CHAPTER 13: SURVELLIENCE

"What? Are you surprised how I know of this?" Eunice asked, seeing the stiff expression on Allen’s face. Even though he had tried his best to hide it, he couldn’t shake off the whole thing from his face. "Don’t worry, I don’t hold it against you. It was self-defense after all," she replied calmly.

Allen’s expression grew visibly stern, yet not too much, since he was giving it his all to not let it show.

Is this fucking magic? Because I don’t remember there being any sort of surveillance cameras. Cameras are not even possible in this world unless something went VERY differently.

"Are you wondering how I know of this?" Eunice asked. Allen didn’t respond. He wanted to, but he couldn’t risk it.

Although things seemed to be turning out in his favor when she spoke again without waiting for any of his answers.

"Well, did you really think I would let my cute little sister and one of the most important commanders of this base venture out on her own? Especially when we already knew there were people who were behind her?" she said.

"I see... That makes sense," Allen replied, his voice showing no particular emotion. Not surprise. Not fear. Not fury. Nothing. It was plain and a little hoarse.

He continued to walk along with Eunice. She didn’t bring up this matter again either.

There were more people around her, all the time... he said to himself internally. His thoughts focused. Yet I didn’t notice nor see a single one of them.

The realization made him realize what a truly strange world he had stepped into.

Perhaps they were using magic, or maybe they were simply skilled enough to keep surveillance without exposing themselves. After all, a majority of data collection and surveillance operations would rely on spies and secret agents in this time of things. Even if they have magic, it doesn’t really change the fact that they don’t have machines. In the end, humans are the ones who would be doing the job and the magic would only aid them.

Maybe a magically controlled animal like a rat or a bird. It can’t go further than that.

As he thought about the various ways in which surveillance could be done here, he came to know one more severely important fact.

I don’t have any reconnaissance trails. Not even a single source.

It was something that could pose a great risk to him in the future and even now, depending on how things unfold. He was in a situation where he had no idea where someone was keeping a watch on him from, and he had no way to get information about them either.

It’s not even a matter of if. They definitely are keeping a watch on me at this moment as well. How do I know this? Well, it’s because I would do the same thing if put in the opposite position.

He collected his thoughts, trying to think of a solution that could help him out in this situation. Then a few seconds later he arrived at a conclusion.

I need to get my hands on recon services, he thought. System?

[Recon capabilities are unavailable at this moment.]

When will they be available?

[Checking User’s authorization level for classified information...]

[Access granted!]

[You will be able to start using recon systems from level 3 onwards.]

Who the fuck asks for authorization from their own user? You running on Brindos OS or something? Allen remarked internally. Anyways, show me the stats once again.

——————————

[LVL: 1]

[EXP: 220/500]

[CP: 100]

[HP: 100%]

[STATS: 100%]

[ARMOR: Unequipped]

[WEAPON: Unequipped]

[BUFFS: None]

——————————

Hmmm, I still have a long way to go before that. Well, I guess I at least know what I have to do.

After knowing that he wasn’t completely helpless, Allen’s brain stopped going into overdrive searching for operations. Therefore he continued the rest of his walk with Eunice.

She, for the most part, was quiet after that initial conversation. The only times she spoke was when she had to point out or explain something to Allen.

As he walked further, he shifted his focus to paying attention to his surroundings which he had been pretty much half-assing until now.

Going away from the main tent were rows of smaller, simpler tents that radiated out in a neat grid. They were practical and easy to defend in case of an attack. It was quite a simple task to abandon them as well in case they had to leave this outpost suddenly due to a retreat.

The rhythmic sounds of a hammer hitting steel fell onto Allen’s ears that came from a makeshift forge. It was a temporary workshop and an armory combination, with many weapons and a forge packed within a rather sturdy wooden tent.

Nearby, a line of horses stood patiently, their breath misting in the mildly cool air.

When they walked further, the air around them slowly turned thick with the smell of woodsmoke and roasting meat. The low murmur of soldiers’ voices mixed with the crackle of campfires.

It was a rather big campfire around which a lot of soldiers had gathered for their meals. The meat was being cooked in the open air, which resulted in the aroma being spread around.

"Hey guys, we got a new person in here!" Eunice said loudly, breaking the silence.

She gathered the attention of everyone present around the campfire at once, which led to Allen getting all sorts of looks. After all, he was still in his same old clothes and looked a little too unusual for this world.

Ah well, gotta deal with this now, Allen thought, sighing internally.