Aboard the helicopter.
Hoshino gazed down at the endless desert below and murmured in awe, "Wow, it's my first time seeing this landscape from above."
Curious, I glanced out as well, but to me it was nothing more than an ordinary desert, no different from any other.
"Senpai, you've been here before?"
"Yeah, a few times, back when I was working for the Student Council. See that area over there? That's where the Abydos Desert Festival used to be held."
Hoshino spoke lively about the history of the Desert Festival, describing how, before the desertification, a vast oasis once spread here. So large it dwarfed most lakes.
From her demeanor, there was no hint that she intended to quit the Foreclosure Task Force.
I watched her quietly. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't understand what would drive someone like her... the President of Foreclosure Task Force... to consider resigning, especially when we were on the verge of confronting Kaiser.
…Or perhaps, now that the threat was nearly over, she felt it was time to step back.
Either way, once this operation was done, I needed to talk with her.
Because of a sandstorm, the helicopter was forced to land more than ten kilometers from the former oasis. Fortunately, it wasn't far from the coordinates Hina had given us.
As planned, Problem Solver 68 and Ayane stayed behind to guard the helicopter while the rest of us pressed forward.
We cleared out drones and mechanical dolls along the way, their numbers increasing the deeper we went. But thanks to the team's skill and my guidance, the battles went smoothly.
Even without my memories, somehow my instincts alone were enough to enhance the students' coordination and combat efficiency.
It made me wonder if, before losing my memory, I had been someone deeply experienced in tactical command.
After another easy victory, Ayane's voice came through the comms, her tone tense.
"Everyone, there's something strange ahead! The sand's too thick to see clearly… but it looks like… a huge town? No, maybe a factory? Or a base? Whatever it is, it's enormous!"
Hoshino looked surprised. "A facility? Out here? Are you sure you're not mistaken? There should only be a dried-up oasis ahead."
"I don't think I'm wrong! Let's just move closer until we can see it with our own eyes!"
Following Ayane's direction, we advanced toward the supposed structure. Before long, a colossal building appeared before us...
Surrounded by kilometers of barbed wire, it stretched across tens of thousands of acres. From the outside, its purpose was impossible to discern.
"This… this wasn't here before…"
Hoshino muttered in disbelief.
I reasoned that the last time she came must have been about two years ago, when the Abydos Student Council was still active. That meant this facility had been built recently.
Even in Kivotos, constructing something of this scale within two years was extraordinary, requiring immense capital and manpower.
It was clear: this facility was the heart of Kaiser Corporation's scheme.
Just as we approached...
Sparks burst at Serika's feet as a burst of machine-gun fire swept across the sand. She yelped, stumbling backward.
"Wha... what the heck?!"
From within the structure, a swarm of blue-gray robot mercs poured out, their guns matching their metallic hue as they charged toward us.
"Intruders detected!"
"Capture them! Don't let them escape!"
Ayane's voice came through urgently. "Unknown forces are advancing on your position!"
Hoshino's expression hardened. "Not sure what's going on, but if this is how they're greeting us, we might as well return the favor!
"Alright, everyone! Let's give them a real fight!"
With that, Hoshino charged forward, with Shiroko, Serika, and Nonomi right behind her.
I ducked behind cover, directing their movements.
The enemies weren't individually strong, but they fought in perfect formation, disciplined and relentless. Compared to the Helmet Gang we'd fought before…
They were practically professional soldiers.
Then Ayane confirmed what I had already begun to suspect. The symbols she spotted on the building read:
Kaiser PMC - Kaiser Corporation's Private Military Company, a paramilitary force in every sense.
Just as we identified them, sirens wailed across the compound. The ground trembled. From every direction came the roar of engines.
Armored vehicles, tanks, and attack helicopters filled the sky and desert, closing in to form a massive encirclement.
"This place is too dangerous! We have to pull back before we're surrounded! Move, now!"
Under the students' cover, I retreated with them, coordinating with Ayane over the comms. I instructed her to move the helicopter and Problem Solver 68 to a safer extraction point.
But after a grueling dash through the firefight, her transmission broke up with static.
"…Can you hear me? The perimeter… still not clear… hurry… evac—"
The signal cut, crackling with interference.
That alone told me the truth, the enemy was jamming communications. They'd already set up a second encirclement.
Within minutes, we were surrounded by heavily armed troops and armored vehicles.
The worst had happened.
I hadn't expected Kaiser to deploy this much firepower here. That was my greatest miscalculation.
But it wasn't over.
Kivotos was a world with its own structure of order. Given my position near the top of that hierarchy, there was still room for negotiation.
Especially since our opponent was a corporation. Bound, at least outwardly, by laws and profit.
I stepped in front of the students, hands clasped behind my back.
I wasn't angry, but a show of authority might be more effective now.
[Lion's Dignity - Activate]
In an instant, I felt my stamina draining rapidly, as if sprinting at full speed. But in return, an invisible pressure radiated from me...
The presence of someone used to commanding from a high seat.
The soldiers of Kaiser PMC instinctively lowered their weapons.
Perfect.
Suppressing the urge to gasp for breath, I raised my voice, deliberately haughty. "Bring out your superior. I'll speak with them directly."
The soldiers silently parted, forming two metallic walls.
From between them emerged a massive, suit-clad robot, an orange scarf draped over his shoulder fluttering in the wind.
He stopped several meters before me.
Four glowing amber eyes met mine.
"I heard there were intruders," came a gravelly, masculine voice from his speaker grill. "Didn't expect it to be you... Schale's Sensei, and Abydos."
"You know me?" I asked.
"Heh. I've known of you for quite some time. To trespass on private property and cause damage… Schale's Sensei leading a group of delinquents in such acts, how unexpected."
I tilted my head. "And you are?"
"You don't recognize me? After all the times you've interfered with my work, I thought we'd become acquainted by now. Abydos doesn't recognize me either? How disappointing."
With a mock sigh, the robot finally introduced himself.
"I am a director of the Kaiser Corporation.
"The one who owns Abydos's debt. In other words, your creditor."
"Oh, the same creditor who so graciously reduced our interest rate by seventy percent?"
"…You really do have a sharp tongue, Sensei."
"Takes one to know one."
I just wanted to end this exchange quickly to stop wasting energy keeping my authority active.
The Kaiser PMC director shook his head slowly.
"Heh. I have a better idea. Let's talk, shall we?"
Tomorrow will bring something big.