Chapter 94

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【The Traitor Digo】

Lieutenant Digo Fulton walked across the wide parade ground of Pajje Fortress, warily observing his surroundings.

(There really are only women here.)

"Really, there are only women here," he muttered aloud.

Lieutenant Shar Lane, walking beside him, turned her head, her golden hair shimmering.

"Indeed, Lieutenant Fulton. Even though they are commoners, they are so elegant that it doesn't seem like a military unit."

(You're just as out of place and elegant yourself...)

But since she was a noble, albeit a low-ranking one, Digo was careful with his words.

"Exactly. That's why the selection for the Fifth Division was so difficult."

"I've heard that many officers were reluctant to lead such a group of valiant men."

(Valiant men, I never thought I'd hear such a word from those pretty lips.)

Digo chuckled inwardly but decided to ask anyway.

"Lieutenant Lane, weren't you reluctant?"

Shar scratched her head, looking embarrassed.

"They said it would be perfect since you're like a woman too. Oh, and the battalion adjutant is from the main branch of the Lane family..."

"Ah, so you couldn't refuse because of noble logic."

Digo shrugged.

"I volunteered. I couldn't see any prospects for advancement in the Fifth Division. As a lieutenant, the idea of living on a pension after retirement is just a dream."

"Indeed, I've heard that even a captain's pension is barely enough. My family is poor, so I'd like to reach the rank of major before retiring."

"Ah, right, a noble can't look good as just a captain."

Because of this, there was a widespread practice of getting a promotion just before retirement to make the paperwork look better. Digo sighed inwardly, wishing this practice could be extended to commoners. Regaining his composure, Digo looked at the female soldiers preparing for deployment within the fortress.

(They seem to be chatting and taking their time, but they're actually very efficient. The work gets done quickly while I watch. It reminds me of how my mother and the other women used to do laundry when I was a kid.)

Noticing the same thing, Shar murmured.

"They work quickly. Even though they're chatting and taking it easy, no one is slacking off."

"Right. I wish my former subordinates could learn from them. In my old unit, we only got the dregs."

While making light of it, Digo was thinking.

(Well, it doesn't seem like this is going according to Duke Litreju's plan.)

Digo Fulton was Duke Litreju's spy. The current head of the Litreju family was the biological father of Minsiana, the traitor, and after regaining his position, he repeatedly criticized Minsiana. The play "Foolish Minsiana," which he commissioned, was a symbol of this.

However, Duke Litreju, who tried to secure his own safety by criticizing Minsiana, ended up being looked down upon.

"Only a true parent could speak so ill of their own child. If the child is like that, the parent must be too."

"The duty of a lord is to raise a successor. How can you not be ashamed of shirking your responsibility?"

Such voices arose one after another, and Duke Litreju's influence and popularity rapidly declined. Some lords even began to side with the Medilen family, as they were geographically close and had some kinship ties with the Medilen family.

Anxious, Duke Litreju gave a secret order to Digo's superior officer.

"Find a scandal involving Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz and bring about his downfall."

(No matter how anxious he is, finding a weakness in Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz won't change Duke Litreju's position. Besides, this isn't the time for such things...)

Digo received the secret order from his superior officer, who was aligned with the lord, seeing it as a good opportunity for promotion, but he was already losing his enthusiasm.

"The Duke wants you to find a scandal involving Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz. If you can find his weakness, the Litreju family's restoration is not a dream. With all the women around, there must be some scandal."

"Are you serious?"

"A noble must show loyalty with their body when ordered by their lord."

"Then why don't you show it yourself?"

"If you stay in the Fifth Division, you'll remain a lieutenant until retirement. Do you want to go or not?"

"I'll go."

Thus, Digo became Duke Litreju's spy, but on his first day, he wanted to abandon the secret mission.

(They're better trained than I thought. They may not be good at close combat, but the whole unit is disciplined. They have the smell of 'good soldiers'.)

Based on his experience as a platoon leader who had led troops on the front lines for the longest time, Digo accurately evaluated the soldiers of the Sixth Special Task Brigade.

(They survived the Kionis Campaign almost unscathed and quelled the Minsiana Rebellion. It's natural. There are many new recruits, but they don't have the usual awkwardness. They must be influenced by the veterans.)

Digo scratched his head and changed his mindset.

(Well, I expected the soldiers to be strong. Their combat record proves it. Gender doesn't matter. So...)

Glancing back, he saw Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz having a heated argument with a naval lieutenant.

(How about the friction with the upper echelons? He's an unprecedented commoner officer who rose three ranks in less than three years. There must be considerable discord with noble officers, especially from the navy.)

Listening closely, the exchange was indeed quite hostile.

"Come on! Isn't it Roz Steyer? Give me that artillery lieutenant!"

"Absolutely not."

"His leg is injured from honorable combat, right? He doesn't have to walk on a ship."

Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz replied firmly.

"Standing on a rocking ship puts a strain on the legs. Climbing stairs and ladders is also a burden. Besides, most ships only have one doctor. If there are many wounded, Roz won't be able to treat them."

The naval lieutenant fell silent. Digo didn't miss this.

(Being told that by a commoner lieutenant from the army must be unpleasant for a noble naval officer. This might be interesting...)

But the naval lieutenant nodded like a child.

"That makes sense. It's a bit of a loss, but I'll give up on Lieutenant Steyer."

"Thanks for understanding."

"Sure, then give me Sergeant Hayden! He'll make a great artillery officer. He's not only smart but also brave and respected. Plus, he's tall and beautiful, and he's a great chess player!"

Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz held his head.

"You don't get it, do you!? We don't have enough artillery officers! The navy has plenty of them!"

"No, I want someone who can fight on land. When the landing force needs support or we need to attack an enemy port, we have to fight the army's artillery."

"Then why didn't you say so from the beginning?"

The naval lieutenant's face lit up.

"Is that okay!?"

"Of course not. Sergeant Hayden is the confidant of the brigade commander. If you take him, the Duke of Medilen's aunt will storm the naval headquarters."

The naval lieutenant leaned against the wall and sighed dramatically.

"Ah... I helped you with the recommendation to the naval academy."

"Is that so? Thank you, Lieutenant Vilgent."

Digo was surprised by Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz's words.

(Vilgent!? The 'Sea Devil' who destroyed the entire Agan naval fleet!?)

Unfortunately, Admiral Vilgent's self-proclaimed 'Shark Storm' was not widely known. The people of Litreju called him the 'Sea Devil' with a hint of awe because he was from Medilen.

(Oh, the great naval hero is backing him... I assumed they were at odds, but this is unexpected.)

Lieutenant Vilgent smiled, unaware of Digo's confusion.

"Well, I can't refuse when my uncle asks."

"Is that something you should say publicly?"

"Seamen don't worry about such small things!"

"I'm a land man."

(They seem quite close. His connections with noble officers are stronger than I thought.)

In reality, the two only thought "What's with this guy?" of each other, but no one would correct Digo's misunderstanding. His misinterpretation continued.

(What a problem. Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz seems completely focused on his work, and I haven't seen anyone here say a bad word about the staff. This is impossible. I don't have to go along with Duke Litreju's ridiculous conspiracy.)

Suddenly, Digo remembered Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz's words.

"I'm not interested in what you've done in the past. I'm only interested in what you will do for me."

Digo stopped in his tracks.

(That means he's not going to hold my past against me. He will judge me based on my future performance.)

At that time, Chrombertz had torn up the transfer documents from the Fifth Division. Digo was surprised by his decisiveness but noticed the cuts on the documents.

(You're a bad actor, Death. But you had that line and gesture prepared before meeting me. The words about future performance weren't just a spur-of-the-moment thought.)

The "manliness" praised by the Schwaidel people often amounted to recklessness and brutality. Digo himself disliked such superficial "manliness" because it could be fatal on the battlefield.

(He must have decided to overlook my past after careful consideration. He's a real man, not one of those cheap, impulsive types. If so, then I...)

Lieutenant Lane tapped Digo on the back.

"Lieutenant Fulton, shouldn't we go? We need to greet the squad members."

"Right. I guess I have no choice but to work for the lieutenant colonel."

Digo scratched his head and started walking.