C22: Talents Only I Can Recognize. Hidden gems (5)

On the second day as the commander of the supply unit I received a report that Zint was awake. He woke up exactly five hours after he had passed out. In other words, [Crush] stun effect lasts 5 hours.

I took a quick shower and headed to the prisoner’s barracks. Seeing that he’s trapped, it seems he doesn’t have the skills to break the chains. Besides, I’m now ready to use [Crush] again at any time.

As soon as I walked in, Zint and I looked at each other, and the standoff continued for a while. Is this a real war of nerves? No, there was no point in doing this.

“Did you sleep well?”

I stopped the nonsense and asked him a question. But Zint just kept staring at me and didn’t answer.

“You should stop staring at me like that. Let’s have a little chat. I have a very high opinion of your martial prowess.”

He remained silent. I tried to talk to him many times, but he didn’t respond. Zint closed his eyes.

The soldier who was dozing off in the back of the room opened his mouth as if my voice had awakened him.

“He’s not very talkative to begin with. I can talk to him for you, if you promise to let me go!”

“Not talkative?”

“Yeah. He didn’t say a single word in his unit.”

I see. So he was naturally like that.

“You can talk about anything?”

“Let me go and I’ll tell you anything you want to know!”

Then I need to change my purpose first, from recruitment to interrogation.

“I can spare your life, but I can also kill you right now.”

I pulled the sword from my waistband and held it at the soldier’s neck.

“Heeeeeeeee! Please. Spare me!”

The soldier was shaking and screaming. A soldier who fell off his horse just as he was about to run away, he looked cowardly, unlike the other nine. Well, it’s easier to interrogate him that way.

“Be honest. What is the purpose of the reconnaissance team? What is your unit preparing to do?”

“It’s…..”

“Listen, if you try to use your wits, you’ll die in a heartbeat.”

To prove that I meant what I said, I brought the tip of my sword even closer to the soldier’s neck. Blood oozed lightly from his neck.

“I don’t know all the details, but it sounds like they’re preparing a surprise attack, so we were told to do some reconnaissance.”

“Surprise attack? This supply base?”

“That’s all I’ve heard, I’m just a scout. That’s all I know, just put the sword away.”

It is rather suspicious that a civilian soldier knows so many details. It could be false information, or it could be real information. It is also possible that this soldier was sent on a reconnaissance mission after being planted with false information by the commanders of the Narja Kingdom Army, even though he thought it was true.

Of course, there is a great possibility that the story of the surprise attack is real. As a result of my reconnaissance yesterday, I found that there was a detour from Ganen Castle to this supply base without going through Linon Castle.

If the Narja Royal Army, which was advancing to attack Ganen Castle, were to figure out this route, they might try to take the supply base by surprise. Should they succeed in the surprise attack, the fighting castles of Ganen and Bern would be in a food crisis.

Even if they built supply routes elsewhere, they could starve for several days. That would lower morale especially if the enemy occupies this supply base, it will not be easy to build other supply routes.

It is not an unbelievable story. Of course, the fact that they dared to send a reconnaissance team to the base in a conspicuous manner is suspicious in itself. It’s as if they wanted us to take them prisoners and make them confess. Is this a deliberate attempt to announce a surprise attack?

………

“Then you are requested to attend the meeting on behalf of Yusen.”

“Yes, are you sure?”

“I’m going to give orders to each centurion and I need a representative.”

After talking to Yusen’s men for a while, I went back to the commander’s barracks and called an emergency meeting. Even if there is something the enemy is aiming for, as the commander of the supply unit, I have to be prepared for a surprise attack.

“You all know that during yesterday’s reconnaissance we captured an enemy soldier who confessed. The enemy forces advancing on Ganen Castle have discovered a detour to the supply base and are planning a surprise attack.”

“Eeeeee!”

“Commander, is it true?”

“A surprise attack!?”

The centurions gathered in the commander’s barracks began to panic. That’s how much of an effect the news had.

“I don’t know if there’s actually a surprise attack or not.”

When I replied, Hadan’s men immediately raised their voices.

“Report to Castle Linon immediately. In the absence of a second-in-command, at this time!”

“I’ll report back but we’ll take action first…….”

What difference does it make where he is?

The supply base is located in a hilltop fortress on the road leading to the capital. It was not very high, but walls surrounded it. The structure has doors in each area for the convenience of transporting supplies.

“There is no time for that! I’ll go report it!”

The centurion, who must be one of Hadan’s subordinates, and had been keeping an eye on me since yesterday, ignored my words and ran out.

“……Well, that’s it. Whether the surprise attack is real or false, we can stop it if we’re prepared.”

Of course, we’re inside a fortress, so we’ll be able to withstand an attack to some extent. Not only can we expect a fairly prolonged battle, but we also won’t be able to carry out any supply missions during that time. If that happens, the enemy will be right on target.

Furthermore, with their current level of training and morale, it is doubtful that they will be able to hold out in the event of a prolonged battle. Although the terrain looks favorable, we are at a disadvantage. What would we do if our supply unit gets isolated?

We had the advantage of terrain outside the base. If there was a way to fend off the enemy at once by using our advantage, that would be a more effective method. It’s not too late to hide in the fortress after that strategy fails.

“I’ll give each centurion another order for countermeasures. First of all, disperse and explain the situation to the soldiers. Be ready to go out at any time!”

After giving the order, I ended the meeting, and only Givens remained because I had something to ask him.

“Givens, you can stay a little longer.”

Givens looked around and saw that the centurions had all left and walked over to me.

“Is it about the captain?”

“Nope. Yusen will be back in time. I have something else to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Tell me about the centurions who are unhappy with Hadan, the ones who don’t follow Hadan.”

“The centurions who are unhappy with the deputy commander? Well, that’s almost everyone…….Besides that centurion who just went to report; everyone else hates him except for one other person!”

“I see.”

“Yes. The deputy commander is……really scum……”

Insulting a nobleman, it’s disrespectful and to be punished immediately. Givens hurriedly covered his mouth as he remembered that I was a nobleman too.

“You can insult a scum like Hadan as much as you want.”

I selectively allowed it. If you insult me, I’ll punish you, but if it’s that loathsome Hadan, I’ll allow it.

“Ho, really?”

“Oh.”

“Let me tell you, he’s a scum to the core. He’s always getting into trouble for every little thing and flogs the centurions……”

“I see. You’re frustrated, aren’t you?”

“Yes!”

That was pretty good information. Now is my chance to eliminate Hadan and take control of the troops!

“Then who among the centurions is close to and trusted by Yusen?”

“Almost all of us are close to the captain, but I’d say centurion Jido is the closest of them all.”

“Good, then the centurions should be ready to go at once. And send centurion Jido here.