Because John and his group had remained in low-speed flight the entire way, by the time the 14th Squad reached the Whistling Plains, where their target was located, it was already five in the afternoon.
"Tap!"
After exiting flight mode and returning to the ground, John immediately ordered the 14th Squad to regroup in place.
At the same time, he sent Wendy and four scouts from the squad to climb the surrounding slopes and use their Magic Eyes to scout the trenches ahead.
He had to make sure the mission target was correct. Otherwise, his plan to send the rest of the 14th Squad away and attempt negotiations with the Allied Forces' higher-ups would fall apart.
That would undoubtedly be fatal to him.
Fortunately, the Empire's intelligence had not disappointed him. Less than three minutes later, Wendy's excited voice came through John's communicator.
"Reporting to the captain, confirmed! There really is an Anti-Magic Device at the target location, and the enemy troops are cooking. They haven't noticed us at all. Should we launch an immediate surprise attack?"
"No rush. Bring everyone back first."
"...Understood!"
Although she was somewhat puzzled as to why her captain would pass up such a perfect chance for an ambush, after yesterday's experience, his image as an incomparably brilliant commander had already been deeply engraved in Wendy's heart.
Thus, despite her confusion, Wendy suppressed her urge to attack the enemy. After reluctantly glancing at the trenches ahead, she led the four scouts quietly back down the slope and returned to the forest where the 14th Squad was gathered.
"Wendy, are you certain what you saw was an Anti-Magic Device?"
In the forest, John looked at Wendy as she returned with the others. Before she could ask anything, he spoke first, having already prepared his excuse.
"You're sure it wasn't something else?"
"I seized an Anti-Magic Device Core during a previous battle, so I know exactly what one looks like. Therefore, Warrant Officer John, I can guarantee it with my rank. I absolutely did not see wrong. This Allied Forces trench camp definitely has an Anti-Magic Device Core set up!"
"Moreover, judging from the scale of these trenches, the enemy must have deployed multiple device cores here. Only that can explain why our allies on the front lines failed to find any trace of the Anti-Magic Spell Formation's activation, even after searching everywhere."
"Because the enemy never deployed the cores on the battlefield at all. They used some special magic-power technology to create a cross-space magic interference effect."
"This must be where the Allied Forces deployed their Anti-Magic Device Cores. As long as we destroy these trenches, our Seventh Legion will officially secure victory in this war!"
Wendy's face was full of excitement, her voice brimming with fervor.
At that moment, she had even completely ignored the danger that the 14th Squad was behind enemy lines and could be wiped out by the Allied Forces with the slightest misstep.
After all, as long as they destroyed this stronghold and eliminated the Anti-Magic Device's interference—
It would only be a matter of time before the Seventh Legion defeated the Allied Forces and seized the Lake of Magic Power in the Walden Region.
And as the creators of the opportunity that led to this victory, they would certainly receive the Empire's highest level of military merit.
They might even be granted an audience with His Majesty the Emperor!
Before an opportunity to soar to greatness like this, what did a little danger to their lives matter?
"So please give the order to attack, Warrant Officer John! The Empire's victory is right before us!"
Like hell I will. If I let you win, how am I supposed to switch sides?
You idiot, are you trying to send me further and further down the path of getting myself killed?
John cursed inwardly, but faced with everyone's fervent gazes, he still stroked his chin and pretended to ponder for a moment before shaking his head and speaking according to the plan he had devised on the way here.
"No. My instincts tell me that things are definitely not that simple."
"But, Warrant Officer..."
"No buts, Sergeant Wendy. Let me ask you again. Are you certain you saw every Anti-Magic Device?"
John fixed his stern gaze on the anxious Wendy, then spoke words that left every member of the 14th Squad frozen in place.
"Have you considered that these trenches might just be a trap?"
"A trap!?"
Wendy's pupils contracted. The restless excitement in her heart instantly vanished, replaced by a chill.
"That's right. You did see Anti-Magic Devices with your Magic Eyes, but Wendy, can you really be sure that what you saw was real, rather than an illusion projection created by the Allied Forces?"
"Besides, under normal circumstances, if this truly were where the Allied Forces had set up their Anti-Magic Devices, then if you were the commander of this front, would you make the foolish decision to leave them exposed in plain sight?"
"How would that be any different from actively handing intelligence to the enemy and inviting them to attack?"
"Therefore, in my opinion, this is undoubtedly a trap! A trap meant to wipe out our surprise assault force!"
"!"
Under everyone's disbelieving gazes, John spoke with a grave expression, his tone filled with certainty.
His resolute manner instantly convinced them. The members of the 14th Squad, who had been burning with fighting spirit moments ago, now seemed as if they had been doused with cold water, all of them becoming somewhat at a loss.
Of course, John's wise display was entirely an act, and the so-called trap had been made up on the spot.
After all, as a player in his previous life, he was exceedingly familiar with Anti-Magic Devices.
Thus, he knew very well that at this point in time, the Allied Forces had not upgraded the Anti-Magic Special Attack Workshop to its second stage.
With the Anti-Magic Devices currently developed by the Allied Forces, once their structure was completed, their core devices had to be exposed to the air over a large area if they wanted to achieve cross-space activation.
Otherwise, if the spell formation failed to activate, insufficient magic-power purity would cause the device to explode on the spot.
It was roughly the same principle as a gun barrel bursting.
Therefore, the Allied Forces had revealed their Anti-Magic Devices only because they had no other choice. There was no possibility that they had deliberately exposed them to ambush the 14th Squad.
The only reason he had said all that was to find an excuse to send the 14th Squad's members away.
Otherwise, how could he avoid everyone's watchful eyes and attempt a job-switching discussion with his dear Allied Forces friends?
Heh heh heh. To think I came up with such a perfect plan. As expected, the wisdom of John Maslow is unrivaled beneath the heavens!
John laughed smugly to himself, but he also knew that he absolutely could not reveal any flaw at this moment. Otherwise, his entire plan would collapse.
So he forcibly suppressed the joy and pride in his heart, then turned to the somewhat dejected Wendy and spoke in a low voice.
"However, the intelligence Wendy gathered is not entirely useless. As far as I know, Anti-Magic Device Cores require multiple cores to resonate in order to achieve a cross-space spell formation. Therefore, even if these trenches are merely bait intended to ambush us, they still reveal one thing."
"Warrant Officer, you mean... there is a real Anti-Magic Device deployment site nearby?"
Having caught the implication, Wendy's eyes widened. The fire of military merit that John's judgment had extinguished now blazed fiercely once more.
"That's right. Therefore, Sergeant Wendy and everyone in the 14th Squad, I will now issue the second order for this infiltration operation!"
Facing everyone's gazes, John slowly rose from the ground. He then casually picked a hillside roughly five kilometers away and began making things up.
"Sergeant Wendy, I grant you temporary command authority over the 14th Squad. From this point on, you will lead every member of the 14th Squad in conducting a search of that hillside area."
"Your objective is to locate the real Anti-Magic Device deployment site and destroy it, creating the opportunity for victory for our allies on the front lines!"
"I hope none of you disappoint me!"
Of course, it was absolutely impossible for them to find an Anti-Magic Device on that little hill five kilometers away.
After all, the Allied Forces had already set up the Anti-Magic Devices in the trenches.
Unless they had lost their minds, they would never waste time and effort hauling Anti-Magic Devices into those troublesome mountain woods, much less think to conceal them with trees.
This was not the front line, but the Allied Forces' rear. No one would do something so thankless unless their commander was a complete fool.
So go suffer your way over there, then slowly search that godforsaken little hill. I guarantee you won't find a single damn thing.
Of course, considering that screwing over his teammates like this was indeed somewhat immoral, and might even anger that stupid woman Wendy to death—
Once I finish discussing the terms of my job switch with the Allied Forces, I'll ask my dear Allied Forces friends to go a little easier on you when they capture you.
That can count as honoring the comradeship we shared these past two days.
"Understood. But Captain, are you sure you won't be coming with us?"
After hearing John's order, Wendy was excited, but she could not help feeling somewhat puzzled as well.
Normally, in order to ensure the safety of the command staff, commanders would not participate in attacks alongside the soldiers. But that depended on the situation.
Given that they were currently behind enemy lines and had no idea when the enemy's patrols might come to investigate—
If John, as the commander, remained here alone, his situation would undoubtedly become especially difficult.
It would actually be better for him to move with them. At the very least, with the 14th Squad's members protecting him, even if the enemy reacted, it would be difficult for them to harm him in the slightest.
"Since we have confirmed that this place is bait left by the Allied Forces, that means these trenches must be hiding quite a large number of soldiers, as well as special combat units. So someone has to stay behind to receive you and warn you."
"And since I am the commander of the 14th Mobile Magecraft Squad, naturally this heavy responsibility must fall upon me."
Of course, I'm completely bullshitting you. If I didn't say that, how could I have a legitimate reason to probe this so-called bait, contact the Allied Forces' higher-ups, and complete my grand plan of switching sides?
Ah, beautiful freedom. My dear Allied Forces friends, here I come!
John was inwardly ecstatic, but on the surface, he maintained the appearance of someone courageously marching toward death.
Faced with everyone's impassioned, nearly tangible looks of admiration, John merely smiled faintly. Then he raised a hand slightly and pressed it down in a gesture for calm.
"No matter what others may think, I, John Maslow, have always believed that an officer must set an example for the soldiers. Only an officer who leads from the front is worthy of being loved and followed by the soldiers. Therefore, remaining behind to cover all of you is a duty I must fulfill."
"Besides, I have not mastered the Bombardment Spell Formation. Unlike all of you, I cannot effectively damage Anti-Magic Devices."
"Therefore, both emotionally and logically, I need to remain here to receive you and draw more enemy fire."
"Of course, members of the 14th Squad, there is no need for you to worry about me, nor should you grieve over this. We are all part of the Empire. From the moment we answered the Empire's call and chose to step onto the battlefield, we soldiers should have already prepared ourselves to sacrifice for the Empire."
"Rather than stop over such a trivial matter, it would be better to raise the weapons in your hands and charge forward, adding a more dazzling brilliance to the Empire's immortality. That is what we should do!"
"Everyone, cast aside the hesitation in your hearts and do what you must!"
"For the families we protect within the Empire, for glorious military merit, for victory in this war, the things that determine all of those fates are now in our hands, right here, at this very moment!"
"So, for the Empire, advance without hesitation, soldiers!"
"Warrant Officer John!"
After hearing John's impassioned speech, the already emotional members of the 14th Squad were instantly moved to tears by their captain's selfless spirit. Wendy, the deputy captain, cried so hard that even snot ran from her nose.
The admiration and devotion filling their gazes toward John were nearly overflowing.
How heroic. How selfless!
John Maslow was simply the most perfect commander in the world!
Was she really going to leave such a respected officer in danger?
Wendy's heart was filled with hesitation, but as she felt the determination in John's eyes, she quickly found peace.
Because through Warrant Officer John's resolute gaze, Wendy knew—
Even if she tried to knock Warrant Officer John unconscious and forcibly take him away, that upright warrant officer would certainly refuse and instead rebuke her for her foolishness.
After all, he was just that kind of selfless person.
"Everyone, salute!"
Wendy took a deep breath, then, with unprecedented respect, gave Captain John the most standard military salute of her life.
Then she forcibly suppressed the sorrow and reluctance in her heart, lowered her head, and spoke respectfully to John.
"Warrant Officer John, I will never let your sacrifice be in vain."
"Wendy Brown will follow your orders and lead the members of the 14th Squad onward until we secure victory in this war for the Empire!"
"I swear this in the name of the Brown Family."
(End of Chapter)
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