Pumpkin Scissors

On this wonderful day,

when all of you are ready to graduate, the Empire...

...has great expectations for all of you.

With your youthful vigor, we hope you will be able to break open this long-fought war...

...and grasp victory with your hands.

We expect nothing but your best-

C-Commandant!

Commandant...

We're in the middle of a ceremony here.

The emperor...

The emperor has...

...signed a ceasefire!

Ceasefire!

It's a notification of the ceasefire!

"A few days ago, the Empire"

"signed a ceasefire treaty with the Republic of Frost."

"As a consequence, the state of national emergency has been lifted,"

"and all subjects of the Empire should immediately prepare for"

"the rebuilding of the Empire."

" -- From the Imperial Commander-in-Chief"

Wait!

Why did this happen all of a sudden?

Ceasefire? How come?

Cease... fire?

Just like that...

Then...

Why didn't it... happen earlier?

A long war took place.

The "blood calls out for blood" war with the Republic...

...left many deep scars throughout the lands of the Empire.

Three years after the ceasefire, the "Thin Ice Treaty",

...starvation...

...epidemics...

...and soldiers turning into bandits...

This...

...was another war known as "war damages".

Shit... a tank...

I think you'd call this...

...a bandit's fortress rather than a dam.

You're right.

Okay, this should be good.

Mr. Four-Eyes sure seems to be calm.

Our mission is to investigate and report,

not to lay siege to the dam.

Prepare for castle siege!

Crush them!

"Crush them"?

We're dealing with tanks here!

They bring disorder to society!

Slay-evil-immediately!

Anyway, shouldn't we head over to investigate the damage?

Wait for me!

Okay!

Large asparagus salad, here you go.

If you're looking for a job, sorry.

No one can afford to hire you around here.

That's some impressive food gobbling.

Is that enough for you?

And here I was, thinking we'd have better food to eat after the war was over.

See that place over there?

That dam.

Since the war, this place hasn't changed much because of them.

The bad guys just keep on gathering over there.

A tank squad called Grauwolf bummed over to this place a year ago.

They made the dam their fort and began raiding.

We wanted to kick them out,

but against a tank, we can't do anything...

Another bowl, please.

You're my kind of guy!

You can have all the green leaves you want!

Excuse us!

Umm, LT...

We're doing an undercover investigation,

so it's better if we do this in a more clandestine manner...

That's absurd!

Honorable soldiers acting in secret? Nonsense!

A soldier should always-

You guys soldiers from the capital?

Ah, pleased to meet you.

We are from State Section III of the Imperial Army-

What is happening?

A shell...

...from a 65mm tank cannon.

They're here...

Sorry, Mr. Mayor...

I couldn't hear you over the cannon noise.

I'm not lying.

We don't have any more provisions left in this village to spare.

I didn't say "spare us";

I said "GIVE US"!

Should we give him another shot, lieutenant?

How many times do I have to say this until you get it?

Call me "Wolf"!

Wolf? What a joke!

You're just an ape from the mountains!

We're the Imperial Army S.S. III Pumpkin Scissors platoon!

We regard you as a war aggravator and will proceed to remove you from the village!

Pumpkin Scissors?

I've heard of them before.

They're a unit founded in the capital whose purpose is to provide war relief efforts.

Relief?

Ready a K-3 round.

We'll meet again, Pumpkin Scissors!

What? A blank shot?

That scared the hell out of us...

They ran away!

Halt-

There, there, LT.

Calm down a bit.

Yes, especially now that they've retreated!

A blank?!

You can only go so far when insulting someone-

Is it raining or something?

No, not really.

That's unusual.

For this to happen twice in the same day-

To take on a tank like that...

...that's not something a normal person should be doing.

What'll we do?

Their reinforcements from the capital might be headed here as early as tomorrow.

No one's coming.

There's no way they'd send reinforcements.

That's strange...

They have one tank and at least thirty soldiers...

How has a big gang like this gone unnoticed all this time?

Hunks, I've heard!

You sent your men to that dam?!

Stekkin, prepare some tea for the head of Section I.

Yes, sir.

Pull your investigation team out of there right now!

Don't touch Grauwolf!

Sorry, this is the only thing I can offer.

Ah, it's okay.

Given the times, we know.

You look pretty cute.

Hey, you guys are pretty good!

You know...

...I thought you guys were just a public-relations gang for the big wigs,

but you guys sure surprised me!

Ah, thanks...

Those bandits ran away just after seeing you guys!

War relief unit...

I am 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin.

What is your name?

Randel... Oland...

You're a war veteran, right?

So I was right.

What's your rank?

Corporal.

Do not worry.

I'm not looking at you as if you were one of those bandits.

Your eyes look a lot like Piro's.

Piro?

The horse I care for at home.

I wanted to see your eyes to be sure.

I had a cold chill on the back of my neck when I walked past you earlier.

There's always something unusual when I experience that.

I felt it when Piro was born...

...and also when I was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

That must mean it's something good.

Not always.

I felt it when my grandfather passed away...

...the same with Piro's parents.

Bad things happen more often.

However, I'm pleased.

It seems meeting you was a fortuitous fate for me, Corporal.

Ah, yes, yes, what kind of unit were you in, Corporal?

Mistress!

What's going on?!

I don't know!

Everyone suddenly-

The doctor!

Get the doctor!

A volatile tactical chemical agent...

Kirsche-3.

What?!

A K-3 chemical round.

It was that blank they fired?!

Grauwolf is just a common name given to them.

Their official name is 903-CTT.

CTT?

Short for Chemical Tactics Troop.

Kirsche-3 was already ready for operational use?