Chapter 26: 20. Slightly plump (2 in 1)
Translator: 549690339
The reconnaissance squad discovered Soul-bindings and Stone Tombs on the second level of the tomb!
Upon hearing this news, the campsite was immediately thrown into turmoil.
Young privates second class inquired the corporals for information, corporals who had never encountered Soul-bindings asked sergeants for an update, and sergeants shared what they knew with their teammates while casting solemn glances towards Sergeant Alvin Stafford’s tent.
For a moment, Noland Lee felt as if storm clouds were brewing, as if every soldier was carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders.
It made sense.
What is a Soul-binding Stone Tomb?
An evil structure capable of capturing the souls of both the living and the dead simultaneously.
What do soldiers fear the most?
Not being able to serve the Empire in life, and not being able to rest with honor in death.
The various features of the Soul-binding Stone Tomb targeted the Empire’s army weaknesses, inevitably causing unrest amongst the troops.
The soldiers had mixed opinions.
If Sergeant Alvin Stafford was wise, he should issue an order to postpone the attack now, right?
Even retreating altogether wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“Jarvis, come with me. Someone wants to see you.”
Corporal Mars, returning from the commander’s tent, woke Noland Lee, who was dozing off while leaning against a wall.
Opening his eyes, Noland Lee’s gaze was clear, not because his nap had cleared his mind, but because he had anticipated being summoned for a conversation.
That’s just the kind of person Noland Lee was, always thinking a step ahead and being perceptive of even the slightest detail.
Some might say that someone like him would find life exhausting because they would always be thinking and predicting things.
But as far as Noland Lee was concerned, he didn’t find it tiring at all. On the contrary, he enjoyed the process and immersed himself in it.
“Chief Officer, please lead the way.”
Noland Lee stood up, wiped his face, straightened his clothes, and followed Corporal Mars out of the rest area for their squadron.
Passing through a large number of tents in the temporary camp, the two quickly arrived at the entrance of the commander’s tent.
However, Corporal Mars didn’t take Noland Lee inside, but instead led him to a more secluded corner.
In front of a cluttered tent on the outskirts, Corporal Mars stopped, gestured towards the interior, and then stood guard beside the tent, which looked like a makeshift warehouse.
“Go in, Jarvis. Someone is waiting for you inside. I’ll be standing guard out here, and no one will disturb you. Remember, don’t leak anything about the people or things you saw in there; this is the Intelligence Department 4’s top secret.”
“Yes, Chief Officer.”
Noland Lee took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and stepped into the tent after lifting the thick curtain.
A faint, refreshing fragrance lingered in the air, reminding him of expensive perfume or some kind of fragrant medicine.
Inside the tent, a coal lamp emitted a soft light. A folding screen behind the curtain blocked most of the light and the visitors’ view.
Noland Lee walked around the screen and saw the person he was meant to meet, his eyes slightly narrowed.
A woman was leaning against a table, smoking.
She was dressed in a simple black military uniform that couldn’t conceal her charm.
Her slender arms were crossed over her chest, holding a thin cigarette in her right hand, which she pursed her lips around, inhaling slowly and exhaling a mesmerizing plume of smoke.
Upon hearing Noland Lee’s movements, her dazed eyes became focused, turning her face to look at the newcomer.
Noland Lee, too, got a good look at her delicate face.
Her features were sharp, her eyes bright, her lips thin, and her expression cold, which together with her long legs and waist-length hair gave her an aloof demeanor.
“Reporting for duty, Chief Officer.”
Noland Lee raised his right hand and saluted properly.
The officer before him held a higher rank than Sergeant Alvin Stafford, as she was a captain with third-order “Imperial Fist” capabilities.
“Noland Lee Jarvis, do you know who I am?
The female captain’s tone was cool, her smoking posture unchanged, showing no uneasiness at Noland Lee’s arrival, exuding confident energy. “Reporting, Chief Officer. I do not know your identity, just have some guesses.” “What guesses?” the female captain raised her chin slightly. “Just say it.” “The letter given to me by Corporal Mars must have been written by you.”
“Yes, indeed it was. I have also seen the level of knowledge of the Academy’s teaching assistant, which is indeed much stronger than that of a non-academic military background like me.”
“You’re too kind, Chief Officer. I must thank the Empire for nurturing me,” Noland Lee replied with a straight face.
“Not every flower bathed in sunlight can bear fruit. Your achievements also have to do with your own talents and efforts… Please sit, Jarvis, let’s discuss official matters.”
Once the other party sat down, the female captain continued:
“I am Marsha Murphy, a captain of Intelligence Department 4, and I am fully responsible for the secret plan that you are currently experiencing.” Captain Murphy paused:bender
“Internally, we call this plan ‘Broken Coffin’, implying the use of simple and efficient methods to crush the schemes of the Undead Cult… Have you seen the
tomb on the second level of the Stone Tomb?”
Noland Lee nodded:
“Yes, Chief Officer. It’s an old, gloomy, and sinister stone structure.”
“Did you notice that there are many black markings on the surface of the Stone Tomb? They are distributed regularly on the stone bricks, as if they were deliberately carved.”
“I noticed, Chief Officer.”
Captain Murphy put her cigarette in the ashtray, took a seat at her desk, and adopted a standard sitting posture:
“So, what do you think those black markings could be?”