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[Translator - Tangrine ]
[Proofreader - Seeker ]
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Chapter 36 - Kidnapped (1)
At that moment, the Imperial Army Headquarters in the capital city of Raisen was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
“Haha, that’s a relief! Everyone is safe!”
"Yes, indeed. A mere sergeant has received the blessing of a dragon, it becomes inevitable that future military strategies will have to be revised.”
“We’ll think about that later. Now that he has the blessing of a dragon, we can't just leave him as a sergeant. We must promote him. What rank would be appropriate?"
"We must promote him but considering fairness rather than promoting him all at once, it would be better to give him several simple tasks and promote him incrementally after he completes them.”
“A lieutenant colonel would be a suitable rank to maintain the army's dignity."
"Right! A lieutenant colonel should do the job! If someone with the blessing of a dragon is just a sergeant, how would people look down on our army?"
Everyone nodded in agreement but Sigarus frowned without saying a word.
Just then, the intelligence officer came into the situation room.
“Intelligence officer! You never arrive on time!”
“Well, I’ve heard strange rumors…”
“What rumors?”
“Well... It’s about Sergeant Clyden and Lady Lydis, They are... involved in such matters.”
For a moment, the commander couldn’t understand what he meant but after thinking it over he suddenly realized.
“What do you mean?! What’s going on?”
"Uh, well… There’s just a rumor circulating."
“Intelligence officer, do you have any common sense?! Trying to tarnish the honor of the lady with unverified rumors?”
"Hmm... I see, so that's why you mentioned it earlier."
At Sigarus’s muttering, the commander looked at him.
“Do you know something?”
“Well, it’s nothing major. I just overheard it while writing the report… They say it happened due to alcohol.”
“Gah!”
The commander collapsed at Sigarus’s words.
The innocent, pure imperial princess had come to the military to elevate its standing and now some wicked sergeant had seduced her!
"This damn... arrest him immediately! Forget promotion! Demote him to private! No, send a communication! Order his execution!"
“He has the blessing of a dragon. Are you really going to execute him? Are you planning to fight the dragon too?”
At Sigarus’s sarcastic comment, the commander grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed.
The officers in the room were in a state of panic but seeing the commander’s distress, he smiled with satisfaction.
"Well, it seems that Clyden’s promotion is out of the question now. Tsk, poor guy. At least he’s avoided being demoted."
Just then, an officer rushed in.
“Urgent news! An unidentified group has attacked Stonewall’s castle! They’ve caused significant damage!”
"What? Is everyone safe?"
“Well... due to the sudden attack on the banquet hall, Private Kaysis and Sergeant Eres have been seriously injured, and Sergeant Clyden has been kidnapped!”
”Count Buscard quickly organized a pursuit team but before they could move, Lieutenant Lydis and Sergeant Eres ignored Count Buscard’s orders and chased after the unknown group. So, Count Stonewall has requested the army's assistance.”
The commander collapsed again upon hearing the news.
***
"Oh my! I never imagined that Lydis would fall in love. I never saw that coming."
Clyden who was inwardly regretting and lamenting his actions while outwardly smiling beside Lydis, was suddenly startled by the voice.
Behind them stood a woman in a white dress, exuding a strange aura despite her beauty.
Lydis smiled warmly and grabbed her hand.
"Ciris! It's been so long!"
"Hmm? Do you know her?"
Clyden asked when Lydis acted as if she recognized the woman.
"Ah! Let me introduce you. Ciris, this is Sergeant Clyden. And Sergeant, this is Ciris Hue
Cyan, the daughter of the Duke of the Western Cyan family."
"The Cyan family? That ghostly Cyan?"
The Cyan family was famously known for being almost non-existent.
Like the Intron family in the East, they never participated in public affairs.
The Cyan family was often referred to as ‘The Ghostly Cyan’ because of their extremely minimal presence, alongside the petty Deviron family, the reckless Iron family, and the indifferent Intron family.
"Hmm, when did you arrive?"
“Oh my? Brother… wasn’t I by your side from the beginning?”
"Really? Then at least make your presence known!"
"Heh heh."
Ciris smiled while covering her mouth with one hand without saying anything.
A strange atmosphere flowed between Ciris and Buscard and Clyden felt that their relationship was far from ordinary.
He subtly nudged Buscard in the side.
“Hey, it doesn’t look like a regular relationship. When did you two get together?”
"Well... I don’t even know. She’s so inconspicuous that I didn't realize it until one day when I came to my senses, we became like brother and sister."
“And you teased me by calling me Hunter? You’re the Hunter!”
While Lydis and Ciris chatted cheerfully, Clyden and Buscard exchanged words.
In a corner of the garden, where the dazzling lights of the banquet hall didn't reach, a group of individuals was cautiously watching the scene.
"Alright! Let’s double-check the plan. Team 1 will stop the guards, while Team 2 will enter the banquet hall and quickly secure the hostages.”
”Team 3 will place explosive charges in key locations and secure escape routes. Any questions?"
A sharp-looking woman with a slender figure raised her hand.
“Hey! Hey! Which team am I in?”
"Pretty, just follow me around."
"Kyah! I’m only going to follow Rupert!"
The woman clung to the burly man’s arm and rubbed her cheek against his.
“Listen up! Princess Ciris, who always disappears and messes up our kidnapping plans is right there. As you all know, if the kidnapping operation succeeds, we’ll be in a better position to negotiate with the Cyan family. So, let’s all do our best and make sure we don’t make any mistakes!”
At Rupert’s words, everyone nodded.
“Alright, the operation starts now! Let’s go! This is the glorious first mission of our special task force!”
While Clyden and Buscard were talking, the commotion outside suddenly grew louder, followed by screams and the sound of rifle butts clashing.
"What’s going on?"
The people in the banquet hall murmured anxiously at the sudden noise.
Just then, the window on the terrace shattered and a group of intruders rushed in.
The sharp screams of women and the astonished voices of men echoed throughout the hall.
They aimed crossbows at the people in the room.
A giant man, at least two or three times the size of an average person, entered and surveyed the surroundings.
"Greetings. I am Lieutenant Rupert, leader of the Special Operations Unit of the Jeteris Liberation Front. We have now taken control of this place.”
”You are all our hostages. If you cooperate with our instructions, we will guarantee your safety!"
Rupert’s words made the banquet hall go silent and people began to whisper amongst themselves.
"The Jeteris Liberation Front? What is that?"
"Where is Jeteris located?"
"A liberation front? Has the Empire occupied some land?"
While people whispered, Rupert spoke again.
"We only need one person! Princess Ciris. Which one of you is Princess Ciris?"
At Rupert’s words, all eyes turned to Ciris who had been with Lydis.
However, Ciris had mysteriously disappeared.
Lydis hesitated for a moment before stepping boldly in front of Rupert.
"I am Lydis Hugh Iron of the Iron family. Who are you? I’ve never heard of the Jeteris Liberation Front!"
"Greetings, Princess Lydis. We need Princess Ciris of the Cyan family. We would appreciate your cooperation."
"Hmph! How dare you! Try if you can!"
Eres and Kaysis hurriedly surrounded Lydis as if protecting her, glaring at Rupert.
Clyden stood frozen, watching the situation in a daze.
"How dare you come to my estate and cause trouble! Do you want to die? Do you think my people are easy targets?"
Rupert glanced at Buscard briefly.
"I’m sure the knights you’re so proud of are in a state of disarray right now."
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Buscard shouted as a loud explosion echoed from several places, followed by more screams.
Hearing that, Buscard trembled with rage and gritted his teeth.
"Using explosive charges, you crazy bastards! Are you trying to kill everyone? The knights will be here soon!"
"The knights heading this way are currently engaged with our troops. It’s not enough, but it will buy us some time."
"Ugh!"
"Alright, the longer this goes on, the more damage we cause, so we’ll just take Princess Ciris with us. Princess Ciris, where are you? Please come out peacefully."
Rupert looked around as he spoke, but no one in the banquet hall could find Ciris.
Truly, it was the perfect invisibility of the ghostly Cyan family’s noblewoman.
Rupert sighed and then spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Princess Ciris, you’ve managed to avoid us so far, but it will be difficult this time. If you don’t come out, we’ll start killing one hostage at a time."
Rupert looked around and nodded at one person.
A few crossbows were immediately aimed at him.
The man trembled with a pale expression.
"Come out now, or this man will lose his life."
But Ciris was still nowhere to be seen, so Rupert reluctantly spoke again.
"Kill him."
The people around the man screamed and scattered.
Just as Rupert’s subordinates were about to fire, Clyden suddenly shouted.
"You filthy scum! Are you out of your mind?"
"Eh? Aaagh!"
In his haste, Clyden grabbed Kaysis by the back of his neck and threw him at Rupert’s subordinates.
Kaysis screamed as he collided with the men, rolling on the ground and groaning in pain.
His limbs were twisted in unnatural directions, indicating serious injuries.
"……."
"……."
Everyone stared at Clyden, stunned by his brutal act.
They tried to distance themselves from him as quietly as possible.
"Kyaahaha! There’s a monster here besides Rupert!"
Pretty laughed, holding her stomach as though she found it amusing.
Rupert stared at him in a daze.
"I don’t care what you all are up to, and I don’t need to know! Trying to take a woman hostage! Even if you have some noble cause, it’s unforgivable!"
At Clyden’s passionate outburst, Rupert smiled bitterly.
"Though it’s against the moral code, if it’s the command of my lord, I’ll follow any order!"
"You piece of shit! Who’s your boss?"
"How dare you speak like that! I won’t forgive anyone who insults Lord Questin!"
"Bring it on, you bastard! I’ll take one of you with me! ...Huh? Wait, Questin? I’ve heard that name before?"
"Hmph! Be quiet!"
Rupert raised his hand and his subordinates aimed their crossbows at Clyden.
Lydis, Eres, and Buscard rushed over to protect Clyden.
"...I only need the life of the one who insulted my lord! The rest should stay out of this!"
"Hmph! Before you kill the sergeant, you’ll have to kill me first!"
Lydis spoke with a determined look.
“…I don’t like it but this guy is so…….”
Eres glares at Rupert while sighing.
"Sigh, we’re from the same town, so I can’t just stand by and watch..."
Buscard calmly protects Clyden with a resigned look.
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[Translator - Tangrine ]
[Proofreader - Seeker ]
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