A few hours earlier.
“So that’s the Duke’s fortress? Pretty average in size.”
I had arrived at the Duchy’s territory ahead of the main army with a small detachment.
However, instead of heading to our designated rally point, we stopped at a secluded area.
“It doesn’t look like there are many troops guarding the interior. Their discipline seems pretty lax too.”
“Isn’t that a bit too relaxed, considering it’s wartime?”
“Probably because they’ve deployed all their main forces. With their elite troops gone, they must’ve left only second-rate soldiers to defend the rear.”
Why? The reason was simple.
This time, I had handed over the role of Supreme Commander to one of my subordinates.
If I kept holding onto command forever, the others wouldn’t grow.
So, I passed it to them to give them a chance to gain some experience.
Thanks to that decision, I no longer needed to stay stuck in the rear command post.
For the first time in a while, I decided to take on frontline duties—to sharpen my field instincts and to assist the troops directly if necessary.
I brought a regiment (about 3,000 men) with me to carry out rear disruption and flanking maneuvers.
But…
“This looks like something we could take if we play our cards right.”
“You mean… you want to seize the fortress, sir?”
“Yeah. Pick out a few dozen of our swiftest and best fighters, including me. We’re going to infiltrate and open the gates.”
The enemy’s stronghold looked far too vulnerable.
It seemed like it could fall with just a little pressure.
So, I decided to just take it.
“Send a messenger to inform the main force. Tell them we’re skipping the attack on the noble coalition and going straight for their home base.”
“What if they object…?”
“They won’t. Don’t worry about it. We’ve had similar situations before, and they’ve never complained when I said I’d handle things.”
Though it was an impromptu change of plans, it wasn’t a reckless decision.
Back on the northern front, I’d personally assaulted and captured Imperial fortresses until I had two stars on my shoulder.
I figured I still had the knack for it.
“Ever tried clearing rooms while holding a torch in one hand and a sword in the other? If you haven’t, save your breath. It’s ridiculously tough.”
Compared to the hardened veterans of hellish battlefields I’ve faced, taking some poorly guarded rear-line fortress is child’s play.
“The risks are more than worth it.”
From a tactical standpoint, this fortress was far too valuable to ignore.
If captured, it would cut off the enemy’s headquarters and supply routes while also blocking their retreat.
With some luck, we might even secure valuable hostages.
How could I let such an opportunity pass? Even if we failed, it was worth a try.
“You’ve got ten minutes. Pick out the team quickly. We move before the enemy catches wind of us. The rest of you, stay ready to move at a moment’s notice.”
“Understood!”
And so began our impromptu daytime fortress infiltration operation.
Despite the chaotic planning, the execution went surprisingly smoothly.
–Clink.
Using grappling hooks and ropes, we fashioned makeshift ladders and climbed the walls one by one.
Since we’d scoped out blind spots from below, we managed to reach the top without being spotted.
“Two guards ahead, one behind. We’ll take care of the ones in front first.”
While the soldiers climbed, I pulled out a dagger I had prepared earlier.
Unsheathing it from its leather scabbard, I held it firmly, as if clasping my hands together, and then threw it.
–Thwack.
“Guhk!”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly—mmph!”
“Shh. If you want to live, stay quiet.”
The first guard dropped instantly as the dagger pierced his carotid artery.
As the second guard turned in surprise, I seized the moment to grab him from behind, covering his mouth before he could cry out.
“Now, I’m going to ask you some questions. Keep your voice down and only answer what I ask. Got it?”
I watched him nod before carefully uncovering his mouth.
“How many troops are left here?”
“J-just over a thousand, I think.”
“Where are the Duke and his family staying?”
“In that large mansion further inside….”
That was all the information I needed.
“You’ve done well. Rest in peace.”
“Please, spare—”
Before he could finish, I swiftly slit his carotid artery and severed his vocal cords.
It was a quick, painless death, and I had no more use for this poor soul.
Meanwhile, my soldiers had finished climbing up.
I tossed a couple of looted longswords their way and gave my orders.
“You see the watchtower near the gate? The gate controls should be nearby. Find them and get the gate open immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and five of you, come with me.”
The gate controls—a mechanism for opening and closing the fortress gates—were typically well-guarded due to their importance.
While their location was usually predictable due to technical limitations, I was confident my soldiers could secure and operate them with ease.
“What should we do?” one of the soldiers asked.
“Distraction duty. Make sure the enemy doesn’t suspect anything unusual.”
As my soldiers set off for the gate controls, we prepared to create a diversion.
I retrieved a few grenades I had brought along, scanning the surroundings quickly.
The fortress was a cluster of buildings, making it difficult to identify their purpose at a glance.
The mansion the guard mentioned was visible in the distance, while this area appeared to be barracks.
“Alright, boys. Blow it up!”
“Got it! Eat this!”
–BOOM!!
I lobbed a grenade into every nearby building window, one by one.
After a brief pause as the fuses burned down, explosions erupted in rapid succession, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky.
One of the buildings was particularly large and ornate.
The explosions inside were so violent that the entire structure was engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to adjacent buildings.
“Was that a gunpowder store? Lucky us. That’ll draw plenty of attention.”
“This should be enough. Let’s move elsewhere.”
What followed was simple. We kept moving, blowing things up, setting fires, and dealing with anyone who spotted us.
As the chaos spread, we heard the sound of the fortress gates creaking open.
“Finally, they’ve arrived.”
“Disperse by company! First and second companies, follow me! Fourth company, head west!”
“Strike before they can respond! Burn everything in sight!”
My soldiers stormed in with triumphant cheers, firing into the air and charging like wild barbarians.
If we’d swapped their uniforms for traditional clothing, they could’ve easily passed for a Mongol horde.
“Your Grace! Where are you?!”
“Over here, you fools!”
Spotting them coming our way, I waved to signal my location.
“See? I told you we could infiltrate and open the gates.”
“Yes… though I didn’t really think it was possible…”
The battalion commander, who had brought my warhorse, gave me a sheepish grin.
It occurred to me that this might’ve been his first time seeing me in an infiltration operation.
When he’d enlisted, I’d already been transitioning out of frontline duties.
“Thanks for the horse. Now, let’s go capture the Duke and his family.”
With the entire detachment inside the fortress, there was no need for subtlety anymore.
We moved openly and boldly, capturing every noble coalition soldier we encountered.
We seized every road, occupied untouched facilities, and secured weapons and provisions.
While supplies wouldn’t be of much use in such a short campaign, they were still valuable assets to have.
Humming a carefree tune, I strolled forward, and soon the mansion where the Duke’s family was said to be staying came into view.
“Who goes there! This is no place for—”
“Farewell.”
The guards at the front gate each received a neat hole in their foreheads and crumpled to the ground.
Inside, servants screamed at the sight of uninvited guests, but I ignored them and headed straight for the stairs.
From experience, houses like this always have the master’s quarters in the deepest part of the building.
Ignoring the side rooms in the hall—likely parlors or storage spaces—I continued down the main corridor.
“Found it.”
“Eek!”
And just like that, I came across the high-value hostages.
“D-die, you intruder!”
No sooner had I opened the door than a bodyguard lunged at me, dagger in hand.
He moved well, but unfortunately for him, he was far from being a match for me.
“You’re ten years too early, kid!”
–Crack!
I broke the first attacker’s skull with a straight punch to the face.
The second one behind him swung his blade, but I grabbed the weapon and yanked him toward me.
Seizing his neck, I used him as a human shield to block incoming attacks.
“Urghhh!”
“Wh-what? This wasn’t supposed to happen!”
For those who’ve never done it, let me tell you: pulling a blade out of someone’s body isn’t as easy as it looks.
The skin, muscle, and clothing wrap around the blade, making it stick unless you apply some force.
It’s even harder when the stabbed person is walking toward you.
“Oops, time to finish this.”
I shoved the human shield, now full of holes, toward his comrades and leapt lightly into the air.
Using the body on the floor as a foothold, I launched myself forward and delivered a flying kick with my full weight behind it.
Thanks to the steel-reinforced soles of my boots, the force was more than enough to take someone down.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out another dagger and swiftly dispatched two more guards with precise throws to their necks.
Was that all of them?
“P-please spare me!”
“Then drop your weapon and lie face down on the floor.”
“Yes, sir!!”
One soldier remained, but he quickly grasped the situation and obeyed without hesitation.
I decided to let him live—for now.
With the room secured, I took a moment to compose myself.
Then, I remembered something.
“Ah, I almost forgot to introduce myself as a guest.”
I turned toward the trembling figures huddled on the bed—young boys and girls, their wide eyes filled with fear, and an elderly woman who seemed to be their grandmother.
Judging by their ages, they were likely the Duchess and the Duke’s grandchildren. His children had either married off or been executed during previous purges.
“Greetings, esteemed members of the House of Barelmund. I am Carolus von Royten, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.”
I stepped closer and continued in a calm but authoritative tone.
“Evidence has surfaced that Duke Barelmund mobilized a large military force to incite rebellion. As direct family members, you are hereby deemed accomplices and key witnesses. You will be placed under arrest. If you cooperate, there will be no further bloodshed. But let me be clear…”
I crouched down to meet the children’s terrified gazes and whispered softly.
“You’ve been kidnapped.”
Honestly, I’d always wanted to say that line at least once.
Meanwhile, in the capital city of Rahator.
“So… you’re suggesting we hold an exam to select bureaucrats? Are you serious?”
“Yes, this is a system proposed by His Grace, Carolus.”
The kingdom’s administration was about to undergo a significant reform, introducing an exam-based bureaucratic system with a distinctly “Eastern” flair.