TFA2 33.3 – Local Language

Woodcutter Settlement, Southern tip of Penna Hill

07:30, 2 Oct 2025

Other than chow hall in the underground barracks, Jack Sparrow also had another one on the woodcutter Settlement. Both chow halls adopted serving system like family restaurant. People could order whatever they want as long as it was on the menu for that day. The only different was that underground chow hall served menu from earth, while woodcutter chow hall served local cuisine.

After checking the underground workshop where Black Pine was secretly being turned into semi processed product by using modern equipment, Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred went to woodcutter chow hall to have their first breakfast in Jack Sparrow.

People who ate in woodcutter chow hall were usually personnel who on duty to harvest Black Pine, and they had started their work since a half an hour ago. So, the chow hall was almost empty.

There was only one young man sat in a corner. He had ordinary appearance, and with great attention he wrote something into a parchment like a poet wrote his greatest masterpiece. Now and then he would take a sip of his coffee before returning to his greatest work.

Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred didn’t bother to disturb the young man’s moment of peace. They knew for sure Captain Tiffany was a demonic officer, and no one in her camp would dare to slack off unless they were in their free time.

Wasting no time, Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred sat in one of the tables near the window. A moment later, a serving staff came over to take their order.

“Good morning, we have barley stew with rabbit meat for today special.”

After looking at the menu board for a moment Colonel Meyer said, “Hard scramble eggs without cheese, ham, roasted corn, and barley tea.”

“Yes Sir,” The serving staff swiftly wrote the order before turning his gaze towards Major Alfred, “And for you, Sir?”

“Barley soup, garlic bread, and sweetened black tea,” Major Alfred replied briefly.

“Right away, Sir.”

As the serving staff took their order to kitchen, Colonel Meyer turned his gaze to Major Alfred. “Will we have second arrival tonight?”

“No, we have no rainstorm tonight, but a flight of Hercules will drop some packages.”

After pondering for a while Colonel Meyer suggested, “Maybe we can move the rocks on Rocky Field away, and then put a layer of soft soil or sand on its surface, making it into a safe dropping zone for our men.”

“I had considered it,” Major Alfred calmly replied. “The problem is, the closest area that had enough soil or sand is a valley 5 km away from this place and the owner is a prickly noble. We also can’t use our Humvee to transport the soil or sand without creating unnecessary attention.”

“900 Tuscan guards and 352 our own personnel, it will be for a while before they join us then.”

“Yeah.”

Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred paused for a moment as the serving staff put their breakfast into table. Then, they were about to enjoy it when the young man in the corner came over to their table.

“Good morning, Colonel, Major.”

“…?”

In an instant, Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred looked each other while big question mark appeared in their forehead. Without standard combat outfit, it would be very hard to recognize two officers who had just arrived in a camp. And yet, the young man gave an impression he had recognize them in the first glance.

“May I joint with you, Sir?” The young man politely asked.

“Yes, please,” Colonel Meyer calmly replied. “May I know your name and unit, son?”

As he sat next to Major Alfred, the young man replied, “Lieutenant Reznik, CO of IDG’s squad.”

In an instant, the question mark on Colonel Meyer’s forehead thickened. He had saw Lieutenant Reznik’s profile, but his picture was way too different from his real appearance. After taking a deep breath, Colonel Meyer then looked at parchment in Lieutenant Reznik’s hand.

“LT, what did you write?”

“A report for the owner of Penna Hill.”

Colonel Meyer knew that Amethyst Merchant and IDG had secretly secured the permit to harvest Black Pine in Penna Hill from Makai Royal Family. Even so, he still asked, “Do you mean Makai Royal Family?”

“Yes,” Lieutenant Reznik nodded before continuing, “Every time the woodcutter guild under Young Miss Tiffany gets additional manpower, as her right hand man I had to submit the list of new workers to supervisor office.”

As for the background ID and story for the new arrival personnel, I had put it in your office. Please make sure the new personnel used it in their daily activities, especially when they have an interaction with locals.”

“I will,” Colonel Meyer firmly replied and then asked, “Do we have schedule on when the people from supervisor office will inspect this place?”

“No, as long we gave him enough coin and meet the monthly quota for semi-processed black pine, the current supervisor will never disturb us let alone came over here.”

“Glad to hear that.” Colonel Meyer put a spoon of scramble egg into his mouth before saying, “LT, after we finish our breakfast, take us to IDG’s working space.”

After a slight smile Lieutenant Reznik said, “I’m about to invite you to visit our humble place.”

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As the southern tip of Penna Hill had the highest elevation, IDG chose to establish their observing posts in this area. From their posts, IDG’s personnel would harvest various pictures, audios, or videos from Makai Royal City for 24/7.

In once glance, IDG’s observing post had no different from other cabin in Penna Hill. The interior for the first floor was also pretty similar to sleeping quarter for personnel who on duty to harvest Black Pine.

Wasting no time, Lieutenant Reznik led Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred to second floor. There, they found three member of IDG were operating laser-based long-range eavesdropping device. They put the device three steps behind a window and pointed it at one of biggest structure in Makai Guard HQ.

“Sergeant Spier and his team are conducting intelligence gathering on Main Meeting Hall of Makai Intelligence Service,” Lieutenant Reznik explained.

Colonel Meyer nodded and then asked, “Sergeant, do you have something to share with us?”

“We have something good, Sir.” Without delay Sergeant Spier explained, “The opposing side have a meeting about Battle Groups that would execute the retaliatory invasion. Two battle groups would attack Buriek Guard in Sandhur Region while the third would land on Buriek’s west coast.”

Colonel Meyer nodded and then turned towards Lieutenant Reznik, “Once we have full record of the strategy meeting, send the copy to Castle Lagra and Woodpecker immediately.”

“Aye Sir,” Lieutenant Reznik firmly replied. After that he took Colonel Meyer and Major Alfred to the next room. “Colonel, I can take anyone who wants to take a walk on Makai Royal City, but they have to be able speak in local language fluently.”

“LT, I’m afraid I only have a few dozen men who can speak local language fluently,” Colonel Meyer openly admitted. “The rest are, they have enough for asking direction when they lost their way, making dirty joke when visiting brothel, or interrogating captive in the field.

However, once sentence and anybody can tell they are not locals.”

“That’s why IDG use this room for language class. Anyone who wants to increase their language skill can attend it,” Lieutenant Reznik casually said. “When they arrive here for the first time, most of Captain Tiffany’s men also had no more than broken accent when using local language. But with our help, now they can speak as good as native.”

“What trick did Captain Tiffany use to motivate her men?”

“A chance to visit red light district.”

“Good point,” Colonel Meyer smiled before continued, “I will use it too.”

Colonel Meyer was fully aware that if his men knew the layout of Makai Royal City well enough, even if it was only the outer area, then they would have a better chance to survive in case they had to engage the opposing side inside the city.

Therefore, he engraved it in his heart. He would make sure more than half of his men could speak in local language fluently and had enough tour on the city.

*****