The enormous Great Wall was so grand that it stood out clearly even amidst the snowstorm.

And in the midst of that, two men emerged through the fiercely swirling snow.

"Halt!"

A guard stepped in front of them with a clumsy motion, placing his hand on his sword. But that lasted only a moment.

"Urk!"

The guard blocking their way was shoved aside by the rough hand of one of the men.

He raised his hand threateningly, as if about to strike.

"Typical of the training unit. Where did you sell off all your discipline?"

The members of the training unit cast fearful glances. Small wonder, since the man before them, Frederick, glared at them as if he might devour them at any moment.

Everyone here immediately recognized what sort of person Frederick was.

They weren't sure exactly, but they knew he was someone 'higher' than themselves.

Regardless of their reaction, the man standing next to him, Erich, slowly took in the overall view of the training unit.

Even through the blowing snow, his sharp eyes could see everything.

― Bzzzt.

A faint reddish glow flickered in his eyes. He saw soldiers jogging shirtless in this freezing weather. And trainees sparring or drilling in the training unit.

'... So it's as I thought.'

Erich's gaze fixed on the frightened trainees. What he had deduced quickly shifted to suspicion.

"So, do you have some sort of reason for being here? Even if Nicholas is an idiot, technically, he's our superior."

Currently, the position Nicholas held in the Watch was training unit commander. It was a respectable title, but not the same as someone like Chief Konrad heading the supply unit.

Unlike the supply unit, which was a single unit overseeing all logistics for the Watch, there were several training units and thus several commanders.

Because of this, their importance wasn't especially high—they were only slightly above outpost captains.

In other words, as training unit commander, Nicholas outranked Erich, who was the outpost captain.

"So what? Isn't it easier to beat up someone higher up the chain, Frederick?"

"Now, that's a bit much. I may not be the wisest fellow, but I don't just bash around anyone with a commander's rank."

"We're not here for that, so don't worry."

Frederick cocked his head. Just then, someone emerged from among the trainees.

"This is a place where members are trained. Please refrain from causing a disturbance."

The shadow cast by the emerging man covered Erich and Frederick. His overwhelming size was enough to make even Frederick hesitate for a moment.

'Is that guy Max, then?'

Erich glanced upward. A square-jawed face. An expression devoid of emotion. He suddenly understood why Frederick had referred to him as a 'lanky brute.'

"Escort us to Commander Nicholas. There's something urgent we must discuss."

"State your affiliation and identity."

"I don't have a badge yet, but you know this man, don't you?"

Max didn't even look at Frederick. Even though Frederick's black cloak bore the senior member's badge.

"State your affiliation and identity,"

Max replied, his reaction mechanical. Erich sensed a strange incongruity in it.

"Outpost captain of Black Serpent Outpost. I am Erich, newly assigned..."

"My apologies. I will escort you to the commander's quarters,"

Max interrupted promptly, turning to lead the way without another word.

Erich quickly followed. Frederick glanced around warily before trailing after.

"What's this? He didn't even look at me. Does he let just anyone in who can state their rank?"

Though Frederick muttered so under his breath, Erich had already pieced together Max's behavior.

"That could be the case. Or perhaps..."

"Or perhaps?"

"That's a secret."

Frederick squinted suspiciously at Erich.

'It's either that he already knows me, or simply because I'm from Black Serpent Outpost.'

As they entered the training grounds, Erich could observe the trainees far more closely than outside.

They were sparring with wooden swords, or drilling in unison. Frederick, upon seeing them, rubbed his nose and remarked,

"Ah, brings back memories. Not that you'd know, since you haven't been through it...as a trainee back then..."

"Doesn't something seem off?"

"Hm? What do you mean? And would you quit interrupting me?"

"Never mind. I suppose there's something nice about living a simple life—a lighter head, for one."

Frederick's eyes rolled. He couldn't tell if that was a compliment or an insult. Just then, Max stopped walking.

"This is the commander's quarters. I will report your arrival, so please wait outside for a moment."

Without waiting for a reply, Max swept his cape behind him and climbed the wooden stairs.

"I've seen that big guy a few times, but I'll never get used to him."

"So that's why you said he couldn't be the one behind this?"

"You saw it yourself. He's not the sort to scheme anything."

"That much is certain."

Erich prided himself as a commander with a keen eye for talent.

And in his judgement, Max was not a man who acted on his own initiative.

Moments later, Max emerged from the upper level and bowed to Erich, indicating they could come in.

"Let's go."

With Frederick, Erich entered the commander's quarters.

― Creak.

As they stepped inside, warmth enveloped them, and Erich's eyes took in the well-furnished room.

Here and there were decorations that seemed almost extravagant for a member of the Watch.

"Heh heh, so you must be the new junior officer?"

A heavyset man spun around in his chair to face Erich and Frederick. Max stood by his side like a bodyguard, his head nearly scraping the ceiling.

The man's face glistened with oil, and for some reason, he'd slicked his hair down with pomade.

Just looking at him, one could see his cheeks were full of greed, but Erich quietly bowed his head.

"Yes. I'm newly assigned to Black Serpent Outpost, Eri—"

"Oh, I already know. Erich von Krupp, isn't it? Krupp! Ha ha. A scion of such a prestigious house has arrived. Make yourself at home, please."

Nicholas waved his hand in a show of familiarity, as if to say such formalities were unnecessary between them.

'... So he has another motive.'

Erich met Nicholas's gaze. As a seasoned commander, he quickly scanned Nicholas's worth.

Why put on such a friendly front? And yet, he recalled the totally different Nicholas he'd met before his regression. The conclusion was inevitable.

'A worm-like bastard.'

People like Nicholas always wanted the same thing. Erich was currently treated as an unprecedented elite within the Watch, and even Nicholas would have heard the rumors.

'He must want to build external connections.'

Someone like him, eager to cultivate links with those in power, would have picked up information fast.

-*Snort snort snort*.

The silence in the room was filled with the sound as Nicholas poured himself a glass of wine. Grinning, he offered the glass to Erich.

"I'm just so delighted to meet a fellow noble in a place like this. If ever you're in trouble, you can always come to me."

Erich noticed Frederick's eye twitch. Clearly, Frederick disliked Nicholas's manner.

'... Well, never mind that. You weren't a noble, Nicholas.'

Even before his regression, Erich had disliked Nicholas. But if he'd shown real ability, Erich would have used him—he couldn't afford to be picky with personnel back then.

After becoming commander, Erich had scoured the Watch for all talented individuals and memorized their traits. But to his recollection, Nicholas was not a noble at all.

Taking the offered drink, Erich tried to recall, then curled his lips. Suddenly, he remembered.

'His family was roughly on the level of a village chief, wasn't it?'

Of course, that would be better than most who entered the Watch. But that hardly made one a noble.

If this were the Empire and not the Watch, pretending so would be grounds for a slap across the face.

It seemed Nicholas was putting on airs—trying to present himself as someone valuable. After all, nobles tended to favor fellow nobles.

The problem was, even if Erich had not experienced regression, he'd never fall for such a cheap ploy.

After sharing a drink, Nicholas folded his thick fingers together, smiling as if they were already close friends.

"Well, I think introductions are over. What brings you here? Are you in some sort of trouble?"

A strange sense of anticipation lingered in Nicholas's smile. He viewed this as a chance.

Erich reviewed the man's response. A newly assigned junior officer, higher than the local outpost captain but not quite as distant as the fortress commander—a precisely appropriate training unit commander.

Because such a commander had come to him, Nicholas must have assumed Erich was seeking advice or assistance.

Actually, that sort of thing wasn't rare. For those who rose from the ranks (not officers from the start), seeking advice from seniors was standard. Any half-aware operator would think of that much.

Frederick also watched Erich sidelong, wondering just what he was thinking, barging in here like this—

Into this nest of lunatics at the Great Wall, where guards could be killed at a whim and dressed up as accidents.

But Erich already knew exactly what he needed to do here. Having dealt with scum like this countless times, he was perfectly used to it.

"I've apprehended a guard caught smuggling in the area under Black Serpent Outpost's jurisdiction. The thing is, he called out your name, commander Nicholas."

"Pfft."

Nicholas, at Erich's blunt and unfiltered words, spat out the wine he'd been drinking.

It not only made Frederick's shoulder tremble with suppressed mirth, but even Max—who'd maintained a stony poker face—turned pale.

Nicholas's gaze sharpened. A hush fell between them, with only the sound of logs crackling in the fireplace to fill the room.

An ominous calm, like the lull before a storm, settled over them. But among them, only Erich remained completely composed.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Time for a beat down...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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