Two days later, Tatsuo, clad in his newly commissioned Senior Major's uniform, went to the Headquarters of the North Division of the Southern Army. Behind him stood his Captains, their expressions stoic. He'd instructed the rest of his squads to remain at the training grounds, drilling relentlessly.
"Sir, good day. Major Tatsuo reporting," Tatsuo reported to Lukas.
Manler's office was opulent. The Deputy General, a portly man with a perpetually smug expression, gestured for Tatsuo to sit. "Ah, Major Tatsuo. You've assembled your squads quickly. Impressive."
"We are eager to serve, sir," Tatsuo replied, his tone respectful but firm.
Manler chuckled. "Eagerness is commendable. Now, for your first mission. We've received reports from Panzi City that they need reinforcement on the northern border, so we will send you there to reinforce Major General Torvin Sunridge. Major General Torvin is a nobleman from Panzi City, the nephew of Marquess Ignis Sunridge. But before you go to Panzi City, you need to go to Ershir City to escort Earl Lucian Rampart so he can meet the Marquess. There's increased bandit activity along the road to Panzi City. Please eliminate these bandits if possible, or at least ensure the Earl's safe journey." General Manler requested.
"Understood, sir," Tatsuo said, his voice unwavering.
"Excellent. You will leave at dawn tomorrow." Manler dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
I feel that this guy has something up his sleeve; we will see in the future if he makes it alive, Manler thought.
Outside the office, Tatsuo turned to his Captains. "We move at dawn. Inform your respective platoons. We'll need to gather supplies and plan our route. Rota, gather intel for Ershir City and the bandits on the road to Panzi City."
"Yes, sir," Rota replied, his movements precise.
"Ragnar, ensure all squads are equipped and ready for a long journey. We don't know what we'll face while traveling."
"Understood, sir." Ragnar nodded.
Back at the training grounds, Tatsuo addressed his assembled troops. "We have our first mission. We depart at dawn to go to Ershir City to escort Earl Lucian Rampart to Panzi City, then we will join the corps of Major General Torvin. We may face bandits along the way, and we will crush them if we can. We will show the Deputy General and the Empire what the Dragon Cry Mercenary Group, now the Tatsuo Company, is capable of."
The soldiers roared their approval, their voices echoing across the training grounds. The air crackled with anticipation.
That evening, Tatsuo reviewed Rota's intel reports on Ershir City, a small city focused on trade and reinforcing supplies for the frontline. The city serves as a connection from the capital of the Lion Flame Domain and the Empire's Capital City to the frontline. The bandit activity was indeed significant. They operated from a hidden encampment in the forest, and their numbers were estimated to be around two hundred fifty. They were well-armed and organized, suggesting they were more than just common highwaymen.
"This is no ordinary bandit group," Tatsuo murmured, his eyes narrowed. "They're too well-equipped, too well-coordinated. Someone is backing them. But we can overcome them," Tatsuo thought.
...
He went to the blacksmith's place and looked at Figokin, who was working diligently on the gun prototype. The dwarves had made significant progress, and the weapon was beginning to take shape. "Figokin, how long until the gun is ready?"
"Your Highness, this is not an easy task, even for us dwarves," Figokin replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We need more time; refining adjustments takes time."
As dawn broke, Tatsuo led his forces out of Yoroi City. As they marched east, their black armor made them appear as an omen of death. Tatsuo rode at the head of the column, his eyes scanning the horizon, his mind already strategizing for the battles to come. He knew this mission would bring him the merits he needed so that his father, the Emperor, would trust him to lead the empire in the future; it was a test, a stepping stone on his path to power. And he would not fail.
....
The journey to Ershir City was uneventful. Tatsuo used the time to further refine his strategies, drilling his captains and training his company while they traveled, emphasizing decisive action. Rota's scouts ranged far and wide, ensuring they had a clear picture of the terrain and any potential threats.
After thirty days of travel, they arrived in Ershir City, a bustling hub of activity. Caravans laden with supplies rumbled through its narrow streets, and soldiers patrolled its walls, their eyes scanning the horizon. The City Lord, Baron Theron Waysmith, a Life Baron, greeted Tatsuo with a mixture of relief and apprehension.
"Major Tatsuo, we are most grateful for your arrival," Theron stammered, his eyes darting towards Tatsuo's black-armored company. "Earl Lucian is waiting in the Earl's Mansion. He is most anxious to be on his way."
Tatsuo nodded. "We will not delay. Please escort us to the Earl."
Earl Lucian Rampart was a slender man with a refined air, his clothes bearing the mark of noble elegance. He greeted Tatsuo with a polite, if somewhat dismissive, nod. "Major Tatsuo, I trust you are well-equipped for this journey. The road to Panzi City is fraught with danger, I am told."
"We are prepared for any eventuality, my lord," Tatsuo replied, his tone steady. "We will depart at dawn tomorrow."
That night, Tatsuo reviewed Rota's updated intelligence. The bandit activity had intensified, with reports of larger groups and more aggressive tactics. It was clear that these were not mere opportunists; they were a well-organized force with a clear objective. Their forces ranged from Mortal Ground Realm to level 2 Sky Gate Realm.
"They are targeting the Earl. Does the Earl have an enemy? Or perhaps this is a tactic the Skylance Kingdom is using to delay supplies?" Tatsuo concluded, his eyes narrowing. "Someone wants him dead, or perhaps captured."
He summoned his captains. "We will adopt a defensive formation tomorrow. The Earl's carriage will be at the center, surrounded by the Guard Squad and the Support Squad. The Clash Squad will form the vanguard, and the Agile and Range Squads will flank us, providing cover and scouting ahead. We will not underestimate these bandits."
Dawn broke, and the column set off, the Earl's ornate carriage rolling smoothly along the road. The Clash Squad, led by Ragnar, moved ahead, their shields raised and their weapons at the ready. The Agile Squad, under Reeldos, and the Range Squad, under Nard, moved swiftly through the surrounding forest, their eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
They had traveled for several hours when the attack came. A hail of arrows rained down from the trees, followed by a charge of heavily armed bandits. The Clash Squad met the charge head-on, their shields deflecting arrows and their weapons cleaving through the bandit ranks.
The Agile Squad and Range Squad moved swiftly, flanking the bandits and raining arrows down upon them from the trees. The Support Squad, under Sokzal, moved to reinforce the Clash Squad, their spears and shields forming an impenetrable wall.
Tatsuo, riding at the center of the column, observed the battle with a keen eye. He saw that the bandits were well-trained and well-equipped, but they lacked the discipline and coordination of his forces. He gave orders to his captains, directing his squads to exploit the bandits' weaknesses.
The battle raged for hours, but Tatsuo's forces gradually gained the upper hand. The bandits, outnumbered and outmaneuvered, began to falter. Ragnar, at the front, was a whirlwind of destruction, his battle axe cleaving through the bandit ranks. Rota, leading the Guard Squad, protected the Earl's carriage, his movements precise and deadly.
As the sun began to set, the bandits finally broke and fled, leaving behind a trail of dead and wounded. Tatsuo ordered his forces to pursue, but only to a point. He didn't want to overextend his forces.
"We will regroup and continue our journey," he ordered, his voice ringing out across the battlefield. "Ensure the wounded are treated and the dead are buried. Take all the weapons and armor so we can sell them."
The Earl, pale but unharmed, emerged from his carriage. "Major Tatsuo, you and your men have saved my life," he said, his voice trembling. "I am in your debt."
"We are simply fulfilling our duty, my lord," Tatsuo replied, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest. "But we are not out of danger yet. We will remain vigilant."
As they continued their journey, Tatsuo's mind raced. He knew that this attack was just the beginning. Someone wanted the Earl dead, and they would not give up easily. He resolved to remain vigilant, to anticipate their next move, and to protect the Earl at all costs. He knew that this mission was more than just escorting a nobleman; it was a test of his leadership, his strategy, and his resolve. And he was determined to pass with flying colors.