Compared with the overseas legion led by Paulina, who continued to move around and conquer cities and territories at the front; the suppression corps led by Madurand, with a total of seven regiments and 26 companies, was responsible for suppressing and clearing the rear, and ensuring the transfer of troops to depots and troops along the way. Logistics and supply lines are smooth.
Therefore, compared with the glory and achievements achieved by the overseas legions on the frontal battlefield, the tasks and responsibilities that Madurand is responsible for are much more complicated and detailed. Including but not limited to suppressing the continued resistance of those newly occupied areas, the old and new royal parties/old aristocrats, and separatist armed forces.
Exterminate, surrender, and transform the bandits and refugee groups that emerged due to the changes in the war-torn world; and even accept the requests of local government officials to solve a series of problems and threats posed by the more active aliens. Therefore, he was either in the military camp or on the road.
Also because he handled the trial and hanged on the roadside, there were too many old nobles/rebels; they were even sympathizers and helpers who secretly informed and colluded with each other. Madurand earned the daunting nicknames "The Hanged Man" or "The Hanged Man" among the people.
But as his overt or potential enemy, they prefer to scold him secretly, calling him a "bad sergeant" or a "veteran commander"; because he always executes orders meticulously and promotes plans step by step. Rarely express personal opinions and opinions.
But it is also because of Madurand's impartiality in most things, and even some harsh self-discipline; he rarely involves personal emotions and likes and dislikes. Let those people who feel they have benefited respect them as "Just Ma'ang" or "Integrity Leader"...
Of course, the reason and origin of all this is simply that he believed that he had a shallow foundation and limited knowledge, but because of a rare opportunity, he was entrusted with the important task of commander of the corps. Therefore, I have always been sincere and fearful, with a heart of humility and awe, and continued to learn and work hard to be an executor.
Especially during the period when the man who valued and supported him entered the tower to meditate and temporarily escape from the world; he became more cautious and low-key in everything he said and did, and worked hard to cooperate with Paulina's overseas legion in the military, playing the role of A sort of deputy and sidekick.
However, the subtle attitude that had occurred between Lyon's national salvation government and the returning Paulina Legion was to never interfere with the position of either party. Even in the face of numerous discussions and rumors among the army, he always believed that the return of that adult would be enough to solve all problems.
Therefore, when the edict that he was made Viscount of Marienburg arrived together with the new appointment letter, Madurand was truly relieved. In this way, he no longer has to worry about possible disagreements and disputes within the Free Army day and night.
However, his efforts to suppress his true emotions and his equally calm performance after receiving the edict won more praise in the eyes of his subordinates; he was regarded as a symbol of loyalty and belief. In any case, Madurand, who was completely relaxed, suddenly wanted to get married.
The person he applied for marriage in private was also the language and etiquette teacher he hired privately; a gentle and decent lady, who was said to be the widow of a former naval officer of the kingdom. He was also the one who was able to draw close to him and soothe his soul during his ongoing grief when he was convinced that his family was missing.
In a sense, any marriage between high-level generals and colonels in the Free Army, as well as those serving in the national salvation government, will be subject to background checks/double scrutiny from the Supervisory Company and the Pious Company. Madurand, who is the commander of the corps, is no exception; however, something happened in this matter.
Of course, this is not a big problem. As officers and sergeants of the Free Army, it is not that there are no examples of marrying ladies from down-and-out aristocrats; often in the process of communicating with each other, due to the power of the Free Army, many will He has concealed his background.
It's just that when you reach the level of a corps commander, it will become more serious; and Madurand doesn't want to lose this woman who is rare for him to appreciate and like, so he can only hand over the army to reliable subordinates and rush back to participate in such a battle in person. A special inquiry session.
Among them, the monitoring company is mainly responsible for past background checks and criminal records related to the Free Army regulations. After all, the special nature and responsibilities of the Royal Navy determine that they are unlikely to get involved in local disputes or collude with the old nobles to exploit the people.
Naturally, there is no chance to commit any unforgivable blood debts and sins against those at the bottom. On the contrary, it kept them away from regime change and factional purges in the capital. Although most of the generals with noble backgrounds ran away, the remaining ones were basically absorbed by the Free Army.
Therefore, according to Madurand's conjecture, the real obstacles and resistance encountered at the inquiry meeting were the doubts about the attitude and position of the pious company led by the chief priest. However, when Madurand was at the sentry posts, he dismissed the accompanying guards and staff officers and came to the conference hall alone.
What he met was an unexpected person, the current captain of the second company of the military police; he was also one of the three people who dared to challenge the king together in the past, Athos, a former Bratban mercenary. However, the moment he saw the other party, Madurand's heart suddenly sank.
Because, as the only special company within the Free Army that has maximum execution power and convenience, every appearance of the military police company often represents conclusive evidence and unquestionable results. What's more, the commander of the company, known as the "Faceless Man", was personally responsible.
In other words, although Athos is only a military police company commander with the rank of captain, which is far lower than Madurand's current rank and military position; but the importance of the responsibilities he is responsible for and the trust he receives from the upper levels of the Free Army , but not much worse than Madurand, an old boss.
Even though Madurand, as a corps commander with the rank of brigadier general, could only suppress his emotions and wriggled his lips, he asked with difficulty in a tone of despair: "Since you are here, is everything really true?" Has it reached the point of no return?"
"After a thorough investigation, it was found that this was not a simple leak, or an act of secretly selling intelligence for money and interests." However, Athos, a military police company commander who rarely showed his emotions, sighed in a rare way: "It involves a network of northern spies."
"And the lady you want to apply for marriage is the most critical node." Athos continued to tell the bloody facts: "Through her development and negotiation, at least a dozen people were ordered to provide her with information. and induced more people to inadvertently leak intelligence."
"It also involves the leakage of the king's original travel route and the subsequent attacks..." After hearing this, Madurand's body was already cold and his hands and feet were numb. He fell down on his seat in despair, holding his head in pain and groaning: "Why is this like this?"
"In fact, during our initial investigation, there was no doubt about her being a navy widow. Even if she concealed her brother who had fled abroad, it wouldn't be a big problem." However, Athos continued: "But because of your look, our Investigators found her hometown again."
"Although the manor had been destroyed and looted, our people found the remaining gardener and cook, and according to their descriptions, there was a deviation from the image of the lady; then we found among the ruins of the family church , discovered a portrait of the lady in her youth.”
"In the end, through comparison of details, we were convinced that she was not the real navy widow; rather, she was an inexplicable substitute who happened to appear." Athos gave him another faintly sympathetic look and said, "Despite this, she still Not enough for us to take direct action against her.”
"However, my subordinates made a suggestion to create a suitable opportunity to test the lady to see if there was a possibility of leaking the secret. As a result, faced with this obvious loophole, the lady remained indifferent; but a person beside her The female companion couldn’t help it.”
"So, after seizing this breakthrough, the internal service company and the supervisory company quickly implicated many co-conspirators and even suspected collaborators; but there was still lack of sufficient evidence; to directly accuse such a person, A lady of good outward character and morals.”
"It wasn't until your letter suddenly revealed such a good news that she revealed some flaws. Instead of telling the people close to her about the good news, she hurried to a small church outside the city... and then, We caught the bell ringer who was hiding his identity."
"Why... it would be like this." After hearing this, Madurand slowly loosened the arm holding his head and said: "As a stakeholder in this matter, I am willing to accept all the consequences and costs. But there is only one request, let me see her one last time."
"Of course, this is also the king's order." However, Athos nodded and said: "Therefore, we have not taken any torture or other strong measures against her so far, and we are just waiting for you to come back to see her. , and then decide on the subsequent processing methods and results.”
So a moment later, Madurand met his lover and personal tutor in the temporary prison room. It was a woman who was only twenty-seven years old, with a soft face, dignified and elegant. She was wearing a flower-woven tutu and looked like she was living at home.
Apart from the delicate and small handcuffs, there are no other coercive measures or restraints. However, the moment she saw Madurand, the rapidly changing shock, suspicion, and finally relief and indifference made him particularly unforgettable. With thousands of words on his lips, only one sentence remained: "Why? Noelle. Obviously, I can give you happiness and a future."
"Why?" The dignified woman named Noelle suddenly seemed to have changed into a different person. She smiled frivolously and charmingly at him: "I have been born with happiness, my family, my manor. , my husband and lover, my bestie and personal salon.”
"However, all of this was completely destroyed by you and your despicable accomplices; even if you pretended to let women and children go. But my companions and I had to fall to the streets and rely on satisfying those low-class people. Only in exchange for your desire can you survive tomorrow."
"So, why should I rely on your charity for happiness! You thugs and rebels have clearly taken away everything I should have, and then you are content to leave a little bit behind, just like a cat or dog's plaything. I I wish you all should go to hell."
"Then... you..., none of the words and oaths you have said are sincere?" In the end, Madurand, who was speechless for a long time due to the catharsis, couldn't help but ask: "So... I swear in the name of God..."
"Of course... no!" However, the woman named Noelle just glanced at him and sneered coldly: "I am the only one who is better than most of the people I have experienced."
However, after Madurand walked out in despair, he saw another nun from the ambulance company. She said a few words in the ear of Athos who was accompanying him, causing his expression to change slightly. Then he said to Madurand: "Good news, bad news."
"Please tell me the bad news first!" Madurand responded numbly and tiredly:
"The bad news is that Noelle, as an enemy spy, has caused unforgivable damage to the Free Army and has been ordered to use all means of thorough investigation." Athos nodded and said: "But the good news is, She was just diagnosed with signs of pregnancy, so she has a little more time to live.”
(End of chapter)
