Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading

Chapter 96. Another Operation (3)

The reason Roden returned to Vinchih.

There were two main reasons.

First, it was to earn money.

Nothing was as important as money in operating a military unit.

In fact, there was a saying that war was essentially fought with money.

For that reason, if Roden could earn and send money, it would inevitably be easier for the Allied Forces to operate their troops.

This was even more so because the financial pressure was gradually increasing as the war dragged on.

Moreover, the money Roden earned and sent wasn't just any money.

It was war funds that were originally supposed to flow to the Imperial Army.

Therefore, if Roden earned money in Vinchih and sent it, the Allied Forces could achieve two goals with one stone.

Weakening the enemy's strength while strengthening their own.

‘Furthermore, for Alexis, who now intends to personally command the army and attack Kroxen Castle, receiving war funds from the Special Task Force Company, which he thought was not much of a help to his forces, would be nothing short of reassuring.’

In fact, it was an operation that Alexis had no reason to refuse.

However, Roden didn't return to Vinchih simply chasing money.

The second reason Roden returned to Vinchih was to operate an intelligence organization centered here.

Information was also essential in war.

It was natural, as the outcome of a war was greatly influenced by the quality of information one possessed.

And Roden had already conducted excellent intelligence activities during the process of capturing Velia Castle.

So, based on this, he made a request to Alexis.

To pull out some members of the Special Task Force Company to conduct intelligence activities in Vinchih.

To think they would voluntarily take risks and conduct intelligence activities in enemy territory without being ordered to do so.

This too was a proposal that Alexis had no reason to refuse.

Above all, conducting intelligence activities wasn't just about gathering and sending information.

It was a concept that encompassed acts of obstructing and confusing the Imperial Army by using an information advantage.

‘So, for Alexis, when he heard that the Special Task Force Company was going to Vinchih, he must have felt his eyes light up.’

Why didn't I think of this way to utilize the Special Task Force Company sooner?

He probably had such thoughts.

Thus, Roden arrived in Vinchih with a clear purpose.

And to achieve this purpose, he immediately went to the Strutzen Inn and jumped into the meatball business.

Hansen, who had been eagerly waiting for this day, actively helped Roden with his business and spoke.

“I was a little worried because all the faces of the Billem Caravan have changed except for the Caravan Leader, but everyone's cooking skills are no joke! Someone like me can't even compare!”

Certainly, it could have been a bit unsettling from Hansen's perspective.

This was because it was the Archery Platoon, not the Infantry Platoon, that arrived in Vinchih with Roden this time.

Moreover, the Archery Platoon did not have the reliable head chef, Terne.

However, since the Archery Platoon was also part of the Special Task Force Company, there was no problem in making Billem Meatballs.

It was a given, as they had to make dozens of meatballs every time it was their turn for cooking duty.

If it doesn't work, make it work.

They were the ones who had learned the meatball recipe with this kind of military spirit.

And so, Roden and the Archery Platoon smoothly finished their preparations and began selling Billem Meatballs again.

[The Original Billem Meatball is Back!]

The promotional effect of this single sentence in the Vinchih market was overwhelming.

Perhaps because of that, people immediately flocked to the stall that had resumed sales.

And,

“That's right! This was the taste!”

“Ah, how long has it been since I had a Billem Meatball….”

“Don't go anywhere now! I've missed this taste so much all this time!”

The people who tasted the Billem Meatballs all exclaimed in admiration.

It was a moment that showed just how many people had missed the Billem Meatballs.

‘When it comes to food, it's rare for someone to be able to perfectly replicate a recipe even if you tell them exactly what it is.’

For that reason, the only ones who could replicate the recipe developed by Terne were the Special Task Force Company, armed with military spirit.

The fact that numerous imitations had appeared and disappeared in this market even after a considerable time had passed since Roden's party left Vinchih was proof of that.

If someone had been able to perfectly replicate the taste of the Billem Meatball, people would have settled on one stall.

In this way, the Billem Meatball once again heated up the entire Vinchih region.

However, the sales volume was not yet satisfactory.

To secure a significant amount of money, more meatballs needed to be sold.

Moreover, to achieve this goal, there was one mountain that absolutely had to be crossed.

That was the garrison of Vinchih.

***

“What? The Billem Caravan has started business again?”

The garrison commander, who was leisurely patrolling the streets of Vinchih as if on a stroll, was startled to hear his subordinate's story.

It was only natural.

After Velia Castle fell, the whereabouts of most of the bards, actors, acrobats, and cooks who were conscripted at that time were unknown.

The Imperial Army generally reported that these individuals had either died or defected to the Allied Forces.

Otherwise, it didn't make sense for their whereabouts to be so unknown.

But the Billem Caravan had returned.

To the garrison commander, this news could only be surprising.

At the same time, he was suspicious of the Billem Caravan.

He couldn't understand how they could have returned alive from there.

“Let's go. I need to check for myself.”

Thus, the garrison commander led his troops and arrived at the Vinchih market.

Sure enough.

In the Vinchih market, Billem Meatballs were being sold with great success at a stall.

There were so many people wanting to eat Billem Meatballs that the line seemed endless.

“The Billem Meatball is back!”

“It's the original, the original!”

The garrison commander was intently observing this scene when he spotted Roden, who was hawking next to the stall.

He then approached threateningly with his troops.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, everyone present fell silent.

Roden also noticed the garrison commander belatedly.

The garrison commander opened his mouth towards Roden.

“So you really were alive.”

Roughly translated, it felt as if he was asking, ‘Why are you alive?’

However, Roden was not flustered.

He thought, what was to come has come, and answered calmly.

“Yes. I was lucky to survive.”

But the garrison commander, as if displeased with Roden's attitude, did not withdraw his suspicious gaze.

“Lucky to survive? Do you think that makes sense? You're the only one who came back alive from there.”

“That's why I'm telling you I was lucky. Because I was the only one who survived from there. Take a look.”

“At what?”

“If there are any familiar faces among the friends working here.”

Roden pointed to the stall, and the garrison commander scanned the faces of the Archery Platoon.

Then, as if he had realized something, he replied in a much softer tone.

“……There's no one. No one I recognize.”

“What do you think that means?”

“……Are you saying they all really died there?”

Although he was only following the orders of his superiors, the garrison commander was also human.

So, upon hearing the news that Roden's party, whom he had forcibly conscripted, had lost their lives, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt.

This guilt played a large part in why he had rushed over in one go to see if the Billem Caravan had really resumed their business.

Thus, the garrison commander was greatly shaken by Roden's words, which implied the deaths of everyone except himself.

Roden hammered the final nail in.

“Even now, the voices of the caravan family members who died unfairly echo in my dreams every night. That's why even after barely escaping Velia Castle and luckily saving my life, I thought, what can I do, having survived alone, and tried to end my life several times.”

“……”

“But even taking my own life was not something I could do as I wished. I kept surviving, and then one day, my caravan family members came to me in my dreams with clean faces and spoke to me. They told me to get up now. Not to just sit there and shed tears. To share the Billem Meatballs we developed together with people again.”

“……”

“That is why I have returned to Vinchih. But is that some kind of sin? Please tell me. If it is, I too will abandon my attachments and try to end my life once more.”

A long, detailed story.

The gazes of the surrounding people who heard this story turned to the garrison commander.

And the atmosphere changed drastically.

It was an atmosphere where a riot might break out if the garrison commander pressured Roden any further.

That's how much sadness everyone present felt after hearing Roden's story.

This was even more so because they were people who had lost friends, relatives, or family members, at least once removed, in the ongoing war.

But should I call it fortunate?

It wasn't just the citizens of Vinchih present who felt sorrow at Roden's story.

The garrison commander also seemed to feel great sadness as he spoke, his eyes moist.

“No. It's not. You did well to return. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have suspected you….”

In the end, the garrison commander couldn't hold back and shed a single tear.

But Roden, with a sad expression, handed a meatball to the garrison commander.

“It was a situation where you could have been suspicious. But please, eat this. After eating this meatball, you will be able to feel the warm comfort of my family.”

The garrison commander carefully accepted the Billem Meatball Roden offered.

Then he took a bite and nodded his head.

“It's delicious. And warm.”

At the same time, someone among the people watching raised their voice.

“Long live Billem Meatballs!”

“Long live the Ingens Empire!”

Following this, other citizens also shouted their cheers.

“Hooray!”

“Hooray, hooray!”

It was the moment a heart-wrenching story was added to the Billem Meatball, which had

been special for its taste alone.

It was the beginning of a legend.