Chapter 125: The Worst of Houses (1)

Its here? What were they thinking

This is nuts. All I see is ice are we really going to be traversing this place?

Do they think were damn polar bears or something?

Tommy frowned as he watched the troops morale plummet.

This isnt good. Its a hard enough assignment as it is, but if the mens morale is this low on top of that

It was so bad that he even considered making an example out of some of the men.

But such measures would only momentarily force discipline. Completing a mission as difficult as this one required the entire group to be united in their cause

If our lord was here no, if only Sir Taker was here, he wouldve been able to rouse the men.

Tommy realized that his charisma was lacking. He had labored to become an Expert come hell or high water, but that did not mean he had the skills to rally the men. In the first place, Tommy was unfamiliar with the role of a leader as he preferred to take a step back and quietly focus on his given assignments.

It was at that moment that Rick took a step forward and shouted.

Brighten up,thelot of you! Why do you all look to be in such pain? Hmm?

One of the soldiers opened his mouth.

Well, thats

Hmm? Whats the matter? If youve got something to say, be on with it and make yourself heard.

Rick said to the hesitant soldier, who continued to close and open his mouth.

Tommy glared at Rick.

Stop that, you idiot.

If this clearly anxious soldier was to talk, his restlessness would be contagious. And if that happened, they may really need to summarily execute some men to make an example out of them and enforce discipline.

The soldier who was encouraged began to speak, perhaps unaware of Tommys concerns.

This place is never mind traversing through it this is a place where survival is impossible. Moving an army through this area is no different from suicide.

He is right. This is beyond our means.

Sir knight, it is not too late to return.

Indeed.

As Tommy feared, the one soldiers uneasiness spread to the rest of the troops. As soon as one opened the floodgates, the other men began to raise their objections one after another.

Dear me the soldiers are shaken up. They would fail their mission at this rate, wouldnt they?

Robin muttered as he watched the soldiers express their discontent.

Then again, he thought, the order he received from Milton was only to use his ships to drop this unit at their destination nothing more. If they refused to obey their assignment, all he had to do was take them aboard and turn back the way they came. In other words

It wont be my fault, right? Regardless of how important their work heres supposed to be.

Robin worried for his own safety first as he watched the agitated men.

But then

SILENCE!!

STOMP!

Ricks deafening roar was accompanied by the sound of him kicking up the frozen earth. He reminded the troops of his military prowess as an Expert, silencing the men who were raising their qualms. And then

I am well aware that this is a difficult task. Who wouldnt be? As it is for you, I am also experiencing the absolute horseshit that is this cursed frozen earth for the first time. The future looks dark just thinking about traversing this place with weaklings like you lot. However!

Rick paused for a moment.

We are atwar! Is there any place with respite, without hardships? I demand that you tell me of a place where the safety of our lives is guaranteed! In other places, our fellow brothers in arms are fighting the Republican armies as we speak. I tell you, they are charging into pointed spears as they bear through the arrows raining down upon them. Yetyou lot continueto whine over nothing but the cold?! Do you still have the gall to call yourselves the same soldiers of the Lester Kingdom?!

Rick was not the most eloquent or well-spoken of people.

But he had a burning fire within his heart, and he had the straightforwardness to manifest that passion unfiltered when he talked.

Such a straight and clear-cut speech was bound to find its mark in the soldiers hearts.

Yeah, thats right. This is war.

I forgot that this was wartime for a moment there, after staying put in the rear for so long

Bloody embarrassing

A hint of determination began to glow up the mens faces. Rick continued.

This is our battlefield! Our enemy is nature itself, this damn cold! This snowstorm is the enemys arrows, and this freezing northern wind is the enemys blade! So what shall we do? Shall we give up? Shall we run away with our tails between our legs like cowards?

Rick raised a clenched fist and did not repress his emotions.

Let us fight! We will fight and win! Our comrades fighting the Republican bastards are earnestly seeking our help!!

Ricks simple speech offered no particular directive and lacked real logic or reasoning.

However

We shall fight! And we shall win!

URRRAAHHHHH!!

UOOOOOOOH!!

The pure heated passion of it was enough to rouse the troops.

On Ricks side, Tommy turned to him with a look of surprise.

This guy was he always capable of stuff like this?

He discovered that his longtime friend, whom he had admittedly always thought of as a simpleton, had this dormant talent.

All Rick had done was to be open with the men about his thoughts without much in the way of planning or calculation, but this heart-to-heart connected with the men to skyrocket their morale.

With this it might be doable.

With Rick having raised the mens spirits, it was Tommys turn to play his part.

Prepare to march! Ready the sleighs for carrying our supplies! Our food and warm garments are our lifeline stow them safely away from the snow. All men, form groups of ten and link yourselves with a rope. We will ensure the safety of one another!

Whilst Ricks fiery temper rallied the men, Tommy meticulously directed the scene with his cool and calm approach.

It was as Milton said: the two of them most definitely made a good combo; and it was enough for a small hope to be sparked in this foolhardy expedition.

***

After two months passed of Milton concentrating on defense and refusing to attack, Siegfried became privy to his enemys motive.

So they intend to consolidate their captured territory and force this into a long-term conflict.

Siegfried smirked.

Not bad at all. No, it should be seen as a wise choice indeed.

If they attempted an attack to redeem their defeat, he had two separate traps prepared to surely annihilate them. But Siegfrieds schemes did not bear any fruit as his enemy stayed prone.

If Milton stabilized their lines and made the current state of this frontier concrete, Siegfried would need to request for more troops to be mobilized from elsewhere and that would invariably have a negative effect on the Northern region in which the Republics were concentrating their power. As the Republics were disadvantaged in terms of supplies in the first place, it was imperative that they avoided expanding the number of fronts that they fought on.

Indeed, that was why Siegfried himself had focused his efforts solely on the Northern Front until now.

Or is there more that theyre aiming for?

For a moment, Siegfried thought about the different options open to Milton. The result of running all those scenarios in his mind was

No. Its impossible for him to try a different approach here.

When the Lester Kingdom was on the brink of collapse in the past, Milton had chosen to undertake a daring counterattack. Despite knowing that his army of the South were the only defenders left to protect the nation, he covertly mobilized his army to execute the bold maneuver of endangering the Hildess Republics capital. Truth