I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Chapter 126 I will not stop, I will catch up with the 'Empire Eagle'

Ultimately, Lieutenant Lancel took that step as if by some strange twist of fate.

The moment his toes touched the ground, the whole world opened up to him, and his steps became lighter and lighter.

The sunlight slanted across his face, becoming even more dazzling than before. Perhaps it was an illusion, or perhaps his own state of mind had changed.

My heart was still pounding wildly in my chest, making a loud thumping sound with each step I took.

But his steps were unusually firm.

Lieutenant Lancel walked up to his soldiers, took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and finally blurted out: "All soldiers, assemble immediately!"

The soldiers, who were resting, were taken aback, then stood up in unison and quickly formed a line in front of him.

Lancel's gaze swept across each face.

He clenched his fists, his palms sweating profusely.

Then, Lancel delivered what was unprecedented and most impassioned pre-battle mobilization for him: "You all know that Segner is a crucial military point we must pass through on our retreat home; its importance needs no further explanation."

Narrate.

His voice was a little strained at first, but he quickly regained his composure.

"And that is why Lieutenant Zod, the 'Imperial Eagle,' and Captain Spent of the 'Imperial Blade' Legion, despite knowing their forces were outnumbered by the Holy Kingdom's army, resolutely led their troops in an attack on Segnar."

"It's not that they are reckless, but that they deeply understand the importance of Segner to our Imperial Army."

"Segner is crucial to our safe return to Goldberg, to our homeland."

"This is not just a matter for the Imperial Blade Corps alone, but for all the soldiers of our Imperial Army."

"The future cannot be obtained through the mercy of our enemies; it must be created by our own hands."

"Victory and glory will not fall from the sky while we sit idly by!"

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over his own soldiers and over the faces of other troops who were looking in his direction.

Those faces were filled with confusion, and even a hint of watching a show.

"If their 'Imperial Blade' Legion can do it, do you think our 56th Legion is any less capable?"

"No! We will definitely do better than them!"

"I know some people will say that we haven't received military orders and it's not worth the risk."

"But what I want to say is that the situation on the battlefield can change in an instant."

"Whether the reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom or the Empire will arrive first while we wait, no one knows."

"As soldiers, we cannot gamble our fate on a completely uncertain future, or on a military order that may never arrive."

His gaze swept across every face, and he spoke each word clearly: "The 'Empire's Eagle,' Zod, paid a bloody price to finally open a window for us to attack."

"If this window closes again, we ourselves will be the ones to pay the bloody price."

"No one can stand aside in this war."

"Victory and the future lie on the edge of our swords! On the muzzle of our guns!"

"If anyone intends to withdraw from this offensive operation without orders from their superiors, they may immediately leave the ranks."

"I, Lancel, will not blame you, and I assure you that you will not be punished in any way."

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the smoke-filled town ahead: "But even if I'm the only one left, I won't stop. I will catch up with the 'Eagle of the Empire' and reinforce the Imperial army in Segna."

silence.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

No one left the queue.

The soldiers stared in shock at the young officer standing ramrod straight before them.

Is this still the Lieutenant Lancel they know?

Lancel now seems like a completely different person, nothing like the somewhat timid officer from Sallom.

When did he start to change?

To be precise, it started after that encounter with Zod's forces, the "Empire's Eagle".

From that moment on, their lieutenant was no longer the same lieutenant.

Although his motivational speech was still somewhat immature, and the rhythm was occasionally stumbling at the beginning, every word came from his chest.

But the soldiers understood that their Lieutenant Lancel was transforming and becoming more and more like a true Imperial officer.

Lancel glanced at the faces in the queue that hadn't retreated and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He drew his sword, its blade pointing at the smoke-filled town: "All soldiers, follow me and attack the Holy Kingdom's garrison in Segnar! Fight your way through!"

Immediately afterwards, Lieutenant Lancel gripped the hilt of his sword and took his first step toward Segner.

Finally, this time Lancel no longer hid behind the soldiers.

Behind me, footsteps rose like a tidal wave.

This was one of the rare times he stood at the very front of the team in the face of danger.

Just as he had hoped, he became the figure who rushed to the front and upheld everyone's beliefs.

Meanwhile, the imperial soldiers who were still observing from the gentle slope looked at each other in bewilderment.

If no one takes the first step, they can stand still with a clear conscience, telling themselves, "There are no orders, let's wait."

But now, even a second lieutenant from the 56th Army Corps has stepped forward.

Especially his impassioned mobilization speech.

Although those words did not mention anyone else's name.

But every word seemed to be spoken specifically to those who stood by and watched.

Some gripped their guns tightly, their knuckles turning white; some unconsciously took a half-step forward, then stopped abruptly; others' Adam's apples bobbed and their lips moved as if they wanted to say something, but ultimately no sound came out.

Of course, they could choose to stay put and rest, pretending nothing had happened.

Anyway, reinforcements will always arrive, anyway—there are too many reasons to justify it.

But after Lieutenant Lancel took the first step, the feeling that had been weighing on his heart could no longer be suppressed.

Their hearts were in turmoil, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread to every part of their bodies, making them restless.

They are all soldiers, wearing the same uniforms, and having taken the same oath under the flag.

They too have the honor and dignity of being soldiers, but at this moment, a lieutenant's words have stirred them up from the depths of their hearts.

Faced with a lieutenant's slightly provocative remarks, they could no longer pretend not to hear.

The brief silence on the gentle slope was broken again after Lancel's troops had moved on.

Another unit began to assemble.

A second lieutenant stood at the front of the line and said only a few words.

No one heard what he said. He suddenly drew his sword and swung it in the direction of Segnar Town. The soldiers behind him turned around in unison and quickly joined the marching column.

Their movements were swift and decisive, as if they had already made their decision and were just waiting for a signal to take the lead.

Immediately afterwards, more and more troops and soldiers began to move into action.

Those figures who were originally sitting scattered on the ground seemed to be moved by an invisible hand, and they all stood up, brushed the dust off their bodies, checked the weapons in their hands, and then silently joined the long dragon.

Lancel caught a glimpse of the increasingly dense crowd behind him out of the corner of his eye, and his heart suddenly warmed.

Those troops who withdrew from the city of Sallom, those soldiers and officers who, like him, had been watching from the gentle slope for a long time.

One by one, they are joining the marching column, shifting from hesitation to action, from observation to charging forward.

He suddenly understood the power of Zod, the "Empire's Eagle," that could infect everyone.

It wasn't an imposing, condescending pressure, nor was it a clever, inciteful instigation.

But when you actually take that step, when you trample all your hesitation and fear underfoot and resolutely head towards that battlefield, the world will change because of it.

Those who are still lingering in the same place will see a certain light behind them—the light of the doer, the light of the disruptor.

They may still be afraid, still hesitate, but under the light, they could no longer sit idly by.