In the end, Combat's operation concluded in failure. He lost several thousand soldiers from the First and Second Legions and fled back to camp in disgrace.
This simply couldn't be fought!
Combat's face was dark. Now he finally understood why Kriorev had been unable to take Fort Bon. When Combat first received the news, he had thought the same as the Council—that Kriorev had been avoiding battle out of passivity, and that as long as he personally took command and sacrificed a few more soldiers, the fortress would fall easily… Well, now it seemed that was completely not the case.
What should he do now?
Combat paced anxiously. He had pounded his chest and guaranteed success to the Council before coming here. No one had expected things to turn out like this.
However, this was no longer something Kriorev needed to worry about. After all, the Council had already removed him from his post. He was now light and unburdened.
Yet even if he didn't want trouble, trouble came looking for him.
"Sir."
Just as Kriorev was about to rest, his adjutant Karl came to see him.
"I have received a letter from General Rolex of the Fifth Legion."
"Take it to Combat. There's no point in showing it to me now."
Kriorev shook his head. There was finally news from the Fifth Legion, but unfortunately, it was already too late.
However, this time Karl did not follow Kriorev's order. Instead, he handed the letter over.
"I think you should read it."
"…."
Seeing the serious expression on his subordinate's face, Kriorev turned back, took the letter, and read it carefully. Then his expression shifted slightly.
"…Have you read this letter?"
"…."
Karl said nothing, only nodded. Kriorev sighed.
"The Fifth Legion has also chosen to support the Emperor… It seems we have no other choice."
"General."
Karl stepped forward and stood before Kriorev, lowering his voice.
"What are you still hesitating for? Haven't you seen the Council's actions? There's no room for us here at all! Why do you think the Council appointed Combat as supreme commander? You can't possibly not understand! Under these circumstances, there's no meaning in us staying here any longer!"
"I know."
Kriorev nodded slightly, as if he had made up his mind.
"Then it's settled… We'll leave. We'll withdraw from here. However…"
As he spoke, Kriorev turned and looked into the distance.
But one day, we will return.
Combat spent the entire night racking his brains without coming up with a single good plan. At dawn, a soldier suddenly rushed into his tent.
"Report, sir! Bad news! Bad news!"
"What do you mean bad news? Speak clearly!"
Hearing the man's frantic shouting, Combat glared at him with bloodshot eyes. He had been thinking all night about how to take Fort Bon, but every action the enemy took was beyond his expectations. He didn't even know what he might encounter if he attacked again!
And now someone was here to bother him!
"What exactly happened?"
Had those bastards in Fort Bon launched a counterattack?
"The F-First Legion is gone!!"
"?? What???"
Hearing the messenger's answer, Combat stared at him in a daze, unable to believe his ears.
"What did you say? What happened to the First Legion?"
"The First Legion is gone! They've left the camp! Their destination is unknown!"
"How is that possible!"
At that moment, Combat leapt up in fury.
"What is that old fool Kriorev playing at? Does he not know this will enrage the Council? No, I don't believe it. Take me to see for myself!!!"
As he spoke, Combat stormed out of the tent with his short legs moving as fast as they could. When he arrived at the First Legion's camp, the tents were still there, and everything looked normal from the outside. But when he rushed inside, he found nothing—aside from a few bulky items too heavy to carry away, the First Legion had taken almost everything they could.
"H-How dare they!!!"
Combat's face flushed red with rage as he glared viciously at his subordinates.
"Are you all idiots?! Such a massive troop movement from the First Legion, and none of you noticed?"
"W-We… The First Legion moved under the pretext of night patrols. We didn't know…"
The subordinate being scolded had no defense. The Second Legion had only just arrived and knew little of the situation here. When they saw the First Legion mobilizing, they had indeed inquired, only to be told it was routine night patrol and alert duty. Although a rather large number of troops left, they hadn't paid much attention.
It wasn't until dawn, when someone noticed something odd about the First Legion's camp and went to check, that the matter was reported immediately.
No need to ask—it was already too late.
They had slipped away under cover of night.
"Send men to chase them immediately! Where did they go?"
"Th-That… Judging from the tracks, their destination is… Fort Bon."
"..."
Hearing this, Combat froze in shock and turned to look at the distant fortress. It was completely calm at the moment, with no signs of battle. That meant…
The First Legion had defected to the enemy?
At that thought, Combat's vision went black. He collapsed to the ground and fainted.
"Sir! Sir!!!"
While the Second Legion soldiers busied themselves around the unconscious Combat, inside Fort Bon, Kriorev finally met Duanmu Huai.
"I get the feeling these young ladies aren't very happy about my arrival."
Looking at the graduates of Manaria Academy standing not far behind Duanmu Huai, Kriorev chuckled. Duanmu Huai merely glanced at them and shook his head.
"Don't worry. It's nothing serious. They're just unhappy about losing their graduation trial opportunity."
"Graduation… trial?"
Kriorev froze for a moment, but very wisely decided not to pursue the topic. His instincts told him that digging deeper would not be good for his heart.
"Very well. I came here because I want to see with my own eyes what it is you've been talking about."
"Perfect timing."
Duanmu Huai didn't mind and simply nodded.
"Since you want to see, I'll take you to see it for yourself…"
With the First Legion already having switched sides, Duanmu Huai didn't bother with secrecy anymore and directly summoned a Valkyrie gunship. When the massive steel bird appeared in the sky and descended into Fort Bon, General Kriorev finally nodded in realization.
"I see. So this is how you launched your surprise attack and captured Fort Bon."
He had long wondered how the Inquisition had silently taken over the entire fortress without leaving a trace. Now… he finally understood.
"Come with me. I'll show you what you want to see."
Soon, Kriorev and the officers of the First Legion boarded the Valkyrie gunship under Duanmu Huai's lead and flew into the sky.
"Where are you taking us?"
Though fascinated by the iron bird capable of flight, Kriorev was more concerned about Hermann's fate.
Duanmu Huai answered his question.
"Today, the Fourth Legion will launch an assault on Rose City and liberate it from the Council's control. I'm taking you there now."
Before long, the Valkyrie gunship arrived above Rose City. The battle had already begun. The Fourth Legion was fighting the city's garrison for control of the gates. Kriorev observed the battlefield from the sky.
From the perspective of this veteran general, the Fourth Legion's command and tactics weren't particularly dazzling. They advanced steadily and methodically, following standard procedures. They made no mistakes, but there was nothing especially brilliant either. If anything stood out, it was their morale—they fought as if pumped full of stimulants.
Soon, Kriorev saw another force suddenly appear within the city. While the garrison was resisting the external assault, this force stabbed them in the back and seized the city gates in the blink of an eye.
Such a bold and unrestrained tactic could only have come from the Fifth Legion.
Once the gates were taken, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Fourth and Fifth Legions joined forces, fighting as they pushed inward, while the garrison's morale plummeted. Most of them were already fleeing in panic, abandoning their armor and weapons.
"Alright, let's go down."
Duanmu Huai gave the order. The Valkyrie gunship landed behind the battlefield. He then led Kriorev and the others off the gunship and onto the field.
The battle had ended. Corpses and blood covered the streets, and the wounded were being transported to the rear for treatment. As the group looked around, something felt strange.
"What's going on?"
Looking at the battlefield before him, Kriorev frowned.
As a seasoned general, he could tell something was off.
How should he put it… it was far too orderly!
Normally, after a battle ended, aside from tending wounds and resting, soldiers would inevitably loot and pillage. Though commanders repeatedly issued strict orders, there were always those who disobeyed. Yet here, nothing of the sort seemed to be happening. Kriorev even saw some soldiers wearing Fourth Legion armor helping civilians who had been caught up in the fighting!
The Fourth Legion?
Why were they doing this?
"I know what you're thinking, General Kriorev."
Glancing at the old man, Duanmu Huai chuckled.
"I promise you, you'll get your answer."
(End of Chapter)