“April 16th. Replacement operation has succeeded without compromise. Gathering will proceed as normal.”

……

“April 23rd. The proving ground Camp Pheonix has reached a population of 31 thousand soldiers, primarily composed of those from the Whetted City. Brief glances at numbers estimate a distribution of 25% warlocks, 38% summoners, and 37% knights in combat roles. Summoners are given heavy emphasis in battlefield operations, much unlike standard Kingdom doctrine. 

“There are three main forms of combat formations. The primary dividing differences between the types of troop composition lies in the type of “armor” each batch of soldiers leaves their base with. Aside from special circumstances, all troops that leave base do so aboard some kind of armored vehicle transport, such as a Tank, Armored Personnel Carrier, or aircraft. Troops do not leave on foot, as mobility and protection in the field, or “beyond the wire”, is heavily emphasized.

“Troops that operate in or around Tanks and Tank formations are known as Heavy Metal. Troops that operate in highly mobile armored vehicles or Light Tanks are known as Light Metal. Troops that operate with aircraft, helicopter, plane, or otherwise, are known as Air Ops. Forces that combine multiple types of formations are known as Combined Arms. 

“Due to the technical nature of the vehicles that form the backbone of all combat operations, summoners and their intelligence are exploited in order to manage the vehicles and heavy weapons. Within Heavy Metal, Summoners control all operations within a Tank. Given that the purpose of a Tank is to protect the occupants inside, knights within a tank are used for nothing more than their strength and their ability to load heavy shells into Tank breeches for firing. See general anatomy of a Tank and its mechanisms. Warlocks are rendered nearly useless as there are no dedicated openings for spell casting and therefore delegated to the position of gunner, operating the remote turrets. However, both types of Magi are present within every tank should it be rendered immobile, giving the occupants a fighting chance in the event they have to leave the protections of the armor. 

“In Light Metal formations, Warlocks and Knights are present in far heavier distributions as their role in combat is more personal. Summoners are still present, however. They take up non-combat positions 100% of the time, such as a communications officer. The risks of being on the battlefield are, by John Cooper’s doctrine, not sufficient to prevent the allocation of summoners, the protections afforded by armor and troops deemed enough to protect them in tolerable situations.

“In Air Ops, Summoners compose all pilots and flight officers aboard planes and helicopters. Helicopters are used for rapid response teams and close air support, and planes are used for bombing, intelligence, or strafing sir support. In Rapid Response teams, helicopters are flown to calls for support where they drop their troops, composed entirely of Warlocks and Knights. Helicopter Gunships are also used to provide heavy close air support, containing no deployable troops besides a warlock for emergency support in the case of a downed helicopter, instead equipped with excessive armament. 

“These evaluations are to be determined superficial. They are taught to every soldier, regardless of rank. Plans for the establishment of any Stronghold have not been determined. The only hint at a plan is a rumor of the codename of the Operation in effect.

“It is being called Operation: Euclid’s Anvil.”

……

“May 17th. The first series of deployments beyond the River of Desolation have begun. The teams sent out are small, all of them consisting of Combined Arms formations, including M300 Superheavy Battle Tanks, Light Metal troops, and plentiful Air Ops. Rumors state that a dedicated bridge has been built across the River. When its construction started remains unknown.

“Attempts to collect additional or meaningful information from lower level intelligence agents has proven impossible. It is clear that all intelligence regarding high level strategic discussion is kept on tight lockdown. The practices from John Cooper’s writings on Classification systems are in effect, but given that he has full control over higher command, these systems have been thoroughly implemented, to a higher degree than they could have been elsewhere. Communications from official Kingdom forces and high leadership have also proven fruitless. No leaders within the Iron Legion private military force have shown any desire to share critical or strategic information beyond what is obviously observable, nor have they deployed any troops in response to calls for cooperation, with training being the culprit excuse. 

“Attempts to attain clearance to access higher intelligence according to the Classification system has proven extremely difficult. All intelligence agents are discouraged from asking for higher clearances, forced to wait for an extended opportunity by their seniors. Such opportunities are only given if deemed necessary, making their occurrence at this point in time rare. This is further hampered by the reality that most intelligence agents have some form of prior or personal connection with their senior leaders, making outsiders ostracized. 

“Intelligence regarding operations beyond the River is scarce at the moment. Time is needed.”

……

“May 29th. Mass deployments beyond the River have begun. Camp Phoenix has reached full saturation and batches of trained troops are graduating every week. Thousands are either engaging in live fire training or are on a vehicle rolling to the River. The total number of persons within Iron Legion has reached approximately 46 thousand, over half of them now beyond the River. 

“I have yet to be deployed beyond the River. Intelligence regarding those operations is still scarcely relayed back to personnel at my level. Time is needed. 

“Live fire training has proven to be exorbitantly expensive for Sawn Industries. Thousands of shells are being fired from Tanks and Artillery daily. They fire training shells, without explosive elements, but Elemental Crystals are still being used in vast numbers. Evaluations of the production scale of Sawn Industries should be investigated with greater depth, as the consumption is higher than should be possible with currently known figures, especially given that total war has yet to be reached. 

“A rough calculation based on counts of armored vehicles and their weapons, as well as the gear handed out as standard issue, point toward consumption capacity being thousands of times greater than what is seen at Camp Phoenix alone. Given the doctrine that allows nearly limitless consumption of ammunition and ordnance, short of what each vehicle is capable of carrying or what each weapon is capable of sustaining, those figures grow further by magnitudes. 

“Orders have been given for phased deployments of troops beyond the River. Camp Phoenix will continue to operate as a supply post beyond the City of Valence. It is clear that John Cooper intends to remain completely independent of the city. 

“I will be on a transport to leave soon. Time is needed.”

……

“June 6th. Intelligence was acquired from a drunken discussion with an armorer. 

“Standard issue gear handed to every soldier is extravagant. Personal armor for knights and warlocks is issued based on Authority, with the materials of the armor being enchanted to a standard two entire Authorities higher than the Authority of the person receiving it, with a minimum Authority of 5. This changes at the higher Authorities but no information has been attained on the kind of armor that the Chiefs, Brigadiers, or Marshals are wearing. Brigadiers and Marshals have uniforms, but it is likely that they continue to wear their own personal armor underneath. 

“Warlocks are not distributed soft armor like robes, but metal armor like knights. The two are generally similar in design, the knights given greater bulk that can distinguish them from a warlock. Both designs are full metal, with segmented portions that attach to each other by means yet unknown, allowing a thorough level of form fitting function while still eliminating all weakpoints. Helmets are fully enclosed, with colored glass face shields that don’t obstruct vision and allow light only one way. The armors are also, to quote official documents, “environmentally sealed,” which means they can filter air and prevent all foreign substances like poisons and liquids from entering the armor. It is rumored that these environmental enchantments were designed by John Cooper’s fiance, Umara Talerria, the only explanation as to why they would be so cheap as to be placed on every single piece of armor for every soldier, regardless of Authority. 

“The weapons handed to soldiers are similarly distributed at an Authority higher than the receiving Magus. Foci are basic but effective for Warlocks, while each Knight is able to pick their weapon from a broad variety that is offered. Custom orders are also taken within reason and at no cost. Each soldier is also equipped with an Aerial. It is capable of basic functions every Aerial is known to have, however, it is clear that extra security functions are embedded into every Aerial, including binding to Crests. No information could be obtained about how these Aerials are accessed in the event of a soldier dying, primarily regarding cracking the Crest lockout. It seems like the armorer knew nothing himself.

“I have gained his trust through sexual relations, but I will be leaving for the River soon. Time is needed.”

……

“June 8th. A new technology was recently unveiled on the training grounds. The armorer spoke of it as they had received a massive amount of cargo shipments in recent days, though the crates were only just now allowed to be opened.

“The technology is called Adaptive Camouflage, and it is a visual distortion technology that can be equipped onto both personal armor and vehicles alike. It is not meant to make people or vehicles invisible, but allows them, to quote the armorer’s reading of a technical document, “distort their visual signature, form, color, and shading in order to enable troops, vehicles, and emplacements to blend into uniform or technical environments with greater efficacy.” The armorer stated that every soldier and every vehicle would be equipped with an Adaptive Camouflage device, and that the design for this device was created by John Cooper utilizing new Psyka enchantments. 

“The personal device comes in the form of an undershirt, allowing it to be protected by worn armor, while the larger device for vehicles comes in the form of specially designed metal boxes. The armorer stated that every vehicle already has a place to insert and power these devices, meaning the vehicles were designed for the Adaptive Camouflage device to be present far in advance despite the technology not having yet been deployed, or perhaps even perfected, until just recently. 

“The armorer didn’t know if there would be any other devices of such nature being deployed in the future. I will be leaving Camp Phoenix tomorrow, so the armorer will no longer be a source of information.”

……

“June 14th. I have arrived and settled into a new position at the Main Operating Base called Glass Desert. Direct sources of information continue to be scarce but the general situation remains observable. 

“Construction of the Glass Desert is ongoing, but a perimeter has been secured. There are no solid walls being built, the perimeter of the base being a metal fence that can clearly be seen through, with towers dotting the fence line that sentries man for watch. The construction is open and flat in design, with the vast majority of the base’s area being reserved for inactive vehicles and aircraft, such as for the airfield, hangard, and gantries and garages. 

“There are facilities of all kinds on this base, and supply lines are being established. The Train terminal is under construction, and rumors state that the line will reach the river soon, the base being connected to the line by the next month. Until then, essential supplies such as food are being transported by vehicle or aircraft. The source of food and other products is unknown, but according to inquiries with chefs and other supply managers, there is no scarcity, even perishables like fruits being imported in numbers. 

“Shield Obelisks have been erected already, the buildings located at several points across the base, but idly inactive. The conditions for their activation are unknown, but they are not of Kingdom design, and there are approximately two hundred of them, a number far higher than what should be necessary for any normal base, even a Stronghold. Their effectiveness or sheer power is unknown. They give off no discernible magical signature, completely invisible to my sensors. There are also no visible enchantments. Based on the numbers, John Cooper’s secrecy, and doctrinal paranoia, it may be safe to assume some obelisks are fakes. This is speculation and cannot be confirmed without active study or a much more powerful enchanter who can pierce the veil of the obelisks. 

“Soldiers are sent out nearly every hour, whether for patrol or combat operations. Battles against the Scourge have already been carried out, small detachments of monsters numbering in the thousands being met in open battle. However, according to brief reports that I’ve been capable of gazing upon and rumors from troops that have been beyond the wire, there has yet to be a single death, though there have been injuries. Although difficult to believe, the Generals refuse to send out forces with anything less than overwhelming firepower, every force accompanied by Heavy Metal and excessive Air support without exception. Depending on the strength of the Scourge forces and given the defensive attributes of the Tanks and APCs, the lack of deaths thus far is not unbelievable. Evaluations of the strength of armor enchantments on Tanks and vehicles should be conducted and compared to the claims of Sawn Industries. 

“I continue to remain in a generally idle position. I suspect that it will simply take time to build trust with those around me, as pressing for more unnecessarily can easily raise suspicion.”

……

“June 26th. There have been mentions of a counterespionage sector in the Glass Desert. Information about such was nonexistent at Camp Phoenix. 

“I have been entirely unable to determine even the location of where any counterespionage agents work within the base, nor have I been able to determine any names short of John Cooper himself being an obvious leader. A single rumor has gone around surrounding one of the intelligence agents being briefly called into a room and spoken to. It was unknown what was discussed or even if it had anything to do with counterespionage, but speculations have been made and rumors are rumors. I will attempt to make contact with the one that was called in, or those around that person. Discerning the depth of the counterespionage section remains a high priority.”

“Battles continue to be fought beyond the wire, however, there has not been a single attack on the base. The sensors that the base utilizes, including the intelligence that planes can gather, seem to be keeping track of any and all Scourge forces within a few hundred miles of the base. According to some soldiers, however, security around and within the base remains excessively tight. A soldier cannot simply walk around wherever they wish, especially the airfield, which is patrolled and monitored by cameras and sensors atop an additional layer of fences that block its perimeter. These security measures are obviously not meant for scourge, but for people. Attempting to enter unauthorized areas is met with swift apprehension, even if it was a mistake. It is clear that the security forces are unbending with their rules, but going further than that, the security forces seem to be a separate section beyond normal military forces. Identifying them is extremely difficult as they operate on shift with full gear, the helmet covering their faces completely as with all standard issue armor. When they get off shift, they retreat to and reside within a separate part of the base that cannot be entered by normal soldiers. It is possible they are tied in with the counterespionage sector. 

“I will continue to observe.”

……

“June 28th. Contact was made with a friend of the one who the rumors regarding the counterespionage surrounded, a male knight. The discussion was kept light so as to not rouse suspicion, but he seemed open to conversation after some flirting. It should be easy to acquire more details.

“I was able to include myself in a casual hangout plan with this knight and the rumored individual tomorrow. Both of the mentioned parties happened to get coinciding days off. Depending on what is said, I will compile a report.”

……

…

“Let’s see. June 29th. Under normal circumstances I believe you would say that the hangout went well.”

“AAAHHHH!”

Jasmine watched from the doorway as a helmeted knight drove a spear through the summoner’s thigh. 

Her name was Emma Henly. A 22 year old Summoner and quite beautiful, she supposedly came from within the Whetted City. 

Of course, that was a lie. The actual Emma Henly was dead, having been replaced with this substitute. Who this girl was, they didn’t know, but she was very obviously not here with good intentions. 

She cried, all her limbs broken somewhere and bleeding profusely, tied down to a chair and surrounded by people she couldn’t hope to escape from. 

John sat across from her, both of her Aerials in his hands. One was the standard issue, and one was her personal Aerial, which had a dedicated connection to the person on the receiving end from the Third Claw. 

“Well, I won’t be the one acting. I’ve got people for that now. Still, it’s quite insulting, yet simultaneously pitiful. Did they really think they could do anything over Aerial and get past me? Did they think rudimentary encryption made your messages invisible? I own this shit and they think they can beat me within my own system. And you’re the one that has to suffer for their stupidity.”

“…Please…”

She whimpered, another yelp coming out as the knight ripped the blade out of her leg. Still, she pleaded. 

“I beg you…”

“You don’t seem to have any other accomplices though. I guess I’m just too good at this shit. They couldn’t manage to slip anyone else in. That or they’re just lying in wait, a sleeper agent.”

John went through the last of the Aerial before handing it off to another masked individual beside him. That person retreated to a corner, the door remaining locked, not to be opened unless business was finished. 

This wasn’t the room that prisoners came out of alive. 

Jasmine looked at the girl, feeling the palpable fear coming off of her. Her begs weren’t fake, that much was clear. 

“I can act… I can continue sending fake messages for you…”

“Like I said, I have people for that now. I’m starting to get to the point where I can delegate things like this. I’m quite proud of myself.”

“…I just want to live.”

The girl cried, tears streaming through a swollen face as she looked up at John. 

He looked back at her indifferently. 

“Give me something. You got anything valuable left in that head of yours?”

“I… I know the name of my contact.”

“Tiarn Morris, right?”

The girl’s eyes widened, John rolling his own.

“You have a direct connection to someone within the Third Claw, and I have your Aerial. Obviously, you can give me nothing more than what I can simply extract from that connection.”

“I-I can work for you! I’ve been trained!”

“I’ve had my eyes on you since your Aerial connected to our Nodenet. The only reason you’ve lived up until now was because I wanted to know how you speak, how you format your messages, how you code them. I now have all of that and you’re worth less than any of the people I’ve trained myself. You walked right into my trap and you still haven’t realized where you went wrong. Hint, it had nothing to do with the Aerial.”

“P-Please…”

John stood as she trembled. Jasmine simply remained where she was, rooted, eyes facing the floor. 

She could only hear the whimpers. 

“I just want to live… I’ll do anything…”

“You mistake me for someone who cares.”

The next thing Jasmine heard was a blade, and then choking. The entire room was horrifyingly silent, not even breathing to be heard. Just the dying, agonizing gurgles of the girl. 

Eventually, that too went cold. It was so quiet that she could hear the blood drops falling from the body and hitting the cold stone floor. 

John retrieved his knife before turning and sighing. 

“Here I am, trying to preserve the human race from hell’s monstrosities. And there they are, trying to hamper my progress, bring me down. They are already threatened by what we’re accomplishing here, and they would rather see us be devoured by the Scourge than succeed in developing the strength to eradicate them.”

John’s words seemed to fuse into the stone around them, the door still locked. It wasn’t often Jasmine was scared of allies, but in this moment she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to cry from fear or feel encouraged by John’s words. 

Something about them made her both righteously angry and terrified. 

He turned to them, glancing between all of them. Jasmine could feel the surrounding guards respond to his gaze not with fear, but with ruthless determination. 

“They pray on our downfall. That makes them an enemy no different from the Scourge. They may still be humans and they may still want humanity to survive, but make no mistake, it is not for the sake of humanity itself, but their own preservation at the expense of all else. Their stupidity, their corruption, is just as dangerous as the Scourge itself is, and we do not grant our enemies mercy, no matter the form they come in. Evil is evil, and we dedicate ourselves to its eradication.”

“…Was she evil?”

Jasmine muttered, and then shrunk back slightly when all eyes turned to her. They were burning, barely constrained, as if she had walked right up to the line she dare not cross. 

John was silent for a few seconds before finally responding, his golden eyes boring into hers. 

“Truth be told, Jasmine, I don’t know. As smart as I am I don’t know what’s truly in someone’s mind. What I do know are their actions, as well as my tolerance for liability. Leaving her alive, or worse yet, taking her in to use her, would have simply opened the door to mistakes. Her life was outside of my tolerance for liability, as opposed to her death which was the solution to the problem as a whole. I will not allow pity to cloud my better judgment. So, I suppose the better question is this.”

Jasmine engaged every ounce of her willpower to hold John’s gaze as he looked at her emotionlessly. 

“Are those who work directly for the forces of evil any different from them? And given my imperfect ability to know what’s truly in someone’s head, why should I bother attempting to discern between them? With so much at stake, why should I bother?”

His every word dug into her skin, implanting directly into her mind. She finally shrunk back, suddenly doubting whether her relationship with John was enough to keep her safe. 

Until his hand gently landed on her shoulder, his voice turning soothing. 

“Jasmine, this is dirty work. We take no pleasure in it. We should not have to kill our fellow humans on top of the monsters trying to devour us. It’s disgusting to even think we may have to. But it’s necessary, because there are those who harbor so much greed and pride that they would rather sacrifice hundreds of thousands than lift a finger themselves and jeopardize their power and riches, just as they did at the Treehouse. I do not blame you for desiring to have mercy on people like her. You can continue to hold that grace within you. You are kind, and I don’t wish to take that from you because it is not weakness. But my doctrine will contain no room for it. It is quite the opposite of what we’re here to do.”

He let her go, looking back to the others. 

“Sector 4, my Pale Horse. Using means unknown to both enemy and ally, our deeds forever unhonored, we protect our own so that they may bask in the carnage and glory of war. We take this bloody task upon ourselves, willingly.”

“Because if not us, then who?”

The others muttered in unison, John unlocking the door and leaving. 

Jasmine stood there as the others started cleaning up, spells being cast to disintegrate the body and help dispose of the corpse. 

She watched the searing fire, memories of her dead friends flickering in her mind. 

She knew why this was necessary. The same people that were trying to bring them down now were the same ones who had gotten her friends killed. 

Indeed, this was a bloody task. She was uncomfortable with it. She was scared of the blood on her hands. 

But like John, she refused to let anything threaten the lives of those she had left beside her. 

So she watched the fire, her doubts vanishing with the corpse, allowing her anger to be kindled by the flame.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep