"Well now, if it isn't Shana-boy. I'm honored you'd come all this way just for us."
"Please, stop calling me that, Mother."
"Mother" wasn't just a nickname; it was her player name—Okkasan. She was the leader of the G-Jo-Ren, a powerhouse of a woman who held the female player base together with an iron will and a maternal touch.
"We appreciate the ride," she continued. "Walking fifty kilometers would have been a real pain in the neck."
"You were actually planning to walk?" Shana asked, looking exasperated.
"Well, it's a bit embarrassing to ask for a pickup when we're the ones forcing ourselves into your fight."
"You would've been ambushed for sure. Besides, I'm the one who started this war, so don't worry about it. Now, six of you in each of those two, and three in the heavy-armored one."
Okkasan nodded, then squinted at him. "And which one are you driving, Shana-boy?"
"The heavy-armored Humvee—the Black."
"I see. So there are two slots left in that one..."
"Right. Like I said, three people can fit in the back of the Black."
"Well, obviously I'm one of them," Okkasan said.
"Ah, right. Makes sense."
"No fair, Mother! You're cheating!"
"Heh. This is what 'Leader's Privilege' is for, girls!" Okkasan turned back to her group and shouted, "You heard him! Two spots left! Settle it now!"
"Wait... what?" Shana blinked.
The remaining fourteen women turned toward Shana with predatory glints in their eyes.
"Time's wasting! The odds are one-in-seven," one of them declared. "Rock-Paper-Scissors! No hard feelings!"
Because fourteen people would result in endless draws, they split into two groups. Soon enough, two winners emerged, radiating an aura of extreme good fortune.
"My, my..." Okkasan muttered. "You really do have some kind of magnet in you, don't you?"
The two winners stepped forward, though their vibes couldn't have been more different.
"I am Misaki. It is a pleasure to meet you, Shana-sama," the first said with elegant grace.
"I'm Eve. Nice to meet ya, Shana-sama," the second said, eyeing him with intense curiosity.
Misaki leaned in close, whispering directly into Shana's ear. "I run a club in Ginza with the same name as mine. When the time comes... do visit us, Shana-sama."
Not to be outdone, Eve leaned into his other ear. "Shana-sama, if you ever need a world-class hacker, you come find me, okay?"
Shana shot a bewildered look at Okkasan. She laughed boisterously.
"We're mostly just a group of normal women, but those two are a different breed entirely. I didn't expect them to show their cards that quickly, though."
"I like to think I have a keen eye for quality," Misaki said smoothly.
Okkasan turned back to Shana. "That girl's establishment is a hub for the political and financial elite. Might be a bit early for a student like you, but if you ever decide to make a name for yourself in the real world, she's a good contact to have."
Eve chimed in, looking at Shana. "I just ran the numbers and projected your data. My conclusion was that you're the horse to bet on."
"And what data would that be?" Shana asked.
"I'll tell you once you hire me. Until then, I'm trusting your 'eye for talent' to see my value! Or, if you aren't planning on starting a business, I'd be perfectly happy just staying by your side as a friend."
Shana filed both of them away in his mental "useful contacts" folder. He was actually tempted to scout Eve on the spot. Before he could, Rosaria's voice crackled over the comms.
"Shana, the enemy is mobilizing. Move fast."
"Right. Time's up. Mother, shall we go for a picnic?"
"The destination is 'The Tree,' right?" Okkasan asked playfully. "Did you build a fortress out there or something?"
"I didn't build it," Shana replied. "It was already there. Let's move."
"Wait, Shana-boy, what does that—"
"No time! Everyone in!"
The three Humvees roared out of the garage and accelerated into the wasteland. Rosaria, watching from the city, sent an update.
"Shana, a massive group of vehicles is tailing you. Over a hundred players."
"Good. The rumors worked."
Shana had deliberately leaked the info that he was picking up the G-Jo-Ren. He was using the extraction as bait to lead the enemy players right into the Fortress's NPC trigger zone.
"I'll take it from here. Get back to the garage and keep watch. Be careful."
"Oh, stop worrying. I'll change my avatar before I step outside. I'm a professional, you know."
Rosaria had created a dummy character named "Copycat" specifically for scouting. Since she wasn't part of the Nine Wolves, she couldn't fight in the war, but providing intel was fair game.
Shana cut the transmission and turned to Sinon in the passenger seat.
"Sinon, they took the bait. We could lose them easily if we floored it, but the goal is to lead them to the fortress. Slow down just enough to look like we're struggling to escape. Fire some warning shots—just keep them back, don't kill them."
"I can't even take out one or two?"
"No. If they lose too many, they might retreat. We need to reel them in all the way to the kill zone."
"Got it."
Okkasan looked impressed. "Shana-boy... you're using us as bait to thin their numbers."
"Technically, I'm the bait," Shana corrected.
"Shana-sama, I see dust clouds from the pursuing vehicles," Misaki noted.
"Thanks, Misaki. Okay, Sinon. You're up."
"On it."
Sinon began firing, her shots expertly kicking up dirt inches away from the lead enemy vehicles.
"If I keep missing on purpose like this, I'm going to develop bad habits," she joked.
"Target their side mirrors then," Shana suggested. "As long as their cars can still drive, we're good."
"Fine by me."
A second later, a side mirror on the lead jeep vanished into shards of glass.
-------------------------------
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