Chapter 1, Defeat

This young lieutenant's name is Rick Hurl, and he is much luckier than those ordinary soldiers

However, he also knew that since his name had already appeared on the list of the Military Intelligence Department, even if he wanted to escape, he could not, because for the gradually declining Afa Empire, everything else was shrinking, and only the intelligence department was becoming increasingly large

The military affairs office where he served is also a department with considerable financial benefits. Although military officers do not have the same opportunities as supply officers to profit significantly from military supplies, they still have their own sources of income

The advantage of the Military Affairs Office lies in its substantial benefits, while the advantage of the General Command is the ease of promotion. Therefore, after four years, Hel has only been promoted by one rank and is still a lieutenant officer, whereas his friend has long since attained the rank of major

Hale did not know how he returned to bed; his mind was in a state of chaos

Upon arriving in the occupied area, his sole effort was to perform the role of another self. He did not intend to be a successful spy; he clearly understood that he only needed to be a surviving spy

The war between the old and new hegemons inevitably occurred

Haddings hesitated for a moment; he knew a little about this matter, mostly through hearsay. After pondering for a moment, he said: "This matter is likely unrelated to the General Headquarters. Although the order was issued from here, it does not reflect the intentions of the General Headquarters"

The lieutenant secretly rejoiced at the insufficient protective capability of this item; otherwise, he might not have survived today

As a tailor, he once measured and fitted various individuals, including prominent figures from illustrious families, but more often he served the common people. Starting as an apprentice at the age of ten and continuing until he was conscripted into the military, he encountered a diverse array of characters.

When the lieutenant woke up, he saw two soldiers pulling his hands outward. He was pinned down by many broken branches, almost buried alive beneath them.

Although he is merely an inconspicuous military officer, he is able to have a warhorse for transportation, a privilege that many officers of higher rank than him cannot enjoy

The only thing that interested the lieutenant was the magical mecha that had nearly cost him his life. After delivering a near-fatal blow, it fell into the woods, landing just a few meters away from him, with most of the wreckage caught in the branches of a tree.

Although the place where the shelling occurred was far away, the rumbling sound rolling through the mountains still startled Lieutenant Hel. He immediately urged his warhorse to gallop towards the nearby hillside, as he was all too familiar with this situation; it was the enemy's air raid alarm.

Lieutenant Heller's shooting skills are not very good; he is a staff officer and has no need to go to the front lines. His marksmanship is the result of short-term training conducted shortly after he was drafted, during which he fired fewer than one hundred rounds in total.

Separated by a wall, the scenes inside and outside the town are completely different. The mountain road outside is quiet, as the soldiers who have traveled all day have already entered their tents to rest. However, the small town appears unusually lively because it is still early.

I am very sorry, my friend, but I cannot be of any assistance in this matter. Although the trivial affairs of the military intelligence office hold no real secrets, their personnel absolutely do not tolerate interference from other departments

Generally speaking, people like him tend to live very comfortably, but at this moment, he appears somewhat anxious

In that moment, the lieutenant clearly saw the terrifying appearance of this weapon. To be honest, it was truly ugly. It had a pair of enormous wings that were at least 6 meters long, a prominent hump on its back, and beneath its body were two retracted, crane-like long legs. At the back was a tail that spread out like a fan. This creature had no head, yet it possessed a walnut-sized eye that spun continuously, and at that moment, this eye was fixed intently on him. Beneath its body were two retracted, crane-like long legs, and at the back was a tail that spread out like a fan. This creature had no head, yet it possessed a walnut-sized eye that spun continuously, and at that moment, this eye was fixed intently on him.

This is precisely the army of the Afa Empire that has just retreated from the front lines, consisting of a total of sixteen legions, nearly ninety thousand personnel.

In fact, after they finalized this list, the command headquarters must have already removed your identities from the military roster, Hastings said, his tone filled with helplessness

Although filled with fear, Hel's hand naturally rose, holding a gun with a bullet in the chamber. Almost simultaneously, a series of gunshots echoed from the woods below

Although the lieutenant also drew his sidearm, he did not fire. He had no intention of engaging in meaningless actions, nor did he wish to actively provoke danger

Outside the town, there is also an infantry regiment stationed for guard duty. As night has already fallen, the soldiers have long set up their tents, which are pitched along the mountain road. At a glance, the long mountain road is lined with tents on both sides.

The rise of the middle class signifies that a new force has emerged on the political stage. Within a short span of just over a decade, hundreds of revolutions have erupted across the mainland.

Compared to being tried in a military court for embezzlement, espionage appears far more terrifying; the former at least offers a chance of survival, while the latter is likely a dead end, leaving one unable to even contemplate death

That was originally an inn, and the large bed from the guest room has been thrown somewhere else. At this moment, it has been replaced by two folding military beds. A number of nails have been driven into the wall above the beds, which can be used to hang clothes

It is precisely because of the success of gunpowder that the world has seen the dawn of magic being accessible to ordinary people, with many hoping that magic will no longer be exclusive to wizards

From a distance, the wreckage appears to be constructed with a not very thick metal shield at the front, while the rest is made up of layers of wooden planks, a fine steel wire mesh, and a layer of canvas, all glued together. It looks quite lightweight yet sturdy, but it is unable to withstand bullets.

A thick wall was constructed using rocks the size of grinding wheels at the town entrance. Behind the wall, small-caliber field artillery and large-caliber mortars were positioned. In the square behind the artillery camp, a row of silver-white mechs stood, resembling the enemy mechs that had been shot down, but with slightly larger bodies.

Finding Major Hardings is not an easy task, as a roadblock divides the town into two parts. On one side of the roadblock is the area for ordinary officers, while the other side is designated for senior officers. Military police guard this boundary, and the lieutenant certainly does not dare to trespass. His only option is to wait

The worst part was that this thing actually refused to let him go, circling back after a turn, which filled Huer with an extraordinary fear, yet at the same time, it was inexplicably puzzling. He simply could not fathom how he could have such a "privilege" of being closely monitored by a magical mecha.

He has already thought about how to protect himself

The soldiers had long taken refuge in the woods, and they were continuously shooting at the sky through the sparse gaps in the tree canopy. However, the lieutenant was well aware that it was all in vain; even if the enemy's aerial cavalry remained stationary, hitting them from a distance of over 400 meters would rely solely on luck

In the military office, Lieutenant Heller cannot be considered wealthy; of course, he is by no means as innocent as a baby. He simply does not flaunt it as openly as other military officers. Heller has always regarded himself as a truly intelligent person, and an intelligent person is fundamentally a cautious one.

A successful tailor, aiming to create garments that satisfy every customer, must first understand the customers themselves, and he has already become an expert in this regard

There are national intelligence agencies and military intelligence departments for external matters, while internal affairs are managed by secret police and the Ministry of Supervision. Even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its own intelligence agency. Although these intelligence agencies may not necessarily obtain any useful information from the heavily guarded Beirut Empire, they are more than sufficient to deal with it

From below, one can clearly see that the wings and body of the magical armored machine bear distinct bullet marks. The bullets not only shattered the tail wing but also broke the metal shield on the chest. At this moment, a pungent dark red smoke is still billowing out from the gaping hole.

A wave of heat surged from behind, and the lieutenant felt himself being pushed forward by this wave. Fortunately, once the heat wave entered the woods, it quickly diminished.

Before being conscripted into the military, he was a rather successful tailor, and was even on the verge of owning his own shop. However, when his years of savings were finally sufficient to open a store independently, a military order completely shattered all his hopes

At the onset of the war, people predicted that it would last for several years or even longer. However, astonishingly, in less than half a month, the old hegemon of the continent, the Afa Empire, which had flourished for more than six centuries, was defeated.

Therefore, in the more than one century following the widespread use of gunpowder, an increasing number of achievements from the laboratories of magicians were unearthed

Thus, when he saw the fan-like tail of the attacking magic machine being shattered and fragments flying from his chest, he had no idea whether his shot contributed to it

With a piercing neigh, the warhorse broke free from its reins and charged wildly. This reckless act immediately cost it its life, as another deep rumble echoed, and the fireball launched by the magical mech exploded above its head.

Riding this slow horse, the lieutenant finally arrived at the headquarters stationed in the small town ahead before nightfall

A special pass is required to enter the town; fortunately, Lieutenant Hel's orders can be considered a form of pass. The military officer on duty in the town has arranged accommodation for Lieutenant Hel.

After placing the items just received from the supply office by the bedside, the lieutenant walked straight out the door; he needed to find someone

New weapons, new modes of warfare, and likewise further enhance the ambitions of the new hegemon of the continent

Hale furrowed his brow; this was certainly not what he wished to hear. He was well aware that the so-called "lurker" was synonymous with "spy," and being a spy was certainly not an enjoyable occupation

The first places where all achievements are applied are undoubtedly in warfare. These miraculous and powerful weapons have completely transformed the nature of war that had persisted for thousands of years.

At the same time, the theocracy that had bound human thought for nearly a thousand years has long since declined. Although a large portion of the population still believes in the existence of God, the papacy has lost its former exalted status. At this moment, the glory of the papacy can only illuminate a mere three thousand square kilometers of the Vatican City.

Like all defeated armies, these soldiers marching along the mountain road appeared exceptionally miserable. Their eyes were vacant, and they walked with their heads down. Many used their rifles as walking sticks. The carts on the road carried soldiers with broken legs and arms, and even their groans sounded weak and feeble

Although I have never tried it, it seems that transforming into another person, someone so unrecognizable to his friends, should not be difficult at all

More than an hour later, the familiar figure of Hastings appeared before the lieutenant

The most tragic are those wounded soldiers in the carts, who are undoubtedly the most conspicuous targets. A long line of carts was reduced to ashes amidst the roar, and those soldiers who were not attacked disregarded their injuries, desperately trying to jump down from the carts

However, for the lieutenant, none of this was relevant to him; having just escaped death, he understood the value of life better than anyone else

Lieutenant Heller cursed inwardly as he drew his sword and swung it forcefully, attempting to carve out a firebreak.

Hiding behind the rocks and observing secretly, one could see a dozen or so dark figures soaring and circling in the sky. These shadows, with their enormous wings, occasionally emitted an exceptionally dazzling flash of light

He cannot help but think carefully about what this truly means

The old dominator, which had ruled the continent for hundreds of years, has begun to show signs of aging and decline. In contrast, a young empire has risen in just a few decades. Like all vibrant and ambitious young people, it has started to challenge the authority of the old dominator and vie for supremacy over the continent

Lieutenant Heller jumped down from his horse and quickly took cover behind a rock. Riding a horse during an enemy airstrike is extremely dangerous, as it undoubtedly invites an attack from the enemy's aerial forces, especially since officers are highly valuable targets.

"Is there any way for me to disappear from the list?" Harlan asked quickly, appearing somewhat anxious.

A sound of hooves approached from afar, and riding on the horse was a young lieutenant who appeared to be deeply troubled. Due to his full, unshaven face, he looked to be around thirty years old. His uniform showed no signs of the dust and blood that marked the soldiers.

After the flash, a fireball descended from the sky. Once it hit the ground, the fireball immediately exploded with a dull roar, and the explosion had a wide radius, with its edges even extending deep into the forest

After graduating from the training class, Hel was fortunate enough to enter the Military Affairs Office of the 21st Corps, but Hardings was even luckier, as he went directly to the General Headquarters

He carefully looked around to confirm that there was absolutely no one else before lowering his voice to say: "I have heard some rumors; the one truly issuing this order is the Military Intelligence Department.

Accompanying this term are often a series of words such as "prison," "torture," and "death," any one of which sends a chill down Hell's spine

Among the aerial cavalry launched by the enemy, there are four that can be confirmed as magical aerial knights, as well as eleven light magical mechas

Heller shares the same view on this matter. For instance, the order in his hand bears the stamp indicating "confidential," yet he still disclosed this matter to his friends.

The only thing that made Hel uneasy was the military intelligence department's abysmal secrecy skills. Taking a mirror from the drawer of the bedside cabinet, Hel looked at himself in the mirror. Since joining the army, he had grown a beard, and at that moment, with his face fully covered in stubble, it was nearly impossible for him to discern his original appearance

The scene of blood and flesh flying made Lieutenant Heller secretly grateful that he was not on horseback. However, at this moment, Heller had little time to dwell on such thoughts, as the raging fire was rapidly spreading around him. Unfortunately, apart from this rock, there were no other obstacles nearby that could provide cover.

It has been decided to cede the provinces of Branton, Mafilo, and Yalk as war reparations. However, prior to this, the military intelligence agency intends to deploy some infiltrators in these three provinces

At that moment, a strong gust of wind from above startled him. He looked up and saw the magical mecha swiftly passing overhead.

Just as Lieutenant Heller was deeply engrossed in his journey, a sudden cacophony of noise erupted behind him, followed by a sporadic burst of gunfire

The person he is looking for is named Borowin Hardings. They were classmates in a short-term non-commissioned officer training course. Although the course lasted only three months, it was sufficient for like-minded individuals to become friends

As Lieutenant Hurl had anticipated, when he rode up the hillside and entered a sparse grove of trees, a sudden, dull roar erupted behind him

He borrowed a horse from the military medical office, which was originally used for pulling carts. This animal does not run fast, but it is certainly better than walking on two legs.

He also took a moment to mourn the brave warhorse that had sacrificed itself. Although this horse was stubborn, difficult to control, and easily frightened, it had been with him for two years, and there was, to some extent, a bond of affection.

On the mountain road from Tress to the Sunnan Plain, a long, seemingly endless army is sluggishly moving forward with little enthusiasm

Lieutenant Heller awkwardly emerged from the field hospital camp, feeling quite disappointed that he could not obtain a casualty certificate from the medical officer

Like the lieutenant, Major Hardings is also a clever man. Hurl even feels that Hardings is smarter than he is, as he has only managed to do reasonably well in the Ministry of Defense, while Major Hardings is quite influential at the General Headquarters, from whom many confidential insights can be gleaned.

In a secluded corner outside the wall, two individuals were hiding. This was Major Hardings' arrangement. According to him, the small town was not suitable for discussing confidential matters, as there were no secrets to speak of.

However, this does not mean that he would sacrifice himself for the country, so he would certainly set aside the extremely dangerous work of espionage. How to evade responsibility at that time would be dealt with later; it should be possible to come up with some vague and unfounded information to satisfy the requirements.

Certainly, in the event of an absolute necessity, there must be a contingency plan. Hel had long since devised this contingency plan; fleeing abroad might be the best option.

Hirsch considers himself to be somewhat of a patriot; at the very least, he would never betray his country.

The reason for the middle class to muster the courage to take up arms is one thing—gunpowder. This invention, which emerged from the alchemists' laboratories, has completely transformed the nature of warfare

However, he immediately realized that now was absolutely not the time to consider this matter and the books, for he had once again seen that deadly flash.

The name of the town is Da'an, which is a relatively large town with over one hundred households

At first, it was the monarchs of various countries who felt the most excitement about this, but they soon discovered that as the power of the divine diminished, the crown bestowed upon them by divine right also began to lose its luster.

Upon entering the forest, the lieutenant did not pause, for this was still not the safest place; the sparse trees could not effectively shield him from aerial attacks. He continued to ride forward until he stopped near a large rock.

Although the lieutenant was very tired, he could not sleep at all. On one hand, it was because he had worries that he could not let go of; on the other hand, it was due to the noise in the hotel lobby.

This is an era of transition between the old and the new

According to the customs of the imperial army, many charges can be overlooked for those who are valiantly injured in battle, and at this moment, he is in need of these considerations

The list of personnel requisitioned is provided by the Military Intelligence Department, and all the individuals on the list are officers who, like you, are not very conspicuous and do not have family burdens

The lieutenant barely had time to react before he felt himself being slammed into the mud by a powerful force, the violent impact causing him to lose consciousness momentarily

Standing by the roadblock, when a messenger wanted to enter, Lieutenant Heller spent twenty military notes to have the messenger call out Hardings.

With a loud bang, the fireball crashed into the rock and exploded, causing the surrounding trees to break and scatter. However, what terrified Hel even more was the ensuing inferno.

Just as the lieutenant was fully focused on the fierce battle in the sky, suddenly, a magical armored machine charged directly at him. With a flash of red light, a blinding fireball approached rapidly from a distance

After tossing and turning all night without sleep, it was not until dawn that Hel finally began to piece together some clues. Clearly, refusing the summons from the military intelligence department was an impractical matter. Once in the occupied area, the military intelligence department would be unable to reach him. Upon careful reflection, being a spy was not so terrifying; the most important thing was how to protect oneself.

This directly reminded the lieutenant of a lit fuse and something akin to a powder keg about to explode, prompting him, who has always cherished life, to quickly retreat a distance.

Also because of his beard, he appears to be an old man in his thirties or forties; who would have thought he is only twenty-four years old

Not only were there gunshots, but the sound of artillery gradually emerged, that was the roar of the 200-millimeter howitzer.

For him, the only thing he could do at this moment was to wait, either for his side's air cavalry to come to the rescue or for those creatures in the sky to lose interest. For an infantry regiment with no air defense capabilities, this was the only option.

If it were not for the fact that those colleagues who were even more greedy than he showed no signs of scrutiny, he would certainly think that a major purge was about to begin

The sporadic sound of gunfire still occasionally reached his ears. The lieutenant speculated that an enemy air knight had been shot down, prompting the soldiers to search the mountains and fields extensively.

Hegel was not concerned about the defeat in the war; in fact, he had already predicted the collapse of the empire even before the war broke out. One only needs to observe the actions of his colleagues to understand that victory in this war was impossible

The true reason for his concern at this moment is that this morning, a confidential order suddenly arrived, summoning him to the headquarters.