Gates' Reckless Gamble — Cromwell's Calculated Retaliation
General Gates' voice had barely faded from the command tent when Cromwell calmly opened his mouth.
It was the voice of the legendary master whose reputation had reached every corner of the Colonies. Even General Gates, who had no intention of showing it, found himself leaning forward slightly to listen.
“Are you certain this is still acceptable?”
“...What?”
The question slipped from Cromwell’s lips.
General Gates’ expression twisted into an instant frown. “What do you mean ‘acceptable’? Does this mean you believe my tactics are flawed? I may have heard of your reputation, but that doesn’t grant you the right to defy me. If you intend to oppose my will, I will not tolerate it.”
Gates’ voice sharpened like a drawn blade.
In response, Cromwell’s tone became even clearer. “No. What I am asking is whether you truly believe this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—the one you have waited for so long—should be allowed to slip away.”
“Wha… what are you talking about? Slipping away the opportunity I longed for…?”
Cromwell’s words carried a weight that made Gates pause.
“It is the chance to achieve your goal, General. To become the second-in-command of the Rebel Army and one day sit on the throne of the nation we are about to build in these Colonies.”
“!!”
Cromwell had revealed something no one—not even Gates—had ever suspected.
For a moment Gates’ face hardened completely.
“You… how do you know this?”
“I am still a commander of the Imperial forces. Gathering intelligence on a capable enemy is only natural.”
“Hmph… I see. Your information-gathering ability is terrifying. Truly the skill of the Imperial’s so-called master…”
Gates gave a faint, almost approving grunt at the subtle compliment.
Seeing this reaction, Cromwell continued without pause. “You are aware, General, that the enemy force now assembled here numbers over ten thousand three hundred men. The entire eastern vanguard of the Imperial Army is gathered. If we can crush such a massive army in one decisive strike, this will be recorded as the greatest achievement in the two years of our rebellion.”
“That… that may be so, but how? The enemy outnumbers us by two to one. You yourself know we cannot win a straight frontal clash…”
Gates felt a flicker of unease, yet he maintained his composure with visible effort.
Then Cromwell spoke again, voice steady. “It is possible. Completely possible.”
“What…?”
Gates’ eyebrows rose in genuine surprise.
“Even if training is a little lacking, as you said, our courage surpasses theirs. Moreover, the people in this region overwhelmingly support us. Under these conditions, my abilities can overcome any gap in numbers.”
“…”
“And if victory is won, the credit will belong to you, General Gates, not to a surrendering lieutenant like me. Such an achievement… if fortune smiles even slightly, you could become the supreme leader of the Rebels in a single stroke.”
“…”
A bead of sweat formed on Gates’ forehead as he swallowed hard.
Since Cromwell was a master universally recognized as the greatest, Gates found it impossible to dismiss his words outright.
Moreover, the very plan he had just outlined was being quoted back to him, with promises of enormous rewards. Gates’ mind began to waver violently.
The supreme leader of the Rebels… If we defeat an enemy army of over ten thousand, that glory will be blinding. And with Cromwell’s words, I could seize the position instantly…
The ordinary, cautious personality that usually restrained him was drowned out by a fierce, burning desire.
Noticing this shift, Cromwell added calmly, “A battle of this unprecedented scale may never come again in our lifetime. If we miss this chance, the opportunity to become second-in-command will vanish forever.”
“…”
His voice carried a subtle pressure: do not miss this moment or your dream will remain forever out of reach.
Yet Gates, still clinging to a thread of rationality, asked cautiously, “However… why are you telling me this, Cromwell? You have surrendered, after all. You have no proven achievements to claim for yourself. Why approach me with such a proposition?”
“…”
“That is because…”
Even to Gates, who would never do something without personal gain, the response was a genuine question.
Cromwell paused for a fraction of a second before answering coldly. “My sole purpose now is to exact revenge with my own hands upon those who stole everything from me.”
“…Ah…”
It was only then that Gates remembered Franklin’s earlier report. Understanding dawned slowly.
Watching Cromwell’s composed expression, he continued quietly, “Achievements and glory mean nothing to me. I want to see those filthy traitors who betrayed me wear faces of utter despair. Nothing else matters.”
“I see…”
Since the man had suffered the same fate, it was only natural for his eyes to burn with vengeance. Gates nodded, accepting the logic.
Then Cromwell asked directly, “So now, General, will you grant me independent command authority over General Franklin, my direct superior, so that I may achieve the revenge I have longed for and bring you victory?”
“…”
Cromwell was requesting the complete reversal of a decision Gates himself had already made.
Gates fell silent for a long moment, lost in thought.
This cannot be permitted… Even if I try, rushing into danger without guarantee is madness. If it fails, what will I do then…?
It was a path he would never have chosen in his right mind.
Without enough troops to face such a large army head-on, and with responsibility weighing far heavier, aggressive offense was unthinkable.
Yet…
Still… hah…
Despite everything, an unbearable hunger burned inside him. One single step forward might allow him to achieve a lifetime’s dream.
It ignited the desire he had always harbored.
The supreme commander’s position is already shrinking because of recent defeats. If I achieve such glory now… I could truly claim that seat. Or perhaps this is the only chance that will ever appear…
Moreover, the one speaking was the famous Cromwell—the undefeated legend, the greatest general across the entire British Empire.
Franklin had personally vouched for him as a trustworthy ally.
Gates realized this moment was a critical turning point in his own life.
Yes… this is the opportunity I have waited for. It is the perfect chance to snatch the supreme leader’s seat from under George’s nose. I can finally hold everything in my own hands!
At that instant, the unease in his chest transformed into a surge of exhilarating hope.
Gates looked at Cromwell and asked, voice trembling slightly, “H-how… what exactly should I do?”
*
Changing a person’s mind was like inserting a key into a lock.
With the right key, even the most stubborn lock could be opened in seconds.
In this case, it was remarkably simple.
The only unknown variable was whether this world’s Gates was as incompetent as the original. But from everything he has done so far, he actually looks worse than the original character.
Even in the original story, Gates had installed a base and fought in a difficult area to adjust difficulty. Here, his actions were nothing more than hiding safely in the rear.
And his incompetence, combined with his even greater ambition, makes him far more pitiful. How did this incompetent second-in-command end up in charge of the Rebels?
Regardless, the words had struck the exact right chord. Cromwell had successfully obtained independent command authority through his direct superior, Franklin.
Well, if I simply watch and wait… maybe I can achieve my life’s goal. It might be difficult to pass up, but…
Humans were simple creatures. Shake the right bait and they would swallow it whole.
Especially someone like Gates—powerless yet consumed by greed.
Combining the man’s simple nature with the irresistible temptation of ambition, Cromwell had succeeded in his objective. He let out a silent sigh of relief and walked out of the tent.
Immediately afterward, a notification appeared before him.
<Hidden Quest: Seduction and Coercion Successful>
📍 Location: York Tower
🎁 Reward:God's Blessing (Buff) — 200% increase in Divine Power regeneration. Duration: 1 week.
📍 Additional Reward:Hidden Skill <God's Earthly Representative> Acquired!
✅ Quest Completed: Lead the Rebels to victory against the Imperial Army.
Cromwell’s gaze automatically moved to the final line of the notification.
Hidden Skill: God's Earthly Representative… What is this?
It was a skill name he had never seen in any game.
Curiosity and anticipation burning, he opened the skill window with cautious fingers.
Then a single sentence surfaced in his mind.
…This is some kind of stat-buff skill…?