Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1157 - 12 Preparing for Battle (Part 2)_3

Chapter 1157: Chapter 12 Preparing for Battle (Part 2)_3

"What good luck?" Monkey cried bitterly. "Fought two battles, didn’t earn a single merit! Finally captured a guy, got a sword, but was punished to dig latrines for a month."

Old Lu Xirong shook his head with a wry smile: "You... Your first battle was the Blood and Mud fight, and you walked off the battlefield alive and kicking. Doesn’t that prove you’re lucky?"

Monkey responded with a dismissive "Oh," thinking of Sergeant Bunir and his childhood friends.

"Moreover, not every grunt can offend nobles and act like nothing’s happened. What are they compared to you? They just need to move their lips, and you’ll be sweating, bleeding, even risking your life!" Lu Xirong continued earnestly:

"But you’re lucky. His Excellency Montaigne is a rare fair officer in the camp. Punishment is punishment, reward is reward, never partial. Do you think digging latrines is punishment? That’s favoritism! Believe it or not, if His Excellency Montaigne wanted to punish you, even without a word, many would rush to settle scores with you."

Monkey sat quietly with a dejected "Oh."

"So, Little Monkey." Old Lu Xirong sighed again: "I’m afraid you’ll use up all your luck too early. What will you do then?"

Monkey fell silent.

"I heard His Excellency Montaigne wants to restart his school, and is selecting loyal, smart soldiers," Lu Xirong revealed his true intention for Monkey — carving out a path for him: "I’ve asked Sergeant Bunir, he agreed to put your name in. You’re young and clever, don’t waste the opportunity."

"I’m not going!" Upon hearing they’d be separated, Monkey instinctively resisted, pleading anxiously: "Sergeant, my parents died early, besides Dog and you, nobody’s been good to me — from now on, I’ll call you Old Papa! I’ve had headaches reading since I was little, Old Papa, I’m begging you not to send me away! I’ll listen to you from now on! Isn’t it better to earn merit by going for heads than attending some lousy school?"

Reluctance filled Lu Xirong’s eyes, but his tone grew stricter, rebuking harshly: "Kid, you know nothing! It’s not an ordinary school, it’s a school for officers. Commander Tamas, Commander Xialing... those who intimidate you now all came from this training camp. You go in, learn well and observe, you’ll become an officer! Isn’t that better than being a grunt for life?"

"What’s an officer worth!" Monkey wiped tears: "I don’t care!"

Lu Xirong suddenly stood up, delivering a firm slap, saying sadly: "Open your eyes and see! Just finished a war! War is coming again! Endless wars await! Even if you’re lucky, you’ll run out eventually! Do you want to be like me, no children, no home, nothing, destined to die on the battlefield?!"

Monkey grabbed Lu Xirong’s hem, crying loudly.

...

Meanwhile, at the other end of the camp, in the officer’s office area.

"Must make it clear to everyone. Repeat it to ensure everyone understands." Tamas said while awkwardly signing the supply list without looking up: "Shovel Port battle is the last time merits will be awarded for heads. From now on, indiscriminate killing of prisoners will be punished severely. Tell everyone not to worry, Civil Guard Officer is drafting a new merit and bounty distribution policy, to be announced soon."

Peter Buniel nodded continuously.

Tamas squinted, furrowing his brow, clumsily signing several documents, then looked up to see Peter Buniel still standing there.

"Anything else?" Tamas asked.

"Captain." Dwarf Peter bowed his head, timidly asked: "Can I really be a company commander? Can I really... manage a hundred people? The thought of making a mistake and causing their deaths, I... I get weak-kneed..."

Tamas pondered, pocketed the bills, and asked seriously: "Do you think I qualify as captain?"

"Definitely!" Dwarf Peter answered without hesitation.

"Yet I never thought I did." Tamas paused, hoarsely said: "I was just a horse feeder, went wherever told. It was Civil Guard Officer who taught me reading, I still can’t write my name well! I command others? I shoulder the lives of 480 soldiers? Bart Xialing is far more suited to this role than me. Why me? I don’t understand either."

Dwarf Peter struggled to find words.

"But sometimes..." Tamas struggled with words: "What happens to us isn’t about what we want. I didn’t want defeat, yet we lost in the wilderness. I wanted to save money, live steadily, but here I am... Understand? Peter? Our wants don’t matter — or they shouldn’t! What matters is our choices, our actions."

Dwarf Peter nodded blankly.

"You’ve been on the battlefield, charged into danger, earning respect through acts of bravery. You fulfilled duties when responsible for a company." Tamas said picking up his quill:

"Aside from courage or fear, competence or luck, given your record, Civil Guard Officer thinks you can temporarily command the first company. Future performance will determine your formal appointment. So—congratulations, Commander Buniel."

Tamas resumed examining the supply list: "Now, return to your company."

"Yes."

Peter Buniel saluted, turned, and left.