Chapter 85 : Chapter 85
Chapter 85. Operation Meatball (4)
'Billem Caravan,' not the Allied Forces or an infiltration unit.
Roden instinctively realized that their identity had not yet been discovered.
More importantly, the number of Imperial soldiers who visited the Strutzen Inn was too small for that.
It was a number that could be easily handled by their side if they put their minds to it.
Therefore, Roden withdrew the hand that was reaching for his weapon and answered the Imperial Army commander.
“That's right. I am Horge Arce, the owner of the Billem Caravan.”
As Roden naturally introduced himself with his pseudonym, the gazes of the Imperial soldiers all focused on him.
Then their gazes swept Roden up and down.
The Imperial Army commander thought for a moment before speaking.
“The caravan owner is younger than I thought.”
“Hahaha. I'm glad I look that way.”
Roden deliberately laughed and made a playful remark.
It was a reply that contained the meaning that he was not as young as he appeared.
Was it because Roden was actually older?
This act seemed to have worked well.
The proof was that the Imperial Army commander's expression, which had been full of suspicion, softened considerably.
“Well, a caravan owner can be young. By the way, are you the one who developed the Billem meatballs that are popular in Vinchih?”
To be precise, Roden had developed it and Terne had improved it.
But since the Imperial Army commander asked who had developed it, Roden obediently nodded his head.
“Yes. That's right, but?”
Then, the Imperial Army commander's expression suddenly turned serious.
Then,
“It is an imperial order! The owner of the Billem Caravan will immediately join the battlefield and make food to delight the mouths of the Imperial Army!”
He suddenly brought up this matter.
“Whaat!?”
Roden asked back in surprise.
At the same time, he quickly sorted out the situation in his head.
'Right before the Imperial Army barged in. Chevalier said that they were gathering bards, actors, and strongmen in one place. Could it be that it was to boost the morale of Velia Castle?'
Just because they were soldiers, it didn't mean they could just set aside all pleasures and focus solely on fighting the enemy.
Rather, as they crossed the line between life and death, they needed something to overcome the pressure, even for a moment.
It wasn't for nothing that the Allied Forces supplied rum and roll-up cigarettes.
Perhaps that was why.
It seemed that the Imperial Army had decided not only to simply save the besieged Velia Castle but also to satisfy these pleasures.
Otherwise, the current situation could not be explained.
‘This is a chance!’
Roden quickly realized that this was a golden opportunity to enter Velia Castle.
However, it was not something to be simply happy about.
The profession Roden was currently disguised as was the owner of an ordinary merchant caravan.
“Oh my! Join the war! I'm just an ordinary merchant who has never even swung a sword!”
For that reason, Roden deliberately cried out with a pained expression.
The Imperial Army commander answered firmly as if he had expected this.
“It is an imperial order, so obey it obediently. Besides, you are not being conscripted as a soldier.”
“What? Then why to the battlefield……”
“You will be in charge of entertaining our allies, not fighting the enemy. With your cooking skills.”
It was just as Roden had expected.
This was what the Imperial Army wanted from the Billem Caravan.
However, for an ordinary caravan owner, even this was devastating news.
That's why Roden continued to raise his voice.
“No, but how can I go to such a dangerous place! I'll pay the military tax, so please spare me!”
The military tax was a tax paid to avoid conscription.
Since commoners usually couldn't afford this tax, they almost always had to answer the call of the country.
However, merchants were generally able to pay it, so they could avoid military service if they wanted to.
Therefore, in this situation, Roden had to mention the word 'military tax'.
Otherwise, he would arouse suspicion.
However, the Imperial Army commander did not even blink an eye upon hearing this word.
Instead, he waved his hand as if annoyed and continued his explanation.
“The military tax is useless. In the first place, you only received an imperial order, you are not being conscripted as a soldier. I'm tired of talking. Take him away.”
“Yes!”
As the Imperial Army commander gave the order, the soldiers grabbed Roden by both arms.
Seeing this scene, a few soldiers of the Infantry Platoon flinched, but Roden quickly shook his head and gave a signal.
It meant not to act rashly.
“We've just started to make money, what is this! Please let me go!”
In the end, Roden was dragged away like that, and he continued to act as an ordinary caravan owner with all his might.
***
A few hours later.
The Imperial Army barracks located in Vinchih.
Roden was locked in a room in the barracks, lost in thought.
Then, the door opened with a slam, and the Imperial Army commander appeared.
Behind him were familiar faces.
Chevalier, Nedhab, Zailo, Terne, Federico.
“I've brought the people you said you absolutely needed.”
The Imperial Army commander said this and pushed the five people into the room.
Roden naturally approached Federico and stealthily placed a piece of cloth in his hand.
Then he spoke.
“Ah. There's no need to take this friend here. He's old and frail, and his cooking skills are terrible.”
“I brought him as you said.”
“I must have been mistaken for a moment. I'm sorry.”
If he disobeyed the imperial order, he would have to go to prison without any chance of bail, and after this was over, he would be given a proper reward and a partial exemption from business taxes.
The Imperial Army commander, who had forcibly brought him here, persuaded Roden with threats and persuasion.
It was to make Roden serve as actively as possible.
“Yes, yes……. I will do as I am told, I will do as I am told.”
Roden nodded reluctantly, pretending to be scared, and the Imperial Army commander was satisfied with this.
In addition, he asked for the additional personnel needed to make the Billem meatballs.
That was why these five people had come here.
'But there's no need to take all five of them. In this situation, it's better to move with a small elite group.'
Above all, someone had to manage the soldiers left behind here.
And Roden thought that Federico was the right person for this job.
Leaving the platoon leader Chevalier and the deputy platoon leader Nedhab behind would be better in terms of unit command, but then the strength of the personnel entering Velia Castle with Roden would be too weak.
So, after much deliberation, Roden decided to leave Federico behind.
'At least Federico is the most experienced and has the best leadership among the squad leaders.'
However, the reason he had called Federico here for a moment was to pass him the piece of cloth, just like a moment ago.
To be precise, it was to convey the words written on the piece of cloth.
'Federico will understand the words written on the piece of cloth and act accordingly.'
Anyway, Federico now had to return as Roden intended.
That was why he had mentioned his old age and lack of cooking skills.
Fortunately, the Imperial Army commander let Federico go without any sign of suspicion.
“Take him back. It won't be a bad thing to have one less mouth to feed.”
Thus, as ordered by the Imperial Army commander, the soldiers took Federico and left.
The Imperial Army commander watched them leave and then spoke to Roden and the other four.
“We will move to the assembly point tomorrow morning. Rest well until then.”
The Imperial Army commander didn't even wait for a reply and slammed the door shut as he left.
How much time had passed?
Chevalier, who had been watching the scene quietly, opened his mouth.
“What a rude man.”
“Rude and stupid. That's why he's a welcome sight for us. How are the soldiers doing?”
“There were some who said we should go and rescue the company commanders, but I've calmed them down for now. I told them that the company commander must have something in mind.”
“Well done.”
“Is it true that we were also captured like the bards, actors, and strongmen who were taken to entertain the soldiers guarding Velia Castle?”
As expected, Chevalier seemed to have grasped the situation.
Roden nodded and answered.
“That's right. It seems so.”
“Then this is a good opportunity to enter Velia Castle.”
“A good opportunity. One that won't come again.”
“But why did you send the 3rd Squad Leader back? His skills would have been quite helpful when operating inside Velia Castle.”
Roden explained to Chevalier why he had sent Federico back.
At the same time, he explained how they would proceed with the operation.
The eyes of not only Chevalier, but also Nedhab, Zailo, and Terne, who were listening to the explanation, sparkled.
***
A few days later.
Tobias frowned as he stood before Velia Castle.
'This is not good.'
The siege was proceeding as planned.
However, this was not entirely a good thing.
If things went as planned, it would take over a year to capture Velia Castle.
Moreover, if things went wrong, it could take even longer.
The Imperial Army was gathering troops to save Velia Castle.
To stop this, the Allied Forces were also moving quickly, but it was a situation where they could not guarantee success.
'At least the Special Task Force Company Commander has been quick to grasp the movements of the Imperial Army, so we won't be caught off guard, but it's meaningless if we fail to stop them.'
The number of troops in Velia Castle would increase, and their supplies would also become plentiful.
In other words, it meant that it might take even longer to capture Velia Castle.
'Perhaps we won't be able to capture Velia Castle even by the end of the war.'
It would be a relief if Roden found a plan to capture Velia Castle before that, but the possibility was slim.
It was more likely that they would somehow stop the Imperial Army's reinforcements.
'In the end, the success or failure of this siege will be decided by that battle.'
It was when Tobias was in the midst of these thoughts.
“Battalion Commander! A letter has arrived from the Special Task Force Company Commander!”
Bent delivered the letter to Tobias.
Tobias tore open the letter with a look of low expectation.
At the same time, Tobias's expression was filled with surprise.
[Scheduled to enter Velia Castle with the Imperial Army's reinforcements. Will open the castle gates from the inside.]