Hearing the voice from outside, Ellen looked at Andrew with some confusion and subconsciously asked:
"Commander? Why does she call you that?"
One had to know that in New Eridu, such a title was not common. Even if it appeared, it was basically only used within official organizations.
One could even say it was exclusive to police officers of Public Security or soldiers of the Defense Force.
Even existences within the TOPS Corporation wouldn't use 'Commander'; they would only address superiors as 'Leader' or 'Boss'.
So, could it be that the Store Manager had some hidden identity?
"Ahem."
Facing Ellen's gaze, which held a trace of interrogation within her confusion, Andrew immediately gave a light cough and glossed over it, saying:
"No, this is just Soldier 11's addressing habit. She... likes the army relatively more and is very interested in the Defense Force, so she always addresses me this way."
Watching Ellen's skeptical gaze, Andrew quietly wiped away some cold sweat.
The matters inside the Umbrella Laboratory were not suitable for children to know. If Ellen kept questioning, Andrew would really find it somewhat difficult to answer.
At the same time, Andrew secretly decided in his heart that he must properly instruct Soldier 11 later.
Later, he absolutely had to make her remember to change how she addressed him whenever she was outside, even if he had to use an order.
It was just that something Andrew didn't know was...
Although Andrew had never admitted it, and had never had any direct interaction with the Defense Force, the Silver Squad actually still retained its troop establishment belonging to the Defense Force.
Normally speaking, even if it was an establishment created to provide cover for the existence of the Replica Squad, the Silver Squad was still a formal troop establishment under the Defense Force.
Under circumstances without any accidents, any non-combat personnel loss had always been a major taboo in the military.
This was also a major reason why the method used to dispose of the Silver Squad previously wasn't a direct deletion with a stroke of a pen, but rather sending them to complete a mission that was completely impossible to complete—basically sending them to their deaths.
But no matter what, the Institute did not have the ability to directly destroy a military establishment. Even the military backers behind them couldn't do it so casually.
Even if they wanted to do it, the price would be too great, and the gains would not make up for the losses.
So only in this way could they reasonably change the establishment belonging to the Silver Squad in the troop plan to 'Sacrificed' status and revoke it, allowing everything to be buried under the dust.
After all, having a squad nearly wiped out due to a combat mission in the Hollows, leading to the revocation of their establishment, was the most normal thing possible.
Such an abrupt end to the establishment wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicion or attention at all.
After all, one could say such things happened every day in the Defense Force.
It was just that although their calculations were very good, their plan was very perfect, and their preparations were comprehensive without any problems...
The only accident that exceeded their belief appeared—Andrew showed up.
After Andrew's operation in the laboratory, the Institute that managed the Silver Squad was wiped out. All the high-level executives were currently still in a state of being lucid vegetables, suffering torment in hospital beds.
As the only one who fully knew the situation of the Silver Squad and still had autonomy, Ann was even less likely to speak.
And Wesker, who was previously used as the military's white glove and thus held the position of leader of the Silver Squad part-time alongside his Institute role, had transferred the only troops in his hands to Andrew before he was removed from his post.
This also led to the Silver Squad's establishment not being thoroughly investigated due to falling under his jurisdiction after he was removed, purely by accident.
As for the backers Wesker and his umbrella had in the military...
After the Institute incident, those people who had gotten themselves into a mess were thinking all the time about how to wash themselves clean.
Thinking every day about shifting the blame and how to deal with the investigation from the Defense Force, how could they have the free time to specially run out and troubleshoot the situation of the Silver Squad?
So, under the superimposition of various coincidences...
Currently, the establishment of the Silver Squad had thoroughly turned into a state where no one knew about it and no one managed it within the Defense Force. And Andrew, as the leader of the Silver Squad...
Actually really had an officer's identity within the Defense Force.
After all, at that time, Wesker pursued speed to survive, so he had elevated Andrew's identity at lightspeed according to the process of exceptional wartime promotion.
This was also the main reason why the leadership rights of the Silver Squad could be transferred to Andrew's hands so quickly.
It was just that Andrew himself wasn't actually clear about this matter.
Although there was nowhere for him to learn about this matter anyway.
At least, only after Andrew got to know people from the Defense Force would he be considered to have a channel to potentially know about this.
Seeing that it was already getting late after the meal, Andrew let Ellen go back to rest first; the remaining work could just be left for tomorrow.
No matter what, Ellen was still a junior high student, and only in her first year.
So even if Ellen's own strength was very good, once it got later, it wouldn't be that safe even within New Eridu city.
Thus, Andrew chose to see her off to the station first, watching her get on the bus before returning to the blacksmith shop.
Meanwhile, Soldier 11 was sitting upright in her seat with an obedient look, waiting for Andrew to return.
Upon seeing Andrew come back, she immediately stood up straight and said seriously:
"Sorry, Commander! I will definitely pay attention when outside later and won't make this kind of mistake again, Commander!"
Although her attitude was very serious, having said that...
Soldier 11, didn't you just shout 'Commander' twice in that one sentence...
Forget it.
Ultimately, Andrew chose to believe that she really remembered it. After all, isn't it normal for kids to make mistakes?
If such a situation occurred again later, the worst case was just using that excuse again to cover it up.
After all, New Eridu doesn't raise idle people.
A situation of Soldier 11's degree was already considered very normal in New Eridu.
For people who didn't know her, at most they would just be a little suspicious.
So Andrew waved his hand and said comfortingly:
"Rest assured, I don't blame you."
Compared to this mistake of Soldier 11's, which was painless and itchless to begin with, Andrew was more concerned about what new trick or new routine that scammer Master had come up with.
So Andrew asked directly:
"But speaking of which, what was the news you prepared to synchronize with me? Tell me about it first?"
"Yes, Commander!"
Soldier 11 straightened her back methodically before continuing to speak seriously:
"Just now through communication, Master and I agreed to meet tomorrow morning at 6:30 at the HIA Club in Lumina Square."
Gathering at 6:30?
The time this Master set was unexpectedly quite proper.
It was just that if this time were switched to Belle, she absolutely wouldn't be able to get up at all.
The only possibility would be if she stayed up all night and hadn't slept yet.
However, Andrew was currently more concerned about another thing.
"HIA Club? What is that?"
Regarding the club name he heard from Soldier 11's mouth at the end, which he had never heard of before, Andrew asked with some doubt.
And Soldier 11, having understood it in advance, immediately picked up the conversation to answer Andrew's doubt:
"The HIA possesses a VR system capable of deep synchronization. It is said to be able to achieve deep synchronization between reality and sensory nerves, allowing investigators to conduct improvement training under safe conditions."
Like reciting an entry, Soldier 11 repeated the news she had found methodically:
"The Deep Synchronization VR System is not yet open to the public, but testing has currently been completed. It won't be long before it can be opened to face the masses."
"According to what Master said, the machines used for us tomorrow belong to internal specialized use, and are also the highest precision instruments currently in the HIA Club."
Very quickly, Soldier 11 repeated all the knowledge she had just heard from the other party.
It sounded quite professional.
It was just that Andrew was really a bit skeptical about this VR thing... was it really reliable?
But things having reached this point, Andrew, who had always said he was just going along to take a look, had no intention of raising any objections. Whatever the situation, it was better to speak after actually seeing it.
However, speaking of training and teaching...
Andrew suddenly thought that he had never asked what weapon Soldier 11's Master actually used.
Andrew opened his mouth and asked Soldier 11:
"By the way, I have a question I want to ask. Has your Master ever said what weapon she usually uses?"
Hearing this, Soldier 11 answered immediately without hesitation:
"I remember Master said before that she knows a little bit of every weapon, but the weapon she is most skilled in is the Tachi."
Ho? Tachi?!
Isn't this walking right into the muzzle of the gun?
If it were other weapons, Andrew, whose known weapons were all Hunter weapons, would find it a little difficult to handle.
But the Tachi was different.
Although the Hunter weapon Tachi was much larger compared to ordinary Tachi, the fundamental moves still had a lot of interchangeability.
Since the other party used a Tachi, then if they were showing off their amateur skills in front of him...
When the time came, don't blame Andrew for not showing mercy.
Another early morning.
Because the agreed time today was very early, Andrew also specially got up very early.
The sky at four o'clock in the morning was just barely bright. Appearing on the horizon was the most beautiful and unique Blue Hour of every day.
The last sixteen minutes before the sun rises.
As the sun approached the horizon, the sky had gradually begun to become bright. It was no longer the dim gray belonging to the night, nor was it the bright sky blue of the day.
Instead, it was in a perfect interval that made people comfortable.
At the same time, in this time period, the stars in the night sky were still visible.
The background of the starry sky was no longer the immutable and incomparably monotonous black, but a tranquil blue that gladdened the heart and refreshed the mind.
The blue rays of light seemed to turn everything around them into works of art.
This time period was truly too early, so much so that the windows of everyone in the block were without exception pitch black; people were all still sleeping peacefully in their dreams.
Even the streetlights were extinguished because the sky was getting brighter.
All sounds were silent.
It was as if the entire New Eridu had entered a brief dormancy.
Even Meow-Da was still in a dream, unconsciously emitting bursts of comfortable snoring sounds that were just like a motorcycle.
It was still early, so Andrew didn't rush to wake him up. Instead, after silently preparing the breakfast to be left behind, he began to prepare the equipment to take for the upcoming meet-up.
In order to enhance his sense of oppression.
After thinking it over, Andrew still chose to take out his most important and powerful weapon in New Eridu—the Blazing Light Tachi: Icebrink.
As for why he didn't use the other few weapons...
Although the Odogaron Lance was incomparably powerful when protecting people, in the final analysis, it was truly too clumsy and heavy.
Coupled with that hunt during the concert.
Lumina Square was the city center area of New Eridu. Carrying the Odogaron Lance was too conspicuous, and he wouldn't be able to run away with it.
Andrew felt he would only choose this if his brain had short-circuited.
And the Diablos Charge Blade was basically already bound as one entity with that set of Magic Diablos Armor.
Taking it out would simply be no different from self-destructing his identity.
Although his not actively clarifying it was the main reason, it was precisely because he didn't actively clarify it that everyone was afraid.
Taking this to the city center would be simply like wearing a white lab coat and a red headband on a foreign street, raising both hands high and shouting 'Allahu Akbar!' (God is the Greatest!).
Under the influence of public reputation, just watch whether others panic or not and that's it.
As for the Dullahan Tachi...
Although it was very suitable, as a Tachi made from Dullahan materials, Andrew felt this thing was truly difficult to bring too strong a sense of oppression to people.
After pondering for a good while, Andrew had an idea.
As a Tachi made from Incandescent Dragon materials.
Icebrink simply didn't look like it belonged to the same layer as the other few weapons.
Mysterious, gorgeous, and handsome.
It just so happened that after the repair during this period, Icebrink had already gradually recovered a certain amount of vitality.
Although compared to its prime it was still less than one in ten, it was now completely sufficient to support a battle where Andrew went all out.
The blade also recovered a breathtaking sharpness under the filling of energy. Just by Andrew gripping it in his hand, it already left behind hissing sounds as if cutting through the air.
Picking up this blade again, Andrew felt that he could say 'more than enough' regarding beating anyone up in New Eridu.
And as for Icebrink.
Although it was a little confused by suddenly being plucked out from the field buffet.
Upon discovering that Andrew was actually preparing to take it out this time, the anxiety of not being able to eat was instantly thrown to the back of its mind.
Although eating by the side of the Ancient Tree every day was very happy, sure enough, following Andrew was a little happier.
Ever since the Ancient Tree thoroughly sprouted.
It was like completely entering the Industrial Age from the Handicraft Age. Although it was only a steam engine, compared to handicraft, that was already a qualitative leap.
Even if Icebrink absorbed with all its might inside, the Dragon Attribute energy in the Greenhouse not only didn't decrease, but even increased a lot.
Thus the internal energy began to become incomparably abundant and majestic.
With the leakage of the abundant energy, the originally barren Gobi Desert also subsequently began to be dyed with a little bit of green continuously.
It made Lucy, who had been training in Silver City during this period, shocked, sighing every day that it was unscientific.
As for armor...
Because he was going to the city center, Andrew ultimately chose not to wear it.
No matter which set of armor, none were suitable to wear to the city center, and the reason was basically exactly the same as the weapon.
Anyway, there was nothing going on recently, monster invasions hadn't shown any traces, and the Hollows were very quiet too.
So this time, even if he didn't wear armor, it shouldn't matter... right?
Probably?
____
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