Chapter 17: The Storm Breaks (1) - My Lucky Encounter From The Game Turned Into Reality

There was one more watcher hidden by Cedric.

But the man was not the type who would cross over for flattery or blackmail.

So Adrian had him thrown into prison, just like when they first created the crime.

The charge was simple yet heavy: spy.

He had been watching Adrian under Cedric’s orders, yet Adrian flipped the accusation, claiming the man was probably an enemy spy sent to monitor commanders in the heat of war and steal information.

Thanks to that, the second watcher could prove his innocence.

He was dragged to the prison helpless.

Naturally this infuriated Cedric greatly.

However, the timing was perfect because Bert’s report arrived right then, so the arrow of anger turned not toward Adrian but toward an incompetent subordinate.

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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

Metz has forcibly slipped into Adrian’s tent and been caught red-handed. As a result, Adrian’s nerves have become very sharp, restricting his surveillance significantly. “Tsk.” This time, my father, Baron Lawrence, strongly ordered that surveillance and threats against Adrian be stopped. My mother Anna reluctantly complied, but Cedric could not. However, this incident forced Adrian to personally request reinforcements from Baron Lawrence. Consequently, Cedric was dragged into the study and had to endure a scolding from Father, who was there checking post-battle conditions. “It’s not ideal, but what can be done? Keep Bert away from Adrian until Father’s anger calms down.” Thanks to this, Adrian’s movements were not easily relayed to the lord’s residence. * * * I had steadily recruited high-potential talents. As a result, a full month after being deployed to the front, twenty people were now devoting themselves to training and studies to awaken their individual talents. The facility, named the “Talent Academy,” was being managed by Eric Jones, a talent born into a heralding role specializing in politics and administration, along with Half-elf administrator Hafiel from the Elysia Union, whom he called his teacher. Since I had screened them with Mankyung, whether it was that they were clean or my pay was generous, neither students nor teachers had caused any problems yet. LT__div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20px">

⚔ STATUS ⚔

LT__span style="color:#ff6b6b">⚡ Strength: 92LT__/div> LT__span style="color:#4d9fff">💨 Agility: 89LT__/div> “It’s impossible for me to just relax while my future core members are working so hard.” I threw myself into Chronicle Online with much time and passion to train Arsia. The result was level 159. With just one more level, I would become a 6th-circle mage. The 6th circle was the rare talent domain only a select few mages could achieve. In the country, it was such a precious position that it granted the title of marquis and lands, so achieving 5th circle had felt different, but… [Message received.] I once again realized that the world did not proceed according to plan. [Squad Leader, emergency situation! The divisional commander has issued an immediate call!] The location I was at was the front line. What kind of emergency could occur in such a place? A military clash, of course. I hurriedly ended the game and left the room upon hearing the divisional commander’s call. I saw my adjutant Harman running toward me in panic and asked, “What is it?” “The Croisen Empire’s floating fortress has crossed the border! I don’t know the exact size!” The advance deployment of the floating fortress was tantamount to signaling the start of war. ‘Has the peace until now merely been a calm before the storm?’ Frowning deeply, I headed to the divisional headquarters with Harman. Upon arriving at the commander’s office, I instructed Arsia to wait outside for a moment. All commanders in the division would attend, so there was no need to provoke them unnecessarily. “The second battalion leader is here too. Then let’s start the meeting right away. Everyone, take your seats.” Over twenty people, including commanders and staff of all combat units, had gathered in the commander’s office. The composition of the 3rd Division of the 2nd Army was as follows: 1st to 3rd Independent Battalions (Lesti Baron’s, Lawrence Baron’s, Aden Baron’s) – Vanguard 13, Knights 130, Soldiers 3,000 1st to 3rd Combat Regiments (Otto Earl’s) – Vanguard 15, Knights 50, Soldiers 2,000 1st Support Battalion (National Magic Tower, Rondel Temple) – Mages 30, Clerics 30 There were also engineer and medical battalions, but only seven units directly engaged in combat. “As you were informed, the Croisen Empire’s army has moved. Currently, the front line is concentrated in the center, and combat has begun between the floating fortresses.” Because the front line was not too wide, we had this leeway. If it had been wider, we would have received deployment orders immediately. “For now, the local forces have received the order to hold position, but ensure they can deploy at any moment. Load the troops onto the wounded trains. For the time being, not only rest but also meals must be taken on the wounded trains.” Since transportation in this world was highly advanced, as long as I willed it, I could support front-line troops within minutes. Therefore, it was important to prepare for instant deployment even during movement. “Starting from this time, spatial coordinate interference has begun across the entire front line facing the Croisen Empire. If you don’t want to die, forget about teleporting.” Then the ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earl looked at me and said, “I will cut off all personal communications except for commanders of battalion level and above. For unit communications, use the radio. Don’t rest easy thinking you can use the terminal; be cautious in your actions.” I had to nod with an awkward smile. Naturally, being cut off from communications meant I could not access the game. We would not touch the nobles’ networks, but if a problem arose, investigation could not be avoided. The earl’s warning was clearly aimed at me. ‘I won’t stop playing the game, but…’ At least I had shown that I understood outwardly. Anyway, when important operations began, high-ranking commanders would not be spared; all communications would be cut. Afterward, the earl inspected troop deployment policies and military communication systems for frontline deployment. “All right, it’s time to open the battle! Maintain your tension!” Otto Earl, who dramatically heightened the atmosphere, said, “Yes!” The staff, including me, answered in unison. “Everyone, return to your positions.” One important fact I must not forget here. If the battle had opened the very moment Otto Earl returned home, we would have faced this situation without the divisional commander. I could not thank the Croisen Empire’s guys enough for entering politely during daytime. * * *

✨ LEVEL UP! ✨

159 → 160

📜 NEW QUEST 📜

Slay the Named Monster: Twin-Headed Ogre Target 📍 Location: Frontline 🎁 Reward: Special Sub-Supporter Acquisition I had let Otto Earl’s warning go in one ear. I handed over command of the unit to my adjutant Harman and, as expected, logged back into Chronicle Online. After all, I had chosen Harman as the capable substitute from the start, so the unit should operate without major issues. “Huh? You say you’re playing the game?” Harman added that even though personal communications were prohibited for subordinates, if their commander, me, was enjoying the game, it might affect morale. However, for me, the game was more important than the nation’s war, so I ignored it cleanly. I felt sorry for making Harman suffer, but it was an unavoidable choice for me. Eventually, with a straight face, I immersed myself in the game inside the wounded train’s private room. The result was achieving level 160 and safely completing the named monster eradication. * * * — Floor 7 of Manuel Lucas’s Tower. Without wasting any time on admiration, I immediately opened the treasure chest.

🎁 ITEM ACQUIRED 🎁

10 Trillion Roots

Common

◈ Treasury account of the Elysia Union Bank deposited My current cash assets had reached 12.5 trillion roots. Seeing cash rewards inflated by about 5 times each time, I wondered if 50 trillion would be next. 50 trillion was enough to buy a major enterprise in the Lheinhatz Kingdom with cash, ranking among the top five. Wasn’t my stomach already full just from imagining it? ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ I waited for the upcoming rewards with excitement.

🗡 Sub-Supporter Black Eagle Acquired 🗡

Grandmaster-level mage Lucas’s masterpiece guardian A special reward as important as cash. But I had to tilt my head while looking at the eagle that appeared with dazzling light. The pitch-black eagle looked as if it had shadows floating around it. Without emerald eyes glowing subtly, it would not have appeared like a living creature. “Is it a hunter’s pet?” ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ In this game, there was no concept of sub-supporter. Among the pets a hunter could own, there was a combat-support eagle, but I wondered if it was the same concept and checked the information. There was nothing special, just that its level was 160 like ours and its maximum flight speed reached the speed of sound. ‘If it wasn’t helpful at all, it wouldn’t have been given.’ Anyway, the Black Eagle was a guardian created by the great mage Lucas, just like Arsia. Perhaps checking information with Mankyung in reality was more accurate than the game system.

A majestic aura of light spreads from the black eagle, filling the room with divine energy. The creature, with its pitch-black feathers shimmering like midnight stars and emerald eyes glowing with ancient wisdom, stands before me as if sent by the heavens themselves. ⟨Summoning: Black Eagle⟩ [6th circle has been generated.] Compared to last time when I received 12 equipment rewards, this time there was only the Black Eagle. As soon as the circle generation was complete, I ended the game. I had thought that if a huge black eagle suddenly appeared like Arsia, there would ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be chaos. “No? There’s nothing?” But upon checking the room after ending the game, there was no change. So, with a doubtful feeling, I stepped outside the wounded train. “Over there!” Following Arsia’s finger pointing at the sky, my gaze shifted, and I saw a black shadow wandering the sky. – Swoosh! “Eh? Eh! Squad leader, run!” In an instant, it dove toward me on the ground with fierce momentum. Thanks to that, the soldiers on guard duty panicked and pointed their guns, but they could not keep up with the shadow’s speed. [Sub-Supporter Black Eagle of Speed of Sound] As expected, it was the sub-supporter Black Eagle I had acquired as a reward this time. I gently stroked the head of the obedient fellow and stopped the soldiers. And upon checking information with Mankyung again. – A chimera made of the bones and hide of a black dragon It had a body that was not easily damaged even by aura blades and possessed extremely high recovery ability. Basic option: Close combat attack First skill: Vision sharing Second skill: – Third skill: – Fourth skill: – Rough information on how to use it was displayed. ‘What kind of condition must be met for the skill to be unlocked?’ Just as Arsia grew stronger with me, perhaps this guy would grow by unlocking one skill after another according to my level. Then, what was the ‘condition’? It was highly likely that clearing step-by-step Arsia quests was the answer. ‘First skill is vision sharing.’ I didn’t know how high the basic close combat attack option was, but vision sharing would be greatly helpful. It was equivalent to acquiring a speed-of-sound scout. “Squad leader?” I had become so focused on the Black Eagle that I hadn’t noticed soldiers and knights gathering around me. I coughed awkwardly and calmed the surrounding people. Then I extended my hand to the Black Eagle and said in a gentle tone, “Want to come with me?” The Black Eagle seemed to understand my words, resting its beak on my palm. A belated regret that I should have acted more attractively crossed my mind, but… To the subordinates who did not know the language, it looked like we were sharing empathy. It might seem mysterious to others, but it was a black history I could never erase in my eyes.

The Storm Breaks (1)

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