The Second Army, led by Klaus, was a fleet of sixty thousand ships.

To be entrusted with a force equal to that of his lord, Liam, was a testament to how much he was trusted.

Klaus, shouldering Liam's expectations, commanded the fleet while enduring a stomachache.

The Second Army had just finished conquering one of the planets controlled by the Hegemony Kingdom.

Klaus let out a heavy sigh inwardly.

('It's... it's over. Now I can rest a little.')

In a situation where they could be surrounded by the enemy at any moment, the Banfield family's fleet was rampaging through the Hegemony Kingdom's territory.

But one wrong step could lead to them being cornered and beaten, with the very real risk of literal annihilation.

With no time to relax, Klaus was constantly battling his stomach pain.

It was then that Klaus received a report from his staff officers.

"Your Excellency! Three thousand ships led by Chengshi have unilaterally launched an attack on a Hegemony Kingdom fortress!"

"Wh-What!?"

Under Klaus's command, aside from the swordsmen of the One-Flash School, was one of the strongest knights—Chengshi.

Chengshi, who led knights captivated by battle, was an unconventional knight who would even dare to strike at Liam himself.

She was detested by Christiana and Marie, and if placed under their command, she would undoubtedly be shot in the back on the battlefield.

However, as a knight, she was exceptional.

When piloting a mobile knight, she was an ace of aces, and the unit she led was one of the top two in the Banfield family if judged on strength alone.

If one could overlook her personality, that is.

Klaus, who had been entrusted with this collection of problem children, was now being troubled by them even in the Hegemony Kingdom.

"I haven't received any report about discovering an enemy fortress."

Telling himself to "calm down," Klaus wondered why Chengshi and her troops were attacking an enemy fortress that hadn't been reported.

A staff officer reported the details.

"Just before the planetary conquest, they apparently broke away from the fleet, claiming they had no role to play. The official reason was reconnaissance, but it seems they began an assault on an enemy fortress they discovered during their patrol."

Acting without orders.

In the military, this would warrant severe punishment, and the Banfield family was no different.

However, Chengshi's position made things complicated.

The staff officers wore bitter expressions.

"Your Excellency, wasn't it a mistake to grant her the authority of an independent unit?"

Due to her numerous behavioral problems, she had been granted the authority of an independent unit.

They were problem children who might even attack their own allies if given orders carelessly.

If Liam were present, they would be docile, following the logic of obeying the strong, but once let loose, they would do as they pleased.

Klaus, also troubled by how to handle these knights, had granted them the authority of an independent unit.

Thanks to that, conflicts with allies had decreased, but he was still being led around by the nose by Chengshi and her group.

"What's the scale of the enemy fortress?"

"We've received a report that it's large enough to operate roughly five thousand ships."

"Five thousand... Send reinforcements immediately."

It would be difficult to capture a fortress operating five thousand ships with only three thousand.

Even if they succeeded, the casualties would be immense.

If he were to use them as disposable pawns, he could just leave them be, but Klaus, being fundamentally earnest, dispatched reinforcements to tackle the enemy fortress with a steady hand.

('Because these problem children find an enemy and attack immediately, the Second Army is way ahead of everyone else. We're out of sync with the other fleets.')

The problem children would rush ahead, and Klaus would follow up to support them, resulting in a series of swift victories.

◇

Inside the Hegemony Kingdom's fortress.

Having boarded the fortress in her mobile knight, Chengshi was leading her subordinates on a rampage.

They were provided with the Banfield family's latest models, and the mobile knights piloted by these problem children of proven skill were trampling the enemy.

"These Hegemony Kingdom knights are good. I like their fearless attitude as they challenge me."

Inside the cockpit, Chengshi's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

She operated her machine, bisecting an enemy unit that came before her, only for the next one to charge in from behind it.

Chengshi's mobile knight delivered a kick, sending the opponent flying into a wall.

Closing in immediately, Chengshi thrust her blade into the enemy's cockpit.

As the enemy mobile knight stopped moving, she scanned around for her next prey.

"Oh, is it over already?"

Around her, her allies were repeatedly stabbing their blades into fallen enemy machines.

A brutal and cruel act.

This was just another day for Chengshi and her unit.

Inside the cockpit, Chengshi was in her casual clothes, not even wearing a pilot suit.

Her somewhat youthful appearance was because she had been given a new body after being defeated by Liam following her cyborgization.

She let go of the control stick, crossed her legs, and relaxed her body.

It didn't matter that it was a battlefield. In fact, she felt calmer on the battlefield.

"I wonder if Klaus will be here soon?"

One of her allies' units approached Chengshi.

"Boss, reinforcements from Klaus have arrived."

"His timing is as good as ever."

Even with her youthful appearance, Chengshi was still called "Boss" and adored by those around her.

The reason was simple: she was strong.

Strength was the absolute rule in this unit.

Hearing that Klaus's reinforcements had arrived, Chengshi decided to leave the troublesome cleanup to them.

"Let's hand it over quickly and head to the next one."

At Chengshi's command, her surroundings fell still as they began to withdraw from the fortress.

They loved to fight; conquering the fortress itself was of no concern to them.

As Chengshi piloted her unit out of the fortress, the subordinate who had spoken to her earlier came up beside her with a suggestion.

"That bastard Klaus sent a message, a little complaint telling us to contact him before we attack."

The subordinate was a grim-faced man with a large scar on his face.

Hearing Klaus's message, Chengshi gave a curt reply.

"Just reply that we'll be more careful next time."

However, her subordinate seemed dissatisfied.

To them, strength was justice. They couldn't stand the idea of Klaus, who was weaker than them, standing above them as their commander.

"Klaus is a real pain in the ass. Boss, why don't you take the top spot? If we rough him up a bit, he'll fall in line."

As the subordinate gave a vulgar laugh, Chengshi smiled at him through the monitor.

Then, she thrust her mobile knight's sword into the subordinate's cockpit.

"You—I don't need you anymore."

As the subordinate was impaled by the blade and turned into a chunk of meat, Chengshi gave him a cold stare.

"Who do you think you're giving orders to? Besides, I like Klaus. He gave me a position where I can do as I please. He takes care of all the tedious work. —So, I need Klaus to stay at the top, just as he is."

Even though she had killed an ally, none of the surrounding subordinates blamed her.

It was the foolish man's fault for incurring Chengshi's wrath.

Chengshi once again explained her policy to her subordinates.

"That fool Christiana is no good. She only sees war as a part of politics. Marie is useless too. Bringing a bothersome emotion like loyalty into a pure battle is just tasteless."

Chengshi understood that if Tia or Marie were to become the head knight, they would use every means at their disposal to crush her and her unit.

"Fighting them sounds like it could be fun, but—I want to fight more, much more. For that to happen, I need Klaus to rack up an undeniable record of achievements."

None of her subordinates voiced any objections.

◇

News of the Second Army's success reached the First Army as a report.

Since communications were unreliable in enemy territory, they were using the old-fashioned method of sending a messenger from the Second Army.

A colonel from the Second Army stood before me, proudly reporting on Klaus's achievements.

"The Second Army, under the command of His Excellency Klaus, is continuing its string of swift victories!"

A holographic map of the Hegemony Kingdom's territory was displayed, showing Klaus's Second Army far ahead of the other Banfield forces.

They were capturing enemy territories one after another, so the term "swift victories" was well-deserved.

I, seated in my chair, applauded the messenger.

"A splendid achievement. I thought I was doing well myself, but I'm no match for Klaus."

The First Army, which I was leading personally, had also been capturing enemy bases one by one, but Klaus's pace was even faster.

The phrase "like a raging fire" was a perfect description for the Second Army's rapid advance under Klaus.

As I thought, that guy is amazing.

As I was praising the Second Army, a messenger from the Third Army reported in, looking slightly flustered.

"The Third Army has also captured a key enemy base. In the first place, if we had the same numbers as the Second Army—"

The one showing a competitive spirit towards the Second Army was the Third Army, led by Tia.

The Third Army numbered thirty thousand ships.

It was indeed unfair to compare them to Klaus.

Still, capturing a key base spoke to Tia's competence.

"I was the one who decided the fleet sizes. Do you have a complaint?"

"N-No, sir."

When I glared at him intimidatingly, the Third Army's messenger was at a loss for words.

But I should praise my subordinates who worked hard.

"I commend the capture of the key base. I've also received a detailed report on the damage you sustained. I'll send reinforcements from my fleet. Take supplies as well."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

As the Third Army messenger saluted, the messenger from the Fourth Army, led by Marie, had a bitter look on his face.

Their fleet was a mobile unit meant to support the others, and though they were elites, they only numbered ten thousand ships.

There was a limit to what they could do.

Since their position didn't allow for tangible results like capturing bases, they had no report that could please me.

"What is the status of the Fourth Army?"

When I prompted him to speak, he reported on the activities of Marie and her troops.

"—We have been rushing to the aid of the other fleets."

"You all are fine as you are. Tell Marie I said she's done well. However—it's no surprise that the Fifth Army and beyond have no notable achievements."

The performance of the fleets led by Klaus, Tia, and Marie was remarkable.

But the other fleets had not accomplished much.

There were more than ten fleets, each with ten to twenty thousand ships, but only a few had managed to capture an enemy base.

"The former Imperial soldiers and knights are performing well, but I'm hearing nothing about the achievements of those raised in my own domain."

When I turned my gaze to the messengers from the Fifth Army and beyond, they looked quite tense.

Some of their armies had even been defeated and had to merge with other fleets.

Their abilities weren't the problem; they were overwhelmingly lacking in experience.

It was the right decision to bring them to the battlefield against the Hegemony Kingdom after all.

"I'm entrusting the reorganization to Tia of the Third Army. Tell them that if they don't satisfy me with their next report, I will replace all the commanders and staff officers."

If they fail to produce results after the reorganization, I won't give them another chance.

After telling them this was their last chance, I dismissed the messengers.

◇

After dealing with the messengers, I returned to the bridge, where my staff officers were waiting for me.

From their tense expressions, I could guess that something had happened.

"What is it?"

"Lord Liam, the Hegemony Kingdom is massing its forces. It's a force of three hundred thousand, but it's growing, and if this continues, it will be dangerous."

They were probably gathering their numbers to crush us invaders, planning to pick us off one by one.

"Should we gather our forces and crush them quickly?"

As I said that, the bad news from the staff officers continued.

"We've also received reports that the enemy forces that had invaded Imperial territory are turning back. Our second wave of reinforcements has apparently arrived at Augur and sent a messenger here."

"—That's earlier than planned."

I thought the second wave would arrive a little later. I wonder if something happened?

As I was thinking that, the staff officers exchanged glances before reporting to me.

"There's a message from Lord Brian at the mansion. He asks that you return to the domain if possible."

Brian's message soured my mood.

"What is he talking about at a critical time like this? That's obviously impossible."

If it were anyone else, I would have fired them for incompetence.

But the staff officers looked troubled.

"The same request has arrived under the joint signature of all the mansion's senior staff. Lady Amagi also said, if it's possible..."

Not just Brian, but all of them?

And hearing Amagi's name put me in a difficult position.

With the enemy gathering their forces, it was out of the question for me to return to my domain alone.

But if Amagi was saying I should return if I could—damn it, what should I do!?

"—We'll crush the enemy fleet first. Send a messenger to Klaus."