Chapter 48: The Ambush of the Complacent Convoy

The convoy drew nearer, and soon, a heavy truck, escorted and flanked by several infantry fighting vehicles and military jeeps, came into view. The crow perched on their shoulder folded its wings, its crimson eyes fixed on the truck.

[‘Are you perhaps overestimating my abilities a little? If you want me dead, just say so; there’s no need to send me to my demise against several heavily armed infantry fighting vehicles and dozens of soldiers…’]

Ling Xing was not, by nature, a rogue-type combatant adept at frontal assaults, and furthermore…

The Officer’s words carried conviction. Although, from what Ling Xing could observe, these soldiers, whose discipline and order were clearly lacking, could hardly be considered well-trained, the Allied Forces had certainly spared no expense on their armaments.

Several specially equipped heavy firepower infantry fighting vehicles carried heavy artillery turrets and rapid-fire missiles. These war machines, developed in the crucible of battle against monsters, boasted astonishing firepower projection efficiency. Even if they weren’t magical armaments themselves, Ling Xing doubted she could withstand such terrifying armored vehicles with mere magical defenses. If she truly tried to resist, she’d likely be taken out—magical shield and all—in less than ten seconds.

Not only that, but the jeep-sized vehicles patrolling the front and rear of the convoy were all mounted with heavy machine guns or grenade launchers. Coupled with various heavy individual armaments, it was safe to say that this convoy’s configuration was luxurious enough to conquer a small city.

To use such a lavish display merely to guard a convoy and stand watch against a dark organization was, quite frankly, an extravagant waste. It was no wonder these soldiers were so nonchalant, as if on vacation… With this level of armament, it truly felt like a leisurely excursion.

How could the Dark Organization possibly dare to assault such a convoy?

Not only did these soldiers and the Officer think so, but Ling Xing, herself a member of the Dark Organization, shared the sentiment. Given the Dark Organization’s current strength, Ling Xing couldn’t fathom what madness would compel them to attack a convoy like this; they might not even have time to flee.

Only…

Kuonji Mashiro and Hane, two D-class magical girls from the Pacific Front, had indeed lost contact. And she, a member of the Dark Organization, was being told that ‘the Dark Organization’ had kidnapped two D-class magical girls, killed numerous high-ranking officials, and attacked a military convoy, despite having done nothing of the sort.

Unless Dal had somehow, in her sleep, hurled a rock that knocked a satellite out of orbit, causing it to crash down and annihilate all the high-ranking officials at their meeting, then it could only be… a ‘Dark Organization’ of which Ling Xing was utterly unaware.

“Rendezvous with the team! Lads, there’s no danger in this job. Finish it quickly, and we can still make it home before the holidays—”

“Yes, ma’am!”

As the Officer gave her impassioned command, the military vehicles gradually moved towards the end of the line. The procession, grand and imposing, continued along the suburban road.

The city, ravaged by war, still bore faint traces of its pre-war infrastructure in these suburbs, enough to allow the convoy to traverse unhindered.

[‘Use that clever little head of yours, Ling Xing. We’re already this close; it’s a rare opportunity.’]

[‘Don’t rush me. Solutions need to be thought through, little by little. Your nagging won’t help.’]

[‘So impatient, so impatient!’] Nuonuo’s crow flapped its wings, urging Ling Xing on. But with such an overwhelming military force, how could they possibly be stopped? How could they be stopped, indeed?

She hadn’t conceived of anything remotely useful. Even if destruction were an option, she currently possessed no means to achieve it. She could only proceed cautiously, hoping it might separate from the main convoy during a transfer…

Hmm?

Ling Xing glanced towards the rear of the convoy. Though a bit distant and thus slightly blurry, she could still vaguely discern the Reporter’s car following behind.

The convoy seemed completely oblivious. No, perhaps it was more accurate to say they were overly confident in their own strength, and their preparations too hasty, failing even to take the obvious step of clearing the road and escorting unrelated vehicles away.

‘How utterly lax…’

If even a layperson like the Reporter could so easily track the convoy, then…

“Feeling nervous, girl? Hahahaha, I know there was a lot of commotion a few days ago, but don’t worry, we’re far more reliable than those magical girls!”

Seeing Ling Xing remain silent for a long moment, the Officer gently patted her back, attempting to reassure the petite girl she assumed was frightened. Having finally encountered a girl who seemed to share her views, she naturally wanted to showcase their military might, far superior to any magical girl’s armaments, and demonstrate the conviction behind her words. Even if a rift were to appear, just as it had days ago, the Officer was confident that, facing these heavy armored vehicles specifically developed to counter monsters, the convoy could effortlessly sweep aside any threat! She even anticipated a rift’s emergence, eager to unleash a devastating barrage of firepower head-on against the monsters, to display the Allied Forces’ formidable might for Ling Xing.

“No, I was just thinking, if it’s the Dark Organization…”

‘Normally, the Dark Organization wouldn’t engage in direct confrontation, would they?’ Ling Xing didn’t voice her thoughts, merely shook her head slightly, surveying her surroundings with a sidelong glance.

The convoy continued its advance, occasionally passing a few parked trucks by the roadside. The lead jeep at the front of the convoy blared its horn, urgently signaling the civilian truck ahead to accelerate, change lanes, and move away.

Under its insistent honking, the truck in front of the convoy slowly veered to the side, and then…

Screeching loudly—

With a violent shriek of tires tearing across asphalt, the truck flipped onto its side directly in front of the convoy, as if flung through the air. Its massive cargo bay completely blocked the road, creating an impenetrable barrier.

Instantly, the entire convoy was forced to halt, narrowly avoiding a collision with the overturned truck.

“Hmm? What’s going on? An accident? Quickly, get that vehicle cleared from the road!”

Amidst a series of abrupt halts, the Officer picked up her radio, asking blankly. Ling Xing, however, pushed away from the Officer’s embrace.

She had seen that truck—or, more precisely, that *model* of truck—before. It was just days ago, before her assault on the Magical Girl Organization’s tower.

—[‘Interesting. Let this young lady lend a hand. The big commotion you want, the military hardware, the breakthrough vehicles—this young lady can procure them all for you.’]

—[‘Fireworks? Are you underestimating this young lady? Even heavy military-grade weapons, this young lady can provide in abundance. Why would you want toys?’]

Her mind recalled the words of that large-breasted monster. Her gaze was fixed on a heavy truck of the same model as the one from that day. Two magical girls mysteriously vanished, the ‘Dark Organization’ abruptly emerged, and she herself was slandered as a magical girl—the pieces of the story were falling into place, all but one connection.

That missing connection was revealed with a—

BOOM!——————

A deafening roar, a flash of fire, a concussive blast. The overturned truck, along with several military jeeps that had intended to assist, were engulfed in a towering explosion. Only then did the complacent convoy, as if jolted awake, begin to brace for impact.

It was too late.

The trucks that had been feigning breakdown by the roadside suddenly floored their accelerators, crashing into the convoy from both flanks. They slammed in, then erupted in thunderous explosions.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!————————

In an instant, the once orderly convoy dissolved into a maelstrom of fire, smoke, explosions, and utter chaos. Amidst the pandemonium of screams and detonations, someone’s voice rang out in a fervent declaration.

“Slaughter them all! Destroy everything, obliterate everything! Long live the Dark Organization!”