The Feint Exposed
A man suddenly changed his attitude and drew a dagger hidden in his pocket, swinging it at Eden.
Not a bad move.
But he'd picked the wrong opponent.
"Pity. You spilled your intel and now lose your life too—the worst choice."
Slash!
The pristine blade of Eden's sword severed the man's throat.
'How does someone die without even a scream?'
This was no amateur's work—not by a long shot.
"Better to leave the body here. Taking it back would just raise suspicions of capture."
Eden flicked the blood from his sword and turned to me.
"Beyond expectations. I figured he was just a deserter, but to wring out the enemy's full plan like this..."
"No, sir. You were the one who pieced it together in the end."
If it weren't for him, I'd have had to burn another point.
'And that could've been two.'
Ten seconds really flew by faster than expected.
"You just lack experience, Lieutenant. With clues like that, anyone would've seen it."
He downplayed it, but that was no everyday deduction.
"Then I'll take full credit for it all."
I said it half-jokingly, but he nodded.
"Indeed. We'll file the report in your name."
"Sir? Won't that expose me?"
"Only HQ sees the reporter's name. It's redacted for distribution—no worries."
"Ah, got it then. Still, my conscience won't let me hog it all."
Subduing the man and cracking the final clue were both Eden's doing. He deserved a share.
Roughly 70-30?
Me on the 70, obviously.
"Talk is cheap. I'll report it straight."
Figured as much.
"Never mind then."
"Saved your ass from that arrow, and now you're picky. Mount up—we're heading back."
"Understood."
With the enemy's plan exposed, no time for further recon.
"Captain Eden, sir."
On the way back to the castle, I called out to ask what had been nagging me.
"How'd you know he wasn't a deserter?"
Honestly, before Truth Eye, I'd pegged him as a deserter nine times out of ten.
His insignia, demeanor—nothing screamed fake.
But Eden's words made it clear he'd known from the start.
"His archery wasn't a soldier's."
"Some soldiers are damn good shots, though."
Hunters turned conscripts often had officer-level skill.
"And he was just lying through his teeth."
"Pardon?"
"Eye twitches, voice tone, body language. Unless you're rigorously trained, it shows."
Like a psychology prof talking.
Not wrong, but spotting it? No easy feat.
"How the hell do you even develop that?"
"Interrogate enough people, it comes. Interested? I could use the help—got plenty on my plate."
Eden eyed me like fresh meat.
One wrong word here, and I'm done.
"Hard pass, sir."
"Shame. I'll scout the perimeter—you rest. Your story checked out on timing, so expect a long day."
"Much appreciated."
My neck was killing me from constant scanning anyway—a welcome relief.
Back at the castle, Eden filed the report. It shot straight to command via Intelligence.
"If this intel holds, we maintain forces at north and east gates."
Major General Gadus's head throbbed worse than ever as he read the welcome-yet-unwelcome Intelligence report.
"We just drafted reinforcements for the south gate. This means scrapping it."
"Ugh."
The south gate held miraculously against expectations.
Even with aid, it was stretched thin—holding steady now was brutal.
"We should verify if it's true. Captured prisoner's word—could be a lie."
Colonel Teiran doubted the intel's veracity, but Gadus shook his head.
"Doubting a report at a time like this? Face reality."
"Apologies. It's just... Brigadier General Cheison's barely hanging on."
Teiran bowed with a weak excuse.
"Report says north's a feint, east's the real push. Prioritize east."
"Agreed. But south needs reinforcements too."
"Think I'd forget? Figure it out. Tactics staff's slacking."
The room froze under Gadus's irritation.
An unexpected voice broke the silence.
"Uh... sir, may I offer a suggestion?"
Colonel Paolo, supply battalion commander, timidly raised his hand.
Gadus's sharp gaze fixed on him.
"Speak freely."
"South gate's short on troops and fatigued from constant fighting, right?"
"Yes."
"Enemy hits at dawn tomorrow. Pull south's forces back to rest, then shift to north and east?"
"Hm."
Gadus stroked his chin, visualizing it.
"Not bad. Thoughts?"
He glanced at Teiran, who nodded.
"That minimizes gaps."
"Tactics frozen, so supply steps up. Disappointing."
Teiran, on pins since the siege towers hit, stayed silent.
"Table's set—time to act human."
"Y-yes, sir! Modifying plans and issuing now."
Under Gadus's lash, Teiran moved with uncharacteristic urgency.
And it paid off—first orders dropped in 20 minutes, rotations underway.
"Loyal sons of Aditz!"
Major General Almont's voice boomed from a high rock, unaided by any magic tool, visible to all.
"The time has come to reclaim that castle for our embrace!"
His morale-boosting speech fell flat up close.
"Fight again at dawn? Shit. What the hell?"
Especially the 13th Division troops, fresh off rotation—morale in the pits.
"Can't even catch our breath. Ridiculous."
"Damn it, at least let us eat. Line was too long—got nothing."
Grumbles everywhere.
But their voices never reached Almont atop his perch.
"Who just cursed?!"
"Whining like kids over skipped meals? Step up if you want punishment for insubordination!"
Officers' heavy hands forced whispers.
"Shit, those asshole officers."
"Not Lycans—wanna rip their mouths first. Useless spectators."
Rotten inside, but officers didn't care.
"Can't go soft on grunts."
"Watch 'em close, punish a few as example. Don't kill."
"Yes, Battalion Commander! True charisma!"
Officers turned to gaze up at Almont.
"Show who owns this continent! You are history's protagonists! All forces—advance!"
"Advance!"
Twenty thousand stirred to officers' echoes.
Dawn's silence shattered.
"What brings the summons, sir?"
East gate wall.
No reason for me here, but Eden called.
"Plenty of downtime now, no?"
"Afraid not, sir. Zero slack."
Too many mouths—rest was a myth.
'Breakfast ends, lunch starts; lunch ends, dinner. Hell.'
I'd crash in three seconds flat on a bed.
"Fair enough. Chin up—it'll end quicker than expected."
"Looks that way."
Wall holding bought a day or two usually, but with enemies atop? No retreat.
Fight nonstop till one side dropped.
"This world never goes as planned."
In the thick darkness, Eden lit a cigarette.
"Want one?"
"I'm good."
"Truth is, that was my last."
He smiled faintly.
Definitely off his rocker.
"Should've said yes."
"Still can."
"Hard pass."
"No fun. Hoo."
Eden inhaled, exhaled in one go.
"Coming up on half a year? Since you joined Intelligence."
"A bit less."
"So much in so little time."
"Agreed."
Few on the continent burned time like me.
"How's life in Intelligence treating you?"
"Out of the blue?"
"Never asked before. You were kinda drafted in."
"Hm..."
Time in Intelligence.
Honestly, post-supply company? Barely active.
'Active phase was 3rd Division days... not bad, looking back.'
Hated it at first, risky to the end—but no regrets.
No bland days, safe life. Frontline tightrope walks.
The thrill at the end? Beyond words.
"Better than expected. Made an ordinary guy like me feel... somebody."
"Ordinary, eh? Yeah, you're the picture of it."
"I know."
No need to rub it in, but Eden stressed it.
His words didn't stop there.