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OPI Chapter 237: A Game of Deception and Decision
🕑 Added 2024-09-26 22:39:09 +0000 UTCAs the situation in Teigu World grew increasingly tense, Merraid walked with a serious face, disguised as an army colonel, containing the astonishment that boiled within her. With an expressionless face, she advanced through the vast land of the World of the Titans, on the Continent of Canberra (Australia).
She still vividly remembered the first time she left the base of the Dimensional Gate. That majestic image she saw was something she could never forget in her life.
The endless trenches, fortresses, barracks, railroad tracks, heavy artillery positions, black-clad soldiers everywhere, and a large number of various mechanical armors and vehicles in motion, with more than a dozen ships that looked like warships floating overhead.
She felt that the very air was heavy with the smell of war, as if the entire world had been born for that sole purpose. The atmosphere of violence and battle was so thick that one could almost see it.
Luckily, she soon noticed the furtive glances around her and reacted in time.
She quickly hid any expression she shouldn't have shown and hurriedly walked away from the place.
But the farther she walked, the stronger the shock in Merraid's heart became.
Because gradually he saw many men in dark blue clothes, under the guard of soldiers wearing olive green uniforms and holding automatic rifles, guiding some giants using huge tools or operating large mechanical vehicles, silently carrying out various construction works.
Over the next two days, Merraid used her disguise and abilities to gain information about the world government.
"The enemy that the empire has to face is actually such an existence"
With a complex look, Merraid observed the starry sky from the window of her room.
"It's time to make a decision..."
A strange expression of doubt appeared on Merraid's face.
Now she was faced with two difficult choices.
First.
She could continue to wander around. After touring the Titan World, she could go to the Demon Slayer World, flirt with some cute girls from other worlds, and eventually infiltrate the world government's home world.
As far as the Empire was concerned, she should have been presumed dead by now. If so, she might as well adopt a new name and move on.
But what to do with Esdeath?
With her fanatical and belligerent personality, she will probably die in the war with the World Government, right?
So, there is a second choice.
Return to tell Esdeath the whole truth about the World Government, warn her not to rush to certain death, and perhaps convince her to run away together and live in anonymity.
Later, when the Empire fell and the World Government conquered the entire world, they could come out into the light again. They could become adventurers, explore new worlds, form their own small force, or even join the World Government under a false identity.
Anyway, there are still many options.
Merraid had considered revealing her identity and trying to join the world government directly. Perhaps from within, she would find a way to save Esdeath and the others.
But there are also great risks in doing so.
"What should I do… what should I do?"
With a grimace of indecision, Merraid bit her lower lip, and finally muttered through gritted teeth: "Damn it, Esdeath, you're a fucking idiot!"
Then she let out a long sigh.
...
World of the Titans, continent of Canberra (Australia).
On the main road leading to the base where the Teigu World Dimensional Gate was located, stood a group of main combat soldiers of the army, and behind them were their personal heavy military motorcycles.
Everyone stands upright, looking straight ahead.
As Douglas Bullet walked past them, followed by more than a dozen officers, the soldiers showed glances of admiration and respect.
This time Bullet is the commander in chief of the New World conquest operation known as Teigu, designated with the code No.0004.
"Commander, Lieutenant General Charlotte Oven and Lieutenant General Onigumo have led the First and Second Brigades, along with four hundred main tanks and two hundred heavy artillery pieces of the Auxiliary Corps, into Teigu World." A staff officer following Bullet reported.
Bullet continued walking and said in a serious tone: "The number of auxiliary corps is not enough. Pass the order to transfer another 400 tanks and 50,000 auxiliary troops within a month!"
"Yes!"
"Lieutenant General Oven and Lieutenant General Onigumo have successively captured Volga City, Angluo City and Montero City." The officer continued with his report.
"Lieutenant General Oven sent a request, asking whether to continue the attack on Seika Fortress, while Lieutenant General Onigumo found the location of the Empire's frontline army and also sent a request to ask if he was allowed to launch the attack first."
Bullet frowned before giving his order: "Tell them to stop the assaults and confrontations, but to keep advancing at a steady pace. Conceal their location as much as possible."
"Yes!"
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the Dimensional Gate base. It was then that Bullet noticed a lone figure, also dressed in a black cloak of justice, heading towards the entrance of the base.
"Go over and ask which unit that person is from, and then bring him over."
"Yes!" A brigadier general quickly responded, before disappearing instantly. The others continued walking towards the base.
Shortly thereafter, the Brigadier General intercepted the individual, spoke to him briefly, and brought him before Bullet.
Bullet looked down at the other person expressionlessly and asked: "Which unit are you from? Why did you go to the Dimensional Gate No. 4 alone?"
However, there was something about that figure that made him uncomfortable, but it was not easy to identify it.
"Report, Commander. I am Colonel Dyara, of the Second Battalion, Third Regiment, First Brigade. I have come by order of my captain to buy local cigarettes." The person replied, taking a pack of cigarettes out of their coat pocket.
This caused Bullet's expression to darken.
"Well, well, so the captain... He's quite the general, huh! I'll go with you in a little while to give them to him."
The colonel, obviously frightened, did not respond immediately. Bullet, who had no interest in intimidating a simple colonel who was only following orders, gestured for him to join the rear of the group.
The colonel, with his head down, stood at the end of the line, with an attitude that made some of the officers smile with resignation as they continued walking toward the base.
Merraid, who was in disguise, breathed a sigh of relief. Bullet's presence was so overwhelming that it made her feel like she was facing a dangerous beast.
The rest of the journey was calm, since when going with Bullet, she had no more problems. Along the way, black-clad soldiers saluted as they watched them pass toward the downsizing tunnel.
Soon after, Merraid breathed in the cold air of the snowy northern regions, causing her to smile slightly.
Then she deliberately slowed down her pace and quietly distanced herself from the officers in front of her little by little.
Moments later...
Bullet and his team found Major General Nixas, and severely questioned him for sending a colonel to buy cigarettes. A shocked Nixas reported that two days earlier, a colonel named Dyara had lost his uniform, cloak and military ID, and traces of a substance that induced deep sleep were found on his body.
They had already reported the incident and were awaiting the results of Cipher Pol's investigation.
Bullet and the other officers turned to where Colonel Dyara was supposedly located, only to find that he had disappeared without a trace.
“How is it possible?!”
Bullet, visibly upset, activated his Kenbunshoku Haki, but what he discovered was even more shocking: he felt nothing.
"So that was it... That strange feeling was because he didn't emit any aura, and I subconsciously didn't take it into account."
Bullet was annoyed.
...
An hour later, after an exhaustive search, the soldiers found the uniform and cloak lying in a hidden corner, covered with a yellow powder that masked the smells.
After being analyzed, it was concluded that the powder was an unknown type of insect scales.
The incident infuriated Bullet, but there was no one to blame. The perpetrator had escaped right under his watch, so who could he punish?
He could only contain his rage and order that what had happened be reported to army headquarters.
At this moment, at the base of the Teigu World's Dimensional Gate, an alarming siren began to sound.
Bullet activated his Devil Fruit ability, fusing with a nearby snowy mountain and transforming into a white giant over a thousand meters tall.
He looked up and saw a green cone-shaped projectile, traveling towards them at supersonic speed, leaving a long trail of fire behind it.
"The prediction of Ubuyashiki was indeed correct. If I hadn't come, the base below would have been severely damaged. Fortunately, we deliberately left Kyojuro Rengoku in the base."
"Then let me see how powerful this so-called ballistic missile is!"
