High School Soldier
118. Fireworks, heartbreak, and cunning plans

This prison was not dark and cold, in contrast to the confinement that Edera had in place while still a slave. The light source is some fluorescent light that glows white that flickers due to an often unstable power supply.

One of the cells was occupied by Edera, and 6 soldiers of the rank of First Soldier to the Chief Warrior served as warden. The prison built north of the plantation has 20 cells, and there are two occupants, Edera and one winged man who was shot down using a catapult.

This prison will house criminals who threaten refugees and traders, as well as the Expeditionary Force, not least this girl named Edera. Due to Nio's pleas, she was treated quite well by the female soldiers who often took care of her.

“Who is it?” edera Gumam.

Thumping, that was what Edera felt when she heard footsteps protected with boots with hard soles.

Who approached him? And what's the reason?

“…”

The girl kept quiet and prepared herself for what happened next. Perhaps the one who walked over would tell him about the punishment after injuring Nio.

As the move grew clearer, Edera did all she could to hold back the fear.

“Sst, relax.”

“Eh?”

As the two people looked at each other, the young man said something that made his eyes widen.

“It looks like you're still pretty good here huh, Edera?”

Nio with a hairstyle is usually disheveled and wearing a field service uniform that has not been washed for one week. A rifle was stored in his carry, equipped with two knives and a sound-muffled pistol.

Nio is the only person in the holding cell, he uses his hiding ability to infiltrate in order to visit Edera.

The cat girl was about to cry, as Nio was still able to behave normally after she had already injured Nio until the young man was dying. He could not understand what this young man was thinking, and tried to understand what Nio was saying.

“Don't talk too loud, or the guard will catch me.”

Edera answered him with a nod accompanied by puffy eyes because she could not resist sadness. Nio smiled slightly and sat crouching in front of the iron bars that restricted the two of them.

Even with his claws, Edera could not damage the iron that encased him.

“Sorry, I can't set you free and put you in jail like this.”

“Mr Nio, I'm used to being locked up like this, even the treatment I receive when locked up is the same as animals. You guys really respect animal races like us, I'm really ashamed of myself.”

“That's how I do to overcome differences, namely by appreciating each other.”

Is he not afraid of me? Edera had hurt Nio. Even Nio did not look scared, even he did not feel disgusted when talking to her.

Nio's rough hands rubbed against each other to warm themselves from the cold moist air in the Holy Land. While in Indonesia, there is still a rainy season until March according to BMKG estimates.

“What are you fed with decent food.”

“Yes, much better than I received while still a slave.”

Not infrequently, when his employer does not feed him, Edera and her slave colleagues look for wild plants or insects that can be eaten to prevent the stomach continues to sound because of hunger. But, during this prison, Edera always felt full and all her needs were met properly, including mental health.

Visiting Edera was part of Nio's plan to get information about the person who had ordered this girl to kill herself and the Indonesian ambassador to the Empire. But, he would use the interrogation method slowly, almost approaching talking to a close friend, until he got some information from the conversation.

“Did your master give you a decent living?”

Concerned about Edera's previous life is Nio's way of obtaining Information, and knowing the life of the nonhuman race that was made a slave by humans.

“Mr Maslac often whipped his slave for pyrbadi pleasure, and was very happy to see me locked up in a small cage while being watered with dirty water. For food, we were only given a loaf that was already unfit to eat, but I had no choice but to eat that rotten bread.”

Edera said almost all the information Nio wanted, while simultaneously managing to make the young man moved by his past. Although Nio did not see directly the incident that happened to Edera, but he could feel it. He is now getting fed up with a culture called 'slavery'.

On the other hand, Edera was relieved after recounting all the ugliness and cruelty of her former master. He believed that this green army could destroy the Empire, especially Maslac.

It's new year's night, which means there'll be a fireworks show. It is the first new year celebration in the world to be celebrated in another world. Yes, it is history for Indonesia itself as a country that some of its people celebrate the new year in another world.

In the special forces, Nio is not a lock expert, but he has the science to open the padlock, both ordinary and electronic padlocks. Incidentally, the padlock used in this prison was an ordinary padlock, which Nio could open with just a wire or hairpin

Edera listened to what the young man in front of her did to the padlock that made her unable to escape, after all the girl did not know about this technology.

“Oke, I did it. Let's go out.”

“Exit? You mean I'm free?”

“Yes, but for a while. Then I'll put you in jail again. Otherwise, you and I are both in trouble hunt.”

Nio's rough metal hand grasped Edera's warm delicate hand. The two of them ran to head for the secret entrance that Nio used to enter the prison secretly.

“After getting out of here, I will show you ‘sihir’ from my world.”

Edera was surprised by what Nio said, because she was sure that in the home world this young man really had no magic at all. Even if there was, it must be so small that it could not be used to cast even the weakest magic.

A few moments later, there was the sound of hissing which continued a loud explosion. The fireworks show had already begun, and the entire army came out from their respective hiding places to witness this spectacle.

Relax and slowly, Nio tried to remember his path to get into the prison.

“This.... it's really magic...”.

They both manage to get out of prison through a secret passage that Nio finds. The young man did not lie with the ‘sihir’ he said earlier. He took Edera to the back of the prison toilet, and was near the cassava garden.

Dozens of fireballs exploded, and spread out to form a spark pattern. This was another world magic that Edera had seen, perhaps even this world magician was unable to create similar magic.

The fire that had a variety of colors increasingly made the cat girl could only look at her with a look of admiration, as well as fear. Yeah, scared of his feelings for Nio now. Looking at the fireworks in the sky, Edera was reminded of something she had to say to Nio.

Although he had already said his feelings, Edera could already guess what answer Nio would give. But there is no harm in trying.

“Mr Nio... Do you currently have some kind of lover?”

“Emmm... Already, she's my first love.”

Even though he had prepared himself for this, the pain in his heart still appeared and made his chest tight. He could still enjoy the increasingly lively fireworks with this feeling.

“I've expected it.”

Nio turned to look at Edera's face which had a faint smile. Seeing that, he felt guilty for answering Edera's question honestly.

“You mean?”

“Mr Nio, you're the savior, and my first love. You're not even disgusted at holding this hand that hurt you. I will always maintain this feeling even though the end is not what I expected.”

Hearing Edera's words, Sigiz, Lux and Zariv are moved, as well as heartbroken after knowing Nio already has a lover who is his first love.

But, the three of them had a determination like Edera, which was to stick to this feeling, and were ready to wait for Nio even though the end was not on their side.

**

The Expeditionary Force's frontline Defense Headquarters, a suburb of the Imperial capital Luan.

Today, there were many people in the frontline operating base, with the task of defending the periphery of the Imperial capital. Inside the headquarters were filled with soldiers performing their respective duties. There are hundreds of surveillance cameras scattered all over the region.

On the commander's bed, General Sucipto lay on the bed, snoring and scratching his stomach as this man fell asleep. Everyone had been working during the night, and they rested in turn.

Elsewhere, Nio looked into the information center, intending to report to the officer in charge. However, he found the commander of this unit was reporting the situation of the Imperial capital to the information center at the Central Headquarters of the Holy Land. This First Lieutenant-ranked man saw Nio, and knew if he had a report, he said to Nio, “Please wait a minute.”

Nio listened carefully to what the information center unit officer said, this officer said with a clear eastern Indonesian accent.

“Siap. The nobles of the peace faction who survived have been imprisoned, then what is the situation of the field?. Replace.”

“Siap. It had been two days since the poisoning of the nobles of the peace faction, but there was no sign of the Empire's military lifting the martial law. Thousands of troops jumped into the streets, threatening residents. They were allowed to move during the day, and causing limited access in and out of the capital, almost all shops and merchants were almost out of stock. Replace.”

“What? There are 200 soldiers here to feed. Field kitchen troops should arrange the food properly! Replace.”

“Siap. Sir, ambassadors and entourage eat a lot, and they bring servants who must also be fed. Replace.”

“Siap. It seems like food is more effective than bribe money. We asked for food supplies to arrive as soon as possible. Replace.”

“Siap. We will send the transport helicopters after arranging the transport schedule. Any word on the ambassador and the others? Replace.”

“They are inside the embassy palace, so the diplomatic agreement to protect the ambassadors should still be in effect. I guess the Imperial forces didn't touch our ambassador did they?”

“No, they will not think of such a humanitarian thing. As long as we are in this country, they will continue to hunt us and our people. Be careful that when you have to be defensive, the troops there are not having difficulties, do you understand?”

The words of an officer in the information center of the headquarters had a point, and the officer that Nio still had to wait continued his words. But, seeing Nio so patiently waiting for him, this officer had Nio speak.

“It seems, the surrogate Emperor managed to get rid of the nobles of the peace faction. He also took command of the Imperial forces and almost the entire Imperial army was loyal to him.”

“I know, but there are some nobles of the peace faction who run away and try to save themselves. Do we have to protect them?”

“Pak, you can't act without thinking. If you help them for no apparent reason, it will only get them stuck in a much worse situation. You should consider it carefully.”

The officer smiled after Nio spoke like he was advising her, and she replied, “I understand.”

That way, Nio ended his report to the information center officer.

**

Currently, the Imperial palace was in chaos since the poisoning of a portion of the peace faction's nobles. And Maslac's minions began to enter the government, and forcibly seized the functions of the nobility of the peace faction.

Of course the dubious opposition Maslac argued, “Why should he be in power for a while?” et cetera. Once Maslac's status as successor Emperor was announced, he began to show off his power, and declared if the Empire and the alliance could still go to war. If they openly oppose Maslac, they put themselves in a difficult situation. In other words, the opposition must protect themselves in the face of an uncertain future.

The entire nobility of the peace faction was subject to arrest, and only the military faction was left.

Regulations favoring the military faction and laws favoring Maslac were passed without any opposition. Therefore, some who oppose the war must be patient until good news.

**

After the announcement of the Emperor's arrival, the palace's doors opened.

Under the escort of the young general who was about to arrange military affairs, Maslac stepped gracefully through the open door.

The nobles of the young military faction and the ambitious military officers wore luxurious clothes sewn with golden threads.

Behind Maslac's successor Emperor was Zelev.

His status still belonged to Maslac, but ever since Maslac ascended the throne, everyone started to look at him respectfully. As the person closest to Maslac, she received the treatment of an empress even though she was technically a slave.

Maslac casually removed his robe, and threw it at Zelev who was standing beside him. After which, he approached the Emperor's seat and occupied it.

Then, the three young generals knelt before Maslac after being summoned by the surrogate Emperor. They are all prisoners released by Indonesia a few days ago.

“Talk about this war, and what steps should we take to defeat that green army?”

In response to Maslac's question, one of the young generals rose up.

“A open battle against the enemy is futile. Therefore, if we do battle indirectly maybe we can gain victory.”

“What is it? All the Empire and Alliance needed was a victory.”

“We will use sneaky steps. We heard that the enemy called Indonesia loved the common people too much, including refugees in the Holy Land. So, we're going to gather goblins, orcs and other monsters and attack the refugees there, kill the refugees, burn their farms, and poison their water sources. Then, we will seize the enemy fortress.”

“It was a scorched earth tactic. But, does it not invite enemy counterattacks?”

“No, because those monsters have nothing to do with the Empire.”

“What will we do next? Are we going to fight head-on?”

“Unbeatable enemies are not things to worry about excessively. If the troops meet them, our troops who act as traders will be friendly with them. We can order the troops to unleash the Empire's attributes, and blend in with the villagers, or infiltrate the neighboring country. We can take the people we meet as hostages, and warn the hostage rescuers to retreat if they want the hostages to stay alive. Since the green forces are willing to protect the refugees, then we will gather the hungry and homeless refugee candidates and take them to the Holy Land and force them to seek help there. That way, we will mix our people with the refugees and infiltrate the enemy fortress.”

Maslac was speechless after hearing all that. His mouth was open and closed several times as if he was deciding to speak or not. He thought, “Is it okay to let them do this?”

The young general who spoke earlier was someone who was an expert in cunning strategies, and made some areas of the Empire's colonies become bloody ashes due to the tactics he executed. Therefore, asking someone like him to devise a devious plan was a very appropriate decision.

The fact that one of his subordinates spoke of such a devious tactic, really amazed Maslac, although to some it was disgusting.

The general's words made sense. Maslac felt it would be effective if the troops infiltrated among the people and launched an attack on the Indonesian army, it would make their troops wary and suspicious. The battle will surely hurt the people. If the Imperial forces turned the refugee camps into battlefields, they could accuse the Indonesian army of slaughtering innocents. If they do that, the people start to hate Indonesia and its soldiers, and regard them as enemies. It was a brilliant scheme.

Then one of the other young generals said, “How about we disguise ourselves as Indonesian troops and attack the refugee camp?”

Maslac yelling, “Good!” and applauded in response to the advice of one of his generals.

The general who spoke earlier was the son of a merchant family, and in the Imperial military he secured a position as the logistics division of the troops. Due to his family being a merchant group, there were bad rumors about the general about how he was abusing his position to resell the equipment of the Imperial troops. And he used his position as a general to dismiss such rumors.

“That's a good move too, it could ruin the enemy's reputation. Because we will, the troops can attack the people in the cities, burn their houses, loot their property, and rape the women. That way, the enemy's self-esteem will be trampled and their name will be mentioned with umpatan.”

“That's absolutely right, by looting cities, we can replenish logistics. By the way, what does the enemy wear? Can we copy their clothes, or do we have examples of their clothes so we can duplicate them?”

“The three of us have seen the enemy's combat attire while being held captive, their image I've carved deeply in my eyes.”

Maslac got up with a beaming smile on his face. Yes, it meant that he strongly agreed with the tactics that the three subordinates suggested.

“You guys, go and start operation!”

“Understanding. Then we will start the preparation.”

Such a thing cannot be called a military operation. If there were any peace faction nobles here, they would cry and prostrate at Maslac's feet for him to stop using this tactic.