Immediately after the capture of Rascal, contrary to the thoughts of the Kronos Empire, Roman Dmitry didn’t return to the Western Front. He headed towards Cortas instead, which was a crucial strategic location in the eastern part of Kronos.
Cortas served a similar purpose as the rear position of the Southern Front of the Cairo Kingdom.
All goods and manpower traveling from the Kronos Empire to the east relied on Cortas’s Warp Gate. On days when the Warp Gate was out of order, the only alternative was located hundreds of kilometers away.
And when Kronos intensified their chase, Roman Dmitry entered Cortas with a companion.
“…Are the boundaries strict?”
It was a man in his mid-thirties, who seemed to be anxious. His name was Nelson, and he didn’t belong to Dmitry, nor was he a specialized combat resource.
However, he chose to accompany Roman Dmitry. While all other troops retreated to the Western Front, Nelson, who had been hiding nearby, made his way to Cortas, abandoning the blazing Rascal.
And at present, he had a destination ahead of him. With a loud voice, Roman Dmitry declared,
“I will secure the path from here on.”
Enveloped in darkness, Roman Dmitry moved towards the rampart and swiftly scaled it with astounding agility.
Not a single sound could be heard from above. The soldiers stationed in all directions on the wall maintained their positions, but amidst the stifling tension, a rope descended.
Drop.
He recognized it as a signal to use the rope. Nelson gripped the rope and heaved himself upward, finally getting a view of what had occurred on the wall.
“Kronos’s soldiers died standing,” he muttered under his breath.
His heart sank at that realization. The guards who had been on duty had been caught off guard, as if Roman Dmitry had intentionally orchestrated their distraction.
There was certainly a good reason why people spoke highly of him. If it hadn’t been for Roman Dmitry, the one who had hired him for this perilous mission, Nelson wouldn’t have taken part in this dangerous scheme.
Moving forward, he knew things would only grow more treacherous. There were a series of assassinations. Roman Dmitry acted first to handle the guards, allowing Nelson to enter amidst enemy lines with minimal risk. This plan had to be executed covertly.
Therefore, Roman Dmitry refrained from bringing soldiers and sent Chris and the others to the Western Front instead, as he feared a power vacuum during his journey to Cortas.
At least three days were required. It was a time-consuming process. If the forces of the Kingdom Alliance were destroyed before then, they had no choice but to continue a difficult fight from then on.
“That is it.”
Nelson’s eyes sparkled. Finally, the destination was reached. Since it was the most important place in Cortas, the security system was so tight that only a dozen or so soldiers could be seen at a glance. But he wasn’t worried.
The imposing presence of Roman Dmitry, who had lurked in the shadows, remained undetectable to the soldier’s keen senses. And when he finally exposed himself, he swiftly eliminated dozens of individuals.
There wasn’t even a single opportunity for them to let out a scream or raise a signal. By the time he noticed the person beside him had collapsed, their necks had twisted the other way.
The stage was set.
Looking at Nelsom, Roman Dmitry spoke,
“Now it’s your turn.”
“I understand.”
There was the colossal edifice. At the sight of the impressive Warp Gate, Nelson swallowed hard and continued onward.
Nelson’s role was that of a Warp Gate technician. Cairo and Dmitry regarded him as the best technician, and he had been chosen for this mission at Roman Dmitry’s request.
It wasn’t obligatory. The reward that Roman Dmitry had offered for the mission’s success was undeniably immense, and Nelson concluded that it was worth risking his life for.
The issue, however, was…
Wheeeing–
The piercing sound of the emergency bell resounded. The fact that someone had touched the Warp Gate alerted the security inside.
Bright lights emerged from all directions. The sound of a group of people rushing echoed loudly, accompanied by a clanking sound. And Nelson found it challenging to focus on his work, his heart pounding.
His hands trembled. There was only one person who could keep him safe: Roman Dmitry. If the intruder managed to break through, Nelson would be unlikely to survive. And then it happened.
“Concentrate on the task. I will deal with the adversaries.”
Hearing Roman Dmitry’s voice, he exhaled.
With this strategy, only Roman Dmitry stood out. He was known for always leading in seemingly unwinnable situations and taking responsibility, even if there were casualties along the way.
That’s why his hands steadied upon hearing Roman Dmitry’s words. Considering the appealing offer, others had faith that they could depend on Roman Dmitry.
They continued with their work. They planned to take control of the Warp Gate from this point forward. They had to disconnect the coordinates connected to the Kronos Empire and establish new ones.
Starting now, Cortas’s Warp Gate can no longer be considered a part of the Kronos Empire.
Just like Edwin Hector, who positioned himself at the rear to take the Southern Front, Roman Dmitry did the same. However, the pace was swift. As they manipulated the Warp Gate with speed, they heard a sound from behind and turned around.
Grrrrng!
Rumbllleeeee!
“It’s Roman Dmitry!”
“Charge!”
The enemies had emerged.
The clash of weapons and the screams of people were audible, but Nelson didn’t bother to turn around. He knew that if he did, he would witness a horrifying scene. It seemed that he couldn’t complete the task correctly while working in such conditions, with the screams continuing.
As the explosion happened, a blast of heat and wind swept over, yet Roman Dmitry blindly trusted that he wasn’t the target of the direct attack.
Gasping for air and with a red face, Nelson focused on the task and finally had a hopeful expression.
“It is done!”
At that moment, Nelson looked surprised. Over Roman Dmitry’s reliable back, an uncountable number of troops were terrifyingly strewn across the ground.
Only then did he realize that a one-sided massacre had taken place while he was working.
When the plan was first mentioned in Cairo, the leaders of the Dmitry alliance were shocked.
“…do you really intend to rob the Warp Gate of Cortas and destroy Rascal as a distraction? It’s an incredibly dangerous mission. Even if we manage to pull it off and secure the Warp Gate, the power difference is so vast that we would be at a serious disadvantage outside the castle walls.”
Kronos mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops. They had faith in Roman Dmitry, but launching an offensive first would be tantamount to suicide, and their best bet was to focus on defense.
Roman Dmitry said,
“I understand your concerns. Kronos definitely has the upper hand in terms of power, and most people believe that Dmitry’s victory is about safeguarding the Western Front against Kronos’s attack. However, Dmitry sees the victory differently. Instead of bragging about driving the enemy away, he wishes for the Kronos Empire to acknowledge their defeat openly. We can’t simply rely on defensive measures for a victory like that. In the end, we must be willing to shed blood and sink our teeth into Kronos’s flesh to achieve a decisive and terrifying outcome.”
They didn’t appreciate Kronos’s attitude or the sight of them pretending to be innocent and approaching Roman Dmitry.
But, in a typically unacceptable situation, a high-ranking noble in Cairo inquired.
“It’s not that we don’t trust Roman Dmitry. The issue is that the war involving Dmitry revealed that the Kronos Empire can attempt to warp without utilizing the gate. If they opt to warp directly and launch an attack on Cairo or other locations, there is no other alternative but to experience utter chaos.”
“Right, as I just said, the Kronos Empire utilized these unknown skills that the world isn’t aware of. However, this ability isn’t absolute. There are clearly limits on the number of people or the time allowed. There are obviously conditions for warps that don’t involve Warp Gates. If there were no restrictions on their capabilities, it would be more advantageous for them to directly attack the home base without going through the Western Front. And yet, choosing to go to war on the Western Front is a way to demonstrate one’s limitations.”
Perhaps the Kronos Empire intentionally refrained from using the warp to demonstrate their strength.
But whatever the reason, Roman Dmitry had no intention of standing idly by, fearing unknown forces.
“This war is a matter of life and death for both nations. If there is any possibility of utilizing the warp, we need to confirm its existence before we proceed. We are not fighting this war just to survive against the Kronos Empire. We fight as equals, not as weaklings. To those who consider themselves to be the rulers of this continent, we will prove that we are not their pawns.”
It was brutal. Roman Dmitry’s sharp force made people gulp. He was always capable of changing an impossible situation. Since he was not one to fabricate falsehoods, they were amazed when he spoke of an all-out war with Kronos.
“The moment we capture Cortas, even the Kronos Empire will have no choice but to create a ‘blank.’ Our goal is to isolate the Kronos Empire in the east and obliterate it in an all-out war. We only need one victory. If Cairo and Dmitry’s forces are triumphant in a battle where armies clash, the flames of counterattacks will ignite across the continent.”
“It’s always the same.”
A life of no retreat. That was how Roman Dmitry, a mere Baron, rose to such a position.
Across the room, a man with an intrigued expression listened to the conversation and asked earnestly,
“May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
The man’s name was Marquis Valentino. As a prominent member of the centrist faction, he had become a leader among the nobles supporting Dmitry in the Cairo Kingdom.
And he spoke,
“I will always support Roman Dmitry. But there’s one thing. Promise me you’ll forge a new sword after this war. It’s not too much to ask, right? I’ve been eagerly waiting for Roman Dmitry’s collection. Even if I don’t get it, I’ll put it up for auction. Just create a new sword, and I’ll fully support Roman Dmitry’s plan, even if it means sacrificing the hidden power of the Valentino family.”
He was simply unique. It was Marquis Valentino who expressed his desire to gather more than just the survival of the nation in this situation.
Wheik.
A brilliant light shone. Then a group of troops appeared through the Warp Gate.
Chuk–
The soldiers marched in perfect order. The beginning was Marquis Valentino. He brought all of his enlisted men, followed by soldiers belonging to Cairo.
In the meantime, Marquis Valentino wore blaze on his waist, the one that he purchased from Roman. Just by looking at the shining sheath, one could tell how much he valued Blaze.
And there were the soldiers of the Dmitry Duchy. Viscount Lawrence and Viscount Conrad accompanied the soldiers, and in an instant, a large number of troops filled the area around the Warp Gate.
It might be a humble amount compared to the countless Kronos soldiers, but with their unwavering determination for war, they underwent rigorous training under Roman’s guidance. However, an unexpected individual emerged.
It was Kevin.
“I offer my respects, my Lord.”
“You have conquered the demon within you.”
“All gratitude goes to the Lord for taking care of me.”
Leaving Dmitry behind, he immediately headed for Adelian. On his way, he gained newfound knowledge instead of relying on the Warp Gate. And the soldiers of the Duchy stood ready under Roman’s command.
When they heard that the Cortas gate had been taken, Kevin joined them. The reunion was short, and they were safe. Roman surveyed the troops and spoke loudly to those awaiting his orders.
“From this moment on, we shall devastate the eastern region of Kronos, beginning with Cortas. Let the Kronos Empire be enraged by our actions. To begin, search Cortas immediately and eliminate any enemies you encounter!”
The order fell. The soldiers swiftly dispersed, their power palpable. In eastern Kronos, Cortas was a strategically important location.
The place was captured in a mere day. And the following day, the Duke of Bamford received news.
