Transmigrated as The Forgotten Extra-Chapter 120 Bleak Morning Before the Mission

After the raging anger in his heart finally subsided, Cain let out a long breath and looked at the commander. He remained silent for a few seconds before asking,

"Is there anything else you’d like to say, sir?"

The man’s fingers, which had been fiddling with the terminal screen, came to a halt. Cain swallowed, feeling a faint sting from the blood on his torn lip. The wound wasn’t deep, and the sharp pain gradually faded with time.

Seconds passed in silence. Cain continued waiting for the commander to speak.

Then it came.

"I heard you acted on your own during yesterday’s incident?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy, an oppressive pressure that seemed to tighten around Cain’s neck alone.

Hidden from Cain’s view, Senior Oliver’s lips stretched into a grin behind his darkened visor. This was the moment he had been waiting for ever since the humiliation he had suffered the day before.

Not only had that insolent junior dared to defy orders, but he had also rejected them in front of everyone, Luna included, the girl Oliver had long set his sights on.

After the incident yesterday, Oliver had reported everything to the officer in charge while the commander was away, hoping the message would reach the top brass and that the reckless boy would be punished.

Oliver clenched his fists tightly, barely suppressing the snicker threatening to escape his trembling lips.

’Good. Now it’s your turn to feel the humiliation I felt yesterday.’

...

That’s probably what the man behind me is thinking right now.

Cain let out a short breath. The fact that the commander had brought this up made things clear. Crimson-haired senior was definitely the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

It wasn’t surprising, considering what Cain had done to him in front of a crowd yesterday. And honestly, the senior’s bossy, overbearing attitude made Cain want to crush his skull right then and there.

But putting aside their personal conflict, one question lingered in Cain’s mind: why report this to the higher-ups? 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Couldn’t he and Oliver have settled this personally?

’I mean, it’s kind of lame to tattle to superiors just because someone ignored an order... Wait. Did my team even receive any orders yesterday from the officer currently busy with that terminal?’

Thinking back, Cain glanced at the man and narrowed his eyes, trying to recall whether the commander had issued any instructions the day before.

’No. My team was only ordered to assist at storage. As for the rest... never mind.’

Shaking his head, Cain looked back at the commander, who had placed the terminal onto the desk. Their gazes probed one another in silence. Cain took a breath and spoke.

"Yes. When the alarm echoed throughout the facility, my team and I immediately moved to the scene."

"And what gave you the nerve to ignore instructions from your superiors?"

The commander’s voice was low and cold, like a blade pressed against Cain’s throat, ready to sever his artery. That feeling sent chills down his spine.

Hearing the question that sounded more like a threat, Cain clenched his fists, his nerves tightening. But at this point, there was nothing left for him to rely on except his conscience.

The gray-haired boy exhaled slowly, releasing the tension wrapped around his chest. He held his breath briefly, maintaining a calm expression.

"A reason?" he said. "Do I need a reason to save others?"

Silence shook the tent.

It was the result of an ideological clash between two sides: the Supreme Commander, the highest-ranking officer present, and a rebellious boy daring to act within his domain.

Their gazes locked until the commander finally snorted in what sounded like mockery. In front of everyone, the man sat back at his desk and spoke.

"Hmph. I understand why Dosh likes you. Leave! Prepare yourselves for tomorrow’s mission."

The three cadets in the room froze for a moment. Then the gray-haired boy and the girl standing beside him placed their hands over their chests and responded in unison,

"As you command."

Their voices echoed through the room. The commander watched as Oliver, a beat too late, hurried to do the same before the three cadets exited, leaving behind the cold, rhythmic clatter of holographic keyboards.

The commander’s gaze lingered on the boy who had stood before him moments ago. Despite their differences, a fragment of a past he thought he had long forgotten resurfaced.

Back then, when he was still a captain, he had faced his friend and rival. A foolish, rebellious boy who caused him so much headache when they were still in their younger days.

’Cain, huh?’ The commander stood, walked back to his seat, and sat down. ’The boy just looks like you, Dosh.’

Lost in memories of the past, the commander leaned back into his cushioned chair, all the while continuing to check the incoming information on his terminal.

***

A day passed quickly.

Cain and his companions now stood in front of the storage building. Although their smartwatches indicated it was morning, dark clouds covered the sun, casting a cold, soulless atmosphere over the area.

Even so, the building behind them buzzed with activity. The voices of workers and the rumble of machines tirelessly sorting incoming and outgoing supplies created a strangely calming effect for Cain’s group.

They had spent only a single day there, yet the impact it left behind was still etched into the minds of Cain and his teammates. The experience had ignited a renewed determination in them to give their all to support the construction effort.

"Cain, when are they coming?"

Rika’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Cain turned from the storage building to the teammate standing beside him and shook his head, unsure how to answer.

’Right. I didn’t even ask what time we were supposed to leave.’

It was a blunder on his part. At that time, Cain was preoccupied with many things, from the intimidation to the question crafted by that senior. He paused for a moment before speaking.

"Let’s wait a bit longer. If they don’t arrive within thirty minutes, we’ll head to the main tent."

The four of them nodded. They exchanged small talk to pass the time. Meanwhile, Cain occasionally glanced toward the distance, waiting for the Humvees that would take them to their mission site.

Yesterday, after returning from the main tent, Cain had informed his team that they would be assigned a mission today: to investigate the surrounding area in search of a water source.

He explained the potential dangers, as well as what they needed to do beyond searching and exploration. Luckily, his teammates agreed to follow him, without asking further details, especially about the event that happened within the main tent.

Time continued to pass, and the conversations among his teammates gradually dwindled as they began to imitate Cain, standing by the roadside and staring into the distance.

Cain raised his wrist and checked the time. They had already passed the limit he had set.

Letting out a short breath, he was about to tell his teammates to head to the main tent when—

"Look, Cain! A Humvee’s coming!"

As usual, Abel’s energetic voice rekindled the light in Cain’s eyes, and in the others as well.

The gray-haired boy followed Abel’s gaze. Sure enough, several Humvees were approaching them, the roar of their engines echoing loudly.

Moments later, the vehicles stopped right in front of them. The door of the third vehicle out of the four swung open. From the driver’s window, a young soldier poked his head out and called to Cain.

"Get in. We’re heading out."

"Alright. Thank you."

Cain turned to his teammates, exchanging firm nods, then boarded the Humvee that would carry him toward the excavation zone.