Chapter 186: Invasion Of Ostarica (2)

Chapter 186: Invasion Of Ostarica (2)

Three weeks earlier, in the forward guard area of the Ostarican camp.

Sergeant Hans and Sergeant Lloyd had been blankly watching the front, engaging in a conversation about topics that might have shocked their officers if overheard.

“Ah, shit. I should have slept with her at least once. I was crazy to save money back then.”

“Idiot, I told you. If there’s a really pretty one, she’ll soon be taken to a brothel exclusive for noblemen.”

“Damn, if I could go back just one year, I’d have sold my house if I had to, just to be with her.”

“Right, right.”

While they continued with such sexual topics, unlike the privates who lost focus in chit-chat, these two had been properly keeping watch.

Soon, they had spotted a man urgently riding a horse from afar.

“Hans, take up your spear and stay alert! I’ll ring the bell.”

“Don’t talk rubbish, just ring the damn bell! You bastard!”

As the loud sound of the bell rang, soldiers from the Ostarican camp rushed out.

Lieutenant Colonel Max von Benner quickly halted his horse, raised his hands to indicate surrender, and spoke.

“My name is Lieutenant Colonel Max von Benner. I have come here not with the intention to fight, but to deliver important information to His Highness the Grand Duke of Ostarica.”

Hearing this, the two sergeants on guard duty, following protocol, had each grabbed one of the arms of the surrendering lieutenant colonel.

“We will escort you, Lieutenant Colonel.”

In the command tent of the Ostarican Grand Duchy’s army.

Generals of the Grand Duchy’s army, including the Grand Duke of Ostarica himself, watched Lieutenant Colonel Max with wary eyes.

Max von Benner had been trembling with nervousness under their intense scrutiny.

After a few minutes, Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, who had betrayed the Empire, entered, warmly embraced Max, and said,

“My friend, why have you come so soon? According to the Grand Duke’s plan, weren’t you supposed to remain within the Imperial army to gather more information? Did you escape because you felt endangered?”

“I had urgent news to deliver to His Highness the Grand Duke, so I had to come quickly. And during that, I was pursued by the Northern Archer Cavalry for a fortnight.”

“...You must have had a hard time.”

After this brief conversation, Matthias had bowed to the Grand Duke and then straightened up to say,

“How are we supposed to believe you? According to you, they’ve been trampling on our territory for a month now! Why such a late notice?”

“General Yaeger’s surveillance had been very intense. I had to wait until their vigilance weakened when they were occupying Innsbruck and celebrating, fearing a failed escape. Furthermore, I was pursued by those damn cavalrymen, and it took me a long time to find the Ostarican military camp...”

“And you expect me to believe that on what basis?”

Hearing that, Max sighed, stood up, took off his cloak, threw it to the ground, and thumped his chest.

Then, armor full of arrow marks had been revealed, and the generals said upon seeing this...

“Your Grace, at the very least, this man isn’t lying. Consider this, even if he were an internal spy, we did not disclose the camp’s location to him due to concerns over leaking confidential information.”

“Given the circumstances, the Imperial Army has already significantly ravaged the West. You must head to the west as soon as possible.”

“Your Grace!!!”

The Grand Duke regained his senses upon hearing the generals’ words.

“Damn it all! I swear to Deus, if I capture General Peter Yaeger, I’ll rip out his intestines, cut off his limbs, and hang him! Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Max. You’ve shown us enough trust over the years, so I will gladly believe you.”

Max nodded, thinking to himself.

‘That’s it. My mission is complete. Now, just to find the right time to slip away, and voila! I hit the jackpot!’

“Thank you, Your Grace. I will serve you with my life. However, according to another piece of confidential information I obtained, I heard that General Yaeger had requested the central Imperial Army, led by Marshal Benner, to attack the northern part of Ostarica soon. You should prepare for this.”

Upon hearing this, the Grand Duke threw the wooden cup he was holding onto the ground and said,

“If we can’t crush the Crown Prince and that Peter Yaeger, preparing is pointless! The only way out of our current predicament is to take the heads of General Yaeger and the bastard Crown Prince. My men, you must fight with your lives! Let’s take their heads!”

Then, the Grand Duke handed Max a plain sword that was usually kept in the command tent, saying,

“As promised, I will knight you in the Grand Duchy of Ostarica. The formal title ceremony will be held later.”

“Thank you.”

“Gather as many soldiers as possible from the southern part of Ostarica! We will judge the Reich Empire’s army in Linz.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Benner had kept his head down, not looking up.

Instead, he thought with an irrepressible smile on his lips.

‘As long as I have my brother-in-law, I will win this war. Ah, if only my brother-in-law could quickly be promoted, then perhaps I could at least become a colonel.’

Of course, for him, thinking this way, betrayal was not an option.