Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 1757: Permission

Ning waited for quite a long time before the large number of undead arrived halfway up the second mountain. Romus was at the front, so upon seeing Ning, he slowed down the army and came to meet him.

There were a few scouts nearby who appeared from where they hid to meet Romus. Upon realizing that he was a lieutenant captain, they quickly gave him their salute.

”What’s happening? Where is the captain?” Romus asked.

Ning explained the situation as quickly as he could.

”We need to go there,” he pointed between the mountains where there was a pre-trodden path for them to take.

”Will the captain meet us here?” Romus asked.

Ning nodded. ”He should be getting permission from the captain of this scouting area right now. He’ll meet us there.”

Romus nodded and made the undead move again.

With the undead moving again, they would get to where they needed to before noon.

* * * * * *

Matthew arrived at a closely guarded set of tents that was the base of these scouts. He had run up here before Rob, who was riding the undead.

Rob got the undead to stop and got down. ”I’ll alert the captain of your arrival. Please wait here.”

Rob walked in while the many people guarding the tent came out, ready to fight should they need to. Considering there was no threat just yet, they simply waited.

A man with a thick mustache that nearly hid his lips walked out into the open. He looked at Matthew with an analyzing eye.

”You’re a captain?” he asked.

”I am the leader of the 2nd Vin Battalion, Matthew Vin Reeves. I would like to ask for permission to move my troops through the pass in the east to make our way through to the capital.”

The captain simply took in the words but said nothing. ”I hear my scouts say that the war is over. Is that true?”

”It is,” Matthew said.

”How do I know you are not lying, Captain?” the man asked. ”Do you have proof?”

”Proof? You have my word. It is an emergency.”

”I must confirm this with the head command. Please wait until I get confirmation that we have lost the war.”

”The head command will have left already. They aren’t where you sent the spirits,” Matthew said. ”You need to believe me. I am trying to save what I can of my country and my people.”

”The rules are rules, Captain,” the man said. ”I cannot do anything about it.”

Matthew didn’t know what to say. He stared around, trying to come up with a way to prove to this man that what he was saying was true. But how could he prove it to him, short of taking him to the campsite that the army had left behind?

He took a deep breath. ”Captain, listen to me. The war is over, but the troubles aren’t done yet. The enemies have won, so they will now try and take over our country.”

”However, there is still a chance to not have only the worst happen to us. If you allow me a chance, I can take my army and get to the capital. With my 8,000 strong at the doorstep, it will give us a much-needed edge during negotiations.”

The man with the mustache shook his head. ”You can save your breath, Captain. I will not do anything until I hear from our superiors.”

”You daft man!” Matthew shouted. ”Do you not understand the situation, or are you just trying not to? Do you care so little for your own country?”

The mustached man got angry. ”I’m following the rules. If I let you go and it was the wrong thing to do, then it is on my head. I need to wait for commands from high up.”

”THERE IS NO HIGH UP!” Matthew shouted. ”They’re dead. Those that aren’t dead have run away. We lost. The Golden Republic is no more. Why don’t you understand?”

”Our country will become part of their empire. We will be the empire’s soldiers. And I swear to you, they will punish all of us for standing in their way for this long. They will kill you, me, and the lot of us.”

”Do you wish to die, or will you give me permission to go through the pass?”

Matthew’s words were a shock to the man. He tried to speak, but no words came.

Matthew breathed in a bit after the screaming and took a moment to calm himself.

”Truth is, I do not need your permission. I am of the same rank as you. The only reason I came is to show you some respect and not go over you. But you leave me with no choice.”

Matthew turned to everyone else but the captain.

”I will take my men through the pass because it is the right thing to do. We will go to the capital and stop the worst-case scenario from coming true. If you are ordered to attack us while we are in the pass, I will have my army of 8,000 strong undead fight back against you. If you value your life, none of you will stop us.”

He turned to Rob next. ”Thanks for your help, kid. But it seems your captain wasn’t of much use. If you wish to join me, I will take you with me.”

He turned to the dozens of others who watched.

”I will take you all with me to the capital if you wish to come with me. There will be battle, and there will be deaths. But we will fight for the glory of the Golden Republic—one last time.”

He climbed onto the kneeling undead and had it take him away.

As the many scouts and soldiers watched Matthew leave, they turned to look at their own captain. None of them really knew what to do. They didn’t want to be the first to act.

Rob walked away. He got the courage to do so.

And with him walking, the others found courage too. One by one, the majority of the soldiers in the camp ran behind Matthew, following him to go save what was left of their country.