High School Soldier
Inner war: extra vacation time

In the living room of Nio's house which was not as hot as the outside air, silence lasted. Nio and Herlina sat on a long sofa, with a glass table separating the two of them with Surya Roso Asmoro – abbreviated as Suroso – sitting in front of them. On the table was a large pot of iced tea. On the terrace of the house is parked a number of mobli in black, and less than 15 ‘guard’ is enjoying the iced tea presented by the host while complaining of global warming causing the air temperature to rise.

The team of journalists was traveling around Karanganyar while waiting for them and Nio did ‘aksi’, so Nio's house was filled with people from the government.

Nio and Herlina had just finished listening to Suroso's explanation, other than the man knowing Nio's plan to solve some big cases.In addition to being unbelievable, the information they both got from Suroso left them dumbfounded.

The voice of the guard outside who was joking broke the temporary silence, and the jakun Nio moved up and down due to his ignorance of the information Suroso mentioned.

Nio wiped away the sweat running down his forehead, his face showing an uncomfortable expression. Nio shook his head slowly before he asked Suroso, “Pak, let me repeat what I heard from you. With no permission, the three witches performed the opening ceremony of the Imperfect Gate in the Forbidden Area last night, and caused chaos there?”

“If we don't do battle operations soon, there may be something bad in this city,” Herlina said her prediction.

Nio and Herlina with serious expressions stared at the monitor screen that had just been placed on the table by one of Suroso's bodyguards. All they saw was an Imperfect Gate fifty meters in diameter opening up, and taking out dozens of Alliance soldiers armed with rifles, and a number of monsters were released to attack the police and military members there.

Suroso opened the sound after the video watched by Nio and Herlina ended, “We have informed the media about this situation, and asked for their cooperation.”

“Media that is too free will be happy to hear the news, Sir,” said Nio with a sarcastic tone.

Nio thought the media would do something about Suroso's information, so the public panic would get worse. After the war, the media often chose the topic of armed conflict for their news, but not infrequently their efforts caused people to feel uncomfortable.

“But, there is no way to spread the word faster than online media. You may lack trust in the media that easily spread the news by adding a little ‘seasoning. But, I will try to limit the information that the media companies disseminate. News that is exaggerated or reduced content will be toxic to the community,” replied Suroso with a tense facial expression.

“Diktator also did the information restriction,” Nio's greeting caused Suroso to have no way to reply to him.

“Nio!” Herlina tried to stop Nio.

“Nih street children think how, yes?” suroso said in his heart with annoyance, but was covered by his calm expression. “Nothing,” replied Suroso.

“After all, the existence of a witch who opens the Gate without permission is a form of threat. However, the speed with which the Peace Forces got the news was no less terrible. Earlier this morning, General Angga gave me a report; there was a buildup of troops in the Holy Land controlled by the Luan Empire. They estimated the troops gathered about 200,000 soldiers armed with rifles, tens of thousands of monsters, a number of Wyverns, and a dinosaur-like animal larger than a blue whale

“200.000?! Are you serious, Sir?!” Herlina spouted iced tea, and almost hit Nio's face.

“I don't know either, only the troops there know,” Suroso replied.

Nio nodded as if he understood something, “This is a danger. Peace and Karanganyar Forces in threat.”

“Kontingen Arevelk, Hayvan, and Yekirnovo agree that the giant beast that the Alliance brought was the Earth Dragon King. We are doing all we can to ensure the Alliance's threat by piling up troops does not become a battle.”

Nio and Suroso wore the same agitated expression, but Herlina did not understand the ‘Dragon Kings of Bumi’ just mentioned.

“What is the Earth Dragon King?” Herlina asked Nio who was still holding her chin.

“It is very difficult to fight the creature despite being able to be killed with the weapons that the TNI has,” Nio said his experience facing two Dragon Kings in another world.

“Nio, how much do you know about Dragon King?”

Nio answered Herlina's question, “I've heard stories from otherworldly soldiers that there are some Dragon Kings. All the TNI had ever faced were the Fire Dragon King and the Wind Dragon King, and it needed a valuable asset like a missile to kill that otherworldly monster. Otherworldly people called the Dragon Kings like a catastrophe or a disaster.”

“Why are they named elements that exist in the world?”

“Maybe because of the basic strength that the Dragon Kings have.”

Suroso frowned and Herlina covered her mouth as they imagined the power of the fantasy wild beasts that the TNI had once faced in another world. They both drown in the shadows if the monster becomes the Alliance's weapon to fight the TNI with all its limitations.

“But..” Nio's expression grew more serious as he and Suroso looked at each other. Then he continued his words, “I don't know the true power of the Earth Dragon King, but the sudden invasion of the Alliance's small army is clearly a form of distraction.”

“Direction?” Suroso grew increasingly agitated, but after a while of deep thought he said, “Nio, that was not even thought of.But, is there still no way to deal with it?”

“When the opponent sends a small unit to make an uproar, the enemy main force is definitely making preparations. Although the entire army that made a mess was slaughtered, the main force in large numbers had already finished preparations. In other words, the Alliance unit that attacked overnight was sent to make sacrifices so that we do not have time to prepare ourselves.”

“You think the attack on the Forbidden Area last night was the opening before the main show?” ask Suroso.

“That's all I can think of, sir. Even if we can defeat the diversionary forces, the Alliance continues its preparations. There is no way to know who will be attacked, whether it is Karanganyar or any other member state of the Guild.”

With only three witches opening the Gate without permission thus creating a way for the Alliance to attack the Forbidden Area, Nio again delayed his work. Even if the 406-32 Company managed to deal with the small unit that the Alliance had sent to mess up, the Alliance continued its plan.

Nio continued, “In other words, the Alliance sent a unit to create an uproar was to give the main force time to prepare to attack the target. They know we still need time to prepare a defensive plan or retaliate for an attack.”

“That's a very systematic tactic. They turned out to be not as weak as the army officers thought,” Suroso sighed how lax the officers thought on a day of peace.

After drinking the iced tea, Suroso looked back at Nio and said, “Nio, your theory makes perfect sense. Your thinking is absolutely incredible. Although the current Headquarters officer is still arguing about the enemy's objective of attacking the Forbidden Area, but you found the reason briefly. Why until now you did not want to accept the position as a TNI officer?”

Nio replied casually, “Because I am already comfortable with TRIP.”

Suroso looked questioningly at a young man who answered his question with great confidence.

“Nio, do you know much about war tactics and strategies?” ask Suroso.

“Not really. But, because of the task so I think I have to learn about both things even though in practice I apply with a little modification.”

“So... when I thought you had the same interest as someone?”

“Why would anyone automatically equate me with a ‘itu’ person if I managed to guess correctly the tactics of the enemy and win the battle with my tactics?” due to enough talk ‘dark’, Nio filled the chat with jokes.

“Pak, what do you want me to do?” Nio spoke like that with a lethargic gaze.

Suroso raised his glass and sipped some cold tea. A throat soaked in cold water, and a cool room because the AC made Suroso think clearly to answer Nio's questions, “I want you to help the TNI's First Forces Command prepare if the enemy's target turns out to be Karanganyar.”

“Why TRIP members and mixed forces like me should help the TNI?” Main Force Command as Nio replied with such a sentence, he saw Herlina put on a surprised expression. He felt Herlina knew something so he asked, “Mayor, what does TRIP and the TNI's Major Forces Command that often contradict each other suddenly have to help each other?”

Herlina looked at Nio with a dumbfounded facial expression, “Wait, Nio, you don't know that system? Didn't you get that lesson while you were on lightning education?”

“I didn't know there was such a lesson. I don't really like to study, so I listen to explanations while sleeping.”

“Why did you do that!” Herlina hid her shy expression towards Suroso for having had subordinates like Nio. “During emergency operation, TRIP and TNI can be put together to hold or hit back the enemy. Although TRIP and TNI often differ in opinion, but there is a possibility that TRIP officers become leaders of platoons containing TNI members, so there must be awareness to forget about such problems.”

“Nio, no matter how hesitant you are about cooperation with the main forces, all we need is readiness and speed. I want your help to face the threatening enemy.”

“Nio, I know your main wish is to find the mastermind of the Strong Medicine project, the mystery of Bacem Village, and the project of the Superior Army that unsettles your mind. But, Nio, please, for the sake of the country will you help, just for the time being? I'll give you and all your unit members extra vacation time.”