Chapter 155: Eighteenth Episode: Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 155: Eighteenth Episode: Chapter 1
Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A grey sun hung in the sky. The forest was shrouded in ethereal white mist. The towering forest canopy was immensely dense. The closer the dry branches were to the ground, the sparser they became. The road started to rise from Burton Province's provincial boundary area towards the higher grounds. The mountains gradually buried the hills and valleys behind them. When one arrives at the geographical coordinate of Rylie Plateau, the sky appears to be within arm's reach and everything under the heavens appears to be magnified.
The great form of the mountains in the distance blocked the warm and moist current from the southern ocean. The cold current from the north would gather here and thick lumps of clouds clearly warned the people that countless snowstorms were brewing.
A winding road meandered from the valley of the dense forest towards the great precipitous mountains. A group of guards in disordered formation was hurrying along discreetly. Perhaps the soldiers were already used to the crazy Faran Princess. It was because of Her Great Royal Highness, who was overly paranoid, that the entire procession had to rest for the sixth, seventh, ninth and even the tenth time.
O'Neil Andrew Morisette was adamant in not explaining this matter to his soldiers and only told his men that there was a pregnant woman in the procession. At that moment, the special soldiers would ask, ”Why should we bring a pregnant woman on this journey?” The Marshal shot a glare and said, ”Forces commence patrol!” The soldiers would then disperse gloomily. However, they were not one to fuss over tiny matters. They left it after grumbling a little each day.
There was, however, a matter that couldn't be forgotten just like that! In a few out-of-the-way uninhabited regions in the northwestern part of the Rylie plateau, battle casualties emerged in the Military Intelligence Special Combat First Brigade.
This was a matter that occurred half a month ago. To be more precise, it was a military force patrol from half a month ago.
Military force patrol is a military term, which means an armed patrol conducted outside the area where the war is waged. The patrol unit could conduct a military intervention in response to the particular area. It was also like that this time. Two companies of special warriors embarked on their journey early in the morning. One of the units encountered an ambush in one of the extremely complicated valleys. The first wave of attack by the enemies on the special soldiers took the life of a man. This soldier was very unlucky because the soldiers only fired that one sinister arrow.
After the soldiers searched the entire valley, they at last intercepted three bandits. These bandits were a small reconnoiter team. When the three bandits resisted, two of them died. The last man, who was on the verge of death, was dragged behind a horse by the knights, all the way to the campgrounds. Thus, Marshal O'Neil only saw a lump of pulp in the end.
The Marshal said to his knights, ”Not a bad job! But take note to strengthen the defense.”
Hence, the knights have business to attend to! Every morning there would be four units that set out one after another. All of them were the elite of the scouts. They had to clear a safe passage for the larger units and were also in charge of capturing the resistance that may exist.
Marshal O'Neil's military patrol didn't reap many results, but peace ensued on the road for half the month. No one could complain about such matters. The special soldiers weren't lunatics. They also enjoyed the days where it was only slightly tense, without any sinister arrows, traps, and blood.
When the reorganized unit of the five thousand men First Special Combat Brigade directly under the Military Intelligence Bureau entered the undulating mountains, the garrison of the Seventh Imperial Army Group of Rylie Province appeared. Fifteen kilometers north of Shtebin City, at the right coast of the Moore River, one of the members the garrison division of the Guard's Seventh Army Group came to greet the prince's procession who have come far from the central part of the Empire.
Moore River was also referred to as River of Plateau by the Rylians. It traversed the entire Rylie Province from the north to south. At the southern foothills of The Alps, there were a few huge waterfalls that decreased the disparity between the river and the plains, until the waterway turned off to Italia and return to the ocean at one of the small ports called Fenta.
The commander of the garrison division said, ”The great waterfalls of the southern foothills are all magnificent natural wonders, but the Titan soldiers have never seen them.”
Marshal O'Neil was naturally dubious. ”Why?”
”That is the territory of Italia,” the Commander of the garrison division replied ruefully. ”But the river is ours!”
The Marshal didn't say anything else. That night he and his Special Combat Brigade took wooden rafts to cross Moore River and went ashore at a ferry crossing used by the military called Slydon. After that, at the crack of dawn, they arrived at Steiermark that was on Schloss Mountain. In this little town that was half a fortress and half an ancient city, they rested and reorganized up to five days.
Steiermark was the most important stallion training ground of the Guard's Southern Army Group. Aside from breeding grey Lefiza horses with strong physiques, the place also has a Knight Academy. The history of the Knight Academy was as long as that of the ancient city, Steiermark. It dated all the way back to the time when the old Titan Dynasty just established the territory.
Apart from the convents distributed all over Schloss Mountain, Steiermark and its surrounding areas are Rylie Province's most important grape planting area. Gazing down from the watchtower of the fortress, the dark brown vineyards went along the precipitous hillside and divided into segments as it went downwards until the valley floor. The flat-roofed houses of the farmers were scattered everywhere. The elegant, disorderly poplars made people think about the cypresses, which were similar in shape, found everywhere in Vielonna.
On the city walls of Steiermark fortress, upon welcoming the rising sun and listening to the beautiful speech by the fortress commander, Marshal O'Neil Andrew Morisette saw only those aforementioned things. He loved this place and was moreover touched by the welcoming speech of the fortress commander.
The commander of the Southern Army Group's Eleventh Corps, Lieutenant General Vierda said, ”Eight years ago, my children and I came to this fortress. We pushed open the windows and were overcome by a peculiar sensation. Beautiful and peaceful sceneries appeared before our eyes and we made an oath before the image of God to guard it. Now Marshal O'Neil has arrived. This land is now in his hands. We await the Marshal to bestow it with peace and prosperity.”
And so, Oscar stayed in the fortress. Lieutenant General Vierda left an extremely deep impression on him. This commander was different from the other soldiers that the Marshal has met. Vierda not only enjoyed poems but also loved the work on the farmland. Looking at how the commander organized manpower to chop wood and burn charcoal, it was hard to believe that he was still just a Count.
When there was nothing to do, Oscar would sit at the bottom of the porch of the military command center with the fortress commander he has just gotten to know and gaze at the vegetable garden in the courtyard and stables that surrounded the few Lefiza purebred horses. Occasionally the commander of the Eleventh Corps would take out a precious bottle of Steiermark's vintage grape wine and those sitting on the porch would increase from two to many.
Soldiers were indeed a group of odd animals, particularly soldiers with a long history and fine traditions. When they gathered together, they wouldn't break into war like ferocious male beasts that have lost their way, but instead would assess the opponent with ambiguous eyes that held many expectations. Then, they would say politely, ”Let's have a race, or... an exercise will be good!”
And thus, the armed men ”tribe” would begin their exercise. From how Marshal O'Neil saw it, the teams under the Guards were like the tribes of ancient times where the men were specifically responsible for fighting, hunting and capturing! And he was undoubtedly the leader among the many tribe alliances. As long as he blew the horn, these barbarians armed with lethal weapons in hand would erupt with the most primitive of cries.
The exercise was launched in the dilapidated convent around Schloss Mountain. The convents on Schloss Mountain were very well known. Each has theological structures of notable reputation. However, this convent, whose name can no longer be verified, was different. It sat upon the hilltop, facing the sun on one of the cliffs. It gradually fell into decline, as the mountain road that led into and away from it was too arduous.
The barbarians of Marshal O'Neil had to conquer it! The men were clad in full armor and even dragged along a few medium-sized siege machines. After spending six hours, Military Intelligence Special Combat First Brigade successfully made it to the top. They abandoned the region's exceedingly familiar Eleventh Corps far behind them.
”Indeed 8431!” Lieutenant General Vierda exclaimed during the picnic at the precipice.
Marshal O'Neil nodded his head, feeling great. ”If I move the First Artillery Soldiers Division up, then I fear we may not even have a place to picnic!”
”Yes indeed!” Commander of the Special Combat Brigade, Brigadier General Luke Citel lamented. ”I've seen it for myself last time. Our Brigadier General of the artillery soldiers only used six rounds of artillery shells to turn a thirty over meters of a sailboat into dust.”
Corps Commander Vierda widened his eyes in anticipation, ”May I know the whereabouts of the First Artillery Soldiers Division? Why didn't they pay a visit to my fortress with you sir?”
Oscar waved his hand, ”it's too dangerous to cross the river with the cannons. Brigadier General Tove Van Sukhoi's Artillery Soldiers Division and Major General Krapitch Drake's Infantry Division have chosen another route. We will assemble at Astonia.”
Vierda broke into a laugh, ”Sir, fog is rising among the mountains. Both your generals are about to miss out on the most miraculous natural phenomenon!”
***************
The sea of clouds wasn't something one would see every day, especially in Westland!
The moist and warm surface air in the lowland valley of the northern foothills of The Alps coalesced to form the thick fog that covered the whole earth. Around the peak of Schloss Mountain, large and small peaks stood tall beneath the heavens. There was layer upon layer of mist in the valley, drifting away with no intention of clearing up. The setting sun again hid behind the layer of clouds at this time, setting a brilliant golden lining on the thick white mist. Soon after, the golden lining would transform into a rich light red shade.
The harsh laughter of men rang out in the mountains. In the fog, they had set out on the mountain road for the return trip. The mountain road was craggy and every now and then they'd lose their way, but the men's pleasure was in the tireless exploration.
Marshal O'Neil came to a halt halfway up the mountains. He saw that the fortress that stood within the valley was gradually lost in the thick fog. He then gazed downwards. The Marshal realized that it was as if he was floating in the sky. The tentacles of the fog quickly encircled him. Then a sudden burst of mountain breeze dispelled the fog around his legs.
”Thank the God of Light!” Oscar breathed a quiet prayer. After that, he turned towards the officers in front and behind him, saying, ”Everyone take caution! We're not far off from heaven!”
The officers burst into laughter. The laughter reverberated within the valley ceaselessly, like the condensed fog, and until the ashes of the sunset have completely extinguished did it gradually subside.
When they arrived at the fortress, it was already very late. Lights were lit up in Steiermark and it spread out at the foot of the mountain and it went along the pavement, all the way to the steel portcullis of the fortress.
The city was situated on the hills. To enter the fortress, one had to go through the city district that was heaped up before them. The flat roofs built up by bricks were charming. The well-off peasant households even located watchtowers on the roofs.
”To invade the fortress, one has to level out Steiermark, but the citizens of the mountain would absolutely not let them do that!” the Commander of the Eleventh Corps said with pride.
Marshal O'Neil loved the peaceful small town that harbored a formidable air and also the sound of the horn of the Knight Academy that sounded in the morning and evening for drills.
”In the great revolt of year 791, didn't it affect your fortress?”
Lieutenant General Vierda took even more pride, ”Yes, how can it not? You didn't see the scene. As far as the eye can see, there were all bandits! However, the people of Steiermark and my Eleventh Corps persevered for half a month and in the end, the bandits retreated!”
”Where did they come from?”
Vierda was a little evasive towards the Marshal of the Guards and in the end, he pointed towards the mountain range in the distance.
”There! It is all bandits there. I know that they have their eyes on me. When I have nothing to do, I will stand at a certain location, motionless, and watch them!”
”Hahahahaha!” Oscar again laughed.
***************
Messier and Janin Sherman have waited at the watchtowers of the fortress for some time now. The Prince relied on them as his left and right arm, bringing them wherever he went. Aside from these two men, there were also Pail and Black Devil Shaw Curlink. Four of these men were always by the Prince's side and if one of them were to vanish, it meant that the person must have been seeing to some business for His Highness Prince. At the same time, it also signified that if there wasn't some unlucky soul, then someone would have met the devil.
Janin Sherman was in charge of the routines of the southern sub-bureau. He would first report about the general situation of the Military Intelligence to His Highness Prince. Actually, it wasn't anything much. He would only relay information about the enemy that hasn't been investigated all the while, if not it'd be the appointment or dismissal of operation staffs, lastly it would be about a dog less in the west, an extra cat in the east and similar trivial matters that the Prince didn't have to bother himself with.
Messier seemed to be brooding the entire day. Oscar noticed it at the dining table during the banquet but didn't say anything about it. He knew that Messier wouldn't hide anything and he would definitely speak out if it were something.
Sure enough, when His Highness Prince completed the segment describing the sea of clouds in his diary, the Division Head of the Military Intelligence knocked on his room door.
First Lieutenant Kirk Douglas carried a chair for the Baron while First Lieutenant Muktha Singh brought the Baron some coffee. Messier brows shot up, but when he started speaking, his expression again changed.
”On the 9th day of the 11th month, the day of your birthday, Her Majesty the Queen, Opareal Roulexberg the tenth held a grand crowning ceremony.”
Oscar muttered to himself briefly, his eyes appeared very troubled, but finally, he instead said, ”What does that have to do with me?”
”Yes, yes! This has nothing to do with us! But…..” Messier fished out a document written in a secret code, ”Deiss' sub-bureau has finally confirmed that this year, on the 10th day of the 10th month, Deiss' Majesty Queen Opareal Roulexberg gave birth to a healthy baby boy and the previous court rumors have also been proven to be true. The Deiss Queen has never shared a room with her husband...”
”Enough! What do you wish to say? Don't beat around the bush!” Oscar suddenly broke off the Division Head of the Military Intelligence. He wanted to ask the God of Light, just what is with all the women beneath the heavens? Why are those who are supposed to conceive show no signs of it while those who shouldn't get pregnant bear fruit?
Messier gave a few dry coughs. He found it difficult to voice his thoughts. Perhaps it was because this matter was of immense significance.
”I wish to know... whether it was you who gave the Deiss Royal Household this two-month-old legitimate heir.”
”I don't know!” Oscar whipped his head away violently.
Messier persisted, ”Your Highness, the Deiss Queen has indeed never shared a room with her husband. Moreover, the rumors in the Deiss court point to you as the father of the child! During the baptism ceremony of the child, the old Empress of the Roulexberg Family didn't even attend. All of this indicates that the baby boy...”
”Okay, let's assume so!” Oscar finally nodded.
”Ohh...” Messier heaved a long sigh of relief, ”Then this means that I didn't take the wrong actions!”
”What did you do?”
”I've transferred the limited few people who know of this in the Deiss sub-bureau back into the country. I reckon... they can't leak this secret now!”
”You have them...”
Messier made a gesture of slitting his throat.
Without any reason, O'Neil Andrew Morisette also heaved a sigh but was still a little suspicious. ”How did Opareal handle those rumors? She absolutely wouldn't sit still and let it be!”
The Division Head of the Military Intelligence gave a bitter laugh, ”You don't have to worry about Deiss' Majesty Queen. She has cut off twenty over tongues and now there aren't any Deiss nobles who dare discuss this matter.”
Oscar was suddenly crestfallen. The little Princess who has a pair of blue eyes that speaks was really a queen now.
”Mes, then can I understand it as….. this matter is closed?”
The Division Head of the Military Intelligence shook his head, ”How can it be? That little child is the legal heir of the Deiss Royal Household. If no one can explain his origin...”
Oscar was a little skeptical, ”This has nothing to do with Titan, right?”
Messier forced a smile, ”He has nothing to do with Titan, but the fact is that he's the son of a Titan prince! The Deiss will stir up a war because of his roots.”
Oscar brought the coded text onto the candle flame and soon, it was reduced to ashes. The Titan prince pursed his lips. Although his mind was in a turmoil, he still muttered a blessing to his flesh and blood in the faraway foreign country.
”I can only say, may he grow up into an adult safe and sound!”
Messier nodded, ”Yes, may he grow up into an adult safe and sound. We can only think this way now. Who would know what the future may bring, right?”
Oscar fiddled with the fine cane as if he had nothing better to do. After a while, his chaotic mind returned to normal. He gestured at the other document in the hand of the Military Intelligence Division Head.
”And what is this?”
”Ohh... this is good news!” Messier hurriedly spread open the document, ”The official notification document from Narcissus County's Military Command Bureau to the Imperial Secretariat and Imperial Army that the eastern crusade is underway!”
”Eastern crusade?” Oscar hurriedly snatched over the document and skimmed through it.
”Ola... the Traisen Front, Buchwald Front, Abbaniya Front, Birboehm Front, McCarran Front, Libero Front, Mistral Front! The old man of my house has mobilized all the main force of the Cavalry Corps. Just what does he intend to do?”
Messier shrugged, ”Who knows? But this matter has a great impact on Dulin and the Roman Vatican! The attack launched by the great Army Group formed by 42 divisions of the Narcissus Knights on the pagans is something that has yet to ever take place in history! His Grand Eminence Pope's letter to His Majesty III states that this is the beginning of a new era. Seriously! Didn't Marshal Dortmund say that this is a one time display of military force?”
Oscar shook his head. He excitedly flipped through his atlas and later took out a concise topography map of the Persian Empire.
”Mes, you don't understand the knights of our family! If only a command of attacking the Persians is issued, these men would become red-eyed like heightened rabbits!”
”Ola! Look!” the Prince rushed towards the Baron, unfolding his map. He then indicated the region with a vast area.
”If I were Figg, I will lead this huge Cavalry Army Group to infiltrate Persian from the desert border area defended by the Buchwald Front. The march will be extremely arduous, but they will encounter the weakest resistance here. Once they have cleared the desert... Ola! The Great Plains of Anatolia, blessed by the true God, will completely acknowledge their allegiance at my feet! After that, command the army to go along the south of the Ufalarre River and storm the Holy City of the Pagans, Baghdad West...”