I was stunned when I saw the Global Hunter Alliance's support list. Twenty thousand Alliance soldiers, an arsenal of mana-powered tanks and armored vehicles, and even a contingent of certified hunters. To top it all off, the highest-ranking hunter among them was a certified rank-3. It meant another Giant-class hunter—on par with me and Hong Yeon, the liberators of Dar es Salaam—was joining the Tanzanian Front.

"We're receiving far more attention than we ever imagined," Hong Yeon said, her voice steady. "The Alliance has designated our Tanzanian Front as the first 'key' to liberating Africa. A member state that drove out the taves on its own and reclaimed a stable territorial base… The significance of that will be substantial."

"Hmm…"

A low murmur went through the room as everyone stared at the documents, but no one offered a definitive opinion. The difficulty of conquering the southern and northern regions was on a completely different level. The assault on Selegma was undoubtedly a mission that skipped several crucial steps and courted considerable risk. But rejecting it and forfeiting this massive support was an unthinkable waste. An opportunity like this would never come again.

"Rank-3 Kim Yusin."

Hong Yeon turned to look at me. In an instant, every eye in the room followed hers.

"What are your thoughts?"

'What a cheap move, dumping this on me.'

Hong Yeon's lips were twitching. Though she hid it well, she was probably dying to take on this mission. But as the commander, she had to remain impartial. And after her, the person whose opinion held the most sway in this command post was me, the architect of two successful strategies.

"There's nothing to think about," I said, tossing the document onto the table. "We'd be fools not to take it."

Silence descended upon the conference room.

"I don't mean to belittle our front, but when will Tanzania ever receive this kind of support again? Even if a high-rank dungeon opened in the middle of Europe, it probably wouldn't be on this scale."

"Ahem. But, Hunter Kim Yusin," Scorpion interjected, "the support is great, but I think this operation is too reckless. The entire force has to penetrate the north to reach Selegma's garrison. This is a typical, showboating gambit by the Alliance. Is there any reason for us to get entangled in such a headstrong operation?"

"Then allow me to address those worried about potential losses. The truth is, we don't have much to lose." I shrugged. "Win or lose, we'll have the Alliance's firepower at our backs. Capturing Selegma would be ideal, but even if the operation fails, the number of monsters in our territory will be drastically reduced. That's a fact, isn't it?"

"Even though we've temporarily secured the south, a full-scale war with Selegma and the northern monsters is inevitable. Postponing it solves nothing. When they offer support, we should take it without hesitation."

"Hmm."

"Most importantly, a dispatch of this scale is a number the Alliance will feel responsible for. Simply having these troops stationed on Tanzanian soil is a definite gain. Even if the situation turns sour, will the Alliance really withdraw its forces and endure the media criticism and humiliation? Unless things get completely out of hand, they'll likely try to resolve it proactively."

A murmur of discussion spread through the room.

I said no more, content with just observing the meeting's progression. Opinions were divided between the conservative side, led by Scorpion and Zhang Wei, and the progressive side, led by Marta and Charlie. I decided to summarize the situation for everyone.

"First, this is indeed a reckless strategy. It carries a significant potential for failure." I held up one finger. "Second, it's also true that this proposal from the Alliance is a godsend that will never come again." This was a heaven-sent opportunity, a strange alignment of our interests and the Alliance's. "Third, consider the opportunity cost. We can calculate the forces and supplies we'd lose by rejecting the Alliance's proposal, versus the forces and supplies we'd lose if we fail the Selegma subjugation with their support. Which path truly minimizes our losses?"

It was a simple calculation, really. For our forces alone to conquer northern Tanzania and bring Selegma within striking distance would require a considerable amount of time and money. This support would cover all of that.

Just then, Hong Yeon stood. "The Tanzanian Front has been stagnant. We've been preoccupied with maintaining the status quo. But every achievement we've made has been possible because we chose to act first." She scanned the faces around the table. "I do not want to miss this opportunity."

The commander had made her decision. General Augustine voiced his agreement. In a meeting of hunters, there was no raising hands for a vote. When opinions were split, the commander's decision was final.

"Then the Tanzanian Front will officially accept the Alliance's proposal," Hong Yeon declared, leaving no room for debate. Zhang Wei and a few others looked sullen, but the tide had already turned. "A fierce battle is expected. I hope everyone will get plenty of rest and bring themselves to peak condition. That is all. This meeting is adjourned."

The final battle was upon us.

* * *

Hong Yeon and I left the command post and walked toward the barracks.

"Hah, we've just committed to something huge," she said with a sigh.

"What's with the sigh? Don't tell me you're already regretting your decision."

"It's not that. It's just… the weight of it all suddenly hit me."

"The weight?"

She looked up at the sky. "Thinking about how tens of thousands of lives hang in the balance of my decision… It's a little overwhelming."

"Oh, talking like a real commander now."

"Don't tease me!" she shot back, a prim look on her face.

I grinned. "From what I've seen, you're not the type to hesitate when lives are on the line. You're decisive when you need to be."

"…I think you're right."

"So remember that weight you're feeling right now. A leader who treats human lives like flies and just keeps pressing the missile button eventually becomes a monster, devoid of all humanity."

"Hmm. I didn't know you could be so philosophical."

"Of course."

"Then let's go get something to eat."

"I'll pass. Not really in the mood."

We had accepted the Alliance's proposal. The South was stable. We had a few weeks of downtime before their forces arrived, and I needed to use this time wisely. I should head back to Korea for some real food.

But she was glaring at me, her expression one of clear dissatisfaction.

"What's wrong?"

"sunbae, do you realize you haven't eaten with me once since you came to Mtwara?"

That hit a nerve.

"Uh, is that so?"

"Yes, it is! Every time I ask, you say you're busy, or not in the mood, or going to sleep! I even asked the lady at the barracks cafeteria, and she said you never came down to eat later. Are you hiding something from me?"

'A mistake. I underestimated her.' My behavior must have seemed unnatural.

"No, the thing is…"

I glanced at her face. I could read a mix of emotions in her pouting lips, but thankfully, her disappointment seemed to outweigh any suspicion that I was secretly disappearing.

My mind went into overdrive. I needed an excuse—a personal issue she couldn't easily question. Then I just had to soothe her disappointment.

-The Tower Master's focus trait manifests in other areas as well, I see.

'It's a survival instinct.'

I feigned embarrassment and scratched my head. "Ah, actually, this is a little embarrassing, but…"

"I'm still struggling with jet lag. I wake up late and go to sleep late, so I'm tossing and turning every dawn. My schedule is just completely out of sync with yours."

The disappointment on her face vanished, replaced by concern.

"Oh, is that so? I've heard jet lag can last a long time for some people."

"I'm a prime example. When it's bad, I can feel sick for six months. Even now, I'm useless as a sick chicken by four in the afternoon."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I had no idea…"

"No, no. It was my fault for acting in a way that could be misunderstood." I gave her a light pat on the back. "Come on, let's go eat."

"You don't have to force yourself. You must be tired."

"I wasn't hungry, but now that I'm more awake, I could eat. Let's go."

"Okay!"

* * *

It wasn't a happy ending, however. We had just found a restaurant, ordered, and taken a few bites when a voice crackled from her communicator.

"Commander! The Alliance is requesting a video conference."

She bowed her head several times, genuinely apologetic. But she had nothing to apologize for. Her taking on the commander's role granted me relative freedom, while she was saddled with more than double my workload. If anything, I was the one who should be sorry.

After she left, I finished my meal and stepped outside. The sky had already deepened to a dusky evening purple. With the sun gone, a cool, pleasant breeze began to blow. It occurred to me that because I kept returning to Korea at every opportunity, I'd never properly explored Mtwara.

I began to stroll around. I was in the military village, a district frequented by Alliance soldiers, complete with restaurants and pubs. The gentle melody of a familiar old pop song drifted from one of them. A little further on, a local night market was clustered around the village, its stalls packed tightly together. Normally, a place like this would be bustling with delicious food and all sorts of souvenirs, but there was none of that here.

'Right. This is a war zone.'

They were selling old clothes, blankets, rock-hard bread, and dried corn dough. Not that I expected to find anyone selling ice cream, but the reality was grim.

Behind the stalls stretched a vast shantytown, the shacks packed together without an inch to spare. They looked as if they'd been cobbled together from piles of garbage—the desperate work of refugees who had flocked here from all over the country. As always in war, civilians suffered the most and died first. Still, with the Alliance's support secured, I hoped a large-scale relief effort would improve their situation.

I started back toward my quarters, passing through the military village again.

Then I saw them.

'Hm?'

I spotted some familiar faces in one of the pubs. Unsure, I paused, and our eyes met.

"Oh, Hunter Kim Yusin!"

"Over here!"

It was Samia and Karim. Despite their difference in rank, they seemed close. It made sense; as female hunters from Tanzania, they probably had a lot in common.

I walked over to their table. "What are you two doing here?"

"Just having a beer to pass the time," Samia said, patting the round stool next to her. "Won't you join us?"

"I'd love to."

I sat down immediately. As it happened, there were many things I wanted to discuss with Samia. She was, after all, my new objective for this dispatch.

* * *

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