CHAPTER 45: OPERATION BLACKWATER

Three days later.

After preparing everything they needed, Gideon and his entire team were ready.

They wore military uniforms in brown with black patterns, fitting for jungle and tropical regions. At a glance, their camouflage would not be easy to spot unless the enemy looked very carefully.

They gathered in Gideon’s room, where all the equipment was already laid out and waiting to be used.

One by one they began putting on carrier vests and belt holsters, useful for carrying spare mags for the M4A1 and SIG M17.

"Vest on. Belt on. Put mags!" Gideon ordered firmly.

Lena and the others listened. They understood the command even though it wasn’t a recognized international phrase. But as a team that had been together for a long time, they knew Gideon’s intent.

"Done!" Luke replied sharply, followed by the others.

"M4 check. Safety off. Mags on. Ready to use!" Gideon continued.

Luke did the same, and so did Lena and Lyra. They responded in the same sequence as Gideon, all of them still standing together in a circle inside his room.

Gideon nodded. He drew the SIG M17 and holstered it at his right thigh. The others followed. With all main gear in place, they were now truly preparing for their second military operation besides Operation Black Crown.

He called this mission Operation Blackwater.

"Helmet up. NVG on. Radio connected," Gideon instructed.

"Falcon. Test!"

"Radio clear!" Luke replied firmly.

All equipment was in place, complete enough to prevent something bad from happening. There was a reason NVGs were used: this mission would take place in the dark.

That’s right. According to Luke’s explanation, Lamia were active at night, so it was the perfect time to start the mission in the dark. They were still in Nemora Village before heading toward the wolf village.

"Filters ready?" Gideon asked.

"Ready!" Lyra confirmed.

"Move out."

"Understood, Captain."

Lyra and Luke walked ahead, while Lena and Luke followed behind. The inn receptionist noticed Gideon and his team, surprised to see them wearing gear with so much metal attached.

The four of them stepped out of the inn toward the village gate. Gideon stopped when Sora called to him. The blacksmith Jack’s shop was close enough to the gate, so it was natural Sora could see him.

"Woah... you look different compared to before," Sora said with admiration.

"Tell Silva, my team and I are leaving. We’ll be back in seven days," Gideon replied.

"Where are you going?"

"Classified."

Without further farewell, Gideon continued toward the forest trail. Their NVGs were on, letting them see clearly into the forest. If anything suspicious appeared, they could detect it right away.

All four had their flashlights on, making them easily recognizable to both the Kitsune and the wolves. As Gideon’s team arrived, children from both races saw the gear they wore and were amazed.

"Bian," Gideon greeted as Bian came to meet him.

"Feels like nostalgia. Am I right?" Bian asked.

"Don’t bring up the past. Can you help me?" Gideon asked.

"Of course. I already promised, didn’t I?"

Not long after, a messenger from Kitsune arrived at the wolf village. Lena turned and waved, greeting Lady Mitsuko, who came with three Kitsune women.

She lifted her NVGs and looked at Mitsuko directly. Mitsuko explained that the three Kitsune women were the best water mages, and they would not be a burden to Gideon.

"Of course. It will help us a lot if more people are willing to lend a hand."

Lady Mitsuko smiled, then shifted her gaze toward Gideon, who was still speaking with Bian while arranging the wolf team that would guide them.

Lena noticed Mitsuko’s look, she turned and understood what Mitsuko was watching. She offered to help speak with Gideon on Mitsuko’s behalf, but Mitsuko declined.

"I will talk to him later."

"Good luck with your mission, Ms. Lena."

After leaving the three Kitsune women, Mitsuko departed the wolf village with her guards. Lena stepped closer to Gideon, introducing the three Kitsune who would accompany them.

"Good."

After some waiting, Bian returned with a five-man team. They had been chosen because they knew the eastern region best, and they had also previously guided Luke and Lyra to the Lamia village.

They had no complaints. Bian’s orders were absolute, and as forest wolves, they obeyed without question.

"Thank you, Bian."

"You’re welcome. Be careful," Bian replied.

Gideon turned to his team and the three Kitsune. Luke and the others nodded, putting their NVGs back on to see better at night.

The five wolves moved to the front, leading them into the forest by a narrow trail. The deeper they went, the colder the wind felt. They had to climb hills and cross rivers before reaching Lamia village.

According to Siver, reaching the Lamia village would take one or two days of walking. But with the number of people and supplies, Gideon figured it would take three days.

Each night, Luke, Gideon, and the wolves helped each other set up tents that could fit around five people. Lena and Lyra rotated guard shifts with Luke and Gideon every three hours.

The timing proved right. By the third midday, Gideon stopped as his black boots sank into soft ground, almost tripping him.

"Peatland."

"We’re close."

Lena and the others agreed. The wolves pressed on through the swamp forest until they saw a village with wooden houses and roofs made from dried leaves.

Gideon’s team stepped out of the forest and arrived at Lamia village. Their sudden presence was enough to make the Lamia villagers frightened and uneasy.

Gideon studied them. The ratio of women to men was striking. Women far outnumbered men.

What happened to all the men?

"Are you Gideon?" asked Siver, stepping out of a large wooden house.

He removed his helmet and pulled down his neck buff. His face was revealed before Siver. He was Gideon, the man the Lamia villagers had been waiting for.

"Gideon?"

"So he’s the human Lady Siver spoke of?"

"What is he planning to do?"

Many of the villagers whispered among themselves about Gideon and his team. They were curious, even though Luke and Lyra had already been there before.

Gideon entered the village, seeing the thin faces of the Lamia people, a clear result of food shortages and malnutrition. If untreated, their condition would only worsen.

"Do you mind if I start?" Gideon asked, looking directly at Siver.

"Start what?" Siver asked, puzzled.

He turned back to his team. There was something that needed attention before dealing with the main problem.

"Lena, Lyra, set up a field kitchen and started cooking simple, nutritious meals for the villagers."

"Understood, Captain," Lena and Lyra replied, assisted by the three Kitsune.

"Luke and I will begin inspecting the village, checking for early signs of disease."

"The five wolves will stay here and guard the village."

"Understood," they responded firmly.

Siver and the other villagers were stunned. They had no idea what Gideon was planning. One of them even came up to Siver, urging her to drive Gideon away, afraid he meant to destroy their village.

"What exactly are you doing, Sir Gideon?" Siver asked.

"Before we deal with the river, we have to take control of the village’s problems. I hope you’ve already stopped using the river water."

"Do as I say if you and your village want to survive."