Misfortune 132

Chapter 132

***

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***

Kais waved the letter envelope tucked between his fingers right before Roan's eyes.

"Seems you're quite close with your long-lost sister. Judging by how often letters arrive, there's hardly time to forget."

"Good."

Roan snatched the letter deftly with an unexpected retort. He stuffed it roughly into his back pocket and continued.

"I was just about to come find you."

"Me?"

"Yes. I have something to say."

Roan flicked his finger at Kais, who was wearing a bewildered expression.

Soon, they walked toward the cabin, leaving the crimson sky behind them.

****

Her anxiously trembling legs tapped the floor, creating an irregular noise. Heavy sighs settled heavily on top of it.

The Golden Wheel members, seemingly unable to focus on their work or anything else, stole glances at their restless branch chief.

Lost in thought, Lena didn't even notice the piercing stares and opened her mouth.

"Listen, Alpen, the letter is..."

"Oh, seriously! Branch Chief!"

Before Lena could finish, Alpen, her right-hand woman and one of the Golden Wheel's key figures, snapped in irritation.

It was impossible to count how many times she'd been asked the same question.

But Lena blinked in surprise, her face showing no awareness of her patience.

Seeing that expression, Alpen's resolve weakened again. Reluctantly, she repeated the answer she'd given countless times before.

"Of course it was delivered properly. You know our people never miss a delivery, no matter where it's sent. So please stop worrying."

Where on earth had that capable, dependable branch manager gone? A sigh escaped Alpen's lips.

Of course, she understood her feelings. She'd barely reunited with her only family member when her brother suddenly left for the battlefield. It was only natural she'd want to check on his life and death every day, her heart in her throat.

That's exactly what Lena was doing. Abusing her authority to the fullest extent.

Alphen was certain she was the only person in the world who could communicate this frequently with a soldier on the battlefield.

Anyway, things seemed stable enough with that arrangement. But whatever that 'young lady' told her must have set off her impatience all over again.

"But if it was delivered properly, we should have an answer by now."

"Chief. Even if the full-scale war hasn't started yet, that's a battlefield. We have to accept some delays."

"But………………."

"Besides, I hear your brother is an incredibly distinguished officer. Wherever he goes, praise for him is everywhere. What if his own family doesn't believe him?"

Faced with these undeniably valid points, Lena couldn't argue back and just pursed her lips.

Objectively speaking, it wasn't a situation that should have caused such anxiety. As Alpen said, the war hadn't broken out yet.

In fact, with the Dalos delegation attending Emperor Brunois’s funeral, hopes for a peace treaty were even beginning to stir among the public.

While tensions between the two nations hadn't yet eased, judging by the current situation, it seemed reasonable to lean toward peace rather than war.

Yet, contrary to this reality, Lena's anxiety grew more intense with each passing day.

More precisely, it had intensified the moment she witnessed the will note enclosed with Roan's letter.

Up until then, Lena had firmly believed it was Roan's mistake. No, she wanted to believe it.

That's why she forgot her usual restraint around Delnia and poured out everything about Roan. She thought she could finally feel at ease if Delnia agreed with her guess.

But Delnia shattered Lena's expectations in an instant.

“……………A will?”

The moment Lena faced Delnia, who repeated the question with an expressionless face, she acutely felt what it meant for the surrounding temperature to plummet instantly.

“Wait, just wait here for a moment.”

“Why? What's going on? Miss!”

The time spent anxiously pacing while waiting for Delnia, who never once looked back no matter how she tried to hold her back, felt interminable.

When Delnia finally reappeared, Lena had to support her as she staggered, pale as death, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Miss!”

"Please, Lena. Deliver this. You must..."

Her grip was relentless as she pressed the letter into Lena's hand, urging her again and again—unbelievably tenacious for someone who seemed utterly drained.

"What on earth is going on? Why...!"

Lena stammered the question. But deep down, she already knew. Delnia had sensed something.

Perhaps... that will note hadn't been delivered to the wrong address after all...

"My brother can't be serious...is he trying to die?"

Lena's voice trembled mercilessly as she asked.

"..................I believe it won't happen."

Delnia's expression had steadied, her face frighteningly calm. Her words carried the weight of absolute certainty.

But she couldn't stop her throat from trembling. Her eyes, always glowing with warmth, flickered faintly like a dying flame. Lena couldn't shake her unease.

"Whatever happens, there's nothing we can do about it anyway. Instead of worrying ourselves sick, let's calmly wait while doing what we must."

At that moment, Alpen continued her nagging, as always spouting only sensible words.

"For now, focus on the immediate problem. The coronation of the new Emperor of Brunois is already tomorrow."

"Right, that's what we should do."

Lena lightly tapped her own cheeks, snapping herself back to focus.

As Alpen said, all she could do was pray for Roan’s safety anyway.

"The delivery preparations are all wrapped up without a hitch, so as long as the branch manager makes a good appearance, it should be fine. You said you'd attend with that young lady, right?"

"Yes. In fact, it should be about time she arrived."

"I heard the roads are terribly congested because of the coronation crowds. But the palace itself seems eerily quiet. I suppose they're being cautious since it’s the first female emperor, but..."

It was the moment Alpen brushed aside a sudden, fleeting puzzlement. A loud stomping sound echoed loudly from outside.

Puzzled gazes turned toward the doorway. The door burst open, and a regular member appeared, gasping for breath.

"Chief! It's terrible! There's absolute chaos!"

An ominous foreboding sent a chill down her spine. Lena couldn't bear it and rose to her feet.

"What? What is it? What's going on?"

The other members, unable to hide their bewilderment, also pressed their colleague for answers.

"Well, news came from Orbon... the Colonel...!"

"Ah, Chief!"

Without waiting to hear more, Lena abruptly pushed herself up and dashed out. The voices of the members calling after her quickly faded behind her.

[Imperial Calendar 427, February 18th.

Brunois Navy Dalos Supply Base Raid. Fire broke out.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Brigadier General Voltaire commanded an air strike on the western coast.

Over half of the Dalos fleet, including privateers, annihilated.

Seven Brunois ships sunk and twelve damaged.

Of the eleven officers leading this raid, all but Colonel Roan Barthez returned safely.]

***

Ice-cold water poured over his head, startling him.

His hair stood on end, and the searing pain felt like his skin was being burned by fire. His fading consciousness flickered and flashed.

Roan opened his bleary eyes. His eyelids felt heavy, as if sleep were about to overwhelm him. No matter how hard he strained his eyes, they wouldn't focus properly—they must be swollen from bruising.

"You goddamn mongrel!"

The foreign curse words pierced his eardrums, still ringing from the impact.

He'd never formally studied the language of Dalos, but understanding it posed no difficulty. The gruff speech of seafarers had never distinguished between nationalities.

If he hadn't understood, it might have been a little more pleasant.

Though seeking pleasantness while locked in a cage, hands bound, being tortured was laughable.

Still, that was all the hope left for him now.

“Effective immediately, all personnel except me are to return to the unit.”

On the day they raided Dalos' supply base, even though they moved with only a small elite force, Roan had already ordered everyone to withdraw.

“Are you saying we abandon the operation like this?”

The subordinates, who had been safely carrying out the operation, asked in surprise at the unexpected order. But the answer that came back was even more astonishing.

“No. I will proceed alone from here on.”

“What on earth………”

“If we just blow up the ammunition depot, the fire should spread without issue. The explosives are already properly planted.”

“Even if we succeed in igniting it, securing an escape route alone is impossible. I cannot guarantee your safety!”

“There's no guarantee safety with a group either. Then it's better to bear the risk alone.”

“Then I should rather…!”

“No. I'm going.”

 “Colonel!”

“I won't tolerate insubordination any longer. Lead the men back. That's an order.”

Overpowering the rebellious Silber with his authority, Roan ultimately completed the mission alone. And before the raging flames, he was surrounded by Dalos' soldiers.

“It's Roan Barthez!”

Dalos' soldiers easily recognized him as their enemy commander and a renowned leader.

Roan surrendered without resistance, allowing himself to be captured. For that was precisely his objective.