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In a room adorned with antique wooden furniture, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard sat deep in thought, his eyes closed. The soft strains of music, currently popular among the upper-class nobility, filled the quiet room, but the man seemed completely unaware of it.

Rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk, he slowly opened his eyes and glanced at a note lying in front of him.

– Slaves’ Central Headquarters discovered. Princess Seraphina’s encirclement and annihilation operation to begin in three days.

The brief message, delivered along with the orders he had received earlier, left him unsettled. No matter how well he tried to hide it, it seemed that a long tail would eventually be stepped on.

As the man who had painstakingly built the Slaves, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. If only he had been given a little more time, even Princess Seraphina wouldn’t have dared to touch the Slaves so recklessly.

The Slaves had amassed vast wealth through human trafficking, and mercenaries drawn to that money were numerous. From former knights to renowned mercenaries, all had been lured by the sweet honey the Slaves offered, clinging to the organization.

Of course, these relationships were built on money, and most of them would turn their backs if things went south. The man who had built the Slaves knew this all too well.

But he was confident that they wouldn’t easily abandon the Slaves. They were already addicted to the honey the Slaves provided.

The money the Slaves had given them was an unimaginable fortune, more than they could ever earn in a lifetime.

Could those who had squandered such wealth in a single night of drinking ever return to their old lives?

The man was certain they couldn’t. Just as addicts couldn’t quit their addiction, they were addicted to the gold coins the Slaves had given them. Returning to a mundane life was impossible for them.

Their spending habits had grown extravagant, and their appetites had become insatiable. They could no longer be satisfied with an ordinary life. The rewards of honest labor were simply too meager.

So, the man had no doubt that they would carry out the orders they had received flawlessly. Even if it meant sacrificing everything they had built, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they could inflict significant damage on Princess Seraphina.

It was necessary to shake the increasingly solid position of Princess Seraphina within the Empire, and this opportunity seemed perfect for that.

“The Slaves will proceed as ordered.”

“Understood.”

A voice echoed in the room, though the man had thought he was alone. But already aware of this, he remained unshaken and stood up. Lingering over decisions wasn’t his style.

Even if he regretted losing the Slaves, it wasn’t a fatal blow.

– Knock knock

“What is it?”

“Count, it’s time for your meal.”

“Has it gotten that late already? I’ll be there shortly.”

Before leaving the room, the Count burned the orders and the note. Only after confirming that not even a small scrap remained did he leave the room.

Even after he left, the music continued to fill the room.

***

Exactly three days after Gilbert gathered the members of the Special Forces.

At the Demia Empire Academy, a disguised field training exercise began to conceal the encirclement and annihilation operation.

With the approval of Academy Head Lucas, the field training was conducted in groups of seven. Each group was assigned to a city to experience a day in the life of its public safety officers, a simple exercise.

This field training was publicly framed as an effort to protect the safety of the citizens and improve the image of the Demia Empire Academy. It was also perceived as a move by the academy, whose reputation had been tarnished by the New Resistance’s attacks, to reform the current situation.

Gilbert and his Special Forces were “coincidentally” assigned to the capital, Byzantium, known as the heart of the Empire. Given its status as the Empire’s center, the level of public safety was exceptionally high, earning them the envy of other groups assigned to less secure areas.

But the members of the Special Forces knew that their mission wasn’t about peaceful public safety. They remained tense, aware that they were about to embark on something far more dangerous than anything they had faced before. Even Hans, who was usually talkative, kept his mouth shut in silence.

Arriving in Byzantium via the Warp Gate, Gilbert’s group followed the guidance of a pre-recruited public safety officer to a public safety station where they would wait until the operation began.

Gilbert initially planned to stay within the station but suddenly changed his mind. The thought that there might be spies watching them had crossed his mind.

Assuming this possibility, Gilbert divided the Special Forces into two teams to act as if they were genuinely participating in the field training. The unit members quickly understood his intent and showed more enthusiasm in their public safety duties.

By evening, after a day of public safety work, they returned to the station for a simple meal and gathered together.

“The operation begins two hours after sunset.”

Gilbert, the unit leader of the Special Forces, began the operation briefing. Even Camilla, who was usually playful, looked at him with a serious expression.

Their mission in this operation was to serve as the reserve force supporting the main unit. The moment they would be deployed was likely when the allied forces were at a disadvantage, making the danger level exceptionally high.

Although they were still academy cadets and wouldn’t be on the front lines, that didn’t lessen the operation’s danger. The enemy’s guns didn’t discriminate.

“Everyone should be aware, but our primary mission as the Special Forces is to support the main unit. This operation is to encircle and annihilate the Slaves, so we’ll be striking eight of their bases simultaneously. The area we’re in is where their central headquarters is located, so we can expect fierce resistance.”

This was why Gilbert, a 5th Grade Knight, had been deployed to Byzantium. Princess Seraphina had judged that he could carry out the operation flawlessly, as he was already a formidable force.

“Brynhild, you’ll be the deputy unit leader. If I’m unable to command, you’ll take over.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a seasoned warrior when it comes to combat.”

Brynhild smiled confidently. As a Grand Warrior of the Sigurd clan, she was a warrior among warriors.

Gilbert had chosen her first when forming the Special Forces.

“Next, Angelina will be the deputy. You’ll handle the analysis of any irregular situations.”

“Understood.”

Angelina nodded slightly as if it were only natural.

After finishing the general explanation, Gilbert checked the time. There were less than 30 minutes left until the operation’s start signal. They would need to move to the operation site in about five minutes.

Before moving, Gilbert took a moment to look at each member of the Special Forces. He didn’t particularly like this quiet time before an operation. Carrying out an operation meant risking their lives.

While some comrades would return safely, many would not.

In his original world, he had buried countless comrades in the ground and in his heart. The battlefield was a continuous cycle of brutality, and they were always deployed for operations to fight for victory and their homeland.

That’s why Gilbert disliked this quiet time before an operation. It felt like praying before death.

“Listen up, unit members.”

Gilbert recalled what his unit leader had once said before a sortie.

“Today, we are deployed to eliminate those who threaten the Empire. This is our duty as citizens of the Empire, even before we are academy cadets.”

The fate of those who wore the uniform to protect their homeland. It was no different here. Even though they wore academy cadet uniforms, they were still soldiers.

And so were those standing before him.

“We only do what we must. Don’t concern yourselves with anything else. No mercy, no carelessness, no other thoughts—focus solely on what needs to be done.”

Showing mercy would get comrades killed. Carelessness would get themselves killed.

On the battlefield, the only thing to focus on was fulfilling their mission.

“That is our survival strategy. The only way to return safely.”

Gilbert—no, at this moment, Kang Do-jun—wished for the safe return of his unit members. It was what his mentor, the unit leader, had always wished for his own unit.

“That’s all I have to say.”

Once again Gilbert, he led the unit members, their faces filled with thoughts, to the operation site. They joined Princess Seraphina’s main unit, which was already waiting, and prepared for deployment.

About ten minutes passed.

Finally, the encirclement and annihilation operation began.

Operation Gehenna, commence.

 

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