Chapter 56: Instruction

Grand Duke Benito raised the rifle in his hand.

Bang!

With a single gunshot, a firework burst forth from the clouds.

The army behind Robin began to advance in an orderly fashion, marching toward the trenches.

They set up their artillery, aiming at the distant city of Volsini!

As for Robin, he slammed the butt of his rifle against the ground to keep himself from falling over.

We won. We actually won.

Possessing so much intelligence, fighting at long range, and enduring such an intense battle—we almost didn't make it.

The gap in raw stats is truly an abyss.

If we had been any closer, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

Phew. All I can say is, thank you to the spirits of our fallen comrades for watching over us.

I, Robin Rommel, have avenged you.

"Get down! Watch out for the shelling!"

Right at that moment, a large hand grabbed Robin and yanked him down into the trench, cursing, "Have you had enough of trying to look cool? No matter how badass you are, no matter how much of a hero you think you are, I'm still your company commander!"

"Commander." Robin’s gaze shifted to the robust man beside him.

It was this very man who had led him through battle after hard-fought battle.

He had started out as a platoon leader, and now he was a company commander.

During the period when his intellect was suppressed and his mind was in a fog, he could only remember this guy giving orders to the boys, and then leading them into combat.

The man was bold and unrestrained, inadvertently giving off the faint aura of a bandit.

As for the men who had fought alongside him back then, that entire company—now, there were probably fewer than ten left.

"You're finally speaking properly instead of just gesturing blindly. When I heard your speech, it scared the hell out of me! Damn it, did getting locked up for a while actually make you smart?" The company commander laughed and patted Robin’s shoulder. "Don't worry, the Grand Duke said that bastard's loot is all yours. Our boys are going right now to snatch his corpse. The good stuff stays with you, and his head goes to the Grand Duke!"

"Thank you." Robin couldn't help feeling a twinge of emotion.

No wonder the Grand Duke had such questionable personal morals, yet still had so many followers.

This reward was genuinely lavish!

Vincent’s transcendent equipment was obviously extremely valuable without even needing to think about it.

"Don't be so sentimental! I'm not used to you sounding all scholarly. I'd rather you just waved your hands blindly." Seeing Robin like this, the company commander grew slightly impatient. "Well? Are you alright? Should I have you sent to the military doctor first?"

"No need, I'll rest for a bit..." Robin sat on the ground, leaning against the soil that had been softened by the explosive shells earlier. It was surprisingly comfortable.

"No need my ass!"

***

Preparations for battle were underway in an orderly frenzy up front, while Robin was escorted by a group of people to the medical tent.

Though he had stepped off the battlefield seemingly without major injuries on the surface, not a single soldier had any complaints.

Because Robin had already done more than enough.

The medical tent was certainly spacious, easily accommodating a hundred beds. Robin was assigned the bed with the most comfortable view and ventilation, as well as the one least likely to be disturbed.

After Robin arrived, the medics, having no other pressing matters at the moment, prepared a pile of medicine for him and hooked him up to an IV drip.

Robin could clearly feel his headache subsiding, replaced only by a mild drowsiness. It seemed the drip contained mild sedatives to help him recover his mental stamina and mana.

Just as Robin was drifting off and on the verge of sleep, someone lifted the flap of the tent, walked in, and headed straight for him.

"Officer Damien?" Robin was startled and tried to sit up properly.

"Don't bother, just lie down. I was just bored out of my mind and wanted someone to chat with. I've noticed that you're the only punk who dares to speak the truth to me," Damien said with a smile.

Damien also believed that Robin was a moldable talent, which was why he wanted to groom him further; otherwise, given his status, he wouldn't have made a habit of visiting Robin.

"Sorry, I was a bit emotional last night." Robin felt a little embarrassed.

"Anyway, as long as you survived, that's what matters." Damien squeezed Robin’s shoulder. "Do you have any idea how much I was sweating for you when I saw that guy close in?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir."

"Hah, spare me the polite talk. I didn't come here to hear that. You brat, you stepped into the River Styx several times—well, what are your thoughts on all this?"

"At the time, all I could think about was taking him down to avenge those people. I didn't really have any other thoughts. During the fight... I was actually quite calm." Robin reflected on his previous state of mind.

"What are your plans for the future?" Damien asked.

"Plans... Doesn't that depend on what arrangements the higher-ups have for me?" Robin lacked any real sense of belonging to this country; he had only become a soldier because he was tricked by the system.

When he had first transmigrated, all he wanted was to survive, which led to this entire chain of events.

Now that he had avenged his comrades and everything else depended on the Grand Duke, Robin suddenly didn't know what he should do.

In this world, Robin was a man without roots.

"Would you like to come work with me in the Intelligence Department?"

"The Intelligence Department..." Robin knew this was Damien extending an olive branch to him.

"Can I think about it? I don't even know if I'm suited for intelligence or the battlefield." Robin felt somewhat lost.

"Mm, you really should think carefully about your own future. I think you have the potential to be an officer, and perhaps even a commander in the future," Damien said earnestly. "The fact that you were able to use public opinion to save yourself right off the bat shows that you're a smart man. A normal person would hardly think of doing that, and that is precisely the quality of an officer."

"However, I noticed you looked a bit conflicted yesterday. Did you blame their deaths on yourself?"

"Actually, there's no need. They died for the future of this country, or at the very least, they died for the Grand Duke. No matter how you look at it, it has nothing to do with you."

"Thinking they died because of you is actually an insult to them."

"Seeing that you've let it go today, though, is quite reassuring."

Robin was slightly surprised. Was he able to read my psychological knot just by observing my demeanor?

"Do you have any generals you particularly admire?"

In Robin’s mind, figure after figure flashed past—men and women who had shed their blood for the future of China.

"I do."

"Did they ever order anyone to cover the rear? Did they ever fight campaigns regardless of the cost?"

"They did."

Robin thought of the three-day defensive battle at Sanheba, and he also thought of the order for the Taishan campaign: disregard casualty figures, we only want Taishan.

"I believe they felt heartbreak for the soldiers who died too, but some things had to be done, didn't they?"

"Yes." Robin thought of the countless heroes whose bones were buried in foreign soil.

This was the romance of history, causing one to think of heroes at every turn.

"Since you admire them, take them as your role models."

"Learn from them."

"Become them."

"And even surpass them!"

"This is a long journey."

"I believe that the future you will surely become an outstanding officer."

"Thank you, I have learned much." This time, Robin's gratitude was entirely from the bottom of his heart.

However, those people in my heart...

Damien would probably never imagine just how towering the mountains in my heart truly are.

Let alone surpassing them; just being able to catch a glimpse of their retreating backs would already satisfy me completely.