than 30 soldiers.
Surai sat next to Sam, who waved at him.
As for Zeus, he sat next to Beatrix, who he noticed had been staring at him ever since he entered the hall.
(Sam): "Where did you guys go last night? It's kind of rude to leave the party so suddenly without telling us."
About five meters away from Sam, where Zeus and Beatrix sat slightly apart from the rest of the group, Zeus asked quietly:
— "Did I leave behind any trace that could identify me?"
— "No... but where did you get the virus that disabled the cameras?"
— "You're talking about the small chip... I borrowed it from Surai."
— "It took the tech specialist some time to get rid of that virus."
— "So... how are you?"
— "I'm fine."
Silence fell for a few moments.
Zeus then asked jokingly, slightly surprised:
— "Why don't you ask me 'How are you?' for example?"
Beatrix looked at Zeus from head to toe, examined him briefly, then replied confidently and simply:
— "You seem to be in top shape... there's no logical reason to ask."
Zeus raised his thumb silently and muttered to himself:
— "I think I'm starting to understand what I like about you."
Beatrix looked at him with raised eyebrows... and just then, a notable figure entered the hall.
It was the deputy commander of Division 293.
All previous chatter stopped, and everyone offered a formal salute before the atmosphere calmed, and they all sat down.
The deputy commander was an elderly man holding a wooden cane. If there was one thing certain, it was that he wasn't a fighter—but he had enough experience, knowledge, and years of service to earn everyone's respect.
The screens began displaying a specific map. When the old man tried to speak, he started coughing, then reached for a glass of water on the table.
— "Take a close look at the location."
Silence lasted exactly five minutes before the deputy commander continued:
— "This is a Level 5B mission... we have confirmed information that this mountain contains one of the Green Lotus Organization's bases."
Zeus looked at Beatrix, puzzled. She leaned over and whispered:
— "I'll explain the details later."
The old man went on:
— "The base is located 350 kilometers from our city... I must emphasize that this base is a military one according to the intelligence we have. This means it won't be as easy as the last time... you must be cautious. We have a specific plan that must be executed with precision... Before I begin explaining it, are there any questions so far?"
One of the men raised his hand, and the old man nodded at him to speak.
— "Sir, there are many other special ops teams near the site... why was this mission assigned to us?"
The old man smiled and replied in a cryptic tone:
— "Do you really think you can handle this mission on your own?"
The same soldier answered:
— "Of course... it will be a difficult mission, and there will be losses, but we won't lose this battle."
The old man sighed, then suddenly yelled in reprimand:
— "You're fools!!"
Everyone was stunned, and silence filled the hall for a few seconds before the old man returned to his calm tone and continued:
— "You're right... if you fight, you will win... and there will be many losses. But why would we do something like that? I know you're young and full of fiery blood, but no one should underestimate the weight of human losses. These are lives with families, spouses, and children. Losing someone isn't easy for their loved ones, and we are not in an open war to justify fighting in such a manner."
Some were left puzzled, including Zeus. What many soldiers in the room didn't realize was that a Level B mission was nothing like their previous ones—where they had overwhelming superiority over the enemy, and mechas could win battles without a single casualty, except in rare cases.
When the old man began explaining the plan, everyone understood what he meant.
This mission was a joint operation between several special forces teams. The mechas would play the primary role, while the rest of the soldiers would be deployed in a wide surrounding perimeter—not too close to the battlefield but tight enough to prevent any enemy escape.
Each team would deploy its remote-controlled robots, along with fully metallic mechas operated remotely, and some suicide drones.
All this was to avoid human casualties. The Union is one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world, with enough access to raw materials to meet its own needs and export a significant amount to other countries.
This advantage came from the Union's control over vast lands in the north—rich in these resources.
The southwestern regions are generally warm, while most of the remaining Union territory toward the north consists of frozen polar zones.