Chapter 555 Take The Bai (1/2)
Lize's expression paled as soon as she heard the news. The thing that she feared the most had eventually happened. She looked at Rhode and Garcia worriedly and attempted to seek their assistance. However, the next scene left her stunned.
Rhode and Garcia appeared unfazed. Garcia smiled at Rhode and gestured to the soldier. ”Alright, I got it. You can back down now.”
”Yes, Sir.” The orderly left swiftly.
Garcia strolled to his table and lifted a bottle of red wine. He shook it slightly at Rhode. ”Mr. Rhode, shall we?”
”Sorry, I'm not interested in being alone with a man. Besides, Mr. Garcia, since we've driven off the enemies, how about we have a celebration feast tonight? Everyone has put in hard work and it will be a great time for them to unwind, right?”
”Yes, that's a great idea. I will get my men to prepare immediately. Please join us tonight, especially Miss Lize.” Garcia turned to Lize with a gracious smile. ”You've led the mercenaries and secured our defensive line. At the same time, you've also held hundreds of enemies captive. This is a great achievement. Please join our celebration feast with your mercenaries. I will get my chefs to prepare their best dishes to treat everyone's palettes.”
”Ah. It's nothing. General Garcia, this is my duty… No!” Lize nodded instinctively before coming to her senses abruptly. She looked helplessly at Garcia and Rhode. ”General Garcia, Mr. Rhode, the Thistle Wreath Fortress has fallen into the enemies' hands and they have penetrated Paphield. Aren't we supposed to do something?”
”…” Garcia and Rhode exchanged glances with each other.
Garcia spread his hands out and gazed at Rhode with a dissatisfied look while Rhode shrugged as though the matter had nothing to do with him. ”What has this got to do with us? Lize, our mission has been accomplished. Alright, don't worry so much and get some rest. I'm sure you must be tired. Just relax and join the feast tonight.”
”But…”
Lize couldn't understand why Rhode had such an attitude toward the matter. The Reformist Party army had invaded Paphield and who knew what they would be up to. But now, Rhode and Garcia didn't seem as nervous as she had expected. Instead, they were casually discussing some celebratory feast? Was this what they should do now? However, before Lize finished her sentence, Rhode had stood up and nodded at Garcia. ”Alright then, General Garcia. I will take my leave now and let my men know of the feast tonight.”
”Please be assured, Mr. Rhode, I will prepare it well…” Garcia paused and swept at glance at Lize. ”… I hope all of you will enjoy yourselves fully.”
”I'm looking forward to it.” Rhode patted Lize's shoulder and left.
Lize looked at Garcia, who put his leg on the table, leisurely drinking red wine. She eventually turned around and followed Rhode hurriedly.
”Mr. Rhode!” Lize scurried her way to Rhode's side and she asked. ”Do you really intend to not do anything? Paphield will…”
Rhode came to a halt and turned to her. ”Lize, you're a qualified adjutant. I know you have this capability and I heard from Gillian about everything that you've done. I have to say that you did a good job. As an adjutant, you're qualified. But as a commander, you've failed terribly.”
”Mr. Rhode?”
Lize gazed blankly at him. Rhode noticed her doubts and he patted her shoulder before gesturing for her to follow him. Lize followed puzzledly as they headed toward the exit of the Fortress. Rhode continued. ”Lize, you have to understand that we are only a Guild. Of course, I'm a Baron now, but that's about all. I'm not a commander of a region, neither am I a noble of the Golden City. To put it bluntly, I'm a civilian and not the King of the Munn Kingdom. We don't have the rights and responsibilities to question. Besides… you seem to distrust Royal Highness Lydia a little too much.”
”I don't really understand… Mr. Rhode.”
Lize knitted her brows, but Rhode gave her an explanation swiftly.
”I've said before that Royal Highness Lydia has no intentions of ending this battle anytime soon because if the Southerners don't personally experience the tragedies that these battles would bring them, they wouldn't stop them. If they don't lose their families in the battles, end up living on the streets where they can't even afford food and to live in the rubbish dump to snatch food from wild dogs, they will surely put in more passion for this senseless rebellion. If the Southerners can't feed themselves and are always on the brink of death, to begin with, this method will surely be ineffective because they have lost everything and there is nothing else for them to lose. But you and I are aware that this isn't the truth. The South in the Munn Kingdom is the wealthiest place where the laborers dress up even better than the nobles and manor owners in the North. This time, their rebellion and so-called independence isn't built on the foundation of their survivability. Instead, it is to seek additional benefits. Therefore, they won't watch their benefits be devoured by the flames of battles.”
Both of them stepped out of the Fortress and were welcomed by the heat waves and noises. The air was filled with soldiers' screams and berates. There were also sounds of sufferings and moanings from the wounded soldiers in the medical camps in the distance.