414: Chapter 401 Bombarding the Camp

The captain of the Guards arrived at the sound, standing tall and straight before Sadou as he awaited instructions. However, Sadou, who had called for him in a frantic rush, remained silent for a long while.

He had just recalled that Lake possessed explosive weapons with a wider range and more terrifying lethality. Fear gripped his heart, and his subconscious urge was to order the High-tier Professionals to act separately, but just as he was about to speak, he remembered the existence of the Dam Squad.

Not long ago... he had just issued an order strictly forbidding High-tier Professionals from acting alone.

Sadou sat back down weakly at the low table, waving his hand to dismiss the captain of the Guards.

Once the captain stepped out of the tent and the air returned to silence, Sadou rested his forehead in his hand, lost in thought about what he should do.

He trusted his Aunt's judgment implicitly.

So, was defeat certain?

Sadou felt somewhat unwilling.

When he took over the Bauhinia Legion, it was ranked last among all the empire's legions and was on the verge of disbandment. It was he who had led its rise with all his might, fighting across the land to carve out a prestigious reputation, earning it a significant status even among the major empires.

Who would have thought they would suffer a setback in such a remote place...

Glimpsing his ever-changing expression, his Aunt said cheerfully, "What, thinking of trying to struggle a bit?

Don't say your Aunt didn't warn you: the price of impulsiveness is total annihilation, including yourself."

Sadou lowered his head in silence, seemingly weighing his options.

However, Domit would not give him much time to hesitate over these matters.

The First Army's next offensive had begun.

Domit knew very well that after the Bauhinia Legion suffered from the Butterfly Mines, they would never again easily pursue the vanguard harassing them. Instead, they would choose to maintain the status quo and wait for reinforcements to arrive.

Right now, over four thousand wounded Soldiers were wailing in the camp. This not only struck a blow to morale but also forced the Bauhinia Legion to divert manpower to care for them, leaving them utterly unable to organize an effective counterattack.

Domit would not allow both sides to remain in a stalemate, and having anticipated this, he had long ago formulated a response plan.

Hiding in your nest and not coming out?

Then I'll tear your nest down.

During the days the vanguard was entangling the Bauhinia Legion, the rest of the First Army's Soldiers had been preparing for this.

In a few days, the First Army had already cleared an open space deep in the forest and deployed a large number of various models of howitzers.

In the clearing.

First Army Soldiers were busy transporting ammunition, while gunners calibrated the elevation angles before the established howitzers. The sentries on the perimeter were equally busy, needing to hunt down any magical beasts or wild animals that approached the position.

Mandy volunteered to help, but was told by the company commander that staying quiet on the side would be the greatest help.

He didn't quite understand at first. He thought to himself that while he indeed hadn't learned to operate a howitzer and couldn't help the artillerymen, he could still be useful for carrying shells—he had plenty of strength.

But after standing to the side and watching for a long time, he realized he had been ignorant.

The team members also noticed something and marveled, "The officers of the First Army... have such great coordination!"

Yes, coordination.

The Soldiers carrying the shells seemed to run randomly without fixed routes, but in reality, everything was in perfect order. They ran so fast they didn't even need to observe their surroundings to precisely avoid their companions' bodies.

If a team that hadn't undergone long-term training and synchronization tried to intervene, they wouldn't just fail to improve efficiency—they would disrupt their rhythm.

The group watched for a long time, almost in enjoyment, when a team member suddenly spoke up: "Captain, we're about a hundred kilometers from the enemy. Won't they track the shell trajectories and find us after we fire?"

"The vicinity is buried with Butterfly Mines; low-tier Professionals can't get in.

As for High-tier Professionals..."

As he spoke, Mandy scratched his head in confusion. "I don't understand why we haven't seen a single High-tier Professional from the Bauhinia Legion these past few days. It's as if they don't have any at all."

"How could that be? Even the Allied Forces' legions have them."

"That's what's strange to me. If the Bauhinia Legion's High-tier Professionals attacked in groups, we should find it very hard to resist, right?"

"Why?"

The question seemed to come from behind. Everyone was startled and instinctively looked back to see the company commander striding toward them.

"Company Commander!"

The company commander nodded and followed up, "Why?"

Everyone looked at each other, and finally, they all looked toward their captain.

Mandy felt his teammates' gazes on his back and suddenly felt awkward all over.

"Uh, the Company Commander asked why..."

Why... because a High-tier Professional's magic is more terrifying than a howitzer. Company Commander, why are you asking why...

He certainly didn't dare to say his internal grumbling out loud. After hesitating for a long time, Mandy finally whispered, "If there are too many High-tier Professionals... uh... their Magic Shields and physical bodies are inherently hard to penetrate. If their numbers increase, our chances of winning are very low."

Mandy felt his explanation was very tactful. In fact, the last phrase could have been replaced entirely with 'certain defeat'.

It was just that the company commander always kept a stiff face. Although he knew after getting to know him that this was just a personal habit and not a bad mood, he still didn't dare to speak frankly.

The company commander gave a strained smile. "It's true that someone who hasn't seen a sniper rifle would think that way."

"Company Commander, I've seen a sniper rifle," Mandy raised his hand.

"I've seen one too."

"Me too."

Assault Team members who had gone through the Battle of Green Valley raised their hands one after another.

The company commander scanned the scattered arms raised in the crowd. "Where?"

"Green Valley. Back then, we..." Mandy gave a detailed account of what happened then, finally saying, "The sniper rifle is indeed very strong, but I feel... it can't reach the level of breaking a Magic Shield."

"Hahaha..." A Soldier nearby who had finished his calibration work heard this and laughed loudly for a while, then shouted toward the trees at the edge of the clearing, "Hey Damu, you're being looked down upon by a junior!"

Damu?

The unfamiliar name echoed in the minds of the Assault Team. They looked over, but the woods were dark and quiet. There were plants, weeds, and unknown flowers, but no people.

The company commander smiled. "It's fine when we're not on a mission, right?"

His voice drifted over on the forest wind. After a moment, Mandy saw several figures that weren't very burly—in fact, they were rather short—slowly emerge from beside the trees.

The figures walked out of the woods one after another. Sunlight fell upon them, illuminating their features.

They had very ordinary features and seemed like just a few average people. But Mandy, being a Soldier himself, keenly sensed the composure and courage in their eyes—the fearlessness when facing danger and powerful enemies.

"Company Commander," Mandy asked involuntarily, "Are they the snipers who saved us at Green Valley?"

"They are snipers, but... they are different from the snipers at Green Valley."

As Damu approached, the company commander cut off the topic and waved a greeting.

Damu responded with a smile and asked, "How did you know I was there?"

"I guessed."

Shrugging his shoulders, Damu turned to look at Mandy. "Seen a sniper before?"

"Seen, seen..." Being stared at by that calm gaze, Mandy felt somewhat nervous for some reason. After several stutters, he managed to answer smoothly, "I've seen a sniper's bullet hit a target, but I haven't seen the sniper himself."

"That's about right. If a sniper's camouflage is discovered by others on the battlefield..." Damu's eyes turned dangerous.

Although those snipers didn't belong to the First Army, as the highest commander of the sniper branch, Damu still had the right to decide whether they stayed or left.

After speaking, he scanned the members of the Assault Team and asked the company commander, "Reserves?"

"They haven't started the assessment yet. The Marshal's intention was to let them have some initial contact with magic-conducting weapons first. The assessment will probably have to wait until the war with the Allied Forces is over."

Damu raised an eyebrow, put his arm around the company commander's shoulder, and walked to the edge of the forest away from the crowd. "Do you know how many people are in the Special Operations Team right now?"

The company commander narrowed his eyes. "That's classified. How would I know?"

"I'm telling you, there are only a total of..."

"Slap—" The company commander swatted Damu's hand off his shoulder and said expressionlessly, "These are all going to join the Infantry Regiment. Don't even think about it."

"What are you thinking? I only want one person."

"I only want one too. You can pick any of the others."

"Too stingy," Damu pretended to be angry.

"Since you're so generous, you surely won't fight me for him, right?"

"Uh..." Choked by the words, Damu was silent for a while before finally turning back toward the Assault Team. "I'll apply to the Marshal."

"Hmph." The company commander folded his arms across his chest and followed behind him. "It was the Marshal himself who ordered me to train them."

Neither of them gained the upper hand in their verbal sparring. Damu figured that since the Assault Team and the company commander spent every day together, their bond was growing rapidly, leaving him at a natural disadvantage. Thus, upon reaching the captain's side, he said:

"Want to become a sniper?"

Mandy's eyes widened suddenly. "Do I have a cha—"

"Report!" A Soldier put down a wireless communication device and ran over quickly. "Legion Commander Domit has ordered our forces to launch the attack!"

Military orders were as immovable as mountains and could not be delayed in the slightest. Damu felt a bit of regret and called his team members to prepare for departure.

Just as he was about to leave, he seemed to think of something. He reached into his Storage Pouch, pulled out a magic guidance sniper rifle, shouldered it, and said to Mandy, "Look, this is a magic guidance sniper rifle."

Mandy stared at it blankly.

The straight barrel silently spoke of its power. Three square crystals were embedded in the side of the gun's body, and the whole thing reflected a metallic luster in the sunlight, making it incredibly eye-catching. But what attracted Mandy most was the cylindrical part on top of the gun.

What was its purpose?

"Both it and I will be waiting for you. Don't let us down."

"Stop wasting words and go execute your orders."

The company commander shooed him away with a dark face. Damu smirked triumphantly at an angle the team members couldn't see and quickly walked toward the woods. Midway there, his figure had already vanished from everyone's sight.

"magic guidance sniper rifle?" Mandy stared blankly in the direction the Special Operations Team had left, muttering to himself.

The company commander sighed helplessly. There was nothing he could do; the sniper rifle was indeed flashy. Fortunately, the problem wasn't too serious.

"Come, witness the charm of the howitzer." The company commander led the snapped-back Mandy and the rest of the team toward a howitzer.

Reaching its side, he scanned his surroundings. Ensuring that all the Soldiers had reached their posts, he raised his arm and swung it down forcefully: "Fire!"

...

Bauhinia Legion Main Camp.

Sadou pondered for a long time and finally accepted reality.

Defeat was certain. Now, there was only one thing left to consider: how to lose with a bit of dignity.

Undoubtedly, minimizing casualties was the most effective way.

He issued orders to the two Vice Legion Commanders to each lead half of the High-tier Professionals to take over the Guard duties of the ordinary Soldiers. This was intended to deter the Dam Squad from acting rashly.

Thus, the two Vice Legion Commanders crawled out of their warm beds and took up the task of patrolling.

After making a few rounds of the main camp, the two of them, finding it truly boring, instructed the High-tier Professionals to continue the mission while they hid behind a remote, deserted tent to chat.

"Why did the Legion Commander arrange for us to patrol?"

"Probably... to Guard against Lake's Saint-tier."

"Tsk." One Vice Legion Commander shook his head. "This war is truly frustrating. The legion set out months ago and has been on the road the whole time.

We finally arrived, thinking we could have a satisfying slaughter, but instead, we fell into the enemy's trap."

The other Vice Legion Commander smiled. "War always has winners and losers; it's impossible to always be victorious.

Speaking of which, I'm actually quite curious about those traps in the forest that explode when you step on them. What on earth are they?"

"Who knows? Anyway, they're definitely not trigger-type magic."

"I understand that, of course. It's just..." The Vice Legion Commander's gaze darkened. "This kind of change that's beyond our control brings me a lot of unease."

"For example?"

"For example... that we will die here."

"Hmm, that's not a very funny joke."

"Let's go." He lost interest in continuing the conversation and stood up to find his patrol team.

The two separated for the time being, each fulfilling their duties. Although the brief conversation had created some oppressive feelings in their hearts, they were quickly ignored. They patrolled the main camp seriously from early morning until noon.

Meeting in the middle of the main camp, they discussed with each other that it was time for lunch.

In truth, they didn't really need lunch, that essential daily human activity. After all, they were both High-tier Professionals, and relying solely on the magic power drifting in the air was enough to sustain their life functions.

However, the two of them felt that the High-tier Professionals who had been patrolling all morning must be feeling extremely frustrated, and they could use the excuse of a meal to blow off some steam.

Subsequently, the two teams were each divided into two groups to take turns going to the cafeteria.

Looking at the much more relaxed expressions of his subordinates, the Vice Legion Commander stood with his hands on his hips. "I feel that if this continues, we'll collapse on our own without Lake even needing to attack."

"Hehe, I think..." The other Vice Legion Commander was halfway through speaking when he suddenly turned to look at the distant sky, his right hand pressing down on the hilt of the longsword at his waist.

"What is that?" The Vice Legion Commander who looked over with him pulled out a magic staff. The gem at its tip lit up, and a Magic Shield emerged, enveloping his entire body.

In the brief interval of their confusion, several small black dots flew in from the distance. As they got closer, the sound of objects breaking through the air reached the ears of the two Vice Legion Commanders, as well as the Soldiers.

Having angrily pursued the vanguard only to be ambushed a few days ago, and having been forced to endure the vanguard's almost non-stop night harassment recently, the Soldiers' nerves were frayed. They would react violently to the slightest movement around them, let alone an unusual sound from the sky.

The Soldiers standing Guard at the gates looked up in panic. Those eating in the cafeteria or napping in their tents all rushed outside, looking up to search for the source of the noise.

They were all Professionals. Even entry-level apprentices would have improvements in various bodily functions, and vision was naturally included. Thus, being at least low-tier Professionals, they clearly saw the small black dots rapidly falling toward them as soon as they looked up.

"What is that?"

None of these Soldiers had ever come into contact with artillery shells, and Sadou had forgotten to educate them. The combination of these two factors resulted in the Soldiers not looking for cover at all, just staring up blankly.

And then...

"Boom—Boom—" The explosions of the shells hitting the ground were continuous.