"However," said LTC. Ibis. "We can do something with a little more planning."

Billy and Lt. Boartusk turned their head toward LTC. Ibis with a look full of hope.

"You mean, sir?" asked the lieutenant.

"We both agree that we can't stay in this war for too long. If returning the artifact is the solution to peace, we should do it." LTC. Coil added.

Billy started to smile a little. He had no idea what these two high-ranking military officers were planning. But he thought it was a good sign.

"What do you planning, sir?" Billy couldn't help but ask.

LTC. Coil took a deep breath before answering. As if preparing to convey something quite heavy.

"I think we both can first try by talking nicely to Mr. President to return the artifact they possessed. What do you think?"

LTC. Ibis nodded. "I agree. Then, if that doesn't work, we have no choice but to go the second way."

"Yes."

LTC. Coil looked back at Billy and Lt. Boartusk. "We might have to steal the artifact."

Billy and the Lieutenant didn't look too surprised by the suggestion because they had expected it. But they did not know that they would actually hear the proposal come out of the mouths of these two high-ranking officers.

"Remember, the conversation in this room should not be known by anyone." LTC. Ibis warned sternly.

"Of course, sir."

Billy and Lt. Bortusk nodded to show that they understood and would obey.

"I'll give you both cell phones so we can get in touch directly. Stop at the checkpoint once you get out," LTC. Ibis said.

"Yes, sir," replied Lt. Boartusk.

"You guys just wait for further information."

After that, the two military officers left the room. Leaving Billy and the lieutenant sitting weakly back in their seats.

"This a long day, Lieutenant," Billy said.

"Yeah, but we got something better than we thought," said Lt. Boartusk.

"You're right," said Billy. "But they don't even give us food."

Too tired and too hungry for an argument or curse, the two of them finally exited the room and entered the cafeteria.

There were several condescending glances directed at the two of them. But Billy and Lt. Boartusk knew better not to respond to them, they just have to ignore them.

After taking their food they both came out.

"You have no shame!" A soldier who was having dinner spoke loudly as if for the both of them to hear clearly. After that, he and his three friends laughed and continued with other ridicule.

Billy stopped in front of the door even though he was one step away from the cafeteria. He turned and walked back in.

The four soldiers who were mocking them realized that and they waited with grins. Waiting for Billy, who they thought would go berserk because of their taunts.

But Billy walked past their table without even turning his head. As if not aware of their whereabouts.

He walked over to the buffet and packed some more food. Then he walked back towards Lt. Boartusk with both arms full of wrapped food.

The four soldiers looked at Billy angrily because they didn't expect the reaction they wanted.

"You shameless pig." As the four of them walked past the table, Billy heard another sneer.

But again, he didn't care and started to eat the chicken thighs that he didn't wrap with an incredible appetite.

"This is so good, Lieutenant!" Billy shouted.

Lt. Boartusk just chuckled and accepted some of the food packages Billy had brought. The two of them walked away from the cafeteria accompanied by the annoyed looks of the four soldiers.

Billy and Lt. The Boartusk stopped at the checkpoint post as instructed by LTC. Ibis and LTC. coil.

Billy received a black metal box and took it back to the truck. After that, they drove back to the bunker.

~~~

Nothing happened in the bunker for the whole day. So the soldiers do a lot of things for fun. Something they haven't done in a long time.

Erend had just finished playing chess with John in the presence of the other soldiers that morning when the sound of a truck coming was heard. All soldiers must be familiar with the sound of the old truck.

Billy and Lt. Bortusk are back. But no one was more excited to hear from them than Erend.

Billy and Lt. Boartusk went to their respective rooms. Erend went into his room after BIlly.

"Good news?" asked Erend.

Billy sighed as he took off his uniform.

"Good and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?"

"Anything is fine," Erend said as he sat on his bed.

Billy sat on his own bed. "Right. Whichever comes first doesn't matter. So this is what we got..."

Billy began to tell what they had experienced at the military headquarters. Their meeting and conversation with LTC. Ibis and LTC. Coil is the main subject of Billy's story.

"Stole it from the President?" Erend couldn't believe that they had to carry out that plan.

Billy shrugged. "That's if LTC. Coil and Ibis can't ask for the key properly."

Erend wasn't sure if they could ask nicely just on the grounds of peace. The key had immense power and Erend knew how greedy humans were.

"Wait, have they been able to get water from the Fountain of Eternity?" asked Erend anxiously.

"I don't know. But if that's the case, I'm sure they won't want to give it up." Billy also knows how greedy humans are. They wouldn't want to give up the key if they knew its power.

"How will they let us know if they succeed or not?" asked Erend.

Billy took out a cell phone and showed it to Erend. "With this, they will contact us."

Erend nodded in understanding. "Okay."

"Yeah. Let's just wait."

~~~