LeeroyCGNA

[TSS] Chapter 46 - Leading the March

Luke found himself being escorted back from the reception room to the guest room where he would be staying. His heart was still racing from the tension. He had fully expected his disguise to fail, bracing himself to fight for his life. Yet, against all odds, that hadn’t happened.

For the life of him, he couldn’t understand why.

Upon entering the guest room, both Stoddard and Kayson turned to him, their faces a mixture of relief and curiosity. However, the moment they got a clo...

[TSS] Chapter 45 - William Nox

"What? I thought you said we still have time?" Luke’s voice betrayed his panic. There was still so much he didn’t know about Victoria, and no guarantee he’d ever see her again. If he couldn’t get answers now, he might never have another chance.

“I’ll find you when I need your help. Until then…” She paused, a brief smile playing on her lips. "Don’t die." With that, she opened the door and shoved him out into the hallway.

Luke didn’t resist—he couldn’t have, ...

[TSS] Chapter 44 - Under the Surface

The trio arrived in a spacious yet simple room a few minutes later. The butler mentioned that supper would be served shortly and that they only needed to ask if they required anything.

Luke noticed a flicker of unease in the old butler's expression as he departed swiftly. To an observer, the sight might seem odd, but Luke had a good idea of the reason. William would undoubtedly be in a foul mood after losing the wager in the courtyard, and it was likely the servants would bear the brunt...

[TSS] Chapter 43 - Silver Tongue, Iron Fist

“Aye, you have a silver tongue, I’ll give you that,” William stated, a malicious grin spreading beneath his thick black beard. “I can see why the General would send you here as his proxy.”

The big man’s eyes bore into Luke, making him feel vulnerable, as if he were standing on the edge of a bear’s den where a single misstep could mean having his throat torn apart.

“But you see, negotiation isn’t always done through words, Commander,” he said conversationally, h...

[TSS] Chapter 42 - Tense Atmosphere

Luke felt rather humiliated as he rode through the gates of Valand City. He had wrapped a makeshift hood atop his head to cover the fake disfigurement that Kayson had placed upon his face as a disguise. Yet even this could not stop the townsfolk from staring at him atop the mare.

He tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the somewhat familiar streets that sprawled out before him. The city was nothing like Clayton City or Xiu Fortress, lacking the heavily fortified streets and hardene...

[TSS] Chapter 41 - Truth and Reward

Kayson’s face morphed, switching between surprise and suspicion. He moved forward, grabbing Luke by the arm and pulling him close, as if to keep the conversation away from prying ears.

After looking around briefly and seeing that the coast was clear, he leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, “It sounds like you’re about to say something that could get you into a lot of trouble. I had my suspicions about your origin, especially after I ordered a background check on you after our fir...

[TSS] Chapter 40 - Harsh Reality

Luke watched as the citizens were herded into the large square. They were mostly the old, women, and children—likely because the men had been conscripted to man the walls in the absence of soldiers.

A child screamed for her father, one of the surrendered soldiers, while her mother held her back. The girl couldn’t have been older than six, her tear-streaked face plastered with snot and wet hair.

Similar scenes unfolded across the square, amplifying the heavy, suffocating despai...

[TSS] Chapter 39 - Breach

Luke swallowed as he began the march toward the western gate. The first unit carrying the heavy battering ram was closing in on the gate, now under assault by the enemy archers atop the wall, who sought to prevent their advance.

The sound of arrows thudding against shields and the frantic shouts of the enemy filled his ears, gnawing away at his nerves. Despite donning the Steady Heart skill, it could not completely eradicate his fear or anxiety; it merely drowned them out.

As a re...

[TSS] Chapter 38 - Begin

“We must launch a full assault on the fortress. If what you are saying is true, the sooner we reclaim the fortress, the better,” Hayden said, snapping his fan shut. “Should we fail and be forced to retreat, the King will have our heads.”

Luke paled. ‘Ah, there it is…’ he thought grimly. The reason the system didn’t threaten him with death by his subordinates was clear now: the King would take care of that himself if they failed.

“G-General, I think the enemy sold...

[TSS] Chapter 37 - Revelation

Luke couldn’t quite pinpoint why he felt such an urgent need to breach the gate now. With their current plan of alternating attacks, and more than a day remaining on the system mission, there should have been no reason to deviate from the status quo.

After all, the plan was his idea. So why did he feel so anxious?

‘Is it my conscience wanting the siege to end with fewer casualties?’ he wondered, his thoughts turning introspective before he shook his head.

While he held...

[TSS] Chapter 36 - Siege

After leaving the strategy meeting, the orders were passed down to the Lieutenants to organize the shifts within the ranks. Luke was thankful for the well-structured chain of command; otherwise, trying to give orders to twenty-five thousand soldiers would have been a logistical nightmare.

“Are you nervous?” Luke asked, noticing that Kayson had been unusually quiet.

“I’d be lying if I said no,” Kayson admitted. “Battling in the field is one thing, but I’ve heard that ...

[TSS] Chapter 35 - Reunion

It took Luke some time to walk on foot to the northern side of the fortress, where the mercenaries had set up camp. Even if he hadn’t been told they were there, the stark difference in tents and equipment would have made it obvious.

While the mercenaries still flew the banner of the Marxx Kingdom, their armor and uniforms were entirely different from those of the regular soldiers. As Luke and Kayson walked through the camp, Luke became increasingly uncomfortable under the weight of th...

[TSS] Chapter 34 - New Subordinate

[Kayson Diego has declared his loyalty. Do you accept?]

[Y/N]

Luke stared at the translucent window in shock, his usually sharp mind lagging behind. His thoughts spiraled as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

‘Isn’t this the same window that appeared when I made Sebastian my subordinate? Why is it showing up now?’ he thought, bewildered.

“Haha, why do you look so surprised? Didn’t I declare you my brother back then?” Kayson laughed, his amusement ev...

[TSS] Chapter 33 - Weight

The fleeing enemies were relentlessly pursued by the remnants of the five hundred cavalry units, who continued to cut them down like wheat in the fields. The sounds of screaming and fighting gradually faded as Luke remained still, watching from a distance.

By now, the adrenaline had worn off, and all he felt was fatigue. It was a mix of the battle and the events leading up to it that had drained him.

Just recalling the earlier bloodbath was enough to make him feel nauseous, yet th...

[TSS] Chapter 32 - Reinforce

After choking down some unappetizing dry rations, Luke managed a few hours of desperately needed rest. As the sun peeked over the horizon, the camp began to stir to life.

Luke rubbed his bleary eyes and slowly rose, letting out a long yawn. This was his fourth night in a row sleeping under the stars—and his fourth day without a bath. Ignoring the pungent smell coming from his robe, he sent a quick kick at Kayson, who was still sleeping soundly, jolting him awake.

“Rise and shi...

[TSS] Chapter 31 - Ignition

The carriages made their way out of the city, heading back toward the port to collect the next load of supplies. Luke’s heart pounded the entire time, afraid they might be stopped. Even after they passed through the gates without incident, he couldn’t fully relax.

He finally lowered his guard only when Xiu Fortress’s walls disappeared beyond the horizon. It felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but the mission was far from over.

As dusk settled, Old Man...

[TSS] Chapter 30 - Success?

Luke cantered atop his mare, using the stars scattered across the night sky to guide his course. The cold wind brushed against his face, easing the tension that gripped his heart. He replayed the plan in his mind, over and over, searching for flaws—of which there were many.

In the distance, smoke curled upward, faint but unmistakable. He urged his horse to slow, eventually bringing her to a stop. The other soldiers followed suit, dismounting and waiting for his orders.

“You tw...

[TSS] Chapter 29 - Plan

The next two days were not kind to Luke. Despite getting the hang of riding, his legs felt like they were about to fall off, and the constant strain on his lower back from the uneven trotting only made matters worse.

By the third day, the group had officially entered the lands of the Qin Empire, creeping steadily eastward. Navigation had to be precise; any mistake could either overshoot the port or, worse, lead them to Xiu Fortress, alerting the enemy to their presence.

Fortunatel...

[TSS] Chapter 28 - March

Sleep came swiftly for Luke, who was drained from the strategy meeting. His dreams were pleasant for the first time this week, allowing his body to get some much-needed rest and recovery.

Luke felt his body being nudged softly, rousing him slightly.

"Be gentle~," he mumbled, half-asleep.

In the next moment, his body was thrown from the bed, landing on the cold, hard ground with a thud. His eyes snapped open, only to see Kayson staring down at him with a hint of disgust.

[TSS] Chapter 27 - Strategy Meeting

Hayden took his seat at the head of the table, still wearing a small smile. Despite this, his piercing blue eyes seemed to evaluate those present, as if staring into their souls.

“The King wishes to reclaim Xiu Fortress, returning it to its rightful place under our dominion,” Minister Chao said, his high-pitched, whiny voice matching his outward appearance.

“Thank you, Minister Chao. I believe this much is evident,” Hayden replied respectfully. It seemed even he did not da...

[TSS] Chapter 26 - Declaration

A full week passed before Clayton City emerged from lockdown. For Kayson, those seven days had been grueling, but he was finally allowed to visit his father at the City Lord’s estate after the restrictions were lifted.

The Academy had continued lessons as if nothing had happened, though the increased security and the empty seats of fallen students served as constant reminders of the tragedy.

One crisp morning, the remaining students were gathered outside their new dormitory. Mas...

[TSS] Chapter 25 - Changes

The night was one of the longest Luke had ever experienced. The entire Military Academy was like a hornet's nest that had been stirred—soldiers were crawling everywhere, searching for any clues that might have been left behind.

By the time morning arrived, grim news came from the City Lord’s Estate. It turned out assassins had also visited Viscount Diego, who barely managed to preserve his own life during the attack.

With news of his father’s injuries, Kayson panicked, wanti...

[TSS] Chapter 24 - Incident

Upon returning to the Academy, Zack was escorted out of the estate by armed soldiers. It didn’t matter which minor noble family he belonged to—with Master Gale’s status, no one would dare go against his orders.

Even the City Lord treated the old man with respect.

The results of the mock battle were not announced, at least not by the old Master. But it was clear who had failed the test. In addition to Zack, two other students were removed from the Academy, both of whom were f...

[TSS] Chapter 23 - Abrupt Ending

Zack arrived at the blue army’s starting point and was immediately greeted by a scene of disarray. His troops lounged about, chatting idly, while the flags they were supposed to wield lay discarded on the ground like forgotten scraps.

At a glance, Zack knew he had his work cut out for him. Yet, despite the dismal state of his troops, a sly smirk crept across his face.

“Do you want revenge on Luke Drakon?” he called out, his voice loud enough to command the attention of every...

[TSS] Chapter 22 - Establish Dominance

“Mr. Drakon against Zack.”

The moment Luke heard his name, he let out a sigh of relief.

After waiting nervously for what felt like an eternity, finally being called brought a strange sense of release. His opponent, Zack, was someone he had clashed with on more than one occasion. Whether it was intentional or not, Luke couldn’t say.

He shifted his gaze to Zack, the once cocky student now radiating fierce determination. Their eyes met briefly before Zack turned and follo...

[TSS] Chapter 21 - Day of the Mock Battle

The first-year students were led by Master Gale out of the north gates of the Academy Estate. They traveled on foot through the streets of Clayton City, drawing the attention of the bustling populace.

At a glance, it was obvious that these students were from the Military Academy—not only because of their attire but also due to their leader. The old figure of Master Gale held great prestige and seemed to be both revered and feared by the commoners.

‘No surprise there,’ Luke t...

[TSS] Chapter 20 - 3 Months

Luke awoke from a deep slumber, stretching his stiff limbs and savoring the sensation. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic snores of Kayson and the faint birdsong drifting through the window.

He wasted no time, kicking off the sheets and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Experience had taught him that the longer he lingered, the harder it was to rise for his morning training. The memory of the last time he’d overslept was enough to make his face pale—Kayson had subje...

[TSS] Chapter 19 - Unarmed Combat

Luke walked out of the library after about half an hour, a wry expression on his face. He had managed to read close to 500 books, but the content had been underwhelming.

‘Well, at least I’m now an expert at animal husbandry…’ he mused sarcastically.

The library was enormous, but there were quite a few people wandering around. Luke’s reading technique wasn’t something he could do in the open—at least not without risking getting kicked out.

So, he had been forced...

The Sovereign System

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