“Senior, he’s coming!”
Ivan didn’t bother to respond. If Dimitri could confirm with the naked eye, naturally he could confirm it as well.
It’s not like Dimitri was unaware of that fact. It’s just a sign of how nervous he is.
Although he often spoke unnecessarily, he was never one to show signs of anxiety to others. That would inevitably reveal a weakness. They were trained not to show weaknesses even to their families.
Ivan glanced at Dimitri for a moment before turning his head.
“Duke Volonovin is over seventy.”
“… I know, Senior.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
At Ivan’s words, Dimitri made a sly expression and stepped back.
Dust thickened over the horizon. Soon, the banners, tinged with the setting sun, fluttered. It was the banner of the 1st Division. The insignia of the Duke’s family was not visible.“He didn’t come as a duke, he came as a commander.”
Even to showcase that, he wouldn’t have brought any ordinary soldiers. Of course, the 1st Division itself was practically his soldiers, and the Northern Barbarian Administration where the 1st Division was stationed was practically his country.
As expected. Ivan waited, looking at the approaching troops.
Behind him, there were about a hundred soldiers lined up. They were not the Capital Defense Army, but only scouts gathered near the Frechenkaya.
The division’s banner fluttered in the wind behind him.
“I am not here as an individual with power, but as a commander.”
That’s what it means. It signifies not leading the division even in a situation where he could boast being the closest to the princess.
Soon, the approaching troops slowed down. The dust gradually settled, and soon the Duke Volonovin’s advanced cavalry became visible.
The elderly man over seventy, who had charged from the distant north, even in the winter of Krasilov, was now excitedly breathing hot breath without showing signs of exhaustion.
Ivan tightened the reins and urged the horse forward. Step by step, the two approached each other.
“Duke.”
“Little Ivan.”
Under the helmet, azure eyes flashed. The gaze alone could kill. Time had not bent the man.
The Duke, clad in a thick coat, brushed aside the approaching guards. He walked forward alone.
His body was so thin as to be considered gaunt. Yet, his demeanor alone brought to mind the image of a well-tempered sword.
The sword of a conqueror. Until the war with the demons, he was the man who trampled the most ‘Allied Territories’ in the current Union Kingdom.
The man who doubled the borders of this country. If the one holding the reins was not the former king, he would have surely established an independent kingdom.
Ivan also knew the man’s temperament well. He nodded lightly in greeting.
“How have you been?”
“Well.”
“Your gaze is sharp. Better than before.”
After the disbandment of the Cleanup Unit, he had shown no respect to anyone except Elizaveta. But the man in front of him was one of the exceptions.
Because it was the man who had assisted in the ‘perfect concealment,’ which would have been impossible with Elizaveta’s power alone.
Until he set out again, he was one of the few in this country who knew of his survival.
“Retirement seems to suit you. Then take a bit more rest.”
“I’ve rested enough.”
“Is that so? Good.”
The Duke turned his gaze ambiguously. Dmitri, standing stiffly behind Ivan, flinched and stepped back.
The Duke chuckled at his reaction.
“It’s been a while for you too. The little scamp has grown up well since then.”
“Yes, yes. Your Grace.”
“I am here now as a representative of the Northern Front. Please correct the address.”
No, why are you saying this to me when you barely spoke to the Senior… Dmitri muttered briefly and bowed his head.
“The Counterintelligence Command extends its warm welcome to you, sir, as the Commander of the 1st Division.”
“Oh, it’s cold. Clear the way.”
“That is not possible.”
Ivan stood in the way of the Duke, who was trying to pass him.
“We will receive you at the Command.”
“Of those who went down that path, how many came back alive? Does Her Highness wish to remove this old man?”
“There are those in this country who can fill in for the Duke’s absence. Her Highness is always concerned about the lack of talent in this country.”
‘If he’s still able to raise his head after being humiliated like that, it’s rather surprising.
If it were possible, he would have killed him. Since he keeps talking like this, he must not be able to be humiliated even if he does this, right?’
Such conversations went back and forth between the two. Dmitri looked anxiously at Ivan’s back and sighed.
‘But Her Highness clearly instructed us to conclude negotiations calmly and amicably, Senior!’
However, the two strong-willed commanders seemed unwilling to back down in front of each other. Fortunately, Elizaveta, concerned about such a situation, had sent him.
Dmitri, brushing his gloves, approached with a smile and said, “Then, how about temporarily setting up camp? It’s cold out.”
“If we do that, the Capital Command will be ready to deploy.”
“But we can’t mobilize armed personnel in Frechenkaya as it is now, can we? Please step back for the sake of the princess’s reputation.”
The Duke chuckled at Dmitri’s words and turned his head. He looked at Ivan and said, “How many can you handle if I join?”
“We can handle up to two hundred without any problem.”
“Oh, so with just a hundred troops, you think you can handle twice the elite cavalry of the North?”
“No. I meant I can handle it alone.”
“What? Haha, hahaha!”
The Duke laughed heartily, slapping his knee. He then nodded and gestured.
“You set up camp here and wait for me. Mihail, lead two hundred cavalry and follow me.”
“Yes, Commander!”
“I don’t repeat myself.”
He looked at Ivan with a sneer. In Ivan’s gaze, he also turned his head and shouted.
“The Counterilligence Command will now accommodate the guests.”
“But Senior…! You’re bringing the Duke and the 200 cavalry of the 1st Division to the capital without disarming them?! And you’re going to face them alone?”
“I’m not someone who repeats orders.”
At Ivan’s words, the Duke nodded vigorously and burst into laughter.
Indeed, he had grown up well. With that thought, he led the way.
Ivan walked silently beside him. The troops following the Duke glared menacingly at Ivan.
Considering he claimed he could handle them all alone, as the elite of the 1st Division, it was reasonable for his pride to be hurt. In fact, it was half intentional.
Whether the Duke had appeared solely to swear full allegiance or not, if not, he had provoked enough to not bow down to pride, and it wouldn’t be surprising if combat broke out immediately.
If indeed combat did break out, the Capital Command and the 2nd Division would have immediately opposed the 1st Division. While it might be difficult to repel the entire army, with Enrique’s presence, neutralizing and securing Elizaveta is not a daunting task.
If the 1st Division were to be categorized as a rebellion and punitive action were to begin, although the military administration might be lost, it would be possible to completely control the entire military command. Elizaveta might have preferred that.
The Duke, having foreseen this, followed his lead without saying a word. Ivan looked at the Duke’s back and smiled bitterly.
“He hasn’t aged.”
Since the Duke’s age was slightly younger than the former king, if it weren’t for the events of that time, the former king would have probably been just as righteous. The former king would have been ten times stronger than the Duke.
Thinking briefly of that scene, Ivan nodded and continued speaking.
*
As mentioned in a previous reminiscence, Ivan’s orphanage was located just far enough from the center of the capital. It was a suitable environment where he could gather without worrying about others’ gazes.
Except for the Counterintelligence Command and Jan’s University, there was no better place in this city for him to meet someone without worries.
Arriving at the orphanage, the Duke looked around with a subtle expression on his face.
“What’s this about publicizing the agent training center?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked at the approaching children. The children, as always, were laughing innocently and playing together.
There was no surprise on his face even though about two hundred rugged cavalrymen had gathered. A teacher with a strange hat on the other side hurriedly approached and took the children away.
Watching this, the Duke grumbled.
“Now the Counterintelligence Command agents won’t even fear the army.”
“They didn’t before.”
“Oh, is that so? I didn’t know. I really didn’t know.”
Despite grumbling, the Duke followed Ivan’s guidance without much protest. They soon arrived at the director’s office.
In the bleak director’s office filled with bustling soldiers, the Duke sat on the sofa and stared blankly at the tea in front of him.
It was a roughly brewed tea made from corn. It was poured into a rather worn-looking teapot that seemed like it was taken from a market. The Duke naturally glanced at Ivan, who served the tea, and shook his head.
It seems too familiar for something deliberately served like this.
Is the royal treasury really that hard up these days?
“I can boast that I’ve lived quite frugally, but this…”
There were no luxurious furnishings, just old furniture, and a table that was cleaned neatly enough to be slightly dusty. The Duke chuckled and took a sip of tea.
“The 1st Division will obey Her Highness.”
“Is that why you came all this way to say that?”
“If Her Highness acknowledges the autonomy of the 1st Division.”
The Duke reclined on the sofa and slowly tapped his fingers.
“The 2nd Division recently started an agreement with the dwarves. They’re buying a huge amount of military supplies.”
“It’s a tough time.”
“You made it tough. Wasn’t half of the nobility punished a few months ago in this country?”
There was no fear in the Duke’s eyes. But Ivan could feel a strong sense of deliberation between the lines.
He was a soldier who had devoted his life to the royal family. Even when numerous soldiers were punished after the war, he never left his position. The reason he was not targeted was one: he declared unconditional neutrality in the power struggle within the central government.
The 1st Division was the strongest single division in Krasilov, and it was not unreasonable considering that the Military Administration Command was responsible for the northern economy of Krasilov, given the huge wealth it collected every year.
That man had sacrificed solely for the stability of Krasilov. Having proven his loyalty to the royal family over two generations, no one could deny the Duke’s dedication.
“Are you finally going to eliminate the 1st Division?”
So, I have no choice but to ask.
It’s hard to see anyone else reinforcing the 2nd Division on the Northern Front when the situation is stable in Navech.
The nobles’ complaints can be understood. Strengthening the power of the 2nd Division could be seen as a typical counterbalance.
However, recently, the 2nd Division swore allegiance to the princess and even marched to Tylesse. Since the capital command had already fallen into the princess’s hands, it could be said that the military leadership of Krasilov is practically owned by the princess now.
In such a situation, one cannot declare indifference to politics anymore.
Ivan slowly lowered his hand to the table, leaving the teacup.
“Duke, where does your loyalty to the aristocracy lie?”
“Obviously, it’s toward the royal family. How dare you even ask me that?”
“There’s only one royal blood left in this country now.”
If the claim of loyalty to the royal family is true, there’s no reason not to pledge allegiance to Elizaveta. Stirred by this point, the Duke took a bitter sip of his tea.
“Is that so?”
“…”
“Prince Alexander is alive.”
Ivan’s grip suddenly tightened. He barely relaxed his hand holding the gun.
Seeing his reaction, the Duke chuckled.
“He tried to contact me a few months ago. He asked the military not to deploy when the dwarves and demons attacked the 2nd Division.”
“…”
It must have been during the Andgrin Civil War. Ivan squinted. If the Andgrin Civil War had ended in Abiditas’ victory, the 2nd Division would have been attacked by the dwarves.
If the 1st Division hadn’t supported the front line at that time, Abiditas’ forces would have reached Frechenkaya without any resistance.
“But how?”
As mentioned in the memoirs, the internal espionage network of the Krasilov Counterintelligence Command is nearly perfect. This is not just a boast.
It really means it’s objectively close to perfection. They are aware of every little habit of the nobles of this country, even the trivial gatherings in salons.
Moreover, at that time, the military leadership was the main focus of the Counterintelligence Command. After punishing all the domestic nobles, they were the only group that could oppose the princess.
Naturally, they could understand everything happening in the 1st Division as if it were in their hands. But the fact that Ivan didn’t know about this meant there was a gap in the Counterintelligence Command’s espionage network.
“Of course, you wouldn’t be able to notice even if it were you. There are agents in this country who are superior to you, aren’t there?”
“Such individuals do not exist.”
“No, they do.”
The most excellent in foreign intelligence in the United Kingdoms.
And there are even tribes that even the best intelligence agents dared not expand their networks to.
The Duke laughed with his index finger raised to his ear. As if his ears had become longer, he smirked.
While watching his reaction, Ivan’s hand suddenly broke with a click. The teacup in his hand shattered into pieces.
“Kalion….”
“Yeah. Alexander is in Kalion.”
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