Chapter 61
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Summon from the Capital (3)
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The heavy, awkward silence lingered far longer than I expected. With a national leader suddenly appearing out of nowhere, I couldn't recklessly break the silence, and Orlando Ruth III simply continued to scrutinize me slowly, saying nothing.
'You told me to sit. Why won't you speak!'
The urge to shout that out surged to the tip of my throat, but I wasn't foolish enough to stick my head on the chopping block.
It was the Prince himself who finally broke the heavy silence that had persisted even after we left the battalion.
"Do you understand why I bothered to come all the way out here myself?"
A probing question. My future treatment would surely be decided by how I handled this conversation within the carriage.
It was 100% certain that the Prince was deeply involved in this transfer order as well. That would explain the bizarre transfer structure where an entire platoon was being moved with a separate escort unit.
Whether it was Colonel Rockheart or the Personnel Command, he was an absolute authority who could chew up any procedure he pleased.
"All I know is that it has something to do with the Special Response Brigade."
"That's already stated in the transfer order itself. That's not an answer you need to guess at."
I baited him slightly, but as expected of the Prince, he didn't bite. Does that mean he isn't moved by something of that level?
"Take a guess as to why I came to see you. We have plenty of time before we arrive at our destination anyway."
I calmly organized the situation in my head.
'Special Response Brigade, the entire platoon is transferred, a separate escort unit is formed and they depart individually, and the Prince is on my carriage.'
The common value all these keywords point to is 'security'.
The reason the Prince would secretly board an escort carriage while hiding his identity, and the reason the squad members assigned to the same place would depart scattered in different directions—there's no other reason but to intentionally create confusion regarding information.
Ultimately, the problem starts with the artifact that was stolen from Belgorod Fortress.
Although the guard captain, Ramur, who was confirmed to have leaked the information, was executed, it was still unclear who was above him.
However, one thing was certain: there were clear traitors within the Ukran military and cabinet.
I answered the Prince in a calm voice.
"You must be wary of spies within the administration. The reason you aren't telling me through a messenger or a letter... doesn't it mean that the place my platoon and I are heading to is not a typical location even within the Special Response Brigade?"
"What do you mean by 'not a typical location'?"
"Is it a training ground or a research facility equipped for a special purpose?"
When I said that, the Prince's eyes widened in surprise.
"Did Soni give you a hint?"
"No. I haven't spoken with Colonel Soni Chepelin separately since then."
"If that's true, that's a truly terrifying insight. I see the reason she rated you so highly."
Orlando Ruth nodded with a satisfied smile.
"It's a training ground. A training ground where a top-secret project is being conducted, one known to very few people even within the Ukran military."
Just as I expected, my prediction was spot on.
In fact, operating Magicians like special forces was a common tactic used in Hearts of General as well. With the advancement of technology increasing mobility, it was a tactic to reach the battlefield via air assault methods like paratroopers, destroy rear facilities, and then escape.
The fact that the commander leading the Special Response Brigade was the Grand Archmage, Soni Chepelin, meant that the Ukran military had already been considering this style of Magician operation from the start.
A special force that could pour out firepower comparable to an artillery bombardment on the enemy's main facilities with a single deployment?!
Only an idiot wouldn't use that.
Of course, even if the Ukran military used them, they'd get torn apart because other parts of their military were idiots, so they couldn't perform well anyway.
I remember that in every faction, Soni Chepelin's Special Response 'Division' was quite difficult to break through.
In short, it was an elite force that ranked among the best even within the Ukran military. In reality, it was a main assault force that could fight well even if war broke out.
And such a main assault force isn't created overnight.
"You and your squad members will be assigned to that training unit to train its personnel. Consider it becoming the founding fathers of the unit."
"It is nothing but an honor for me."
This was a moment where one of the plans I had thought about for the past five years until the war broke out was being distorted, but upon closer thought, it wasn't all that meaningful.
Perhaps... it might be that I can project much more influence onto the Ukran military than my original plan.
The fact that Prince Orlando Ruth III would personally meet a mere lieutenant must mean he has considerable personal expectations of me.
After all, the reason Soni Chepelin could confidently assert her own opinions among other generals, despite not having a star on her shoulder, was because she had a very close relationship with the Prince, Orlando Ruth.
There's no reason I can't become the same.
I already have my way around politics, and my own stats are maxed out in Political Power.
I always have the resolve to survive in the jungle of the military.
"The people who must lead this country in the future are not the old generals who only linger in warm realities, but young officers like you."
The Prince continued, looking me straight in the face.
"The world situation is changing rapidly. Our people have grown too weak during the peace that has lasted for over a hundred years."
Clatter—, clatter—.
The carriage wheels bounced over the uneven ground, making a loud racket.
"One day, when that storm that will swallow the world arrives, our Ukran Duchy must survive. For that great cause, I expect you to work hard."
"I promise."
No fancy words are needed. A soldier acts upon receiving an order.
I shook the Prince's hand and nodded.
***
"Well then, I must return to the capital. If I go any further, people will start to notice that I've disappeared."
"Please be careful on your return, Your Highness."
Was this his plan from the start? A separate escort unit was already prepared at the spot where the carriage had stopped.
I saluted the Prince respectfully and watched his escort unit disappear beyond the setting sun.
From then on, it was a journey entirely on my own. I slowly took in the scenery visible through the window.
A plain region, completely different from the north, which is surrounded by mountains. Endless fields of green wheat stretched out beyond the horizon.
It seems this unit's location has been designated to the south.
The southern part of the Ukran Duchy is a vast plain region, bordering the Reinhardt Empire to the southeast, the Free Democratic Republic of Prü to the southwest, and the neutral Kingdom of Switzland.
Due to its characteristics as a plain region, it's a terrible defensive terrain where, once a defense line is breached, enemy forces can push straight through.
That's why the north, which had been barely holding on, was completely destroyed with the intervention of the Reinhardt Empire.
'The key will be how to hold this region.'
The general strategy was already set. It was impossible for the Ukran military to go on the offensive from the start of the war. All we could establish now was a strategy for defensive warfare.
For now, it seemed that both Orlando Ruth III and the Ukran Army believed that even if they fought the Sovye Empire, the Reinhardt Empire wouldn't intervene...
It's utterly useless to discuss strategy after already getting stabbed in the back.
'If possible, it would be good to build a fortress line like the Maginot Line, based on this axis.'
For now, since I'm assigned to the training unit of the Special Response Brigade, I can't immediately project my influence.
But if I slowly build my network, like I met Prince Orlando Ruth today, there's hope that I can prepare properly before the war breaks out.
That's when the southern front will be soaked in the blood of those clueless Reinhardt bastards.
Ah, right. Now that my affiliation has changed, I wondered how the contents of my status window had changed.
I hadn't checked it much recently since there was no need to allocate stats or anything.
"Status Window."
As I called out briefly, a translucent window popped up in front of me. It's a strange sensation, even though it's an ability I can use.
The fact that my dreams are also starting to take place from Enok Levandel's perspective makes me feel like I've finally adapted to my life in Hearts of General as well.
Anyway, since I have to check the individual window anyway, I'll skip it as there won't be any changes.
The key was the unit management window.
Since the transfer order was issued, my affiliation must have changed from the 3rd Magic Battalion directly under the Northern Legion to the Special Response Brigade.
My exact position was still unknown, and it was unclear whether I was becoming an instructor or a trainee in the training unit receiving education under Soni Chepelin.
However, the status window would surely show me exactly how I was organized.
"Unit Management."
The unit management window I checked with some anticipation was more shocking than I imagined.
[Central Legion Direct-Control Special Response Brigade]
[8th Assault Magician Infantry Battalion] (Training)
Battalion Commander: Soni Chepelin (Interim)
Chief of Staff: Yozef Levandovski (Interim)
1st Company Commander: Enok Levandel (Interim)
Company Deputy: Lumia Blue (Interim)
...
......
"I expected something like this from Colonel Soni Chepelin... but..."
An Assault Magician Infantry Battalion?
Where on earth did this bizarre organization chart come from?