Becoming a Swordmast Chapter 39 : Chapter 39

Chapter 39. “The Turncoat(4)”

After hearing Roden's answer, Havier spoke.

“If it’s another Glockner belonging to the 3rd Corps, it must be Michael. The one serving as the 3rd Corps’ Staff Officer.”

The 3rd Corps' Staff Officer.

His position was more formidable than expected.

This was because the staff officer was the second-in-command of the corps.

Next after the corps commander.

The Allied Forces did not have a separate concept of a deputy corps commander in their organization.

There was only the position of staff officer, which served in place of the deputy corps commander.

And the reason they used the title of staff officer instead of deputy corps commander was none other than this.

It was a sign of their intention to place a person skilled in military strategy in this position, even if their aura level was a little low.

This was a part that showed just how much importance the Allied Forces placed on military strategy in the war.

‘By the way, if he’s my brother, there’d be at most a three or four-year age difference, so for him to be a staff officer is quite impressive.’

He was struck anew by the thought that the Glockner family's bloodline was remarkable.

‘Michael…’

As he searched Ernst's mories, he was able to learn a few facts.

It wasn't that Ernst had no mories at all, just that he didn't know because he hadn't bothered to pay attention to what positions his brothers held in the Allied Forces.

‘First, Michael is my brother, two years my senior.’

His aura level was 5-star.

Compared to Roden, who had just recently reached the level of a 2-star, the gap was vast.

In other words, it ant that a direct confrontation with Michael had to be avoided at all costs for now.

As Roden was organizing his thoughts.

Havier continued.

“Staff Officer Michael. The opponent is not good at all. Although the situation would have been the sa even if one of your other brothers had planned this.”

Havier was right.

In fact, even if it had been one of Roden's other brothers instead of Michael, the fact that a direct confrontation had to be avoided was the sa.

Because among the Glockner bloodline, there wasn't a single opponent that Roden could take lightly.

But Roden did not see the current situation in a negative light.

“Even if I had power, the situation wouldn't have been much different. I've only surmised that Michael is behind Prat based on the circumstances; there's no proper evidence.”

In the end, even with power, there was no way to touch Michael without evidence.

Moreover, Michael was a person of higher rank than not only Havier, who was protecting Roden, but also Adriel.

Presenting just any old evidence would make it impossible to land a blow on Michael.

“Certainly, a staff officer has too many ways to escape. It would all be over if he just blad this incident on the Imperial Army.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a pity. To be in a situation where we can't even protest once to soone who carelessly tampered with our allies' food supplies because of a personal issue.”

Havier was genuinely regretful.

But at the sa ti, because of that, it also made him think of the Glockners.

“They say the greatest enemy in war is within. However, I regret that things turned out this way because of .”

“No. How can this be called your fault? On the contrary, when your brother was brandishing his sword indiscriminately without distinguishing between friend and foe, you stopped him

well. And eliminating Prat to prevent the sa thing from happening again is also a good achievent.”

“But I have a suspicion. I wonder, is Prat the only one with a connection to Michael?”

“I can't be sure. Given the staff officer's reputation for being ticulous, he might have prepared a counterasure for Prat getting caught like this.”

Originally, Roden had thought that his other brothers were not interested in him.

He had judged that they wouldn't consider a moron like him a competitor in the succession war.

But this was a situation where Michael had gone so far as to try to harm him using Prat.

Perhaps Michael was paying more attention to him than he had thought.

Furthermore, as Havier said, if his original personality was ticulous, it was certain that he would have also prepared a counterasure for when Prat got caught.

For that reason, Roden nodded and took Havier's words.

“In my opinion, I think we should move on the assumption that there is another connection besides Prat.”

“Should we root out the connection?”

“That is too dangerous. Not only would it have a negative impact on the unit’s morale, but it could also provoke Michael.”

“……That’s true.”

“So I think it would be better to devise another counterasure.”

“Another counterasure?”

Just like that, Roden told Havier about the counterasure he had thought of.

A mont later, Havier, who had heard the whole story, nodded his head.

“Alright. I will speak to the Battalion Commander and sort out the situation as you've said.”

***

The next day, early in the morning, Transport Unit 2 loaded the prisoners and wounded that the main battalion had been holding and began their return to the unit.

The return to the unit proceeded in a much more relaxed atmosphere, similar to before.

It was just that the distance was further than before.

For that reason, they were able to complete their return to the unit without much difficulty, and Havier imdiately requested a private eting with Adriel.

“……Hmm. So that’s what happened.”

Adriel, who had heard the whole story from Havier, answered.

And that evening, Zailo was dragged before Adriel, bound.

Furthermore, it wasn't just Zailo.

Next to him, Roden was also dragged along in the sa state.

Just like that, in a place where all the soldiers were gathered, Adriel opened his mouth.

“First, as a result of interrogating the 3rd Infantry Platoon's 1st Squad Leader, no direct connection to Prat could be found. Rather, it could be said that he was deceived by Prat, had his weakness exploited, and handed over information. However, in conclusion, the fact that he irresponsibly handed over information to Prat is true, so for this cri, he will be sentenced to ten days of imprisonnt.”

Hearing Adriel's verdict, sighs of relief erupted from among the 1st Squad mbers.

It wasn't just the 1st Squad.

The other soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon also had similar reactions.

Certainly, ten days of imprisonnt was a punishnt of a perfectly appropriate level for anyone to see.

Even for the sa imprisonnt, a week was too short and a fortnight was too long.

The fact that his position as squad leader was not revoked was also a fortunate thing in many ways.

Just like that, Zailo's verdict was concluded, and then Adriel looked at Roden and opened his mouth.

“Next, the 3rd Infantry Platoon Leader committed the mistake of losing six sacks of flour by failing to properly manage the supply wagons. Also, he was negligent in the managent of his subordinate soldiers, so his cri cannot be said to be small, and this can be said to be the responsibility of the entire 3rd Infantry Platoon. However, considering the fact that he directly caught Prat and prevented greater damage, and the fact that he showed wit in finding the sacks mixed with rat poison, I will substitute his punishnt with giving the 3rd Infantry Platoon so disadvantages.”

In conclusion, Adriel took asures so that the 3rd Infantry Platoon could not use the sa training ground as the other platoons.

However, since they couldn't skip regular training, he ordered them to find a separate place and conduct their training.

Depending on one's point of view, it could be called a sowhat harsh verdict.

Considering the military rits Roden had established so far, sothing like this could have just been overlooked.

Even if Adriel had just overlooked this matter, no one would have objected.

In fact, Adriel had no intention of holding Roden accountable.

The reason he gave such a verdict was because of Havier's request.

And this request was made by Roden.

Because he had judged that doing so would be advantageous in protecting himself.

That was right.

This punishnt, which seed harsh to others, was in fact a benefit for Roden.

This was because just by using a separate training ground, the chances of the 3rd Infantry Platoon eting with other platoons were significantly reduced.

‘And with fewer etings with other platoons like this, there’s no problem even if Michael has planted other connections.’

It was a matter of course, as it would beco much more difficult to find out information about the 3rd Infantry Platoon.

Also, it could give Michael the impression that Roden was disliked in the transport battalion.

As had been said several tis already, it was more advantageous for Roden the more he appeared to be a moron.

And the fact that he couldn't even use the sa training ground as the other platoons despite having established military rits several tis would, in Michael's eyes, look as if Adriel was trying to hold Roden accountable for his cris in any way possible.

In a word, Roden was barely getting acknowledged even in the rear.

So, for Michael, his wariness towards Roden was bound to decrease.

This was Roden's gambit.

‘And the new training ground has one more advantage.’

It was that the 3rd Infantry Platoon, whose training thods were already a little different from the other platoons, would be able to use the space freely.

In the future, Roden planned to continue devising new training thods through research, so it was a considerable gain in the long run as well.

However, since only Adriel and Havier knew of Roden's gambit, the reactions to the verdict were sharply divided.

So felt sorry, saying that Adriel had given too harsh a verdict,

while others were satisfied that the shoulders of Roden, who had been subtly raising his na value by constantly establishing military rits, had been brought down.

In fact, the overall reaction seed to lean more towards the latter.

But even this was not a bad reaction for him.

Therefore, Roden, with a heavy expression, quietly bowed his head and answered.

“I will follow the Battalion Commander’s verdict.”

***

A few days later.

Another letter arrived for Michael.

[F failed to complete the mission and is deceased. No evidence to surmise the mastermind. F's accomplice J, 10 days imprisonnt. E held responsible for platoon managent and isolated from the battalion. Disadvantage of being unable to use the battalion training ground.]

As soon as Michael finished reading the letter, he burned it in the fireplace.

Then he muttered.

“Failed to exterminate the vermin again. I guess the insecticide was too weak.”

But Michael did not seem entirely disappointed.

Sure enough,

“I suppose it's a relief that the vermin is known to be vulgar.”

Michael muttered like this.

Just when it seed like everything would proceed according to Roden's plan.

“You’re not trying to protect the vermin, are you?”

Michael added the last words.