Chapter 73 : Reconnaissance Mission (1)

Chapter 73: Reconnaissance Mission (1)

Shatien, who was busy training his unit members, received an urgent summons and hurriedly headed to the command tent.

He was concerned that the messenger was rushing him so much, thinking something major might have happened.

But then...

The moment he entered Count Bellua's tent, a stuffy, heavy atmosphere immediately weighed down on his entire body.

'Why is the atmosphere so messed up here?'

It was the kind of atmosphere that reminded him of the heated debate before the battle for the supply depot. However, it felt like no conclusion had been reached yet.

Shatien quickly paid his respects and saluted.

"I greet His Excellency Count Bellua."

"Yes, come in. Sir Shatien."

'?'

For some reason, Count Bellua's tone was extremely welcoming. It seemed he had been eagerly awaiting Shatien's arrival.

"I hear you achieved great merit in this pitched battle too, yes? I heard you led the mercenary company and stopped the charge of the Emperor's knights?"

"It was not my work alone, Your Excellency the Count. Especially since it occurred under the guidance of Captain Mordo, it is the achievement of our entire mercenary company."

"Well, if you say so, I suppose it is. Haha."

Count Bellua was not someone to take those words at face value. The nobles were also of the same mind. The rumor had already spread far and wide.

It was true that the Black Raven Mercenary Company, led by Captain Mordo, had successfully stopped the charge of the Emperor's knights, but it was Shatien who had pushed them all back and launched a counterattack. He heard that Shatien threw those long lances and brought down the knights, didn't he?

It was truly an astonishing military achievement.

"Of course, such modesty will not sit well with the knights who fell at your hand. If you are to live as a noble in the future, you must know how to uphold your reputation."

"Hmm... I will bear that in mind. Ahem."

Shatien was a little embarrassed even as he spoke. It felt as if Count Bellua was praising him excessively.

'So... Does he have a favor to ask?'

He would not have called him just to exchange pleasantries, and there must be a reason for such praise before making a request, right? As expected, Count Bellua cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

"Sir Shatien. I have a favor to ask."

"Hmm. A favor... you say."

"Yes."

Shatien felt a surge of tension.

'My master said nobles do not easily ask for help... especially not in a public place like this.'

According to his master, nobles did not ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary. They gave orders and dispensed appropriate rewards accordingly.

Yet, asking for a favor meant the following. I cannot do this myself, so I will borrow your strength. There was no action that diminished one's own prestige more than this. Therefore, a noble's request always implied two things.

One was that the task was extremely difficult.

The other was that the reward would be very generous in return.

-Stir.

Shatien subtly looked at Captain Mordo, who was seated. Captain Mordo met his gaze, gave a slight smile, and gently nodded his head.

It meant to just follow along.

It meant there would be no loss.

"Please command me, Your Excellency the Count."

Shatien inwardly cheered. However, he had no intention of accepting the offer immediately. Their relationship was not one of mutual vassalage. Since he had already elevated the Count's honor once, any further requests would be a favor, not an order.

Shatien subtly stepped back.

"May I dare to accept your request, Your Excellency the Count? If I should fail, would not Your Excellency's honor be tarnished? I am greatly cautious as there are so many eyes watching within the tent."

"Ahem."

Count Bellua's expression became troubled. Shatien had become a noble, but he did not expect him to act like a true noble.

But what could he do? This knight's charming behavior was necessary for the current situation. Count Bellua read between the lines and replied with a small laugh.

"Do not worry. Your success or failure will not affect my future plans."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes. So, I must ask for this favor. You once excelled as a scout, didn't you?"

"That was during the battle for Akthen Castle. I am surprised you remember that."

"I even gave you a reward, so why wouldn't I remember? Anyway, I want to ask you to undertake that reconnaissance mission again. It is not really a task for a knight, but... the circumstances are difficult."

"Hmm."

Shatien considered declining one more time, but a sudden question arose in his mind.

Where was he being sent for reconnaissance?

Count Bellua seemed to notice his hesitation and replied.

"To the North. We need to investigate the route leading to Feldheim. Since the highway to the North is the only one, you just need to head that way and investigate."

"......?!"

He heard an unexpected word from an unexpected source.

Feldheim.

Wasn't that the place where Baron Ludwig was recently reported to have gone?

Instantly, thoughts swirled in Shatien's mind. The missing Baron Ludwig's whereabouts, and the continuously blocked information from the Northern region. This clearly indicated... that the Emperor was plotting something using Baron Ludwig. And if he could uncover that...

'It would be an incredible achievement.'

Shatien's eyes sparkled. He smelled an opportunity.

"So do you think you can do that? Captain Mordo said he would provide maximum support from the mercenary company if you agree. Is that not right?"

"Well, that is right, Count Bellua. Shatien's merit is ultimately the merit of our Black Raven Mercenary Company, isn't it? Isn't that so, Shatien?"

"Haha, you are right, Captain."

"Tsk."

Count Bellua was displeased to see the two getting along so well. But what could he do? He desperately needed Shatien in this situation.

"Then, I must ask this of you, Sir Shatien."

"I understand. Do not worry, Your Excellency. I will prepare immediately and depart."

"...I am indebted to you, my Knight"

Count Bellua quietly let out a sigh of relief. At the very least, Shatien would bring back some results.

* * *

Shatien immediately prepared and mounted his horse. All he carried were the sword inherited from his master, various armaments, and supplies like wine and jerky.

"Shatien! We are ready!!"

"Ready, Centurion."

The mercenaries said, holding the reins of their horses. Captain Mordo's promise of full support was true. They had all been assigned decent, sturdy steeds.

That was not all.

-Squeak.

"I have prepared this beforehand too, Centurion."

Captain Mordo also fully supported them with the newly joined crossbowmen from the Empire. They were all professional, skilled agents, optimized for this kind of mission. They would be helpful not only for sniping from afar but also because they were familiar with the Emperor's army's habits.

"You somehow survived the pitched battle. But volunteering for this kind of mission... Aren't you going to your death?"

"It feels safest next to the Centurion."

"Hahaha. True that. It is safest next to our Shatien. This guy knows what is what."

"Kee-geek! Kwik! Kwik!"

The mercenaries, Miles, and the pet monkey chuckled loudly and boisterously. They had joined without question when they heard Shatien was leaving the battlefield. As long-surviving veterans of the battlefield, they had an excellent nose for money.

And for an escape route, too.

"So, where are we going?"

"We follow the highway north. We must go as quickly and secretly as possible."

"The northern highway... It has been a while since I went there. Haha."

After chatting and laughing for a while, Shatien and the mercenaries rode along the highway for half a day.

Fortunately, the nobles in the area were maintaining neutrality, so no one tried to stop or attack them.

It would be strange for anyone to attack a group of heavily armed cavalry, anyway. They all just assumed they would pass through and let them go.

And after riding for a while, Shatien and the mercenaries were stopped. The Emperor's army was entrenched in a valley path, passing through two hills, controlling access.

'I cannot kill them, so this is awkward.'

It was impossible to travel the highway without being spotted by them.

Shatien decided to rest, and as it grew darker, he gathered the mercenaries.

"We need to find a side road. Two of you, go check the high ground. You only need to return here by tomorrow morning."

"Understood."

"Avoid engagement as much as possible. Our top priority is to bypass this checkpoint."

Then, Miles raised his hand and spoke.

"Why not just kill them all? Why bother with this?"

"My Lord… Miles. This is the Emperor's direct territory. If we kill them, a pursuit will immediately follow."

"...That is what he says?"

"Ahem. Huhuhuhum. I didn't know that. Truly worthy of a former Imperial soldier!"

Only then did Miles let out an awkward cough and subtly backed off.

It was a tacit agreement.

The two designated mercenaries climbed the hill. Shatien and the rest of the mercenaries quietly waited for them.

But the next morning.

No one returned.

'Damn it??'

Shatien was startled but held another meeting.

"We lost contact with the men who went to find the side road."

"Oh no..."

"Could they have betrayed us?"

Another mercenary shook his head.

"No. There was blood and signs of a struggle. We didn't enter precisely because it might be a trap, but there seems to have been a skirmish."

"It seems these bastards are completely covering the area. Let us try to swing wide around the perimeter this time and find a way to infiltrate."

"Understood."

And the next day.

Two more men were sacrificed.

'What is going on?'

Shatien was confused.

They lost contact with everyone sent out.

They were not trying to fight, they were just secretly crossing the mountain to bypass the checkpoint. It was impossible to scout the Emperor's army's camp when they were blocked at the very entrance.

The Emperor's army's surveillance net was incredibly tight.

'There was a reason why Count Bellua was so worried.'

Shatien did not know why they were doing this, but it only amplified his suspicion. The importance of information blockade was obvious, but this was over the line. If they were preparing for an all-out war, they should be letting their soldiers rest. Not exhausting them to completely cut off reconnaissance like this.

'They are hiding something. Something incredibly important.'

What on earth could it be?

Why were they risking the fatigue of their soldiers to block reconnaissance troops?

This, conversely, implied that the soldiers were not important from their perspective.

"What do we do now, Centurion?"

"Yeah. It looks difficult to force our way through, Shatien."

"Hmm."

He could not sacrifice any more mercenaries. But forcing a breakthrough, as Miles suggested, was even more dangerous.

'We know nothing about the enemy.'

Conversely, the enemy might know something about them. They would have tortured the Count's soldiers who attempted to break through this area and the mercenaries captured recently.

They would certainly have supplemented their guards. Trying to force a breakthrough in this situation would only lead to them being surrounded and endangered.

"Shatien. Let us divide the unit in two instead. One side causes a disturbance while the other infiltrates."

A decoy.

It was a good idea.

So much so that it was hard to believe it came from Miles.

However, who would take on that role?

The potentially dangerous role of the decoy.

"Officer Miles, that is an excellent idea. In that case, I will be the decoy."

"Ahahaha. Look at this kid! How dare you try to take it from me? Of course, I will be the decoy. But in exchange, Shatien, I get the biggest merit this time. You know that, right? Hehehe."

"......"

In the end, after a heated debate, Shatien had no choice but to surrender. No one could break Miles' stubbornness.

Ultimately, the remaining personnel were chosen by drawing lots.

"Everyone, take care! And as you know, there is no need to fight more than necessary. If you think it's dangerous, just run away!"

"Understood, Centurion."

"Oh dear. Why worry? Who do you think I am? Just trust me."

'I am saying this because you, Miles, are the least trustworthy!'

The words nearly rose up to his throat, but Shatien swallowed them back.

"Heheh. Why the serious face? Don't worry. And when I return, you're treating me, right?"

"Do you think I’ll only treat you once after that? Please, just come back alive, Miles."

"Oh dear. You worry about yourself."

Thus, the deep dawn arrived again.

Shatien led the mercenaries and waited below the hill. An hour ago, Miles had led his troops to infiltrate the opposite side.

Now, he had to wait for the signal.

And when the appointed time came.

-Intruders!

-Blaaaze!

-Stop them!

-Damn mercenary bastards. They are endless, like mice!

Flames rose and a commotion broke out on the opposite side. Muttering and the clanking of armor were frantically heard.

The infiltration had begun.