Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 964: Chapter 16 Rocossov’s Rapid Advances_2

Blue Cap: “We will verify this. In the meantime, you must go to the Reform Camp. If we can’t find this Lieutenant, or if he’s already dead in battle, you will face execution by firing squad. We guarantee that your belongings and judgment papers will be sent to your family, assuming they are still alive.”

After finishing, the Blue Cap took the interrogation record from the clerk nearby, stamped it, and pushed it in front of Sergeant Hans: “Sign it with your fingerprint!”

The sergeant pressed his fingerprint and was immediately hoisted up by two strong Blue Caps and dragged out of the room.

“Next!”

A new prisoner was brought in—it was a Corporal.

Blue Cap: “Name!”

Corporal: “Gruez Fernando, Corporal. I enlisted a year before the invasion. Near the outskirts of Argesukov, during a prisoner escort operation, I shot an Ante Colonel dead.”

Blue Cap: “Corporal Gruez, do you know the name of the Colonel you shot?”

Corporal: “I don’t. I didn’t search his body. At the time, he kept glaring defiantly at us. I untied the ropes binding him and said, ‘If you’re so dissatisfied, go back to your side. We’ll capture you again later.’

“I didn’t expect that as soon as he gained freedom, he kicked me hard in the crotch and snatched my subordinate’s rifle. I drew my pistol and fired a shot at his back, hitting him right in the heart.

“I left his corpse where he fell and moved on with my men.”

Blue Cap: “Anything else? Have you tortured or killed others?”

“No.”

“Liar!” The Blue Cap slammed his hand on the table and stood up, “Gruez Fernando, you’ve already been reported by someone! You’re steeped in crimes! Confess truthfully now!”

Corporal: “I haven’t.”

The Blue Cap walked around the table separating them and punched the corporal in the face: “Looks like you need a Memory Recovery! Maybe that will clear your head!”

After thirty minutes of the Great Memory Recovery Technique, the corporal firmly said: “I haven’t tortured any prisoners further, nor have I killed civilians! At most, I’ve only taken gold jewelry from empty houses.”

The Blue Cap glanced at his companion, then returned to his seat: “The beating you just received was for the Colonel you killed.”

Corporal: “Who reported me?”

“No one reported you, we’re just ensuring you have no other crimes.” The Blue Cap picked up his clipboard and flipped through the papers, “According to the Church’s sentencing regulations, you are sentenced to fifteen years of reform in the camp. You can exchange letters with your family—if they are still alive— and good behavior may earn you a reduced sentence or a pardon.”

The corporal let out a sigh of relief.

After signing and stamping the interrogation record, he was lifted by two muscular Blue Caps.

Interrogator: “By the way, if there’s anything else you want to confess, you can always seek out Father Stass. Also, here’s your parting gift.”

The interrogator pulled a copy of the Holy Scripture of St. Andrew from the table behind him and handed it to the corporal.

The corporal was led out of the room, standing under the sunlight outside.

Even though December was approaching, Corporal Gruez still felt a warmth. Among the gathering Prosen insurgent soldiers nearby, someone asked: “Gruez, how many years?”

Gruez turned toward the voice and saw it was his subordinate, Private Schweik, and answered, “Fifteen years!”

Schweik: “For a veteran who fought since the start of the invasion, that’s pretty short!”

Gruez: “What about you?”

“I’m free now! I joined when the retreat was already beginning, and there were veterans like you constantly teaching us not to do bad things.

“Now I have two choices: One, help them transport supplies until the homeland is liberated—they’ll provide food and lodging. Two, attend Stass’ preaching sessions to study Andrew’s teachings! Which do you think I should choose?”

Gruez: “Attend Stass’. Maybe someday you could help care for my family. That is, if they’re still alive.”

“As you wish, Corporal. Two years of service, and following your advice has never steered me wrong!” Private Schweik saluted Gruez.

Around him were likely young soldiers who had been acquitted; their faces lit up with smiles.

Gruez waved at Schweik: “Take care, see you in fifteen years!”

“Don’t lose heart. Maybe you’ll be back in just a few years!” Schweik shouted.

Gruez smiled and walked forward under the sunlight.

At that moment, someone took the lead, singing a song taught by Stass in Prosenese:

Rise from the ruins, look ahead to the future.

Let us fight for you, unified Fatherland Prosen…

————

December 2nd, Asgard Knights’ position, 27 kilometers from the center of Plowsonia City.

Andreas: “Replace the barrel!”

The assistant gunner immediately grabbed the barrel with asbestos gloves, yanked out the fixed piece, and threw it into the nearby water trough.

A layer of ice had formed over the trough. The moment the scorching barrel pierced through the ice, it sent up plumes of steam.

The assistant gunner picked up the new barrel and inserted it into the machine gun—

Andreas grabbed the assistant gunner’s arm and hurled them both to the ground.

The tank shell came in, blowing the tripod-mounted machine gun sky-high.

The explosives packed in the Ante grenade were formidable, robbing Andreas of his hearing, leaving his ears ringing incessantly.

In his daze, Andreas saw the assistant gunner trying to say something to him, but he couldn’t hear a word.

The only sound he could perceive was the relentless ringing.

Suddenly, he realized his nose was bleeding.

While wiping the blood from his nose, the assistant gunner gestured toward Andreas’ ear.

When Andreas touched it, his hand came back smeared with blood.

At that moment, his hearing partially recovered, and he heard the assistant gunner yelling: “What should we do?”

Andreas grabbed the assistant gunner and sprinted down the trench.

The tank’s machine gun bullets continuously struck the walls of the trench behind them.

Assistant gunner: “Where can we run? We’re surrounded on all sides!”

Andreas: “We’re not going anywhere. We’ll hold our ground here. This is the duty we’ve been given! The Asgard Knights never retreat!”

While speaking, the two reached the reserve machine gun position.

Andreas inspected the machine gun stationed there and grinned: “If the enemy advances again, we’ll give them a brutal reminder with this bad boy!”

But the Anteans grew quiet.

From afar, a sound emerged—it seemed to be propaganda from the Anteans’ loudspeakers.

The loudspeakers were broadcasting Prosenese children’s songs.

After one song ended, the announcer said: “This program is dedicated to playing songs for children on the battlefield, hoping they can have a relatively normal childhood.”

The assistant gunner abruptly erupted in fury: “Isn’t this outright mocking us?”

Andreas: “It’s their right as the victors. They defeated us.”

The assistant gunner fell silent.

A moment later, he asked: “Do we still have any chance of winning?”

Before Andreas could reply, Kosolek’s voice echoed: “Theoretically, of course, but as you can see, we barely have any supplies left. So, theoretically is where that chance will stay.

“I will fight here until my last breath, but the rest of you should leave with Andreas.”

Andreas looked at Kosolek and saw that he was holding an unlit cigarette in his mouth.

Andreas then pulled out a box of matches, drew out a well-made matchstick, and struck it. A bright flame appeared in his hand.

Kosolek stared intently at the match as Andreas used the flame to light his cigarette.

“Where’d you get matches?” Kosolek asked.

Andreas replied: “I don’t know, maybe I dreamed them into existence.”

Kosolek stared at Andreas for a while before saying: “That’s fine. At least it ensures more people survive. They’re in your hands now!”

Andreas nodded: “I’ll take care of them.”

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