Chapter 45 (1/2)

GDo. Would anybody believe me if I claimed that I delayed it for USA independence day?

New Movements (Part 1)

(AN: I couldn't think of a good t.i.tle. (lol) <tn: the=”” t.i.tle=”” was=”” marked=”” with=”” a=”” ”temporary”=”” tag,=”” since=”” it's=”” supposed=”” to=”” be=”” a=”” placeholder,=”” but=”” i=”” don’t=”” know=”” if=”” it’s=”” been=”” changed=””>)

”I am very sorry, Sir.”

In a tent at the corner of the Imperial Knight Order main campground, Jade van Cliffdorf sifted through paperwork. Upon hearing a familiar voice behind him, he looked up.

The owner of the voice was the middle-aged knight who had been a close confidant of the Cliffdorf Marquisate. He should have been carrying out a top-secret mission.

”Claus. Did something happen?”

The sky was growing dark.

The knights and soldiers were busy with preparations for the next day's expedition and the night watch.

The aged knight — Claus was given a separate mission because it would have been risky if anybody had questioned him. However, if he had returned to the camp, a problem must have come up.

”I am very sorry. I have lost all of the knights Your Lords.h.i.+p had entrusted to me with.”

Upon hearing Claus's apology, Jade's face hardened for a moment.

”What happened?”

”Mavis the Brave Count Elstead's militia got in the way. The prisoners have also been freed.”

”What a failure.”

”I can only apologize. I deserve to be punished.”

”We will get back at them next time. Did you make sure it was actually the Brave?”

”Yes.”

”Then that is fine. Did they discover the origin of the dead knights?”

”Their ident.i.ties are impossible to establish.”

”Erase all those who have been captured. Seal the lips of anybody who could shed information on the knights' origins. Use any means necessary.”

Claus's presence melted away.

Jade tossed the doc.u.ments he had been reading onto his desk.

'I had heard that Mavis the Brave and Prince Alfred had a marriage interview at the royal villa, but this must mean that there is a connection between Count Elstead and Prince Alfred.'

General Feyl and the other top officers leading the advance party were expendables to the Cliffdorf Faction.