Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 151

An enigmatic smile played on the lips of the Supreme Commander. Yan felt a crawling sensation on his forearm, as if insects were skittering across his skin.

‘Does he harbor other thoughts?’

Yet, at this moment, nothing could be discerned.

The Commander withdrew his gaze from Yan and rose from his seat.

“I have other matters to attend to. Ah, the Werner exam starts tomorrow, correct?”

“Indeed. All the officer candidates have arrived.”

“Damian, I presume you have no objections to this decision?”

The Commander asked with a teasing grin, turning to Damian.

Damian glanced at Yan and nodded.

“While not entirely satisfied, I have no objections to raise.”

“Then there’s nothing more to say.”

The Commander stood, locking eyes with Yan, and with a slight upturn of his lips, he said,

“Well then, I’m looking forward to it.”

With those words, the Commander exited, leaving a hush to sweep over the hall.

At that moment, Werner also stood, breaking the silence.

“Let’s conclude today’s assembly here. Thank you all for taking the time to come. Damian, I’d like a word with you and the young man.”

As Werner, the second-in-command and Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, vacated his seat, the legion commanders rose and filed out.

Electus followed suit, but not before…

“Keep that neck clean for me. I’ll be coming to collect it soon.”

Yan didn’t forget the veiled threat laced with murderous intent.

Thud!

As the commanders departed, only Yan, Damian, and Werner remained in the secret chamber.

Damian was the first to break the silence.

“Speaking of the exam… you mean the officer selection test, right?”

“Exactly.”

Yan cocked his head, overhearing their conversation.

An officer selection test?

Werner, sensing Yan’s confusion, leaned on the table and began to explain.

“The test was planned for the candidates recommended by several legion commanders.”

“How many are there?”

“Three. With you, now four.”

Werner frowned slightly, as if the situation was somewhat troublesome.

“But this test won’t be like the previous ones, where a suitable mission was enough. It’s become a bit more bothersome.”

“Usually, the test involved extracting information from the empire or assassinating a key figure, right?”

“This time, it’s entirely different. The mission is to persuade someone.”

“Persuade?”

Damian’s face contorted.

The Revolutionary Army had rarely, if ever, attempted to persuade anyone.

A revolution must maintain secrecy to even stand a chance of success.

The former Supreme Commander valued this principle, never attempting persuasion unless it involved someone truly trustworthy.

However, the current Supreme Commander, having seized real power, began to persuade external power players one by one, terrifyingly expanding his influence.

Thus, the original four legion commanders had grown to seven.

Damian inquired,

“Who are we to persuade?”

Werner closed his eyes and replied,

“The Pirate Empress.”

At his words, Damian’s eyes widened. Yan, quietly listening, also opened his eyes wide.

It was inevitable.

The sheer intimidation of that name was formidable.

* * *

The Pirate Empress (海賊女帝)

She was the most wanted criminal ruling the seas, the first among the Empire’s five great enemies.

A mere forty years old, she rallied the ragtag pirates beneath her, a feat akin to herding cats.

Her martial prowess rivaled that of a Duke, and the pirate fleet she commanded spread terror across the entire continent.

Sovereign of the Seas.

That was another name for the Pirate Empress.

Damian chuckled dryly.

“Has the Commander lost his mind? How does he plan to persuade the Pirate Empress?”

“It’s the Commander’s directive. He’s hinted at something, but I’m not privy to the details.”

“Her fleet alone rivals the size of our revolutionary forces, doesn’t it?”

“Do you think I’m unaware of that?”

Werner shook his head in disbelief.

“I have no idea how we’re supposed to persuade the Pirate Empress. There’s nothing more to ask.”

Damian pressed his temples, clearly troubled.

Yan felt the same headache coming on.

After all.

‘I’ve never heard of the Pirate Empress colluding with the revolutionaries before my regression.’

That meant.

Yan’s eyes darkened.

‘It’s either my actions have altered the course, or this test is destined to fail.’

Which one was correct remains to be seen…

But neither outcome was less than the worst.

Yet, brooding over it wouldn’t solve anything.

Instead.

Yan turned to Damian and asked,

“Why did that Electus change his decision earlier?”

Werner responded,

“Electus despises following the Commander’s will to an extreme. Or perhaps he thought your presence would turn the tides.”

“The tides?”

“The revolutionary leadership is divided into three factions: the radicals led by the Commander, the moderates, and the centrists.”

Werner explained,

‘My father, the former Supreme Commander, sought a revolution with minimal sacrifice and ideology’.

But the current Commander advocates for a coup d’état through force.

A direct confrontation with the Empire.

Those are the radicals.

Those who sympathize with my father’s ideals are the moderates.

And the centrists prioritize their own goals or support other factions based on their values.

The problem is that the number of radicals who support the Chief equals the combined total of moderates and centrists.

Commanders Craig of the 1st Legion, Castro of the 4th, Vulcan of the 5th, and Gilliam Waterford of the 6th.

These four are radicals.

Chief of Staff Werner, Commander Aisha von Lipenhagen of the 3rd, and Electus of the 7th.

These three are centrists.

And the moderates…

“There’s only the commander of the 2nd Legion.”

Warsmith Owen Baldi, whom I encountered in the mining village before.

He was the only one who followed my father.

And Electus believed his existence could be the key to disrupting the radicals’ decisions.

Yan pondered this as he stroked his chin, stacking the information neatly in his mind.

“The internal affairs of the revolutionaries are quite complex.”

“Indeed.”

Werner glanced at his wristwatch and then asked Yan,

“We should be leaving soon. If there’s nothing more to ask, shall we depart?”

Yan shook his head.

“Yes, thank you for everything you’ve shared so far.”

“Then let’s get up. Damian, are you coming?”

“I have words with old man Owen. Yan, don’t forget to take Cruel with you.”

“Yes.”

With that, Yan and Werner rose from their seats and stepped out the door.

* * *

As they vanished into the outside world, a notably short figure made his way inside.

“Ahoy, it’s been ages, you fussy old coot.”

It was the 2nd Legion’s Warsmith, Owen Baldi.

“Indeed, it’s been a while. Have a seat, I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

“Tch, you disrespectful scamp. If you’ve got something to say, you should come to me, not make me wait for you.”

“Enough with the nattering. Shall we get to the heart of the matter?”

“The heart of the matter?”

Owen tilted his head, puzzled.

Damian watched him for a moment before letting out a sly chuckle.

“Such a feisty old timer, who would’ve thought you’d pull the wool over the Supreme Leader’s eyes and sneak the Former Commander’s son into the special unit?”

Owen’s brow furrowed deeply.

To anyone looking, it was clear he was asking what kind of nonsense Damian was spouting.

But Damian just waved his hand dismissively.

“No need for that look. If not you, then who else would have placed Yan in the special unit?”

Damian was convinced that Owen was Yan’s secret backer.

Given the circumstances, there seemed to be no one else of such stature.

Someone with a noble’s disguise or connections, loyal to a Commander held captive for years.

Within the revolutionary ranks, Owen was the only likely candidate.

Yet Owen, with a scowl, retorted,

“Wasn’t it you who took care of the boy?”

“…What?”

“No, I naturally assumed you were handling it. After all, I first saw that kid Yan in the mining village. The Commander never showed his face when he was young.”

As Owen grumbled, Damian’s expression turned to stone.

“Old man, hold on a moment.”

“…?”

Damian stared at Owen, pressing for an answer.

“Then who put Yan in the special unit?”

* * *

Yan, with Cruel in tow, followed Werner out of the secret chamber and into a tunnel.

The cavernous interior was tall enough for giants, lit at intervals by magical lamps that warded off the darkness.

Yan’s brow furrowed slightly as he noticed Cruel’s pale complexion.

“What’s wrong? Eat something bad?”

“…That white-haired bastard, I’ll kill him no matter what.”

“White hair?”

Yan pondered for a moment before recalling Electus, who grew his hair long to cover his pointed ears.

Given Electus’s hatred for him, it was unlikely he would have left Cruel, his subordinate, unharmed.

“Did he hurt you?”

“Fortunately, a dwarven elder helped me, so I wasn’t harmed… but he did shoot a murderous glare.”

It seemed Owen had intervened to prevent Electus from causing harm.

“The commander of the 2nd Legion helped you, it seems. Remember to thank him later.”

“…Tch.”

Yan sighed in relief that Cruel was unharmed.

He was a pawn to be used in future plans, and any injury here could disrupt those plans.

Yan glanced back at Werner’s retreating figure.

He felt nothing yet sensed he couldn’t easily reach out to him.

Such presence was unbecoming of a mere Chief of Staff; Werner must be a formidable force.

‘If the Leader is like a raging volcano, this man is like peering into a distant fog.’

As they continued to follow Werner, they stopped somewhere along the way.

Yan and Cruel looked ahead and gasped in awe.

“Ooh.”

“Wow.”

They had reached the end of the tunnel, and before them lay an open plain.

The sky was a brilliant blue with clouds floating lazily above, and the endless plain stretched out before them.

Blue weeds dotted the landscape, but even they seemed like decorations enhancing the view.

Werner, having stepped out of the tunnel, turned around.

“Come out. Everyone’s waiting.”

Exiting the tunnel, they saw six figures waiting.

Werner introduced them.

“These are the candidates and their aides who will take the officer selection test with you. You may not become friends, but at least make an effort.”

Yan chuckled at Werner’s words.

He gestured towards the six individuals: an elf couple, two men with brown skin, and two figures shrouded in cloaks.

They all shared one thing in common.

“You expect me to get along with them?”

The six were sending him hostile glares.

Werner smiled at Yan’s question.

“That’s why I said to make an effort.”