Rust - Chapter 978



Only Krnovel

RUST -978

The officers’ appearance did not avoid Leon Bonnard’s cold gaze.

‘What can we do if politicians are wrong?’

‘Does that mean the soldier disobeyed orders?’

‘I am against political issues interfering with the military.’

‘The military only does its best for the empire.’

Most officers remain steadfast even when they know the situation is not right. Leon Bonnard saw through it.

‘I see.’

Many of the mid-level officers had no sense of crisis about the current political situation, because even when General den Braun was overthrown, the military was still the military.

Even if they feel a sense of crisis, what is important to them is protecting the empire rather than a political crisis.

If you think about it, the officers’ thoughts were not exactly Dan Brown’s. That was the general thinking and the norm. Leon Bonnard’s expressionless face broke and a bitter feeling leaked out.

okay.

These are the officers of the empire that succeeded the United States.

Just regular officers. They are just like he was.

That’s why it tasted more bitter.

“We will lose many comrades.”

“······.”

“······.”

“Give your subordinates time to write their wills and get ready. This will probably be our last break. That’s all.”

He shook his head slightly as he watched the officers rise from their seats, salute, and walk out.

‘There is no way.’

If we wanted to save everything, we had to retreat right now.

However, the moment you order a retreat without fighting, you will take back your command authority and report to your superiors for choosing to disobey orders. That is the duty of an Imperial officer.

He had no choice, having been promoted to special rank and then to wartime rank in just a few months. When he had friction with his superiors, he found himself lacking mid-level executives who would follow his orders.

‘Did they really foresee this and give me a two-rank promotion and a two-rank exhibition promotion?’

If we look at it objectively, the operations he has set up so far have all gone well.

This may be because there were many officers who prioritized the empire over officers who rode the line, who were filled with jealousy, envy, and an inferiority complex.

If not, there would have been problems in planning and executing the operation.

The pitiful eyes looking at the operational status board began to gradually turn colder.

‘Those fucking raccoon-like bastards…’

The situation has already become a mess. The new president, the congress, the military’s top brass, and the opposition party centered around the last election candidate who is trying to use it to their advantage.

The media was also divided into two groups. Those who said to remain good heroes and those who criticized the current administration and spoke out for the opposition party.

The unprecedented situation of supply restrictions and no additional support has turned into a political issue.

A breakthrough was needed. Whatever it was.

‘If it’s Dan Brown, he still has political power.’

The problem is that we don’t know which officer is connected to Dan Brown.

If Dan Brown had clearly created a secret organization within the military, it would inevitably be caught by the current government and the military, so even if they were looking for him, there was no chance that he would reveal himself to be on Dan Brown’s side.

That’s why it provoked a reaction.

If Dan Brown, who had emphasized democracy and the fact that the Empire was the successor to the United States, had heard what he had just said to his officers, he would have reacted sensitively.

‘They will use their political power to induce additional support, or to bring the current situation to light again through the media, or at least pressure the military to order a retreat.’

Maybe the current government and the military line will react first. Maybe the ruling party line will strike first. The best thing would be for Dan Brown to react and for the three forces to take center stage.

Leon Bonnard took out a strong cigarette.

after—-

The red flashing light turned into white smoke and disappeared.

Considering the spiders’ reaction speed, there wasn’t much time.

‧

‧

‧

A conference room filled with the new president, ruling party members, and generals from the same line.

“Isn’t that right? Making political statements in front of officers.”

“Look at this. It’s definitely attached to that side.”

“Loyalty is revealed in times of crisis.”

“The virtue of a soldier is to obey orders. Even if it seems like an unreasonable order, how dare you bring up the pros and cons of a position where you should be doing your best.”

“It’s fortunate that we now know Leon Bonnard’s true intentions.”

“If we had sent both the tactical nukes and the airships as he requested, there might have been a coup.”

“A coup is impossible.”

“What?”

“All of our core facilities and personnel have moved into this floating city. What will we attack here with?”

“Even if we attack, if this facility is destroyed, the future of the empire is over. It would be suicide.”

“Then what about Leon Bonnard’s political statements in front of the officers?”

“It was a signal that I was going to stick with the white guy.”

indeed.

Some nodded.

The one who is currently using the media to launch a political offensive is the opposition party. By telling the officers that it is not right, they reached out to them.

“They will pressure you with additional support.”

“No further support will be provided.”

“He has achieved great success even under limited circumstances. With additional support, he will succeed in defeating the Philadelphia Spider.”

“There is nothing we can do now.”

He caught the giant ant queen who was fleeing with only the strength of a regiment. And Leon Bonnard was the one who took out the spiders that had taken over Philadelphia with a hundred thousand units in a single engagement.

If you look at the battle records, the operation was perfect. It was a battle that could be considered a fight between humans. It was truly artistic to create a single opportunity in the face of absolute disadvantage and turn the game around by succeeding in it.

If he joins that side? It means that from now on, all the popularity and achievements will be shared with the opposition party.

‧

The faces of David White, the opposition leader who lost within the margin of error in the last election, and the members of parliament were bright.

This was because news came in that the hero of the Empire, Leon Bonnard, had publicly criticized the current regime and the military.

“Yeah, that’s right. That guy knows how to seize an opportunity.”

“Now we can use this news to put pressure on the current regime and the military.”

“Is it okay?”

“Leon Bonnard’s military talent is extraordinary.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“If he gets additional support and makes it back to Philadelphia, he will have accomplished something that even President Dan Brown could not.”

That’s what it meant to reclaim the abandoned Philadelphia area.

Moreover, completely wiping out the spider forces around Philadelphia meant that Delaware, where the Air Force base was located, Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Norfolk could all be reclaimed in one fell swoop.

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

How long will it take Leon Bonnard’s special forces, who have taken over the giant ants that have taken over New York and the spiders that have taken over Philadelphia, to take control of an area where there are no clear powers?

David White and the members of Congress looked grim as they said that it would be faster, not slower, than the speed at which Germany occupied France in World War II.

The story was that if we do something wrong, the party that protected and raised the hero could end up like the party that was eaten by the hero. I don’t know about becoming a political partner, but I think there is no need to take the risk of becoming more than that.

“The scale of support will be important.”

“Yes.”

“No. Right now, it’s right to give full support.”

“Why?”

“It’s going to be very cold soon.”

“······.”

“but.”

“I guess so.”

Once the bitter cold set in, with temperatures easily dropping to minus 50 to minus 60 degrees Celsius, the operation was over, no matter how many supplies and additional support there were.

Rather, the supplies consumed to fully maintain the troops received as additional support will be reduced. Even the slightest misstep will cause non-combat losses to snowball.

That meant that even after that, there was room for pressure. Whether it was the current regime, the military, or Leon Bonnard.

‧

‧

‧

Dan Brown closed his eyes.

‘That’s dangerous.’

What Leon Bonnard said to the officers was dangerous by any measure.

‘It’s too dangerous.’

It could be seen as a statement putting pressure on the new president, government, and military, while also reaching out to the opposition party.

If it had gone a little further, it could have been interpreted as sending a signal to Dan Brown himself.

No matter how bad the situation was, the moment the military began to question political right and wrong and interfered in politics, it was inevitable that it would be unable to escape the temptation of a coup.

And once a coup d’état takes place, there is no stopping it. That is why, in countries where a coup d’état has taken place, another coup d’état usually takes place.

“······.”

[······.]

Dan Brown poured the whiskey into a glass. Slowly.

He sighed as he sipped straight glasses after glasses, each one filled with a rich aroma and golden color.

“He will be remembered as a hero.”

The voice, like a monologue, melted into the air.

‧

‧

‧

Leon Bonnard looked at himself in the mirror.

A blank expressionless face with cold, emotionless eyes was visible. A lone star was visible on the helmet.

‘General, reinforcements have arrived.’

‘There are 2,000 exosuit troops and 5,000 punishment troops.’

If you add the 7,000 troops that came this time to the 3,000 special forces that were previously under his command, it will be a total of 10,000 troops. What he requested were tactical nuclear weapons and airships, but what he received were infantry.

‘Orders to continue the Philadelphia offensive.’

‘The President said he was waiting for news of victory.’

‘The ruling party leader said he would do his best to provide support and distribution.’

‘······.’

There was no news from Den Brown.

Leon Bonnard, looking back at himself in the mirror, got into the command vehicle and gave orders.

Vroom-

“Entering the enemy defense line that has collapsed due to concentrated artillery fire.”

“approach.”

[advance.]

Imperial forces, having swept the attack area with artillery fire and seawater bombs, began to slowly advance into the Philadelphia Spider area.

[Tick-tick-tick- the communication is crackling- unstable.]

[D-Chijik-Ron- Reconnaissance-Impossible-Chijijik]

“Switch to wired.”

It was the Imperial Army that built a wired communications network to prepare for communication failures.

[Chick- Communication secured.]

[Operation begins. Chick-]

This operation is based on the premise that, having tasted the heat of tactical nuclear weapons, the spiders will not attack recklessly even if they dig in like this.

It was an act bordering on bluff, but it only fooled them enough to build a makeshift fort inside the city of Philadelphia.

[Did you check the location?]

[Confirmed.]

[Then what are you doing? You should have started from the observation post!]

[ancient.]

Push-

A massive wall appeared, accompanied by the sound of gas rising. A structure that seemed to be an enlarged version of the Holy Kingdom’s mobile bunker began to form. In an instant, guard posts were raised and walls were built on all sides.

And just when the tension was starting to ease as the first phase of the operation ended smoothly, the spiders moved.

[It’s a spider!]

[Eww- Save me!]

By the time the guards discovered the spider, it had already infiltrated the makeshift fortress and attacked the penal corps that was under construction.

Leon Bonnard ordered calmly.

“Find the hole they dug through. Find the hole as planned.”

If by any chance the spiders see through the bluff and attack, they will dig a hole using the ground spider and attack, so they are prepared.

[There are no oysters.]

[It didn’t come from a cave.]

Leon Bonnard’s gaze turned to the sky, not the ground. He saw spiders jumping among the buildings that had not collapsed.

Spiders that had been hiding in the building to avoid the sea water were falling into the middle of the imperial army on spider webs that they had spread out like paragliding.

[General! The self-propelled guns are under attack. Spiders have appeared from the rear.]

[Module reactor exploded. They cut off the power.]

In an instant, the status board began to turn red.

Assault on the stronghold fortress.

Long-range flanking attack on self-propelled guns.

So the reason I was beaten up silently wasn’t because of the tactical nukes?

So what’s next?

‘It must be a siege and destruction.’

However, it was an operation that started with the retreat route perfectly set.

“Retreat to the retreat route.”

[retreat!]

[Retreat to the designated location.]

Despite the chaos, the officers were excellent. Leon Bonnard, who had been leading the men towards the retreat route, gave orders to the air fleet.

“Load the self-propelled guns first.”

It was an airship waiting nearby after the seawater bombardment. While the airships were rescuing the self-propelled guns, the penal troop was being massacred.

[Eww! Save me!]

[Where are you? Where should I go!]

There was a scene of uncontrolled penal corps members running around in confusion. A huge explosion seemed to break the chaos.

Kururururung-

Kwaaaaang-

And then a huge building on the retreat route collapsed sideways, crushing the Imperial forces.