Chapter 108 : Chapter 108
Chapter 108. Espionage (5)
“The Allied Forces have entered the Lewich Gorge.”
An officer of the raiding party spoke to his commander.
The commander heard his words and slowly nodded.
“The time for revenge is finally upon us.”
As such, a deep-seated resentment towards the Allied Forces could be felt in the raiding party commander's voice.
It was only natural, as the commander was Latif, the former vanguard battalion commander who had fought the 3rd Corps over the earthen fortress on the Aequor Plains.
The very same Latif who had to flee after losing the earthen fortress because Roden had launched a rear disruption operation and advanced on it.
The very same Latif who had tried to retake the earthen fortress several times, only to fail.
The reason Latif was now in command of the raiding party was none other than this.
He had to step down from his position as vanguard battalion commander to take responsibility for losing the earthen fortress.
And he didn't just step down.
The Imperial Army held a trial and held Latif responsible.
In the process, Latif had to endure a prison sentence he had never expected, and he also had to give up his family name for having sullied his family's honor.
Latif, who had lost everything in a single defeat.
All that was left for him now was his resentment towards the Allied Forces.
And the Empire, having confirmed the depth of this resentment, gave Latif a chance.
A chance for revenge.
That was why Latif, who had been expelled from his family and could hardly be called a noble, was now leading the raiding party in the Lewich Gorge.
It was while Latif was briefly calming his anger and reminiscing about the past.
“We won't be able to see ‘that guy’ in this battle, will we?”
The officer who had just reported spoke.
For reference, this officer was Thaddeus, who had served as the Archery Company Commander under Latif during his time in the vanguard battalion.
Thaddeus had also suffered greatly after the defeat that day.
In some ways, he could be said to have suffered more than Latif, yet he was the only one who remained with him even after going through such a thing.
At the same time, the Allied Forces.
Among them, the Special Task Force Company.
And within that, he was a figure who hated Roden along with Latif.
The ‘that guy’ Thaddeus had just mentioned was also referring to Roden.
“Probably not. The spy said that guy is on another mission. Something about losing out in a power struggle within the military.”
Besides Alexis and Michael, no one knew that the Special Task Force Company was conducting espionage.
Deceiving one's allies to deceive the enemy was a basic of military strategy.
In the first place, it made no sense for many people to know who the spy was.
For that reason, Linor thought that the Special Task Force Company was simply occupying and defending small villages near Kroxen Castle.
It was for this reason that the Billem Caravan was conducting espionage safely without its identity being exposed.
And the raiding party, which had received information from Linor, also did not know exactly what Roden was doing.
However, Latif did not find this fact disappointing.
“Don't worry. I've been promised that as soon as this is over, we can attack the small village that guy is said to be protecting.”
As such, Latif's ultimate goal was Roden.
It was the same for Thaddeus, so he replied to Latif's words with a cold smile.
“Then we must hurry and crush the 3rd Corps.”
“We must. Prepare for the attack.”
Latif gave the order, and Thaddeus began to move quickly.
As he watched the raiding party take up their battle positions while hiding in the gorge, Latif once again recalled Roden's face.
‘Just you wait. No matter what, I will kill you with my own hands.’
While Latif was steeling his resolve.
Finally, the 3rd Corps reached the target point, and the raiding party launched their attack bravely.
They deliberately beat the drums and raised their voices to create tension.
This was so that the 3rd Corps, caught by surprise, would be startled and lose their will to fight.
‘We can't lose this battle.’
Latif was certain of this.
Not only Latif, but Thaddeus and the soldiers of the raiding party as well.
But,
‘What on earth…….’
The 3rd Corps' response to the raid was strangely calm.
They were moving as if they had predicted the entire situation.
‘Don't tell me the raid was discovered. You fool.’
Latif could only blame Linor, who had been the spy.
However, it was impossible to waste much time on blame.
He had to win this battle somehow.
“We have the higher ground! Do not waver, and push the enemy back!”
Latif roared, and fortunately, the raiding party came to their senses and began to press the 3rd Corps.
The raiding party had to win this battle, if only to get to Roden.
***
“Quickly, bind the spy!”
Alexis gave the order again, and his allies moved quickly towards Linor to carry it out.
The panicked Linor belatedly came to his senses and resisted.
“You bastards! Don't come near me! I am not a spy! I said I'm not a spy!”
Linor shrieked and drew his sword, swinging it around.
Among the troops surrounding Linor were company commander-level officers, but no one dared to approach carelessly because of the sword imbued with the power of a 6-star knight.
It was a moment that showed anew how fearsome a 6-star knight was.
Linor took this opportunity to raise his voice towards Alexis.
“Corps Commander! What on earth is this? Why are you trying to arrest me?”
“Stop your noisy chatter and put down your sword. The moment I step forward, I will not be able to hold back and will cut off your head.”
Linor flinched as Alexis threatened him, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
After all, Linor's skills were insignificant compared to Alexis, an 8-star knight.
But he couldn't just let himself be arrested like this.
For that reason, he was about to open his mouth to make another excuse.
But he couldn't.
Clang! Swish!
Someone had rushed in in an instant and struck Linor's sword, sending it flying high into the air.
That person was none other than Michael.
“Ugh.”
Linor, who had lost his sword, clutched his palm and stared at Michael with surprised eyes.
This was because, as far as Linor knew, Michael's skills were only at the 5-star level.
But to have his sword knocked out of his hand by an attack he couldn't even react to.
“You've already reached the level of a 6-star or higher?”
Linor muttered in disbelief, but Michael paid him no heed.
“What are you all doing? Arrest the spy as the Corps Commander ordered.”
And so, the troops once again surrounded Linor in an instant and bound him.
It was a swift movement.
Moreover, since there were even knights from the Main Battalion among those who were binding him, Linor had no choice but to realize.
That everyone here knew he was a spy.
Linor's expression, which had been resentful, changed in an instant, and a vile smile appeared on his lips.
“Hehehe. Since when did you know?”
“Since before the troops left to carry out this operation. From that moment on, the entire army knew everything and was deceiving you in return.”
“And yet you crawled into your own grave. It makes me think I did the right thing to betray you.”
“You're shameless for a traitor. And foolish. Did you really think we would have come here without any countermeasures?”
“What?”
“Of course, you won't be able to find out what that countermeasure is.”
As soon as Alexis finished speaking, someone knocked Linor unconscious with the pommel of a sword with a thud.
This time, it was the vanguard battalion commander, Tobias, who had done it.
“I never liked you. So shut up.”
Tobias muttered, but no one heard him.
As soon as Linor fainted, everyone's attention turned to the raiding party.
***
“Hmm.”
Alexis's expression as he surveyed the battlefield was not good.
The reason was none other than this.
The two sides were fighting on more or less equal terms than he had expected.
“They must have known the operation was discovered, but the enemy raiding party is fighting well using the high ground. At this rate, our losses won't be small either.”
It was as Alexis said.
The damage was not yet great, but if time continued to pass, it seemed that the 3rd Corps would suffer quite a few serious injuries and deaths.
This was not a good outcome for the 3rd Corps.
After all, the ultimate enemy the 3rd Corps had to fight and win against was not the raiding party, but the defending army of Kroxen Castle.
However, Michael was not agitated even while looking at the same situation as Alexis.
“That would be the case if things continued like this. Just as they are now.”
The reason Michael was calm was simple.
He didn't think the current situation would continue.
It was only natural, as the person who had proposed the operation to place a trap on top of a trap was about to appear.
Sure enough, Roden appeared with the Special Task Force Company.
“Help our allies! Don't let the enemy raiding party get away!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
And so, Liviano's Cavalry Platoon first charged towards the archers who were firing arrows from the top of the gorge.
Following that, the Infantry Platoon, along with Chevalier, attacked the raiding party, and the tide of the battle turned greatly in favor of the 3rd Corps.
***
At the sudden appearance of the Special Task Force Company, Latif's face was colored with rage.
Of course, he didn't recognize the Special Task Force Company at first.
But the person who was leading the charge of the Special Task Force Company.
The moment he saw that person's face, he was able to realize that the Special Task Force Company was the Special Task Force Company.
Because Roden was right there.
And he wasn't just there.
He had appeared here again as reinforcements to interfere with Latif.
This was the second time.
For Latif, he was being interfered with by Roden.
Because of that, it was hard to contain his anger.
In the end, Latif couldn't hold back and let out a roar of rage.
“You bastard! I'll kill you with my own hands!”
Then, he unleashed the aura of a 6-star knight and rushed towards Roden in an instant.
Roden, who was participating in the battle directly as always, not just commanding, felt a chill run down his spine.