I couldn’t believe the armor and weapons arrived the very next day.
At first, Alicia was amazed by the blacksmith shop’s efficiency, thinking the soldiers could finally throw away those sandbags they used to simulate armor weight.
But after unloading the armor, she discovered it was all covered in dust—stock that had been sitting around for who knows how long.
On second thought, how could two hundred sets of weapons and armor possibly be made in a single day? No wonder they gave me a discount!
Alicia felt cheated and was even planning to go complain to Lane.
Andrew, seeing this, quickly stopped the rampaging girl and explained for a long time.
“So this is how the Royal Blacksmith operates. Whether there are orders or not, they always prepare armor and weapons according to the Sovereign’s standards. When they’re needed, they can produce a batch at once. As long as they don’t rust or corrode, it doesn’t matter how long those prepared armors and weapons sit.”
Embarrassed in front of her subordinates, Alicia felt her authority crumbling, so she decided to have Andrew teach those jarheads the military song she’d just come up with, while she went to find General Kratos to recruit some people to give them training in weapons and battle formations.
After all, that veteran general was the expert in these matters.
She was just an amateur and shouldn’t try to gild the lily.
Before Kratos’s people arrived, the girl clasped her hands behind her back, watching the two hundred jarheads, now clad in armor and finally looking like soldiers, move in unison to Andrew’s commands.
A wave of pride washed over her.
“We are the brave infantry squad, men striding forward full of passion and blood—sing!”
“Everyone, shout with all your might! Don’t be afraid to charge into battle—go!”
Yeah, nice!
Full of spirit!
The feeling of hearing the soldiers sing the military song in unison was amazing!
Thinking about it now, this must be how the school principal felt standing on the platform, looking down at the student formations below! No wonder they would always find some excuse to make students assemble on the playground when they had nothing to do.
Being in charge really gets you addicted! (This represents only Alicia’s personal opinion.)
But before she could fully enjoy the thrill, a harsh, mocking voice rang in her ears.
“Oh, isn’t this Lady Alicia? What are you playing at here? Training a choir?”
What a party pooper! Alicia’s face darkened.
She turned around.
The newcomer looked familiar—she’d seen him once at the previous celebration.
His name was… right, Xipuaisi. Easy to remember.
Goat Butt!
“Oh—! Look at my memory! I almost forgot. His Highness Lane entrusted you with the heavy responsibility of training the New Army, didn’t he? So, where is that invincible New Army you’ve trained?”
He stroked his goatee, sweeping his gaze across the training ground.
“Could it possibly be this choir?”
Alicia almost lost her temper, but this guy outranked her in both military post and nobility, and he had over a dozen militia with him—probably on patrol.
She couldn’t afford to offend him.
“Lord Xipuaisi, this chorus is just one part of the training. Once they’ve received weapon training, I guarantee…”
Before she could finish, Goat Butt laughed without restraint.
“It’s been over a month, and they haven’t even trained in using weapons? Alicia, I think you simply don’t know anything about training!”
Even a fool could see it.
Goat Butt was here to pick a fight!
Alicia dropped her smile.
“This matter was decided by His Highness. If you have any brilliant insights, Lord, you should take them directly to His Highness! You are His Highness’s right-hand man. I’m sure he will prioritize your suggestions!”
Meaning: If you have nothing better to do, get lost!
Harassing me is useless.
If you’ve got the guts, go talk to Lane!
“You just said, what can you guarantee?”
Just as the two were locking horns, Lane’s familiar voice sounded behind them.
Everyone was startled and quickly turned to look, bowing in salute.
At some point, Lane had arrived at the entrance of the training ground with Kratos and several guards.
He wore civilian clothes, with his right sleeve and shirt casually tucked into his waist, revealing his sturdy chest and muscular arm.
His hair was tied back carelessly—still that iconoclastic image.
“Alicia, you really have brought me a surprise!”
Lane leaped off his horse, clapped his hands, and looked like a leader inspecting work.
“I heard it from a long way off. What was that song those soldiers were singing just now? A bit strange, but full of spirit!”
“Uh, this is an… carefully composed unit military song to boost morale and improve their unity!”
Lane nodded, an excited expression on his face.
Ever since Andrew instinctively called “Attention!” when Lane appeared, these two hundred men hadn’t moved a muscle.
Even though the sovereign they served was reviewing them from close by, not one person dared to turn their head, sneak a peek, or even move their eyeballs more than minimally.
Lane certainly knew what this meant.
It was obedience and discipline!
He wasn’t just seeing a fledgling army taking shape; he was seeing the potential to quickly transform idle farmers into warriors!
“My Lord, as I said before, to keep the army loyal to you, we’re already seeing preliminary results!”
Alicia seized the opportunity to claim credit.
“Mm, good!”
Under the escort, Lane reviewed the soldiers standing as still as statues.
His gaze swept over every tense, young face, every straight spine.
He nodded repeatedly, his smile growing wider.
“Well done, Alicia! I’ll remember this great achievement! From now on, our army will be trained using your method!”
“Your Highness!”
An agitated Goat Butt couldn’t help jumping out.
He first shot Alicia a glare filled with disgust and hatred—one might think she had stolen his wife or plundered his home!
“Your Highness, please reconsider! What’s wrong with our soldiers? If this continues, many veterans who have followed you through life and death will be phased out…”
Lane still kept a smile on his face.
“Lord Xipuaisi, this is unbecoming of you. For now, Alicia’s method is better. We’re just making a little adjustment.”
“Your Highness, aren’t the soldiers who have always followed you brave enough? Loyal enough? If we keep training soldiers with such child’s play, only teaching them to line up and sing…”
“In that case, let’s settle this with facts!”
General Kratos, who had been silent, suddenly interrupted Goat Butt’s complaint.
“If I recall, you have four hundred militia under your command, right? Gather them all and bring them out!”
“That’s a great idea!”
Lane slapped his palm.
“Then let’s have a drill tomorrow! Xipuaisi, take your four hundred men and fight these two hundred. If you win, it proves Alicia’s training method is wrong and she has been deceiving me. I will exile her directly.”
What?
What the hell?
How did exile suddenly come into play again?
Alicia felt a chill down her spine.
But before she could speak, Lane continued with the rest of the terms.
“If these two hundred—who haven’t even received weapon training—win, then our army will be trained according to Alicia’s method from now on. And Lord Xipuaisi.”
Lane’s tone suddenly turned cold.
“This month’s salary goes to Alicia, and I’m taking back the command of these four hundred men. Any problems?”
The girl’s eyes lit up.
The risk was high, but not only would she get a whole month’s pay, but Lane could also reclaim military power.
This guy really knew how to gamble!
No, Lane was serious!
He was even staking the political capital of reclaiming Xipuaisi’s military power!
This wasn’t simple bravado or a test—he was betting on this New Army!
This was a level of trust bordering on madness!
But how was she supposed to command an army?
When she played games, she always just charged everyone forward!
Even with the famous Mount & Blade series, she was just F1+F3, full attack!
Damn it, damn it!
I have to win no matter what! I can’t let the boss down.
Win and get promoted, raise salary, and reach the peak of life.
Lose, and everything is over!
Goat Butt scrambled onto his little pony and trotted off to muster his troops.
Since the drill was set for tomorrow, Lane wasn’t going to waste the remaining time today!
He enthusiastically climbed onto the platform.
“Alicia, show me the results of your training!”
What else could Alicia say?
Since the boss came to watch, she’d show him clearly!
“Soldiers! You all know who is reviewing you now, right! Show some spirit! Each of you represents not only yourselves but also our entire EDF! Now! Attention—!”
At Alicia’s command, this two-hundred-man army faced its first review.
Lane immediately noticed that these soldiers looked at him differently.
It wasn’t the fear or reverence of soldiers or commoners seeing their lord; it was more like a kind of fervor!
He had only ever seen that look from the fanatical believers of the Church!
Lane was a bit puzzled.
How on earth did Alicia manage to make these soldiers like this?
For her own enjoyment, Alicia had the two hundred men form two squares.
Andrew commanded, with the two squad leaders each marching ahead of their square, leading the troops in a steady pace.
Although not as impressive as the People’s Liberation Army, it was a unique level of neatness in this other world.
Especially when, with Andrew’s orders, the two hundred men shouted “One! Two!” and switched from marching to goose-step, all turning their eyes in unison to salute Lane on the platform.
The soldierly aura burst forth, making everyone’s body tremble—once, twice, thrice…
Alicia felt immensely proud, even a little floaty.
So she decided to reinforce the “Ideological Construction” a bit.
Clearing her throat, she yelled, “Our Lord Lane—ready—sing!”
From below, a neat and loud chorus erupted.
“Our Lord, Lord Lane.”
“Your dear soldiers pay their respects to you.”
“A protector, a great leader!”
“We salute you, offering you our complete loyalty!”
…
Alicia was immersed in her own art, completely unaware that Lane beside her had his expression shift from delight to awkwardness, and finally to shame and anger.
After the review ended, while Andrew was commanding the soldiers to dismiss and head to the mess hall, Lane grabbed Alicia, who was still basking in the joy of a “successful performance,” and dragged her behind the reviewing platform.
With his back to the dispersing crowd, he suddenly grabbed her by the collar!
His cheeks flushed with a suspicious redness.
Lowering his voice, he ground out the question through clenched teeth: “You, you, you! What the hell was that song just now?!”
The girl blinked and immediately played dumb.
“What are you talking about, My Lord? Isn’t this to praise your greatness, glory, and correctness? Don’t worry, the troops have already memorized it by heart. From now on, when we go to war, we can sing a stanza first…”
“Do you want me to be laughed to death by the entire Empire?!”
“My Lord, why would you say that?”
Alicia put on a shocked expression.
“Isn’t it to spread your glorious image? Look, the lyrics and melody are catchy. Soon the whole world will be singing your praises! Everyone will know that all living things grow by the sun, and the great voyage depends on the helmsman. As they say, a red heart faces the sun…”
“Shut up! Shut up! Alicia, do you know that every time you pledge loyalty, it’s incredibly forced?”
Oh, caught?
Alicia’s feigned innocent expression froze on her face.
“You noticed?”
“Do I look like an idiot to you?!”
Lane glared at her fiercely, shaking the hand gripping her collar.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and let go, straightened his own clothes, and revealed a sinister smile.
“Fine, Alicia. You’re something.”
He nodded, his tone terrifyingly gentle.
“Seems like you have quite the insight into loyalty education. Good…”
He paused, and under Alicia’s increasingly wary gaze, slowly announced, “If you win tomorrow’s drill, then at the end-of-month meeting, we’ll settle the score slowly. That’ll be a real show!”