The centurion's anger subsided slightly, and he asked thoughtfully:
"You mean... arson?"
The guard gritted his teeth and said:
"That's right, the closer you get to the Skeleton Alliance, the drier the climate becomes, which only makes those in a vegetative state more flammable."
"That's a good idea..."
The centurion nodded:
Let me think about it carefully.
You really agreed?
Behind the centurion, the guards' pupils were now wide with shock.
Knowing you'd be in an awkward position, I came up with this outrageous plan to give you a way out.
So you actually agreed?
Ultimately, aren't we all on the same side? Is it really necessary to escalate this much?
This person is truly blinded by envy and has gone mad!
While the centurion was pondering the feasibility of the plan, little did he know that the guards behind him had already begun to consider how to jump ship.
As a nobody, his instincts told him that following such an obviously stupid person would lead him nowhere, and he might even be ruined by the other person's foolish actions.
Now that things have come to this, as a preparation before jumping ship, he must also give his final piece of advice within the scope of his duty:
"Sir, if we really must start a fire... we absolutely mustn't do it inside the military camp!"
That's the ultimate expression of benevolence and righteousness!
The guard thought to himself.
"Of course I know!"
The centurion waved his hand.
"Alright, I'll think about it some more. Go back to your post."
"Yes!"
The guard solemnly agreed, and at the same time began to seriously consider the feasibility of changing jobs.
Following this kind of scoundrel will eventually lead to someone who doesn't even know how they died.
So what should I do now?
Who should I talk to about this to maximize my benefits?
Three figures appeared in his mind:
Should I speak directly to [ Howling Pothos ] himself?
The reward might be... the friendship of a northern mountain dweller, but what good is that?
How can I find a way to report to the Viscount?
I've heard that these warring nobles hate informing on others, but betrayal is far more serious than informing. I wonder what he'll think, though he probably won't kill me. I just don't know how I can meet him.
After some thought, a figure became increasingly clear in the mind of this insignificant guard:
Your position is neither too high nor too low, but your character is impeccable. We've decided on you! -- [ Practice More If You're Bad!]
After sunset, the guard was finally able to switch shifts with another guard on the night shift.
He was exhausted, but he knew the real battle was just beginning.
After forcing himself to finish his meal despite feeling sleepy, the young guard returned to his tent and crawled into a straw mat that wasn't even a proper sleeping bag, lined with animal fur.
He was really tired, but he couldn't sleep for his future!
Around midnight, the snoring around me grew louder.
The young guard, who had forced himself to stay awake for four hours while facing the camp, slowly got up, looking extremely sleepy (which was indeed the case), and crawled out of his tent to begin using the darkness to orient himself.
A small patrol of five soldiers approached him. He pretended to be confused, scratched his head, and then quickly realized where the toilet was.
The patrolling soldiers didn't even glance at him before quickly walking away into the distance.
The young guard, noticing the patrol soldiers had gone far away, immediately regained his senses. Under the cover of darkness, he crossed the small path left between the different hundred-man squads and quietly entered the hundred-man squad area of [ Practice More If You're Bad ].
He groped his way forward, tent by tent, but his mind was completely blank.
What would I do if I were caught by this hundred-man night patrol team?
And will that guy really believe him?
Lost in thought, the young guard arrived at a tent that was still letting in light.
He made up his mind, strode forward, and pulled open the tent flap a crack.
Without checking what was happening inside, the young guard whispered into the room:
"But [ the Practice More If You're Bad ] the centurion in person? I have something important to tell you!"
Inside the tent, a host of talented individuals had gathered, including professional players, guild whales, and freelancers such as [ Howling Pothos ], [Cai Practice More If You're Bad ], [ Soaring Clouds 3773 ], [ Retreat Drum Player ], and [ Elderly and Children Fly First ], to discuss the next steps for the " One Heart Society ".
Just then, a voice rang out, causing everyone's heart to skip a beat—
Have we been exposed?
Without time to think, the highest-ranking officer, [ Practice More If You're Bad ], made a shushing gesture and then replied in a low voice:
"I'm here. May I come into the tent to discuss this further?"
"Good."
The curtain was lifted, and a young figure darted in. He looked to be no more than twenty years old and had a classic mischievous face.
The players exchanged glances instantly:
"Your men?"
"Someone from your guild?"
"A random player?"
After receiving the answer "no," everyone looked at the newcomer, but no one took the initiative to speak and steal the spotlight. Instead, they waited for [ Practice More If You're Bad ] to ask a question.
The young man who crawled into the tent was surprised to find so many people still awake in the middle of the night.
And... [ Howling Pothos ] Why are you carrying candles all the time?
What happened to being afraid of fire?
"What are you doing...?"
With numerous questions piling up, the young guard asked the question almost unconsciously.
[ Practice More If You're Bad ] readily admitted:
"We're forming cliques."
"... Ah, then I won't bother you any longer..."
A wave of fear washed over him, and the young guard turned to leave.
"Speak up, what exactly do you want to say to me? These are all my own people, you're not from our hundred-man team, are you?"
"Um."
The young guard composed himself and then briefly explained his plan as a centurion of a hundred-man squad.
After the explanation, the tent fell into a deathly silence, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.
The young guard at the center of the vortex was completely numb, standing there waiting for the other side's verdict.
Ultimately, his plan to betray his enemy was no more meticulous than the arson plan; both were just desperate measures he came up with on a whim.
In the eternal silence, the crackling sound of firewood popping in the brazier broke the deathly stillness.
Then--
"Pfft..."
A soft chuckle came from somewhere, and then everyone in the tent except the young guard suddenly burst into laughter.
Haha, hahahahaha!
"Awesome! Haha!"
"How can such a thing happen?"
This world is unbelievably real! Hahahaha!
"No, how dare he?"
The laughter of the crowd echoed through the tent like a sudden thunderclap on a summer night. The young guard looked up in astonishment and saw that the group of people gathered together discussing something had completely gone mad.
Some people laughed so hard they were doubled over, some laughed so hard they were slapping their thighs, and some laughed until tears streamed down their faces, as if they had collectively gone into a fit of hysteria.