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

Chapter 276 [8K5] John is surprised by the pre-banquet preparations, and William's speech brings glory.
John was unaware of the Duke of Ostan's unusual behavior after he left.

After the convoy arrived at the Imperial Hotel, it was already 3 p.m.

Having rushed to the capital and experienced the imperial ceremony, John, who was starving and hadn't had a chance to eat yet, was taken to the hotel restaurant by the captain of the royal guard and the excited crowd for a meal.

To John's surprise, he encountered two familiar figures upon arriving at the restaurant.

"Your Excellency John, it's been a long time!"

The man who greeted John was a burly man with a thick beard, Bruno Goliath, the member of the surveillance force who had awarded John his major uniform and Iron Cross First Class when he was in the town of Bahamut.

The person standing next to the other party was his old partner, Zelofa Gilgista.

However, compared to their initial rank of captain, three months later, both men have been promoted for some unknown reason, and are now majors, having become mid-level managers in the inspection force.

But compared to his own promotion, John, who had achieved an unprecedented victory on the battlefield of Faoken in just three months, had his rank jump from major to lieutenant general, completely completing his meteoric rise.

Bruno was filled with mixed emotions.

Although he had already learned about John's background by checking secret files, he knew that John was raised by the eldest princess, whom many people called "Imperial Beloved".

Furthermore, his detailed resume at the First Military Academy of the Empire was sealed by the Demon King himself, who issued a ban on the 'Eye of Truth' unit. Apart from being able to find that he graduated as the top student of the 59th class, the monitoring unit could not find any other details.

Bruno knew that this young man, who had won the prince's favor and possessed exceptional talent, was destined for an extraordinary life.

But he never expected that his prediction would be proven true so quickly.

In just three months, John, who led a mere thousand magic soldiers and was sent to fight in Faoken Bay under the arrangement of the conservative party, did not withdraw from the battlefield as a defeated general as he had expected.

Instead, they stunned everyone with their superb command skills, winning several near-miraculous victories in succession!

Moreover, and most importantly, the enemy completely pacified the battlefield before the reinforcements requested by the Marquis of Ravage under the pretext of a divine vengeance arrived.

With a troop strength difference of ten times that of the enemy, they achieved an unprecedented epic victory!

To call someone a genius is an insult, given their achievements that most people wouldn't even dare to dream of!

This young man is truly a military genius, unprecedented and unparalleled!

"It's truly awe-inspiring!"

Looking at John, who was walking towards him with a smile, Bruno, who was known for his coldness, felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension for the first time in a long time.

Even his breathing became rapid involuntarily.

"Mr. Bruno, Mr. Zelofa, it's been a long time. How have you both been?"

Looking at the two, one fat and one thin, John was filled with mixed emotions.

He never expected to encounter these two key members of the surveillance force who had shown him kindness before.

But considering Irias's earlier warning, he quickly realized the two men's intentions.

As if to confirm his judgment, Major Bruno first showed an expression of flattery, then exchanged a few brief pleasantries with John before directly stating his purpose:

“That’s right, General John. Considering that you have just been awarded your medals and your troops have not yet been formed, His Majesty William has specially ordered the two of us to lead five hundred members of the Ravenbeak Unit, which is the surveillance force, to work with your guards to be responsible for your security in Elena.”

Seemingly worried that John might think a security force of 500 men was too small, Bruno quickly added:
"In fact, due to the recent frequent accidents, the Ravenbeak Force has been busy with intelligence investigations, and most of its members have gone to various territories of the Empire. Currently, the total number of Ravenbeak Force members in the capital is only three thousand five hundred."

"Five hundred people is the maximum we can muster, provided that the think tank system can function properly and His Majesty William is safe."

"However, please rest assured that although these five hundred members may seem few in number, their combat strength is all above that of a mid-level mage. In addition to Zelofa and me, His Majesty William has also specially arranged for an official to secretly ensure your safety."

"However, due to military regulations, I cannot reveal the true identity of that person to you. But I can tell you one thing for sure: that person's strength is no less than that of a super-ranked mage. So please rest assured that during the security mission, we have the absolute capability to ensure that your safety in Eleno will not be affected by any accidents or threats."

William actually sent a super-ranked mage from the Ravenbeak Squad to be his security guard?
If I remember correctly, there are only eight super-ranked mages in the Ravenbeak Squad, right?

John was greatly surprised to hear this, and at the same time, he was quite moved by William, his handsome, wealthy, and considerate patron.

Although he was accompanied by two super-ranked mages, Serbia and Carrie, and could even call Cambert and Roderick, who were also attending the celebration banquet, to come and save him if necessary, he was able to do so by making a call through the communication device.

With the intimidation of his two bodyguards and two other super-ranked mages who could quickly enter the scene, John didn't think the conservatives' actions would cause him much trouble.

It's impossible for the conservatives to directly deploy a Grand-level combatant just to assassinate them, right?
Besides, even if it's a Grand-level opponent, they might not be able to gain any advantage after Carrie activates the Sacred Relic.

At that time, as long as we delay for a while, and wait for the Imperial Crown Prince who is protecting the royal family in the palace to be dispatched and suppress him.

At that point, if the Conservatives' secrets are exposed, in order to appease the enraged William, the Conservatives will likely be subjected to an unprecedented bloodbath.

Given the cunning of the conservative party leaders, the other side would obviously not make such a foolish decision given the obvious high risk.

Instead, they will most likely launch an attack against him in a more complicated way.

Moreover, it was in a way that he couldn't resist, because if he did resist, he would be labeled a traitor to the empire.

"So, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. The ancients were right!"

John sighed inwardly.

However, he did not continue to ponder this troubling problem. Instead, he smiled and thanked Bruno, indicating that he would entrust his safety to him, and then warmly invited him to dine with him.

However, the flattered party declined, saying they had already had lunch. He then took his leave and went with his old partner to lead the soldiers to patrol and cordon off the area around the hotel, clearly taking security to heart.

After Bruno and his companion left, John didn't pay much attention to the little incident. Instead, he focused on having a meal in the hotel restaurant, enjoying the authentic Imperial cuisine that he hadn't had in a long time.

After a brief farewell to Major Wendy, who was feasting and almost moved to tears, General Serbia, who was elegantly swirling his red wine and carefully reading a magic book, Lieutenant General Carrie, who was struggling to figure out how to eat with her silver knife and fork, and Lieutenant Colonel Leia, who had finished her food at some point and was now looking at him with a hesitant expression, Lieutenant Colonel Leia said goodbye to them.

Feeling completely refreshed, John went straight back to his room to change into his viscount's formal attire, intending to surprise everyone later.

However, half an hour later, looking at the extremely troublesome dress in front of him, which he had no idea how to wear, John couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

"No way, what the hell is this? Is the aesthetic sense of the nobility really this abstract?"

Looking at the dress in front of him, adorned with various laces and velvet, and completely unsure whether to pull it over his head or reach out with his hands, John immediately adopted the expression of an old man on the subway looking at his phone.

Just as he was pondering whether he should call over the captain of the guard waiting outside and ask this meticulous nobleman who had been by William's side for many years how exactly to put on this viscount's robes.

The next second, there was a knock on his door.

"Dong dong!"

"Squeak!"

As John opened the door, he was surprised to find that the person who entered was none other than Leia.

However, unlike before, the other party had shed her unchanging air force uniform and put on a dress with a midnight blue main color, accented with silver-white trim, embroidery and interior decorations on the corners, and an overall cool tone that accentuated the beauty of the female figure.

The dress features a high waistline, narrow sleeves, and an A-line skirt, a design popular in the Empire, which accentuates a slender figure.

Although the skirt was huge, it wasn't exaggerated. It was easy to move around in and, combined with Leia's well-defined muscles, made her, who wasn't very tall, look imposing.

Around her neck, she wore a violet gemstone necklace with a historical feel, and on her chest, she wore a spear medal symbolizing the Binott family. Combined with her beautiful silver hair, this made her appear even more mysterious and elegant.

John was slightly stunned when he saw the other person.

"?"

Looking at John, who seemed lost in thought, Leia was filled with confusion.

But remembering the purpose of her visit, she mustered her courage and asked John:
"John, everyone's waiting for you downstairs. The convoy's almost ready to depart. Major Wendy asked me to come up and check on things. Are you having any problems with your attire? Do you need any help?"

"Leah, you've come just in time! Please help me!"

Upon hearing this, John immediately felt as if he had seen a savior. He disregarded the difference between men and women and pulled the astonished Leia into the room. Then, pointing to the extremely complicated dress on the bed, he began to pour out his grievances to her.

Leia didn't say anything about this, but after carefully looking at the extremely extravagant dress spread on the bed, she frowned slightly. Then, as if she had thought of a certain possibility, she first asked if His Majesty John William had bestowed any other clothing upon him, and where it was kept.

Upon learning that the Royal Guard had placed everything in the dressing room, Leia immediately opened the dressing room and began to inspect it. She quickly selected a dark blue, fine wool ceremonial military coat with silver trim, a white silk shirt, and a pair of black fitted riding breeches and matching black boots.

For accessories, Leia didn't choose anything too complicated. Instead, she selected a dark gray wool and velvet short cape for John, reaching his hips, and fastened it to his right shoulder with an exquisite silver chain clasp. It was paired with a black commander's cane with a sapphire inlaid at the top, representing the command of the 303rd Division, and white lambskin gloves, creating a distinct layered look.

The cloak is lined with blue silk, which subtly shimmers when the wearer moves, adding a unique touch to the overall look.

After choosing suitable clothes for John to wear to the banquet, Leia did not stay in the room.

Instead, after briefly explaining to John how to dress, she took her leave, carrying with her the bizarre outfit that had somehow ended up on John's bed. Clearly, someone had deliberately arranged for John to wear this outlandish attire, which was destined to embarrass him at the banquet, as she left the room.

Immediately, she strode up to the patrolling captain, then coldly tossed him at his feet, where his pupils had constricted, and spoke to him in a chilling tone:

"I'm giving you one day to find the mastermind behind the trap and bring his head to the Binot family. If you can't do it, then you can die in his place!"

Upon hearing this, the captain of the guard dared not be negligent and immediately saluted, speaking in an unprecedentedly serious and deep voice:

"Yes, Earl Binott, I will give you an explanation for this matter, I guarantee it with my life!"

"very good."

The captain of the royal guard had a face ashen and eyes that seemed to be boiling with flames.

Realizing that the other party was completely unaware, Leia did not continue to make trouble. Instead, she frowned and leaned against the railing, her eyes calmly scanning the figures below the stairs.

They were trying to use this to identify who the suspicious person was who had created the trap.

And he crushed the other person's head on the spot.

Just as Leia was searching for suspicious individuals with murderous intent, she heard the sound of a door being pushed open and instinctively looked towards the room where John was.

Upon seeing John, who looked completely transformed and seemed to radiate light from head to toe, it was impossible to look away.

She first held her breath instinctively, then, as if possessed, took John's hand.

When she recovered from John's questioning gaze, Leia's ears turned bright red, but she spoke calmly:

"John, it's almost time. We should get going. Let's not keep everyone waiting too long."

"That's right, let's hurry up and set off, before we're late!"

Although he was a little confused, John didn't think much of it and quickly pulled Leia outside.

"Ah."

After using a lie to cover up her inner elation for the first time ever, Leia couldn't help but feel a little ashamed of her hypocrisy. But feeling the warmth from her palm and looking at John's angular face, her lips involuntarily curved into a smile, a rare occurrence for someone whose expression rarely changed.

"Tap, tap!"

……

When John and Leia rushed over, Serbia, dressed in a gorgeous red evening gown, stood in front of the car and, for some reason, gave him a death stare.

Wendy, dressed in a modified Imperial Air Force uniform, with a slender sword at her waist and a magnificent red cloak draped over her back, cast a strangely complex glance at him at that moment.

Wearing a purple evening gown and a black veil, Carrie looked at John with a hesitant expression, but after sensing the chilling black aura emanating from the newly crowned Red Dragon Queen...

She wisely kept her mouth shut, silently praying that the reckless Mr. John wouldn't die in this terrifying hell tonight.

John himself was completely unaware of this, although he was somewhat puzzled as to why his loyal ally Serbia was giving him an expression as if he owed her millions of dollars.

But assuming the other party was simply annoyed that he had kept them waiting for so long, he didn't think too much about it. He simply apologized and then hurriedly got into the car under the watchful eyes of his subordinates, who were either speechless, amused, or pitying.

Then he waved his hand and gave the order to set off.

"Whoosh!"

……

Soon, John and his entourage arrived at the Meisunil Estate. Apparently, because the banquet was exceptionally formal, with even the monarch William attending in person, the estate was already packed with vehicles when John and his party arrived, making it impossible to move.

Fortunately, the captain of the guard, who was preoccupied with his own concerns, stepped forward to communicate with them and explained that they were the ones who would be rewarded at the banquet. John and his group successfully obtained their privileges and, amidst the envious gazes of countless minor nobles who had come from nearby, successfully entered the manor.

Upon arriving at the manor, John assumed the banquet hadn't started yet and that they could proceed on their own.

But after the waiter explained, he said that this banquet was different from the past. William had personally sent someone to inform him that the theme of this banquet should be serious and solemn enough, so the usual part of the waiting period for nobles to talk and greet each other had been canceled.

Instead, attendees are instructed to proceed to their assigned seats in the hall upon arrival.

John was somewhat surprised by this, but he did not refute it. Instead, he and the others, led by their attendants, went to the hall and found their respective seats.

John was seated in seat number 3, second row to the right of the throne.

And after taking his seat, he was surprised to find that the person in the second seat next to him was none other than Dormammu, whom he had not seen for a long time.

At first, John was a little puzzled as to why the other party, who was entrusted with the important task of guarding Walden, would come to Elenor at this time. After a brief exchange of pleasantries...

John then questioned his former superior and learned that Dormammu had also received a secret communication from Conrad. After learning that John might be targeted by the Conservatives, Conrad led his guard regiment to Elena ten days earlier.

He then directly presented the incriminating material he had prepared beforehand, and repeatedly pressured and warned the conservative party during previous court assemblies.

It was precisely because of Dormammu's actions that John's journey home proceeded so smoothly, without any unexpected problems along the way.

After realizing the extent to which his old boss Dormammu had taken care of him, John was quite moved, but he didn't say anything.

Instead, under the other party's persistent questioning, she recounted her experiences in Faoken over the past three months in detail.

However, on some sensitive topics, such as power struggles, John relayed to Dormammu the information he had previously agreed upon with Bob.

Dormammu, who had already discussed the matter with his old friend in their communications, was well aware of the inside story. He didn't press for details, but simply gave John an appreciative look.

After listening to John's account of the Battle of Faoken, Dormammu also informed John of the current situation in Longeye Territory, which John had once governed.

In these three months, thanks to the funds and development plans left by John, and with the efforts of Glenn and the subsequent government officials sent by the Empire, the trade routes in Longyan Territory have been restored, and the liquor industry has also been successfully expanded.

Not only did it sell well in the territories of the reformist allies, but it also secretly facilitated trade with several conservative noble factions through water transport.

Although the commercial trade tax is relatively high compared to the low or even tax-free benefits offered by allies, the conservative faction members have a much higher tax rate.

As the trend of drinking Kaka fruit wine was set off, some neutral nobles and local nobles gradually became interested in this wine.

Although the profits attracted attention and caused dozens of unexpected incidents, large and small, Dormammu secretly helped to resolve them all safely.

Currently, Longyanling's beverage orders have been booked until autumn three years from now, which can be described as an unprecedented success.

In addition to the booming beverage industry, the other industries John planned to leave behind also developed, although their achievements were not as dazzling as those of Kaka wine, they were still a considerable source of income.

After witnessing the great success of John's business revitalization plan, Dormammu applied the same model to almost all of his other territories, and with development tailored to local conditions, he also achieved some success.

Overall, Walden Territory is showing a good state of continuous development, and the happiness and satisfaction of its residents have also been greatly improved. Although it is not yet enough to be called a developed province of the empire, its overall economic level is enough to rank among the top 300 of the empire's 354 provinces.

Although the ranking may not seem very good, it is remarkable that they were able to achieve such results in such a short time, especially considering that they had only recently occupied a foreign town.

Reaching this level is enough to satisfy John.

"His Majesty William has arrived!"

Just as John was feeling pleased with the changes in Walden Territory, the herald's voice rang out, and everyone immediately rose from their seats, their eyes respectfully fixed on the outside of the hall.

In the public eye, William, dressed in a magnificent suit and holding an obsidian scepter, slowly walked down the red carpet and finally took his seat on the throne on the high platform of the banquet hall.

But after taking his seat, William did not speak directly. Instead, he raised his hand slightly towards the orchestra, who were still playing music in a daze.

As the music stopped at William's command, William slowly rose from his throne and stepped onto the high platform in front of him, facing the gaze of the crowd.

His azure eyes, sharp as swords, swept swiftly over every meritorious official and nobleman below the stage, but he remained silent.

After this eerie silence lasted for a full minute, he finally spoke in a cold, steady voice that, without needing to be raised, clearly penetrated the depths of everyone's soul:
"Everyone."

"Before formally recognizing all the heroes, I have some information to share with everyone present."

"At 7:35 this morning, the Allied forces, having witnessed the might of the Empire, formally submitted a ceasefire proposal to the Empire due to the all-round demolition operation carried out by the 1st Division of the 1st Army Group in Faoken. They will formally send a delegation to negotiate in 10 days."

"Considering the profound impact of the successive wars on the people of the Empire, coupled with the exhaustion of the soldiers, I agreed to the Allied forces' ceasefire request after careful consideration."

"In other words, the fighting on the border will end after the negotiations, and the long-awaited peace will soon arrive in the upcoming peace talks!"

"Wow!"

Upon hearing William's words, those who had not attended the entire court assembly were initially startled, but then couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Even John was somewhat surprised, but he didn't talk to Serbia and the others beside him. Instead, he subconsciously looked in the direction of the conservatives.

To be precise, their eyes were on Wolf Castells, the most central figure in the conservative camp.

Looking at the other person's expressionless old face and the calmness revealed in their eyes.

John immediately realized that the Prime Minister had probably foreseen the arrival of peace long before issuing the order for all-out bombing of the 101st Air Division led by Ram.

It seemed to be to demonstrate the majesty of the empire and successfully instilled fear in the Allied forces.

But John understood that it was all just an illusion.

Beneath this seemingly peaceful facade lies an extremely dangerous signal:

"The conservatives are planning to take action against the reformers!"

John was somewhat shocked when he realized this, but even more so, he was incredulous.

In his view, according to the plot, Wolf should only take action against the reformers two years later, when Duke Ostann died, the reformers lost their leader, and the successors of the Ostann family were controlled by the conservatives.

But now this process has inexplicably been brought forward.

What happened?
Or perhaps his two successful reversals against the reformists aroused Wolf's suspicion, which is why the other party brought forward the idea of ​​eliminating the reformists and achieving party unification?
John had no idea why, but he could feel the coldness and amusement in the eyes of the Conservative Party leaders as they occasionally glanced at him.

He realized that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this conflict between the empire and its foreign enemies would likely end with peace talks initiated by the Allied delegation that would arrive in ten days.

But it was a civil war without gunpowder, yet filled with unprecedented danger and fighting.

It seems something is about to happen!
John himself, and his followers, were at the very center of this civil war and had no way to escape it!
"Now we're in trouble!"

Seeing the two distinct factions of the conservatives and reformers, John, who had already foreseen how turbulent the future would be, felt his heart sink to the bottom.

But his dark eyes grew even colder and more murderous in the face of the impending bloodshed!

"Tap, tap!"

……

About two minutes later, as William raised his hand, the barely perceptible murmur of discussion in the room completely dissipated.

Then, meeting everyone's gaze, William slowly revealed a smile, and then said in a deep voice without changing his tone:

"The long-awaited peace has allowed the empire to recuperate, which is truly invaluable. However, today's theme is the celebration and reward of those who have won glory in the Gulf of Faoken."

"However, what I want to say is that we are standing here today."

"But not because of revelry, but because of calculation."

"On the battlefield, our brave and brilliant General John Maslow successfully calculated the enemy's strength, logistics and morale, which enabled him to achieve many miraculous victories against overwhelming odds."

"He calculated the advantages and disadvantages of the terrain and the variables of the weather, and turned this seemingly ordinary intelligence into an advantage for our army. He successfully achieved the amazing feat of manipulating nature and killed the commander-in-chief who was once an equal to our army's best general. The enemy's body also became the spoils of war for the empire!"

"We've also calculated how much blood and steel we need to shed to achieve the greatest victory and minimize casualties with almost miraculous means!"

"But I know very well that this victory did not come from empty prayers or a stroke of luck."

"It comes from the precise execution of each unit on the battlefield, and from unconditional obedience to the ironclad laws of the Empire."

"It is the inevitable result of mathematics!"

"And General John Maslow's performance has successfully proven that my decision to launch the Commander-type Magic Soldier Training Program against all odds was a wise one."

"And I'm more inclined to believe that this great victory will not be a fleeting meteor, but rather the prelude to a magnificent performance that will inevitably lead the empire to the pinnacle of the world!"

William paused briefly, but his gaze sharpened as he slowly swept his eyes across the area below:

“I saw many familiar faces in the audience, and also some… empty seats.”

“Those who were left without a place, their sacrifices have been recorded in the Empire’s general account.”

"Their blood was not shed in vain; their lives have been exchanged for your medals, the territory of the empire, and a lasting order."

"Don't misunderstand, this is not a celebration of mercy, but an assessment of resources."

"The heroes who have made contributions and sacrifices in this war, as well as the senior members of the Empire present here, have proven with facts that you are the Empire's finest and most efficient assets."

"Your courage, your perseverance, your obedience have passed the final evaluation!"

After speaking, William raised his scepter under the watchful eyes of the crowd, but his tone remained serious and authoritative.

It was as if he were giving an order, not celebrating:

"Therefore, gentlemen, enjoy the evening."

"Enjoy your deserved rewards, chew your food as the Empire chews victory!"

"Drink your wine as the land drinks blood!"

"But remember, the cost of this feast is extremely high."

"May you all always remember that this cost should not be allowed to become a bad debt!"

"The calculations will continue tomorrow when the sun rises."

"The empire's territory needs to be consolidated, new threats need to be assessed, and after this long-awaited peace ends, there will be more resources, more land, and more entities trying to hinder the empire's progress toward its great and glorious goals."

"All of this needs to be torn apart, crushed, and completely conquered by those of us present!"

"May your swords forever be as precise and cold as the laws of the empire."

"Now, for efficiency! For order! For the eternal expansion of the empire!"

"Please raise your glasses, everyone."

William raised his glass, his movement mechanical yet powerful.

After the king on the stage set an example, everyone below the stage simultaneously raised their wine glasses as if they were being manipulated.

"For the Reich!"

Under the gaze of countless people, William said in a deep voice, and then downed the red wine in his hand in one gulp.

"For the Reich!!!"

A roar like a landslide and a tsunami erupted from the banquet hall, and as everyone drank their drinks in unison, the atmosphere reached an unprecedented level of excitement.

The giant crystal chandelier hanging in the hall shone with a bright and holy light, driving away all the darkness and making it as bright as day, as if foreshadowing some glorious future!
……

(End of this chapter)