Titan Beneath the Heavens Chapter 239: Twenty-sixth Episode: Chapter 4

If one would like to understand the soul of the fall, then they should visit the north of the empire. Find a quiet and peaceful countryside to observe the hard-working peasants or volunteer in the labor of fruits picking.

The vast territory of Titan Empire was tormented by the scorching sun during the 9th month. However, in the northern part of the empire, the sky seemed to have stretched to infinity and leaves had begun to change color. Paddies and wheat were ready for harvest. Golden waves of wheat that billowed in the cool fall breeze appeared as if they would break in any given moment.

The idyllic countryside expanded as far as the eyes could see and woods divided the different crops into several groups. Among the golden, green and bright purple crop fields, the spires of farmers' wooden huts were scattered in well-proportion. Cooking smoke occasionally curled up from the chimneys of these small houses painted in distinctive colors. Other times, the area was filled with sounds of people shouting at livestock. 

A small creek in the northwest of the forest was running slowly. Craftsmen of the countryside built a waterwheel where the river bent and dug a ditch on the other side of the mechanism. The canal flowed straight through an estate which was the smallest administrative unit of the Titan Empire, with only a handful of households at most. To guard against uninvited guests, these few households built their wooden houses together with the walls and roofs connected which looked like a massive family house from afar. Perhaps these different households might even actually become a massive family after living together for a century.

For instance, Old Man Hartzer's ordinary but extremely affluent Hartzer Village. The black earth territory within the radius of a few miles was the public property of this estate. Old Man Hartzer was the household head of the current generation. Although it was only a ridiculously small role, it was registered in the list of prefecture officers and even province governors.

Hartzer and his family lived in the estate for generations. They experienced natural disasters, plagues, riots, and bandits. They also seemed to have experienced wars. However, the family did not know exactly what the war was about. Only Old Man Hartzer who had gone to the army knew the meaning of this word.

In response to the upcoming war, Old Man Hartzer decided to hold a family meeting. The last family meeting was held for the sale of piglets. "How should I break the news to my people this time?" The old man who had been the head of the household for a long time murmured to himself. Could he straightforwardly ask the children to leave the land where they were born and raised?

There was only one main gate in the entire village. Children, siblings, and even grandchildren were all sitting in the yard outside the gate. Hartzer did a head count silently...21, 22!

Oh yeah! The little guy who was still in swaddling clothes...23!

The whole household gathered while the old man was smoking his ancient water pipe as usual. Anyone with any sense would know at first glance that it belonged to a noble lady but that was the only loot that the old man had won himself from the many years he had been in the army. It was confiscated from a noble home. Although several decades had passed, the old man still remembered the incident vividly. He and several other soldiers rushed into the home of a stranger to throw and smash things and insult the servant girls. The old man was very silly back then. He who came from the village had not seen anything like this before. He did not understand why he must behave wildly in a stranger's house, hence he stood there doing nothing. A captain noticed him and gave him a water pipe out of pity, not forgetting to tell him in a stern voice, "Hold this! This is our right. This is our loot!"

Old Man Hartzer still could not figure it out after smoking that water pipe for so many years. "This is our right. This is our loot!" But why? That was a stranger's house!

What right did they have to do such things in a stranger's house? How were their actions different from bandits and robbers?

It was similar to their current situation! According to the government's announcement, the Deiss across the border wanted to enter Titans' house. So, could this be called a war? The war as a conflict between soldiers and other soldiers. This old man was once a soldier himself and this was his understanding of the word. However, the bureaucrat of the province announced that the Deiss was going to break into his house! What rights did the Deiss have to do so?

"This is our current situation! Everyone, tell the old man what should he do?" The old man's eyes ringed with worries as he gazed out to the crop fields beyond his yard.

The family members of the household kept quiet. Women were knitting sweaters or rinsing vegetables, men hung their heads down as they smoke tobacco and the children who could not stay restless already begun to run around after sitting still for a while.

Hartzer's wife whispered, "The fall is coming..."

The men and women's eyes immediately lit up, "Yes, daddy! Fall is coming! As you can see, it is estimated that our harvest will be 10% higher than last year!" the youngest son of the old man shouted in delight.

The women laughed, "The animals in the woods are growing now. If it snows in the 10th month - "

"Alright, alright!" a man interrupted, "They're just some hides and furs, stop thinking about them constantly!"

The old man knocked on the water pipe pot impatiently and the men and women immediately shut their mouth. The head of the household stared at his wife as if the old woman should not have mentioned this.

"The fall is coming and so is the Deiss!" Old Man Hartzer murmured. "The children are right. This year's harvest is 10% higher than last year hence your old man here doesn't have to worry about food. If it starts to snow in the 10th month, your old man here can hunt for a few more skins so my old lady and the women at home can also be neatly dressed for a while."

"This has nothing to do with the Deiss!" the stubborn old lady shouted. She had lived here all her life but never once had she suffered from the Deiss. In contrast, what terrified her more was the ruffians among the Imperial Guards, tax officer from town, and bandits in the mountains and forests! Oh, yes, also the wild boars and big wolfs. They were frightening.

"Ladies, go to the side!" it was rare to see Old Man Hartzer put on a stern face, "What do you know? There will be casualties if the Deiss are here!"

The old woman's voice became softer, "Then should we neglect the harvest in our fields? Stop hunting for badgers even if it snows in the mountains?"

Depressed and confused, the old man put away the water pipe. Although the ways of this world were difficult to comprehend, the family had lived a good life so far. Fall had always been the time for harvest, the time for the family to dress up and attend the harvest festival in town, the time where badgers full of fur rushed into the traps they had set up! How could things change so easily without warning?

Others did not know the cruelty of the Deiss but Old Man Hartzer knew it too well. However, he did not reveal it to the family. Besides, no one would boast about the number of people they killed during the time served as a soldier.

Old Man Hartzer put down the water pipe. He narrowed his eyes as he reminisced about the years he spent fighting at the border.

At that time, the Deiss devils were really terrible! With no armor and other extra weapons but sabers and axes, they slaughtered anyone that they encountered without a word.

The old man shook his head while he sighed. Then, he sent his children, grandchildren, and the shallow-minded women away, and locked himself away in a small hut. 

The old man thought of his commanding officer. Although his commanding officer taught him to break into other people's home and taught him how to kill, his commanding officer was a good man! He rushed to the front line in war and remained last during the retreat. This kind of good man did not deserve to be hung on the spear for three days by the Deiss devil. From then on, Old Man Hartzer knew that the Deiss was exactly like how his comrades had described - barbarians! Barbarians who kill people and set fire for no reason!

Outside the wooden window, bellowing wheat fields glittered like gold under the shine of the setting sun as magnificent as the Imperial Guards' infantry phalanx. Although the old man could not understand, he still missed the times when he was filled with passionate young blood. He did not know what kind of power had supported himself to fight against the barbaric Deiss who kill without batting an eyelid. He did not know why the comrades around him would be willing to fall like trifle and never open their eyes again. He was enraged. He only followed orders and executed those killings and terrible tricks obediently.

The fall had arrived, and the magnificent sunset would soon disappear. Paddies and wheat in the fields were already ripe and ready for harvest. (They could start harvesting one part of the crops tomorrow!) The old man thought to himself. He could hear on the other side of the door that life was going on as usual - women preparing for dinner, little children playing fighting games, and his sons gambling. How good it would be if life could just go on like this!

But the Deiss was coming! Hartzer did not know whether the government's announcement was accurate but based on his years in the army if the commanding officer announced that the Deiss was coming, then these barbarians would surely come!

The old man lifted a hidden pull ring on the floor, which was an opening to a tiny storage compartment. An Imperial Guard private model armor was covered with dust and the spider webs wrapped on the double-edged sword was thick and dense. Only one gleaming little thing was looking new. The old man picked it up and blew some air on it as usual. Then he rubbed it several times with his greasy sleeves.

The small object made of metal was moved near to the window. The setting sun immediately made it glister. The old man narrowed his eyes as he felt its carvings and felt its weight. The old man was illiterate but he had studied these little fonts on the small object for over ten million times.

"Empire Warrior Medal...Moreiro Border Defensive War...Sergeant Pilar Hartzer..."

Memories came flooding into the old man's mind. The border defensive line of Moreiro, the setting sun, the starry night...the Deiss who fumbled their ways from the dark horizon, the Imperial Guards that met the attack fought bitterly, bloody battles, killings, sacrifices...the rising sun, dead bodies everywhere...the whole division, the entire group, the whole battalion...the remaining survivors were a sergeant and a dozen or so brazen privates covered in cuts and bruises...young Hartzer spat in the direction of the barbarians, his big bloody hands held on his organs as he pissed at the barbarians retreating silhouettes. What a great battle!

On the 20th day of the 9th month in Church's year 801 at nine in the evening, Moreiro borderline of defense, setting sun and a star-studded sky. 

On the gigantic sand table of Titan Imperial Guards Northern Army Group Interim Field Command Center, the Moreiro borderline of defense located in the northwest coincided with the northern defense line of Steinberger. Marshal Alan had only placed a second-rate border defensive division on this defense line. Neither the headquarters staff officer or Silver Fox Alan himself think that the Deiss Kingdom Army would launch an offensive from this narrow border corridor.

Behind the Moreiro defensive line was rolling hills and valleys of extremely complicated topography. Even the Imperial Guards did not have a detailed map of this area. Most people just knew that the Moreiro hills and valleys were not the best places to launch a cavalry offense, not to mention a large troop formation.

Imperial Guards Commander Vann Hewitt Alan established the temporary command center in a small town Wakinra on the border shared with Deiss. Since the victory of winter battle last year, Imperial Guards Northern Army Group had firmly controlled the town and the defense line of two hundred kilometers extended beyond the town.

Silver Fox Alan still lived in the residence of Count Wakinra. He always remembered the famous "Treaty of Afternoon Tea" whenever he worked in this massive house. The peace treaty was one of the few most absurd political agreements in the world. The peaceful environment only lasted a short span of 74 days.

Marshal Alan was still the same. Military life from the past months had caused him to be fatigue and slightly lazy. However, the spirit of the commander had not slacked in the slightest. He only slept for six hours a day. Other times, he worked tirelessly, endlessly.

He ranked the battlefield number for each division-level unit of the Northern Army Group. These numbered small flags scattered across the huge sandbox in one long line while the main Wakinra town area and nearby districts were protected by the main army group force consisted of eleven fully integrated corps.

According to Alan's predictions, the eleven fully integrated corps was not enough to resist the Deiss attack, but Anti-Titan Alliance offensive line was spread too long and too wide. In the case of the north alone, if the Deiss Kingdom Army wanted to maintain the pressure while meeting with Steinberger offense they would require at least 30 divisions or in other words 90,000 troop force. At the same time, in order to launch attacks on the Northern Army Group and open up a second attack route, the strength of the Deiss main army group force had to be between 200,000 people.

Judging from the forces integration, the analysis of the Military Intelligence Bureau was trustworthy. Although the Deiss could mobilize four divisions into the war, the experienced crack forces in defending the Olliers would never leave the north. The troops in the capital area would also not be mobilized around unless necessary. In this way, the Deiss could only invest around four divisions in the Titan front line, as they must reserve half the battle troops to resist the gradually powerful ice-cold kingdom.

Regardless of the parallelism, if the Steinberger and Military Intelligence Bureau had not missed out anything in their battle reports, then the 180,000 Deiss people should be waiting for the time in the northwestern battlefield in front of Blackwood Fortress.

Since the beginning of the fortress attack and defense battle, the devils did not move an inch. No one knew was it that they wanted!

However, Alan knew!

The battle report delivered by Steinberger was very interesting. Among the Deiss regular army was a large number of servants who had blended in. In other words, not all the 180,000 soldiers were their regular army forces. Marshal Stanbein, the highest commander of the Deiss Supreme High Command had secretly assembled the actual main force in another location. This old friend had only one goal - to completely defeat the northern line of defense managed by the commander of Imperial Guards.

Alan squinted his eyes to look better at the sand table.

Until the 14th day of the 9th month, his main army group was all set on the frontline, but there was still no trace of Deiss. This situation lasted for a month. It was already fall now and the northerners were about to start the busiest harvesting season. Then, it would soon snow in the 10th month. If the Deiss wanted to attack they must be planning to do so within half a month before the snow!

Alan's speculation was supported by most of the combat staff and generals. It was obvious to all what tricks Deiss had in mind. Attacking during the busy period could destroy the agricultural infrastructure in the north of Titan, and the Imperial Guards would lose a lot of material resources. Snowfall in the 10th month would place both parties in a passive state, but Deiss who had fought against Olliers in the snow for two hundred years were definitely more experienced in this domain than the Titan Imperial Guards.

Therefore, what Alan needed to worry about was how many people Deiss would deploy to join the army group in the northern frontline. Where would this huge cluster launch their first wave of attacks?

Alan admitted that he had already been in a passive position before the outbreak of the war. He had anticipated the situation as early as the time when Steinberger frontline was under strong pressure.

The current situation was threatening! No matter how long Steinberger's border defense area could last and even if Blackwood fortress crumbled, the Northern Army Group could not deploy its troops for reinforcement. The Deiss must have formulated a plan to siege the city and there was not much difference between retreating from the borderline defense and suicide.

Alan had been preparing for this decisive battle for the last ten years from the initial suppression of the Big Three in the North to the victory of the winter offensive in year 798 and uniting with Alpha III His Late Majesty to gather the northern army forces and the disintegration of the three major warlords! The Imperial Guards marshal had fully integrated the northern garrison area military forces and also incorporated the armed forces of the three major warlords into the original basis of Northern Army Group especially the Bron Fortress which was claimed to be the first bunker of the Westland and the elite heavy-loaded infantry corps originally belonged to Jebron House.

In general, the northern military region of the Titan Empire had never been as strong as it was now. After the reorganization of the local warlords' forces, the total strength of the three northern provinces rose to 210,000, which was basically the same as the Imperial Guards strength in the five southern provinces that had risen in recent years.

As such, there was no need for Alan to worry too much but look at his sand table! In order to operate the defense line centered in Brun Fortress, the Imperial Guards Commander positioned half of the troops behind himself. Excluding the defensive forces in each border garrison area, he could only deploy the remaining eleven troops to fight the decisive battle with Deiss. However, the enemy was able to gather 200,000 people at a single point to storm the front line!

"There are three possible situations!" Alan scanned the room filled with high-ranking officers of the Imperial Guards.

"First, Deiss will initiate the fight in Wakinra during late of the 9th month and early of the 10th month."

The officers did not respond. Everyone just looked at Alan with confidence.

Alan pointed to a specific location on the tactical map.

"Second, Deiss will outflank us from the side. They are a massive troop hence they could fight or leave as they wish. There is only so much that we can do."

The officers landed their sight on the flank of the main army group. It was a wide expanse of flat land after crossing the border. There was not a strategic position that the Imperial Guards could have been stationed. Therefore, it was the perfect spot to launch a surprise attack.

"The third..." Alan was hesitant. He was still suspicious of this third possibility.

"As we can see from the tactical map, there is a no-man's land in the most western part of Moreiro defense line. The terrain is complex and not the most appropriate for neither cavalry intrusion nor movement of a massive troop. Despite this, this place is the weakest link in the entire defense line, it's hard to say that Deiss will not attack from here."

"There is only one border garrison division in the Moreiro area!" Lieutenant General Krasius, the chief of staff of Northern Army Group reminded his marshal worriedly.

"You're right, there is only one division!" Alan sighed helplessly at the unfavorable situation brought about by the three-line battle. There would always be a disadvantage at forces distribution and defensive state if he were to deploy only the Northern Group Army against the forces of Deiss Kingdom Army, albeit the defensive strength of Moreiro region was still weak. However, Alan was unable to change this situation as the soldiers needed to be deployed to more important locations. Moreover, if Deiss really attack from Moreiro area, the result of adding a division or a corps would not make much of a difference. Such a small unit could not obstruct the Yaran savages.

"Gentlemen, no matter where the enemy comes from, they will definitely hit our spears!" Alan laughed suddenly. This was the most he could say.

Before the First Defending War, Marshal Alan had several encounters with Marshal Stainbein, the highest commander of the other party, during the planning for the summer offensive against Deiss. It should be said that Alan did not win a complete victory. A majority thought he would lose, but he willingly withdrew from the battlefield after making a series of victories in the early stage of the offensive. The Deiss Kingdom Army who was still in good shape had no choice but to return without accomplishing anything.

But this time…Alan murmured to himself. Her Majesty the Queen of Deiss Kingdom paid great attention to the confidentiality measures. The report from the Military Intelligence Bureau regarding Deiss returned rather late. The Imperial Guards could only guess roughly from the fragmentary remarks about the movement of the Deiss regular military forces. There had been no improvement since the war.

The loss of opportunity, less understanding of the enemy's condition and slightly weaker strength on the Titan side. How should they fight this war? To tell the truth, Alan did not have much confidence, but he did not realize that he would lose. He just…he just did not want to be defeated too badly. At the very least, let it end like summer which started fine but ended poorly. The Imperial Guards could give up the border defense and retreat to the defense line centered in the Bron Fortress.

"Would you like to hear other battlefield reports?" a senior combat staff suddenly stood up.

"Of course!" Alan cleared his mind. He was the commander of the northern battlefield and also the commander of the Imperial Guards. There were too many things waiting for his decision.

The senior combat staff replaced the tactical map with the map of the empire. He first pointed to the Haussen Province in the northwest.

"Steinberger is still resisting but with much difficulty! The Blackwood Fortress has been holding up for one month. Ammunition was exhausted, and the troop forces were reduced by 40%. We have lost contact with the fortress and now only rely on a word or two delivered by an independent brigade that insists on guerrilla warfare."

Alan nodded. This indicated that Steinberger Front first defense may fall at any time. It also showed that Deiss had still not yet reveal their hidden intention. If there was no conspiracy, why would it take a month for 180,000 people to attack a fortress guarded by 20,000 people?

"Vielonna!" the chief of staff tapped on the southern music capital, "The Farans are doing well over there. There are advances and retreats, implementation of methods and strategies but they don't dare to thoroughly destroy Vielonna. Both sides have been locked in a confrontation."

Alan understood even better now. The Farans only had a troop consisted of more than ten thousand people. If southern Vielonna really had any mishaps, his old friend Eugene would deploy his whole army to slap Farans in the face. The reason why the two sides were still locked in the confrontation was mostly because...

"Western Front!" exclaimed the combat staff in concern. "Western Front is facing some troubles! Hoilland, Leblese, Weden, and Faran! The monarchs of the four nations are still increasing their troops at the borders of our country. They have assembled a massive army group of 400,000 people in the area manage jointly with Riel. It's estimated that they will expand their offensive troops to about 500,000 people."

The northern officers looked at each other in surprise and began to discuss loudly. Who had seen or heard of an offensive army group consisted of 500,000 people? Including the enemies that the North and South defenses needed to deal with, the number of soldiers deployed by Anti-Titan Alliance would be close to one million. It did not seem like they were trying to divide Titan, but to entirely destroy Titan!

"Silence!" the commander of the Imperial Guards grunted coldly, and the war room calmed down immediately.

"Yes! The total strength of the enemy is close to one million, but we are not at a disadvantage," the old Marshal threw out his chest as he stood up as if holding a bountiful harvest in his arms. "Her Majesty the Empress has mobilized a large number of reinforcements from the Central Military Region to the Western Front. The Farans in the south are just making a false show of strength. Once Marshal O'Neil frees up his matters, he would resolve the enemy on the southern line."

"Does everybody really think the inferior people who came from West are going to fight a decisive battle on the Western Front?"

Alan's smile sparkled with the unique splendor of Silver Fox.

"Wrong! Even if the Western Front is defeated, the empire can continue to resist in the defending area of the capital as they wait for rescue from Southern Army Group, Central Eastern Army Group, and Narcissus Knights."

"They will come to you! The northern front is the place to decide victory or defeat!" General Krasius, chief of staff of Northern Army suddenly understood the situation. "You are the commander of the Imperial Guards. As long as you preside over the overall situation, Her Majesty the Empress and Titan will not encounter too much of a peril."

This compliment came just in time and Alan accepted it with a smile.

"The Alliance in Western Front continuously increases the number of troops. The Farans in Northern Front only attack without intention to conquer. The overall situation in North western battlefield was pretty much the same, so..." the commander of the Imperial Guards trailed off his sentence.

"We can only understand that the whole world is waiting for Deiss to accomplish something in the Northern Front! The whole world thinks that Deiss should launch a real offense before the alliance, and breach open the chain defense line of Imperial Guards. When that happens, what should we do then?"

(Yes! The harvest season had arrived, and so was the Deiss. What should we do then?)

Old Man Hartzer pondered this question through most of the night but still did not come up with an explanation. The Empire Warrior Medal could save his sons from military service and forced labor and let the tax officials who knocked on their door to return disheartened. Then could this thing not able to keep Deiss out of their home?

Old Man Hartzer nudged at his wife beside him, "Inspect the harvest tomorrow, every portion count."

The old woman promised in an ambiguous manner then urged her husband to hurry to sleep. The old man closed his eyes albeit preoccupied with troubles. A brief moment later, the dog in the courtyard barked fiercely non-stop. The old man heard his eldest son shouted at the dog a few times, but the damn little beast did not shut up.

"What world is this! Even the little beast bullies us human!"

Old Man Hartzer cursed silently as dressed himself and walked out of the door. The houses in the village were all brightly lit. The women were cursing, and the children were throwing tantrums, all because of that little beast!

"Father!" the oldest son ran through the door of the village in a hurry. He was not wearing his trousers. The storm lantern in his hand shook violently.

"Out there...there are so many people out there!"

Old Man Hartzer's eyes widened sharply as he grabbed the lantern and rushed into the yard quickly.

On the 21st day of the 9th month, Church's year 801, one o'clock in the morning, Moreiro borderline of defense, Moreiro Village, star-studded sky.

Formerly the award receiver of Empire Warrior Medal, Old Man Hartzer who was now the head of Hartzer Village saw countless Deiss soldiers standing in the middle of his crop fields.

The old man breathed heavily. He could not understand. Really, he could not understand this! What was the Moreiro Border Defensive division doing? If Old Man Hartzer was in the division, he would never let so many Deiss trespassed his border defense line as is they were here for a vacation.

The Deiss continued to trespass into the village from the end of the fields under the northern sky. They carried only a few torches but they were moved forward with massive strikes, making loud noises when they stepped on the crops.

The old man felt sorry as he watched the family's harvest being trampled on. He had long known that the barbarians would not do anything good! He thought of his armor and the double-edged sword covered with spider-web. Unfortunately, his sons who had not encountered such things before had all came out of the house, accompanied by even several bold women.

Looking at the few brutal men who walked into the yard and got closer to their house gates, Old Man Hartzer put aside his armor and the blunt sword. He put on a fake smile and welcomed the men as if they were the local tax collectors.

"Lords and gentlemen - "

A fierce whip landed right in his face. Old Man Hartzer cracked his skull and fell to the ground with his eyes full of blood. His eldest son grabbed the women and hurried into the house. His second son froze right where he was and could not move an inch. His third son dropped his knees to the ground and pleaded for his life. His youngest son! Only his youngest son rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, but he was soon tied up after punching a Deiss soldier forcefully right at the face.

The old man struggled to widen his bloody eyes. He saw a Deiss military officer and a stranger dressed as a trader. The stranger spoke in a crisp, pleasing southern accent to the Deiss who broke into their house.

"Yes! This is Hartzer Village! This will make a perfect assault site..."

"Traitor..." the old man lost his consciousness after uttering the word.

Darkness engulfed his vision when he came to and opened his eyes. The sun had not risen yet. Old Man Hartzer struggled to stretch, then he looked around subconsciously. This was his home but not entirely true! The women in his family would only giggle like silly ladies. They would not scream and shout so miserably. Hence, this was no longer his home. It had become a spoil of war for the Deiss army.

What about the men in his family? The old man's eyes had become accustomed to the darkness. He noticed his eldest son sobbing in a corner. His second son covered his ears and face without a word and his third son was looking out from the window sill. His fourth son…where was his youngest son?

Here he was! The old man turned around to see his youngest son unconscious with wounds and blood all over his body. Based on his experience, the Deiss devil had broken his ribs. His shoulders hung to one side loosely. The old man did not care about the other three miserable wretches. He raised his younger son's arm. After making sure the position of the joints, he lifted it up with force.

The youngest son woke up in pain! He was in so much pain he could not stop hitting the ground with his hands.

A Deiss devil suddenly opened the door. Light filled in from the other side of the door, along with the women's screams and the men's laughter. The old man clenched his fists, but he still smiled at the devil.

"Lord..."

The Deiss soldier took the aged head of the household to the yard. From inside to outside of the house, Hartzer saw the dead bodies of his wife and grandsons. His daughters-in-law and granddaughters were wailing miserably behind the house. Out of his expectation, the old man calmed down. He glared at the Deiss regular troop armor and carefully identified the rank of the military officer - the division commander of the Deiss Kingdom Army. He stole another glance at the devils who were resting in the yard - lightly armed without any heavyweight. This had to be the vanguard troop of their military forces.

The old man was not sure why he knew this, but he just knew.

"How many station troops are there in front of the town?"

The Titan dressed as business merchant handed a gold coin to the head of the village. By the flickering of the fire, the old man's eyes seemed to be lit up by the glittering coin.

"Reply to my Lord, there is no station troop in the town. There is only one border military camp nearby!"

The rude merchant snatched back the gold coin in the hands of the old man. He uttered a few words to the Deiss military officer and the other party ordered the orderly to throw a bloody piece of cloth on the ground. Hartzer's heart was straining and dripping in pain. Even if the devil killed his wife, insulted his daughters-in-law or even his grandchildren, they should not have treated the military flag of Moreiro border defensive division like that. Old Man Hartzer had risked his life to obtain that flag in front of ten thousand soldiers. Because of this flag, the entire division, group, and battalion fell on the border! No matter what, the Deiss should not have done this!

"The military camp is no longer there. Are there any station troops nearby?" the merchant pushed the old man impatiently.

The old man trembled and picked up the flag, "Yes! This is the thing. The nearby military camp has this flag hanging around their site! They bought eggs from my estate, but never once have they pay."

The Deiss military officer gave up and waved his hand. An uproar immediately came from the house. The women were still screaming but this time there was also the sound of men. The old man's sons were dragged out of the yard by tall soldiers. Only the battered youngest son with blood flowing out of his eyes constantly tried to break away from the restraints of the devils.

"The station stops...where? How many?" The officer asked in a heavy Deiss accent. The old man was at a loss as to what to do, "Lord...I can't understand..."

With a flash of light, the eldest son's head rolled over to his father's foot. The old man's eyes popped with terror. He still could not understand. Even though the guy had put Hartzer's men to shame, he still should not be killed!

"Station troops! Where? How many?"

The once brave warrior shook his head slowly. He could only stay and watched as the enemy's butcher knife slashed across the air again. His second son and third son were beheaded at once! Although these two children had not been the best sons as they were only weak and useless, was this a good enough reason to kill too?

The Deiss devil placed his blade on the neck of his youngest son. The youngest son of the old man opened his eyes wide. He knew that his daddy had been a soldier. He knew that his daddy would not give in easily to the devils.

The old man looked at the only surviving son, "In Laroby...there are thousands of them!"

"Laroby..." The Deiss officer motioned for the soldier to put away his sword. He then looked at the map in confusion. Where was Laroby? And where did the Titan Imperial Guards come from?

The old man shook his head as he looked at the map of the enemy, "I don't understand! I don't understand!"

"Lead the way!"

The old man pointed to the sky, "It's not an easy journey, we have to wait till dawn!"

The Deiss devil went to a man who looked like a military officer and lowered their heads in a discussion. After a while, they turned to the old man and shouted, "Liar...kill!"

The old man caressed the younger son's hair with affection, but the stubborn little guy turned away.

"Lord! Be merciful...I have to depend on someone."

The old man and his only son were confined to the innermost part of the housing estate. When the dawn was about to break through, the women no longer shout and the yard that had been chaotic for the whole night became silent. The youngest son who had nowhere to release his temper kicked at his father, "Traitor...getting more ignorant as you age…" 

The old man took no notice but only smiled slyly. Ignoring his son's confused expression, he silently pulled up the secret compartment on the ground. When he revealed his armor, sword and the brand-new medal, his son straightened up and joined in.

"Father..."

"Keep quiet!" Hartzer ordered as he pointed outside the door. His eyes flashed like someone much younger than his age, his agility was like a young man of seventeen to eighteen years old.

"What are you doing?"

The old man did not pay attention to his son. The Deiss devils had been fooling around all night and it was best suited to deal with these simple-minded savage barbarians in the darkness before dawn.

"Here!" the old man opened the storage compartment completely to reveal a dim hole. "The exit is in the woods on the east side of the yard. Be smart when you go out. Try not to get noticed!"

"I...I can't leave you behind!" The youngest son was so anxious that he yanked his father's arm.

The alert old man was staring at the door but fortunately, there was no movement around.

"No nonsense! Bring the Moreiro division flag and this medal to the town. Be quick and make sure to tell the guards there that Deiss devils have already broken through the borderline."

The youngest son wanted to say something more, but the old man waved and interrupted him.

"Remember, this medal doesn't matter much! But this flag must be delivered. The guards in the town will understand what happened to the borderline when they see this flag!"

The youngest son sobbed in silent. His children died a violent death and his wife was tortured in the most inhumane way possible. He thought that even his father had lost his temperament, but he was wrong, outrageously wrong.

"Little guy! I love you! I love all of you, and that's why I must stay!" the old man kissed his son's forehead. He pushed the hesitant son into the tunnel and was about to cover the floor.

"Father, I love you too!"

The old man smiled, "Then remember to come back...when the crops are ripe, when the ears of wheat are yellow when the badgers in the woods are furry and fat!"

"Definitely! Definitely!" The youngest son cried and bid goodbye to his father. He tried not to make a sound.

After the old man sent off his son, he put on his armor slowly. However, the armor did not fit well anymore but it did not matter. The old man also wiped the cobweb and dust on the double-edged sword with his blood-stained coat. He tapped on the ridge of the sword, and the longsword sent out a nice and clear sound.

"You are still as new!" Old Man Hartzer smiled with satisfaction.

The fall wind came to the fields outside the yard just in time. The sky was dim and gloomy. The blue firmament was always unable to get out of the darkness. Paddies and wheat rustled in the bleak cold southwest breeze. They hung heavily with their dense seeds in one direction as if they were waiting for the farmer with a smile on his face.

The Deiss sentry at the edge of the field was yawning sadly. He had only made one more whip on the little girl and as a result, his officer sent him over to watch the night. Unfortunately, more mishaps were waiting. A longsword was positioned silently on his neck. His fear only lasted for one second before he felt a refreshing feeling on his throat.

The old man ran across the fields he had guarded for many years. He was familiar with every path and every bank of earth between the field. The once Empire Warrior fetched lamp-oil and tinder from the small oil workshop at home and then carried the oil barrel as he dashed across the field.

When everything was done, the sky was already bright and the roosters in the village had all been cut by the throat by the devils. The old man naturally could not hear the familiar crowing. He stretched out his muscles and sat on the dead body of a devil to smoke his water pipe.

The fall breeze was cold, and the wheat waves rolled. Today was the day of harvest. The old soldier who had been busy his whole life in the field looked like a satisfied farmer as he observed the results from a year of hard work. He put down his water pipe and adjusted his armor. He cut the enemy's head little by little with the blade, and then...

Early in the morning, a loud shout roused the estate and the Deiss who slept in the yard. These soldiers who were used to battle quickly grabbed their weapons and got up.

It was a Titan Imperial Guard! Just one person! An old man who begged for mercy! A lunatic old man who had watched his wife, sons, and grandchildren tortured without shedding a tear! 

The Deiss devils cried out loudly. The old man dressed in his armor and sword, standing alone outside the court was undoubtedly the most interesting thing they had encountered since the war. Several nosy soldiers went forward and shouted at the old man, "Put that thing down...it will hurt you, old man."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the old man's longsword pierced through the soldier in front, chopped the soldier on the left to the ground, and cut the soldier on the right in half. The smiles of the Deiss devils stiffened on their faces. The old man threw a head at their direction and the head rolled across the courtyard and finally came to a stop at the feet of the commander of the devils.

Sergeant Pilar Hartzer lifted the sword aloft like before. The wheat field behind him was his defense.

"Long live the motherland!"

Hundreds of Deiss soldiers rushed up in a frantic. They wanted to cut the old man who boasted shamelessly into mud, but the old man disappeared into the field before they could notice. More and more devils rushed into the pastoral countryside. They searched around tirelessly until a ridge between the field suddenly picked up a fire, and the entire golden wheat field turned into a fiery sea of flames.

An Imperial Guard soldier stood in the center of the sea of fire. As the fall breeze messed up his silver hair, he looked calmly at the harvest with a kind of calming but delightful gaze that was unique only to a farmer.

Chapter end