78. A Silent Observer
They rested for a while to recover their strength. Major Deri was still leaning against a tree trunk, regulating his breathing after the heavy impact he had taken, while Andre sat not far away with his crossbow resting on his lap. Rangga himself walked toward the loot left behind by the Baryonyx and picked up the three materials one by one.
His attention immediately settled on one of them.
Bio Filtration Membrane.
Rangga remembered the requirements for building an Apothecary on his island. He needed twenty of these materials, and now he finally knew where to get them.
Rangga turned toward Major Deri.
“Major... You still strong enough to hunt another one of those?”
Major Deri, who was still catching his breath, immediately looked over.
“Why?”
Rangga held up the Bio Filtration Membrane in his hand.
“It dropped something important.”
He shook the material slightly so it was clearly visible.
“This... I need twenty.”
Andre, who had been silent until then, immediately raised his head.
“Damn, Bang... Seriously?”
Rangga nodded, and Andre pointed at the material in his hand.
“What do you need it for?”
“To build a new facility.”
Andre waited for the rest of the explanation, but Rangga simply put the material into his inventory.
“And?”
“That’s it.”
Andre frowned.
“What facility?”
Rangga shrugged.
“Don’t know.”
Andre stared at him blankly.
“Huh?”
“That’s why I want to build it.”
Rangga stood up and brushed the mud off his clothes.
“I don’t know what the facility is for either, but it seems important.”
Major Deri remained silent as he watched Rangga. Once his breathing had recovered, he pushed himself away from the tree and slowly stood.
“We can try.”
Rangga immediately smiled.
“See?”
But Major Deri wasn't finished.
“However, we need Andre.”
Rangga and Major Deri turned toward him at the same time.
Andre, suddenly becoming the center of attention, gave an awkward smile.
“Hehehe... Sorry... I really was caught off guard earlier.”
Rangga placed both hands on his hips.
“Don't freeze up again after this, okay?”
Andre didn't answer immediately.
His gaze dropped to the crossbow in his hands. He still vividly remembered how the Baryonyx had ripped a tree out of the ground with its jaws, sent Major Deri flying, and then rammed into Rangga within a matter of seconds.
Major Deri finally spoke.
“Ndre.”
Andre raised his head.
“Take a position farther away... You don't need to get as close as we do.”
Major Deri pointed at the crossbow in his hands.
“Shoot whenever you get an opening.”
Rangga immediately nodded in agreement.
“Yeah... Your crossbow can shoot from farther away than my bow.”
Rangga then pointed at himself and Major Deri.
“Let the Major and me keep it busy... You stay back... But when you get an opening, shoot immediately... Don't freeze up again.”
Andre looked between the two of them. He then looked at his crossbow once more before swallowing nervously.
“Alright... I'll try.”
Rangga and Major Deri exchanged glances before nodding almost simultaneously.
“Alright.”
Rangga picked up his bow again.
“Let's find that thing again.”
Andre immediately stood up.
“You're seriously going after it right away?”
Rangga looked at him in confusion.
“Didn't you say you wanted to try?”
“Yeah, but...”
“Then let's go.” Rangga started walking. “We can keep collecting stuff along the way... If we find moss, cinchona, rice, or vegetarian crocodiles, grab it.”
Andre immediately called out,
“If you find rice, give it to me.”
Rangga turned around and gave him a blank stare.
“Your priority is always rice.”
“It's important, Bang.”
Major Deri simply shook his head with a smile as he watched the two of them.
He returned to the front position with his sword and shield, while Rangga followed several steps behind. This time, Andre deliberately kept a greater distance while carrying his crossbow at the ready.
Elsewhere in the swamp, someone stood motionless behind a large tree covered in moss.
David did not move an inch. His gaze was fixed on the distance, toward the three strangers who were fighting a Mechanical Baryonyx.
He immediately recognized the creature.
Ever since arriving on the ★★★ Swamp Island, David had encountered its tracks several times. On one occasion, he had even seen the creature crossing the swamp from a distance.
He had always chosen to avoid it—not because he was afraid, but because he didn't have enough information to justify taking the risk of fighting such a large creature alone.
Yet the three people ahead of him were actually hunting it.
David narrowed his eyes.
One of them was positioned at the front with a sword and shield. His movements were disciplined, and he never attacked without reason.
Whenever the Baryonyx charged, the man didn't try to stop its momentum head-on. He consistently angled his shield to deflect the attack before countering at the right moment.
David immediately focused on the man's footwork.
Trained. Combat training.
The man wasn't an ordinary person. Most likely military, or at the very least someone with professional combat experience.
David's gaze then shifted to the second person.
That man was much harder to read.
He carried a bow, but several throwing spears were also strapped to his body. His position constantly shifted according to the movements of the person in front.
Sometimes he advanced, Sometimes he moved to the side, then he retreated again.
What caught David's attention wasn't his marksmanship. It was the decisions he made.
Every attack had a purpose, Provoking movement, Forcing the Baryonyx to raise its arms, Creating an opening then attacking a specific area.
As though the man already knew exactly what he needed to do.
David frowned.
Experienced.
This wasn't merely someone who knew how to fight. The man looked like someone who had become accustomed to fighting the creatures of this world.
Meanwhile, the third person remained far behind.
A crossbow.
David observed him for several moments.
His combat ability was clearly below that of the other two. Some of his movements were still stiff, and the distance he maintained was too great for someone confident in his own abilities.
But his position wasn't without purpose. The two people in front were deliberately giving him room. When the Baryonyx moved its claws again—
Thak!
A bolt flew from the rear and the Baryonyx staggered. The man with the bow immediately took advantage of the opening.
David continued observing without making a sound.
Three people. One trained fighter. One man with extraordinary experience dealing with this world. And one who was still developing, but already equipped with gear far superior to most Pioneers David had encountered.
Then there was something else.
Their armor.
David examined the equipment worn by all three. These weren't starting equipment. Nor were they simple armor sets like those he'd seen other Pioneers use.
All three clearly possessed equipment designed specifically for combat.
They are Pioneers.
The conclusion was almost certain. They couldn't be natives.
All the information they had gathered so far had never indicated the existence of any humans in this world other than the Pioneers.
But which country were they from?
David didn't know. He also couldn't determine yet whether they were friendly.
David slowly took one step backward, returning behind the tree. His hand remained close to his weapon.
The order from his government that morning came back to mind.
Find other Pioneers—especially experienced ones—and, if possible, locate the Garuda Pioneer named Rangga.
David peeked out from behind the tree again.
He still didn't know who the three people were, but his instincts as a former Delta Force operator told him one thing.
The two in front were not ordinary Pioneers.
If he wanted information about the progress of Pioneers from other countries, following them would be far more valuable than continuing to explore alone.
David had no intention of approaching them.
Not yet.
He waited until the three began moving again, then slowly emerged from his hiding place.
He kept his distance. Far enough away that they wouldn't hear him but close enough that he wouldn't lose their trail.
David began following them deeper into the swamp.