Who is it?
Judging by the clothes she was wearing and the instinctive aura she exuded, she was clearly different from any woman I had seen so far.
Platinum blonde hair.
Blue eyes.
And a dress that, though slightly torn, still looked expensive at a glance.
She was definitely different from the other female prisoners who were dressed in nothing but rags.
“Ugh…!! Uuuughh!!”
Furthermore, given that her mouth was gagged and she was restrained with chains, it seemed she had indeed been captured by bandits.
Was she an unlucky noble who got caught?
“Release her.”
“Yes!”
At my command, a nearby soldier quickly approached and removed the gag from her mouth.
“Phew─!”
Relieved, the woman took a deep breath as soon as the gag was removed. She then looked at me and asked.
“Who are you? Did my father send you?”
“We are the 8th Assault Magic Infantry… .”
“Hold on.”
I stopped the soldier from revealing unnecessary information and signaled to Sergeant Claude. He, already understanding, briskly approached her and began tapping various parts of her dress.
Though startled by the sudden touch, she soon realized it was just a routine pat-down and complied quietly.
Such level-headed judgment even in this situation—she wasn’t just an ordinary civilian.
“There’s no weapon. Judging by the fabric of the dress, she seems to be a high-ranking prisoner.”
“I am Lieutenant Enok Revendale of the Okhraine Army. Please identify yourself.”
There was no need to reveal our exact identity as the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion. It would only complicate matters unnecessarily if we disclosed too much, especially since we weren’t officially registered in the army.
After I revealed my identity first, the woman finally relaxed and replied.
“I am Yekaterina Pedro, the second daughter of Count Jacques Pedro, the honorary lord of the Biyaltock estate.”
Indeed, she’s a noble.
The Okhraine Duchy maintained a centralized government system, but the noble class hadn’t been completely abolished yet.
Even Bella Meyer refers to herself as the scion of the Meyer Baron family.
While the title of “honorary lord” now serves more as a ceremonial role, they still held some influence in regional operations.
‘So, they messed with a noble? These guys really had guts.’
I instructed Sergeant Claude to remove the rest of her restraints.
“Please wait. This might sting a little.”
Crackle! A strong electric current surged, cleanly severing the tightly bound chains.
“Thank you…”
“We’ll discuss the details after moving to a safer location. First Platoon, please search the surrounding area.”
“Understood.”
Claude nodded, and I handed over Yekaterina’s care to Lumina and Roxanna. Female soldiers would naturally handle such situations more delicately than male ones.
Not long after,
the first official combat operation of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion, the ‘Modor Village Bandit Suppression Operation,’ was officially concluded.
The 2nd Platoon deployed in the north and the 1st Platoon in the south successfully joined forces. The 3rd Platoon, which infiltrated the underground mine, also safely rescued the detained villagers.
In simple numbers: approximately 100 bandits killed, about 30 taken as prisoners, and around 70 villagers rescued.
Compared to that, we only suffered five wounded on our side, none of whom were critically injured.
Truly, all the hard training we endured paid off, leading to a highly successful outcome.
Yekaterina and members of her family were urgently transferred by a convoy from a nearby city that arrived upon hearing the news.
Fortunately, the bandits hadn’t gone as far as harming the children of the noble family or their servants. Most showed mild symptoms of malnutrition but were otherwise unharmed.
“The count sincerely appreciates your dedication.”
A representative of the Pedro family bowed deeply to Sony Chepelin and spoke.
Had he been a fellow soldier, Colonel Sony would have undoubtedly refused such gratitude, but instead, he pointed to me standing behind him.
“The one who rescued her is not me but Lieutenant Enok Revendale over there.”
“Ah…! My apologies. Once again, thank you, Lieutenant Enok Revendale.”
It was an unexpected situation, but somehow I managed to return the salute with a dignified voice.
“It was merely my duty.”
“The count wishes to personally commend you for your efforts in this incident. What kind of reward would you prefer?”
“Me? You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
Confused, I glanced back and forth between Sony Chepelin and Joseph Lebandovsky.
Both shrugged, indicating they didn’t know either. Was this their way of saying that, as the field commander responsible for rescuing Yekaterina Pedro, I should handle it as I see fit?
“Hmm…”
I paused to think.
Hearts of Generals is fundamentally a military strategy and tactics simulation game, but set in a fictional fantasy world rather than modern or contemporary times, where the privileges of nobility still hold significant weight.
While the authority to manage lords and estates has largely disappeared, many nobles remain influential within the central government.
As mentioned earlier, they still wield considerable power locally.
Just because a predator has lost its teeth and claws doesn’t mean it ceases to be a predator.
Since the game’s setting takes place in the 19th century, before the outbreak of World War I, it could be considered historically accurate.
Moreover, these nobles are treated as crucial resources or encounters within the game.
The more noble supporters a player character has, the faster their rank advancement and the quicker they can dominate both the military and local regions.
Take Sony Chepelin, for example. Even as a grand mage, she couldn’t establish the secret 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion alone.
Training grounds, barracks sites, supply lines—all required approval from the administrative officials or lords of the nearby towns and areas where the unit was stationed, aside from the upper echelons of the military.
‘But that’s only beneficial once you become a high-ranking officer.’
For procedures like promotions, which must be conducted systematically, noble status doesn’t offer much help.
Especially for a count overseeing a frontier estate like Biyaltock.
‘What should I do?’
On the other hand, it would be a waste to let this opportunity slip. Building connections with a noble family isn’t easy.
Besides, I won’t stay in the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion forever. My ultimate goal is to become a national hero who saves Okhraine from the flames of war.
I won’t be stuck here indefinitely.
Beyond being a platoon leader, I aim to experience roles as battalion commander, regimental commander, division commander, corps commander, and even supreme commander.
‘Then, perhaps building a network is the best approach.’
In simpler terms, sponsorship.
Considering my future plans, I’ll need sufficient support from both central authorities and local administrations.
My minimum goal is to reach the rank of captain in a key position before the war begins, but having risen one rank in just a few months, why not aim for higher ranks? That would significantly expand my options during the war.
My mind raced.
My CPU overheated, my insides burning hot.
“I….”
I looked directly at the butler eagerly awaiting my response and said:
“I wish to meet Count Jacques in person.”
“That guy was glaring and stuffing gunpowder into his rifle! I calmly aimed and pulled the trigger!!”
“…but the b*llet didn’t fire, and I ended up getting shot in the b*tt. Congratulations, Rick Hanson.”
Inside the field hospital set up in a corner of the Muzhensk Fortress,
Bella Meyer watched the soldier boasting about his heroic tale with disdain.
“Oh come on, Lieutenant Bella. Don’t ruin the romance like that!”
“Of course, if the b*llet had shifted just a little, you’d never have been able to sire children. But hey, romance, right?”
Rick Hanson’s face immediately turned pale, while the gathered comrades burst into laughter.
“In any case, stop gathering here and making noise. The wounded need rest.”
“Yes! Understood, Lieutenant!”
Bella Meyer, a 1st Class Blue Mage, was tending to the soldiers injured in battle alongside other blue mages.
Specialized in manipulating water, the most essential element in the human body, these mages often excelled more in ‘healing magic’ than in combat.
“How’s your condition?”
“I’m fine. Occasionally, my b*tt throbs, but it feels weird… Like I’ve been hit with a stick about 200 times.”
“Still, you mustn’t let your guard down. Wounds healed by magic can easily reopen if not fully recovered.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Rick Hanson sincerely thanked her. After all, Bella Meyer had quickly provided emergency treatment and was currently caring for the wounded on the front lines.
Who wouldn’t truly appreciate such dedication?
“Are everyone doing well? How’s the infirmary?”
Enok Revandel, the commander of the 1st Company, entered the ward at that moment.
“To glory for the homeland!”
A junior officer rummaging through medical supplies quickly saluted, and the soldiers who had been chatting boisterously fell silent and saluted in unison.
“To glory!”
“Glory, everyone, rest.”
“Rest!”
The discipline was evident.
Even when I first met them, they were better than the previous 3rd Magic Battalion, but after two weeks of training and one real combat experience, the troops radiated the aura of elite soldiers.
The proof was that they could still laugh despite suffering gunshot wounds.
“Seeing your relaxed expressions, you must be living comfortably, huh?”
“Come on, Commander, isn’t it all thanks to our hard fighting?”
“True. Next time you get injured, I’ll make you do PT exercises again. Make sure you prepare properly.”
“You’re going to make us do that hellish training even when we’re injured? You’re a devil.”
When Private Tchaikovsky, who had suffered the most during the rigorous training, complained with genuine distaste, others chimed in with jokes.
“Heck, aren’t you still keeping your fiancée safe? You’ve been shot, after all.”
“Yeah, show that scar to anyone who flirts with you. Ask if they’ve ever been shot.”
“You’d look pretty cool, Commander.”
Bella Meyer smirked as she watched the soldiers exchange playful banter with the company commander.
“Commander, Lieutenant Bella works hard too.”
“Not at all, I just heal and clean up the mess. Have the post-training repairs been completed?”
“Yes, all the rescued individuals have been safely returned to the village. They all truly appreciated it.”
Upon hearing Enok’s words, Bella Meyer inwardly sighed in relief. Having experienced something similar as a child, she could vaguely empathize with how painful those days must have been.
“But what brings you here? Surely not just to deliver news, right? Should I leave if you have something to discuss with the soldiers?”
“No, it’s not that. I actually have something to talk to you, Lieutenant Bella.”
“Huh?”
At those words, the ward momentarily quieted before erupting in cheers.
“See? I told you!”
“I said Commander favors Lieutenant Bella! Who bet against me? Step forward!”
“This is amazing!”
The soldiers cheered wildly. Shaking his head, Enok Revandel sighed.
“So these are the rumor mongers spreading false tales. Are they all here?”
“Uh…”
“All of you, lower your heads.”
“Sorry!”
With the soldiers bowing deeply, Enok led Bella Meyer outside the tent. Of course, as soon as they left, whistles filled the air.
Why? Does Commander have something to say to her?
Bella Meyer looked somewhat confused. Having spent a few months together, she knew the scenario the soldiers imagined wouldn’t happen. Yet, the atmosphere felt slightly unusual…
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
“Lieutenant Bella.”
The rough hand of the company commander gently rested on her shoulder. Startled, Bella Meyer flinched. And then Enok spoke in a deep voice.
“I think you should spend some time with me.”
That was enough to turn Bella Meyer’s rationality pure white.
