Vol 4 Chapter 28.4 (1/2)
Chapter 28 – Violet Star Dragon Cavalry Commander (IV)
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Maldini turned towards Ye Yin Zhu. “Now, you are their captain. Your only a.s.signment is to lead your comrades. When they enter the battlefield to attack the enemy, try your utmost to bring them all back alive. Troops, fall in!”
Fall in? Ye Yin Zhu blanked out. Since he cultivated the Pure Zither Heart from infancy, just like the other mages, he completely didn’t understand military commands! Fortunately, Oliveira reacted quickly and shouted loudly for the troops to line up. In this formation, everyone followed behind Maldini, leaving the central training field. The newly appointed Captain Ye Yin Zhu was pulled by Oliveira to the very front of the ranks.
Like this, his first war campaign began.
It was also this war that started this era’s Zither Emperor’s gradual walk into the limelight.
Maldini didn’t follow the Dragon Cavalry regiment that was heading towards Sacred Heart City. As generalissimo, he rode his rank 9 Gigantic Dragon and rushed towards the front lines first. Ye Yin Zhu and the students travelled along with the Dragon Cavalry regiment of a thousand members, which was commanded by one of Maldini’s two grandsons, the Milan Empire’s youngest Gold Star Dragon Cavalry Commander Okafur. Silver Star Dragon Cavalry Commander Austin was also among the ranks. This branch of Dragon Cavalry could be said to belong to the Violet Clan.
After joining the Dragon Cavalry regiment, Ye Yin Zhu realized that the hundred students from the inst.i.tution was equivalent to a middle squadron, with him as the captain. Of course, he didn’t believe those students would listen to him. For this bit, Oliveira was significantly better than him.
All of the mages sat in the good quality carriages the Inst.i.tution had provided whilst the warriors and a.s.sa.s.sins each rode their own Maginot Iron Dragon or Earthbound Swift Dragon, also provided by the Inst.i.tution. The only educational establishment on the continent with this financial ability was probably the Milan Inst.i.tution of Magic and Martial Arts.
The journey was dull and tedious. Originally, with the Dragon Cavalry’s speed, it would only take 10 days to reach Sacred Heart City. With the inclusion of the slower carriages of mages, however, they would take at least 20 days before reaching the borders of Sacred Heart City.
“Ye Yin Zhu.” Oliveira jumped off his Earthbound Swift Dragon, the troops following Oliveira’s order to temporary rest.
“Oliveira, what’s up?” It had been 20 days, and Ye Yin Zhu hadn’t run into anything troublesome. Through interaction, he gradually realized that Oliveira was a pretty good man. In addition, Oliveira’s ability to inspire respect in the military was far better than his own. From following Oliveira, he had learned many things. In truth, he was captain only in name as Oliveira still completed the majority of a captain’s duties. Everything was arranged clearly and orderly.
Oliveira walked and sat down beside Ye Yin Zhu. He glanced at Sura, who was on the other side of Ye Yin Zhu, before saying, “I estimate that we’ll reach Sacred Heart City by nightfall. I heard Second Brother say that our next mission is to provide a.s.sistance to defense. It will probably be the defenses of a small town on the west side of Sacred Heart City. Yin Zhu, shouldn’t you, as captain, help me by taking a bit more of the many responsibilities?!”
Ye Yin Zhu laughed and said, “Elder Brother Oliveira, aren’t your plans excellent? I don’t know how to do anything, so how can I help you?”
Oliveira smiled. “Don’t say you don’t know anything. Last time, you defeated me. Honestly, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to apologize to you. I thoroughly understand Freud’s character. That day, however, I had seized the opportunity to flare up, wanting to see the strength of the freshman who defeated my younger sister. The past is the past; I want to erase any grudges you may hold in your heart.”
“It was not that simple. You might have also wanted to conveniently teach Yin Zhu a lesson then, am I right,” Sura spoke up from the other side.
Oliveira somewhat awkwardly said, “But I became the person getting taught a lesson, no?”
Ye Yin Zhu smiled and said, “It’s alright. In fact, I also pulled a fast one. Elder Brother Oliveira, I have learnt a lot from following you these days, especially on how difficult it is to command an army.”
Oliveira smiled. “Although you are not as good as I am at unifying the troops, your level of talent is something I have never seen before. Especially your comprehension and recollection. I almost want to say that you can remember and fully comprehend everything you see. It would be better if you joined our Heavy Cavalry division. That way, our division’s Dean Tie Bi will surely consider you as his own son. When that time comes, you will be able to become the number one in the inst.i.tution after I graduate.”