episode_0125

In a room with antique wooden furniture, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard was lost in thought with his eyes closed. Music, which has recently become popular in upper-class aristocratic society, was playing softly in the quiet room, but it was not audible to the male’s ears at all.

While rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk, he slowly opened his eyes and looked down at a note in front of him.

– Slaves central headquarters discovered. Three days after Princess Serafina, the siege and annihilation operation began.

A line of text delivered along with the order given to him not long ago disturbed his mind.

They said they would hide it as much as possible, but it seemed like if it had a long tail, it would get stepped on.

As a man who raised slaves with great care, he could not help but feel regret.

If a little more time had been given, no matter how much Princess Seraphina had moved, she would not have been able to mess with the Slaves.

Slaves were making a huge amount of money based on human trafficking, and there were more than a few mercenaries who were twisted by that money. Everyone, from former knights to famous mercenaries, became parasites in the organization to suck up the sweet honey offered by the Slaves.

Of course, since the relationship was tied to money, most people would turn around immediately if something went wrong. This was a fact that the man who founded Slaves also knew very well.

However, the man was confident that they would not be able to easily abandon the Slaves.

They were already addicted to the honey provided by the Slaves.

The money that the Slaves gave them was as much gold coins as they had ever seen in their entire lives.

Can those who squandered such gold coins on just one night’s worth of drinks go back to their previous lives?

The man concluded that it could not be done.

The reason drug addicts cannot quit taking drugs is because they are already addicted to the drugs.

And they became addicted to the gold coins handed out by the Slaves. It was impossible for them to return to their normal daily lives.

Usage has already increased and distribution has increased.

They could no longer be satisfied with an ordinary life. The goods obtained through honest effort were usually so-so.

So the man had no doubt that they would successfully carry out the orders given this time.

Although it was like throwing away everything that had been achieved so far, it wasn’t a bad thing if it caused significant damage to Princess Serafina.

There was a need to shake up Princess Seraphina’s increasingly solid position within the empire, and I thought it would be a good idea to use this opportunity.

“Slaves proceed according to orders.”

“Okay.”

Another voice echoed in the room where the man was thought to be alone.

However, the man, who already knew the fact, was unfazed and stood up. Having regrets about something he had already decided did not suit him.

Even though Slaves was a waste, it wasn’t at a fatal level.

– smart

“What’s going on?”

“Count. It’s time to eat.”

“Has the time already passed like that? Coming soon.”

The Count burned the order and note before leaving the room.

Only after making sure that everything was burned, not even a small piece of it left, did the Count leave the room.

Even after he left, the song continued to ring in the room.

***

Exactly three days after Gilbert summoned the members of the special unit.

At Demeia Academy, camouflage field training to hide the siege and extermination operation began.

The field training, which required permission from Lucas Academy Director, was conducted with seven people in one group. It was a very simple exercise where each group had to visit a security officer in their assigned city and experience their daily routine for a day.

This field training was designed to protect the safety of citizens and improve the image of Demeia Academy by making it known to the public. External evaluation also recognized that it was an attempt to reform the current situation of Demeia Academy, whose prestige had fallen after being attacked by the New Resistance.

Gilbert and his detachment were indeed dispatched to Byzantium, the capital, which was called the heart of the empire.

As it was the center of the empire, the level of security was very high, so they were envious of other groups going to places with relatively poor security.

However, the members of the separate unit did not relax because they knew that the operation they had to carry out this time was not to maintain peace and security. As he was being put into a job more dangerous than anything he had ever experienced, even Hans, who was usually shy, kept his mouth shut and remained silent.

Gilbert and his group quickly arrived in Byzantium through the warp gate, and under the guidance of a pre-arranged security officer, they visited the security guard where they would wait until the start of the operation.

Gilbert had planned on not leaving this security guard as much as possible, but suddenly changed his mind.

The thought that there might be an unknown watcher suddenly occurred to me.

Gilbert assumed that assumption and divided the unit into two teams, acting as if they were participating in field training as usual. The unit members immediately realized Gilbert’s intentions and showed more enthusiasm for maintaining public order.

They worked to maintain security in the city until evening, and returned to the security station before sunset, had a light meal, and gathered together.

“The operation will begin two hours after sunset.”

Gilbert, who served as the unit commander of the separate unit, began the operational briefing. At this moment, even Camilla was looking at Gilbert with playful eyes.

Their mission in this operation is a reserve unit and detachment unit that supports the main unit.

The moment they were deployed, there was a high possibility that the friendly forces would be at a disadvantage, so the risk was quite high.

Since he was still an academy cadet, he would not engage in an all-out war, but that could not be a shield that lowered the risk of this operation.

Because the enemy’s gun has no eyes.

“As you all know, the main mission of our separate unit is to support the main unit. Since this operation is to surround and annihilate the Slaves, 8 of their bases will be struck simultaneously. In particular, the area where we are located is where their central headquarters is located and is a major conflict area where fierce resistance from the enemy is expected.”

For that reason, Gilbert, who had the rank of knight of the 5th degree, was sent to Byzantium. Seraphina judged that he would be able to carry out the operation without any problems as he was worthy of being used immediately with all his might.

“Brynhild You will serve as the vice-captain of this separate unit. If a situation arises where I cannot command, the next person in command is you.”

“Don’t worry. If it’s a battle, you’ve got a lot of experience.”

Brynhild smiled trustingly. As the great warrior of Sigurd’s clan, she was a warrior among warriors who had gone through the turmoil.

When Gilbert formed a separate unit, the first person he selected was Brynhild.

“The next deputy will be Angelina. I will leave it to you to analyze the anomalous situation.”

“Okay.”

Angelina nodded slightly as if it was obvious.

Gilbert finished the general explanation and checked the time. There was less than 30 minutes left until the signal to start the operation.

It seemed like we would have to move to the operational area in about 5 minutes.

Before moving on, Gilburton once again looked around at the members of the separate unit one by one. He didn’t much like the time before operations like this. Carrying out an operation meant risking one’s life.

While there were some colleagues who returned safely, there were many who did not.

In the original world, he had to bury so many of his comrades in the ground and in his heart. The battlefield was a series of such horrors, and those who fought for their country to win were always put into action.

That’s why Gilbert hated the quiet time just before starting this operation.

Because I felt like I was praying before death.

“Unit members, listen.”

Gilbert recalled a story his unit commander once told him before a sortie.

“Today we go into action to eliminate those who threaten the empire. This is a duty we must do as subjects of the empire before we are academy cadets.”

The fate that those who wear military uniforms to protect their country must have.

It was no different here.

Even though he was wearing an academy cadet uniform, he was still a soldier.

Also, those in front of him were also soldiers.

“We just do what we have to do, so don’t worry about anything else. Don’t think about mercy, carelessness, or anything else, but just focus on what you have to do.”

The moment you show mercy, your comrade dies.

The moment you let down your guard, you die.

All you need to have on the battlefield is concentration to faithfully carry out your duties.

“That is our only survival strategy. It is the only way to return safely.”

Gilbert, no, right now, at this moment, he became Kang Do-jun and prayed for the safe return of his unit members.

This is what the unit commander, who was his teacher, always wanted when he saw his unit members.

“This is the end of what I have to say.”

Having become the face of Gilbert again, he led the unit members with thoughtful faces and moved to the location where the operation would begin.

They joined the main unit under Serafina, who had been waiting in advance, and arrived at the waiting area before deployment.

Approximately 10 minutes passed?

The battle of siege and annihilation finally began.

Operation Gehenna begins.