Here is the translated text:
“The ‘Second Class Order of Honor’ is awarded to Captain Enok Revendale for his remarkable courage and ingenuity in greatly contributing to the liberation of Maniopol citizens suffering from severe plunder and the successful annihilation of the Azoff 2nd Regiment stationed in the city.”
Clap clap clap clap.
Applause erupted from various places. I turned my head to look at the people sitting in rows.
From where Posta was, even our brigade commander seated far away looked so small; it was quite an unusual feeling.
Of course, alongside that, I could also see the faces of several individuals who had previously gained some familiarity with me as part of the Central Corps.
The National Guard Commander Lieutenant General Sigismund Blakovich I met last time in the capital.
Lieutenant General Haphenruke Helheim, the brigade commander of the Central Corps Mage Brigade.
And finally, up to Lieutenant General Viktor Zelenski, the director of the Central Technical Education Research Institute.
While it may have less impact compared to others whose shoulders were adorned with several stars, thinking back, it’s astonishing how I managed to build such a network of senior officers within just a year after graduating from the officer academy.
The ceremony of awarding medals continued afterward.
Among our unit’s personnel, Second Lieutenants Roxanna Elrim and Bella Meyer received gold medals for meritorious service.
Rick Hanson, a sergeant who infiltrated as a scout to Maniopol and served as a beacon for our forces, received the Third Class Order of Honor, which is unusually rare for a non-commissioned officer.
In essence, he had collected virtually all possible commendations based on the current situation.
After the medal ceremony concluded,
a brief hearing regarding the current battle situation was held. Though referred to as a hearing, the term felt somewhat inappropriate… However, this is about the supreme commander of the national armed forces and the only monarch of the duchy.
Moreover, since Orlando Rus III showed particular interest in the situation around Maniopol and Fort Morok,
the key figures involved in the Southern Corps and our Special Response Brigade were required to attend the hearing.
“There has been no significant movement from the Azoff side so far.”
“Are you saying they left their comrades isolated in Fort Morok?”
“They must be aware of the power of ironclad ships themselves. Given they lost both of their ironclads, it wouldn’t be feasible for them to project force.”
General Georgi answered the Duke’s question. My opinion aligned with his. Those fellows would undoubtedly be cowering in fear.
“Has there been any communication from Nur Ezenner, the commander of the landing forces from Azoff?”
“We are actively urging their surrender, but they remain unresponsive. However, there has been a notably positive response to the ‘exchange of citizens and food in Fort Morok,’ as suggested by Captain Enok Revendale.”
“It’s like a hedgehog, isn’t it?”
Nur Ezenner, who landed in Fort Morok, was indeed a remarkable commander.
The fact that only two regiments were sent for the initial landing from Azoff was likely due to their trust in Nur Ezenner’s superior command skills.
If the training status of the Special Response Brigade—or rather, the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit—wasn’t good, the current situation of the Quornen front wouldn’t favor Ukraine as it does now.
Although he is showing positivity towards the “supply of food” in Fort Morok, not responding to other proposals indicates that he is keeping Ukraine guessing about multiple options.
A frontline that has already become entrenched.
The hidden card of our allied forces has been revealed.
A fortified city with advantageous defensive terrain.
Nur Ezenner is fully utilizing these three conditions.
Though we might not completely push out the enemy who have entered space defense, if we really commit ourselves, reclaiming Maniopol without any casualties won’t be possible.
And this is something that must be avoided in the future vacuum operation.
If the Southern Corps and Special Response Brigade suffer significant losses in reclaiming Fort Morok, the vacuum operation will simply fail.
“Regardless, we control the supply lines tightly. If we wait a bit longer, they will surely starve to death.”
“I agree.”
The man who appeared to be the Minister of State nodded in agreement with the Duke’s words.
“Then, is there something more important than reclaiming Fort Morok? I want to discuss that now.”
At Orlando Rus III’s words, the hearing room fell eerily silent. It was clear that none of those present here failed to grasp the underlying meaning of his statement.
“Corps Commander Georgi Vasiliopoulos.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Is the Southern Corps planning to just sit idle until the trapped enemy in Fort Morok escapes?”
“No, we are not.”
I could clearly sense Georgi’s gaze shift toward me for a moment. The same was true for Major General Kinvel Lezanchev, the commander of his division.
‘…He’s really going to do it.’
For me, this place was no different from a pitch-black night sky. How many stars are there? And not only that, this was a meeting attended by even the Minister of State, who could be considered the Duke’s right-hand man in substance.
It was laughable that a captain, who wasn’t even a high-ranking officer, was going to take the initiative in expressing opinions here.
Even if I was prepared to stir things up, I still needed to add some fuel to the fire. After all, you can’t light a fire in an empty place, even with magic.
I eventually had to poke Sony Chepelin, who was sitting next to me.
“Brigadier General, why don’t you do something?”
“Huh? Me… me?”
“If I am to take action, I need support, right?”
“Uh, uh, okay.”
Sony Chepelin finally raised her hand under my pressure, and a sense of relief could be seen in General Georgi’s eyes.
“May I speak?”
“Brigadier General Sony Chepelin.”
Orlando Rus III wore a smile. I was certain he intentionally guided me and Sony Chepelin to intervene.
This was almost like a prearranged script.
“With all due respect, Your Highness, are you considering a ‘vacuum’ operation in the Azoff region?”
Vacuum.
When faced with such a straightforward word, the faces of those in the Southern Corps Command Headquarters showed a look of inevitability.
Those unrelated to the Central Corps and the kingdom’s bureaucrats were stunned in horror.
Well done, Sony Chepelin.
Our brigade commander also knows how to strike when the opportunity arises.
“If that’s the case, do you have any plans for a specific operation, Brigadier General Sony Chepelin?”
“Yes, I do.”
The eyes of the Great Mage sparkled.
He then grabbed my hand firmly, pulled me up, and said,
“From now on, I will let Captain Enok Revendale, whom I trust the most and who is the greatest war hero born in Ukraine, explain the plan.”
He poured oil into the flames.
*
Ah, so that was your intention.
I thought I was aiming for a slightly more gentlemanly approach.
My prediction was that Sony Chepelin would merely mention it and discuss the details with the Duke and the minimum number of officials involved.
That’s why I thought a mild complaint would suffice.
But this was no minor flame. It was closer to a volcanic eruption.
Unintentionally becoming the center of attention, I felt the piercing stares and stood directly before the Duke.
Curiosity, anticipation, faith.
Hatred, fear, jealousy.
Various emotions filled the different gazes. Of course, there were more negative reactions than positive ones.
But if you think I would be intimidated by such looks, you’re greatly mistaken.
Back when I first arrived in this world, I trampled over the scornful gazes cast upon me as the commander of a substandard squad.
Was it only in this world?
In my previous life, I lived through even more intense and blatant competition and battles, stepping over the blood and flesh of close friends to move forward.
Of course, at the end, only miserable results remained.
But here, I didn’t intend to repeat the same mistakes.
Furthermore, having achieved such great feats, I initially thought that achieving the rank of captain this year would be the ultimate career goal, but unexpected opportunities from the Azoff side allowed me to achieve tangible results.
With promotion to major nearly certain by the end of the year,
I couldn’t afford to remain complacent.
I was still hungry. I couldn’t be satisfied with just pinning a single chrysanthemum on my shoulder when such an opportunity presented itself.
I straightened my chest proudly.
I looked directly at the Duke with a firm gaze.
“Duke Orlando Rus,”
“Captain.”
To the Duke who called me similarly, I took a deep breath and uttered the sentence I had been holding in my heart.
“To reclaim the Azoff region and return it to the Stone Age is necessary.”
