Rhode jolted, all his drowsiness vanishing as he sprang straight out of his recliner.
Hadn't Major Drake just met with Blackmoore? Why was he suddenly coming to see me now?
Could Blackmoore have told Drake to come assassinate me at the Magic Tower after the Reconnaissance Robot Type 007 stopped working??
Rhode shook his head.
He must have gotten a little muddleheaded from lounging around.
Blackmoore had devised such an elaborate trap precisely because he knew how strong Rhode was and needed a scapegoat for the attack on Caer Darrow. Why would he suddenly send someone to assassinate him now?
Wouldn't that render all his previous arrangements useless?
Besides, the "assassin" was only an ordinary officer. That would be taking Rhode far too lightly.
He must just be here to tell me we're setting off tomorrow.
Bah, not setting off for the afterlife-we're marching on Caer Darrow!
"Have him come up," Rhode told Sally, taking a sip of Strawberry Juice to clear his head.
Soon, Major Drake followed Sally up to the eighth floor, and Sally withdrew.
Seeing that no one else was in the room, Major Drake said to Rhode, "Reporting to General Rhode. The troops have assembled and are ready. We can set out for Caer Darrow tomorrow."
Mm, so he really was just here to let me know.
"All right. Understood," Rhode said calmly.
Even if he still hadn't come up with a countermeasure and felt completely uncertain, he couldn't let the enemy see it.
"Hmm? Is there something else, Major?" Rhode asked when he saw Drake still standing before him.
Normally, officers gave brief, straightforward reports, then saluted and withdrew. They didn't linger.
A trace of hesitation seemed to show in Drake's deep blue eyes.
But soon, his gaze grew resolute again.
He asked, "There's