Chapter 48: Chapter 40: Rebellion Suppression Mission, a Great Event Unfolds

The unexpected is a constant in life.

And so it was that Dietlinde’s painstaking efforts and long-term plans were all undone by a single military order from the Blood Corps Headquarters.

Its contents were brief and forceful.

The responsibility it carried was as heavy as a mountain.

[The Iron Blood Battle Group is to advance to the White River Region and intercept the Imperial Rebel Army.]

When the order arrived, Dietlinde and Reinhardt were enjoying a lavish dinner at the Golden Rose Restaurant. In fact, the tall, valiant female Knight was in the middle of lifting a piece of stewed meat on her silver fork to Reinhardt’s lips.

「The Iron Blood Battle Group Encampment」

Battle Group Commander Fei Ning stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture tall and imposing. The flickering light from a brazier cast shadows across the faces of the Knights. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"I will distribute detailed intelligence on the rebel army’s size and combat strength to each of the squad leaders. According to the Corps’ operational plan, you have four hours to rest and prepare. Dismissed!"

The Empire’s domain was vast, and rebellions were a common occurrence. This was especially true in the highly autonomous regions far from the Imperial City. It was not unheard of for a Provincial Governor to declare independence over their refusal to pay the Tithing, or for a local legion to grow too powerful, collude with an Alien Race, and secede from the Empire.

After the dismissal, all four members of the Ninth Squad, including Reinhardt, gathered in squad leader Dietlinde’s private tent. Her brow was tightly furrowed; this mission to suppress the rebellion was clearly no ordinary matter.

She spread a document out on the table, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "I’ve already read the detailed report on the rebels. Three full-strength Imperial Knight Orders have rebelled. I’ve never encountered a situation like this before.

Take a look at the report."

The candlelight flickered inside the tent, and the smell of burning wax was sharp and pungent.

Reinhardt’s gaze swept quickly over the report. The three rebel units were mainstay Knight Orders from the third echelon of the Empire’s Dragon Hunter Battle Group—an extremely powerful force.

The service histories of the three Knight Orders were recorded in meticulous detail, but when Reinhardt’s eyes fell upon a section of the final page that had been completely blacked out, his brows furrowed tightly.

Their garrison posts for the year 1437, the number of battles fought, and the number and cause of their casualties were all recorded in great detail. However, all information from the year 1438 onward had been blacked out, marked as classified.

’Knight Dietlinde might not think much of it, but the Steel Knight Order also went through a major upheaval in the autumn of 1438.’

’The Dragon Hunter Battle Group is one of the Empire’s thirteen most elite Legions. A rebellion by a Provincial Governor’s private army would be understandable, but the Dragon Hunter Battle Group is one of the forces under the direct command of the Imperial Regency Council!’

’Unless their Battle Group Commander had turned traitor, the possibility of a subordinate Knight Order rebelling for no reason was infinitesimal.’

’Staging such a rebellion in the face of the Empire’s terrifying war machine was tantamount to suicide—like finding a sturdy rope and hanging yourself.’

’The Steel Knight Order had been fought to near annihilation at Frostfire Fortress, yet even when caught in a conspiracy, Vice Commander Erich never once showed any sign of turning traitor.’

Reinhardt refused to believe that these Knight Orders, with their centuries of glorious tradition, would suddenly rebel for no reason. But he couldn’t share these secrets with anyone, not even Dietlinde.

However.

’This is a good opportunity to find answers about the great upheaval of 1438.’

After a moment of silence, Dietlinde’s expression grew stern. Her gaze fell on Reinhardt and Maxim, the two new recruits in the Battle Group.

"This is the first time either of you have participated in a mission to quell a rebellion. Remember, do not hold back just because your opponents were once Imperial Knights.

Furthermore, these three Knight Orders are a mainstay of the Dragon Hunter Battle Group’s third echelon. Their strength is beyond what new recruits like you can imagine. Once we are on the battlefield, you must obey my orders. No acting on your own initiative.

Especially you, Reinhardt."

’The Steel Knight Order was once a mainstay of the Seventh Group Army’s third echelon. Having survived the war at Frostfire Fortress, Reinhardt knew exactly what kind of fighting force a full-strength Knight Order like that possessed.’

’A will to fight forged from steel!’

’An unyielding, fearless resolve that would not break even if it meant sacrificing the last man!’

’They were iron-blooded veterans! Twenty of them could face thousands of Abyssal Demons and seven Fear Knights, and three would still survive!’

Maxim was a New Recruit Knight trained by the Blood Corps; he had no real concept of the strength of a mainstay Knight Order from one of the Empire’s thirteen Legions. He agreed quickly enough, but it was clear he didn’t take the warning to heart.

He had arrived a year before Reinhardt and had participated in one campaign to put down a local militia. Now that he had a chance to prove himself, his confidence was soaring.

Schelf and Koch, two veterans of the Ninth Squad and both Two-star Military Rank Knights, fell even more silent than Reinhardt after reading the report on the rebels.

The Iron Blood Battle Group might rank in the upper echelons of the Mercenary Corps, but fighting a mainstay unit from the Dragon Hunter Battle Group’s third echelon was practically a suicide mission.

They were veterans with over a decade of experience, far beyond the likes of a new recruit like Maxim.

Although the Empire surely wouldn’t send a single Mercenary Corps to quell the rebellion alone, the risks of this battle were still immense—especially with two green New Recruit Knights in their squad.

---

「Three days later.」

In the northern White River Region of Lanshi Province, the Iron Blood Battle Group was stationed in Baihe Town under orders. They were to be ready at a moment’s notice to intercept the Imperial Rebel Army, or the Scaya Dragonfolk forces attempting to reinforce them.