TFA1 5.8 - The Luck Factor
XO Office, FOC South 860
15:26, 15 Jul 2025
With great interest, Vex studied photos of a small farmland. It was oddly located in the middle of Liqua Guard’s installation. According to IDG’s intel, the installation was a Nouel farmland initially.
Around nine months ago, Liqua Guard suddenly turned it into a cavalry training field and ignored any objections. Most likely, this was done to hide the fact that the field could no longer be planted.
Major Maxwell calmly said, "Poseidon took this photo a few minutes ago. It is estimated that the farmland is only a few days old. ADG personnel also confirmed that they use our rejuvenation techniques.”
I suggest we send an element to find out the hostage locations from the officers at this installation, while TF Pollux is on stand-by to move towards the hostage locations."
“Negative,” Vex firmly answered, "Until we get the exact location of the hostages. We will not take an action that can alert the kidnappers and put the hostages at risk. For now we will just observe and trace."
Major Maxwell looked utterly disappointed, and then he said, "At this point, the hostages are most likely still alive, but we must be aware that once the kidnappers gets what they want, they will erase all evidence and traces."
Vex massaged his forehead before saying, "That’s why we must hurry."
---
The front yard of Villa Hagel.
07:30, 18 Jul 2025
Lassac stood pensively before a collection of lilies that formed a '505' pattern. As the first son of a noble family, from an early age he underwent military training without paying attention to anything else. Therefore, he didn’t understand why farmers in Liqua Region took care of the crops like their own children.
Although in fact, Lassac was very curious about their attitude. Not to mention, his father was also very good at growing lilies.
And now, with a complicated expression Lassac looked at the lilies before him. His father had left this world. He died when organizing Liqua Guard's retreat from the front yard of Magwurt City. But somehow, now Lassac could understand his sentiment on his lilies or why farmer from Liqua Region put a great attention on their crops.
From the plump and radiant school of lilies before him, Lassac could feel the dedication, care, affection, and somehow the hope that Amethyst Merchant worker poured out over the lily.
'No wonder they managed to repair the damaged fields.'
Lassac took a deep breath of the morning air while a speck of regret rose in his heart.
'If from the very beginning nobles and high-ranking officials in Liqua Region were willing to invest time and resources in understanding the farming techniques and the farmer's hearts, then perhaps we could have avoided such severe damage to our farmland.'
At the same time Lassac heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Not long after that, Peggie and an Amethyst Merchant worker walked past his side by carrying two buckets of water.
Each morning, before they went to work on the test plots, Peggie and her colleagues would take turns to care for their beloved lilies. Whether coincidence or not, this morning it was Peggie's turn so Lassac could immediately deliver the words he wanted to say to her.
"I'll be gone for two days, but you don't need to worry because my right hand will make sure no one will disturb you while I'm not around."
Still in a calm tone, Lassac added, "After you have perfected the technique for repairing the damaged farmland, I will escort you back to Tuscan Region, as well as surrender and receive the punishment for killing two Amethyst Merchant members in Berril Plain."
Over the past week, there had been a drastic change in Lassac's tone and expression as he spoke to Peggie and her colleagues. There was no more open hatred.
Even so, Peggie still refused to accept his good intentions. Two of her colleagues died while the other three were gang-raped. Peggie would never forgive that. Of course, Peggie would not just show her heart out.
"Understood."
Peggie replied curtly before starting to weed the grass around the lilies, which had become a ray of hope for her and her colleagues.
At the same time Lassac smiled before leaving. One thing he didn't tell Peggie was, last night he received an order from Baron Eslei to erase all evidence that could lead to the incident on Berril Plain.
Baron Eslei had a feeling that Amethyst Merchant was watching him closely. He also heard from the nobles who returned from Magwurt City, that Amethyst Merchant was incessantly searching for their kidnapped workers, and vows to roast the culprit alive. There were even rumors that they would burn the entire territory of Northern Coalition along with all its residents.
Previously, Lassac without hesitation poisoned all Riders and Cloud Hawks who participate in the kidnapping operation, as soon as the captured Amethyst Merchant workers arrived at the transit point.
Lassac also would not hesitate to kill 60 of his subordinates in Villa Hagel. But somehow, he became hesitant when he received orders to execute the five Amethyst Merchant workers who had helped him understand the values in the art of farming.
Therefore, he intended to meet Baron Eslei to submit a proposal. He would escort the five Amethyst Merchant workers back to Tuscan Region, and take full responsibility for the kidnapping incident without mentioning Baron Eslei’s role.
'Long time ago, I had saved Baron Eslei. I believe he will definitely listen to my proposal,' Lassac muttered as he walked toward the stable.
---
The airspace at the western end of Liqua Region.
19:43, 18 Jul 2025
Inside the cabin of P-8 Poseidon with the callsign Sleepy Panda, while narrowing his eyes Major Howard studied a collection of lilies. This group of lilies was forming a pattern of '505', and EO operator accidently caught it when observing a villa in the middle of an abandoned farmland.
Believe it or not, be it in a military operation, an intelligence operation, and even more in a hostage rescue operation, luck had an enormous role to play.
For example, in Operation Magic Fire that was executed by GSG-9. Most people only know that it was one of the most successful hostage rescue operations in history. However, the leader of the HR Team later said publicly that the raid was not as glamorous as the media had heralded.
After the HRT team managed to enter using dynamic entry, somehow the Jam or the situation where the HR Team movement stopped occurred, and the versus-contact with the bandits dragged on. The jam gave the bandits enough time to throw grenades, and not just one but two.
It was no secret that fire, explosives, and of course grenades were not a good combination when paired with an airplane in full tank. Fortunately, both grenades all fell into positions where the explosion was completely absorbed by the empty passenger seat.
In the current searching operation dead end was occurred for days even though motives and suspects had been obtained. Also, the ground team assigned to observe Baron Eslei did not receive meaningful clues other than confirmation that Baron Eslei faked his illness.
Therefore Major Howard never underestimated the importance of luck.
"Finally luck has come to us." While pointing to a location next to the villa, Major Howard continued, "These little plots look like a testing ground."
The Intel analyst beside Major Howard nodded slightly. "We think weasels fly west as far as possible as part of a misdirection tactic. Moreover, we find new fields in one of Liqua Guard installation on the eastern side of the Region. But who would have thought our target was really in the west."
Wasting no time Major Howard gave instructions, "Send this intel to FOC South 860 right now."
*****
