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

Captain Spent paused for a moment, then stopped in his tracks.

He didn't answer Zod's question immediately, but stood there with his eyes slightly lowered, as if he was weighing something.

After a few seconds of silence, he raised his head, looked solemnly at Zod, and slowly uttered his inner thoughts in a low and cautious tone:

"I think... there's a high probability that reinforcements won't be coming."

Zod's heart sank suddenly, as if he had been pushed from a great height and plunged into an icy abyss.

Without reinforcements, Zod couldn't fathom how they could possibly win a war where the balance of power was destined to be unbalanced.

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse: "Why? Is it because of 'full-band jamming,' preventing messages from being transmitted, or...?"

"Zod," ​​Captain Spente raised his hand to interrupt him, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "Don't ask why. It's for your own good."

His tone was unquestionable, yet carried a hint of suppressed weariness.

Zod stared at him, trying to read more from his face, but Spinter had already looked away, gazing at the smoke-filled horizon in the distance.

Spinter knew in his heart that some things couldn't be said outright.

He knew a little about the entanglements between the SSC and the Crown Prince, and he also knew why Colonel Xavier had launched this war so hastily.

That was not just a military consideration; it was a high-stakes gamble.

With SSC personally involved and the Crown Prince's shadow looming behind it, the current situation in the Empire is turbulent and unpredictable, rife with undercurrents.

The more uncertain the situation, the less likely anyone is to take a stand, let alone rashly place bets and get involved in the murky waters of the War of the Succession to the Imperial Throne.

Actions are often one of the clearest ways to express a stance.

Any move within the Empire that supports Colonel Xavier will be seen as a statement of position and labeled as factional.

From now on, every action will naturally take on a certain color, and one will no longer be able to remain uninvolved.

Although Spent was only a captain, he had followed Xavier for many years and had some understanding of these unspoken rules.

Even if Spent put himself in the shoes of those big shots sitting at the poker table, he would not easily reveal his hand or make any rash bets until the situation was completely clear.

No matter how intense the battle on the front lines, no matter how critical the "Imperial Blade" legion is, they will remain calm and observe, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.

From an ordinary person's perspective, this is simply incomprehensible.

Shouldn't the imperial bureaucracy naturally work together to defend the empire against foreign enemies?

Of course, this is just wishful thinking on the part of an observer from God's perspective.

The empire’s vast bureaucracy is, in essence, composed of people.

In this game of power, personal interests and factional interests are not always aligned with the interests of the empire, and sometimes they can even clash fiercely.

However, the interests of the empire are not necessarily the top priority.

Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of so-called "righteousness".

Moreover, the gains and losses of those "benefits" are sometimes not as simple as taking less or not taking any "benefits" at all; they are related to one's life, family future, and the survival of the entire faction.

This means that those decision-makers in high positions within the empire often fail to make the "best" decisions that, in the eyes of onlookers, would be beneficial to the empire.

In fact, Spent was well aware that even within the Empire, there were probably quite a few people who would be happy to see Colonel Xavier defeated.

These ideas, even for Spinter, were extremely dangerous and had to be kept to himself.

It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Zod, but that he couldn't.

Given Zod's current strength and position, the less he knows, the better; the more he knows, the more likely he is to get into trouble out of nowhere.

Moreover, besides adding unnecessary troubles, it doesn't change anything.

Spinter turned to look at Zod, his young face showing barely suppressed anxiety.

A complex look flashed in his eyes, a mixture of helplessness, worry, and an inexplicable expectation.

"Let's go, Lieutenant," Spent said softly. "We still have a long way to go."

After saying that, Spinter turned around and continued walking ahead.

Military boots clattered dully as they stepped on the cracked road riddled with shells.

Zod followed, paused for a few steps, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Is there... nothing we can do?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

He chose to return to Saarlom because he believed Colonel Xavier would have a solution.

That experienced commander, that battle-hardened soldier, must have a way to stabilize the situation.

He came back to survive.

Otherwise, why would he take such a big risk to come back here?

Captain Spinner paused, but instead of turning around, he glanced at Zod out of the corner of his eye.

"No, Zod..." He paused, then said in a low, slow voice, "Just do what you feel is right."

"I know you have your own thoughts. And mine might be the same as yours. If necessary, I'll stand by your side."

He withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward, a hint of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret and reflection) in his voice:

"But... Colonel Xavier is a traditional soldier who values ​​honor very much."

"For that glory, he probably wouldn't even flinch if he were to be shattered to pieces."

"That's what makes him so charming, but sometimes, it's also what makes him so frustrating."

Zod didn't speak, he just listened silently.

In fact, when Zod said, "If we consider the worst-case scenario..." Spinter already understood his intention.

After all, Spinter had more information and more experience than Zod.

He heard clearly the unspoken subtext and the hesitation hidden at the end of the sentence.

But neither of them spoke of the unspoken thought hidden in the other's mind.

Because of this final decision, Spinter's word was not enough, and Zod's word was even less so.

There's no point in saying it; on the contrary, it might get you labeled as "disrupting morale."

Only when Colonel Xavier personally approves and speaks out does it carry weight.

"Understood, Captain Spent."

Zod's voice wasn't loud, but it was more composed than before.

Having received Captain Spent's tacit support, his wavering confidence finally found a foothold.

He took a deep breath, and his steps became more firm.

……

Colonel Xavier remained standing on the rooftop platform of a three-story stone building on the east side of Watchtower Square, overlooking the entire battlefield.

His face was as taut as a statue, revealing no emotion, only his eyes constantly and sharply scanning the jagged battle lines on the square.

The smoke and fire surged beneath his feet, the gunfire rising and falling like the tide, but he remained as still as a rock.