Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 156 - 60: Triumph

Chapter 156: Chapter 60: Triumph

"The knight squad was annihilated?" Alfred slumped into a chair, his spirit shattered, "Those men aren’t dead?"

"Not only that, but just a few minutes ago we received word that the mortar units in the northern central defense zone have gone silent," the aide-de-camp Langfeilo said expressionlessly, "It seems this team has breached the northern defensive line, infiltrating the mortar crew’s quarters."

"What about Erich?" Alfred hurriedly asked, "Has Lord Erich made contact?"

Langfeilo fell silent.

Of course, there had been communication; mortar commander Erich had cursed Alfred out in the messages, demanding to know why, despite having given fire support, he had allowed the enemy to breach the front lines and infiltrate, causing his precious artillery boys to suffer casualties.

If tomorrow’s battle saw mortar rounds captured from above Olin City raining down, Erich swore he would curse Alfred in front of Bernifax, denouncing his ancestors for eighteen generations.

Naturally, these vulgarities didn’t need to be repeated to Alfred.

Aide-de-camp Langfeilo thought for a moment, then replied:

"Lord Erich replied: don’t panic, everything’s fine, you’re doing well."

Alfred: .........

"Don’t lie to me," he said with a bitter smile, "That old man must have given me an earful."

"The important thing now is that the team that has broken into the mortar defense area must be dealt with, otherwise the mortar unit will suffer even greater losses," aide-de-camp Langfeilo changed the subject, getting back to business.

"However, the remaining manpower on the northern defensive line is already stretched thin just maintaining the line against further enemy infiltration," Alfred said evenly, "Report this to the higher-ups."

"It looks like we can’t resolve the mess we’ve created on our own."

Shortly thereafter, an order was transmitted from His Majesty Bernifax, commanding the immediate dismissal of the Northern Front Commander Alfred, to be replaced by His Majesty’s Sword Guard, Viscount Joel Grafword.

"So it’s that guy Joel," Alfred lay despondently in his command chair, his expression one of defeat, "What a pity, the last thing I wanted was for him to show up."

"But even if Joel takes over my position, I doubt he’ll be able to handle that troublesome elite squad," he mockingly said, taking bitter pleasure in his misfortune, "I look forward to watching Joel struggle with that troubled, irritated expression on his face."

Just as he finished speaking, new information came in from the communications officer:

The squad that had infiltrated the mortar defense area had withdrawn back through their original route and left the battlefield.

Alfred: ................

"Bloody hell!" he raged, flipping the entire command table.

——————

The men of The Azure Longsword returned loaded with captured mortars and ammunition boxes.

Although they returned loaded, their hands were actually empty—the goods were all piled up on Fire Island.

They had made a temporary retreat because Aske didn’t want to continue causing chaos and become the target of the entire Crusade.

Although they had already become the target of the northern Crusade front... on the route back, any other knight squads that caught a glimpse of The Azure Longsword members generally pretended not to see them, merely avoiding the killers from afar.

Therefore, everyone was glad to return to the city in peace, since their trip had already reaped substantial rewards.

Arriving at the entrance of the tunnel, Aske instructed the girls to move the items from Fire Island, then he sent Medea into the tunnel to notify the garrison to come out and move the supplies.

"Everyone act a bit tired!" Aske encouraged them. "Pretend we carried all of these military supplies back ourselves!"

Everyone was speechless. With such a pile of boxes here, who would believe that? We’re not superhuman!

Nevertheless, the girls followed Aske’s instructions and casually sat on the ground or on the boxes, putting on expressions of "I’m so tired, I’m under a lot of pressure."

When the garrison soldiers eventually rushed out of the tunnel, they were greeted with mortars and boxes of shells neatly stacked on the ground, and their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in alarm.

So much!

Did you rob the Crusaders’ logistics troops or what? How many artillery units had to be wiped out to get all this?

Without delay, the garrison sent word up through the ranks, and soon enough, the Chief of Security Quintus was also stirred into action.

Seeing the military supplies piled up in the fortress, Quintus couldn’t help but turn pale.

In the past, the Imperial Orthodox Church had always tightly controlled Olin City’s industrial development and trade in arms, leading to the city’s warehouses being stocked only with rather outdated batches of mortars and rocket launchers, most of which had already been deployed in retaliation.

With this replenishment of arms and ammunition, it meant that even ordinary citizens’ defense forces could join the war, and the mages who had been fighting continuously for over a dozen hours could finally rest properly.

"God above, you are the saviors of Olympia City!" Even though he always prided himself, he couldn’t help but take Aske’s hand at this moment, moved and shaking it vigorously.

"It’s nothing, earning one’s pay, fulfilling one’s duty," Aske said as he withdrew his hand from his grasp. "After all, we are professional mercenaries."

Thira watched her uncle lose composure beside her, and couldn’t help but feel both amused and moved.

"You are the last batch to return. Of course, also the one with the most outstanding military achievements." In the ascending elevator, Quintus praised them again and again, making even the girls feel a bit embarrassed.

"How did the other teams fare?" Aske asked.

"Rather poorly," Quintus shook his head. "The Crusaders clearly were on guard against our sorties from the city. They set up extensive defenses in the north, northeast, and northwest sectors, and in the end, we only managed to break through the northern defense line."

"Looking at the timing, it seems that your group significantly depleted the northern defense line’s troops, allowing subsequent mercenaries to infiltrate. Even so, you still remained the longest in the Crusaders’ artillery defense zone and caused the most destruction to their siege positions."

"Others either suffered heavy casualties or decided to withdraw early from the battlefield upon realizing they couldn’t advance further," Quintus sighed. "Only Rudashus and his Spartans, after crossing the northern line, roamed the northwest region and killed some enemy gunners."

"But they did not bring anything back."

"I understand," Aske nodded. "Spartan custom prioritizes bringing back the bodies of their fallen comrades."

"Yes," said Quintus. "They are holding a funeral in the Great Arena on the top floor. In addition, the Crusaders sent some ’items’ around noon that have made the mood among the city’s citizens very unstable."

"After the funeral is over, my father hopes to hold a victory pilgrimage to commemorate your recent achievements and also provide an outlet for the citizens’ shared hatred and anger."

"What did the Crusaders send over?" asked Aske. "What items?"

Quintus hesitated, a faint shadow crossing his face.

"Human heads," he finally said. "A thousand of them, all citizens of Thessalonica."