Disclaimer: I don't own Gate or Nihon-koku Shoukan, as they belong to their rightful owners.
Discovering Secrets and Surprises
"Ms. Parna-san, please accept our apologies, we do hope you understand the busy schedule we have today."
She found herself in what could be the coziest small room she had ever set foot in. Not only was the atmosphere peaceful and serene, but the plush, reddish-hued, comfortable furniture that the locals called a "Couch" truly made the whole experience perfect.
Upon receiving prior notice that the upcoming meeting would resemble an intense interview or perhaps a blatant interrogation, she remained unfazed, anticipating the inevitable. What caught her off guard, however, was the unexpected comfort of their interrogation rooms.
Very far away from the common dungeons or cellars of other kingdoms in this land.
However, she had already had an idea this kind of room was for special individuals.
She offered a small smile.
"It's alright, I've been waiting for this to happen." She replied."" I'm sure your superiors are eager to learn more about this world."
The two men who stood before her briefly glanced at each other as they took their seats opposite the table.
"Likely more about the recent incident."
The fatigued gaze of Itami flickered as the Japanese Lieutenant savored a sip of his freshly brewed, steaming cup of coffee, seeking to revitalize his concentration for the final task ahead.
He spent the day engaged in a wide range of activities, primarily focused on sharing the information gathered by himself and the rest of the expeditionary team during their time in the Qua-Toyne Principality.
An event that was still fresh in their minds.
He knew he would feel restless, and all he wanted to do after everything was to retire to his quarters and immerse himself in the latest anime series he had stored on his USB drive. Moreover, his wife was anticipating a video call from him or was supposed to have their daily call.
A reminder that he too was not the perfect guy amongst all the people in the base.
He couldn't exactly say the same for his reserved colleague, even though the tiredness behind those glasses was evident.
Lieutenant Yaganida let out a deep sigh as he settled into his seat once again. Despite his increasingly chaotic schedule, he maintained a friendly and approachable demeanor. He was adept at compartmentalizing his personal life to focus on his professional duties.
He bore significant responsibility as a key volunteer for the coalition's objective to gather crucial intelligence. He didn't mind working alongside a man whom he found occasionally difficult to fully understand.
The man carefully laid a pile of papers on the tabletop, straightening his spectacles before breaking into a smile of his own.
"First off, I would like to ask...How you'd been doing here for the past few days?" He said.
Parna smiled." It's like nothing I've ever seen before."
"This whole fortress is magnificent."
Since the treaty was established between the Principality and the enigmatic coalition from beyond the Gate, there has been continuous cooperation. This has included numerous investigations into the repercussions of the battle and the individuals involved.
The black-haired bunny woman had agreed to be accompanied by the Men in Green toward their fortress and would stay there for several days until she could fulfill her task providing them what she knew about the entire situation and of this long conflict.
With a smile, Itami remarked, 'What lies beyond that Gate could be truly mind-blowing for you. But, I have to say this world never ceases to amaze me every single day.'"
It was indeed one of those rare times that he met a bunny woman up close and personal. Like the ones he recognized in various Fantasy Manga series...The long oval-like ears stood out.
"Really?"
Parna could feel a tinge of surprise coming from him. She could surmise that in their world, there were no beings like her, half-human and half-something else.
Yaganida cleared his throat and said, "Well, it's great to hear that you are doing fine. I guess I should ask again. You are pretty much aware of why you are here, right?"
She simply nodded.
The man took a deep breath as he started the session.
As the events unfolded, the camera had already begun capturing the moment in secret.
"First off, you may tell us about yourself and how you currently got yourself in this situation."
There was a brief moment of silence that followed.
As much as Parna wanted to get straight to the point, she had to give them a clear background.
"You don't have to worry...everything you say is safe and just to let you know...We also interviewed the people who are involved in that incident."
She raised both eyebrows.
Itami nodded." Yes, and that includes Yuji-san."
She let out a small sigh of relief.
"At least they have an idea." She thought, before finally moving her lips.
"Well...before I became part of the Minister's court, I was formerly a slave forced to do anyone's bidding, and before that...A warrior that fought for the safety and freedom of my land against an invading enemy."
"The land I belonged to where the rest of my kind had lived for many years..."
"That's The warrior bunny tribes am I correct?." Itami finished her words.
"Yes."
Her first remarks already gave them a clue that this person had gone through a lot.
"Were you part of a single group?" Yaganida asked.
She gave a small nod, her eyes distant as she spoke. "Initially, yes. But before the Empire's arrival, my tribe was merely one of many, each vying for prestige and recognition amid fierce competition."
"And when they finally came, all the tribes of the land had decided to put aside their differences thus allying and eventually united as a single entity to fight Sadera's huge armies."
Itami nodded in understanding "So in a way, you all formed your kingdom together."
Her lips curved into a proud smile as she lovingly recalled the unity of her people for a noble purpose. The emotions that filled the air on that fateful day when the declaration was announced still resonate deeply within her.
"So what exactly happened after? How long was your trib- Kingdom fought against them?"
There was a solemn look that followed.
"As far as I can remember...Around three years."
The fact that a small kingdom in the Continent has been able to withstand the might of the Empire and endure for such a long period is truly remarkable.
Parna gazed directly into their eyes and solemnly expressed, "I always regret not being able to join my fellow brethren in battle or witness the final confrontation before our homeland was lost." our homeland was lost."
Both men raised their eyebrows in surprise.
"Why?"
"I was captured earlier when my division engaged in a skirmish against one of Sadera's Elite Battalions." bunny woman wiped the small tears that were coming out not bothering to recall how her fellow warrior bunnies were taken away and never to be seen again.
"That's how I ended up as a prisoner and I never saw my home nor learned of their defeat for another year until...She..." Parna trailed off from that.
"Who's She?" Yaganida asked.
"A close friend of mine...her name is Tyuule." There was some difficulty by the time she had reached this subject.
Both men raised their eyebrows in curiosity.
Parna expressed, "She was the one who rescued me from that wretched life, and I am indebted to her for everything from that moment forward." She went on to elucidate, "It was through her that I discovered we had been defeated in the war against the Empire."
There was bitterness in the way she said it.
"Is your friend involved in this recent conflict with Qua-Toyne?" Itami asked.
There was a long pause." Yes, she was the one who sent me there to be the eyes and ears."
Yaganida raised an eyebrow." So you were there to spy and gather Intel for this Sadera?"
The bunny woman looked down." Yes, and to also cooperate with anyone that has the intention of destroying the current governing body of the Principality."
"And that would be the "Elven Council." Itami then said, knowing that he was also there at the palace when the incident happened.
She nodded in response before going back to her thoughts.
"Should I tell them?"
"So this Elven Council...are they aware of the invasion?"
She took a deep breath." No, they acted on their own goals and I assisted them until the situation changed."
Would they even believe it?"
"I realized that my purpose for being there is not only to help both sides but to also double-cross them.
"What did you do?"
She grinned a little.
"I betrayed them and instead helped the Prime Minister and his Cabinet escape.
Both men looked at each other, though Itami finally realized why there were dead bodies in that meeting hall.
"So did you betray your friend, Tyuule as well?"
Parna's expression turned serious as she stated firmly, "No! I made the decision to betray the very individuals who were primarily responsible for the destruction of my home."
At that moment, a rush of emotions began to surface.
"There are other people there who have the same goals as the Empire and Tyuule- My friend has been in this prison that she can't even break free from."
There were tears in her eyes.
"Please...this is my only request...we have to save her...please help me save her for the Empire is using her for their gains."
Both men remained calm but expressed their concern.
"Ms. Parna, please try to stay calm. We want to assist you in any way we can, but to do so effectively, we need to understand what their primary objective is," Itami articulated.
Another brief pause followed.
Parna took a deep breath, hoping that they would believe what she knew was the truth.
"The artifacts."
XXXXXXXXXXX
The air was filled with the irresistible aroma of sizzling barbecues, and wisps of smoke billowed steadily from the searing hot grill.
The stars were showing as the sun was setting.
The air turned chilly as distant sounds of merriment and laughter enveloped the surroundings.
"Wow, I really can't believe that we're having a barbeque party in this place."
"And I really can't believe we would have the time to do so.."
In all the areas surrounding the Alnus base, this spot stands out as the most suitable for a clandestine meeting, especially for those who have experienced the recent major incident in Noble City.
When it comes to Furuta, grilling steaks and corn on someone's lawn was something he had not done before, especially when the semi-grassy lawn belonged to a certain blonde elf girl.
The simple house which was built in a short period stood strong in front of some of the members of the Third Recon.
The once barren land had been transformed into a tranquil residential neighborhood, providing a haven for refugees and villagers who had been forced to leave their homes.
"I guess a big thanks to Ms. Tuka here and her father for allowing us to use their front lawn for our simple barbeque get-together." The chubby brown-haired American then announced as he raised his canned beer.
As it turned out, Members from their fellow American counterparts...Carl and Al had the free time to attend the event.
"Yeah! A toast to them!" Kurata followed with his cheer as they raised their drinks towards the father and daughter, who could only share their smiles.
"I thank you all for your kindness but if you ask me It's not a huge deal as I have been also looking forward to this." Hodor grinned." I'm sure we were all quite busy before this."
"Well sir, I do think now is the perfect time to unwind before getting back into the grinder again," Shino remarked while taking a bite of her nice juicy steak.
"And I also do think we have our own stories to share after all that crap."
Everyone knew what she meant.
Ever since their experience at the Noble City a lot already had happened and it opened more opportunities besides one.
Carl raised a hand.
"Well, can I start by telling you guys that our team will probably be assigned on missions to rescue people who are supposedly been living in this world for a long time?"
The rest stared at him with surprise.
So it was true.
There were plans that the Recon 13 would have to split into groups for the next possible phase.
"You mean not just the ones captured at Ginza?" Higashi asked.
"That one for a different group...ever since that Chef from Kitchen Nightmares showed up alive and well the higher-ups now believed that there are others like him," Al explained this time.
"Oh...Isekaid people!" Everyone turned towards the fellow Otaku member of the group.
"Yeah, and that means more stress for them to not get this all leaked up." Carl added." You know those people from the press tend to make every detail sensationalized."
What could happen if the idea of people from Earth are discovered to be living in a fantasy world for a long time?
The question is how did they get here in the first place?
"Well, could it be that several Gates or portals opened sometime in our past and a lot of people entered it?" The deep voice of Tomita remarked from the corner as it turned out that he had been interested in the subject the whole time.
Kurata showed a grin as he glanced at him.
"Another convert eh?"
Higashi pointed towards the man." I guess that's how he ended up here. But I digress."
Carl then raised both eyebrows." Say, didn't you guys meet him while the city was being overrun by those shadow demon dragons?"
"I mean Gordon Ramsay..."
Shino shrugged." Well, not us...that'll be him and Hitoshi."
Finally, after hearing his name being mentioned, Furuta decided to join the conversation and stepped up to participate.
"Uhmm, yes...at Ramsay-san's restaurant...we actually hid there for quite some time." He chuckled." Before he and his staff helped us escape that street."
"So did he tell anything about how he got here?" Shino followed up with a question.
The young man shook his head.
"No...but one of his staff or his friends told me that he was apparently called by the Gods and he arrived here inside a crate of tomatoes," Furuta explained while the rest gave mixed reactions.
The story was indeed bizarre.
"Hmmm, I guess he got himself Isekaid into this world while inspecting a crate of tomatoes?" Kurata remarked with excitement." I mean whatever sexy Goddess that summoned him must have placed him in there."
Shino rolled her eyes and slightly slapped him on the shoulder." Baka! Nobody uses wooden crates nowadays."
The latter playfully narrowed his eyes at her." Or do they..?"
The buxom young woman could only muster an irritated look as her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips tightened into a slight frown.
The others got a good laugh at that.
Carl sighed." Well, I guess we should wait for the official testimony, I mean he's probably an honest person who swears a lot and he would tell everything that happened to him."
"And speaking of that Ramsay fellow...I do believe that he's gonna be helping us full-time."
"In what way?'
"Besides finding people like him...He could help us beat that Empire for good...I mean he probably cooked for the king, emperor, or whatever."
"And he could be a spy for the whole coalition "Higashi added." But I still doubt it since...He's a head chef and probably owns multiple restaurants in this world."
Shino sighed." Well, I guess that means someone will have to volunteer for this."
Kurata scratched his chin." Hmmmm, someone who can cook and who loves to cook."
There was a brief pause before all eyes turned towards one person.
Furuta could only manage to muster a faint smile, feeling uneasy as all the attention seemed to be focused on him.
Tomita gave the man a wink as he nodded.
The young man just shrugged." Well, if the God of Cookery wants me to be a spy and work with Ramsay-san then so be it.."
The wind grew stronger thereafter.
At that very moment...a familiar voice entered the scene.
"Hey guys! Sorry, I'm late."
All heads then turned toward the young man carrying what appeared to be a bulky briefcase.
"Sir Yuji!"
"Yuji-san!"
"Yuji...my man!"
The semi-weary writer smiled in response, adjusting his glasses as he entered the front lawn where the eventwass currently being held.
"I hope I didn't miss anything important." He said as he placed his case on a vacant chair.
"No, you're just right on time," Carl said as he handed the man a cold can of soda.
"So where the heck have you been all this time?" Shino asked.
Yuji scratched the back of his head." Well...complex things like finalizing official reports and my account of what happened back at the city."
"And verifying theories and all that stuff."
He then received stressful groans from some of them.
He was brought into this campaign by the higher-ups for a reason.
"Hmmm, I guess you're the best man for the job, Mr. Yuji," Hodor spoke this time as he pointed in a certain direction.
As he shifted his gaze towards an unexpected scene.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
In all of the gatherings that she had attended, this was the first time she had brought most of her study materials. Particularly, books...and more books.
Lelei had a big part of the table just for her to do this.
However, the blue-haired teen was aware that there was a social event happening as of now and she would love to join them in their discussions.
As time went on, the initially less important goal became increasingly compelling. She felt a strong desire to take a seat at the table and persist in unraveling the long-standing mystery that had been weighing on them.
But not without a plate of food which the Men in Green called" Steak and mashed potatoes"
She sat there quietly and tried to eat her food properly while examining a map detailing the entire central region.
She had been not paying attention to what was happening around her, except for the countless times that her elf friend approached and tried to drag her out.
"Look Lelei, if I were you...I would put that aside for a while."
She must have given up eventually since there was no interruption for the last 20 minutes.
Despite having the time for herself, she was still struggling to solve the last part of this mystery in theory.
But not until a certain young man approached her.
"Ms. Lelei...I guess you're busy right now."
She looked up and saw the Japanese chronicler with his plate and drink.
She did not say a word while the man smiled.
"Mind if I join and help whatever you're doing there?"
She thought about it for a few moments before nodding in response, adjusting her books to make a space for him.
Yuji was aware of the girl's habits. She was indeed a prodigy in her field as many say.
She saved countless of lives in those two major events.
"Hey, I heard you did some incredible stuff back in the city...you saved a lot of lives there." The writer remarked.
The girl gave a surprised look.
As much as how big her contributions were during the incident, she didn't want any more recognition but it was heartwarming to hear genuine words in a while.
"Thank you."
She flashed a small smile before returning to her task.
Yuji nodded as he took his seat facing the girl. His eyes shifted towards the old-looking brownish map.
His curiosity was also piqued as he took wanted to learn more about what the girl was studying.
"So...what's this all about?" He asked." What's the story?"
It was then that Lelei realized that she had not shared the progress of her research and the lore behind it with any of them so far.
It was a bit disappointing for her that she wasn't able to get someone who could genuinely assist her in this...someone who is good at analyzing and interpreting, although there was an opportunity that showed up.
The girl tiredly sighed as she presented the only old map that her master had for a long time.
"It's about Sadera." She explained." Ever since Marcus had relayed me that message...I've been searching for clues about the Empire's past."
"Marcus...that guy who refused our help back at Coda Village?"
She responded with a nod.
"He hailed from Sadera...not just an ordinary citizen who lived there but a part of the Nobility."
Yuji raised both eyebrows.
As soon as he heard the word...his mind brought a certain image of a red-haired girl.
"So he knows something about that place and this conflict?"
"Yes, and I'm confident that he had vital information regarding its past."
The man was intrigued.
"What's so special about this kingdom? Did it have the same beginning as any kingdom here?"
Lelei then beckoned the man to focus on the map as she used her fingers to draw an imaginary circle on the large land territory which was the capital.
"Common knowledge often tells that Sadera rose and gained power not long ago."
"That recent eh?" He remarked.
"Yes, but no one knows how or when.."
"And according to what I've learned...This land area where the capital now stood was a former territory of a kingdom known as Louria."
"Louria?"
"Yes, but in my village and the stories that we were told...It's known as "The Kingdom that fell in five nights."
Yuji raised both eyebrows.
She was really on to something.
Lelei then grabbed a nearby book and opened it on a particular page.
The page of the book showed an even older map of the region.
"This map belonged to a chronicler from the year of the white dragon."
Yuji narrowed his eyes." When was this map made?"
"A century ago"
Yuji blinked as upon observing the map and comparing it to the other one that he realized something.
"So you're telling me that this area with a population of probably half a million people...was just an empty land before?"
Lelei nodded as she tapped a finger to the center.
The area itself had the same color as it also reached the small label which bear the kingdom's name.
"Louria"
A surprising twist yet another mystery.
"Ruins and a mass graveyard if I were to judge."
Lelei then brought up another book and went to a specific page showing another map yet again but this time which was dated more recently.
The name of Louria still appeared on the map, but now there was a small illustration of two dark towers and a symbol at the same location alongside a new color to label it. This suggested that significant events had occurred in those years, and the area was no longer uninhabited or under the same jurisdiction.
The young man scratched his head." I don't get it...How in the heck would a kingdom rise in that land in such a short time?"
It was convoluting since no one had lived in that empty land before unless it wasn't really an empty land.
Lelei forms a small smile." That's what I believe caused Louria's quick downfall."
"They were caught off guard?"
The teenager nodded. "Louria was a powerful kingdom that preceded Sadera." She continued to explain as she pointed towards the map." This whole region was their territory and every chronicler who passed by this area should have documented its change."
They should have at least seen how that kingdom rose and developed over time.
And yet there hardly any accounts.
"And I believed somewhere along the way that something had happened in that empty land before and Louria lost control of it."
"So somehow a kingdom randomly just shows up out of nowhere and starts eating up this kingdom from withi?" Yuji had finished the words for her.
Lelei's smile widened." Exactly! And you might not believe this but..."
She then grabbed one more book, opened a page, and presented it to the man.
Yuji had just started delving into the intricate language structures and letters of this world, but even so, he could already recognize the keywords written on the page.
"The Legend of Crystallis and the Demon of Rodenius."
The words did sound familiar in a way.
"I think I've heard this story before from one of the locals...though except for this crystallis part." He told the latter.
Lelei nodded as she began to explain.
"The ancient legend recounts the defeat of a powerful demon that once invaded the continent. To prevent the demon from returning, mystical artifacts known as soul stones were created. These soul stones served to separate the essence of the demon and conceal it in various parts of the land." After recounting this, she paused for a moment.
"Interesting," Yuji remarked as he suddenly recalled a certain item.
"Could it be that...?"
"Yet... over time it was said that the stones would become weaker." She continued." So it was not long after that white crystals, blessed by the Goddess of Light were created to destroy them along with the dark essence of the Demon once and for all.
"Although, many groups were unsuccessful in locating them...so these white crystals were given to the kingdoms who are deemed worthy by the Gods and ask them to search those stones."
Yuji then raised a hand." So where does Sadera enter in this?"
Lelei took a deep breath.
"I believe that Sadera's rise to power is due to one of those dark artifacts."
"The reason How the Empire was able to conquer much of the Continent and now they are searching for them as well."
There was a brief moment of silence that followed.
The young man would soon realize as he began to compare the artifacts that he had seen during the Battle.
They matched the description overall.
"How many are still left?" He then asked.
Lelei shook her head." According to what I've studied so far...around 3 dark stones" She explained." And if I'm correct, one is in-"
"Qua-Toyne." The man muttered aloud.
The girl conveyed an astonished look.
Yuji sighed in response." Long story short... I met someone who actually had both of them and she eventually destroyed it so they won't fall into the wrong hands."
It was a revelation that left the girl at a loss for words.
The main purpose of the invasion was to acquire it and that could solidify that the legend crystals were true all along.
The next challenge would be finding the location of the remaining artifacts before the Empire could get its hands on them.
"So do you have any leads as to where they are?"
By then Lelei gave a tired sigh as she rested on her seat for the first time.
"I'm not sure about these conclusions but if you can help me examine this Mr. Yuji."
From the same book, she flipped the page to another map which visualised the layout of the land during that era.
At the same time, Yuji brought out his briefcase and took out a copy of a map which was recently taken by the Coalition drones on the very same land. He began to examine all of them and also compared the other maps to his.
He continued to draw the lines that the girl started as connections between the lands took shape.
Moments passed as he began to find consistent path. Amongst all the landmarks and places in the region, there were several that caught his attention.
Then it finally dawned on him upon focusing on two particular places as he recalled certain person's words.
"Ms. Lelei! I think got it!" He said as the teenage girl got closer.
"You see these two landmarks over here?" He then pointed towards them." In theory, I believe the Empire might be heading towards these places."
The girl gave him a surprised look and as she was about to speak, a voice then beat her to it.
"So care to tell us what's so special about those places?"
The quiet but suspenseful ambiance was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice, causing the Japanese journalist and the Teenage mage to turn around. They realized that many people at the barbecue gathering had been eavesdropping on their conversation in secret.
"We can also help you guys ya know?"
"I mean played a lot of mystery-solving detective games...so bring it to me."
"Hey! You gotta explain more about those soul stone thingies, they sounded cool!"
From the trio of Kurata, Shino, Higashi... Tuka and Hodor were already at their table with outstretched ears, while the others were peeking around and watching.
A comically large teardrop appeared on their heads as Yuji and Lelei were placed in a state of confusion and amusement.
Both of them glanced at each other as they could only sigh in return.
"Well, at least they're interested to learn more."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
HQ Building
General Wilkes observed the newly compiled document as a copy was provided for him.
As he glanced at the pile of papers, he was taken aback by the sheer volume of documentation related to the investigation of the new ally's recent incident. His surprise was evident as he realized the extensive nature of the document.
With this huge number of details about the event, he had known the best summary of it.
"So let me guess this straight...This whole fiasco was started by three groups...both not having any connections with each other?"
The room came into a brief silence.
"Yes sir." The female secretary nodded." According to the key witnesses and the claims that have been recently verified...The three factions that had a hand in this incident.."
The woman then used a small device to press a button, causing a large screen to display a simple slide showing the culprits.
"One...The Empire or Sadera as it's widely known here was responsible for the aerial attack."
"The screen then showed a photo of the city being swarmed by a huge number of wyverns.
"Second...The Elven Council... responsible for executing a coup during the negotiations."
"And the last group?"
The female secretary took a deep breath." Well, this one is a bit more complex."
"This report came from one of their officials who volunteered for the investigation."
He raised an eyebrow." That bunny girl?"
"Yes."
"So what did she know about this third faction?"
"That part is still debatable since... She is not aware of their true identities and she insisted that the third faction is still affiliated with Sadera." The secretary explained as she pressed the button and the screen switched to a new slide.
"So far these are our leads...The third faction is one individual. Male in a dark hooded robe and according to her is a young man in appearance."
General Wilkes winced as he was about to ask again while the latter continued.
"And has the capability that surpasses an ordinary human."
"Well, that's what I had in thought." General Hanzama, who was quietly listening from his seat had spoken.
His American Counterpart finally sighed.
"Looks like we found another one" He muttered.
"Possibly"
Everyone in the room had already heard about a certain dark-haired Apostle and her supernatural abilities.
Ever since the coalition had established their presence in this world they quickly learned of various people who could wield abilities that were out of the ordinary.
The most common thing was "Magic"
That's when the Adventurers, warriors, mages, and even parties started to pop up on the radar and the coalition better knew to determine what they could do and how much of a threat they posed if one became a potential enemy.
Fortunately, these types of people were facing problems of their own... Particularly to earn a living, find adventure, and vanquish any type of evil lurking around.
And mostly they needed help in their fulfill whatever ongoing quests they had.
In special cases such as the recent discovery of a well-known Michelin Star chef, who turned to be alive and living well as an entrepreneur and secretly a hero who defends the weak in this world for many years.
Those were the main ones to name a few, the topic of the Guilds is an entirely new story to begin with.
And there were the Apostles.
Individuals blessed with otherworldly physical strength and fighting capabilities based on the Gods they belonged to.
Immortal beings that lived for hundreds of years since.
"So...any information we got regarding him?"
The blonde secretary nodded." Well based on the testimony...It was Ms. Rory who fought this third faction throughout that incident and also was able to save her life from the dragon that crashed into the palace.
"Ah yes, the one captured by the drone footage." General Hanzama remarked.
"And blown to bits by our F15s"
She sighed." That is an entirely different dragon." She said, causing the men to raise their eyebrows.
Then there was the other mystery.
"So where did that giant bastard come from?" General Wilkes asked.
The secretary smiled beckoning them to flip to a specific page in the document.
"This report came from Mr. Takamori."
"Yuji?"
"Yes sir."
"According to the report, He was able to locate and meet two individuals who had first-hand accounts of the situation." She explained, also switching to the next slide, now depicting two photos of two giant dragons. Both similar in appearance but different in nature.
"This red dragon came from a community of dragons from the north and its baby or offspring was suddenly captured by this third faction and sold to a circus."
General Wilkes winced as he pleaded, "Please, don't tell me this is turning into a Disney movie."
"As for the Red Dragon, it avoided capture but had to go on a very long searching spree for her baby until it somehow landed on the city during some sort of festival."
A worst-case scenario for the locals there.
General Hanzama raised his hand." According to the footage, there was a dark dragon that suddenly showed up...how did it come to be involved?"
There was a brief moment of silence.
"Long story short...Dark Magic."
General Wilkes sighed yet again.
"There was this stone or crystal that could supposedly corrupt anything on its path...the culprit used it on the red dragon and sometime later the crystal had taken a life of its own and then separated from it."
"Hence why there were two."
The next slide was then presented and revealed several body cam footage from the members of the envoy who were in the heart of the city during that day.
"And to top it all off...the city went into unrest because of these dragon-like creatures which came from the bigger dragon." She then continued." All of these creatures cease to exist after the source has been eliminated by our aerial team."
It was a complex situation but to their relief and amazement all members of the envoy survived the ordeal and at the end of the day the whole government structure of the Principality.
"Another unforeseen scenario." General Hanzama said, glancing towards his American Counterpart, who was in deep thought.
"Do we have Ms. Rory's testimony on this part? The guy with the hood?"
"Not yet, but we could request a meeting with her later."
General Wilkes nodded." Good, she might have a good idea regarding this third faction."
The coalition had to fasten up their game on learning more about the world, especially the different factions that could be greater enemies in the future.
"So what happened to those crystal artifacts by the way?" General Hanzama brought the subject again, as he could sensed some importance on it.
"They were destroyed sir...by Mr. Takamori and Ms. Parna."
Now that is something they were not expecting.
Then in the midst of that...the door opened as an official came forth holding another document.
"Sir, the latest reports are here regarding the central region."
"So what's the outline for this?"
The official gave the two a serious look.
"We have encountered problems on some missions... Particularly in these places." He explained, pointing towards a certain area of the recent map.
The General saw the first two highlighted words on the page as he widened his eyes.
"Wait, that unit was supposed to head to this place for first contact...What the heck happened?"
The official slightly winced in return as there was a hint of struggle in explaining it as he could only say.
"It's complicated sir."
CHAPTER END
AN: Hey there again! So here is another one and this time the chapter shifts to the perspective of the Coalition characters and gathers more valuable information regarding the world and especially, Sadera. With all the stories happening around...I do wonder myself on how the coalition would react to the lore and story.
Of course, common sense and logic from Earth would not be that fully applicable in a high fantasy world.
Then there's the Isekaid people who became an Isekaid protagonist or heroes in their story and seeing a Gate to their world opened...How do you think they would react?
Vice versa how would the general public react?
With that said, Thank you for reading the chapter and I appreciate your time!
P.S.
For those who are confused...You may read the first main story which is "Gate: Journey in The New World" to better understand the lore and situation of the characters.
