Chapter Sixty-Five: The Special Envoy for Military Observation

To welcome General Ruhr of the Sixth Corps, General Adrik personally stepped out of the command tent. Seeing before him the Empire’s most famous “Rabbit General” being helped off his horse by his guards, Adrik felt his heart clench in frustration.

It was almost maddening! The district commanders were lunatics—what insanity led them to send such a man to cooperate with the Thirteenth Corps? To pair a rabbit with a lion? Whoever devised this plan deserved to be hanged!

Nonetheless, the Sixth Corps was arriving as allies. However reluctant Adrik might feel, he could not let it show on his face.

General Ruhr, on the other hand, was effusively cordial. After dismounting and straightening his appearance, he strode forward and gave Adrik a bear hug. He was big and stout; the embrace had a certain grandeur. Ruhr’s booming voice rang out with laughter, “It’s an honor for the entire Sixth Corps to fight alongside the Empire’s most famous Iron Army! Though we’ve known each other for years, this is our first time fighting side by side. With the Thirteenth Corps here, those Odins are sure to tremble!”

Not only was Ruhr large in stature, but his voice was loud and his manner exuberant. If one didn’t know his identity, observing his conduct alone would suggest he was a bold, heroic man—who would guess this was the Empire’s famed Rabbit General?

Adrik was caught between a smile and a grimace. He could only stiffen his face, cough, and gently extricate himself from Ruhr’s embrace. Fixing Ruhr with a sharp gaze, his voice low and slow, he said, “General Ruhr, since the district command has ordered us to form a single army, I will obey. But... on the battlefield, I hope the Sixth Corps fulfills its duty as comrades. We of the Thirteenth Corps will take on the hardest tasks. When we entrust our backs to our comrades, let us not be disappointed.”

Ruhr’s expression showed no embarrassment whatsoever—given his reputation, he had heard such distrust countless times. His skin was thick as a fortress wall. He only laughed, “Rest assured! The Sixth Corps may not be elite, but we won’t drag the Thirteenth Corps down from behind!”

(You certainly won’t drag us down—at the first sign of danger, you’ll run...) Adrik’s eye twitched.

Ruhr then laughed three times and said, “Well then, General Adrik, let me introduce the special envoy sent by the district command. Sir Bonfret, from the Imperial Ministry. He joined my unit two days ago, bringing orders from Osghilia. He’s here on assignment as a front-line observer. Ha ha ha ha!”

Hearing the name “Bonfret,” Adrik’s barely maintained composure faltered.

Ruhr stepped aside, revealing a figure behind his bear-like bulk.

Sir Bonfret had stood behind Ruhr all along, but Ruhr’s size had concealed him until now. Only then did General Adrik see the front-line observer.

(Absurd! How could the Ministry send such a scoundrel?!) Adrik’s face openly darkened.

Behind Ruhr, Sir Bonfret was of medium height and slender build, clad in exquisite silver armor—the latest retro Holy Knight style, popular in Osghilia this year. The armor had two main features: first, its extravagance. The entire suit was covered in silver plates, gleaming brilliantly. The breastplate was embossed and engraved with intricate patterns, even soaked in red iris flower juice. The joints were sewn with silver and gold thread, and the lining was made of premium fox fur, with a soft collar to protect the neck from chafing.

The pauldrons and bracers were thinly polished, their raised edges lending a martial air—though to a professional soldier’s eye, the filigreed plates would be easily pierced by a sword’s thrust.

Thus, the armor’s second feature was its fragility.

This ensemble was more a noble’s finery than true armor.

Sir Bonfret himself was exceedingly handsome. At thirty-three, his skin was pale and feminine, his features delicate, and his complexion carried a sickly pallor. His eyes were slender and slightly upturned, lending a natural allure.

Standing before General Adrik, the ornate armor only emphasized his effeminate, fragile air. He smiled with pursed lips, three parts bashful, and raised a gloved hand to his nose—his gloves pristine white—most chillingly, his little finger was daintily extended.

He approached General Adrik with a gait more suited to a ballroom than a military encampment.

Adrik’s face soured at the sight of this gentleman.

At least Ruhr, for all his ignoble reputation, could be considered a soldier; he had seen battle. But this Sir Bonfret...

Well, if Ruhr was nicknamed “Rabbit,” then Bonfret was the truest rabbit of all!

This beautiful noble was infamous throughout the Imperial capital.

He was thirty-three, born to a powerful aristocratic family, though not the eldest and thus unable to inherit the title. His striking looks made him the most renowned male beauty in the capital since youth. Most importantly, he had a famous lover—

The current Crown Prince of the Empire!

It was rumored the Crown Prince cared not for women, preferring men. Sir Bonfret was his favorite. In recent years, Bonfret’s status in Osghilia had soared thanks to the Prince’s affection; his power and influence were the envy of all. Among the aristocracy, everyone knew of the noble who had traded his body for wealth and glory.

To have such a man assigned to his unit? What was the Ministry thinking?!

Adrik’s face was livid. Meeting the noble’s gaze, he grunted, barely containing his anger, nodded in greeting, then turned into the tent.

“Hmmph.” Sir Bonfret also grunted in displeasure. Ruhr smiled, “Sir Bonfret, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest in your tent.”

The beautiful noble’s face showed displeasure as he covered his nose, his voice sharp, “I am here on duty as observer; with orders, how can I be lax?” He frowned, “The smell here is unbearable. Are all camps so foul?”

“Hah, please use my tent—it’s kept very clean. When the council convenes, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

Ruhr politely chatted a while, then had several attendants escort the noble away. The Rabbit General scratched his head and entered the command tent.

Inside, he met Adrik’s furious gaze. Ruhr spread his hands and spoke loudly, “Don’t blame me. Bringing him wasn’t my decision. Orders from above—I had no choice.”

Adrik sat, turning a dagger in his hands, and sneered, “Sending such a noble to the front—doesn’t the Crown Prince worry his beloved might die here?”

Ruhr found a seat, glanced at the guards outside, lowered his voice and laughed, “I see two possibilities for his presence—perhaps not such a bad thing, dear General Adrik!”

“What?” Adrik frowned, his scarred face twisting. “Putting that man in my unit is nonsense!”

“The first possibility... maybe his assignment wasn’t the Crown Prince’s wish, but the Emperor’s! The Crown Prince and that noble have become too notorious, and the Emperor’s health declines daily. The Crown Prince will eventually inherit, but with a male lover, the Emperor is uneasy—worrying the Prince will never favor women. No matter how handsome, a man can’t bear children... ha ha ha! The dynasty might have no heirs. So, perhaps the Emperor sent him to the front hoping he’d die and end the Prince’s infatuation.”

Adrik put down his dagger, brow tightly furrowed.

“The second possibility... is that headquarters knows the Odins aren’t attacking our sector, so they feel safe sending him here. Perhaps it’s the Crown Prince’s plan, looking to promote the noble, giving him an observer’s post to gain credentials.”

Adrik snorted, thinking: perhaps they know of Ruhr’s skill at escape—placing this distasteful noble by your side, if danger arises, the expert runner can keep him safe.

The two generals exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts. Ruhr pondered, then said seriously, “My troops are close behind—by dawn, they’ll be here. One light infantry banner, two heavy infantry banners. I left the supply train behind to hurry. Under urgent orders, I came ahead with my cavalry.”

Adrik sighed, stood, took down the wall map, and pointed, “Never mind that for now. Odin’s vanguard has appeared at Albakht. The latest scout report encountered them about a hundred and fifty miles north, with Arctic Hunters as their scouts. You know, only Odin’s elite units deploy Arctic Hunters.”

He paused, then smiled maliciously, “Perhaps this time we’ll meet your old friend, Hasting.”

Ruhr’s fat face twitched, then he straightened, head held high, “If we meet Hasting, we’ll fight to the death! With you, the Empire’s Lion Commander and the Thirteenth Corps, even Hasting needn’t frighten us!”

His words were reassuring, but Adrik only smiled coldly, then said sternly, “General Ruhr, since we’re cooperating, let me be clear! The Thirteenth Corps will take on the toughest fight. But we are cavalry—when our armies join, the Sixth Corps must hold the center! We’ll drive our cavalry into the flanks; you need only stand firm in the center, not retreat a step!”

Ruhr laughed, “Seems your troops are wary of my reputation.” The Rabbit General stood, walked to the map, stroked his chin, and pointed, “Here—this terrain is best for battle. We’ll wait for the Odins here and drive them back. I think Albakht may not be their main attack.”

He paused, took a deep breath, and fixed Adrik with a stare, “Let me be frank! My men are infantry—if retreat is needed, the rear guard must be your responsibility! Four legs run faster than two.”

Adrik’s eyes flashed. He stabbed his dagger into the map. “Agreed!”

※※※

When Shaya returned from patrol, night had fully fallen. He was not on duty tonight. Upon entering his tent, he found Kevin preparing his gear. The bald man was gleefully polishing his mace, eyes alight with excitement.

“What’s going on?” Shaya noticed Kevin was wearing riding boots.

“Don’t sleep tonight—we depart before dawn!” The bald man laughed, giving Shaya a punch. “Get ready! By tradition, the general personally leads the first banner. Our guard always follows him.”