Reorganizing the Western Border Army (Part 1)
A moment later, a light cavalry force of forty or fifty men appeared in Sodir's sight. At the head of the cavalry, a burly man in silver armor rode a black steed, leading his cavalry straight toward Sordil and Anna. As the distance closed, Sordil finally recognized the burly man at the head of the formation as Heradi, the very man he had beaten to a pulp for a quarter of an hour.
"Sigh"
Upon seeing Sordil standing not far away, Heradi immediately reined in his horse, dismounted, and knelt down in front of Sordil.
"Commander, we've been waiting for you!"
"Heradi, when did you arrive in West City? And how did you know I would be arriving in West City today?"
Sordil helped the excited Heradi to his feet and then asked in a calm tone.
"Reporting to the Commander, we received the transfer order on January Number Three. That afternoon, under the leadership of our adjutant, we set off for West City, arriving here near dusk on the 10th. We waited for you outside the city for four or five days without seeing you. So, the adjutant led the others into the city first, leaving me to lead the reconnaissance battalion to meet you outside. This afternoon, the brothers of the second company spotted a carriage heading towards West City while on patrol. I guessed it must be you, so I brought the reconnaissance battalion to greet you."
"Oh, is that so? Alright! Let's go into the city first and meet up with the adjutant and the others. We can talk about other things tomorrow."
After listening to Heradi's account, Sordil understood the whole story. Glancing at the approaching darkness, Sordil knew this wasn't the time to discuss such matters, so he ordered Heradi to lead the way to West City. Heradi mounted his horse and rode towards West City, while Sordil used wind magic to float in the air and follow closely behind. Poor Anna, however, sat alone in the carriage, slowly lagging behind the others, getting left out in the dust.
When the group entered the city, the scene before them caught them somewhat off guard. Inside the city gates, soldiers of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment stood guard in the passageway, while outside, four or five hundred men stood facing off against the Knights. A series of arguments could be heard from ahead, and the voice of an adjutant could be faintly heard among them.
"This is the garrison of our Western Border Army. It's one thing for you ragtag troops to forcibly occupy the area, but you even dared to attack us. You must have a death wish!"
"Watch your mouth! We are the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment under the command of Lieutenant General Oddek, the new Guardian of the Western Territory. We are responsible for the defense of the entire West City. No one is allowed to leave the city without a leave order personally signed by my adjutant. Not only did your men forcibly leave the city, but they also beat up my soldiers without cause. It's already a favor that they weren't executed on the spot!"
"You..."
"Puff"
The officer on the other side wanted to continue arguing, but just then a blade of wind shot from afar, and the officer's head was immediately severed, with blood gushing out from his severed neck.
"Kurelle, why waste words with them! Anyone who dares to touch a soldier of my Bell Dragon Rider Regiment will be cut down on the spot!"
A domineering declaration drifted from afar, followed by the figure of a silver-haired youth floating through the air from the direction the voice came from. Seeing the youth's figure, the members of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment immediately straightened their chests, looking proudly at the soldiers of the Western Border Army opposite them.
"Who are you to dare kill soldiers of the Western Border Army?"
An officer opposite him stared at Sordil, who had landed beside Kurelle, and loudly questioned him, though his trembling hands gripping his sword hilt betrayed his unease. Not only the officer, but the hundreds of soldiers confronting the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment were also retreating, fearing that Sordil would leave them like their commander, headless corpses. Sordil, looking at the demoralized Western Frontier army before him, pulled the letter of appointment given to him by Belmod from his robes, handed it to Kurelle, and said, "Lieutenant, explain to them who I am. I'm tired; I'm going to sleep for a while!"
Kurelle stared speechlessly at Sordil, who was floating asleep in the air, then looked at the letter of appointment in his hand, and shouted loudly to the opposite side, "This is the new Guardian of the Western Territory, Lieutenant General Oddek! He is also the new commander of your Western Border Army. This is his letter of appointment. Anyone who doesn't believe it can come and see!"
The Western Army soldiers on the opposite side looked at each other, none daring to step forward, but none daring to retreat either, and for a moment the situation remained deadlocked. Just then, a discordant voice came from the Western Border Army's ranks once again.
"Don't believe him! Who knows if the letter of appointment he has is fake!"
"Bang"
As soon as the words were spoken, a figure suddenly flew into the sky, and then was blown into a pile of minced meat and fell from the sky.
"Oh dear, I think I just saw a mannequin fly into the air and then turn into a firework."
Sordil, watching the red and white objects falling from the sky, chuckled lazily and addressed the crowd. Hearing Sordil's words and seeing Sordil relaxed expression, the soldiers of the Western Border Army felt a chill creep over them. No one dared stand before Sordil anymore, and they all retreated. Sordil ignored these terrified soldiers and walked through the path they had cleared, with Kurelle and Heradi following closely Sordil.
"Since you're here, don't leave!"
After passing through the 'road' formed by the soldiers of the Western Border Army, Sordil shouted at a building on the street corner.
"Drive!"
A loud shout came from behind the building, followed by the sound of horses' hooves. Seeing that the other party was trying to slip away, Sordil sneered and then shook his head.
"Cage"
A cold, clear voice rang out, followed instantly by the distant sound of horses' hooves. Sordil turned to Heradi and said, "Go and bring them back, then find out who sent them!"
"Commander, what if he doesn't tell us?"
"Then you can treat him well, just like when I sparred with you back then!"
"Ha ha!"
Before Heradi could even utter a word upon hearing Sordil's command, the men following Sordil burst into laughter. Hearing their laughter, Heradi lost all courage and immediately mounted his horse, chasing after the direction from which the sound of hooves had originated. A short while later, Heradi returned to Sordil and his men, but this time, a red object was attached to the back of his horse.
"Commander, this guy has confessed everything!"
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
"Don't worry, Commander, I went much easier on him than you did back then. He won't die!"
"That's good!"
After confirming that the witness was not dead, Sordil pointed at Kurelle and said, "Lieutenant, take my letter of appointment and notify all the officers in the city to assemble at headquarters in half an hour. I have something to announce!"
After the adjutant went to inform the various officers in the city as instructed by Sordil said to Heradi, "Heradi, you lead the way. We're going to headquarters now. Oh, and wake up that guy lying on the ground and take him with us. Since they want to play with us, we can't refuse!"