Ch 258: Raising Flags On A Tense Border Might Lead To Immediate Consequences

A little earlier, around dusk, at the northern border of the Ferenti Kingdom.

“Squad Leader, do you think God’s Country will attack us?”

A Young Soldier, having finished his patrol mission for the day, followed his Squad Leader back to the barracks, asking his Squad Leader as they walked.

“Personally, I hope we don’t fight. I have a wife and child; my child is only two years old. I don’t want to die for my country so early.”

The Squad Leader took a portrait of his child from his shirt pocket. The creases on the portrait indicated that the Squad Leader often took it out to look at it.

“Oh? Is this your son? He’s quite cute.”

The Young Soldier approached the Squad Leader and glanced at the portrait.

“Do you have a wife?”

The Squad Leader asked the soldier beside him. The Young Soldier shook his head.

“I joined the army because I lack skills and can’t find a partner.”

“He he, things will get better. When our term ends, I’ll introduce you to a few girls.”

“Really?”

“Could I possibly lie to you? Hahahahaha, go back and rest quickly. Tomorrow is morning patrol.”

“Yes!”

The two people returned to the camp and saw several transport carriages driving in.

“Squad Leader, are the new recruits here?”

“I’m not sure, but they all look pretty tender. I’m afraid they won’t last long here.”

“Eh?”

“Eh what eh? Don’t you think about where this is? The border! These little kids clearly haven’t received any training. If there’s a real fight, they’ll be lucky not to wet their pants on the battlefield. Sigh, these kids would have a better future studying than joining the army. Look, that kid is even wearing glasses.”

The Squad Leader pointed to a boy wearing glasses who had just been pulled off a carriage. The Young Soldier turned to look, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

“It’s true, eh? Are we that short-handed now?”

“Who knows? Ever since Hero Bal died and Godchild Nia escaped, the Kingdom hasn’t been very peaceful. I don’t know what’s going on up top; they don’t give us more money, but they make us do more work.”

“Squad Leader, don’t talk about it. Instead of complaining, we might as well think about what we’re having for dinner.”

“You little brat are lecturing me? Forget it, come with me after dinner, we’re going to drink.”

“Wow, privately keeping wine is a disciplinary violation.”

The Young Soldier whispered in the Squad Leader’s ear.

“So what kind of wine is it? I haven’t had a drink in ages, I’m a little hungry for it.”

“You little rascal, I knew it. Just come find me after you eat. Don’t tell anyone else, especially the others in the squad; they can all drink like fish. If they know, I’m afraid there won’t be much left for me.”

“Squad Leader, you can rest assured!”

The two laughed and returned to their respective rooms. After taking off their armor, they wore single garments and went to the canteen for a rather ordinary dinner.

“Squad Leader, tonight’s dinner is really bad. It feels like these beans are moldy.”

“You little rascal, you should be grateful you have something to eat.”

“Then when are we going to… uh?”

“Let’s go now, just in time to rinse our mouths.”

“Okay!”

The two, like thieves, sneaked into the forest while no one was around.

“?Three or five strokes on the inkstone?

?Partridge sings in the falling ink?

?Who understands the meaning in the song?

?Broken string waits for you to tie?

?……?”

The Old Sergeant slapped the Young Soldier on the head as he hummed.

“You little rascal, you’re on the government payroll, and you still want to improve, huh?”

“Sergeant, please understand me, I really want to improve.”

“You little rascal.”

The two wrestled playfully for a while before stopping. The Old Sergeant looked around, confirming that no one was around before digging up the topsoil and taking a wine jar from the ground.

“Mmm, it’s still the fragrant wine brewed back home.”

“Wow, Sergeant, where is your home?”

“Temur City. You won’t believe it, before coming here, I even met Hero Bal.”

“So envious! Sergeant, hurry up and open it to drink.”

“What’s the rush? I’m not even in a hurry.”

The Old Sergeant took two small wooden cups from his bosom and handed one to the Young Soldier.

“Here, let’s have a couple of mouthfuls.”

The Young Soldier took the wooden cup and poured wine for the Old Sergeant.

“You’re quite considerate.”

“Hehe.”

The Young Soldier chuckled, then poured himself a drink. The two clinked their cups and drained the wine in their cups in one gulp.

“Good wine.”

“Right?”

“Sergeant, let me pour you some more.”

“Look, you’re in a rush again.”

The two chatted and laughed, drinking cup after cup, until the sun had completely set. The Old Sergeant sealed the wine jar and buried it back.

“Such a pity, only one jar left.”

“Sigh, I really want to go home early.”

The two walked slowly back to the camp, which was unusually quiet.

“Something’s wrong, kid, don’t go out yet.”

The Old Sergeant pulled the Young Soldier back who was about to walk out, into the shrubbery. The Young Soldier was puzzled and asked the Old Sergeant.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have a bad feeling. Let’s wait a bit. I remember that the patrol is every fifteen minutes. Let’s wait a while, and go back after the patrol has passed.”

“You wouldn’t have gotten paranoid after drinking too much, would you?”

“Who’s been a soldier longer, you or me? Not listening to veteran advice will lead to suffering.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll wait with you.”

The Young Soldier sat beside the Old Sergeant. To pass the time, he casually picked up a leaf.

“What are you doing?”

The Old Sergeant turned and glared at the Young Soldier, who was quite surprised.

“I was going to play a little tune.”

“Don’t play yet; it’s not good if we’re discovered.”

“Alright.”

The two waited quietly for fifteen minutes, and they did not see the patrol.

“What’s going on?”

The Young Soldier leaned close to the Sergeant and asked. The Sergeant shook his head.

“I don’t know. I’m afraid something has happened in the camp. Let’s wait another round; if no one comes, we won’t go back tonight.”

“Okay.”

The two continued to squat in the shrubbery for another half hour, and the patrol still did not appear. Instead, the lights in the camp began to gradually go out.

“No good, I’m afraid the enemy has infiltrated the camp.”

“What?!”

“The patrol is gone, and the camp suddenly went dark; something is definitely wrong.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Wait.”

“Wait?”

“Wait for an opportunity. We may be the last survivors; we must report this to the Royal Capital.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

At that moment, a dark figure darted past not far from the two of them. The Young Soldier let out a cry of fright, and the Old Sergeant quickly covered his mouth.

“Quiet!”

The Young Soldier nodded and whispered,

“What was that thing?”

“I don’t know, it was too fast, I couldn’t see.”

“Don’t look, I’m right behind you.”

The Old Sergeant and the Young Soldier turned sharply, and a short, black-clothed man was standing behind them. He had a black matte dagger in his hand, and some liquid was still dripping onto the ground from the dagger.

“So it’s a fugitive. I was wondering why two beds were empty.”

The short man swung his dagger down. The Old Sergeant kicked the Young Soldier away and then grabbed the short man’s arm.

“Kid, run!”

The Old Sergeant told the Young Soldier to run, but the Young Soldier was still lying on the ground where he had been kicked.

“Sergeant, what about you?”

“Don’t worry about me! Run, spread the news that the camp has been invaded!”

“Sergeant…”

“Run!”

The Old Sergeant’s shout attracted other black-clothed men from the camp. Watching the Young Soldier disappear into the forest, the Old Sergeant looked at the short man.

“You’re an assassin from God’s Country.”

“Oh? I didn’t expect anyone to know.”

“Do you really want to go to war so much?!”

“You don’t understand anything. Godchild Nia’s escape has disgraced God’s Country. Now you are slandering God’s Country, saying that God’s Country bombed your research facilities and is amassing troops at the border. Doesn’t your kingdom want to start a war?”

“Damn people of God’s Country…”

The Old Sergeant’s contest of strength with the short man gradually fell into a disadvantage.

“Once you’re dead, I’ll chase after that young soldier immediately. It’s too far from your outpost; that kid won’t live to see the message delivered.”

“Don’t underestimate me!”

The Old Sergeant kicked out with a sweeping leg. The short man simply leaped, and then attacked again with his dagger.

“You’re pretty good. Unfortunately, that’s all you’ve got.”

A dagger appeared in the short man’s other hand. The Old Sergeant jumped back to avoid the short man’s attack, but he was still unable to defeat the small man.

“It’s over, old soldier. As a tribute to your bravery, tell me your name.”

The Old Sergeant was already covered in wounds, and blood was steadily flowing from his wounds. He spat out a mouthful of blood, gasping for breath.

“Why the hell should I tell you?!”

“Stubborn fool, then go to hell, nameless old soldier.”

The short man’s dagger swung down toward the Old Sergeant’s neck. The Old Sergeant closed his eyes, his mind filled with images of his wife and son. But after a while, the expected pain did not come. The Old Sergeant opened his eyes, and a spear radiating a Golden Ethereal Glow was impaled in the short man’s forehead.

“What… happened?”

Just as the Old Sergeant was still puzzled, the Young Soldier ran back.

“Sergeant, I found reinforcements!”