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nJosh quickly analyzed everything with a cold glint in his eyes.

nThings were really tricky.

n~Drrrrr~~

nThe rain, as if reading his mood, intensified yet again, creating more tension to the already nerve-wracking situation.

n

"Edwin! Hoshen! Quickly get on my back now. We have no more time to lose.

"

nThe duo looked at each other hesitantly.

nJosh knew their worries but felt that now wasn't the time to think of these.

nFor Josh, ever since staying in Baymard, his strength, speed, flexibility, and several aspects about him had increased tremendously.

nHe could punch a while right through a brick wall if he used his max strength.

nOf course, he attributed all this to the military training, which had made him stronger than ever before.

nHe had carried many under him during missions before, so his men weren't too surprised about his request.

nWhat worried them was something else.

n

"Major General, sir!

nThe topography here is harsh and coupled with the rain, making the place slippery and swampy.

nSir! As taught, water causes less friction, making us expend more energy to carefully run on it.

nOf course, we have been trained to run across these sorts of terrains while holding a single person or a hostage.

nBut sir! You will not only be holding the hostage boy in your hands but also carrying us.

nThis alone is too risky!

nNot to talk of the fact that it takes a toll on you.

"

nThe duo were rightly worried.

nIf it were all too much on Josh to bear, rather than speeding up, he would be running slower than their current speed.

nThe swampy potholed forest road would take too much energy out of him if he carried them all.

nThe science here was simple.

nThe same case also applied to terrains that weren't sturdy.

nFor example, one needed more energy running on a beach than pavement.

nAs one runs on the beach, the sand gets moved around, reducing friction.

nThe mushy, swampy, wet floor here was so soft, moving and slippery that they too almost fell if not for their rigorous training in the barracks.

nLook? Even the enemies kept falling while chasing them.

nThe rain today was too hard!

nSo their additional weights should have Josh slow down and take his time walking across the forest, which might in turn make their pursuers reach them faster.

nOf course, they were thinking all these logically because they had never seen Josh carry so many people across swampy land.

nSo they don't want to be a burden on him.

nThey were worried about him most.

nToo bad Josh wasn't a regular person, per se.

n.

nJosh looked at their actions and smiled.

nHe knew their thoughts.

nThey probably got on to first observe.

nIf he showed any signs of discomfort, they would immediately get down.

nThese 2 were a few of his most trusted subordinates, who always had his interest first.

nNo matter how strong he was, they were constantly worrying about him like a married couple.

nWell, it felt good to be cared for.

n~Plop, Plop~

nThe duo smiled helplessly and got on Josh's back just like they used to.

nThey were ready to get down any moment from now, but Josh's next move left them in a daze with their mouths wide open.

n

"Everyone, Hold on tight.

nIt's going to be a bumpy ride.

"

nEh?

nThe duo tilted their heads in confusion.

n'Bumpy ride?

nWhat does...Ahhhhh!!!'

nThe duo inwardly screamed as Josh dashed through the mushy terrain as if it were nothing.

nThe funny thing was that his steps increased so much that it looked like he was jumping and leaping forward instead, at a swift pace.

nEdwin's head punched Hoshen's chest, making him bite his tongue hard.

nMeanwhile, Hoshen, who was receiving head blows from Edwin, wanted to cry.

n

n

nIndeed, it was truly a bumpy ride.

nThe duo kept bumping on each other pitifully during the entire trip.

nF***!

nHoshen felt like after his, he might need to have a checkup, just to be sure.

n.

nJosh, who didn't know how many blows the duo had received, was only focused on carefully speeding up to the safe house they created when they first got here.

nWhat a joke!

nAs trained military personnel, they knew that since they were here to watch the Council members till the end of January, they had to create a place where they could hide if they were discovered.

nThey needed a safe house. Or, in this case, a man-made safe cave.

nIf things got too bad that the enemy was looking for them within the city, around the neighbouring villages and towns, then they had to hide somewhere until their comrades came for them... Or until they figured out their own situation and planned another escape way out.

nThat was their safest bet.

nFunny enough, they used up an entire week to create that safehouse.

nAnd if they didn't come back tonight, the other 2 staying at the Inn would know that things were bad.

nOf course, they wouldn't come to them immediately.

nThey would want a bit before trying to see them.

nAnd during their wait, they would immediately send written messages to the Baymardians close by in English (military language only used by Baymardians).

nPresently, another group of soldier spies were also doing a top-secret mission in a town 18 days from here on horseback.

nSo even though it was a long time, it was still important for them to send word.

nThat way if they were missing, their comrades could trace everything back.

nFor sure, Plan A would always be to devise their own escape route instead, since their mission might've already been compromised.

nThinking of all this, Josh seeded up without a moment to lose, dashing ahead like lightning, leaving the enemies dumbfounded.

nErm...What was this operation?

nWere they seeing things now?

nJust now, they saw 3 figures.

nSo how come the figures suddenly turned to a giant one?

"

nMany wiped the falling rain from their eyes in confusion and stared at the disappearing silhouette in an aggrieved manner.

nWas the rain playing tricks on them?

nCould it be that all this time, they had been chasing a creature rather than a human?

nF***!

nIt looks like they were still intoxicated on the booze they drank a few hours back.

nSigh...

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