Chapter 22 (1/2)

Because Wealth Potatoes Fill the Stomach, Delicious

At the Iround, brilliantly illu conducted to decide their plan to capture Madros The foremost specialists in every field were mustered full force around the commandant of the First Corps, the first prince of the Empire, Alexander Keyland

Alexander was clothed in luxurious war garments, and a sword laid with excessive ornaold hair, a symbol of the Keyland family, inherited from his father The Keyland faold color If things rong and the child was born with silver hair even, his right to the throne would likely be revoked, even if he was the eldest son

If Alexander inherited the imperial throne, these elite commissioned officers would probably become his advisors They were all without exception personally selected by Alexander, and they were enuity and valor

But right now, everyone had heavy faces, rave situation

“What happened to the provisions supply?”

Alexander gently asked, while tapping his finger on the desk

“Sir-, the fields have all been reduced to ashes, and the houses in the fares are completely euys have been thorough in their scorched earth tactics”

“So it is extremely hard to raise supplies locally We must request them to be transported from our home country”

“Codom’s Army have repeatedly raided our Arht hinder our supply train hereafter I believe”

Their supply line had stretched out accodouerrilla warfare and weretheir supply line repeatedly Currently, the amount of supplies that reached the front lines safely wasn’t even 50 At this rate, there would probably be a serious deficiency of provisions

“……Your Excellency We have captured the First Fort What do you think of waiting here until the spring season? The transportation of goods will progress, and ourspeed will also increase There is no need for us to hastily attack any further”

One general proposed to halt the march It was an opinion laced with reason, and Alexander also inwardly thought that the best course of action

But, he was in a situation where he couldn’t stop He had been given an overriding order: “Capture Madros at all costs”

It was an order from his father, and at the sarew older, he becaained the throne, Alexander couldn’t incur his displeasure

“If I could, I wouldn’t haveHis Majesty commands that we make Madros fall as soon as possible Our focus should be on hoe break through the enemy line of forts and sink Madros Gentlemen, rack your brains for me”

Declared Alexander in a strong tone Responding to him, Lieutenant General Gustav, commander of the Seventh Corps, remarked

“To have a large army of 100,000 ht to put the ordinary soldiers on defense of the First Fort and escort for the supply convoys 50,000 elite of the First and Seventh Corps will launch a concentrated attack on one point of the line of forts, break through, and make Madros Castle fall in one fell swoop This is best I believe”

A slender and paranoid man, Gustav was the lord of the Wealth Area, and at the same time, he also led the Seventh Corps He had crossed swords with Kerry who governed Madros many times in small skirmishes

He was deeply distrustful, and a man who exemplified discretion and coers, but the soldiers born in Wealth held hiht and live only for the protection and growth of Wealth

Soldiers with a low a on a conquest, they would continue to march with only the necessary numbers In this situation where provisions were insecure, Gustav’s opinion was appropriate

The Fifth Arhly the same numbers on defense of their fort line, but they had to scatter their defenses

The I their course of march Where would they aim? That question would decide Madros’s fate for certain

“What a praght, and we cannot stupidly advance Afterwards, all we can do is pray for good luck Luckily, I am an ardent adherent to the Star Church We certainly will have divine protection”

Alexander gave a cynical-feeling, sarcastic laugh and drained his glass of water He didn’t believe in the thing called religion But saying that aloud was akin to heresy, so he just didn’t say it Being able to believe brought rank, , that wasn’t very fun That’s why he ai He ood fortune that he was born as the eldest son, and he devoted himself to study with no rest until he almost bled

That had been recognized, and he was now one step away from his prize, the throne He could not fail here There were countless people ai for the throne

The only one he could relax his guard around was his real younger brother, Alan, who had quickly withdrawn from the competition to earn the throne and had ran away from the Imperial Capital to join the Liberation Ar hierial position

Now that the rough plan had been decided, they et when a uards in heavy ar the h Theient report, Alexander predicted

“We’re in the middle of a war council What’s the matter?”

“Sir-, A cavalry unit frodom’s Army has come to surrender They number 2,000 riders The co an audience with Your Highness “

“Hohh? Isn’t that good news Don’t you think so? Gustav”

Interested, Alexander’s lips warped, and he addressed Gustav He knew that Gustav held feelingswhat reaction Gustav would have

Gustav frowned Madrosians would never obey the Eht pose a danger to Alexander

“……Is that female commander you spoke of a Madrosian?”

“No, she says she is froht someone related to the enemy commandant, Darus Madros”

“Darus you said!? Isn’t he the son of that vexing Kerry!?”

“It’s rude to keep the wouldn’t you say? How about wecavalry of the Kingdo”

“……Take their weapons Bring only the female officer, and impose a strict surveillance We must pay maximum caution so there’s not even a one-in-a-hness Absolutely do not take your eyes off their behavior”

Gustav stringently ordered the bodyguards They saluted and began i his orders If they allowed injury to the Prince, they would lose their lives

“How prone to worrying you are, Gustav You won’t live a long life like that”

“It is thanks to this personality that I have consequently lived this long If she appears suspicious, I will show her no hness Behind her smile may be concealed a sword”

“You don’t have to tellleaves a bad taste in my mouth”

Alexander expressionlessly nodded Behind smiles lurked desire… and treachery He had been in contact with such dirty feelings since he was young He had faith in his ability to smell out schemes

While surrounded by layers of arht to the tent Alexander was in Spearheads were pointed towards her, and if she made any suspicious movements, she would be i at them, Schera alked with her scythe carried on her shoulder

In front of the tent, she was stopped by two bodyguards wearing splendorous ar a weapon

“Halt Ahead of us is a tent for those of a particular high class You are not allowed through while holding such a dangerous thing”

“Should I give this to you, I wonder?”

Schera tapped the scythe on her shoulder A bodyguard nodded with an unpleasant expression

“……That scythe will be put under my custody Don’t make any impolite pretenses”

The bodyguard went to roughly take the scythe, but at its disproportionate weight, he unintentionally dropped it The large scythe was heavier than it looked, such that even lifting it was arduous He couldn’t believe that the s it She had been easily carrying it on her shoulder

“Fufu-, you okay? It seeh You shouldn’t push yourself unreasonably You’ll whittle down your soul”

“—-Y, your concern is unnecessary Co”

When Schera entered inside the tent, in its center was a gold-haired, youngin a seat To his sides stood ly with uards with glittering eyes Of course, they were stationed behind Schera too

Schera boldly walked inside all of thehtly distanced in front of the young man

“You’re the one anted to join our Ih”

“Sir-, I ado to be a member of the Imperial Army”

Alexander looked down at Schera At a glance, she appeared to just be a nor armor But, there was no way such a person could co to this place, basically hostile territory, he perceived no manner of unrest It seeth

“Despite having the body of a woman, you acquired the position of Lieutenant Colonel at that age It’s apparent you are quite capable I’d like you to tell dom dissatisfies you I’d like to hear your reason for surrender”

“My activities were not properly valued, and also, the Kingdoher-ups only think about the my life I also lead 2,000 soldiers I only want to avoid dying futilely”

Schera bitterly criticized the Kingdom Then, she put her hand in her breast pocket and took out a letter sealed ax She handed it over to a bodyguard lingering next to her

Alexander took the letter and asked,

“……This letter is?”

“Fro as the defense couaranteed, he will vacate the Fort and pro from the Second Fort serves as proof of that”

The generals were astir If that was true, this was an unparallelled opportunity Alexander broke the seal and scanned the letter

[I have received an insult like no other with no regard to how I have loyally served, and therefore, I would like to surrender If you can guarantee arrison, I proates of the Second Fort without resistance

In a location slightly eastward of the Fort is concealed the Kingdom’s food storehouse An attack there with a simultaneous attack on Madros Castle could inflict catastrophic dae], it said A detailed map had even been courteously attached

Alexander handed the letter over to the generals, and the inside of the tent instantly erupted in excitement

“Hold on-! It’s still early to take this as fact There are things we ought to confir Darus and several prisoners frodom’s Army-!”

“Sir-!”

Thundered Gustav at the excited generals It was still too early to take this as truth If this was a fake surrender, they would be the ones to fall into a predicament

Gustav did not trust Schera at all There was no ee for her to attack them the next moment Indeed, he couldn’t feel any huaze laden with killing intent, she calmly eluded it off

It wasn’t so, female soldier should be able to brush off Gustav was cautious

Alexander was silently watching the chain of events unfold Perfect tiht

“Lieutenant Colonel, excuse this discourtesy, but there is first so I’d like to check On your breast, is there a tattoo of a beast?”

Enquired Gustav to Schera There was no better proof of a Madrosian If there was a tattoo on her breast, any more conversation was unnecessary He would immediately kill her

Schera silently unfastened her chestplate and slowly exposed her breast There was no wound on her withered body, let alone a tattoo

“Is this enough? If you like, I will take everything off”

The generals averted their eyes froo against chivalry

“……I apologize for Gustav’s discourtesy, Lieutenant Colonel I understand you are not a person of Madros Gustav, do you agree?”

“Sir-, I, Gustav, had just thought too ive my distrust”

When Alexander apologized, Schera said nothing and expressionlessly fixed her appearance She showed no feelings of shaer

Before long, Darus, bound with rope and gagged, and several prisoners of ere brought into the tent

When the bodyguards took off the gags, Darus turned around and spewed profanity towards Schera He had been attached to the Second Fort, but Schera had assaulted him out of nowhere, and in the end, he was taken captive

“Schera! What is the dom that promoted you from a private to Lieutenant Colonel!!? You filthy traitor! It’s because of ungrateful whores like you that we’re in this hell-!”

“You’re in front of His Highness Restrain your mouth, you son of a bitch”

“You pig of Wealth! My father with exterminate your family-, nay, he’ll butcher all of you Wealthians-!”

“Silence-! You dog of Madros-!!”

Gustav kicked his face with all his strength, and Darus collapsed while coughing blood He rose and started cursing Alexander this tiain The other prisoners were siround

“—-Your Highness How about leaving their execution here to Lieutenant Colonel Schera? We’ll make this a chance for her to demonstrate her loyalty to the Eht?”

“Good thinking Gustav Lieutenant Colonel Schera, this is your first mission Execute these vermin These are shameless ain I’d like you to iht here, right now Of course, you can do it?”

Alexander brutally sed looks with his bodyguards and made them enter battle readiness This was to restrain Schera if she said no

“Understood My weapon is under custody, so is it okay if I asked it to be returned?”

Schera with not second of hesitation consented and stood up When Alexander ordered the weapon to be returned, two bodyguards appeared, carrying her large scythe, and out of breath, they handed it to Schera

After flourishi+ng her scythe like a dance, Schera place its edge on Darus’s neck Its crooked, naked blade caught the light from the braziers, and it let off a dull shi+ne After , she pronounced the death verdict

“Captain Darus Nothing against you But you don’t have to worry I’ll otten quite used to it”

Darus raised a deathly screa her to stop

Alexander, judging that Schera was serious, reconsidered this performance This man, Darus, was the son of the enemy commander, and he still had usable value He could be used as a bargaining chip Even if they would execute him, it would behim here would definitely be a waste Alexander quickly came to a conclusion

“Wait, Lieutenant Colonel Schera We’ll put off this otten that there are still things I want to ask him Execute the other prisoners; I don’t mind Don’t worry about the cleanup Do what you ith them”

Alexanderhis own neck and pushed for their execution He didn’t dislike seeing blood

“Understood”