At one o'clock in the morning, most of the soldiers were asleep, except for those on night guard duty. To present an opportunity to the nobles, I chose to stay in a large barracks on the outskirts of the garrison rather than my usual post in the center. Fewer guards patrolled this area, and there were plenty of places to hide. It was the most vulnerable location where I could reside naturally.

To ensure the nobles wouldn’t get confused, I tied my horse to the entrance and, with my eyes closed, monitored the mini-map. 

“General, are you awake?”

Anna, who had been reading some documents nearby, suddenly spoke.

A few hours ago, when I refused to stay in the general’s barracks, she followed me with paperwork, choosing to accompany me into this tent.

This barracks was originally used by about ten soldiers. I had planned to bring in troops under the guise of sleeping together again to have them ready to react in case of emergency. If I selected elite soldiers, they could be woken up in time to respond to any incoming enemies visible on the mini-map.

However, when Anna showed up, that plan became unnecessary. She entered the barracks with six soldiers and naturally began working.

Anna had always been quick to notice things. Even while we were walking around earlier, I saw her occasionally glancing at the red dots on the mini-map. It seemed like she had sensed something.

If the nobles knew, they might hesitate to launch an attack, but they likely weren’t aware yet, so it was fine. As long as Anna remained in my barracks for the next few days, no rumors would spread.

“I’m not a general anymore, you know.”

“I figured you weren’t sleeping.”

“…Ha.”

“You need to rest, General, so I can rest too.”

Although she had been somewhat awkward around me in the morning, by the afternoon, we were acting just as we had before my capture.

“Unless… you’d like to help with the paperwork?”

She even kept showing me documents with internal military information. I shifted my gaze to the soldiers sitting on the beds, who had been on standby for hours.

They were sitting there fully equipped, ready to put on their armor and gear at a moment’s notice. I had told them they could relax and offered them sleep masks, but they hadn’t taken them.

“Aren’t you guys tired?”

“Not at all.”

“…Hmm.”

It didn’t seem like they had any intention of resting. One soldier's determined response left me speechless.

“To have the honor of personally protecting you, General, is a privilege for us.”

“…”

Another soldier was looking at me with bright eyes, practically radiating pride. Perhaps it was because we had spoken earlier during the day, but their enthusiasm was clear.

If an attack comes tonight, these men will have the hardest time.

As I pondered this with mixed emotions, 

“…Hmm.”

Suddenly, the edges of the mini-map blinked red.

Red dots were slowly approaching the barracks. There were too many of them to be mere observers, and they weren’t stopping at a safe distance like the guards earlier in the day.

To think they would move so soon after my arrival. I wasn’t sure who had ordered this, but it seemed someone was in quite a hurry.

“Anna.”

“Yes, General.”

“…Do you trust me?”

Rather than insisting again that I wasn’t a general, I asked a direct question to emphasize the urgency of the situation.

“Of course.”

Realizing from my serious tone that I wasn’t joking, Anna put down the document and straightened her posture.

“There’s an unknown group approaching right now. Their number is eleven.”

The moment I mentioned what I had seen on the mini-map, the soldiers immediately began putting on their armor and equipment. They had experienced this before in wartime, detecting attacks in advance through the mini-map, so they didn’t hesitate for a second.

“Then we should…!”

“Wait.”

I stopped Anna as she reached for the whistle.

“There’s no need to wake everyone up until we’re sure of the situation.”

“But, General, if…”

“These soldiers will protect us. Let’s observe for a little longer before making any decisions.”

For our response to be legitimate, we needed to be clearly threatened. If we blew the whistle too early, the red dots might retreat without even attempting an attack, rendering the effort pointless.

“…Understood.”

Seeing the soldiers fully armed and ready, she reluctantly put the whistle back in her pocket.

“They’re approaching slowly, trying not to be noticed.”

“If they attack, what should I do?”

She asked how she should respond, but as I was about to give her instructions, a memory surfaced.

‘Rebellion? Not a bad idea.’

I remembered how, back when I was captured, Anna had drawn her sword the moment Andre shouted “Rebellion!” She didn’t seem opposed to the idea back then.

Since she had already contemplated rebellion once before, it might be better to let her handle things herself, rather than giving her specific orders. If she took the lead, the situation could escalate more easily, which was precisely what I needed.

The bigger and more aggressive the response from the 1st Corps, the better. As long as we had the justification of a clear attack, it wouldn’t be hard to mobilize the forces already loyal to me.

“I’m just a prisoner, Anna. I trust you, so trust your own judgment.”

“…Yes.”

If she had drawn her sword against the royal guard with the king’s orders in hand, how would she react to unknown attackers?

“This time, I’ll make sure to protect you.”

Hearing the determination in her voice and seeing it in her eyes, I had a feeling I could rely on her.

“Have everyone hide behind the furniture.”

“Understood.”

She had the soldiers take positions around the barracks, and she secured the sword she had placed beside her earlier.

“We’ll wait here.”

“Right.”

And so, Anna and I sat in our chairs, waiting for the gift that was about to arrive—a spark that would ignite the mountain that was the Rus Kingdom.

---

The operation “Return” had originally been planned to consist of ten men: nine royal guards and Baron Olek Rikov, following Mikhail’s orders. However, Andre Komarov, the captain of the royal guard, had joined them, bringing the number to eleven.

Andre wasn’t supposed to be involved due to the risk of failure, but Olek couldn’t stop him. Andre had shown up right before the operation was about to start, threatening not to mobilize the guards unless he was included. He had even brought a royal decree, though its authenticity was questionable.

Olek, without even properly verifying the decree, had no choice but to allow Andre’s participation.

“…How bothersome.”

Andre continuously fidgeted with the black cloth covering his face. His vanity about his appearance made the idea of wearing a mask deeply unpleasant.

If Olek hadn’t been there to remind him of Mikhail’s orders, Andre would’ve thrown the mask off in anger. The guards' armor was also covered in black cloth, again, due to Olek’s insistent requests.

“Wasn’t it the captain who insisted on this approach?”

“I know, I know.”

Andre blamed Viktor for all the discomfort. His glowing face hidden, his proud armor bearing the royal insignia now concealed by cloth—he held Viktor responsible for it all.

After all, Andre had forced his way into the mission because he wanted to personally finish Viktor off. His hatred for Viktor continued to grow.

*Thud.*

“Keep your steps quiet!”

Andre snapped at one of the guards who had stepped too loudly.

The royal guards weren’t experienced with this type of covert operation. They had opted for leather armor to minimize noise, but hadn’t thought to wrap their shoes in cloth.

The swords they carried made noise if worn on their belts, so the guards carried their swords in their arms, bound with rope, cautiously advancing.

It was far from the invincible image that Andre had boasted about, making Olek wonder if he should just abandon the mission and flee.

“…Is that the barracks?”

“It should be. The horse looks like the one he rode in on.”

They had managed to reach the location without being detected, thanks to the timing of the guard shift and Viktor staying in the outer barracks.

The barracks was large, similar to those used by common soldiers, and light flickered from within.

“The lights are still on.”

“I don’t see anyone else around. If we move quickly, we can take care of it.”

Olek felt uneasy about Andre’s unfounded confidence but knew there was no turning back now. He reviewed the plan with Andre one last time, hoping to improve their chances of success.

“The plan is simple. We approach the barracks quickly, capture Viktor, and escape along the same route. The main royal guard unit will be waiting for us at the rendezvous point.”

“…Understood.”

Andre repeated the plan casually, though his mind was elsewhere. He was hoping Viktor would resist with everything he had, causing the plan to fall apart.

That way, Andre could kill him, claiming it was unavoidable.

Once Viktor’s head was removed, he was confident that the rest would fall in line, as they always had.

“…Let’s go.”

Olek, his hands trembling, followed Andre. Luckily for them, no one stopped them as the guards surrounded the barracks.

Just as planned, six guards stayed outside to keep watch, while Andre, Olek, and three others entered the barracks.

“...!!!”

“What the…?”

To their surprise, Viktor wasn’t alone. His adjutant, Anna, was also inside. Capturing a commoner like Viktor was one thing, but laying hands on Anna, who was effectively the commander of the 1st Corps, was a completely different matter.

“We need to retreat…”

Seeing Anna stand up and reach for something in her coat, Olek realized they should escape immediately.

“…I never liked her anyway.”

However, Andre, seeing both Viktor and Anna—his two least favorite people—together, took it as an opportunity. He drew his sword.

“You’re insane…!”

Olek was horrified by Andre’s sudden action, but when the other guards drew their weapons as well, he had no choice but to follow suit. Now that he was part of this, there was no turning back.

Viktor, having watched the entire scene unfold, calmly said,

“…Andre, is it?”

There was no trace of surprise on Viktor’s face as he looked at Andre.

“At least you should’ve had the decency to bring a different sword. Is this the king’s doing? Or perhaps…”

“...Hah.”

Andre glanced down at his sword, its hilt adorned with royal insignias and jewels. Momentarily flustered, he regained his composure, drawing courage from the favorable circumstances and throwing off his mask.

“Even in this situation, you’re acting tough, Viktor?”

Clutching his sword with both hands, Andre muttered,

“Let’s see if you can keep running your mouth once your head hits the ground…”

Before Andre could finish his sentence,

*Screeeeech!*

“What?”

Anna pulled out a whistle and blew it loudly.

“Attack, attack him!”

Andre rushed toward Viktor with those words, but he was quickly intercepted by soldiers who had been hiding under the beds, behind desks, and inside wardrobes.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s an ambush!”

As the soldiers blocked his path, Anna continued blowing the whistle, rallying the rest of the troops.

“Protect the General!”

“You… you bastards!”

Andre swung his sword wildly, but his clumsy strikes didn’t scare anyone.

The other royal guards who entered with him were just as inexperienced. They couldn’t overpower soldiers who had fought in wars for months, fully armored and far better trained.

Seeing Andre quickly subdued, Olek gave up resisting.

“Damn it…”

Soon, the 1st Corps soldiers arrived, and the remaining royal guards, realizing they were outmatched, dropped their weapons. Not a single one of the attackers escaped capture. They were tied up with the very ropes they had brought and waited to be dealt with.

“This is a royal order! How dare you defy it!”

Even in his current state, Andre clung to the belief that the royal decree in his possession would save him. Though it was a forgery hastily made in a bid to kill Viktor, Andre believed that the decree’s existence would prevent anyone from acting rashly.

But Anna, furious at the attack on Viktor, didn’t care about such trivial things.

After rifling through Andre’s pocket and finding the forged decree, she laughed and pocketed it.

After a brief moment of consideration, Anna approached Viktor and whispered something to him. Initially, he shook his head, but after a long discussion, he nodded in agreement.

“Then…”

“For Andre, I suggest…”

After asking Viktor a few more questions, Anna picked up the mask that Andre had discarded and placed it back on his face. Then,

“…Understood?”

*Thwack!*

“Ugh…”

She knocked Andre unconscious with the hilt of her sword, silencing him. Leaving him sprawled on the floor, she dragged one of the other captured royal guards outside the barracks.

“The mastermind behind the attack has been revealed!”

She shouted, drawing the attention of the surrounding soldiers.

*Tear, tear.*

She tore off the black cloth that had covered the guard’s body and held up a torch.

“It was the royal guard who attacked us!”

“...The royal guard?”

“The royal guard, how…!”

The soldiers murmured, shocked by the royal insignia hidden under the black cloth.

“These attackers had forged royal decrees!”

Anna held up the forged decree that Andre had brought.

“They dared to forge the royal seal and attack me, the commander of the 1st Corps! This is not only an attack on the 1st Corps, but an act of treason against His Majesty the King!”

After hearing Anna speak with such conviction, and seeing Viktor standing behind her, nodding in agreement, none of the soldiers doubted her words.

“All members of the 1st Corps, begin the search immediately! We must find the traitors!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

And just like that, Anna swiftly took control of the 8,000-strong 1st Corps.

As soldiers began searching the capital, they found the royal guards who had been waiting to take Viktor. The 1st Corps, now convinced of the conspiracy, began systematically seizing control of the city.

Following behind the energetic and determined Anna, Viktor raised a hand to hide his smirk.

In Viktor’s own words, it was the start of a “hitchhiking coup.”

---

“Search everywhere!”

“Don’t let anyone escape!”

Hearing the soldiers shouting as they searched, the nobles who had planned to flee in their carriages cowered in fear inside Nikolai’s mansion.

“I told you we should’ve packed lightly!”

“And you, you’re no better!”

Several of the nobles had taken too long gathering their treasures, delaying their departure and trapping them inside the mansion.

As they blamed each other but dared not raise their voices for fear of being discovered, one of the nobles who had gone outside to check the situation came back with alarming news.

“It’s the 1st Corps out there.”

The nobles’ faces turned pale.

“The 1st Corps? …Viktor?”

“No, no, no, no!”

The news that Viktor’s personal troops were the ones patrolling outside threw the nobles into a panic. To them, it felt as though Viktor had mobilized his forces specifically to hunt them down.

“What should we do…?”

“We need to move now!”

“Ugh…!”

They trembled with anxiety.

Nikolai’s mansion was large and luxurious, one of the most famous in the capital, so it would be impossible for the soldiers to miss it. The nobles discussed various hiding places—the basement, storage rooms—when Nikolai, staring out the window at the royal palace, muttered,

“…The palace.”

“What?”

“The palace! That’s it!”

One of the nobles overheard Nikolai and shouted.

“If we make it to the palace, the royal guard will protect us.”

“And with the king there, Viktor won’t be able to storm in so easily!”

Recalling Viktor’s supposed loyalty to the king and the presence of the royal guard, the nobles hastily decided to make the palace their destination.

Fortunately, Nikolai’s mansion wasn’t far from the palace.

“…We’ll have to wear these.”

“To avoid being recognized…”

The nobles emptied the sacks they had planned to use for carrying their treasures and pulled them over their heads to disguise themselves. Then, they cautiously left the mansion, making their way toward the palace.

However, as nobles unaccustomed to physical exertion or stealth, 

“Stop right there!”

“Identify yourselves!”

“Eek!”

They were quickly discovered by the soldiers and bolted toward the palace in a panic.

“Halt! This is the royal palace—”

“Huff, huff… I am Count Nikolai Similov! Let me through!”

“…Count Similov? Understood.”

Nikolai tore off the sack covering his face, and after confirming his identity, the palace guards let them in.

The 1st Corps soldiers, instead of chasing them further, reported the incident to their superiors: a suspicious group of nobles had fled into the palace.