Chapter 1455: Chapter 1453: Prayer
Mid-August, several days after the assassination incident.
South of Shalin, in the Gray Rock Territory, within a military camp.
"Tap tap tap..."
"Hiss hiss..."
Soldiers ran back and forth, horses led here and there, intermingled with many shouting voices.
"Hey you, hurry up, move the box over here."
"That dead wood, don’t really act like a piece of dead wood, come and help, clean up here."
"All members of the First Team Third Squad who are still alive, gather now..."
The camp was chaotic, dust flying, chickens and dogs running amok, making one frown upon seeing it.
Frank Dais was sitting on a box in the corner of the camp, watching all of this, through the chaos he sensed a slightly unsettling smell—the smell of war.
War was about to happen.
Yes, war was coming—he’d been notified earlier—not only was there going to be war, but it was going to be a big war.
To say the least, he wasn’t afraid of going to war.
Truly, not afraid.
After all, he was an experienced veteran, having seen many grand scenes, and had escaped many close calls—he suspected that not even the whole Silver Cross Mixed Battalion had such a tenacious existence as his.
He remembered first arriving at the border city of Newcastle when a clash suddenly broke out between the Sika Kingdom and Soma Alliance, and he was caught in it.
Later, when Newcastle calmed down, he was nearing the time to retire, excited at the thought of returning home to marry, he was reassigned to a watchtower near Reef Rock Castle—which was considered the most fortified and safest place on the border.
He thought he would retire smoothly, then return home to marry the charming Nosa, have a few children, and spend the rest of his days.
Who would’ve known, one night, the Sika Kingdom seemed to have lost its mind and launched a surprise attack, destroying the watchtower he was stationed at violently; among the twelve stationed, only he survived by the help from Reef Rock Castle’s rescue forces.
After being saved, he stayed at Reef Rock Castle to recover for a few days, was integrated into the Fourth Coalition Sixth Legion Glory Group Second Team, and participated in the national war between the Alliance and Sika.
He had bad luck, as his Glory Group was immediately crushed by the Sika Kingdom cavalry aided by wizards just after entering the battlefield, the entire Glory Group was glorified on the spot, and he fainted among the dead.
He didn’t know how long it took before waking up in a pile of corpses, lucky to encounter his own people—led by Mario, a Small Team Leader of the Red Maple Cavalry Group—he was drafted into their squad to continue fighting alongside them.
His bad luck continued, less than ten minutes after joining the squad, they collided with an entire Magic Knight Battalion from the Sika Kingdom on the chaotic battlefield.
Magic Knight Battalion!
He had no other choice but to flee desperately, and as he fled, somehow he led the pursuing Sika Magic Knight Battalion into an Alliance encirclement. Three Alliance Magic Knight Battalions jumped out, surrounded and annihilated the Sika people, thus earning him merit.
Due to this merit, after the national war ended, he got the chance to be promoted as a Small Team Leader, but the choice came with hassle: if he wanted promotion, he couldn’t retire to marry the lovely Nosa. Whereas retiring to marry Nosa would waste the hard-earned opportunity, and unlucky as he was, he really wasn’t sure if he’d encounter such an opportunity again.
However, he didn’t have to ponder for long. Within days, a letter arrived from a hometown friend, informing him Nosa had waited too long, hearing he’d been injured in war, might have left a disability; unable to withstand family pressure, she tearfully married the cobbler’s son. The wedding took place the day before the letter was dispatched, and the friend had even given twenty copper coins as a gift, reminding he should repay if given the chance.
The letter truly saddened Frank but effectively helped him make a choice—to forgo retirement and stay in the military.
Afterward, he was stationed at this Gray Rock Territory, becoming the Small Team Leader of Silver Cross Mixed Battalion, commanding twelve soldiers. Living comfortably, being flattered and served by twelve soldiers on a daily basis, nearly four years had passed swiftly.
If possible, he wished to continue like this, muddle through a few more years, promote one level in rank—from lower centurion to middle centurion, and then ask for nothing else.
Who could know that the heavens couldn’t let him live so leisurely, an unbelievable message broke the long-lasting peace.
Saying the Emperor was assassinated? The assassin, was the Lord of Shalin?
Is it true or false?!
Being in the army for quite a while, he knew certain things, for instance, the Lord of Shalin was a major meritorious figure from the national war, without them, perhaps the war couldn’t have been won.
Logically, such a person should be loyal to the Soma Alliance and the Alliance Emperor, how could they suddenly assassinate the Emperor?
Could they be a spy for the Sika? Then why did they help the Alliance win the war initially?
Thinking through the logic, Frank felt his head in a mess, worse than the chaotic camp, so he shook his head and stopped further contemplation.
As a Small Team Leader, after all, he doesn’t have the autonomy to act alone, whatever to do must listen to higher-ranking officers, figuring it out is pointless.
Furthermore, he couldn’t possibly mimic that Lord of Shalin—their regicide, what did he do, kill his superior officer...Heimann?
That thought was somewhat tempting, the moment he recalled Battalion Leader Heimann’s fat, greasy body, he got a little angry. Given a choice, he’d definitely prefer to stay at Reef Rock Castle, rather than land here and squeeze Heimann’s position set aside for his cousin.
His cousin couldn’t become a Small Team Leader, so go to the regiment commander for trouble, why trouble him every day?
If not for him, these near four years would definitely have been more enjoyable...hmm...
Sitting on the hard box, Frank muddled over these thoughts, when someone rushed to him, and asked: "Cap...Captain, is it true we are going to war, we all have to be involved?"
Frank glanced at the person, discovering it was a member of his squad, exhaled and nodded: "Yes, correct, war is coming, including you and me, none of the whole group will be missing."
"What do we do now..."
"Of course we prepare." Frank stood up and glanced at the squad member, "Are you planning to defy orders?"
"I wouldn’t dare, absolutely not."
"Then that’s settled, go call everyone, gather, prepare, and once ready, leave the camp."
"Uh, yes." The squad member quickly ran off.
Frank looked at the person’s back, lightly shook his head, then pursed his lips tightly. He didn’t fear the upcoming battle but harbored some anxiety.
This anxiety didn’t stem from rational thought, but from a summary of experiences.
For some reason, he always felt he might be someone abandoned by the Luck Goddess, wherever he went, misfortune followed.
For instance, Newcastle, for instance, Reef Rock Castle.
During the national war, he earned merit, became a Small Team Leader, and lived comfortably in this Gray Rock Territory for nearly four years. He originally thought he could escape his unlucky fate, but it turned out everything was merely delayed.
This war, according to hearsay, not only would the Gray Rock Territory garrison be mobilized, but troops from major territories near Shalin, particularly special guard areas would be deployed. This war aims for a surrounding attack on Shalin, with troops overwhelming in number, theoretically completely winnable.
But even so, he still worried that unexpected incidents would occur just like before.
After all, throughout his journey, he’d already encountered too many such low-probability events.
Sigh, hopefully...hopefully...it won’t repeat, hopefully, we can truly win, with no unforeseen incidents, heaven bless...Frank silently prayed in his heart.
