Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Misty Memories
"Camp Commander Qin, this is your office, everything has been tidily arranged for you."
"Thank you."
Qin Tian walked into the camp commander’s office, it was evident that it had been cleaned in advance. The windows were bright and clean, the desk spotless, and items were neatly arranged.
"Camp Commander Qin, I’ll make you a cup of tea."
Zhao Nuo skillfully took a packet of tea leaves from the cupboard and brewed some tea for Qin Tian.
"Camp Commander Zhao, I’ve just arrived and would like to understand the specific situation of Battalion 137. Please give me a brief introduction."
Qin Tian sipped the tea; it had a bitterness with a hint of sweetness, and a faint, refreshing fragrance.
"Alright~"
Zhao Nuo nodded.
Battalion 137 is part of the Silver Gray Star’s 45th Legion and has been stationed in Mist Town for several decades.
Silver Gray Star has been peaceful for over a hundred years without any conflicts, so stationed troops across different areas have relatively light tasks, focusing mainly on training in their daily work.
Mist Town is a tourist town that attracts a large number of visitors each year. Due to the pervasive fog, incidents like children getting lost or crimes committed amidst the chaos often occur.
The mission of Battalion 137 is to maintain local stability and assist local law enforcement agencies whenever necessary to resolve public issues.
In recent years, Mist Town’s tourism industry has been booming, boosting the local economy, and local people’s lives have been improving, making Battalion 137 proud as the town’s guardian.
However, nobody expected an event over a month ago that dealt a significant blow to Mist Town.
It happened during a very common foggy day, when the entire town was shrouded in mist.
Tourists poured out of hotels and guesthouses, cameras in hand, capturing photos with poetic charm.
Everything seemed just like normal, with no noticeable difference.
However, after the fog cleared, local authorities and law enforcement agencies received reports from the public that more than 40 tourists and over 20 locals had disappeared.
Upon hearing the news, the entire town immediately went into a state of emergency, with all government personnel mobilized, and Battalion 137 dispatched soldiers and drone swarms for extensive searches.
But the results were fruitless.
The missing people seemed to vanish into thin air, with no one knowing how they disappeared or where they went.
With over 60 people missing, this was a major case.
Mist Town’s government immediately reported it to higher authorities.
Battalion 137 also found the matter extremely peculiar, promptly reporting it to the 45th Legion.
The 45th Legion responded that this was a special local case, and in principle, not handled by the Military Department. Battalion 137 could assist but not get too deeply involved.
Subsequently, Battalion 137 acted according to the legion’s instructions, continuing to deploy drone swarms to search for the missing persons’ trails, while other personnel resumed normal training.
The disappearances made tourists uneasy and frightened, leading them to flee Mist Town, with some posting information on the Star Net that deterred many others from visiting.
Seeing this, Battalion 137 felt powerless, not wanting to see the beautiful town they guard decline.
But no one expected that just two days later, another mist descended upon the town.
This time, in addition to more tourists and locals disappearing, two soldiers who had gone to town to procure supplies also vanished.
The disappearance of soldiers is no trivial matter.
Former Camp Commander Liu Dalong immediately led a team himself, along with eight Spiritualists and Superpower Users, to investigate.
According to drone and satellite imaging, during the mist’s rise, there was no sign of anyone leaving the town. Therefore, the most likely destination for these people would be the Mist Plain next to the town.
The Mist Plain is located on the east side of the town, with a unique terrain structure. It is the origin of the fog and contains a peculiar substance in the mist that can affect or even block technological product investigations.
This is also one of the reasons for Battalion 137’s stationing here, as the government is concerned that someone might exploit the mist’s peculiar properties for illegal activities.
On the way to the Mist Plain, Liu Dalong kept reporting his observations, making records. Yet, within a few hours, Liu Dalong and his special forces squad members also vanished without a trace.
Zhao Nuo sighed and said, "Camp Commander Liu was very good to the brothers, strict in training but very caring in private. If some soldiers had family issues, Camp Commander Liu would use his connections and pay out of his own pocket to help solve their problems."
"After Camp Commander Liu’s incident, the whole camp was leaderless and in disarray. It was a huge effort on my part to settle everyone back down and resume normal training."
"But this isn’t a long-term solution. Battalion 137 still needs a leader to guide us, and fortunately, with your arrival, Camp Commander Qin, we finally have someone to be our anchor."
Qin Tian smiled faintly and said, "Camp Commander Zhao, you also worked hard. I’m not very familiar with military affairs, so you’ll still need to handle most of the daily work."
Hearing this, Zhao Nuo bowed sincerely and said:
"No problem, it’s part of my responsibilities."
Qin Tian: "Camp Commander Zhao, could you call the Spiritualists and the company commanders to the meeting room next door? I’d like to meet everyone."
"Sure, I’ll notify them."
Zhao Nuo got up and left the office.
The door closed gently. Qin Tian leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly on the table, his gaze deep.
After hearing Zhao Nuo’s account, he found the whole situation increasingly peculiar.
Two fog events resulted in the disappearance of over a hundred people, including a camp commander.
Yet, more than a month has passed without the military or other departments sending anyone to conduct a thorough investigation, and there isn’t much information on Mist Town online.
It seemed as though a large net was cast over Mist Town, sealing it off from external forces and preventing information from leaking out, as if the entire town had become an isolated island.
And in this sensitive moment, he was transferred by the Special Warfare Management Office to serve as acting camp commander in Mist Town.
Is this a conspiracy against me?
No
If it was just against me, there wouldn’t be any need for such an elaborate setup.
Just how many secrets is this small town hiding?
Qin Tian’s fingers tapped lightly on the table as he looked out the window, watching Zhao Nuo lead a few people towards the office building.
Putting myself in another’s shoes, if I were the vice-camp commander, and during the vacancy in the camp commander position a young, military-inexperienced Major was parachuted in as camp commander, would I be able to handle it as warmly and openly as Zhao Nuo?
Of course, this doesn’t mean Zhao Nuo himself has any issues, but this vice-camp commander is definitely someone with considerable depth.
Sigh, how bothersome.
Qin Tian sighed. He was someone who hated trouble and didn’t like dealing with complex interpersonal relationships.
Previously, whether in the Earth Dragon Team or the Special Warfare Squad, he was quite comfortable, as the people around him were straightforward.
But now, he had to put on a mask and interact with a group of people who might have various opinions about him, all the while remaining extremely vigilant to avoid becoming the next Liu Dalong.