[Balian PoV]
Opening my eyes, my vision is still blurry because all night long, the interrogators questioning me continued to torture me without end. My head, hands, feet—no part of my body was spared from their cruelty as they tried to make me talk and divulge every piece of information they needed.
They accused me of being a spy for the Empire.
However, what they do not know is that I am not a spy for the Empire, but rather someone who simply owes a debt of gratitude to another and is doing all of this to repay that debt.
The organization formed by Boss Raul gave me and my younger brother a place to live. He also rescued us from a dangerous life on the streets that offered no future.
Thanks to him, my brother can now attend school and live normally like other children. He no longer feels the cold from having to sleep on the streets with only scrap cardboard as a bed.
In the past, the two of us lived solely by relying on my income from stealing in the capital's streets. We lived in the capital's underground district—a place for those who have no home at all.
Back then, Boss Raul was walking around the quiet alleys of the capital. Seeing a target of a noble child who looked quite innocent, I tried to attack him. However, I was easily defeated by him.
Instead of reporting me to the authorities, Boss Raul offered me a job.
Initially, I was only made an information-gathering agent, but gradually, Boss Raul offered me a job to become a spy for the Venetian Republic because I originally came from there. After forging an identity, I began entering the country's Military Logistics Department until now.
During half a year of conducting spying activities in this country, I never ran into any trouble. However, yesterday evening, the Military Police suddenly broke down the door of my residence and took me to a cell located in the Avelino City Barracks.
They then began questioning my connection to the Imperial Intelligence Unit, who placed me in the Military Logistics Department, and how I provided information to the troops led by Boss Raul in this region.
However, when I refused to answer and pretended not to know, they began performing various kinds of torture on me until I lost consciousness and woke up again just now.
I do not know how they found out I was a spy, but it seems this arrest is related to the last logistics supply shipment to the Mazovia Forest.
— Brak!
Suddenly, the dungeon door opens to reveal two guards entering the room. They then open my detention cell and pull me up to stand.
"Get up, you Aragon dog!" ordered one of the guards.
I try to stand, but because of the injuries I sustained from yesterday's torture, my body is weak and I fall back to the floor.
"Cih, utterly useless!"
The two of them grab both of my arms and drag me out of the dungeon.
The sunlight dazzles my eyes as these two guards lead me out of the barracks area. Upon reaching the city streets, citizens can be seen lined up on both sides of the road. Everyone looks the same, having expressions of disgust and resentment directed at me.
"Kill the spy!"
"Burn him alive!"
The two guards drag me again, taking me through streets filled with angry citizens as if I were a great sinner.
Not long after, I arrive at the city square. Many citizens have also gathered here. They shout curses at me that are very painful to hear. Are they going to perform a public execution on me?
The two guards then make me kneel in the middle of this city square and tie both my hands and feet.
— Plak! Plak! Plak!
"Die, you scum!"
"Rot in hell!"
The citizens present here begin pelting me with stones. Blood soaks my body again; now I even find it difficult to see my surroundings because one of the stones they threw hit my eye hard.
"Please be calm! Please be calm!"
"The official sentence has not been given! Protect the prisoner!"
I hear the city guards trying to bring order to the angry citizens. I suppose their attitude is natural, considering many of their family members died and did not return from battle because the Empire declared war on their country.
However, for some reason, the angry citizens suddenly fall silent this time.
Raising my head to look forward, the crowd of citizens suddenly parts to make way for a woman who is entering the city square area. Black hair like the darkness of night and orange eyes like an intimidating lion...
She is Siena di Reginossa—the daughter of the President of the Venetian Republic—the woman nicknamed "The Miracle" by this nation.
She then walks in front of me casually and looks me directly in the eye. Seeing her reminds me of Boss Raul.
This woman, though still young, possesses diverse abilities. Not only did she revolutionize the Venetian Republic military, but she also consistently proposes new innovations for this country. She is always trusted by the nation's high-ranking officials to handle important matters concerning state interests.
Honestly, I feel that the talent possessed by this young woman exceeds the current Boss Raul.
"This is your last chance to avoid the punishment of public execution," the black-haired woman says to me. "If you are unable to answer, then the punishment will be carried out here immediately."
She then takes a firearm kept at her waist and aims it at my head.
"How were your troops able to enter this region, and how do you communicate with them?" the woman asks me.
Is this finally the end?
I look up at the beautiful blue sky. My life of 23 years feels like it has passed very quickly. I still want to know many things, want to explore the world and find new things in this place where I live.
Revan—my brother... live in peace now, do not look at the past, and become a better human than this brother of yours...
Looking back into the woman's eyes, I answer the question she posed earlier, "I don't know anything about it at all."
I have no regrets whatsoever... I will accept this fate with full honor.
"Alright then," the woman says without breaking eye contact with me. "I—Siena di Reginossa, hereby declare you—Balian Nerontini, to be executed for betraying the state during a time of war."
— Bang!
After pronouncing the verdict, the woman shoots me right in the head. My body slumps and then falls to the ground. My vision begins to fade...
Only the sounds of the citizens' joyful cheers can be heard by me...
Boss Raul... thank you for helping me and my brother back then... and good luck in this war...
***
[Raul PoV]
Birds are flying here from the north; this indicates they are avoiding something from that direction.
"Are their two thousand troops approaching?" I mutter curiously.
Yesterday morning, we ambushed a caravan according to the information I obtained from Balian—the spy I placed in the Venetian Republic Military Logistics Department.
It is true that the logistics supplies we found in that caravan were fewer than usual. However, unlike what Balian said, the soldiers guarding the caravan were not many, numbering only a hundred.
For some reason, I have had a bad feeling ever since we successfully attacked that group.
"Captain Raul!"
Someone calls me from below; Piers, Tom, and Vista have just returned from their reconnaissance mission around this forest. I jump and land in front of the three of them to ask for the results of their mission.
"Did you find something?" I ask them.
"About 2,000 troops have started entering this forest, Captain! What should we do?" Piers asks in a panic.
"Don't worry, we've set traps around this place, haven't we? Besides, I have a strategy to wipe out those 2,000 troops if they dare to chase us," I answer Piers.
I then order everyone here to listen to me as I intend to deliver the next tactic to fight the 2,000 troops entering this forest.
"Listen to me, all of you," I say to all the troops I lead here. "Piers and the others report there are 2,000 troops entering this forest searching for us all. However, we already have all the preparations for this battle, and if we execute my plan correctly, we can defeat them."
I then begin to explain my plan to all members.
First, when the enemy troops enter the outer perimeter of our base of operations, we will ambush them and exploit the panic to whittle them down bit by bit to reduce their numbers.
Second, Scarlett will begin burning this forest area while we slowly retreat toward the Montana mountains. After this, the enemy troops will only have two choices: leave the forest area or follow us toward the mountains.
Third, if the enemy troops follow us toward the mountains, I will activate the artifact given as a gift from the Dwarves to bring rain and bury their troops alive with a landslide. However, this can only be done if we lure the enemy to the site of the landslide.
"If enemy troops still keep coming after performing these three stages, then you will retreat and enter the dwarves' labyrinth to return to the Margraviate of Cataluna territory."
With our position known, it will be more difficult for us to continue operations in this region. Having thwarted logistics supply shipments to the Draconia Kingdom forces three times, I think this is enough to make them decide to withdraw from the Margraviate of Cataluna territory due to a lack of logistics supplies.
"Are there any questions?"
Everyone remains silent in response to my question.
"In that case, 180 people will prepare to ambush the enemy troops and the remaining 13 will wait at the landslide point," I command them.
After giving directions to all members, I then take the artifact shaped like an Aladdin's lamp and give it to one of the members who will wait at the landslide point.
"Barney, after seeing everyone leave the forest, rub this artifact using Mana," I say to one of the members of the disciplinary committee I lead. "This artifact will release rain clouds into the sky and it will bring quite heavy rain a few minutes later."
"Alright, Captain Raul."
After 13 of our men leave, I then lead the remaining 180 people to prepare to ambush the 2,000 troops that will come here.
***
[Siena PoV]
After executing the spy, I then spoke with Colonel Riggani—the military leader defending this region. Previously, he sent 2,000 troops to hunt down the Imperial forces roaming this area.
"Colonel, what is the progress of the search for the enemy troops in this region?" I asked him.
"Major Siena, I last received information from the one leading this mission that they have found traces of the Imperial troops in the forest near Ostia Village," the Colonel replied. "I think today they will enter that forest to search for the location of the hidden enemy troops."
The forest near Ostia Village, huh? I think if we hurry, we can get there by noon.
"What has been your experience so far facing the Imperial troops in this region, Colonel?"
"According to eyewitnesses, their troops have fire and earth element mages," the Colonel answered while holding his chin. "In addition, they also have a fairly good archery unit."
Fire magic? For some reason, I have a bad feeling about the troops currently entering that forest to search for our enemies there.
"Thank you for the information, Colonel. I will immediately take my unit to assist the troops there."
After speaking with Colonel Riggani, I then headed to the field at the Avelino City Barracks. There, the troops I lead were already waiting to receive my orders to start moving.
Upon arrival, 200 people were seen lined up with perfect posture. Among these 200 troops are 50 members of the Cavalier unit whom I personally trained to be able to fight the magic knights possessed by other countries.
"Everyone listen, our mission this time is to assist the Avelino Region troops to eradicate the Imperial forces causing trouble in this region," I said to them all. "The enemy's presence has been detected and they are estimated to number 150 to 200 people. Do not underestimate the enemy even though their numbers are fewer than ours. Stay alert out there and do not do anything that is not ordered—do you understand?"
"Yes, understood, Captain!"
"Yes, understood, Captain!"
They answered in unison.
"Good, now move immediately and show the strength of the Tigrenata Battalion!"
Everyone then began to move neatly while singing a song to ignite their spirits.
Ghost of Cataluna... we will meet before long.