Chapter 333 - 290: Executing the Fear Knight (Part 3)

He paused for a moment before continuing, "I am Fedor, Battle Group Commander of the Red Flame Son. On behalf of the Red Flame Son, I thank you for everything you’ve done.

"This traitor... He was once a Battle Group champion, holder of the Crown of the Red Flame’s Calamity, and one of the Dragon Hunter’s Ten Dragon Guard. He was the pride and glory of our Battle Group’s history.

"After he betrayed the Empire and our Battle Group, all of that became a source of immense shame for the Red Flame Son."

’One of the Ten Dragon Guard?’

Reinhardt frowned.

He had personally witnessed Heinrich’s power—a terrifying force capable of contending with a Furious Great Demon.

’To think this traitor was already so powerful even before he turned against the Empire...’

After he and Fedor confirmed they were on the same side.

The Battle Group Commander of the Red Flame Son walked over to Du Ma’s corpse and found the once-glorious but now-twisted crown symbolizing the Red Flame’s Calamity among the ashes.

Then, with his Dragon-Hunting Spear, he smashed the shameful symbol to pieces as many of the Red Flame Son looked on.

Gazing at the Demon Army surging like a tide in the distance and thinking of the practical problem they all now faced, Fedor said gravely, "Sir, I’m not sure how you ended up falling into the Demon Void Realm, but the fact that we’re trapped here is an extremely difficult problem.

"We were with the Dragon Hunter’s 33rd Infantry Corps, en route to suppress a rebellion on Helder World by order, when we were swept into a Void Storm.

"And we have been fighting here continuously for three years.

"But the Ash Guard Think Tank tells me that in the Real Cosmos, it is already the year 1460 of the Radiant Calendar. I don’t know what has become of the Empire..."

Before he could finish,

his Radiant Beacon relayed several urgent reports: multiple defensive lines in the warzone had collapsed.

Fedor took a deep breath and hurried back toward the frontline command post with Reinhardt.

"Sir, this way."

They were currently in the third sector. The upcoming battle would be handled by Mortal Soldiers and other members of the Red Flame Son. As the supreme commander, Fedor had to remain at the command post and could not leave as he pleased.

In response to his question, Reinhardt replied coldly, "You will find out."

’Even though these Dragon Hunters are part of the Empire’s Loyalist Faction, this is my first contact with them. I’m a long way from trusting them, let alone revealing the top-secret information about the complete blockade of the Imperial Administrative Region.’

Reinhardt had not yet reached the frontline command post when he saw members of the Ash Guard, clad in Power Armor with a deep black finish, waiting in the distance.

Upon seeing Reinhardt,

Thinker Bach rushed over anxiously. "Lord Reinhardt! Where are the others?!"

"They have evacuated safely."

Hearing such a definitive answer from Reinhardt, the young Ash Guard Think Tank felt a heavy burden lift from his heart. He let out a long breath and, with his men, knelt before Reinhardt on one knee.

"As the commander of the Wayfarer vessel, I failed to arrive at the rendezvous on time. I bear an undeniable responsibility for that. If the mission failed because of my dereliction of duty...

"I ask that you punish me, sir!"

When Bach had first met Raphael, he had been dismissive of the so-called Vengeful Angels.

But now, after fighting side-by-side and enduring so many hardships and sacrifices, the young Think Tank saw Reinhardt as a leader on the same level as Grand Governor Sedon.

Though Reinhardt spoke of it lightly, Bach knew that for the expeditionary force to have withdrawn safely, this man must have made a great sacrifice at a critical moment.

And indeed, he was right to ask for punishment.

If this had been the Old Empire Era,

a Think Tank directly responsible for a Wayfarer vessel being lost in a Void Storm would have considered a hundred years of service in the Penitent Legion to be a light sentence.