I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 17 The Rising Star of the Empire

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Walden Front Command Post.

The Imperial Seventh Air Force, apart from Colonel Jet, was currently gathered around the conference table with its high-ranking officers.

But everyone fell into an unusual silence, some frowning as they looked at the sand table in front of them, others anxiously glancing at the pocket watches in their hands.

Dormammu, the commander-in-chief of the front lines, sat in the main seat with his eyes closed in deep thought, as if quietly awaiting the outcome of something.

The atmosphere inside the command post was deathly silent; even breathing was barely perceptible.

"Ding!"

After an unknown amount of time, a sudden communication sound broke the eerie atmosphere.

The moment the bell rang, Dormammu, sitting on the throne, suddenly opened his eyes and immediately connected the communication device.

Although his voice remained calm and steady as usual, it wasn't hard to tell from his slightly trembling pupils that he was nervous at that moment.

"How is it?"

"Reporting to the General, the plan has succeeded. Warrant Officer John has completely destroyed the Allied anti-magic devices and is currently returning via the same route!"

"……Thanks for your hard work!"

"beep!"

The sound of the communication device being disconnected echoed continuously in the command post, but this monotonous sound, falling on the ears of all the high-ranking officers of the Seventh Legion, was like heavenly music played by the god of music, causing everyone's emotions to boil involuntarily at this moment.

Everyone's breathing gradually became heavy, and a strange fanaticism and excitement began to appear in their eyes.

Even Dormammu, sitting on the throne, couldn't help but smile at this moment, his usually stern face breaking into a gentle grin.

And as time went on, the smile grew stronger and stronger, eventually even appearing somewhat sinister.

"You have all heard Colonel Jet's report. So, I don't need to say more about what to do next."

"Three hours, I'll only give you three hours!"

"Three hours from now, I want to see the Imperial flag standing tall in the center of Walden's Magic Lake!"

"If you can't do it, then don't come back to see me!"

Dormammu's chilling voice echoed throughout the command post, but instead of feeling fear upon hearing their superior's harsh, almost cruel demands, the high-ranking officers were filled with excitement.
"Yes, General!"

"We will fulfill our mission!"

The imperial high command responded loudly, and then quickly and orderly headed out of the command post.

Just a few minutes later, thousands of bursts of blue light from magical energy emerged almost simultaneously in this frontline stronghold, and thousands of magic soldiers, led by their respective companies, flew into the sky in unison.

Like a swarm of frenzied bees, they swiftly charged toward the Walden front.

In less than a moment, the roar of artillery fire filled the air in the war zone between the Allied forces and the Empire.

Moreover, it is more ferocious and intense than it has been since the two sides began fighting a month ago!
So much so that even the Imperial soldiers' garrison, several kilometers away from the battle line, could hear it clearly!

"An unexpected turn of events."

Inside the tent, listening to the roar around him and realizing that the battlefield was about to change drastically, Dormammu seemed to have all his strength drained away, letting out a long breath of stale air.

After a long while, he finally composed himself and stood up from the chair. He slowly picked up the pipe on the table, put it in his mouth, and instinctively tried to light it with a match. But with his hands trembling, he struck the match many times but failed to get a spark. Instead, his overly forceful fingertips snapped it in two.

Only after the box was empty did he slam it onto the table in frustration.

But his face was filled with unprecedented joy.

Of course, he should indeed be happy about this.

After all, once the war is won, the empire he believes in will no longer have to worry about the impending extinction of its magical soldiers.

If the Empire can capture Walden's Magic Lake, it will have a chance to rise to the top again.

They even created unprecedented brilliance.

And all of this stems from this plan.

It originated from that, the rising star of the empire who had just stepped onto the battlefield.

"John Maslow, you certainly didn't disappoint me!"

Dormammu murmured the name softly, as if deep in thought, a glint of something unfathomable flickering in his aged eyes.

But soon, as if he had made a decision, he resolutely put down his pipe, then strode to his desk, pondered for a moment, and pulled out a piece of paper from his files.

Then, he picked up a pen and wrote on it:

"Duke Ostanen, it has been a long time since I last corresponded with you. I wonder if you have recovered well recently. I hope you will not mind that I have been neglecting to send my greetings."

"Our army has now seized the opportunity for victory on the Walden battlefield, and you will surely receive news of the victory soon. However, this is not the main reason I am sending you this letter. In this intense and difficult war, I have discovered a very outstanding talent among my officers."

"His talent is something even I can't help but admire, but as you know, my current situation prevents me from providing a future for any talented person. Therefore, after careful consideration, I've decided to discuss this gentleman's future with you..."

"..."

Dormammu quietly wrote at his desk until he had expressed all his thoughts and worries in the letter. Only then did he put down his pen and pick up his personal seal, which he hadn't used in a long time, and stamped it with a red seal at the end of the letter.

He then let out a long sigh of relief, put the letter into an envelope, and planned to send it out that night.

He looked up wearily and noticed the light shining from inside the tent. Only then did he realize that night had fallen.

Feeling the soreness in his body, Dormammu stood up somewhat dazedly, wanting to go for a walk.

But as soon as he arrived outside the tent, upon seeing the young figure being escorted by a group of people at the entrance of the stronghold, he couldn't help but pause.

He then smiled with a sense of relief.

He knew that it was time for his star, which had burned itself out for the empire, to come to an end.

Fortunately, he was replaced by a newly emerging star.

Furthermore, the brilliance that the other party can create will surely far exceed his imagination.

"This is really something to look forward to!"

Dormammu murmured to himself, silently watching the young figure surrounded by a crowd, who was now 'pretending to be angry' and joking around with them. He couldn't help but feel an unprecedented expectation for this young rising star of the Empire.

……

(End of this chapter)