BXBX NOVEL Chapter 193 Richard’s Arrival at Clark City
Chapter 193 Richard\'s Arrival at Clark City
October 12th, 2023. Clark International Airport.
General Peralta stood beside Lisa Gonzales, both gazing intently at the skies. They watched in awe as a massive aircraft began its descent towards the runway.
General Peralta\'s eyes widened, disbelief etched on his face. "What the..." he murmured, catching Lisa\'s attention.
Lisa turned towards him, her curiosity piqued. "What\'s wrong?" she asked, following his gaze.
Peralta shook his head, still in disbelief. "That\'s a C-17 Globemaster... Lisa, does your brother even have access to something like that?" he asked, incredulous at the sight of the military transport aircraft making its approach.
Lisa looked on, equally surprised. She studied the C-17 Globemaster as it drew closer, its massive frame cutting through the sky with a surprising grace for such a large aircraft. The dull gray exterior, marked with minimal insignia, suggested a utilitarian purpose. She noted the aircraft\'s distinctive T-tail and the underwing engines, characteristic of the Globemaster.
"I...I had no idea," she admitted, her voice tinged with astonishment. "My brother never mentioned anything about having access to that plane, and what\'s more, I didn\'t even see that while we were at the Oriental."
The Globemaster\'s landing gear deployed, the wheels touching down on the runway with a smooth precision that belied the plane\'s size. It slowed down, the engines\' roar diminishing as it taxied towards the hangar.
General Peralta, still processing the sight, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Wait…you said you haven\'t seen it in your camp There\'s no way, with that size of the aircraft, there\'s no way you wouldn\'t even notice it."
"I\'m telling you the truth, General Peralta. I hadn\'t seen that plane when we toured around the Oriental…Perhaps they parked it somewhere else? Like an airport. But there\'s no way since my brother didn\'t even reclaim the Manila International Airport just a week ago…"
At this point, Lisa is beginning to harbor suspicion towards her brother. This feeling of course is not exclusive to her, even the residents of the Oriental Military Camp noticed where the Blackwatch are getting their seemingly unlimited supplies of weapons and tanks. One is that the said military hardware is exclusive to the United States Armed Forces.
General Peralta studied Lisa\'s expression, noting the mix of confusion and suspicion that crossed her face. "It\'s possible your brother has connections we\'re not aware of," he suggested, trying to make sense of the situation. "The C-17 Globemaster is not something one can just acquire off the shelf. It requires significant resources and connections, possibly at a government level. But you said that he was just a normal college student, this does not make sense to me unless the boss of the Blackwatch is not Richard but is only acting on behalf…"
Lisa shook her head. "I can say with confidence that my brother is your average normal college student but him not being the actual leader…doesn\'t fit with what\'s happening so far. He held supreme authority."
"Maybe his subordinates are just acting on their own accord?" General Peralta suggested, though his tone indicated he wasn\'t entirely convinced by his own hypothesis. "Or perhaps he\'s more than he appears. We\'ve seen plenty of cases where individuals lead double lives."
Lisa sighed, her mind racing with possibilities. "It\'s all so confusing. I thought I knew my brother, but now, I\'m not so sure." She paused, watching as airport staff and Blackwatch personnel efficiently unloaded the aircraft. "If he really has these kinds of resources and connections, then there\'s a lot about Blackwatch we don\'t understand. But…just like what I previously said, does it really matter when the Blackwatch is protecting humanity from extinction?"
"Well, I\'m pointing out the fact that you don\'t know your brother at all. Perhaps you can talk to him…Look, he\'s exiting the plane now."
As General Peralta pointed out, a figure emerged from the cargo hold of the C-17 Globemaster. The cargo ramp at the rear of the aircraft lowered, revealing Richard stepping out confidently. He was dressed in a casual military-style outfit, which is what he usually wore almost every day.
Lisa watched, her heart pounding. This was her brother, yet he seemed like a stranger in many ways. As Richard made his way down the ramp, he was met by a group of Blackwatch officers who saluted him with respect and deference. It was clear that he commanded authority and loyalty from his team.
There were also familiar faces along with him, which she noted as Graves, Mark, and her brother\'s girlfriend Sara.
Richard\'s gaze swept the area, taking in everything with sharp, observant eyes. He seemed to be assessing the situation, and then his eyes landed on her, which elicited a smile on his face. He promptly walked towards them and moments later, he arrived in front of them.
"General Peralta…good afternoon," Richard casually said.
"Good afternoon, Sir Richard."
"Please drop the formalities, you are older than me," Richard responded with a slight grin. "Just Richard is fine."
General Peralta gave a small nod. "Won\'t your subordinates be mad at me for addressing you in a casual manner?"
"Not at all," Richard replied with a relaxed smile. "They are not that strict people. So you can rest assured. Anyways I\'m noticing a slight unease on my little sister\'s face."
Richard kneeled down to her level and met her gaze. "What\'s the matter with you?"
"Nothing…" Lisa said and added. "What\'s with the plane? It\'s my first time seeing that."
Richard glanced back to the plane she was referring to, which was the C-17 Globemaster. He chuckled. "I asked what\'s the matter with you and you said nothing, and then raised a question?"
"What\'s wrong with it?" Lisa pouted, trying to deflect her earlier concerns.
Richard smiled warmly, realizing her tactic to change the subject. "Alright, about the C-17 Globemaster. They\'re based in Guam and piloted by US Air Force personnel."
Of course, his explanation was a complete lie.
Peralta\'s eyes widened in surprise. "US Air Force? How did you manage to get them to help?"
"Mutual interest?" Richard answered simply.
And then—.
"Liar…" Lisa softly uttered.
"What?" Richard turned to look at Lisa, his expression shifting from casual to mildly concerned.
Lisa smiled. "As your little sister who has been living for you for so long brother…I can tell that you are—" she trailed off, glancing covertly at General Peralta. "Brother…I have made your favorite afternoon snack, why don\'t you come with me and eat it together?"
"O-Okay…" Richard agreed.