Chapter 457 - 404: Act 5, Event 2: First to Ascend and Seize the Banner, Breach the Ranks and Slay the General

At the same time.

The system’s faint blue text materialized in Reinhardt’s line of sight.

[Be it negotiations or stalling for time, everyone caught in this political maelstrom knows one thing clearly: they have no path of retreat. The road ahead is fraught with peril, but behind them lies a bottomless abyss.]

[Claudius knows full well that ever since the news of him massing troops in Cyrenaica for a rebellion was leaked, he has been left with no choice. Only two paths lie before him: victory or death.

Even if he agreed to negotiate with the Grand Governor, even if he promised to withdraw his troops, he would never meet a good end.

Should he return to the system of the Imperial Administrative Region, the Grand Governor would have ten thousand ways to kill him.]

[Claudius did, of course, receive a request for negotiations from the Verne Front Line. But these talks, meant only to buy time for both sides, had already fallen apart before they even began.]

[Some might have thought that as long as the Imperial Administrative Region received news of the rebellion in Cyrenaica, the outcome of the war to suppress it would be a foregone conclusion.

However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Governor Cicero, who had always proclaimed that the Administrative Region should remain united in times of crisis, did a complete one-eighty on the matter of Claudius’s rebellion, his attitude becoming ambiguous.

The supplies and reinforcements promised to the Verne Front Line three months ago suddenly vanished without a trace. Even the chief secretary of the Document Bureau, sent by the Military Affairs Department to Cicero’s home planet of Pompey to urge the delivery, was detained.

He also did not, as outsiders had speculated, reprimand Claudius and demand his withdrawal. Instead, he played deaf and dumb, turning a blind eye to the whole affair.

He was clearly positioning himself to be a spectator, allowing the Administrative Region and Claudius to cripple each other so he could reap the rewards.]

[Faced with immense power and profit, few people truly care about the survival of the Administrative Region.

As the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Administrative Region’s Rebel Suppression Army, you are keenly aware that this war, which will decide the very survival of the Administrative Region, has only just begun.]

[Act V, Event II: Be the First to Seize the Banner, Break the Ranks to Slay the General.]

[The attitude of Cicero’s faction makes you realize that this war to quell Claudius’s rebellion must be ended as quickly as possible and with lightning speed.

Once the battle lines are drawn out, not only will it consume vast amounts of logistical supplies, but it will also give Cicero’s faction an opportunity to exploit.

And if you want to achieve victory in the fastest way possible, a decapitation strike against Claudius and his leadership is the most effective solution.]

[For the Vengeful Angels, currently positioned in Cyrenaica, the opportunity is right before you. If you fail to seize it and allow Claudius to escape, the future consequences will be endless.]

[Event Objective: Lead your troops to break through the enemy’s defensive lines, board the Tania Flagship, and execute Claudius.]

[Basic Reward: Holy Fire Battle Banner.]

[System Reward: Heart Steel Layers * 5000.]

After reading the event description from the system, Reinhardt’s heart sank. ’So Cicero’s faction probably knew long ago that Claudius was secretly plotting a rebellion.’

’No matter what that dissident said, or the promise to reinforce the Verne Front Line, analyzing it now, these were all likely just ploys to deliberately lull the Imperial Administrative Region into a false sense of security.’

’Their intentions are damnable.’

Initially, Reinhardt had thought that Governor Cicero simply had political disagreements with Sedon and wasn’t a great enemy of the Administrative Region. But everyone had been deceived by that cunning traitor.

As Reinhardt looked up, staring at the two Wizards streaking across the sky above them, Koller’s voice secretly entered his ear via an encrypted Spiritual Energy communication.

"I’ve received a message from the Grand Governor. The Knight Warlords loyal to Cicero may be making a move soon. Moreover, Claudius has rejected peaceful negotiations. He’s only giving us one hour to withdraw from Cyrenaica.

The Grand Governor has ordered us to evacuate as soon as possible and rendezvous with the Rebel Suppression Army. We’ll figure out how to suppress the rebellion in Cyrenaica then."

BOOM—!

The collision of Witchcraft Power high in the sky twisted space-time into a terrifying vortex, its continuous rumbling like thunder.

Reinhardt’s voice was cold and merciless as he responded openly, "Relay to Sedon that we will withdraw from Cyrenaica as quickly as possible within the hour.

Then, convey my orders to the command of the Eleventh Infantry Legion, the Twelfth Infantry Corps, and the Fourth Fleet. Any unauthorized requisition will be treated as an act of rebellion."

Although Matthias and the others were focused on the two Wizards streaking overhead, Reinhardt’s sudden order still took them by surprise.

However, they quickly realized that the Vengeful Think Tank, Koller, was likely conversing with Reinhardt using Spiritual Energy communication.

Reinhardt’s order was simple and easy to understand: it was an order to withdraw.

And by speaking through Koller, he was proving to the Rebel Suppression Army that he was still alive, intending to stabilize his hold on his vast military authority before he returned.

Neither Nelom nor the three Holy Fire Guards who had just joined the Vengeful Angels saw anything wrong with this order.

They were currently deep in enemy territory without reinforcements. Besides retreating, there was really no other path to take.

Based on their military experience, they analyzed that the Vengeful Angels being able to withdraw from Cyrenaica was likely one of the results of a trade-off made after negotiations between the Grand Governor and Claudius.

Otherwise, no commander would be foolish enough to let the enemy’s highest-ranking commander go free.

They just couldn’t imagine what price the Grand Governor had paid to get Claudius to relent and agree to let them leave.

But.

Matthias, who had known Reinhardt the longest, clearly sensed that something was not right.

’The same Reinhardt who, back when he was just an Official Knight, dared to confront an Abyssal Great Demon and even gave Sedon a beating on the plains, would now take the initiative to make peace and then retreat from Cyrenaica with his tail between his legs?’

It wasn’t just Matthias; Koller also noticed Reinhardt’s unusual behavior.

’Based on my limited understanding of Reinhardt, there’s no way he would give me an order so openly while I’m using an encrypted channel.’

’This completely goes against the image I have of Reinhardt as a meticulous strategist.’

In other words.

’Their Lord of Vengeful was doing it on purpose.’

Seeing Reinhardt respond this way, Koller no longer concealed anything, using the Vengeful Angels’ command system’s Spiritual Energy communication to say, "I will relay your orders verbatim."

Afterward.

The two Wizards, one chasing the other, shot past overhead like bolts of lightning.

Matthias frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "My lord, those two Wizards..."

Reinhardt said coldly, "The Wizard’s Divine Artifact might be in the hands of one of them, but our priority right now is to withdraw as quickly as possible. Besides, we don’t have the energy to deal with Grand Lord Kles’s people."

"I... understand."

Matthias took a step back and stood behind Reinhardt with his head lowered.

Just then, the hatch of the training craft finally opened. Seeing the Alchemist Kael standing at the entrance covered in blood, Urus should be out of danger for now.