Chapter 98: Eleventh Episode: Chapter 7 (2/2)

The War History Theory class of the 39th batch was still the same as usual, though the most intense learning phase had passed. Just like every university, everyone was a little out of things to do during their graduation year. Even so, life still went on. Even though these middle-ranked military officers were not too rich, they still had quite a sum of money to spend. Therefore, the farewell party with all sorts of themes began from the end of the third month. This was because that there was a huge portion of people that could not make it in time for graduation especially the military officers who came from the north Army Group. Deiss had already placed more than forty Divisions at its border in these two years. Titan's six military districts in the north had already been readied for battles for a year. The northern military officers of the 39th batch of war history class had the possibility of being called back to the army at any time. So, they did not care about alcohol poisoning. Maybe.... This was their last chance to play around with their cute classmates.

He couldn't remember the time, but when Oscar introduced Princess Catalina of West Percy to his fiancé, the two Princesses had a really nice chat. But Oscar knew they were simply talking about some trivial matter. This was already good enough. According to news, when she attended to the Princess of Faran, the wife of First Prince Lobble Alfa Morisette, Alanis once put a needle in the seat of her sister-in-law.

Oscar asked about this matter to the Princess. Alanis first told him that it was all unreliable words of the reporter, but she truly could not stand the exhausting barrage of questions from the Prince. At last, she finally admitted it. She only wanted to see if that pretentious Princess would scream as she held her ass at the imperial dining hall and curse loudly in Faran language!

In the end? Alanis admitted that that Princess was an absolutely boring person! She held on until the dinner was finished and then she did not leave her bed for half a month.

Oscar's eyes popped. ”Did anything happen between you and Faran?”

Alanis said. ”That is right! The Farans made me an embarrassment numerous times during my visit. Now, do you know how you could get away from that matter with the Faran Prince?”

”Why?”

Alanis suddenly took hold of her fiancé's ears. ”Slowpoke! It's because I cried non-stop at the Imperial Mausoleum to our ancestors!”

”Ola! You are truly my dearest!” Oscar said as he kissed the Princess with a twisted expression.

Then... How did Catalina show her friendliness to Oscar? To be honest, this Princess did not use much thought on it. She simply showed herself as it is. Sometimes, she was kind; sometimes she was arrogant; sometimes pitiful yet sometimes generous. Even though Oscar though Catalina was acting a lot when she conversed with him, this young man who was used to being surrounded by noble, beautiful women truly could not stand this girl.

But Oscar would not be head over heels for her. He still had a cautious attitude towards Catalina, but Catalina was, to be fair, rather young. In order to gain the trust of the little Prince as soon as possible, she actually talked to him about the organization and working situation of Etha. This truly surprised Oscar a lot! He contacted the Secret Service Department and received confirmation from the Secret Service. Catalina was speaking the truth! Even though the Prince had his doubt on the intelligence of this Princess, he still tried to accept her because.... It was not such a bad thing to have a beautiful person always appearing by your side. Moreover, he could receive many news and information about Etha and West Percy Kingdom from this beautiful lady. If this was the case... why not?

More or less, Oscar was feeling a little bit too contented. First of all, Catalina was extremely happy about his change. Second of all, the information given to Oscar was all filtered and chosen by the local person-in-charge of Etha at the Titan area. That was to say that those things were simply used to strengthen the place of Catalina in the heart of Titan's Prince. This did not do any damage to West Percy Kingdom at all.

To be fair... socializing was simply this way. People were calculative against each other, calculating how much they had lost. When they thought that everything was still acceptable, they became friends. When they felt like they were giving more than they were receiving, everything would finish following that. There might truly be friendship involved, but friendship did not have much of an advantage being one of the components of socializing.

There was yet another notable thing that happened in the first half of Year 796 in Church's Calendar. The King of Sins Doramy Basinger contracted very serious cholecystitis. His aging rate was terrifying. His imprisoned life at Damorga had completely destroyed his health. On top of that, he had a few unrestrained years at Lobb Oscar Hotel. The people beside him had advised him against it, and even Oscar had continuously scolded him for a while, but this old man with a foot already in his coffin did not even care. He still did it his way. Look at his condition now! Doramy Basinger would never know the taste of smoke, wine, and women ever again. To save his old friend's life, Poison Doctor Percy completely isolated him from others, but those who knew this ultimate criminal all knew that this old man did now want to live any longer. He had always been searching for a way out.

For some reasons, Miss Aeolia who was always straightforward with the prisoners from Damorga always visited the King of Sins. After Oscar asked about the reasons, he only knew that the old Duke Cara Siva had mentioned the many times that he had received selfless help before from the King of Sins in Damorga.

”About this..... Doramy actually did something good!”

Aeolia nodded. ”But.... Most of the time, people don't know if what they did was a good thing or a bad thing!”

”Regardless it's good or bad, I can see that..... You have something weighing on your mind!” Oscar stared at Aya's eyes without looking away.

The Countess avoided him. ”No, you are too sensitive!”

Oscar shrugged. ”Aeolia, you! This is the part of you that I don't like. You hide everything in your heart. If I don't force you, you will never share it with others. Maybe I was wrong. I should say that.... Even if I force you, you won't say it!”

Aeolia suddenly smiled. ”Your Highness, the thing on my mind is always work-related. Do you want me to share all sorts of information and data in the Military Investigation Bureau with others? Please do not worry about me. All that in my mind is work-related. Nobody can help me with that.”

”In the future, you have a candidate available for you to discuss data analysis,” Oscar said with certainty.

”Who?”

”Me!”

”You?”

”That's right!” The Prince nodded, then he chased the Countess who was extremely confused away.

******************************************************

Since a while ago, reading letters from home had been one of Oscar's favorite things to do. The messenger from Narcissus was punctual every time. In his four years and a half year in the University Town, Oscar already received more than a hundred letters from home. No one knew what this Prince thought. After he burnt every letter that involved sensitive problems, the rest of them were hidden under the Polar Bear Sofa.

Then.... Quickly get it open! Oscar used a pocket knife and carefully ticked open the melted wax in the shape of his family crest. Then, he treated the letter inside as if it was his first-born child. It was his father's handwriting. He could recognize it at one glance.

”Dear son, my dear Oscar!”

”Is everything alright? Is Sasha well? Oh! I almost forgot. Sasha has a similar letter as well. I hope both of you will exchange the letters and have a look! Have a look at both of them!”

”Your mothers are alright. They missed you and Sasha so much. But they have nothing much to do every day. It appears that there is nothing much to do except thinking about both of you. So, you and Sasha should understand your mothers' feelings and write more to them. They need this more than anyone else.”

”The situation of the Knights are generally well. I read your last letter numerous times and also let a few long-winning generals have a look at it. They are all impressed with your war strategy especially Figg. He has the most positive review for you. I know you kid, you must be snickering when you read this part, but listen carefully to me. War is not as easy as a script on blank paper. Nor it is as easy as imagining on the sand table. War is a long and difficult period to overcome. To overcome others or to be overcome. It all boils down to your one strategy.”

”So son, do not just think about it on the sand table. Do not just write it down on a blank paper. After your graduation, bring Red Tiger around. Look more at the borders. Take a close look at the topography of the places you went. Experience the life and battle of the warriors. This is the correct way to become a qualified military general.”

”Alright, son! I know you must have a sour face now, but I am not scolding you. I am simply giving you suggestions. You have grown up. Even though you are ten thousand miles away from me, I am still glad to see this growth.”

”Speaking of the Knights. My cute little knights. Haha! They are still the same as usual. They rush here and there without resting all the time. But worry not, the Persians at the borders are no longer organizing large-scaled attacks! The knights at home are simply gathering the fugitives that secretly enter through the borders. Have I mentioned it? The inner war of the Persians has continued for 3 years now. There seems to be a trend escalating. The military is very busy. The people in the family hates those Persians. If we don't gather the fugitives who ran away from there, they will probably be pinned to a cross by us people of Narcissus. Oh god! This was the first time the instructions of the family was ignored. The people have already gotten used to it. Even if they are Persian fugitives without any weapon, they still have to be killed.”

”Alright! Don't think that the family is about to win! Because I am about to say something devastating. Your Uncle Menda died in battle. It was terrifying! When I participated in his funeral, I could still see the blood on his armor. That armor was the most loved object of Menda. His last request is to wear it to meet God of Light even though it is already so old! I used my shirts to wipe the blood stains, but it was still not clean. The relatives at the funeral all cried, but I didn't. I only tried harder to wipe it clean. But damn it! Until Menda was buried, I still wasn't able to wipe it clean. I let my last cousin see the God with dirt! At last, I cried, but no one saw!”

”That's about it. I can't say any more! But don't tell anyone about me crying for Menda. If I heard someone talking about this, I will come to you and beat you up! Alright, my dear son. Do your best in your studies! Don't feel lost and feared. Just go forward!”

”Finally, I give you my blessings and kisses!”

”Oh, one more thing! I almost forgot! Send my regards to Marshal Robin. He is a respectable senior. You ungrateful kid should respect him. He is helping me to teach my son! That's all!”

”Your father, Dortmund Andrew Nedgabel. Night. Church Calendar Year 796 fourth day of the fifth month. Andrew Haila's base camp.”

Oscar rubbed his eyes. It had a stinging sensation. He carefully closed his letter and lightly gave it a kiss. When he was about to keep the letter, he hesitated. Father mentioned some arrangement of the Narcissus Knight. It seemed that.... He could not keep this letter. Oscar lighted a cigar. When he brought the red bright cigar end near the letter, he hesitated. Maybe...Maybe keeping it would not be that much of a problem! No one would dare to touch his Polar Bear Sofa except for Sasha!

But... But... It was best not to cause trouble! The young man sighed. At last, he shook his head as he burnt the letter.

”O God of Light!” Oscar could not help but jumped as he looked at the ashes on the floor. ”Father said to exchange it with Sasha! This is bad! How could I forgot about this?”

The young man blamed himself for a whole summer until he received the third letter from home. Ola! It was good that his father forgave his carelessness, but Dortmund still scolded Oscar badly. Oscar simply scratched his head. He was already used to the harsh words of his old man. To get back at his strict father, Oscar told Sasha secretly about the crying event, but Sasha did not mind about it that much.

The little miss perked her mouth and said. ”Don't you know? I heard from Mam Celia that father cried even worse when your mother passed away! Even though father locked himself in his room, everyone in the mansion still heard it!”

Oscar was silent for a bit. He did not say anything and let little miss leave him just the way he chased Aeolia away.

”Maybe I really don't understand him!” Oscar said as he kept his third letter from home this year. He appeared to be rather happy because he could keep this letter.

Time passed until the ninth month of Year 796. Oscar began to sort out the messy things lying around at Marshal Robin's mansion. The old man avoided it. Oscar was feeling really melancholy as well. But it was indeed the time for him to leave this place.

”Aren't you asleep?” Marshal Robin who just returned home looked at the young man who sat at the corridor strangely.

”We didn't even fight. Why are you always avoiding me?” Oscar pulled a seat for the Marshal.

The old man turned his head away, troubled. ”Enough! Don't say it as if I have that sort of interest!”

Oscar laughed. ”Alright! The old man who is afraid of loneliness, come and sit here with me. I am not leaving yet!”

Marshal Robin let out a ‘hmph' sound. He did not refute this time. He simply sat there in silence. Towards this child, he had too much hope for him. He did not want this child to leave.

Oscar poured a full glass of Authentic Rum that had a pleasant smell. The depressed moments were sumptuous ones. Oscar believed in this statement.

”In the future..... What do you have in mind?” The old Marshal finally spoke. He stared at the lone lamp at the ceiling as if he had something on his mind.

”I received confirmation that the formal establishment of the Military Intelligence Bureau still needs a while. Maybe there won't be any news even next year. So I will follow the will of my father and ask for the duty of inspector from Alfa III His Majesty. This way I will travel to the few borders and dangerous forts.”

”Yep! Your father's opinion is correct. You, young man, should go out and see the world. The important borders of the Empire are mainly focused at the Don River area and the forest border area at the north. Due to the differences in area and enemies guarded against, the military districts at the river and the north have completely different battle methods. You will learn a lot from this.”

Marshal Robin took the wine glass, but he immediately put it down. ”My child, where do you plan to go first?”

Oscar's eyes were a little red. His tear glands were broken. Usually, it used clear water to moisturize his eyes. He did not if it was a thing to be relieved about because he need not worry about that he would cry in front of people.

”I.....I planned..... first, go to the north, then change my route towards the land of Steinberger Family in the northwest. Then.... Oh, I am sorry.... My eyes are blurred!”

This was the first time Marshal Robin called this child so clearly. Even though two years were not a very long time, but an old man and a young man had gained an emotional bond with each other during this period.

”Are you alright? You are trembling!” The Marshal held little Oscar's shoulder.

”I am alright! You..... Do you still want to hear it?”

”Of course!” The old Marshal nodded. ”You still haven't explained about your choice of route. I thought you will first travel to the Don River area that has the weakest defense in the Empire.”

”Ola! It was because I promised Viscount Tove Van Sukhoi that I will visit him once I graduated. His family land is in the north, so I chose this route.”

”Oh....” The old Marshal gave a long sigh. ”The north..... It is not peaceful there.”

”Please rest assured. I will be fine!”

Towards the reassurance given by the child, the old Marshal simply nodded lightly. The two people fell into absolute silence. None of them were talking. They were simply drinking their wine.

For Oscar, his university life was about to end. Bidding farewell to the respectable Marshal Robin was exceptionally difficult.

For the old Marshal, he was relieved. The child had finally grown up. He could spread his wings and fly! But..... The Marshal was a little lost. What if this child met with bad weather like strong wind and snow? What if he met the wolf packs? Were his wings fully grown?

He should stop thinking about it. He should give his blessings to this young man called O'Neil Andrew Morisette! His journey had finally begun. His life had finally won the most brilliant dawn.