Adelia, Burning with Ambition to Eradicate the Bandits
The strategist’s insides were burning with frustration. Chen was the very definition of an anger management disaster—simple-minded to the core. The only reason he had become the bandit leader was his monstrous strength, which let him kill a lion with his bare hands. Given the current situation, the strategist desperately wanted to talk him down, but he feared a beating even more. Chen frequently assaulted his own subordinates whenever they opposed his opinion.
“Come up with a way for me to get revenge on that bitch by tomorrow morning! It has to be tomorrow morning, no later!”
The strategist paused for a moment before speaking.
“You don’t need to wait until tomorrow morning. If you want revenge without being tied down by the surrounding circumstances, I have an excellent idea.”
“Speak! What is it?” Chen’s bloodshot eyes gleamed with sudden interest.
“It must be a brilliant method that keeps the other bandit groups from ever learning we attacked the Elk Bandit Group again!”
“You needn’t worry about that. However, you will have to abandon the plan to absorb the Elk Bandit Group.”
“At this point, none of that matters! I want to see them utterly destroyed so that woman leader of theirs falls into despair!”
Chen clenched his fist tightly.
“If that is your wish, then I shall tell you. We hand over all the information we’ve gathered about the Elk Bandit Group to the soldiers who arrived from the capital this time.”
“Oh?”
“Then they will annihilate the group on their own without us having to lift a finger. It really is quite simple, isn’t it?”
“That’s the best. Absolutely the best. Hehehe.”
Chen’s lips curled into a sinister smile.
“Lady Adelia!”
Adelia was about to leave the castle with her adjutant when she suddenly ran into Orlando Nobern, the lord’s son. He came running over with a bright expression.
“Where are you headed?”
This was only their second meeting since being introduced during her first audience with the lord that morning. Adelia dismounted to observe proper etiquette and faced him directly.
“We have no information whatsoever on the criminal organizations and bandit groups operating in Nobern territory, so I was planning to visit the barracks and request assistance.”
“You’ve only just arrived today and you’re already working? You could rest on the first day, yet here you are showing such diligence.”
Orlando offered a warm smile along with his gentle tone. Handsome enough to make any woman’s heart flutter, he was tall, charming, and possessed the kind of face that could captivate crowds. Yet that charm seemed to have no effect on Adelia. She remained indifferent, her expression showing no particular change.
“Then if you’ll excuse me, I have work to attend to.”
Orlando looked visibly flustered.
“We’ve barely exchanged two sentences. Already? Please wait. Since this is your first time here, allow me to accompany you. Permit this gentleman to guide you to the barracks.”
Orlando placed a hand over his heart, bowed elegantly, and flashed a radiant smile. Adelia did not refuse and set off toward the barracks with him.
The barracks were located in a quiet area a short distance from the inner castle. Adelia’s soldiers, who had arrived that morning, had commandeered an entire building and were busy setting up a command center, interrogation rooms, reception rooms, rest areas, and torture chambers. The place was bustling with troops carrying furniture and supplies.
Adelia’s unit planned to operate independently from the lord’s soldiers.
“Oh! Lady Adelia has come to visit us!”
The moment Adelia arrived at the barracks, the officers from the lord’s forces rushed out as if their feet were on fire. They surrounded her in an instant, marveling at her beauty and grace while sending her looks of deep respect.
“Welcome to the Blue Arrow Unit, the proud soldiers of our lord and the protectors of Nobern territory.”
Knight Kutars, commander of the Blue Arrow Unit, offered a perfectly courteous greeting. In terms of age, experience, and position, Kutars should have been the one receiving deference. However, Adelia’s father held the rank of marquis, and the Lion Heart Unit she commanded belonged to the Wittensbach Knight Order—an elite force dispatched from the capital. His rank was lower, so regardless of appearances, he bowed so deeply it seemed his back might snap.
“Shall we go to my office for a cup of tea? I prepared some fine leaves in anticipation of your visit.”
“My dear Kutars, do you not see me? I am standing right here as well.”
When everyone’s attention remained fixed solely on Adelia, Orlando, who had been treated like a ghost, pretended to sulk.
“Though I suppose with Lady Adelia here radiating light like a flower in full bloom, the brilliance might have blinded me to your presence.”
“Hahaha. The young master speaks truly.”
The officers surrounding them burst into bright laughter at Orlando’s words.
“Indeed, young master. Lady Adelia’s beauty is as radiant as the dazzling sun in the sky. Hahaha!”
“She is truly beautiful.”
The joke had lightened the mood considerably, but Adelia’s expression remained far from pleased. She put on a serious face and spoke.
“Everyone, listen carefully.”
Her voice carried clear authority as she enunciated each word.
“From now on, please refrain from comments that treat me as a woman—such as calling me a lovely flower or a beauty. Regardless of gender, I am a proud soldier. I came here as a soldier, not to be treated like a lady. Please keep this in mind.”
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew cold. All laughter died at once, and the men exchanged awkward glances.
“If my earlier remark offended you, I apologize,” Orlando said, bowing slightly with sincere courtesy.
“There is no need to concern yourself,” Adelia replied indifferently.
With that, she headed toward the largest building in the center along with her adjutant. Orlando stared silently at her retreating figure as she walked away with measured steps. A smile formed on his lips. Her personality seemed difficult, yet even that struck him as charming.
“She’s young and was probably spoiled growing up in a good family. That must be why she seems so arrogant,” Kutars said with a sigh as he approached.
“With a personality like that, I can already see how much trouble she’ll cause us. Our unit’s path ahead looks miserable. I just hope she doesn’t interfere too much.”
“Don’t view her too negatively, Kutars. She may be picky and headstrong, but she gets the job done. Even if she does interfere in our affairs, I doubt it will turn out badly. The capital’s advanced military culture and new systems could serve as an opportunity to revolutionize our outdated unit. Take this chance to learn well from Lady Adelia.”
Kutars tilted his head and looked back at him.
“You haven’t fallen for her at first sight, have you?”
Orlando let out a small chuckle.
“I’m not that easy a man, so don’t worry. I simply meant that we should adopt a more advanced military system faster than the neighboring territories. Look over there. Just seeing the Lion Heart Unit’s equipment, there are many things I’ve never seen before. Let’s study their gear and gradually improve our own outdated equipment.”
“We would love to, but provincial forces always suffer from a lack of funds,” Kutars said with a light, smiling complaint before turning to leave.
“Since Lady Adelia has entered the building, I should hurry after her. I’m worried she’ll stride in with her shoulders squared and hands behind her back, shaking up every department. I’ll take my leave.”
“She’s probably gone to the security office. She mentioned wanting to know the current state of criminal organizations operating within the territory.”
Kutars raised a hand in acknowledgment and disappeared. Orlando then mounted his horse as well. He had considered returning to the inner castle, but the fine weather made him want to head into the city instead.
“Hmm… The Lion Heart Unit’s official inauguration ceremony is the day after tomorrow. Perhaps I should go reserve a vase to place in Lady Adelia’s office in advance.”
Blue Arrow Unit Commander Kutars headed straight for the security office the moment he entered the main building. Just as Orlando had said, Adelia and her adjutant were there. Stacks of documents and books covered the desk, and the two were staring intently at something.
“What are you looking at?”
He approached with dignified composure and asked. Both of them turned to look at him at the same time.
Adelia’s eyes sparkled as she answered.
“We were reading the materials that were brought from the city gate a short while ago.”
“From the gate?”
Kutars was wondering if such materials had been sent when the security chief came running over in a hurry.
“Commander!”
“What is it?”
“The soldiers guarding the western wall just brought in a bag. Upon inspection, it contained information about a bandit group. These are the documents in question.”
The security chief pointed at the papers Adelia was holding.
“Who gave it to them?”
“They said they found it discarded beneath the wall by chance. When they opened the bag and confirmed it contained materials related to a bandit group, they brought it immediately.”
“Hmm. What does it say?”
When Kutars craned his neck to peer at the document, Adelia quickly covered it and spoke.
“It contains information on a particular bandit group. This document lists shops that have been secretly trading with them.”
With those words, she gathered the documents and stood up. She had collected all the materials found at the wall before Kutars could even get a proper look. Feeling as though he had just witnessed the arrogance of a superior unit, Kutars clicked his tongue. Adelia left the building with her adjutant.
“There are lords and retainers colluding with the bandit groups, so we cannot trust anyone carelessly.”
Adelia continued.
“In any case, our first target must be the Elk Bandit Group. If we investigate the shops listed here one by one, their true nature should be revealed soon enough.”
“I agree completely.”
“Good. Thanks to this material, we’ve saved ourselves considerable effort. Let’s wipe out this Elk Bandit Group within three days and immediately move on to the next group.”
“Understood. Since we are competing with the other units in bandit subjugation, we have no time to waste.”
“Among the units dispatched to the southern region, we should currently be in the lead.”
Adelia smiled. It was the first time she had shown such an expression since arriving here.
Something soft was in my grasp. I opened my eyes. A woman wearing white clothes was lying on her side, looking at me and sniffling. My hand was lightly clutching her breast.
“Wh-who are you?!”
I quickly pulled my hand away and asked. The memories from earlier came rushing back like a wave.
“Ah……”
A sigh escaped me involuntarily. This wretched fate. Just looking at Kelly made my head throb. I had unexpectedly become responsible for another person’s life, and the weight of it made my heart heavy with worry.
“I can barely take care of myself as it is.”
I scratched my head vigorously. I hadn’t slept much, and my condition was terrible. Perhaps four hours at most. Since I had to head out for work in the early evening, I sat up.
What time was it now? When I rose, Kelly got up as well.
“When did you wake up?”
“I didn’t sleep……”
“So you’ve been lying there crying the whole time?”
“Yes……”