16 Chapter 16: Saving the Capital and New Task
Along the way, I saw plumes of black smoke in many locations and chaos from troops with the same uniforms fighting against each other. It was a total anarchy at the edge of the capital where authority is the weakest. Some gangs and organizations even took this chance to try to profit from the chaos.
I could only imagine how worse it is outside of the Capital. Especially the active frontline where soldiers are still fighting against their real enemies. Hopefully the capital can stabilize before it crumbles or there's truly no more hope for the Empire.
"Tch… I know I'm basically jinxing it to happen… fuck it." I decided to use Future Calculation again. "What is the chance the Empire will be defeated in its current state?"
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It's taking quite a while to calculate as numbers continue to flash randomly.
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[42.71%]
The results appeared and from the looks of it, the chance is low. But not low enough. There are two out of five chances the Empire could be defeated. This means the Empire isn't completely at the enemies mercy yet and we still stand a chance.
I cast another Communication Spell and connect it to Tanya to get into contact.
"How's it going on your side?"
"Miserable… the Albion Kingdom has a named mage infiltrate the capital to counter me, The Devil of Rhine. Empire's named mage." Tanya replied while having lots of noise coming from gunfire, explosions and clashing with the enemies.
"Ray, I cannot take him head on any longer. His skill with magic outclassed me!" She replied exasperatedly.
"I guess I'm close enough…" I muttered before suddenly taking a sharp dive up into the air until I reached an altitude of 15,000. I quickly stop and deploy the Tri Formation Array.
"Tanya, can you make him release a big mana signature?" I asked while loading in Homing Cluster Shot with special enhancement on it.
Even if Homing Cluster Shot is comparably weak in firepower, the shots will hit the heart before it even leaves the gun's barrel. The rest is just a flair to attract attention to me, a rather unknown image to literally any other nation.
"I try but don't get your ho- Don't you dare escape after ruining my hair, you lil shit!" Tanya went crazy immediately after suddenly having her speech cutted off.
While waiting for the signal, I use my own rifle to find any target I consider high value like a machine gunner, Flight Mage or the leader leading the coup on the street.
Having your chest cavity suddenly blow open by a homing red projectile no matter how you escape or defend is incredibly demoralizing. This is what is happening to the opposing forces of the Empire. After the head is cutted off, the mobs and leaderless troops are easily crushed by the loyalist forces swiftly regaining control of the capital under the banner of the Imperial Majesty.
Tanya still had yet to carry out my request to contact her if not for the burst of mana signature near her.
"Ray!"
"Yeah yeah, no need to shout at my ears." I said before synchronizing the Tri Formation Array to my rifle and pulled the triggers.
Hundreds of red and purple beams streaked through the sky and rained through the clouds on the target who foolishly thought his barrier would help when the beams immediately bended and curved through any obstacles and pierce his heart regardless, felling Drake, the Great Archmage of the Albion Kingdom.
With the defeat of the Albion Kingdom's main infiltration forces, morale of the loyalist Empire troops is burning stronger like ember into a blazing flame.
"Also, I forgot to tell you but you are now in charge of the nearby troops." Tanya informed me with a playful tone. "So, Sir Ray. What is our next order?"
I wonder if this was some kind of joke from her but Tanya very rarely cracks a joke for no reason. Especially when performing her duty.
"Then, establishing communication with friendly forces is top priority and regrouping. Our current forces are separated and spreaded all over the capital, probably still fighting their own skirmishes. Split into a team of four and use mage ability to fly to scout and lead the friendly forces back to group up. Then we regain control of the capital once our forces are large enough." I ordered on an open and secured broadcast to everyone within the Wing.
"You all heard him. It's time for us to earn our wage and clean up our Fatherland from these backstabbers and traitors." Tanya rallied her troops, trying to raise the morale of her troops. But honestly, Ray's presence alone is enough of a reassurance to make them fight hard without worrying about defeat.
Tanya's troops all saw and knew the extent of power he showed during the war with Dacia. Nothing short but a proper and literal army can deter him. After all, they all had witnessed how he slaughtered almost a hundred with a single pull of his trigger. Several thousand troops are hardly enough to even consider a threat for him.
"UOOOHHHH!" Everyone cheered before split up into groups of four as mentioned before to carry out their task.
Ray remains in the air and snipes down targets from an altitude of 15,000 where no one can reach him unless enemies bring planes which there is none. He remains untouchable in the air, providing assistance to those in need.
Twenty minutes later, The inner capital is fully under the loyalist Empire troop's control. Under my leadership, we gathered our numbers and swept through the outer layer of the capital which was rather easy since what remained were a small group of traitors and civilians that joined the coup as rioters. But due to the size of the area, we took three hours to regain control of the entire capital and finally put an end to the coup.
"Sir, that's the last one sir. Enemies are fully neutralized."
"Great work, Lieutenant Weiss. Where is Tanya?" I asked while flying in the direction of the General Staff office.
"Major Degurechaff already went ahead and regrouped while waiting for you, sir."
"I see. Let's go then." I replied before increasing my speed while flying toward my destination.
When I arrived, I saw a large number of soldiers cleaning up the place. Many carried away corpses and lifted away rubbles from the street. Thankfully the casualty on our side isn't much because I took down all the major threats beforehand.
At the front door, there are dozens of soldiers wearing Imperial Army uniforms, guarding the door. They however saluted immediately and opened the door when I arrived without even needing me to confirm my identity or anything.
"The Supreme High Command is awaiting yours and the Commander of the 203 Mage Wing's arrival in the war room, Sir Ray." The one with the sharp facial feature and stern expression saluted and informed me.
I turned back and signaled Tanya to come along before he entered the building. They surprisingly allow us to enter with our rifles on. I looked at Tanya in confusion but she just shrugged and gave me a light slap on the back before telling me to be quick as she cut me and walked ahead to lead me to the room which was also heavily guarded by numerous Imperial Army troops standing in front of the door.
Immediately when the doors were opened, both me and Tanya were greeted with tables filled with the highest ranking people that run this nation under the Emperor. They were shouting and slamming tables in anger. The overall atmosphere was gloomy until our arrival shifted the mood to a better state.
"Wonderful, you two being here means the capital is finally under control." Zettour among the people said and welcomed us to enter.
"Would you imbeciles stop arguing and focus on the situation at hand now that we had successfully regained control of the capital?" Zettour addressed the fellow cabinet members of the Supreme High Command.
The crowd murmurs and whispers but overall nods and finally stops arguing with shame that they need to be scolded like a child for losing control of themselves.
"Great. Now, let's address our current situation and predicament." Zettour leaves his seat and walks over to a giant map of the Empire which has many markings that denote the movement of the military.
"While the Albion Kingdom along with the Unified States had declared war on us, the Russy Federation thankfully hadn't because of their recent revolution. However, we cannot be assured they wouldn't also declare war on us."
"Next, the major frontline is still holding strong for now but with two major superpowers declaring war on us, we can expect them to reinforce our current enemies and attack us from either the Legadonia Entente Alliance or Francoise Republic direction." Zettour paused for a moment before resuming. "While we unfortunately have little spies in the Unified States because they were never shown opposing us, we do however have plenty in the Albion Kingdom and they somehow declared the war too hastily."
"Are you saying that they declared war without even finishing deploying their military forces?" Rudersdorf asked in shock and disbelief if someone was actually dumb enough to do that.
"Indeed, my friend. Only their Mage, which is a flexible unit, are assembled and sent here. However, they were swiftly eliminated and their Ace of Ace, the Archmage, Issac Dustin Drake was also eliminated by both Major Tanya and Sir Ray." Zettour stated with a wide grin.
"What!"
"Unbelievable, the legendary Master Mage of the Albion Kingdom Navy was defeated?!" Many were in shock that such a strong powerhouse of their enemies was eliminated on the initial invasion.
"As you can see, although they declared war on us. They aren't exactly doing great. In fact, their clumsy work made it easy for us. Major superpower they were, they declared war on us without really being prepared and if we want to have a chance to survive. We must take this chance and launch a fierce assault and take down our enemies or at least cripple them enough that they are incapable of mounting any significant assault against us." Zettour said while hinting about his plan which is to either destroy the enemy's supplies or an all out assault to at least take down one of their current enemies to deny the major superpower a springboard for their attacks on the Empire.
"How about the internal issue? We must get rid of the traitors that backstabbed us at the moment of crisis. Having them is like a festering wound that will affect the Empire." The Minister of Interior asked with concern regarding the issue.
"Worry not, the Intelligence office had always been dealing with this and our agents were already working hard purging those filth from our glorious Empire." Zettour assured the minister who only nodded submissively because of shame.
After all, the highest number of defectors came from the government body instead of the military. Those cowards immediately jump ship the moment the opportunity arises.
"We shall close this issue for now and continue later with his Imperial Majesty. Now I would like to give you a new order, Sir Ray." Zettour said after turning his gaze to me. The others in the room did the same too and only thanks to Self-hypnosis that I can remain calm as a socially awkward person.
"I do not doubt your capability as a great mage surpassing a legendary figure like the Archmage of the Albion Kingdom. Thus, I will give you permission of freedom to do anything necessary to shatter the François Republic, capture its capital and break their command chain within two weeks."
"Sir Zettour! Giving this much power to a mere Lieutenant is absurd! Much less taking over the enemy's capital!" The other members of the Supreme High Command immediately made a ruckus, questioning Zettour's decision.
"I support his decision." Rudersdorf stated which made them speechless.
The ministers of course will call this absurd because they are unfamiliar with how warfare works. But to the two military generals, Ray is literally a tactical nuke they can drop behind enemy lines where they least expected and cause maximum destruction before dipping out. Their target is only the decision makers of the François Republic. Once they are gone, the command chain of the Francois Republic will be in chaos which is the best opportunity to swoop everything in one go. A high risk and high reward moves. A bet they normally wouldn't take but beggars can't choose.
"Also, to allow you to exercise your command. You will receive a field promotion and the paperwork will be delivered later to you, Colonel Ray." The others could only shut their mouth looking at Ray skipping four ranks on his promotion.
"Yessir! I will definitely deliver the victory to the Empire." I saluted before leaving with Tanya when dismissed. Though me and Zettour will have another discussion about the payment for this job.
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Outside the room…
"Hehe, looks like I will finally be in your care, boss." Tanya grinned and congratulated me on my promotion. "Having a higher rank officer as my superior finally means I am free of the heavy responsibility." She added while stretching her shoulder as if a heavy burden was finally lifted off her dainty little shoulders.
"I thought you would be jealous that I will be promoted faster than you." I asked confusedly because she from before even went to sabotage her senior just for a better rank.
"I'm a changed woman now, Ray. I would rather live carefree under you instead of being stressed every waking moment. Besides, just like Charlotte. You are now my owner too." She purred the latter part next to my ears. "You will be responsible for my welfare and wellbeing in exchange for my obedience. Right?"
If prior to the little incident with Charlotte, I would probably feel slightly flustered on the obvious attempt of flirting from Tanya. But now, I am surprisingly in great control of my emotions.
"Grow some curves first instead of flirting with me using those flat boards. I ain't no pedo to be interested in such a childish body." I lied while eyed her front and back before giving the latter one a little smack just to mess around a little with her.
"You lil brat! Wait another year or two, I will make you eat back your words." Tanya is surprisingly offended by that and stomps off with a pink flush on her pale cheek and grumbles.
Well, her statement about our seniority isn't wrong. While my combined age from first and second life is only 28, Tanya's combined age is at least 40+. A soon to be certified loli hag if she doesn't grow out of her current appearance.
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