"Captain Rei! Is it really true that you’re heading to the Imperial Capital and leaving us behind!?"
"Yeah, it’s true. I’m leaving the camp for the Imperial Capital at dawn tomorrow. You’re certainly well-informed, though. This was supposed to be classified information."
First Princess Frizziore was planning to lead her faction out of the Imperial Capital to rendezvous with Mercureo’s Rebel Army. Naturally, the more secrecy surrounding the move, the better, and the matter had been kept strictly confidential within the rebellion’s ranks.
However, if Rei—who was now recognized as the Rebel Army’s greatest military asset—suddenly vanished, it would inevitably cause anxiety among the troops. To prevent this, Tilleul had intentionally spread rumors that Rei would soon be departing on a solo mission, though the rumors pointedly omitted his specific destination.
"Vice-captain Pernix told us. He said that since we’re your Mobile Unit, we ought to know more than the other squads, just in case something happens."
"...I see."
"Oh, and don't worry, sir! We haven't let a word about your destination leak outside the unit."
"Good. I appreciate that."
"But... is it really true that you're going to the Imperial Capital alone, Captain?"
As the soldier pressed for an answer, the rest of the men turned their gazes toward Rei as well, silently urging him to reply. Because their eyes were filled with pure, unshakeable trust, Rei found it difficult to give them a cold dismissal.
Unlike the previous question, this one was about whether Rei was truly striking out by himself. The members of the Mobile Unit shared a profound sense of solidarity, forged in the fires of their overwhelming victory during the recent night raid. Some had even grown more attached to the Mobile Unit than they were to their original, permanent squads. Naturally, they were concerned for the safety of the man who was their captain, their cornerstone, and the very heart of their unit.
However, Rei simply offered a small smile to his worried men. He reached out and placed a hand on the head of Set, who had been quietly watching the exchange from his side.
"It’s not as if I’m strictly alone. I’ll have Set with me, for one thing..."
"Guruuuu."
Clearly enjoying the affection, Set narrowed its eyes and purred deep in its throat. Watching the griffon act exactly like an oversized cat, several soldiers—men and women alike—looked on with itchy palms, clearly dying to pet him themselves.
"Besides, I’m not the only one headed for the capital. The White Rose Knight Order will be coming with me."
"Those women are?"
The soldier muttered in surprise, but his voice held no trace of complaint. Since Rei’s mock battle with Videre a few days ago, the unit had trained alongside the White Rose Knights and had come to respect their prowess. In terms of pure technique, the knights were perhaps a step above the Mobile Unit soldiers, though their overall combat power was roughly equal.
Because they had seen that strength firsthand, the soldiers were able to respect the knights as warriors, rather than dismissing them simply as the First Princess's direct subordinates.
...Of course, the fact that the White Rose Knight Order was composed entirely of women under the First Princess's command meant that many still held a certain "secret garden" image of them. It certainly didn't hurt that every knight in the order was a beauty of above-average looks.
In fact, quite a few of the men wore disappointed expressions when they realized the White Rose Knights would be leaving with Rei, prompting several of the female soldiers to direct cold, judgmental stares their way.
"Anyway, you don't need to worry about us. More importantly, make sure you don't slack off on your training while I'm gone."
If everything went according to plan, the White Rose Knights would eventually return to this camp alongside the main force, but Rei wasn't permitted to disclose that yet. Instead, he gave the Mobile Unit a stern warning.
Then again, with Pernix around, slacking off won't even be an option.
Rei pictured the face of his vice-captain, who was currently with Theorem to coordinate matters for the Mobile Unit. The soldiers seemed to recall Pernix's face as well; their expressions twitched as they imagined the suffering that awaited them if they dared to skip their drills.
"Heh. Well, as long as you train like normal, it won't be that bad. ...But listen up."
The amusement vanished from Rei's voice as his expression turned serious. Though his features could be described as boyish or even girlish, none of the soldiers dared to mock him. Rei was currently radiating a staggering pressure that weighed heavily on the surrounding air.
"You guys... no, all of us, me included, are the Mobile Unit. Based on the name alone, most people wouldn't think much of us, but our results speak for themselves. We are the strongest unit in this entire Rebel Army. What other squad of fewer than thirty men could take on thousands of enemies and annihilate them without a single casualty?"
"But Captain, that was... only because you were there..."
"No," Rei said, immediately cutting him off. "I was the main force, that's true. But that was only possible because you were there to pick off the enemies as they fled the camp. Without you, I would have dealt a massive blow to the Subjugation Army, certainly, but it wouldn't have been the absolute, total victory that it was."
"Captain..."
Hearing their strength acknowledged by a captain who possessed power far beyond the realm of common sense left the soldiers speechless. Their faces were clouded with deep, silent emotion.
"Uh—well, anyway. You guys are the elite of this rebellion. Don't you forget it. Keep training and don't let it go to your heads."
""Yes, sir!""
Embarrassed by their thunderous, synchronized response, Rei cleared his throat and drew the Death Scythe from the Misty Ring.
"At any rate, I'll be gone for a while starting tomorrow. That means I'm going to be extra strict with you today."
Whatever happened to that spirited response from a moment ago? The soldiers’ faces cramped in unison at the mention of "extra strict." Even their usual training was enough to make their limbs heavy and their stomachs turn at the mere thought of food. Being told it would be even worse was hardly cause for celebration.
Naturally, Rei had no intention of granting their silent prayers for mercy. On this day, every soldier in the Mobile Unit—save for Vice-captain Pernix—would come to know a living hell.
While the Mobile Unit was undergoing its grueling drills, an interrogation was taking place in another corner of the camp.
Tucked away inside a tent shielded from prying eyes by several others sat Sobul, the prisoner Rei’s squad had captured during the previous battle. Despite the term "interrogation," no torture was being utilized; they were simply engaging him in conversation.
While Sobul was an invaluable source of information, his loyalty to Prince Kabajid was fierce, and he was not the type to leak secrets carelessly. More importantly, he was a vital bargaining chip for future negotiations with the Prince. Consequently, he was kept isolated from the other captive nobles, ensuring he had no opportunity to plot anything untoward.
"So, when I told him there was no way that would work, what do you think he said to me?" the interrogator asked.
"Who knows? Probably told you to shut your mouth," Sobul replied dryly.
They looked like they were merely passing the time, but when dealing with an opponent who had no intention of talking, one usually had to rely on torture or bribery. The Rebel Army had already tried every carrot they could think of: defection, better treatment for his fellow prisoners, gourmet food, beautiful women. Sobul had rejected them all. He had even flatly stated that the other captured nobles belonged to a different faction and were of no concern to him.
Because he was such a high-priority asset, the Rebel Army couldn't afford to take a heavy-handed approach that might backfire. Instead, they were reduced to these casual chats in the hopes that he might let something slip.
Sobul understood their game perfectly. He played along only because he knew that if he ignored them entirely, they might resort to more drastic measures. Furthermore, by engaging in small talk, he could keep a careful guard on his own secrets while potentially scouting for information about the Rebel Army.
He was a prisoner; escape was impossible for a man of his limited physical ability. His only remaining duty was to gather whatever intel he could to eventually serve Prince Kabajid. It was with this cold pragmatism that he humored the interrogator.
"Actually, the man told me that if he were going to pull something like that, he’d do it in secret. Can you believe it?"
"In secret, huh? I suppose some people might prefer that," Sobul said.
"You think? Personally, I like to be open and proud about—Hm?"
The interrogator stopped mid-sentence. He had noticed footsteps approaching and instinctively reached for the longsword at his hip.
This tent was intentionally placed in an obscure, well-guarded location. The sentry soldiers stationed outside were supposed to turn away anyone who approached.
In other words, the person coming either had high-level clearance...
Or they've neutralized the guards, the interrogator thought, a chill running down his spine.
He was on edge for a reason: he had specifically requested that his superior allow no one inside while he was questioning Sobul. Even if it was just idle talk, his prisoner was still a high-value target.
He let out a sigh of relief when he heard the newcomer speaking with the sentries outside. He recognized the voice. A few words were exchanged, and then the tent flap opened. A man the interrogator knew well stepped inside.
"Sorry to interrupt your chat."
"You should be. What do you want? We were just getting to the good part."
The interrogator grumbled irritably, but the newcomer only offered a wry smile as he held out his prize.
It was a fruit commonly eaten in the Bestia Empire during the autumn months—a yellow, fist-sized fruit known as a "Riot." If Rei had seen it, he would have recognized it as a pear. It was slightly smaller than the varieties found in Japan, but it was undoubtedly the same fruit.
Riots were a staple of the season, beloved for their crisp sweetness and high water content. While grown elsewhere, the people of the Bestia Empire were particularly fond of them.
At the sight of the fruit, the interrogator’s annoyance vanished instantly. Even Sobul’s lips twitched into the faint ghost of a smile.
"Looks good, doesn't it?"
"It does, but... did you really have to bring it right now?"
"I have permission from the higher-ups."
Given that he had passed through multiple layers of security to get here, it was likely the truth.
"Still, what's with the sudden errand...?"
The interrogator was happy to have the fruit, but he didn't see why they would send a messenger in the middle of a session—even if it was technically just small talk.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure they just didn't want to leave you cooped up in here all day."
"...Is that it?"
"Yeah. No ulterior motive, they just wanted to let you have a breather. ...By the way, did you hear? Crimson is leaving the camp on a mission as early as tomorrow."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I heard. Supposed to be top secret... though since it’s him, I’m sure it’ll turn into some kind of insane spectacle."
The interrogator spoke through a mouthful of fruit. He was too busy savoring the sweetness to notice Sobul’s sharp, subtle reaction.
Nor did he notice the man who had brought the Riots casting a single, meaningful glance toward the prisoner.