Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 721 Confinement
The four members of the Sek group were eventually escorted back to the Starfire Warriors training base by military police from the military law department.

Apart from him, the other three also didn't get a chance to engage in close combat with the winged creatures... Instructor Dean clearly didn't want to lose face in front of the special forces team again, and didn't have any expectations for Santas and the others' combat experience.

As dusk approached, the soldiers who had gone on leave returned to the camp one after another before curfew. They happened to run into their four captains, who were tied up, and the demonized armor being towed back by the alchemical wheel.

"It's Captain Sek and his team! What's going on?"

"Military police? What terrible trouble have the captain and the others gotten into that would warrant the deployment of these military hyenas?"

"Quiet! Don't shout like that. If these guys hear you, you might get into trouble..."

With a grim face, Instructor Dean dismissed the remaining Starfire warriors who were watching, and personally escorted the four to the solitary confinement room located underground in the base.

"I don't want to know what got into your heads to do something so audacious..." Dean's voice was clearly filled with suppressed anger, "but I hope you haven't completely forgotten that a soldier's duty is to absolutely obey orders. Since you've violated the regulations... stay here and reflect on your actions, and figure out what you're fighting for."

After saying that, he shook his head and decisively turned to leave.

The four men were pushed and shoved by the military police and sent into cramped rooms that were only a few square meters in size and contained nothing but a simple iron bed frame and a chamber pot.

As the iron gate of the confinement cell slammed shut with a loud bang, the entire underground area fell into a deathly silence, with only a few magic stone lamps emitting a faint light from the ceiling of the passageway outside the room.

The iron door to the room where Saike and the others were being held had a food delivery window, which at this moment became the only way for the four of them to huddle together by the window to talk and encourage each other.

Santas sighed and said guiltily, "It's all my and Gregor's fault for coming up with this terrible idea! It almost got us discharged from the army... Luckily, the officers don't intend to pursue it further, otherwise it would be really frightening to think about."

Baler nodded and comforted them, "This was a decision made by the four of us together, so no one is to blame... Seke and I couldn't resist the temptation either, after all, we all wanted to see a living Demon Lizardman Evolver with our own eyes."

On the way back, the military police from the military law department had already kindly explained to these troublemakers that since they were reserve soldiers, trespassing into a cell where ordinary prisoners of war were held was not an unforgivable crime. It all depended on how much trouble they caused inside and whether the officer in charge of the area would investigate.

Therefore, the punishment they would have to accept would at most be long-term confinement, heavy fines or demotions, or deprivation of military merit awards, which would be painful but not fatal.

However, if they were to trespass into a weapons laboratory or a military magic technology application center that is strictly prohibited by secrecy regulations without permission, the consequences would be unimaginable... Regardless of whether they were carrying lethal weapons, they would likely be killed on the spot, without even the chance of being court-martialed.

Of course, after this battle, even if Sai Ke and his men had a thousand times the courage, they would never dare to do such a risky thing again.

After a flurry of self-reflection and sighs, Baler suddenly remembered something, raised his hand and knocked on the iron door frame of the solitary confinement cell, calling out to the silent Seke.

"Hey! Sek! Tell me about your experience fighting that winged creature! How strong was that thing? How did it compare to the special forces officers?"

Sek snapped out of his daze and chuckled, “Compared to the officers of the special forces? They’re far inferior… Their only advantage over us is their ability to fly and their agility, like…like a giant flying mudskipper, slippery and disgusting.”

If he hadn't been without ranged weapons, he wouldn't have been able to struggle with it for so many minutes; instead, the battle would have been decided in a single exchange.

After all, the enchanted armor can withstand several attacks of red lightning head-on, while the winged beings' anti-magic shells are no different from cardboard in the face of chainsaw swords, single-shot beam weapons, and rapid-fire shotguns.

His Majesty was not wrong; the Starfire Warriors were indeed specially trained to counter these alien enemies… but only if their weapons and equipment were in their full potential, and also in conjunction with activating their Beast Spirit fusion talent. In the brief few minutes of fighting the Winged Race, in his panic and anxiety, Sek completely failed to consider this, instinctively relying on the formidable defense of his magic armor and the sharpness of his chainsaw sword to launch a reckless attack…

"So... Commander Spider and Instructor Dean are right, what we lack most right now is indeed practical combat ability!"

"That's right, even you were struggling against the winged creatures. If the three of us went up there, who knows what kind of joke we'd make..."

Thinking of this, Sek excitedly banged his head against the iron door window and said to his companion, "So... sending us and the newly recruited bloodline warriors of the special forces out for training and clearing missions is not a punishment at all... it's Commander Spider helping us improve our combat experience in a roundabout way!"

Although the Special Operations Independent Regiment seemed to be at odds with the Starfire Legion at every turn, the special operations captains, who were high-ranking bloodline warriors, actually provided a lot of help to these rookies, both openly and secretly. Although they were harsh and unforgiving in their words, they were actually constantly urging them to grow as quickly as possible.

After all, they will be joining hands to face the powerful and terrifying alien enemy in the future.

……

The group discussed the matter animatedly for a while longer, until the door to the solitary confinement cell was opened again from the outside, and the military police on duty pushed in a creaking food cart.

Although they were in solitary confinement, there was no sign of mistreatment or withholding food from them... a thick stack of buttered flatbreads, a crispy fried pork chop, fresh boiled eggs, and vegetables.

The daily training of the Starfire Warriors is extremely intense, and they also undergo soul fusion, which is extremely energy-consuming. The logistics department naturally puts a lot of effort into their diet, trying to achieve a balanced diet in various ways.

When the plate, overflowing with food, was handed over, Sek finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Sir... besides the ten-day confinement, will there be any other punishments this time?"

The military police rolled their eyes and sneered, "Don't take any chances. Apart from not being directly dismissed or sent to a military court, you've received every other punishment. It's a complete slam."

Grand Slam... Grand Slam?

"What Grand Slam?" Barre asked in a trembling voice.

"After the confinement ends, you will be fined three months' salary and will be barred from promotion for the next six months. Oh... your direct superiors have added an extra clause: copy the military disciplinary regulations one hundred times."

"Ah?" Baler let out a shrill scream.

Santas brought his mouth close to the window and said disdainfully, "Why are you rootless people so stingy? You act like it's your life for a mere three months' salary fine."

"What do you know? I promised to buy my sister a new bicycle as soon as I've saved enough money!"

"A new bicycle only costs about half a month's salary. You've been here for so long, haven't you saved enough yet?"

Sek shook his head helplessly and leaned out the window to explain for Baler, "He has five sisters!"

(End of this chapter)