BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 1061: Not Alone (5)

Erik used his Plant Master power to make a simple shelter, which did two things: it hid them from the enemy, and gave them a good view of the surroundings.

Erik used his Plant Master power to build a hidden shelter high in an enormous tree. The shelter was perfect for watching the fortress without being seen.

Erik and June easily climbed it despite the absence of a ladder, since the tree had many natural spots to hold on to, which made climbing easier.

They didn\'t build a ladder because it might have been easy for Hin\'s guards to spot. Instead, they used their own climbing skills to reach and take care of their secret lookout spot.

Erik chose a very tall tree for their hiding spot. It was higher than the others, giving them a great view of the fortress and the surrounding area. From up there, Erik and June could easily watch what was happening below without being seen.

But being so high up also had some problems. They needed to be careful about how much they could see and how well they were hidden.

The spot let them see everything, but it also meant they could be spotted if they weren\'t careful. That was why Erik made the tree grow, so that they would at least be hidden by the foliage growing on it, which increased to scary levels.

From there, they watched the many patrols coming and going around the fortress.

Once the two spotted a suitable target, a patrol. They quickly reached there, and then Erik read their minds to find the information he needed to get access to the fortress.

The process was tedious and often frustrating as he had to sift through a constant stream of mundane thoughts and listen to stupid conversations all the time.

On the second day of watching the fortress, Erik asked June to go back to their main outpost.

June had to tell Mira, Emily, Amber, and the Chimaeric Demons what was happening, but most importantly, that they were safe.

<Do I really have to?>

<Yes, June.>

<All right...>

June flew there, which took him little to arrive. A flying thaid was nothing unusual around those parts, above the trees, of course. What would have been unusual would have been a flying thaid carrying someone.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

When June arrived, he explained the situation to the three women.

Of course, they were visibly upset since the two hadn\'t bothered to tell them earlier what was happening, and that they had disappeared for two days.

However, it wasn\'t like they didn\'t understand Erik\'s and June\'s positions, and after some reproachful words, they dropped the matter.

"Keep us informed," they said as June left.

"Don\'t worry."

As the days passed, a clearer picture of the fortress\'s operations emerged.

Thanks to his instability brain crystal power, Erik slowly but surely uncovered the details he needed to enter the base.

At a first glance, it looked impossible to enter, but that wasn\'t true. Observing the situation and reading minds, he quickly reasoned there were ways to do that.

Most of the information he got were about the patrol routes, which they mostly figured out on their own, anyway. There was more, though: the shift changes, and the identities of key personnel, were among these many things.

Erik and June were in their tree shelter, which was like those that could be found back in Liberty Watch when it still was a village in the forest.

They were analyzing the information they had gathered so they could take the best decision on how to enter and leave that place.

"Alright," Erik said. "Let\'s go over what we know."

June nodded.

"We\'ve identified four main patrol routes, each covering a different quadrant around the fortress."

June nodded again. "Right. The North patrols cover the narrow path between the northern cliffs after they check around the northern walls. They also follow the treeline bordering the forest. The South teams zigzag through the flatter terrain of the southern approach and stop at the watchtower on the small hill south."

"The one overlooking the main road, right?"

"Yes," Erik said. "The East patrols navigate the rocky outcrops and stays a lot closer to the walls. Last, the West teams cover that open field and the forest beyond. They go through the ravine and head back."

"Right," June said. "We also know that the shift changes occur every six hours, at 06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00."

The clone rubbed his chin. "We also know the names and roles of key patrol members. That Lieutenant Renard seems to be the overall leader."

"Yeah," Erik said. "But I think we should focus on those holding the truth-seeking devices, the Veritas Lens, as they call them."

"They should be Wyla, Lysara, Frigg, and Ellis."

"Those devices are our biggest obstacle if we want to enter by shapeshifting," Erik said after a nod.

"They have a 15-meter detection radius. It doesn\'t leave much room for error, and it is problematic since we can\'t get too close to those holding them. But fifteen meters is not a bad number to work with. It means we can get close enough to strike if things go south."

"Indeed." The two thought for a while more.

They continued talking about everything they had learned: how the patrol teams were organized, where the guards were stationed around the fortress, and when supplies were

delivered.

As night fell, Erik and June found themselves with three possible infiltration options on their hands. Each carried its own risks but would at least allow them to enter.

"The secret passage connected to the armory," Erik said. "It could be our best bet for a

stealthy entry."

June nodded, but his expression was cautious. "The only problem is that you might have to fight your way through the guards there. And we\'d need to find a way to open the door on the other side of the tunnel. Didn\'t you say it can only be activated from within the fortress?"

"That was what the woman knew." Erik got this information from Sergeant Helga, one of the South Patrol teams\' leaders.

"True. It\'s risky," June said. "But it might give you the element of surprise once you\'re inside, and you should also be able to avoid the checkers inside."

But that wasn\'t what June had in mind.

"Or you could try to smuggle yourself in with the supply deliveries. We know their schedules now. You might enter the crates while in fly form and stay there while invisible."

Erik considered the idea, but this was the option he was less convinced about.

"I might try," he said, "But I would need to locate the convoy, get close to the crates, enter without making noise, and leave the crates as if I did not touch them, alone, at that. Then I should neutralize whoever opens the crates for inspection, and that could happen anywhere, even in the middle of the fortress courtyard with everyone watching."

June grimaced. "Not ideal. Right."

"Our third option," Erik said, "is for me to sneak behind a patrol member."

"Yes, but remember, we don\'t exactly know how the Veritas Lenses work, and being closer to them might see through invisibility. It\'s not that I don\'t trust the system, but..."

"Right." There was a troubled look on Erik\'s face. "Damn, it\'s complicated."

"You are used to shapeshifting and sneak your way in everywhere, master, its normal you find

all of this a bother, now that you can\'t. It would be useless since you can only transform into

an animal."

"You know it," Erik said. "After all, you are my clone, and well, you have been with me the

most out of everyone."

There was a slight pause between the two. "Well, we know who has the truth-seeking devices within the base, so I might be able to avoid them and stay hidden."

This time, it was June who wasn\'t convinced of the idea. "That\'s true, master, but it would be better to avoid entirely the Veritas Lenses," the clone said. "The farther you are from them, the better it is. Besides, there is another problem with the entire situation." June paused. "It is true that, in theory, you shouldn\'t be visible to the Veritas Lenses, but you

will still be physically there, and nothing is going to ensure they won\'t check where you are hiding. You will be invisible, not untouchable, and given the security here, I think they will do a through check of the surroundings. Damn, even a cleaner might try to mop where you are,

and force you to kill him. What then?"

"This doesn\'t mean it won\'t happen even if I enter through a different method."

"I know," June said. "But since we were talking about it, I guessed it was a good time to

remind you of this, especially considering how dramatic you are when you do these things. If there is someone you want to kill there, you tend to do stupid things..."

There was an awkward look on June\'s face.

"Really?" "Really, master."