“This is no ordinary child. The girl’s name is Yan, and she is very intelligent. She seems to already be trading with the Kumin tribe.”
“…I find that hard to believe.”
“Yan is also familiar with their customs and manners. It seems he utilized the law of the Kumin tribe, which states that ‘tribesman will be expelled if they act violently against kids even it’s imperial children ‘”
“Even if that’s true, it’s an unusual girl to be embedded in the embrace of a foreign tribe.”
Hazen nodded, showing that he understood. Honestly, he thought explaining Yan would be the most difficult part. Captain Lorenzo seems quite flexible in his thinking. Normally, this would be laughed off and dismissed.
“So, I would like to place Yan under my command as an interpreter.”
“Why? If you just want to hire her, there’s no need to keep her here in the fortress.”
“I also need to learn the Kumin language and culture to some degree. It will be more efficient to learn by living together with her.”
“…Explain the specific plan.”
“Right now, I have Yan caring for Kumin prisoners. Then, once a strong trust relationship is built, I will use her trading contacts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“For things I’ve never done before, the best approach is to just try it. And even if it fails and the relationship deteriorates, the current situation wouldn’t be much different. In that sense, the risk is low.”
“…But if it fails, won’t you and this girl Yan be killed?”
“Yan is a child, so she will probably be spared. But I will certainly be killed.”
Of course, Hazen didn’t actually intend to just get himself killed if the plan failed. But saying it that way conveyed the depth of his resolve. A plea for one’s life is taken seriously by anyone.
“…So you believe there’s a prospect of success?”
“Yes. I am not a suicidal person. I won’t make a reckless gamble with my own life,”
“Understood. I will submit this for approval.”
“Ca-Captain! Are you really okay with this? If It fail, taking the opinion of a mere lieutenant…”
Lieutenant Mospitza hurriedly interjected.
“Don’t worry, I won’t mention your name. I’ll submit this as my own independent decision.”
“…I wasn’t really worried about that, but okay.”
” …… “
Despite making excuses, Lieutenant Mospitza backed down surprisingly easily. It was clear he simply didn’t want to take responsibility.
In that moment, Hazen judged this man to be a scoundrel.
At the same time, Hazen was disappointed to see such an officer proliferating even on the frontlines of this region. His goal was to network with promising young officers in the region and bolster their power, but if they were no different from the central authorities, it would be an uphill battle.
Meanwhile, Captain Lorenzo thoughtfully spoke up.
“However, if a ceasefire agreement with the Kumin tribe is reached, that would be a considerable military achievement. Lieutenant Hazen, you may even be awarded a special commendation.”
A special commendation was a very high honor given for exceptional accomplishments. It brought not just financial rewards, but also promotions in rank. Normally it took about six years to be promoted from lieutenant to captain, but there was a possibility Hazen could be promoted within the year.
Hearing this, Lieutenant Mospitza’s face suddenly contorted.
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“S-So, this special commendation would be awarded to Lieutenant Hazen personally?”
“Of course. The one planning and executing this operation is him,”
“But shouldn’t the commendation reflect the magnanimity of the superior officers, like Captain Lorenzo who approved this reckless proposal? It shouldn’t be attributed solely to him,”
Lieutenant Mospitza argued, emphasizing the word “should” pointedly. It was clear he wanted some of the credit.
Even the usually unflappable Captain Lorenzo looked exasperated by this. “If a special commendation was given just for approving something, someone would be getting one every year.”
“B-But we must consider the lieutenant’s position. As the representative of the organization, it should be at least at the captain level. Otherwise, it won’t send the right message.”
“Are you saying you want to receive it?”
“Well, by convention, the special commendation of a subordinate is typically awarded to the next highest officer,” Lieutenant Mospitza stammered.
” …… “
Even Captain Lorenzo fell silent with his mouth open at this. Indeed, the last time a special grand achievement was awarded was eight years ago. It was when Mishil, currently the fourth-ranking high noble and top military officer, made a surprise attack on the capital of Zeold. At that time, she was a lieutenant, and this also sparked a debate, as it was argued that it should have been awarded to her superior officer, the captain.
“Lieutenant Mospitza. But, do you truly believe you are deserving of the Special Meritorious Service Medal?”
“Though it may be presumptuous, I do believe so. I have dedicated my life to serving the Empire. And my passion for this cause is unmatched by anyone. With my long experience as a captain, I am far more qualified than a lieutenant of barely a month.”
“…You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Lieutenant Mospitza replied without hesitation. Watching him closely, Hazen couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, there’s no guarantee we’ll even receive the Special Meritorious Service Medal. I will focus my efforts on the successful ceasefire.”
“Ah, my apologies, Lieutenant Hazen. Lieutenant Mospitza doesn’t mean any harm. His passion for the Empire is so strong that he gets carried away at times.”
“Yes, I love the Empire dearly and will dedicate my life to serving it. Hazen, you are merely a lieutenant of less than a month. Know your place.”
“…”
“Anyway, I understand about the Kumin tribe matter. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”
Pondering for a moment, the young man with black hair then spoke up.
“Just some casual conversation, perhaps.”
“…Casual conversation?”
Captain Lorenzo gave a puzzled look.
“Are you familiar with General Zilsas Zala, the military strategist?”
“…He was a hero who accomplished great feats back when the Empire was still a small nation. I’m not well-versed in history, so I only know a little about him.”
“I admire his excellent military strategies and ideas. I heard that he once divided people into four types for the purposes of commanding troops.”
“Four types?”
Hazen nodded.
“First, those with motivation and ability – the frontline commander type. Next, those without motivation but with ability – the strategist type for the rear.”
“I see, that’s quite interesting.”
“Then, those without motivation or ability – the frontline soldier type. He said to force them to fight on the frontlines if they’re useless.”
“Haha, that’s certainly true.”
“…And lastly, those with motivation but no ability.”
“That’s intriguing. What type would they be?”
As Captain Lorenzo asked, Hazen glanced at Lieutenant Mospitza, giving him a cold stare.
Muttering quietly,
Hazen said:
“He said to kill them immediately.”
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