At first, Jeanne didn't pay much mind to those misunderstanding gazes. She figured that once some time had passed and Mudrock explained everything, the rumors would die down.
But could you guys please stop looking at me like I'm the "Captain's Wife"? Being stared at every day with that indescribable look was starting to make even the thick-skinned Jeanne feel a bit uncomfortable.
Do you Sarkaz really love gossiping this much? What a "bad civilization"!
"Uh... I'll find some time in the next few days to explain it to them. Honestly, I didn't realize it before, but once these guys let their guard down and stop being so tense, this sort of thing happens."
Mudrock was naturally aware of the way her subordinates looked at the two of them. Her only assessment of the situation was that these people were simply too idle—so idle they had begun spreading such ridiculous rumors.
But on second thought, it was actually quite understandable. What kind of entertainment was there in a place like this? Discussing the boss's gossip was infinitely more interesting than the daily grind. Especially when a person who had remained aloof from women for so many years suddenly seemed quite close to the woman who had defeated them; it was indeed easy for people to let their imaginations run wild.
"Sigh, I'm not worried about anything else. I'm just worried those Yetis are going to corrupt your subordinates. One 'funny squad' is enough; any more and nobody will be able to stand it."
Jeanne watched helplessly as the virus known as "Yeti Comedy Syndrome" gradually infected this squad. Having no suitable way to stop it, she couldn't help but feel mentally exhausted.
Sure enough, "funny" was contagious. Especially for a bunch of guys who previously had no form of entertainment; the speed at which they picked up bad habits was sharper than a stock market crash. Jeanne despairingly imagined a future where every member of Reunion—except for the Shieldguards—had been assimilated into comedians. She had to admit that the Yeti Squad was truly the most "dangerous" squad in Reunion.
"Uh, I actually think it's good that they have their own way of living. But you have a point; I'll keep an eye on their daily behavior."
Although Mudrock had no intention of forcibly managing her subordinates' lifestyles, she thought of the captain of the Yeti Squad. That Cautus whose hair had perhaps turned white from the stress of worrying about her own squad...
Mudrock suddenly felt it might be better if her subordinates weren't too free. Even if her own hair couldn't turn white, it would be bad if excessive worrying led to hair loss.
As for who said FrostNova's hair turned white from overwork? It was a complaint the Yetis made to Jeanne that Mudrock had accidentally overheard while passing by.
(FrostNova: My hair is natural! Natural! It didn't turn white!)
"Sigh, just keep them under a bit of control."
Jeanne could only sigh, for a moment not knowing what else to say.
"Boss, Jeanne, are you inside?"
Just as the two were speaking, a voice drifted in from outside the tent. Hearing this, Mudrock instantly pulled her helmet back onto her head.
Lately, she had grown fond of taking off her helmet to breathe when no one else was around, or when Jeanne—who already knew her secret—was in the room. With the latter, she didn't have to worry about a subordinate suddenly barging in. Well, even Mudrock felt her own people were overthinking things.
"Come in, we're here," Mudrock said in her deep, muffled voice once her helmet was secure. Only then did the Sarkaz outside dare to enter.
He glanced around and saw nothing unusual between the two. It seemed he hadn't interrupted anything important; that was good, he wouldn't have to worry about the boss punishing him later.
"Talulah wants you two to head over. She's calling a small meeting to discuss the operation for the day after tomorrow."
After delivering the message, he didn't linger. Why stay? To "eat melons" (gossip) about these two? He wasn't nearly brave enough for that.
"Let's go. It seems battle is truly unavoidable," Mudrock sighed. She and Jeanne headed out together to hear what Talulah had planned.
When they reached the meeting room, they found they were the last ones to arrive. Even Patriot, who had been out, was back and sitting on a wooden stump waiting for them.
"Welcome. Although you've all met, allow me to make the introductions. This is Mudrock, the captain of the Sarkaz squad. And these two you should recognize: Patriot and FrostNova."
Counting the two of them, there were only five people in the room. It was indeed a "small" meeting—smaller than a typical corporate gathering. Mudrock gave a slight nod to the two figures before her, and they returned the greeting.
"Let's get straight to business," Talulah said without wasting breath once they were seated. "Preparations across all departments for this battle are mostly complete. I plan to move out the day after tomorrow. I want to settle this as soon as possible. Does anyone have any objections?"
No one present seemed surprised. Clearly, everyone had known the purpose of the meeting before arriving.
"No problem. We are ready to move," they replied in unison.
In truth, their subordinates had long been prepared to clash with that army. If it hadn't been for the logistics being finalized just now, they wouldn't even have waited until the day after tomorrow.
The most obvious were the Yetis. Patriot had once told them there was still a significant gap between them and Ursus regulars. The last time they met, those regulars had used a Landship to fight them, leaving the Yetis very much on the defensive. Deep down, they wanted to face those regular soldiers head-on to see just how wide that gap really was. Having already received the news, everyone had been sharpening their weapons, just waiting for the word.
"Very well, I will lay out the specific assignments. First..."
The meeting lasted nearly three hours. Talulah detailed her vision for the operation, while Patriot and the others added refinements based on her foundation.
Patriot provided the most input; he was the one among them who understood the enemy best. He offered unique insights into areas Talulah might have overlooked. With his vast experience, he filled in many gaps for the inexperienced Talulah, acting almost like a teacher guiding a student throughout the planning process.
"Then I'll leave the rest to everyone. Please rest well and gather your strength for this fight. I hope that after this operation, I will see everyone return safely."
Finally, Talulah spoke from the heart. Deep down, she hoped no one would have to sacrifice their life, even though she knew that possibility was minuscule. In war, people die; she knew this. But that hope remained firmly in her heart.
"That was likely your first time chairing such an important meeting, right? How does it feel?"
After the others had left, Jeanne looked at Talulah—who was sitting there lost in thought—and asked with a smile. Judging by her look of relief, she must have been incredibly nervous inside, though she hadn't shown a hint of it on the surface.
"Everything else was fine, but Mr. Patriot is just... so imposing."
Talulah gave a wry smile, recalling Patriot sitting beside her. In a serious state, his presence was truly magnetic. To the point where, when he spoke, Talulah felt almost invisible, like an audience member listening to a supreme commander.
"Forget about me for a second, you need to think seriously about your own part! It's going to be very dangerous for you, especially since they've prepared weapons specifically for you. You must be careful."
Talulah looked at Jeanne, who acted as if nothing was wrong, and offered a worried reminder. After all, Jeanne would be flying in the sky without reinforcements. If an accident happened, no one could help her.
"Don't worry. I have a good idea of what I need to do!" Jeanne replied with a confident grin.