Ironvine Territory (74)

When Rick learned that Ternesov, the Regimental Commander of the Third Regiment, was also there, he happily went to find him, hoping to use the Third Regiment's forces to suppress the nobles' private armies and hold this place until the legion's reinforcements arrived.

However, when he saw Ternesov, he discovered that this Regimental Commander, who had more seniority than him, had gone mad. With vacant eyes, Ternesov kept muttering, "So many troops... Why... why were there so many troops near the Main Camp, yet our forces... our forces did not notice anything at all?"

After hearing those words, Rick understood why Ternesov had gone mad. After Jindio of the First Regiment was executed, Ursus, the Legion Commander, had assigned the Fourth Legion's remaining cavalry forces to Ternesov, the most steady and experienced of all the Regimental Commanders.

After receiving that cavalry, all security around the camp was placed under the unified responsibility of Ternesov's Third Regiment. To carry out that duty well, Ternesov had been diligent and conscientious, even positioning his regiment's camp at the outermost perimeter of the Main Camp.

Yet when the enemy launched their sudden attack tonight, Ternesov's Third Regiment bore the brunt of it and suffered terrible losses. If not for his Captain of the Guard fighting desperately, the old Regimental Commander would have died long ago. However, after leading Ternesov to safety, the Captain of the Guard also died from his severe wounds.

Ternesov had already been deeply ashamed of failing to fulfill the Legion Commander's assignment. When he saw the Captain of the Guard die, he suffered an even greater blow. His mind went blank, and he could only repeat those words over and over.

Rick said nothing about it. He merely told Ternesov's men to follow his command, promising that he would find