Chapter 1 Griffin Newcomer

Griffin S13 jurisdiction, heavily polluted ELID area.

"Did you hear? Griffin sent people here again?"

In the dimly lit tavern, patrons huddled in the shadows murmured among themselves. The news of Griffin sending personnel to this desolate area was the sole topic of their conversation.

"Hah! Those Griffin folks, desperate for money, are willing to jump into any mess like dogs! Did that old mayor pay for them again? Is he crazy? Can't he see the place is hopeless?"

"Shhh! Quiet! Look there, that fool in the Griffin uniform!"

Following the whispers, everyone in the tavern fixed their malicious gazes on the young Griffin Commander who had just entered. Most eyes focused on the three Tactical Dolls trailing him.

The tense atmosphere, coupled with the hostile stares, caused the three Dolls to instinctively seek comfort by moving closer to their commander. Unfortunately, the commander, brimming with anger, remained oblivious to their anxieties.

"Hey! Look at that guy! He's actually approaching the Butcher!"

"Hush! Don't get yourself killed! He has sharp ears!"

As the young Commander approached the bar, the malicious stares vanished in an instant, replaced by a tense silence. It was as if a terrifying beast lurked behind the bar, ready to devour anyone at will.

Oblivious to the undercurrent of hostility, Commander Griffin marched straight to the bar and sat down.

"Tell me where Griffin's base is."

Through the dim light, the bartender, or perhaps the owner, saw the commander's youthful face and his scowling expression. His condescending tone from the moment he spoke was evident.

Clearly, this young, inexperienced Griffin Commander wasn't exactly popular in this town.

Just as Commander Griffin began to argue with the bar owner in a disgruntled tone, the three T-Dolls behind him noticed a burly figure sitting beside them. This man wasn't drinking alcohol but a simple glass of water.

In this resource-scarce area, clean water was a luxury for the town's remaining survivors. In fact, these patrons constituted the town's last inhabitants.

After Griffin defeated the Sangvis Ferri stronghold, or rather, their manufacturing plant, in this area, the previous Griffin Commander of Area S13 was defeated by the ELID-infected and forced to flee. The remaining survivors were left to fend for themselves.

Ironically, before Griffin took over security, the Sangvis Ferri stronghold, albeit unintentionally, acted as a barrier, preventing most wandering infected from entering the area. Though not their intended purpose, their deployed SF-Dolls played a part in keeping the infected population in check. On rare occasions, humans managed to handle the few infected that slipped through.

Unfortunately, Griffin's attack disrupted this precarious balance. This hostile reception towards the Griffin Commander was understandable. He was fortunate to avoid being shot in the dark.

The three T-Dolls cautiously observed the tall man with their water glass. The whispers surrounding them only amplified their nervousness as they stared at the man, easily double their commander's height.

"Um?"

Sensing their gaze, the man turned his head and saw the three tiny figures, barely reaching 1.5 meters tall. Recognizing their human appearance, he extended a gesture of welcome, waving at them and patting the empty seats beside him, seemingly inviting them to sit.

Despite the man's handsome face, the T-Dolls couldn't shake off the impression of his sharp, piercing eyes and the unkempt stubble that added a weathered look to his appearance. He was now staring at them with narrowed eyes.

Hm? Why does his smile seem forced and unnatural, almost as if he's holding back laughter?

Walking into this unknown tavern with their armed commander had already put them on edge. Now, a stranger's seemingly "evilly" grin only amplified their anxiety.

Commander! Can we leave?

The three T-Dolls yearned to escape, but their commander was engrossed in a heated discussion with the bar owner, oblivious to their pleas. Even if he were aware, their concerns likely wouldn't register. After all, these "little girls," despite their appearance, were highly advanced T-Dolls with superior physical capabilities compared to humans. In the commander's eyes, they weren't the ones needing protection.

With their pleas unheard, the Dolls hesitantly moved towards their commander. However, annoyed by their presence, Commander Griffin shoved them away without hesitation, causing them to stumble and collide with each other. One of their hats fell off, landing at the man's feet.

He gently picked up the white Cossack hat and brushed it off.

"Nagant Revolver?"

Startled by his voice, Nagant Revolver, hesitant about reclaiming her hat, straightened up at the man's voice. "Yes!"

The man chuckled, placing the hat back on Nagant's head. He playfully ruffled her hair through the hat.

"What! I'm not a child! Don't do that....Well, thank you."

Seeing the man's raised eyebrows, Nagant Revolver mumbled a reluctant "thank you" instead of the planned resistance. The sudden change left the two Dolls beside her blinking in surprise.

"What are you doing?! Come with me!"

Without waiting for the figures' response, Commander Griffin bellowed again and stormed out the door, not looking back. He had evidently obtained the information he sought.