“Feel free to start.” Timothee wasted no time in speaking up and then asked Prily to pass around the printed copies of the proposal.
Stepping forward, Prilly stood before a projector screen. “So, I’ve put together a plan for you all. I’m calling it Operation Crescent Moon. Our objective here is to apprehend an adversary of an unknown form.”
“Nama yang lumayan keren.” Aku mengangguk. “Jadi mengapa kita harus melakukan survey, Prilly?”

Prilly beamed and flicked her fingers, “Indeed, that’s a sound preliminary measure before formulating more intricate strategies. We could embark on a thorough reconnaissance of the territories under The Hunters’ or Rogue’s control, encompassing their strongholds and patrol routes.”
“But how do we execute such a survey in the absence of specialized spies?” Healer Cruz posed, his tone tinged with apprehension. “It’s an excessively perilous undertaking, young lady.”
Prilly nodded in understanding. “I recognize our collective concern that we may fall short due to feeling behind our peers. However, rest assured, Dave and I have established a special team we’ve named the Red Fox Squad, comprised of our own warriors.”
“Hold on, I wasn’t aware of this,” Timothee interjected.
“And therefore, Lycan, I hope you’ll reconsider this matter and promptly approve their employment authorization,” Prilly murmured.
“What will we gain if I approve their employment rights? After all, they’ve only had a short training period, and I’m not sure if this will work. If they are caught, they will be slaughtered by the Rogues and the Hunters.” Timothee sighed deeply, leaning his shoulder back.

“Lycan, we can obtain intelligence about the enemy’s habits, weaknesses, and strengths from both internal and external sources. Please relax, Lycan. I swear that their performance will be better than last year. We train very hard every day, so please allow us to try this.” Prilly pleaded slightly.
“Lycan, I think this young lady has a point. Reconnaissance is crucial, after all, we don’t know where this attacker comes from. We don’t even know if they’re a Rogue or a Hunter.” Griffyn toned.
Clearing my throat, I nudged Timothee’s elbow, his chin still propped up on his right hand.
“Excuse me,” I inquired, “but if I may be so bold, could you enlighten me as to the esteemed individuals who shall comprise this illustrious Red Fox Squad?”

Prilly gave a nod of confirmation, her gesture painting a thousand words. “They are a quintet, a band of five - Ares, Carl, Davis, Catleya, Arvin, and Miya, hailing from the storied ranks of squad 145.” The names rolled off her tongue, each carrying the weight of unspoken stories and battles fought, a testament to the unity and strength of their fellowship.
Timothee glanced at Prilly with a hint of recognition sparking in his eyes. “Miya, the archery virtuoso?”
Prilly responded with a pleased affirmation, “Precisely, Lycan.”
Her words carried the pride of a thousand victories, each one a feather in the cap of the famed marksman.
“Is it worth it to try?” Timothee’s gaze swept over each of us, his question hanging in the air like a charged storm cloud.
Fae Aurora, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
“Why not give it a shot?” Her voice held the quiet determination of a hidden river, its current running deep and steady. “If we fail, we still have our seasoned wolf troops, battle-ready and honed. Let’s consider each individual’s expertise and collaborative abilities. Here, we can pool our strengths, weaving them together like threads in a tapestry. And as for tactics, let’s dance with the shadows—employ guerrilla strategies that strike swiftly and retreat silently.”
Straightening in his chair, Timothee fixed Prilly with an intense stare. “Very well. I’ll authorize the Red Fox Squad’s deployment for recon missions.”
A visible ripple of relief seemed to flow through Prilly at his assent. Opening her mouth to respond, Timothee raised a staying hand.
“But...” He paused heavily. “They will be under my direct command. And there will be no unnecessary risks taken, are we clear?”
Prilly’s chin lifted a fraction, her eyes blazing with the fire of a woman who’d long since stopped fearing danger. For a heartbeat, I thought she might argue. But then, she simply inclined her head in a regal nod.
“As you say, Lycan. Your wisdom and leadership shall guide us.”
The words were precisely neutral, but I could hear the restrained challenge thrumming beneath them. A subtle rebuke to any notion that she or her squad were mere pawns to be maneuvered.
Dave cleared his throat, clearly aiming to smooth the abrupt edge. “With your approval, we can proceed immediately to coordinate ingress and egress routes, comms plans, and fallback positions.”
Timothee’s jaw tightened fractionally before he gave a curt nod of agreement.
Griffyn stepped forward, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve. “Lycan, we boast a cadre of marksmen, masters of the bow and other assassin’s tools. Should the need arise, we stand ready to forge an elite group, a veritable force to be reckoned with, poised for action once we have the tactical blueprint and strategy in hand.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, Griffyn. The skills of our archers are undeniable. But don’t forget, our enemy is no ordinary monster. We need more than just individual skills. A smart strategy and strong teamwork will be the key to our victory. Let’s combine the skills of our archers with well-developed tactics. Together, we can build an unstoppable force.”
Prilly’s smile was one of contentment. “With both parties in agreement, may I propose a schedule for joint training?”
Timothee cast a glance at Prilly, a hint of annoyance puffing through his nostrils. “Well, by all means.”
“Umm... I would be over the moon if the finest group from Riverwalk could also join us. What if we set the wheels in motion for the training at the earliest, perhaps the day after tomorrow or even tomorrow?” Prilly elaborated, her hand gestures painting a picture of conviction.
As Prilly’s proposal hung in the air, tension crackled like static electricity. Timothee’s eyes narrowed, his mind churning with suspicion. Griffyn, lurking in the shadows, listened intently, his instincts tingling with caution.
“Tomorrow?” Timothee scoffed, his voice laced with skepticism. “Do you take us for fools, Prilly? We cannot rush into this blindly. We need precision, not haste.”
Prilly’s smile faltered, a flicker of uncertainty dancing in her eyes. “But every moment we delay, the hunters grow stronger. We cannot afford to waste time.”
Griffyn commanding attention. “Patience, young lady. We must assess the situation before we strike. Scouting the hunters’ location is paramount. We cannot risk exposing ourselves prematurely.”
Prilly bristled, her conviction waning in the face of dissent. “But if we wait too long, they will sense our hesitation. We must act decisively.”
Timothee’s gaze hardened, his resolve unyielding. “We will proceed as planned, with caution and strategy. The hunters may be formidable, but so are we. We will not be rushed into a reckless assault.”
Griffyn nodded in agreement, his voice a low rumble of authority. “Tomorrow, we will scout their location under the cover of darkness. We will gather intelligence and formulate a plan of attack. But we will not engage until we are certain of victory.”
Prilly’s shoulders sagged, her enthusiasm tempered by the weight of their deliberation.
“Very well,” she conceded, her voice tinged with resignation. “We will proceed with caution. But know this, every moment we delay, the hunters grow stronger.”
Healer Cruz broke the silence, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Shall we also bring the matter of healing to the table at this juncture?”