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"This side of the road is really not easy to walk. These few children with no one to guide them aren't they afraid of accidents?" UMP40 said worriedly, looking at the deep and shallow footprints on the ground.
"No need to worry. The lack of bloodstains means those kids are fine. Besides, we don't even know if they're human. Before assuming they're someone's children, compare your footprints with those on the ground."
"Ah..."
Hearing this, UMP40 strimprint out her foot and compared it with one of the footprints, realizing that her own foot wasn't much bigger than the others.
This was embarrassing.
There were dolls smaller than her size, and if the ones who left these footprints were just a few dolls, then she had worried needlessly. If dolls appeared in a place like this, there must be a reason. Normal dolls even if wandering would go to areas near the city because it's easier to find batteries or charging ports. In a remote town like this without charging, they would be finished.
"Hey, what's there to say? I'll just release the drone first and take a look!" MDR slapped her head as if in a daze and took out the drone she had gotten a few days ago from her traveling bag.
UMP45 didn't stop her and watched as MDR released the drone. Vera held the drone's receiver and carefully surveyed the situation in the buildings ahead.
"It doesn't look like there's much of a crowd... Ah! There is! But not little kids. Huh? Hey! Why are they hiding!?" Vera stared at the screen in her hand. She had just seen a few silhouettes appear, but within a few seconds, those people, as if they had discovered something, quickly hid where the drone couldn't capture them.
Hearing Vera's words, UMP45 and MDR raised their eyebrows simultaneously and glanced at each other in surprise.
Sure enough, there was a situation!
And it wasn't children hiding. It was likely they had discovered the drone flying above them.
Now it is broad daylight, the sky is clear, so it was normal for them to see the drone.
But the strange thing was the speed at which those adults hid. They entered the drone's blind spot quickly, showing a level of vigilance and ability that was definitely not typical of ordinary residents.
MDR thought of this and hurriedly instructed Vera to fly the drone higher. This was a brand-new drone and she didn't want those guys using it as target practice.
As for whether the weapon in the other party's hands had the capability to shoot it down? She didn't know, but having the drone fly a bit higher wouldn't hurt, just in case.
While controlling the drone's action, MDR also rewound the previously captured images to watch them again. UMP45 also came over to look.
Just after seeing the silhouettes captured on film, the two of them instantly relaxed.
"It's okay."
"Hm? How is it okay?" UMP40 asked. "Just now, you both looked grave. Why are you relaxed now?"
"At first, I worried these people might be from the military, but now it looks like they should just be mercenaries on a mission. It's no big deal," UMP45 explained.
The worry was because this place was very close to the military's stationing area. As long as one climbed over two mountains, they would reach military territory, which wasn't difficult for the military's combat units.
If it were a human, it would take a lot of strength to cross the mountains, but for combat dolls and war machines, this distance was nothing.
Fighting with the military in a place like this could even get their airship involved. But since they were just mercenaries, there was nothing to fear.
Even if the mercenaries had backup, it was a world of difference compared to the military. They had no artillery, no anti-aircraft weapons, and not necessarily even heavy weapons.
Most mercenaries were flesh and blood. Even if they had prosthetics, they couldn't compete with the current them.
UMP40 nodded in understanding, but Vera beside her was sweating a bit.
Mercenaries? That's still no small matter.
"Alright! There's no need to look sad! If those mercenaries dare to make a move, I can beat them up myself!" MDR said, patting Vera's shoulder to comfort her.
However, this comfort sounded like bragging to Vera.
Tactical dolls are transformed from civilian dolls. No matter how strong they are, they couldn't be that strong. She had just seen at least seven or more mercenaries!
Although the mercenaries didn't have heavy weapons, they were armed to the teeth like HK416. It wasn't an exaggeration to say they were heavily armed.
MDR and UMP45 only carried their imprint weapons and Reno's special gun. Their ammunition supply was limited.
At best, they had five or six magazines.
In Vera's eyes, most battles were like in the movies, standing there, pulling the trigger non-stop, and it was over in a moment. In reality, it might not even hit anyone.
If MDR and UMP45 knew what Vera was thinking, they would give her a big blank stare.
Can't hit? Stop kidding. Nowadays, as long as it's within effective range, missing is almost impossible! The only problem is accuracy.
"Anyway, don't think too much. MDR, you're at the back, protect Vera," UMP45 said, pointing at the somewhat frightened reporter.
"Understood." MDR nodded and immediately stood in front of Vera, using her body to shield Vera.
Meanwhile, UMP45 and UMP40 glanced at each other and led the way towards the buildings ahead.
"45, don't you think this situation is a bit similar to that mission we had back then?"
"Is it? I don't feel that way."
"Weren't we walking shoulder-to-shoulder with our weapons in our hands in the middle of a group of people back then?"
"Maybe." UMP45 shrugged, not refuting UMP40's words.
As the dolls approached the houses, several gazes from within those houses landed on the weapon-wielding dolls.