The Goddess Made A Mistake Again
Chapter 390 - 390 - The Good and Bad Bandit News

The Next Day

It was close to noon when a soldier called for my attention, "Sir! The Captain is calling for you to meet him in his tent."

"Finally!" I say, getting up, "I wondered if we were ever going to do anything or not."

Lucian also got up, "Do not blame the captain for this. The people needed mending and there were other works too, he didn't delay this because he wanted to."

"I know that but I hate all the waiting around." I say and look at the soldier who was bringing us to Klein's, "How is the guy acting?"

"Pardon me sir?"

"I mean, is he happy, moody or angry?"

"I- I didn't check."

"Yeah, how could you." I shook my head and sigh, "With such an impartial face, not even his wife would know whether he likes getting banged or is just keeping with it."

"Lord Tax!" Lucian quickly reprimanded me while the soldier gave a small laugh before apologizing.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"It's alright, I'm not going to you tattle you out to him so don't worry." I smile at him, "About the army, how are the men?"

"Well sir, most of them are healed and are ready for battle. The last victory brought our moral up quite a lot so nobody's complaining about anything."

"Good!" I nod and think, 'It's been quite a few days and I'm sure the other captains have already done their fair share of fights too. It won't take long to finish this and get back to the capital.'

I talked a bit more with the guy and took in more information of the camp.

Like he said before, everything was good. Morale was high, soldier numbers were okay and ration was enough to bring us through a few more weeks as well.

When we approach the tent, the guards suddenly block it and stop us.

"What is this?" I ask them, "Captain Klein asked for me."

The soldier nodded, "Yes, that is so. But he only asked for you m'lord. You can't bring anyone in with you."

By his meaning, Lucian couldn't go with me.

"What? I'm his lord's personal protector. I should be allowed in as well." Lucian frowned.

"That would be so, but alas, captain has other thoughts about that." The soldier said, almost nonchalantly.

I saw how the guards were given no respect to Lucian. This wasn't the case before. It was almost as if, somebody was trying to gauge something here.

"You!"

I stop Lucian from speaking any further, "He's right. Klein called specifically for me and this is our own camp anyway, there's no need to get things out of hands, right?" I shrug towards the soldiers who smile in return.

"Of course, m'lord." They move aside, "Please go in, the captain is waiting for you."

Lucian stood by outside as I went in alone. Inside, the tent was as seen before, tidy, clean and organized with its owner sitting behind his desk reading a letter.

"Captain"

Klein didn't look up from his letter as he gestured to sit. I sit before him as he opens up with a surprising statement, "You don't like Lucian, do you."

I was almost a bit startled, except for I expected a similar question, just not so direct. Still, I smile, "What got you to think that?"

Klein finally put the letter down and looked at me, "I instructed the guards to behave a bit bitter towards Lucian and see how you would react to it. And like I had thought, you were impartial to it."

"No wonder I felt that something was wrong. To think it was you captain. Good to know."

"Good?"

I nod, "Well, it is better to be instructed to act instead of actually feeling bad about someone. So that's why it's good to know that you did it deliberately." Then I gesture towards the letter he just put down, "Is it from the commander?"

Klein nodded, his mind not losing the fact how Henry didn't answer his question and subtly diverted it. But he didn't mind it, he already got his answer.

"Yes, I called you in just for that."

"Oh? Is the progress for the bandit attack going good? Are we close to finishing them off?" I ask.

"Yes. With efforts from the other captains, the bases have all been removed, except for one." Klein said and clicked on the letter, "And we just got ordered to take care of it ourselves."

"Oh! That's great news." I smile, 'To think that there's only one more base before this shit is over. I wonder if Margaret missed me in this few moments… probably not.'

Klein sighed, acting tired, "Yet with good news, comes bad as well."

"Hmm?" I raise a brow, "Did something happen?"

Klein nodded, his pale blue eyes lingering on the letter, "The bandit king, who's been idle since start has finally made his move."

I lean up, "Good, where is that guy?"

"He's heading straight for Lord Commander." Klein subtly gazed up to see Henry's shocked look, "He's aiming to attack the commander and maybe hold him hostage."

"What? How many men does he have?" I ask, still feeling somewhat shocked by the disclosure.

"Five thousand." Klein saw the shocked look again, "Or that's what his letter said when he asked for the commander to surrender."

"You don't think he has that many men?" I ask and Klein shook his head.

"It's not that he doesn't have that many, in fact I believe he has a lot more." Klein saw Henry's confusion and explained further, "But he didn't bring that many with him."

"Because to bring that many would slow his advance and give us time to build a strong defense. There's also that, with such a big force, it would be impossible for him to hide them when he comes, yet we haven't heard anything about so many bandits moving in a single company."

I think about Klein's words and find them completely logical.

'Yes, if he brought so many fighters than Seman should have already learned about it. So he's bluffing to make Seman or more precisely, the soldiers under him buckle down in fear.'

"So what is the Commander's plan? Even if the bandit king doesn't bring that many people, he would surely have more than the Commander."

"That is true, which is why he called in the backup force from the city and also the captains to come aid him." Klein told me.

"Alright, so when are we moving?"

"…Whenever you want."

I raise a brow at that, "That sounds weird, but alright, let's go to the commander's right now."

I was about to get up when Klein said, "No, we won't be aiding him."

"What?" I ask, my voice a bit high, "Why not?"

"Because he already ordered us to take care of the last base." Klein said, looking not the least bit worried.

"But the commander is of higher priority."

"That is so, but we have our orders. Do you want to disobey your superior officer, Mr. Tax?"

I see Klein giving me the same look as before. The guy was serious about wanting to go through with this.

'Wait a second?' I think as his words replay back to me, "What do you mean by we could move whenever I want?"

"That?" Klein got up and showed me the letter, "Because you're going to be the one leading the final charge."