My Players Are So Fierce

We have the amulet on us, dying…

is absolutely impossible.

Do you really think I’m stupid?

But I only bought one dirigible ticket, you’ll have to figure out how to get your own.”

“Hey, that’s easy, with the card hiding trick you taught me, I just won a big sum.”

—-

“Get out of my office!

You two little bastards!

Guards!

Drag them out!”

The next morning, Marshall Loren’s loud voice resounded in the office of the Pioneer Fortress, but this time was different from before; the roar was filled with uncontrollable anger.

It seemed that someone had truly angered the Marshal.

The guards at the door immediately pushed the door open but were easily suppressed by Iron Hand Captain, while Ron was pounding the table and shouting at the Dwarf Marshal:

“Explain yourself!

Are you in cahoots with those damn Psychics from the Circle Tower?

You still haven’t answered my question!

Why was the plague we used identical to what the Wolf People used?

Your soldiers are dead!

Killed by the very plague we used!

Everyone who survived Position Eight saw the Wolf People drop the Plague Bucket, even the runes on them were exactly the same!

To hell with cherishing soldiers like children, you cold-blooded dwarf bastard.”

Being cornered in the office with these damned accusations, Loren was almost going mad.

This young man before him had no idea how many heads had already rolled because of the Circle Tower, he was just venting his anger; Loren too had lost comrades and could understand where Ron’s fury stemmed from, but this promising young man had used the worst possible way to vent.

He had trampled the dignity of the Marshal of the Exploration Corps, offending the most untouchable taboo in the army’s structure.

“I warn you one last time, Major Ron!”

Loren glared at him like an angry lion, almost spitting the words out through gritted teeth:

“Get out of my office now!

Obey the gendarmerie’s guidance to stay in the cage, waiting for the military tribunal’s decision on the stupid things you and your adjutant did today.

If you think that’s too boring, I can end you right here!”

“We went with 5500, only 2000 came back.

Those damn Wolf People and their vicious plague killed our soldiers, Marshal.

I know that in the eyes of big figures like you, the feuds behind these matters can be slowly settled after the Black Disaster ends.

I also know it’s the right thing to do…

But sorry, I’m just a mere man who survived from the frontline, just a soldier; I can’t see as far as you do, and I can’t understand the necessity of sacrifices.

I want revenge, for my brothers, for my subordinates, for Dune!

That’s all!”

Major Ron took a step back.

He grasped his major insignia tightly, pulling it off with force, and under Marshall Loren’s furious gaze as he stood up abruptly, he gave it a final caress before throwing it onto the Marshal’s desk.

This action was seen by General Soros who had arrived at the door with the fastest speed, his raised hand falling powerlessly at this moment.

He knew he was a step too late, his foolish son had done everything he shouldn’t have.

Ron didn’t care about any of this anymore, wearing his military coat he hoarsely said:

“I know doing this will spread the matter quickly, I know doing this will subject you to the greatest pressure you can bear in politics and public opinion, I also know doing this will force you to find out the truth as quickly as possible.

The entire Exploration Corps will watch your actions because of this.

The dead and the living alike are watching you!

Perhaps no one dares to say it to your face, but be careful, Marshal; you, walking on thin ice, only need to make one wrong choice, and the Exploration Corps you painstakingly built will collapse from within.

I didn’t come here impulsively, I learned from you how to apply pressure on a target.

I’m sorry, Marshal, I am indeed coercing you; this is the quickest and direct way I can seek justice and vengeance for my brothers.

I know that today I will be expelled from the Exploration Corps…”

“You wish!

You bastard deserve nothing but a bullet.”

Loren slammed the table, roaring:

“Guards!

Take these two disobedient traitors to the cell, if they resist, shoot them on the spot!”

More guards rushed in, and Major Ron and Iron Hand Captain stopped resisting, allowing themselves to be escorted out; as Ron was dragged out, he stared fixedly at Marshall Loren.

His bloodshot and weary eyes were exactly the eyes a soldier should have.

Even filled with pleading.

Several minutes later, General Soros, who seemed to have aged over a decade in an instant, entered the office, and he hadn’t even spoken when he heard Loren’s voice in the smoke-filled room:

“Your son must be very desperate…

Otherwise, that smart guy wouldn’t use such a method for his final resistance, he may have guessed about our compromise with the Circle Tower.

Damn!

I really didn’t expect that something that ended two years ago would stir up trouble today…

No, it never ended at all!

The moment I ordered the use of the plague sent by the Circle Tower, this matter would haunt me like a resentful spirit for life.

Even when I have already realized, now I find that I’ve dug a pit for myself that can never be filled.

The Transylvania people will seek revenge on me, the resentful spirits of Westerburg won’t rest, the bastards hiding in the Circle Tower revel in it, and now even my own soldiers are rebelling because of it.

But don’t worry, Soros.

They are war heroes, and King Louis has already begun to publicize their victory domestically, with Ron being the centerpiece of this publicity; the military tribunal won’t execute them at this time, but your promotion in two months might…”

“No, I no longer care about that, Marshal.”

General Soros stepped forward and picked up the insignia discarded by his son, clenching it in his palm, his five fingers squeezing it into his flesh, making himself feel pain.

He said wearily:

“We have to resolve this!

If Fraser’s report and Ron’s accusations are true, it means there’s a force hidden within our nation that can stab us in the back; I don’t know if His Majesty is prepared, but the time left for him may be running out too.

Circle Tower…

You really should have led troops to level it last time!”

“Yes.”

Sitting on a specially made chair, Marshall Loren looked up, exhaling a smoke ring and said in a low voice:

“We missed that opportunity, but this time…

this time it’s not something that can be resolved just by cleaning a faction, 3500 death-seekers…

I want them to pay a hundred times the blood!”