With the mission complete, Leo finally had nothing hanging over his head. He had originally thought that he and Brad could simply wait in peace until the day the 4th Infantry Battalion was established.
The cushy, lucrative jobs would never fall to Leo and Brad. But whenever there was dirty, exhausting, thankless work to be done, the officers of the City Defense Battalion always remembered that they had two temporarily seconded workers on hand. They were there, so why not use them? That was the awkward part of being seconded personnel.
A messenger from the City Defense Battalion found Leo and told him to report to the office of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mantin Manchel.
Blackport County was divided into eleven castles. Six were directly under the Count of Blackport, while the remaining five belonged to five hereditary Viscounts. Viscount Mantin Manchel was the hereditary Viscount of Chaumont Castle.
The other four Viscounts had been founded when their first holders were granted titles for military merit. The Viscount of Chaumont Castle, however, had received his title because of his illustrious surname. Mantin Manchel was a distinguished member of the Manchel Royal Family, directly granted a hereditary Viscountcy by the royal family itself. Even the Count of Blackport had to show sufficient courtesy and respect when meeting the Viscount of Chaumont Castle.
Noble Viscounts also preferred to live somewhere more prosperous, so many of them resided in Blackport City year-round. They often served as heads of important departments within the city as well. Viscount Mantin Manchel currently commanded the City Defense Battalion, making him the highest official responsible for Blackport City's defenses.
Leo followed the messenger into the battalion commander's office. He had expected to meet the deputy commander of the City Defense Battalion. According to what he had heard, the Viscount of Chaumont Castle was obsessed with falconry and did not like personally handling the battalion's affairs. Yet when Leo pushed open the door, he found the Viscount of Chaumont Castle's fat figure inside.
Leo stepped forward. "Warrant Officer Class I Leo East, awaiting your orders, Lord Viscount."
The Viscount frowned and did not reply. He seemed to be reading some document. While waiting for his orders, Leo curiously studied the Viscount of Chaumont Castle before him.
The obese Viscount wore the distinctive hairstyle of the Manchel Royal Family. His black hair had been braided into countless thin braids. Very few people on the Narnia Peninsula wore their hair this way. It was far more common farther north in the Kingdom of Mongo.
The Kingdom of Mongo had been founded on the grasslands. It was famous for excellent warhorses and Haste Mages skilled at mounted archery. During the Order War fifty years earlier, Mongo cavalry had formed the main force fighting against the West Empire.
After the war, the Manchel Tribe of the Kingdom of Mongo occupied vast stretches of territory outside Mongo itself. They refused to return and continue serving the Mongo Royal Family. Instead, under the witness of Holy Archmage Hilquins, they established the Kingdom of Manchel. As a result, the Manchel Royal Family still preserved many customs from their grassland origins.
The Viscount of Chaumont Castle finally lifted his gaze from the parchment and looked Leo over. His eyes were full of irritation. Leo did not take it personally. He knew the Viscount's irritation had nothing to do with him. The two had never had any dealings with each other. Blackport City had suffered one headache after another recently, and those problems had forced the Viscount to remain trapped in this cramped office.
Leo waited for quite a while and began to grow bored, but since the Viscount said nothing, he had no intention of speaking first.
At last, the Viscount spoke in a strange accent.
"Leo East, Warrant Officer Class I?
"The Squad Leader of the 2nd Lookout Squad, 3rd Platoon, Coastal Company, City Defense Battalion was discovered to be a spy for the West Empire. He was hanged on the second day after the night of the fire, and that squad is now short a Squad Leader.
"Warrant Officer Class I Leo East, I hereby appoint you acting Squad Leader of the 2nd Lookout Squad. Report to your post immediately. You will remain there until Major Willy, commander of your 4th Battalion, issues orders recalling you."
Leo gave the Viscount of Chaumont Castle a perfunctory military salute and silently accepted the appointment order. Without saying a word, he left the office. The Viscount had shown him no goodwill, and Leo had no interest in currying favor with anyone.
As he closed the door, he saw the Viscount muttering some curse under his breath. Leo frowned and slowly pulled the door shut, giving the excessively obese royal Viscount one final look. What puzzled Leo was that despite the Viscount's massive body, a combat harness crossed his torso and a belt hung around his waist. Both were covered with solid iron crossbow bolts.
Those were the signature weapons of a C-Grade Haste Mage. Leo found that strange. The road of advancement for a mage was extremely difficult. How had a royal Viscount who spent his days playing with falcons and fighting dogs managed to become a C-Grade Mage? Still, Leo had no intention of digging into the matter. It had nothing to do with him.
Coldlance City was some distance away, and authorization to establish the 4th Infantry Battalion had not yet been approved. Leo's time in the City Defense Battalion was only a temporary stopgap. As far as its assignments were concerned, doing enough to get by was sufficient.
The 2nd Lookout Squad's post was on a rocky cliff northwest of Blackport City, not far from the city itself. Blackport City had built a watchtower at the top of the cliff, from which the Mist Sea could be seen to the west. The road up to the tower was extremely steep, and all supplies had to be carried up by hand.
Supplies were scarce and conditions were harsh. Most people were unwilling to serve there. Otherwise, they would never have sent a seconded man like Leo to take over as Squad Leader.
Before Leo had even left the City Defense Battalion's office building, he spotted Brad sitting bored on a chair in the ground-floor hall. The moment Brad saw him, he hurried over.
"Leo, where did they assign you? I got sent to the Forage Procurement Squad. I have to travel to the other castles in Blackport County to requisition and purchase fodder."
Leo said, "Don't you like horses? Now you can ride around and see plenty of places in Blackport County. As for me, I got assigned to the lookout squad northwest of the city."
Brad looked a little melancholy. "The Forage Procurement Squad itself is fine, but leaving you makes me feel uneasy. You often create those grisly red-and-white scenes, but when you're around, at least I don't have to use my brain."
Leo patted Brad on the shoulder. "Brad, trust me. Whether you use your brain has nothing to do with who you're with. Once you leave Blackport City, be careful about everything.
"Requisitioning provisions and fodder is only a job. The job belongs to the Count, but your life belongs to you. Brad, once the 4th Infantry Battalion is formally established, let's ask Major Willy to assign us to the same Company."
Brad sighed and began worrying about his new assignment. After receiving his appointment order, Leo first went home to tell his mother and younger sister that he would not be coming back for a while. The lookout squad required round-the-clock shifts, so he planned to stay with the squad for the time being.
Leo left through the western city gate and arrived at Black Harbor, where reconstruction had begun. For the next two months, no merchant ships would be coming or going through Black Harbor. This was an enormous blow to Blackport County. He stood quietly outside Black Harbor for a while, then continued north.
The watchtower stood between Black Harbor and the naval port, giving it an extremely important position. To the west it overlooked the Mist Sea. To the south it watched Black Harbor. To the north it could see the naval port, which had also been destroyed. To the east stood Mount Morn. Blackport City lay south of Mount Morn and southeast of the watchtower.
Most of the road up the cliff consisted of stone steps, but the steps varied wildly in height. Some rose to Leo's knees, while others barely reached his ankles, making the climb even more exhausting. Even with a mage's physique, Leo was still panting heavily by the time he reached the top.
At last, Leo arrived at the entrance to the cliffside lookout squad's camp.
Comments