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

Chapter 198 The Virtues of a Knight

"Ah, it's okay, it's okay, this is normal. After all, everyone's understanding of art is different, so there's no need to apologize, absolutely no need."

Observing Siegfried's reaction, Dolan's heart sank.

At that moment, he instantly realized that he had been so focused on expressing his true feelings that he had subconsciously forgotten Siegfried's commoner status.

He had intended to talk to the other party about art and, by the way, explain his lofty pursuits so that the other party would realize that he was different from the other foolish conservative nobles of the empire.

He is a trustworthy and wise ruler who will not mistreat his subordinates.

As long as Siegfried is willing to switch jobs and work for me, I can make sure he lives a life of luxury.

As a result, he accidentally got carried away and instead of winning people over, he made them think of him as a fool who was greedy for pleasure and had no artistic spirit.

Isn't this the end of the world?

To salvage the situation, one must find a way to restore one's image of brilliance.

Otherwise, this fierce general might be completely gone from my life!
Dolan's mind raced, and he quickly came up with a good idea. He forced a smile, suppressing the pain in his eyes, and said:

"Actually, I'm not that interested in this wine. The aroma of wine can induce hallucinations and make me play with beautiful girls, but that kind of thing is completely dispensable to me. That's right, completely dispensable!"

"The reason I brought you here today, Brother Siegfried, is that I thought a fine sword should be paired with a hero. Rather than wasting this barrel of wine on someone like me with low magical talent, it would be better for you to drink it."

"After all, besides being a work of art, this wine also has a very significant effect on enhancing magic."

"Furthermore, Siegfried, you've always wanted to increase your magical power, so..."

However, before Dolan could painfully utter the words of offering the wine, Siegfried abruptly interrupted:
“I’m sorry, Lieutenant General Dolan, this gift is far too valuable. Please allow me to decline.”

Meeting Dolan's astonished gaze, Siegfried's face was filled with determination:
"Perhaps you are grateful to me for saving your life before, but I personally believe that the high-level potions you have given me these past few days are enough to offset that favor."

"Besides, the reason I helped you in the first place was because I was following Commander John's orders, so you really don't need to send me anything more!"

"Furthermore, I have no intention of leaving the 1st Battalion to join any other unit, so I can only apologize for your appreciation."

"Finally, Lieutenant General Dolan, I will remember your kindness to me these past few days. If you ever find yourself in trouble in the future, I will do everything in my power to help you."

"Consider it my way of repaying your appreciation!"

Looking at Dolan, whose face was stiff and whose expression looked rather unpleasant.

He realized that his verbal refusal had probably disappointed Dolan completely, and that the treatment he was currently receiving, which far exceeded his military rank, would likely be gradually taken back by the other party.

Siegfried felt no regret whatsoever; on the contrary, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief after revealing his true feelings.

Even the magic power within his body has become much more active than before, showing a subtle trend of strengthening.

So he stopped paying attention to Dolan's expression and gave him a military salute:
"Lieutenant General Dolan, I would like to request that you relinquish my position as acting commander of the 3rd Independent Division Guard Regiment and return me to the 1st Ground Assistance Squadron. I would appreciate your approval."

"...What if I say I don't agree?"

Dolan stared at Siegfried with a grim expression, his usual smile vanished, and he revealed the long-lost dignity of a lieutenant general.

A complex emotion flashed in her azure eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger, and her voice gradually turned cold and sharp:

"I think you should know what the consequences are for disobeying your superior's orders in the military, Corporal Siegfried Fafner!"

"Lieutenant General Dolan, my unit is the 1st Ground Assistance Squadron, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Division, 3rd Air Army of the Empire. I was personally recruited by Major John Maslow, reviewed by Field Marshal Dormammu, and approved by His Majesty William. My current direct superior is Lieutenant Leia Binott."

Siegfried spoke expressionlessly, his blue eyes showing no fear, and his voice growing increasingly resolute:
"In other words, as the commander of the Second Army Corps of the Empire, you have no right to make decisions regarding my organizational structure as a member of the Imperial Air Force, nor can you forcibly arrange my stay or leave!"

"...You bastard, you damned ingrate, get out of here, right now!"

Hearing such a blunt rejection that it almost made him explode, Dolan's eyes instantly became bloodshot, and he trembled with anger.

He never expected that after so many days of preferential treatment, Siegfried would still use the issue of official positions to refute him.

In this amount of time, even a dog could be tamed.

But in the end, the other party still treated him like an outsider, even worse than an outsider.

How could Dolan not be furious?
"Corporal Siegfried Fafner received. May the glory of the Empire be with you, Lieutenant General Dolan Beyat!"

Siegfried didn't say much to the furious Dolan. After responding to him once, he turned and left without hesitation, leaving Dolan standing there dumbfounded, along with the guards who looked at him with confusion, standing there at a loss.

"..."

After a long while, Dolan finally snapped out of his daze as he watched Siegfried's figure gradually disappear into the distance.

A flash of intense regret crossed his eyes at first, but it was quickly replaced by confusion and resentment.

He didn't understand how, as the eldest son of the Beatrice family and holding the rank of lieutenant general, he was so much more powerful than John Maslow, that peasant.

And compared to John, who only used Siegfried as an ordinary soldier and failed to bring out even a fraction of his talent, he was practically blind to talent.

Whether it's recognizing and utilizing talent or seeking benefits for subordinates, he far surpasses his opponent.

If the other party were a smart person, they would probably have already tried to curry favor with him and try to obtain more resources.

After all, no smart person in this world would refuse a more distant future.

At first, he thought Siegfried didn't understand the meaning of his lieutenant general rank and the name he inherited from the Beat family.

They were even less aware of the sheer size of their wealth.

Therefore, during these days, he would try every means to find various reasons to reward Siegfried.

He even created a "progress award" for the other party's non-standard military salute, giving them ten bottles of high-grade magic potions.

You should know that each of those high-grade potions is worth over 1 D, and they're the kind that are priceless and unavailable.

It is a restricted drug that many people want to buy but cannot obtain.

Over the past 11 days, the total value of the gifts he gave to the other party was nearly one million dollars, almost depleting his inventory of non-art collectibles.

To appease the other party, he had just taken the initiative to back down and was willing to give up his pursuit of the artistic fantasy of 'The Dream of a Maiden' and give it to Siegfried with a heavy heart.

It's no exaggeration to say that even his former father, a former Grandmaster, never enjoyed such treatment.

But what have I gained after giving so much?
No!

Nothing! Aside from being rejected time and time again, I gained nothing!
He couldn't even get the other party to put aside the difference in rank and sincerely call him "brother"!

All I wanted was for the other party to be loyal to me, what did I do wrong?

"Damn it! Utterly bastard!"

"Crack!"

The more Dolan thought about it, the angrier he became. He immediately picked up a piece from his collection and smashed it at his feet. He seemed to have gone mad, smashing these works of art that he had always treasured and never shared with anyone.

For a moment, clanging and popping sounds kept coming from inside the carriage, which made the guards outside, who had just seen Siegfried leave inexplicably and wanted to go forward to ask about the situation, realize that the noise was deafening.

Upon seeing their general's frenzied state, they all shrank back and pretended to be deaf, obediently remaining at their posts.

"Hoo, hoo!"

It wasn't until half an hour later that Dolan slowly stopped smashing things.

He was panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at the collection of shards scattered on the ground. As if his reason had finally returned, a pang of heartache flashed in his eyes.

He wanted to call someone over immediately to repair the collection, but after thinking of Siegfried's resolute departure, he couldn't help but sigh and gave up the idea.

Then, a bitter smile appeared on his face, and he murmured with resentment:

"John Maslow, what kind of spell did you cast on him? How could you make a true powerhouse follow you so steadfastly?"

He could have easily gained better opportunities by simply nodding his head, thus avoiding decades of hard work and becoming someone who wields great power and is the envy of countless people.

But out of loyalty, the other party didn't hesitate to refuse even the opportunity to rise to prominence that was within their grasp.

This is reminiscent of a mythical era, where young monarchs of their respective countries embark on a path to save the world under the protection of the gods of those nations.

He was willing to sacrifice his life to protect the king, possessing a pure, almost foolish, loyalty that was worthy of the perfect title—a true knight!
Loyalty, which was the foremost of the seven virtues of chivalry in the age of gods, collapsed in the Middle Ages after the Dark Ages ended, due to the great reshuffling of interests that occurred after the gods left.

Even the nobles, who have inherited and preserved the most benefits and higher education in their long history, and who have always considered themselves superior, are still here.

It has also become chaotic and corrupt to some extent due to national turmoil, family goals, and personal interests, losing the precious virtues that should have been inherited.

In this sordid era filled with deception, oppression, and plunder.

That precious spirit of loyalty, which even nobles failed to inherit, appeared in a commoner.

"Truly...what art! Absolutely breathtaking!"

Dolan murmured to himself, but his eyes were filled with deep disappointment and helplessness.

Based on Siegfried's previous performance, Dolan now realized that there was absolutely no way he could recruit him to his side.

There was no way to get this praiseworthy knight to accept his good intentions in trying to make the other person famous.

But perhaps that's why I admire him so much.

After all, if Siegfried had actually accepted his recruitment request, then he wouldn't have been so attentive to him.

It is even more impossible that they would resort to such absurd acts of vandalism simply because the other party refused them.

Does this mean that what we can't have is always the best?
"Ugh!"

Dolan sighed, looking at the collection in front of him that he had once treasured, and that he had to wear gloves and carefully caress when handling it.

For a moment, he found these arts rather dull.

Just as Dolan was rubbing his throbbing temples, intending to have all this damned garbage thrown into the Yuan River, he suddenly caught sight of the barrel of wine in the center, and a conflicted look appeared on his face.

But after a moment of silence, as if making a decision, he sighed again and then directly ordered the guards outside, who were frozen in fear:

"A few men, carry this barrel of wine to Corporal Siegfried, and come back immediately afterward. Don't do anything unnecessary, understand?"

"Yes, General!"

……

Perhaps intimidated by Lieutenant General Dolan's past domineering presence within the Independent 3rd Division, several guards quickly carried the barrel of wine into Siegfried's tent. Before the bewildered Siegfried could ask any questions, the men, as if afraid of being caught and questioned, ran off without a word.

Siegfried was left alone in the tent with a complicated expression.

"Ugh!"

Looking at the barrel of liquor in front of him, worth a staggering 100,000 d, Siegfried couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Just as he was hesitating about whether to return it,

A soft cough sounded outside the tent, and then Hawke, dressed in military uniform, walked in to his surprise.

Then, the other person glanced at the barrel of red wine sealed and preserved in a large glass cabinet. After sensing the rich magic emanating from inside, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Thinking back to the guards of the Independent 3rd Division who had just left, and Siegfried, who had been the acting commander of the guard regiment and had been living in the only villa in the camp for the past few days, but had now returned to the tent for some unknown reason.

As if he understood something, Hawke immediately teased in a playful tone:

"It seems that Siegfried and Lieutenant General Dolan had some unpleasantness going on? To be honest, I thought you would join the Second Legion, and I had already prepared a promotion gift for you, but it seems that the plan has fallen through?"

"Sergeant Hawke, please stop joking like that. It's not funny at all."

Siegfried shook his head with a wry smile, then asked with a hint of curiosity:
"By the way, is there some task you need to assign me at this hour?"

Hawke wanted to make a few more jokes, but after hearing Siegfried's words, he immediately abandoned the idea, remembering the mission orders he had just received.

He then uttered a statement that instantly made the other person's expression turn serious:
"That's right, just ten minutes ago, I received new instructions from Battalion Commander John."

"Currently, the enemy is suspected of sending a force to raid Mad Fang City, but the exact number is still unclear. However, according to the battalion commander's calculations, the enemy force is conservatively estimated to be no less than three thousand men."

Meeting Siegfried's solemn gaze, Hawke seemed to recall the grand plan arranged by the battalion commander before departure, and a smile of anticipation involuntarily appeared on his lips.

He then slowly spoke to Siegfried:

"Therefore, I think we should hold a small meeting to discuss how we can perfectly annihilate this enemy force under the battalion commander's instructions!"

……

　Starting tomorrow, I'll be making 10,000 yuan a day for a month, and I mean it! Everyone is welcome to join the group to keep an eye on me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)