The battlefield of night.
Not far away, the charging footsteps of the soldiers shook the ground and splashed countless mud. Fortunately, in Joshua's eyes that looked like he was mentally retarded, they finally slowed down as they approached and did not hit the seriously injured soldiers in one go.
"Vice Commander!"
A certain soldier in the lead shouted with concern, then frowned and looked at each other with his comrades: "This injury... are you okay?!"
How could it be okay...
It was a bit unfamiliar at first, but Joshua quickly recognized the people in front of him. These warriors wearing black crow armor were all his subordinates in the black crow forward army. Now he was too lazy to be polite and sighed as before: " What are you doing standing still? Help me and be careful about the wound."
As soon as the words fell, these soldiers woke up from a dream. As imperial soldiers, they had undoubtedly learned some first aid methods, but it was obvious that Joshua's injuries were no longer something they could handle. It would be better to say that they were already. With serious injuries on the verge of death, ordinary people can't get up at all, let alone walk.
However, before they met, they all thought that Joshua was dead. After all, there was generally no other possibility for a man to rush into the enemy line of orcs. As a result, they never expected that he was still alive. Although he was now seriously injured and on the verge of death, It looks like he can still move forward with a gun, he is indeed a deputy commander!
With the support of two soldiers, Joshua quickly returned to the military formation. Two priests and a necromancer came forward to carry him into a temporary medical tent for treatment.
Although the Necromancer has an evil name, he is not considered a villain in the Mycroft Road. Officially recognized serious Necromancers accept the corpses of volunteers and study the body structures of humans and various alien races. This group of people are proficient in the structure of the human body. , is the best internal injury doctor. Because he can communicate with spirits, he also works part-time to assist the guards in handling cases.
Of course, there are necromancers who study seriously, and there are also undead priests who specialize in killing people. They are obsessed with body transformation and soul alienation. Familiar monsters such as walking corpses, chimeras, fused ghosts, and flesh puppets are all familiar monsters from all ages. The creation of a powerful undead priest.
The priest's magic can heal all external injuries, and the necromancer's exquisite magic can heal internal organs. After only thirty minutes of treatment and a not-so-rich but crucial dinner, Joshua felt that he had regained his basic health. The vitality and wounds on his abdomen were completely healed. The [Severe Endangerment] of the health on the attribute board was changed to [Medium Injury], and the only negative status left was [Severe Fatigue].
"Why did you come here?" After swallowing the last mouthful of military rations, Joshua asked, "What's the situation?"
"Our squadron is here to clean up the battlefield and prepare for the siege of the orcs' Driss Fortress."
The captain of this squadron, Joshua's subordinate, a soldier named Ryan explained the current situation to him: "The orcs were completely defeated on the frontal battlefield, and now they can only retreat to the fortress, and our task is to guard every trail and move them Complete lockdown.”
The Black Crow Legion is one of the four legions directly under the Emperor of the Empire. It is divided into five parts: the forward army, the main army, the heavy cavalry regiment, the mage team (including priests and warlocks and other spellcasters), and the logistics department. It has special warriors in the game. The profession 'Black Crow Raider', the knight profession 'Black Crow Conqueror' and the special rogue profession 'Death Raider'.
Joshua is so young, but he is one of the two deputy commanders of the forward army. Half of it is because of his family background, and half of it is his ability. The sergeants are convinced of his powerful force, and the relationship is relatively good, but now they seem to respect him more than before. .
In fact, the reason is very simple - Ryan and others have already seen the battlefield littered with corpses.
The air was filled with the smell of blood and iron, and the ground was covered with greasy blood. There were mutilated corpses everywhere, and putrid pieces of meat and internal organs covered every ground.
It was completely unimaginable how brutal that battle was, let alone how strong Joshua was who could do this alone.
Thinking of this, Ruian couldn't help but said: "It's already sunset, so we can't count the number of orcs for the time being." After thinking for a while, but not knowing what to say, the soldier couldn't help but touch his helmet and said bluntly: "I used to be right. Vice Commander, I have questioned your age and strength, but now that I think about it, my vision is too short-sighted."
"I'm afraid even the general will pay attention to this great achievement and grant you the Blade of Glory."
The Blade of Glory is not a real weapon, but a glory accessory similar to a badge. Those who can obtain it are undoubtedly the bravest warriors on the battlefield. In the game, a Blade of Glory badge is a platinum trophy. The necessary elements for achievement can be sold at a sky-high price of over 100,000 gold coins at most, and are usually worth 20,000 gold coins, while a complete set of magic armor only costs 70,000 to 80,000 gold coins.
In addition, in the middle of the game, a Blade of Glory badge can be directly exchanged for a [Pioneering Knight Commitment] in the Imperial City. After completing the mission, the player can open a temporary copy in the uninhabited wilderness or the black forest, and break through It will then be able to establish and develop a knight's territory in its place and become a lord.
"maybe."
Joshua waved his hand and didn't take it seriously at all. He recalled that in the Continent of Disputes, when he was looking for the best battle group station, the Blade of Glory was worth every kilogram, and the Lord's copy was so dark that he felt tired and wanted to vomit. , because this process was so thrilling and evocative that he felt sick when he recalled it now. A mere Blade of Glory is not an extremely precious [Letter of Appointment for Autonomous Lords], so it is nothing at all.
Not to mention the orcs, he had cleared the Northwest Plains dungeon no less than a hundred times and had killed tens of thousands of orcs, and he was completely indifferent.
Feeling that his body had almost been healed, and all that was left was rest. Joshua nodded and said, "Okay, you have worked hard. Go ahead and lead the team on the mission. There is no need to delay because of me."
"What about you, deputy commander?"
"I can just go back and see the commander alone."
The commander mentioned here is not the commander of the legion, but the commander of the forward army. According to military regulations, every officer must hold a meeting to review their duties after the war, and Joshua is no exception. Although he missed it because he was in a coma, he can ask his immediate superior to make up for it later.
Rejecting Ryan's suggestion to send someone to escort him, Joshua changed into a new set of clothes and walked alone to the path leading to the central formation of the Black Crow Legion.
At this time, except for a scar at the corner of Joshua's eye that could not be completely healed, Joshua's other injuries were almost healed. Although there was fatigue in his eyes, his actions were still crisp and clear.
Half an hour later, since he, the deputy commander, still had a sense of presence, Joshua walked unimpeded to the command tent where the commander was located.
And his immediate boss, the commander of the Black Crow Forward Army, the Golden Heavy Knight Odo, was drinking coffee and reading a report sent by a secret agent at the table.
He had short blond hair, a tall build, and powerful muscles that looked like they could burst an armor. His eyes looked as if they could penetrate paper.
"puff-"
Picking up the report, Odo couldn't help but spit out a sip of coffee when he was halfway through the report, and then gasped: "The Wild Wolves of the Eto'o tribe were completely wiped out? The designation was cancelled?"
He took out a tissue, wiped the corners of his mouth, and frowned: "Eto'o is one of the largest tribes of orcs, and the Wild Wolves are their elite troops. There are more than a hundred fucking silver-level orcs. , the average strength is in the middle, and they are not a group of Marutori, how on earth were they destroyed?"
"Could it be that the secret agent was attacked by orcs and his brain was beaten to the pulp? That's not right. Give them ten thousand courages. These people would not dare to write casually under such circumstances. I should believe in their professionalism..."
Looking back, Odo prepared to see what happened next.
After a while, a confident voice sounded outside the military tent.
"Report! Joshua, the deputy commander of the forward army, wants to see you!"
"… Come in."
After Joshua opened the curtain, he found that his immediate boss was looking at him like a monster.
"Admit it, are you possessed by an abyss demon?"
Joshua: "...?"
"You can actually destroy Eto'o's entire team of Steppenwolves by yourself, I really can't believe it!"
Crossing his hands on his chest, the Golden Knight looked Joshua up and down, as if he was meeting him for the first time. He was amazed as he spoke: "Although it was achieved by occupying the favorable terrain of the canyon, no matter what, your strength You’ve made great progress, and you can expect gold in the future!”
Joshua finally understood. It seemed that Odo already knew that he had killed many orcs.
But what are the Steppenwolves
"Look at your expression... well, then again, how dare you rush there alone at that time? Have you thought about the consequences?!"
Looking at Joshua who looked unconcerned, Odo sighed, feeling that he was already old and no longer understood the world of young people. Then he slapped the table and lectured: "Do you still want to go back alive and inherit the title?" , my little earl?”
He has a relationship with the Earl of Northland, Joshua's father. He is considered half an elder and talks very casually.
"...You're right."
"Forget it, looking at the tired look on your face, I don't need you to declare your duties. Go and rest."
The commander shook his head and waved for Joshua to leave quickly, "No matter what, just stay alive."
The next day, the war entered a stalemate period, and the Black Crow Legion, which had previously been the vanguard, was replaced and returned to the rear for training.
It was a tent with a strong military style. There were some weapons maintenance tools and oil cans beside the bed. The interior was full of traces of fireworks and the decoration was very simple.
"Vice Commander!"
After changing into new clothes and having a good sleep, Joshua, who was currently writing his retirement application in the tent, suddenly heard the herald calling him outside. He could only put his pen aside and said, "Speak."
"The commander-in-chief said he has something to ask you!"
"...It just so happens that I also have something to ask him about."
after a while.
"Retired? I know something happened in your family, but this is wartime, and I don't have the authority to let you go back."
Sitting at the table, Odo touched his chin, looking a little helpless: "But it's almost over. The orcs will definitely surrender before winter comes. They don't have much food reserves. At that time, you can retire according to the normal process."
"It will be completely too late by then!" Joshua stood in the huge main tent decorated with black and gold colors, and frowned at his immediate boss at the table: "The letter said that the situation was very tense, and he would not go back until winter. I didn't know what was going on at home. What a mess."
"It's useless for you to tell me... As for calling you here, it's not that I have anything to do with you, but that the superiors just sent someone to look for you by name, and I can't refuse."
Commander Otto held the armrest and lay half on the big chair. He looked at the serious-looking subordinate in front of him and felt a little headache.
"who is it?"
"Be careful when we meet... that's a golden scale."
===============
"Joshua Van Radcliffe was born on October 15, 810 in the Starfall Calendar. He was the first heir to the throne of Moldavia. He joined the army in 826, and was recommended by his superiors to enter the Imperial Military Academy in 828. He graduated with honors from the Imperial Miskatonic Officer Training Center in June 830 and has been fighting on the northwest plains and on the front lines of the Thomas Canyon war since then."
An emotionless statement sounded. A middle-aged man wearing a red-edged black coat sat on a big chair next to the conference table with an indifferent expression. He read a long string of words to the information in his hand, and his voice There was no fluctuation at all, it was as dry as a machine.
"And it is now October 16, 831, eleven forty-seven."
After a slight pause, he raised his head and looked directly at Joshua, who was sitting opposite, and said in a playful tone: "There are still thirteen minutes until noon. Deputy Commander of the Black Crow Forward Army, you have thirteen minutes to explain your crime."
There is a very conspicuous coat of arms on his left chest, which is a golden scale with half a sword and half an ear of grain.
This is the hallmark of an aristocratic court.
"Okay, Mr. Inquisitor Munster, but before that..."
After receiving Odo's reminder and being fully mentally prepared, Joshua didn't feel nervous at all. He put his hands on the armrests and calmly said, "Can I have a cup of tea first?"
"certainly."
The examiner's tone was the same as that of Bangdu, but he was surprisingly easy to talk to: "Black tea?"
"Some ice, please."
"nothing."
After the guard at the door brought tea, he added: "It's twelve minutes now."
Joshua took a sip and said with a smile, "No problem."
Weird chatter and laughter.
But Joshua was thinking about it in his heart.
(I didn’t expect that the violation of military regulations would be known to the superiors so quickly. It only took less than two days. The efficiency of the noble court is really incredible.)
Joshua himself is also very aware that disobeying military orders, attacking without authorization, and disrupting one's own formations are taboos during war. When he was traveling through time and space, he committed three crimes because of his rampage. If he were an ordinary person, he would have been thrown into military prison. Waiting for the trial of the military court, even if it is a noble heir, there will still be a special noble court to investigate.
This is exactly why the censor named Munster in front of him came from.
The noble court is not a benign organization. It is a symbol of imperial power. Their fields include a series of key duties such as arbitrating noble succession, judging criminal nobles, and judging the legality of wars between territories. Not only that, they also work with the emperor directly under the empire. The intelligence organization "Shadow" is linked to the intelligence organization and is responsible for monitoring the movements of all nobles and managing all noble-related affairs.
Theoretically, even if the second son kills his elder brother and murders his father to inherit the title and become the head of the family in order to compete for the title, he still needs to make a report to prove his legitimacy - although the noble court never pays attention to such trivial matters.
But Joshua didn't show any fear.
"Yes, I know my crime - disobeying military orders, disobeying commands, attacking without authorization and leaving the military formation, violating Articles 3, 6, and 17 of the Military Law."
"I am willing to accept any punishment without any explanation."
After drinking the black tea, he didn't look nervous at all and simply admitted his crime directly.
"very good."
Prosecutor Munster had an expressionless face and a steady voice. He seemed completely unmoved. He nodded slightly: "You are very cooperative."
Joshua still looked calm, as if he was not afraid of punishment at all.
It's not because of arrogance, or because I think being a noble will bring privileges, but because of an iron rule.
A holy law that is above the law.
"The victor is innocent."
Joshua had countless interactions with the House of Lords, which was similar to the aristocratic court in the Far South, and he knew the truth well.
Yes, he disobeyed military orders and attacked without authorization, destroying the stability of his teammates' formations - but he successfully defeated the orcs' left wing, stopped all the retreating troops, and killed them one by one.
He swept across the battlefield and killed three hundred enemies. This was an achievement that could not be achieved by following military regulations. If he failed, he would naturally be imprisoned and tried on a later date (more likely to die directly). The prosecutor would be happy to have him The record book reads, "Joshua, the first heir of the Moldavia Territory in the North, violated military regulations and was sent to the Fourth Noble Prison at a certain date." ', but Joshua succeeded, so he just had to admit it simply -
Then there is the waiting for the so-called 'punishment'.
"Joshua Van Radcliffe, our review committee has investigated your faults and results very clearly. You don't have to worry about us giving you unfair treatment."
With just one word, Joshua understood that the middle-aged prosecutor named Munster did not intend to embarrass him, but was simply going through the process. Listening to these words, not following military law became a trivial fault. !
Munster did not pause and continued to speak in a very cold voice: "Actually, after discussion, the committee believes that this matter did not cause any adverse consequences, but brought considerable advantages, and your bravery also proved that The attack was not a thoughtless move, so to sum up, we will give you the following punishment."
"With immediate effect, Joshua Van Radcliffe is suspended from his position as deputy commander of the Black Crow Legion's forward army and sent back to his territory. However, achievements cannot be erased, and mistakes and rewards cannot offset each other. Therefore, the committee It was decided to give him the Blade of Glory badge to show his bravery."
After Munster finished speaking, a smile appeared on his expressionless face. He looked at Joshua and said, "The above is the entire content of the trial against the deputy commander of the Black Crow Forward Army for violating the military law."
He also came a little closer and said softly: "Originally, I decided to suspend my duties for three months and then upgrade my rank by one level. However, I heard that there is something wrong with your family, and the war against the orcs will continue until at least the spring of next year, so I decided to simply How do you feel about suspending you and sending you back?"
What else? a! Joshua smiled and nodded, but actually he was already laughing in his heart.
Sure enough, it was a clear demotion but a real reward. They talked about suspension and deportation, but in fact they just let him go back to his hometown. And being suspended does not mean that he cannot come back. It means that he is still a member of the military system and has not left. This is a complete reward for him who originally wanted to retire.
"Then, next, in accordance with the tradition of the Black Crow Legion, I will give the warrior a blessing."
At this time, Munster's eyes and tone swept away the previous coldness and became serious and full of majesty: "People die because of cowardice."
For some reason, Joshua suddenly became serious. An inexplicable sense of iron blood filled the warrior's heart. He stood up and answered clearly word for word.
“Born by faith.”
"The glory of the dead is with you, you brave man."
They bowed to each other, and this simple wartime trial ended.
"Then, this time... wait." Suddenly, Munster frowned, and something was shaking around his waist: "A magic emergency?"
Making an apologetic expression to Joshua, the prosecutor took out a long silver tuning-fork-shaped metal stick from the pendant on his waist. It was densely engraved with runes. He gathered magic power in his right hand. Activated it: "What is the third priority urgent message?"
"Do I need to avoid it?"
Joshua reminded him, he didn't want to hear anything he shouldn't hear.
"It's okay, the confidentiality level of this message is only two, you will definitely know it."
As the runes were activated, the tuning fork vibrated, and a machine-like voice appeared:
"Northern Moldavian Territory, Earl Beruo de Radcliffe of Winter has been proven dead, and his younger brother Danria Radcliffe has submitted an application with the intention of inheriting the title."
Hearing this news, Munster opened his eyes wide. He felt a fierce murderous aura coming from behind. At this moment, the chill spread, and the pressure comparable to the might of a dragon filled the military tent, and a terrifying silence appeared.
After a while, the frost-like murderous intention subsided, and Joshua returned to normal: "Just right, isn't it?"
His voice was very soft: "I can't wait to go back."