[Siege]
*
As Hazen spread out a map across the table in his room, Captain Lorenzo walked in, a complete absence of regret evident on his face. Hazen had a hunch that his superior was about to deliver some positive news.
“Second Lieutenant Hazen, you now officially have my captaincy authority. Save this fortress.”
“…Yes, I will.”
“Well, I’m under your command now. What do you want me to do?”
“Could you act as the as a mediator between me and the higher-ups? I want you to convey my plans to them in my stead.”
Predicting that their egos wouldn’t budge to his instructions, Hazen figured they might heed Captain Lorenzo’s words. Hazen admitted that the man was a better coordinator than him as well.
“Heh, I thought you would tell me to address you with respect,” Captain Lorenzo said, chuckling. Hazen had learned from reports that Lieutenant Mospizza visited the captain’s room every night, tearfully expressing grievances about the harsh treatments he’d received from Hazen.
Hazen couldn’t help but smile wryly. “It is true that I forced Lieutenant Mospizza to speak respectfully to me. However, respect comes from within the heart. And I hold deep respect for you. Please allow me to treat you with the same respectful way I have always used.”
“That’s… honestly surprising. I thought the only thing you didn’t triumph over me was people skills, but it seems it’s not even that.”
“Please don’t tease me too much.”
“Haha! I’m just so surprised to hear you, of all people, saying something like that.”
“…Captain Lorenzo, do you want to know what makes a good superior in my book?”
“Hm? Strength, perhaps?”
“No.”
“Alright, how about sharp decision-making skills?”
Hazen shook his head.
“Being tolerant with their subordinates… is not it, right?”
“No, it’s not.”
“…Maybe fair assessment of abilities and achievements?”
“Well, you’re on the right track, but it’s more about what they do during an emergency.”
“Hmm~, I’m drawing a blank. I give up.”
“The key is that they genuinely listen to their subordinates’ opinions and actually consider adopting them if they’re good.”
“……”
“The more people you command, the more diverse opinions you’ll encounter. It’s only natural that some of them might be better than your own. If you let vanity, ego, or the fear of your subordinate overshadowing you dictate your decisions, I don’t see you as a superior.”
“……”
“So, Colonel Jilva, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck, and the other opportunists aren’t superiors in my eyes. But well, as a paid soldier, I’ll show them a superficial level of respect, at least.”
“…But you haven’t even gotten your first pay-check.” Captain Lorenzo sighed, slumping his shoulders.
“That’s beside the point. What I’m trying to say is, I need you if we’re going to win this war, Captain Lorenzo. You can talk to me like we always have, no need for formalities. As far as I know, the captaincy authority you’ve given me is only a formality, after all. You’re still my captain.”
“…I can’t tell if you’re being honest or not.”
“I-I am being honest. Just what do you make of me?”
“Haha. A master liar, maybe? But, seriously, it’s flattering to hear that from you.”
“…You’re a strange one, Captain.”
“I’d argue the room’s weirdest person is undoubtedly you.”
“……”
“Haha… but I have to admit, you know how to motivate others. You can count on me.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Captain Lorenzo extended his hand, and Hazen shook it with a smile.
With their positions cleared up, Hazen began placing four map pieces on the map on each side of the fortress to hash out strategies.
“First, let’s talk troop positioning. It goes without saying, but we’ll hold up in the fortress.”
“Agreed.”
“The enemy’s got 50,000 troops, and we’ve got 15,000 troops after Lt. Col. Kenneck’s faction bailed out. The 2nd Battalion is only 3,000 strong. If we face the enemy head-on, we’re done for.”
“……”
“But if we play our cards right, leveraging the fortress, we’ve got a decent shot at turning the tide. We’ll spread each battalion evenly – north, south, east, and west. I’ll handle General Guizar’s unit.”
“His strength might match up with their grand general, and his unit boasts some of the strongest Royal Guard soldiers.”
“That’s exactly why I’ll take care of them.”
“…Well, alright. The higher ups won’t want to go up against General Guizar, so I think the they will agree. Though, not without some complaints and criticisms.” Captain Lorenzo added.
“Oh, if they’re going to complain, why not suggest that they take on General Guizar themselves?”
“No way! I’m not as audacious as you.”
“Hmm… I don’t get it. If they’re complaining, that means they have issue with me handling General Guizar, right? But they won’t fight him themselves, either. It’s so contradictory.”
“Haa… I wonder what would happen if I didn’t play mediator,” Captain Lorenzo sighed heavily. “Is that the entirety of your plan?”
“Well, in a siege defense, our main job is to hold our ground. Also, I’d like you to take command when I’m away.”
“…When you’re away?”
“While you’re holding off the enemy’s attack, I’ll go out there disrupting and weakening their forces.”
“Can you at least give me a hint about what you’re planning?”
“……” As expected, Captain Lorenzo didn’t blindly trust Hazen. But he thought it was good. What made this superior of his great was his open-mindedness and flexible thinking. He wasn’t foolish enough to blindly trust someone, ensuring fewer wrong judgments. “Well, you’ll see. But anyway, your role is quite complex, Captain Lorenzo. You need to protect your own assigned position, and you’ll also have to assist other battalions when General Guizar’s unit attack them. You have to keep him in check until I deal with him.”
“…Honestly, I’m not confident I can do that.”
“The Principality of Diord has a formidable cavalry. They’ll likely attempt to break through the gate. You can deploy Kaku’zu to repel them.”
“Your bodyguard? But isn’t the task too much for him alone?”
“No need to worry. I hired him precisely for situations like this. If you unleash him when the gate is on the verge of being breached, he’ll make quite the impression, I assure you.”
“……Alright.”
“The battle is probably set for three days from now. And the enemy will most likely come at us with full force right from the start.”
At Hazen’s words, Captain Lorenzo’s eyes widened.
“You really think so?”
“Yes, I suspect they want to wrap this up as quickly as possible. There are only two possible outcomes: either an overwhelming victory or a crushing defeat.”
“…We could end up with a crushing defeat?”
“Nothing is absolute on the battlefield. It’s certainly within the realm of possibility.”
“That’s not exactly comforting.”
“I meant to say anything is possible.”
“I pray to God that we don’t end up with a crushing defeat.”
“…In any case, we need to focus all our efforts on defense from day one,” Hazen replied calmly.
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