"The Guards Regiment's loyalty was beyond question. I would not defy orders for the sake of my own reputation."
The captain hurriedly pressed down the regimental commander's hand as it rested on his holster. "Commander, have you considered why the local military police won't fire and are making you do this dirty work? They say that all force must be used if necessary, but what counts as 'necessary'? And what does 'all force' even mean? These women haven't stormed a police station or seized weapons. They only smashed a few bakeries. Does that warrant gunfire?"
Even if he truly could not persuade them, they could simply follow the military police's example and use shields and clubs to disperse the crowd!
"Give me a chance. I'll persuade these women!"
Molotov hesitated for a moment, then took out his gilded pocket watch and checked the time.
"You have ten minutes."
The captain saluted and darted off like a shot.
Having trained in the Guards Division's exclusive breathing technique, he moved as nimbly as a civet cat.
This was also why the Guards Division was far stronger than ordinary soldiers.
Every month, they received specially made potions from the military headquarters. Combined with the exclusive Knight's Breathing Technique, their combat power was extraordinary.
Of course, that strength was mainly supported by the potions. Once these Guardsmen retired and lost their potion rations, they quickly became ordinary, ensuring that even if the breathing technique leaked out, it would do little harm.
Mashilov took only a minute to push an abandoned handcart from the roadside and block the procession's path.
He climbed atop it and shouted, "Ladies, I am Captain Mashilov of the Grenadier Guards Regiment. The Winter Palace lies ahead. If you continue forward, you will be committing rebellion and treason.
"Ladies, even if