Chapter 20: The Rapid Response Department and Shadows
By the time Hodell reached the Rift Mine entrance, the place had already descended into chaos.
Shattered ore carts lay strewn across the ground. One of the mine mouths had collapsed inward, flames still licking from the broken stone and twisted metal. Spells flashed through the smoky air, mixed with the sharp hiss of crossbow bolts and the panicked cries of men who had long since lost any sense of order.
The two sides were easy enough to tell apart.
One wore the standard armor of the local Security Squad. The other looked like a private militia raised by some criminal force, all mismatched leather, dark cloaks, and weapons that had seen more ambushes than inspections.
Not far from them, a cluster of ragged slave laborers huddled together like animals cornered by fire, their faces stiff with the kind of despair that came from knowing no one was really fighting for them.
Hodell slowed just enough to take in the battlefield.
On Liuli Star, people actually dare clash with the authorities this openly?
The thought had only just crossed his mind when a few bestial roars split the air.
Several Rockback Beasts were bound by heavy runic chains. Their bodies were enormous, their backs layered with rocklike armor, and every frantic struggle made blood seep from the cracked plates along their spines. Their eyes were bloodshot, their breathing ragged, and their rage had already reached the point where reason had no place left in it.
"Stop them!" a Security Squad captain shouted hoarsely, half his face streaked with blood. "Driving magical beasts without authorization is a serious crime!"
Hodell did not waste another second.
He cut into the battlefield at speed. With [Acting Skill] guiding every motion, he made the bare minimum of visible casting gestures, just enough to look like a young mage doing his best under pressure. Then he began firing.
A pale white spell streaked out first, fast and precise, catching a private soldier in the shoulder and throwing him sideways into a broken cart. Two more attacks followed almost immediately, one blasting through a weapon shaft, the other smashing into a set of restraints on a runic chain.
Metal snapped.
A beast roared.
The Security captain glanced over, shocked. "Reinforcements already?"
He had no idea that Hodell had simply been unlucky enough to arrive at the perfect moment.
Across the battlefield, a hard faced man who was clearly the enemy leader turned his head and glared at Hodell.
"Where the hell did this brat come from?" he barked. "Interfering with Black Bone business? You've got a death wish!"
Hodell was just about to send a shot at his face too when the situation changed again.
The Rockback Beasts, now partly freed, did not run.
They went mad.
A bloody red light burst in their eyes, and instead of fleeing, they began attacking everything nearby with blind, feral violence. A giant paw smashed into the ground with enough force to make the earth jump. Another beast turned and rammed straight through a stalled ore cart as if it were made of damp paper.
Hodell's gaze sharpened.
That was wrong.
Rockback Beasts were not low grade monsters. They had a level of intelligence. Even enraged ones should not have looked like this.
The Security Squad was forced to split its attention at once, and the line broke open.
The Black Bone fighters took full advantage.
They did not focus on controlling the beasts.
They attacked the beasts.
They also attacked the laborers.
They cut down anything that might remain alive to speak later.
Hodell's thoughts moved quickly.
So that is it. They were never trying to use the beasts. They were trying to drag the whole scene into chaos and then wipe everything clean.
He pushed closer to one of the maddened creatures and released a soft, calming effect through [Energy Simulation]. It was not elegant, but it was enough. The beast shuddered, confusion flashing through its blood soaked eyes. The giant paw it had raised over a fallen laborer froze in midair.
The laborer scrambled away on all fours, sobbing.
Then a pressure far more frightening descended from above.
A scorching magical force swept across the area.
Several beams of white hot light fell from the sky with merciless accuracy. They struck the Rockback Beasts cleanly. The resulting screams were so sharp they seemed to scrape the ear from the inside. In only a few breaths, the intelligent magical beasts were reduced to blackened carcasses.
The Black Bone leader narrowed his eyes and made a quick hand signal.
His men retreated without hesitation, pulling back into the twisting depths of the mine tunnels like a dark current disappearing underground.
Only then did Hodell look up.
A wind chasing skiff hovered above the mine mouth, bearing the insignia of the Ministry of Magic. At its open hatch stood several robed figures, looking down at the battlefield with cold, detached faces.
A voice rang out, crisp and emotionless.
"Ministry of Magic, Fifth Execution Squad. The threat here has been neutralized. All units maintain order."
Soon after, more members of the General Administration of Mysteries arrived to secure the area and take over the aftermath.
The battle had been cut off by force.
Hodell stood still amid the smoke and blood, his thoughts turning faster than his expression showed.
Oluson's environment was obviously more complex than he had first assumed. Liuli Star had not been unified for all that long. A place like this likely survived through ugly compromises, temporary tolerance, and quiet arrangements between the authorities and local forces.
But Black Bone had been too bold.
Either they had backing.
Or the situation here was even worse than it looked.
The blood stained Security captain finally made his way over. He slapped Hodell once on the shoulder, not lightly.
"Nicely done, rookie. Fast hands. Fast eyes." Then his expression turned tired, and something more serious entered his voice. "But in Oluson, seeing too clearly and moving too fast is not always a good thing."
He gave Hodell a long look.
"Still. Welcome to the Sunken Star Canyon."
Hodell narrowed his eyes slightly.
So this was the place the Erhai School had specifically wanted him sent to.
At that moment, another man stepped through the smoke toward them.
He looked to be in his middle years, broad shouldered, sharp eyed, and completely composed in the middle of the wreckage. His presence alone made the nearby people straighten without thinking.
His gaze swept over the battlefield and finally stopped at the brand new Rapid Response badge on Hodell's chest.
"I'm Kyle, Captain of the Third Action Team, Oluson Rapid Response Department." His voice was steady, clipped, and not inclined to waste words. "Who was running point here? I need a summary."
The Security captain immediately reported the situation in concise terms, then pointed at Hodell.
"Captain Kyle, this one helped. Specialist Ryan. He arrived fast and stabilized part of the situation. Could've been uglier without him."
That single sentence shifted every gaze in the area.
Curiosity.
Examination.
Suspicion.
Kyle looked directly at Hodell.
"Ryan. You're the rookie from headquarters who was supposed to report today?"
"Yes, Captain."
Kyle's face did not change.
"Getting involved in a live conflict on your first day." His tone remained unreadable. "That's an unusual way to report for duty."
Behind him, one of the team members snorted.
The man was burly, thick through the chest and shoulders, with the kind of body that suggested heavy close combat and no patience.
"So this is the genius headquarters sent down?" he said in a low mocking voice. "Pretty soft looking. Guess his luck isn't bad. First day and he picks up merit for free."
Another member, quieter and clearly more thoughtful, spoke up after a pause.
"According to the report, Ryan used a soothing spell on an enraged magical beast. That kind of on site adaptability is uncommon for a new recruit."
Kyle let both comments pass without interruption. He simply kept watching Hodell.
Parachuted in. Young. Makes a good first impression. No wonder they're looking at me like this, Hodell thought.
He answered mildly, "I just happened to be nearby when the emergency call came through. I only did what I could."
Kyle studied him for another second, then finally nodded once.
"That's enough. Logistics and local security can clean up the rest. Fall back."
Then he turned and began walking.
"Bring the new one."
…
The atmosphere on the return trip to the branch was anything but warm.
The burly man who had mocked him earlier kept sizing him up with open hostility. There was no attempt to hide it.
A taciturn female team member walked farther from the group than the rest, glancing at him only occasionally, each look cold and brief.
The quieter male member watched him too, though with interest rather than dislike, as if he were already trying to dissect him as a problem.
The only openly friendly one was another woman, gentle in manner and soft in expression, who gave him a small smile in passing.
Exclusion is stronger than expected, Hodell thought.
Kyle, walking in front, spoke without turning.
"In Oluson, luck counts as part of your strength. But if luck is all you have, you won't live long."
The words sounded general, but the warning landed squarely on him.
The burly man instantly added, "Pretty tricks won't keep you alive out here."
As he said it, he deliberately flexed one arm, the muscles bunching beneath old scars and darkened skin. There were enchanted markings worked into his flesh too, the kind that enhanced the body directly.
Hodell glanced at him once.
Not interested in men. Thanks.
Then another thought followed close behind.
So there really are people on Liuli Star who go down a martial path too.
The quieter man spoke again, entirely serious.
"From a tactical perspective, rapid suppression of magical beasts was a good choice."
The burly one clicked his tongue.
"You really are a theorist."
The man did not even look offended. "I consider that a compliment."
Hodell almost smiled.
Good. At least one of them might be sane.
…
The branch itself came into view soon after.
It was a cluster of dark alloy structures, severe in shape, orderly in design, with glowing defensive runes worked along the surface like pale blue veins. Patrols moved in clear rotation, and the surrounding arrays were stable enough that even Hodell, with his current knowledge, could feel the structure beneath them.
Compared to the disorder of Oluson outside, the branch looked like a nailed down piece of civilization hammered into wild ground.
This was the General Administration of Mysteries branch.
Inside, the Rapid Response Department was all movement and pressure. People moved quickly, voices were clipped, and the whole place carried a kind of restrained violence that never quite left the air.
Kyle led them into a room where a large city map hung on the wall.
He turned.
"This is Ryan. Direct assignment from headquarters. Starting today, he's attached to Third Team."
That was all. No decorative praise. No introduction speech.
Then he pointed at the gentle woman.
"Eileen. Take him to Logistics. Standard equipment, dorm assignment, basic facilities."
"Understood, Captain." She nodded, then looked at Hodell with the same small smile as before. "Come with me, Ryan."
Kyle shifted his attention to the burly man.
"Baron. You're writing the preliminary conflict report."
"Yes, Captain."
Baron answered with a rough tone, but before leaving, he still found time to throw Hodell one more warning glance.
Hodell ignored it and followed Eileen out.
Once they were in the corridor, Eileen lowered her voice a little.
"Don't mind Baron too much. He looks fierce, but he's reliable when things turn ugly. And Sasha…" She meant the quiet woman from earlier. "She keeps her distance from almost everyone."
"I understand," Hodell said. "It's normal. I just got here."
Eileen smiled at that, clearly approving of the answer.
"And the quiet one?" Hodell asked.
"Loyi. Very knowledgeable. Sometimes a little too focused on research, though."
At Logistics, he was issued two standard Rapid Response uniforms woven with basic protective magical material, enough to give some resistance against physical and energy damage. He also received basic daily supplies and a small pouch of currency.
After that, Eileen showed him the dormitory wing.
Compared to Liuli Cloud Dream Academy, the place was plain to the point of being almost grim. Practical. Efficient. Uninterested in comfort.
"Thank you, Specialist Eileen."
She gave a slight laugh.
"Just call me Eileen. Welcome to Third Team, Ryan. Get some rest while you can."
Then she left.
The door closed, cutting off the sound from the corridor.
Hodell stood still for a moment, then began his usual inspection.
Room size, standard.
Furnishings, minimal.
Window, secured.
No obvious abnormality.
No hidden array fluctuation he could immediately detect.
Eventually he lay back on the bed and let the silence settle.
He had not realized how tired he was until his body began to sink into the mattress.
He did not know how long he stayed like that before a knock came at the door.
He opened his eyes and got up at once.
Outside stood a woman he did not know.
She wore the civilian staff uniform of Logistics, and everything about her was subdued. Quiet posture. Careful movements. Almost timid. In her hands she carried a small box.
"You must be Specialist Ryan," she said softly. "I'm Lamia from Logistics. I was sent to deliver supplementary materials and some additional pages for your internal regulations packet."
The organization's new contact? Hodell thought. They're moving fast.
He stepped aside.
"Please come in."
Lamia entered with her head slightly lowered. She moved lightly, almost too lightly, and placed the small box on the table with precise, careful movements.
Hodell opened it.
Inside were Gene Specialization potions.
And addictive drugs.
Not one item missing.
At the same time, he noticed that Lamia seemed to be watching him through the corner of her eye.
Hodell frowned.
Or maybe she's not the contact. Maybe she's just a disposable courier.
He decided to test it carefully.
"Are these normally included in the standard process?"
Lamia's movements paused for the briefest moment, then resumed.
"Yes. This is standard process."
That was not an answer.
Hodell looked at her more closely.
No misunderstanding then.
"What are the organization's arrangements?" he asked in a casual tone.
He had deliberately left room in the phrasing. If she truly were only Logistics staff, she would naturally interpret "the organization" as the General Administration.
Only then did Lamia raise her head.
Her expression remained mild, almost meek.
"I am only responsible for delivering supplies," she said. "I don't understand what you mean. If there is nothing else you need, I'll be leaving now."
She turned toward the door.
At the handle, as though worried he might miss something, she added in a soft voice,
"Please… make sure to take them on time."
Then she left.
Hodell stood in silence after the door shut.
His eyes moved from the Gene Specialization potions to the black bottle of drugs in his hand.
Then to the door again.
Something about that woman felt wrong.
Not open.
Not obvious.
But wrong in a way he could not yet name.
…
The Rapid Response Department's training ground was underground.
The place used layered illusion arrays combined with real obstacles to simulate different combat environments. Mine tunnels, city alleys, canyon routes, chokepoints, cave systems. If someone wanted practical training, there was no shortage of it here.
Kyle stood beside the control console, scanning the field.
"Clear the simulated targets. Baron, point position. Ryan, right side support. Match the team rhythm."
"Understood," Baron said in his rough voice, lifting a magical shield that looked nearly as thick as a door.
Then he glanced back at Hodell and gave him a nasty grin.
"Try to keep up, rookie. If you get left behind, nobody's coming back to carry you."
The mine tunnel simulation was dim and close, full of blind angles and jagged stone.
Baron charged in like a heavily armored beast, paying absolutely no attention to Hodell's movement on the flank.
Not a martial artist exactly, Hodell judged in silence. But his body is tough, and those enchantment marks on him aren't decorative.
Then Baron rounded a bend.
At the same moment, his broad frame just happened to block Hodell's vision completely.
And right then, one of the simulated targets popped out from the upper rock wall.
Too deliberate.
Hodell stepped sideways before the target had fully emerged. His hand came up at the same time, and a [Blazing Missile] slammed straight into it.
The target burst apart.
"Not slow," Baron said without looking back.
But his pace increased immediately.
A moment later, they entered a wider section filled with a cluster of moving targets.
Baron gave a low roar and smashed his shield into the ground. A shockwave erupted outward.
And, very conveniently, he angled it just enough that the trailing force surged straight toward Hodell's position.
Hodell's eyes narrowed.
Not even pretending anymore, huh?
He slid back fast, raising both hands as he cast a deflection field. Most of the impact scattered away, though he made sure to let the effect catch him enough to look messy and barely stable.
There was no point exposing too much just to win a contest of ego with a teammate.
TL: Check out my newly released fanfic on my second account "FicLord"
Crossover Anime World: Reborn as Abe no Seimei
I didn't know that there's a limit on how many books you can publish here in webnovel
.....
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