The next day.
All troops at the forward base, except for the minimum security personnel, ascended the western mountain ridge as soon as they woke up.
This was because an order had been issued by the battalion commander, Daniel Steiner, to conduct reconnaissance and fortification training.
The troops, equipped with sandbags, 12 mortars, and 4 machine guns, were able to receive new instructions from Daniel, as they prepared to carry out fortifications resembling real combat scenarios.
─ Fortifications should be established in a manner that surrounds the forward base.
In short, it meant they were to conduct training by assuming their own forward base was the enemy’s and create a surrounding defensive position.
The troops found it hard to comprehend, but since it was the battalion commander’s first order, they decided to follow it.
After leveling the area, they set up mortar positions and installed machine guns.
The unit’s snipers climbed to the edge of the lateral cliff to take their positions, while the special operations company, originally tasked with guarding the forward base, received orders to block the retreat path.
Since they were familiar with the terrain near the forward base, they were deemed perfect for the blocking role.
As there were no deficiencies in the order itself, Bernard decided to comply, joined up with the company directly under the headquarters, and established a defense along the retreat path.
Afterward, as a waiting order was issued, Bernard and the troops rested among the trees.
With his arms crossed and leaning back against a tree, Bernard sighed and turned to the side.
Lieutenant McCall was sitting on the ground, unfolding a map and studying it intently.
“Hey.”
When Bernard called out, McCall looked up.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yeah. There’s something I want to ask you.”
Bernard scratched his head and spoke.
“What’s the point of this training? I can’t wrap my head around the idea of surrounding an enemy forward base.”
“Hmm. Could you elaborate on that?”
“It’s a forward base, right? It’s the base that would be most vigilant? So how does it make sense to surround such a base from all sides? Are they idiots or something?”
He wasn’t wrong.
But Lieutenant McCall merely smiled it off.
“Indeed, if this is training to surround an enemy forward base, it does seem flawed.”
“I knew you’d think that too. I thought you were some kind of genius staff officer sent from headquarters, but it seems the rumor was exaggerated.”
“Please retract your words. The rumors are not exaggerated.”
“……What do you mean? Didn’t you just say it’s flawed?”
As McCall folded the map, he spoke.
“I said it would be flawed if this were merely training.”
Bernard blinked, still not understanding, as McCall tucked the map away.
“I participated in the Nordia invasion operation with the battalion commander. If you knew how the battalion commander took down Nordia, you wouldn’t be able to view this as just training.”
“……Are you saying it’s not training?”
“Indeed. Something must surely be in preparation.”
As Bernard looked at McCall, who was filled with conviction, he responded sullenly.
“If something is being prepared, why didn’t he tell us? We’ve done nothing for nearly half a month since we got here?”
“The battalion commander has an extreme dislike for his operations leaking through others. Furthermore, do you really believe that the battalion commander did nothing during these fifteen days?”
“Then, could it be…?”
Lieutenant McCall nodded.
“There’s a saying: ‘After a long contemplation, one makes a move.’ From my perspective, the battalion commander has merely been lying in wait like a predator awaiting the right opportunity.”
McCall, who had risen from his seat, directed his gaze toward Daniel.
Daniel, separated from the troops, was resting his chin on his hand, frowning.
Given the troubled look in his eyes, he must have been devising numerous detailed operations in his mind.
As McCall observed Daniel, he murmured in awe.
“Now… it seems he has finished preparing to show his claws.”
However, contrary to McCall’s expectations, Daniel Steiner had no particular thoughts.
‘It’s a bird I’ve seen before. What was its name again…?’
He was simply trying to remember the name of the bird sitting on the branch, preening its feathers.
*
Meanwhile, Prince Bleff of the Belmoore Kingdom was leading an elite battalion towards the forward base where Daniel Steiner was located.
If it were up to him, he would have preferred to bring more troops, but due to the mountainous terrain, bringing in a larger number could create difficulties in control, so he refrained.
Moreover, he needed to capture Daniel Steiner before he could escape, so operating secretly with a battalion was imperative.
Setting out with the battalion early in the morning, Bleff arrived at the Empire’s forward base, located in a basin halfway up the mountain, only at night.
Although the troops were somewhat fatigued from the ascent, they were still fit for combat, so Bleff ordered an assault without hesitation.
Upon receiving the prince’s command, the troops began to infiltrate the Empire’s forward base stealthily.
There were imperial soldiers standing guard, but since their numbers were few, they were easily overwhelmed.
Watching his soldiers enter first, Bleff hesitated for a moment before entering the forward base himself.
Thanks to this, Bleff thought he had achieved an easy victory.
Having swiftly dealt with the sentries and entering the forward base, all that was left was to slaughter the imperial soldiers, who were now asleep, and capture Daniel Steiner.
Filled with joy at the prospect of achieving great merit, Bleff commanded his troops to kill all enemy forces except for Daniel Steiner.
However, upon hearing Bleff’s command, the soldiers scoured the forward base but strangely found no gunfire.
As ten minutes of silence passed, Bleff felt puzzled and summoned his officers.
He needed to confirm what was going on.
“I clearly ordered to kill all enemy forces except for Daniel Steiner. Why is there no sound of gunfire?”
The officers remained silent.
They had no idea what was happening either.
As everyone maintained their silence, Colonel Galbaud, Bleff’s staff officer, finally opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry to inform you, but….”
Colonel Galbaud’s voice trembled slightly.
“There are no imperial soldiers visible here.”
“What?”
Bleff’s eyebrows furrowed, as if he had heard something absurd.
It was incomprehensible that there were no enemies at the enemy’s forward base.
“There are no imperial soldiers at the Empire’s base? Did you search properly?”
When Bleff reproached him, the battalion commander, who had been listening nearby, interjected.
“Colonel Galbaud speaks the truth. I ordered the troops to conduct a search, but….”
The battalion commander lowered his head in embarrassment.
“We found no signs of Imperial forces at any location, including the command post, barracks, supply depot, infirmary, storehouse, communication station, restroom, maintenance shop, watchtower, training facility, or underground facilities.”
“What the….”
Bleff instinctively swallowed hard, sensing that things were becoming increasingly strange.
“Are you saying the Imperial forces have vanished overnight?”
“I apologize, but I’m only relaying the facts.”
Of course, the battalion commander wouldn’t lie to the prince.
Despite knowing this, it was utterly incomprehensible.
“Well then, where did the Imperial Army go…?”
Anxiety began to creep up Bleff’s spine.
The exhilaration he had felt inside vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of fear.
As he felt the night air unusually cold, a non-commissioned officer rushed toward him.
The staff sergeant, wearing the rank insignia, stopped in front of Bleff and sprawled flat on the ground.
“Your Highness! I discovered imperial footprints leading toward the western ridge. I sent scouts to investigate….”
Beads of sweat rolled down the sergeant’s forehead.
“……The reconnaissance reported that they were establishing a position armed with mortars and machine guns.”
Bleff’s anxious premonition turned into certainty.
As a flustered Bleff trembled, the sergeant shut his eyes and spoke.
“Your Highness! It seems we are surrounded…!”
Sighs of resignation began to flow from different places.
Since no enemy forces were visible at the forward base, everyone was assuming the worst.
However, Bleff alone could not acknowledge his mistakes and looked to his staff.
“Colonel Galbaud! Is what he said true!?”
Galbaud could only grit his teeth and lower his head.
“It appears to be the case. They are likely blocking the retreat path as we speak. I would have done the same….”
The atmosphere darkened heavily with a tone of despair.
After receiving confirmation from his staff, Bleff shook his head in disbelief.
“It can’t be. It can’t be. Did the information leak? The person who conveyed the information to me was someone bought by the United Nations. So how…?”
Bleff’s face turned pale.
“How does Daniel Steiner know all our plans?”
Galbaud pressed his lips together and exhaled slowly.
“It seems there’s an informant following Daniel Steiner within the Belmoore Kingdom. Daniel Steiner may have targeted Your Highness from the very beginning and come here.”
Daniel Steiner had dug a trap using the information that Prince Bleff was aware of.
At this point, the only conclusion was that.
“Ah….”
Bleff, who had come to understand the situation, felt a wave of lethargy wash over him.
An officer nearby hurriedly stepped forward to support him, but Bleff’s eyes had lost their vitality.
Bleff, thinking he had been played by Daniel Steiner, let out a hollow sigh.
“To be hunted….”
A void voice slipped from Bleff, who hung his head.
“Was it me, not Daniel Steiner?”
Only then did Bleff realize.
That a mere human could never hunt a demon.
