Page 2631 -- CCXL. (Patreon)

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Chapter Two Hundred Forty: 'The Lion's share...'

Asad could see the young ones looking to him for instruction, but he didn't have much for them, at the moment--other than a mounting sense of dread.

Qorvass wasn't helping with that feeling, either. 'It can't be...'

He was reluctant to ask but he had to. 'Do you know who is doing this?' said Asad.

'I can't sense him, but that power over machines... making such complex things like magic...'

'Spit it out already.'

The reaper's insectoid gaze locked onto him. 'It might just be Morgunov himself.'

Well, then.

That was the last thing he had wanted to hear, and yet he wasn't terribly surprised by it, either. There were plenty of old, dangerous madmen in Abolish, but that bastard was the one who always came to mind first.

'Then get out of here, Qorvass.'

'No,' the reaper said.

'Now isn't the time for--'

'If it's really him, then it's already too late for me to flee,' said Qorvass. 'Separating myself from you would just make things even easier for him.'

Asad wanted to argue, but he could tell from the reaper's tone that it would be pointless. He got back on the radio. "Possible encounter with the Mad Demon. I repeat. Morgunov may be on the battlefield. Do you copy?"

There was only static, however.

"Please respond," he tried again, though he was already moving to retrieve another radio, one that utilized different antijamming measures.

That one didn't work, either. Nor did the next one.

And in the meantime, a fourth sign arrived.

"STOP FIDDLING WITH YOUR TOYS AND COME GET A SNACK."

The two bunker scouts were looking at him again, not the sign. He couldn't see their faces through all their gear, but from their body language, they didn't seem scared--which was a minor miracle unto itself, professionalism not withstanding.

A fifth sign: "IF YOU DON'T, I'LL HAVE TO BRING THE SNACKS TO YOU."