The Shadow Night

At the northwestern front, the 4th Legion and the 12th Legion of the Organization had finished fortifying the defensive strongholds they had just seized. The flags of the Organization fluttered boldly in the wind, a firm challenge to Nation's forces. Lunamaria Whieblod stood atop the command post, her cold eyes scanning the distance. The overwhelming silence seemed to herald a storm brewing in the shadows. She knew this was the only chance to strike deep into Nation's border, especially since Stratos, the one she feared most, was still campaigning at the southern front.

In the command tent, she unfolded the strategic map on the simulation screen, her eyes intently following the fragile defensive lines of Nation along the border. She realized that although they were being reinforced to withstand direct attacks, strategic gaps were becoming evident. Yes, this was the golden opportunity for the Organization to escalate their campaign and completely breach Nation's western border. Her slender fingers traced the map, pointing to a crucial stronghold.

"The first campaign has succeeded!" Lunamaria declared, her eyes flashing with strong determination. "Next, we will start from here. They won't be able to react in time."

"You're right. With this multi-layered strategy, we can fully attack them and seize the border area before they can respond," said Leon, commander of the 12th Legion, standing beside her and nodding in agreement as he followed her pointing finger.

But just as she was about to issue the order to deploy the plan, a messenger officer entered the tent, his face tense as if carrying a storm.

"Commander, headquarters has just issued a new directive!" the officer said, his voice trembling with tension.

"They request that we withdraw our forces from the northwestern strongholds and hand over control to the 9th Legion."

The entire command tent fell silent. As if struck by a shock, she stood motionless, unable to believe what she had just heard. She stared at the messenger officer, her eyes full of doubt.

"Withdraw?" Lunamaria repeated, her voice hoarse as if each word was pounding in her chest.

She looked at the messenger officer, her eyes both cold and full of frustration. In that moment, she felt betrayed by those she had trusted.

"Yes, Commander," the officer replied, not daring to look her in the eye.

"Don't joke around!" Leon roared, his voice like a punch thrown into the air.

"Do they want us to be target practice for Nation? No, we can't accept that, Lunamaria. We can't abandon everything we've fought for!"

She didn't reply, just staring deeply into the officer's eyes. She knew that no matter how unreasonable the order was, she had no choice but to obey. Abandoning what they had achieved was too difficult, but the military couldn't disobey superiors. However, deep down, she sensed something was amiss.

"Leon, I understand your feelings, but we can't rebel just because of one order." Lunamaria looked at him, her eyes determined but tired.

"If headquarters wants it, we withdraw, but I won't let them drag us down without finding out why."

In the following days, she received more orders from superiors, compelling her and both the 4th and 12th Legions to withdraw from some important strongholds. This burned her heart, as those places were the keys to attacking deep into Nation's border. However, neither she nor Leon were ones to easily accept such unreasonable directives, especially when they could affect the victory they had toiled for.

Therefore, instead of fully complying with the order, both she and Leon decided to employ a different tactic. They ordered the temporary transfer of control of less important strongholds to the 9th Legion, as per headquarters' request. For the strategically crucial strongholds, she retained control, and announced that this was not only to support and maintain stability for the 9th Legion in the initial phase but also to ensure that the defensive line wasn't weakened. In reality, she was secretly planning otherwise, as the soldiers at these strongholds had received clear instructions: to regain full control at any time if there were signs of abnormality from the 9th Legion or from headquarters.

This was no random act, and she knew that. In her mind, recent orders were like scattered pieces of a puzzle she couldn't yet visualize clearly. But one thing she sensed: these orders weren't for the Organization's victory; they harbored another intent, something that made her extremely uneasy. For her, this was not just a decision but a silent vow: if anyone was manipulating this war, she would personally expose them.

That night, in a quiet area of the border buffer zone, she summoned her closest intelligence officers, those who had accompanied her through countless battlefields. They were not just subordinates but people she trusted absolutely. Standing before them, she didn't need to hide her tension. She assigned investigation tasks to each person, with every detail clearly and concisely outlined. To understand the strange orders and investigate high-ranking figures, and all must be done in absolute silence. The smallest mistake could cost them their lives.

When they left, she was alone again. The darkness seemed to engulf all her emotions, but her eyes still shone with determination. She knew well what she was facing. This was not just a war against Nation's forces. It was a battle to regain trust in the very place she had devoted her life to serve and protect.

Stepping back to the camp, the biting cold wind blew through, but she maintained her composure as she faced her soldiers. She issued orders, each word clear and calm, as if nothing was amiss. Yet, in her heart, a plan had formed, and she was silently preparing for a great battle—not just with the enemy, but with the shadows enveloping the Organization.

At the southern front, Stratos stood before the strategic map in the command tent, the light casting shadows on his tense face. His sharp eyes skimmed over each road and tactical point, but his mind seemed elsewhere. In recent days, under his command, Company VI-B had repeatedly conducted raids on the southern front, securing notable victories. However, these triumphs didn't alleviate the nagging worry in his heart.

"Why no reports from the west?" That thought echoed repeatedly, impossible to shake off. Nation's communication system had never been an issue, but this prolonged silence left him uneasy. A feeling of anxiety tightened his mind. Something was wrong.

"Zeris, Yue!" he called out, his voice hoarser than usual.

Two young women entered, their eyes immediately recognizing the tension on his face. They had been outstanding officers of Nation's Elite Intelligence Unit as known as Nation Abyss, the key communication and intelligence unit of Nation's army. He looked straight at them, his eyes holding both responsibility and trust.

"I want you both to return to the western front immediately," he said, his voice low but clear.

No further words were needed; both nodded firmly. They knew that when he gave such an order, the gravity of the situation was beyond question. But just as they turned to leave, a soldier from the royal guard entered, his face pale, clutching a letter bearing the royal seal.

"Sir, it's a letter from Crown Prince Arthur," the soldier said, his voice low, almost drowned by the heavy atmosphere in the tent.

He took the letter, his heart tightening. His relationship with Arthur was strained, but receiving a direct letter from the crown prince certainly wasn't good news. His eyes focused on each line, the words like knives cutting into his mind, making his expression even darker. The situation in the northwest was worse than he imagined. It wasn't just suspicious silence; there was underlying chaos with severe, uncontrollable losses.

"Lunamaria Whieblod, that woman..." he mumbled, gripping the letter tightly. A feeling of helplessness and anxiety welled up in his chest, but he quickly pushed it aside. This wasn't the time to hesitate.

Immediately after, he called an emergency meeting to make a swift decision. He handed over command of Company VI-B back to Lockon, while he himself and Section W returned to the northwestern battlefield.

The order was issued, and no one dared to question it. However, a sinister smile flitted across Lockon's lips, as if he had anticipated this. Before leaving, he cast a final glance at the map. Even in the dim light, his eyes burned with an unshakable determination.

The royal guard's aircraft sliced through the clouds, speeding across the night sky, leaving a long trail of light behind. Sitting by the window, he stared into the infinite void, his mind filled with turmoil. The silver moonlight shone through the glass, but it couldn't disperse the heavy worry weighing on him.

"Something's not right..." Stratos thought to himself, his eyes flashing with determination.

"Why is the information completely isolated like this? Someone is manipulating Nation's Elite Intelligence Unit, and it's affecting all of us."

Yue and Zeris sat nearby, silently observing him. They had been top intelligence officers, trained from a young age. For them, Nation Abyss was not just a unit but their home. This abnormal silence was completely unacceptable.

"Let me and Zeris handle this," Yue spoke up, suggesting that they take charge of investigating unit.

"Yes, let me and her handle it. I also want to know why our "home" is functioning so poorly," Zeris chimed in, reinforcing their resolve.

"Then, I'll rely on you two," Stratos agreed, his eyes cold as steel.

"Find out who's behind this."

The aircraft continued its journey through the night, carrying elite soldiers along with suspicions and dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. He knew that this war wasn't just between Nation and the Organization. Some force was secretly manipulating everything, and he wouldn't stop until he uncovered the truth.