While the feast was in full swing, the soldiers feasting on succulent dishes and generous wines, Lemone felt an irrepressible desire to know more. He had questions burning on his lips, doubts he wanted to dispel. Without hesitation, he headed towards the throne, where the king sat enthroned, surrounded by his most faithful servants.
But his path was blocked by two horsemen, their gazes impenetrable. They crossed their spears, forming an impassable barrier. Lemone stopped, momentarily taken aback. He looked up at the king, who was watching him with an enigmatic expression.
Suddenly the king made a hand gesture, an imperceptible but clear sign. The riders immediately moved aside, leaving a clear passage. Lemone bowed slightly in respect before stepping forward.
Lemone: "Your Majesty, may I have a word with you?"
The king: "Come near."
Lemone approached the king, her face impassive. He lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear him.
"Your Majesty, I noticed something disturbing during your speech."
The king raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "One of the soldiers, the one sitting in the third row on the left, seemed particularly unhappy. He was muttering words of rebellion and urging the others to doubt your authority."
The king frowned. He glanced in the direction Lemone indicated, but the soldier in question had already left the room.
"This is unacceptable behavior," the king declared, his voice firm. "I will not tolerate any form of rebellion in my army."
Lemone took the opportunity to drive the point home: "Your Majesty, I think it would be wise to punish him to serve as an example.
This would show everyone that you do not tolerate any questioning of your authority."
The king agreed, visibly convinced by Lemone's arguments. He gave an order to one of his guards.
"Go get this soldier," he ordered. "He will be punished for his insubordination."
Once the guard left, Lemone took the opportunity to ask for his promotion. "Your Majesty, as you know, I recently reached level 111. I believe I have proven my worth and loyalty. I would therefore like to apply for a promotion."
The king thought for a moment. "Your request is legitimate, young man. You have accomplished great things. However, promotions are not done on a whim. I will think about it and let you know my decision soon."
Lemone bowed slightly to the king, a polite smile on her lips. "Thank you for your attention, Your Majesty. I understand your decision." He then gracefully withdrew, leaving the king alone with his thoughts.
Once away from the crowd, Adam approached Lemone. "Bard, one moment."
Lemone stopped, turning back to her former superior. He knew Adam had questions, but he wasn't ready to answer them.
"What are you up to?" Adam asked, his voice deep. "You look like you're playing a dangerous game."
Lemone shrugged. "I'm not playing any games, Adam. I'm just doing what I think is right."
"Fair? You denounced one of your comrades without any proof. Is that your notion of justice?"
Lemone avoided his gaze. "This soldier was a troublemaker. He deserved to be punished."
"And you, do you think you are above the law? Do you arrogate to yourself the right to judge and condemn?"
Lemone turned to Adam, a smirk on her lips. "You're right, Adam. I am above the law. At least, I will be soon."
He then turned and strode away, leaving Adam stunned.
Lemone, still officially under orders of the day, Lieutenant Adam, was in the squad common room when he received notification from the military council. He opened it and quickly looked through its contents. An escort mission, a routine task for a soldier of his rank.
Except this time, the target was a wealthy businessman, and the threat, mercenaries.
A smirk touched his lips. An escort mission was the perfect opportunity to showcase oneself, to show the military council the full extent of one's capabilities. And then, who knows, maybe he could take the opportunity to settle a few scores along the way.
When Adam entered the room, he found Lemone leaning over his interface. "New mission," Lemone announced matter-of-factly.
Adam nodded. "Escort of a businessman. Nothing too exciting."
"Maybe not for you," Lemone replied provocatively. "But for some, it's their chance to shine."
The tensions between the two men were palpable.
Adam knew that Lemone had changed, that he had become more ambitious, more dangerous. But he couldn't do anything about it. Lemone was now a fixture in the squad, and the military council seemed to like him.
The squad, finally assembled and equipped, was ready to leave. Adam, like a good lieutenant, began to detail their plan of action. He talked about routes, checkpoints, defensive strategies. His orders were clear and concise, the fruit of many years of experience.
Still, Lemone couldn't help but frown. Adam's strategies seemed rigid, too conventional. He knew Aeternum like the back of his hand, thanks to his "instant memorization" skill. He had memorized every alley, every building, every strategic point in the city. He was certain he could come up with a much more effective approach.
"Lieutenant," Lemone began, "I think we could consider another approach. By exploiting the underground tunnels that run through the city, we could take the mercenaries by surprise."
Adam looked at him, surprised. "The tunnels? But they are unstable and dangerous."
"Certainly," Lemone replied, "but they would offer us a considerable tactical advantage. We could take them from behind and neutralize them before they even realize it."
A debate ensued between Adam and Lemone, each defending their own view. The other members of the squad, divided, observed the scene with some apprehension.
Adam, pragmatic and cautious: "Bard, I understand you're excited, but the tunnels are unstable. A collapse could cost us our lives. We must prioritize the safety of the squad."
Lemone, ambitious and daring: "Lieutenant, security is important, but if we want to succeed, we must take risks. The tunnels will give us a considerable tactical advantage."
Another squad member, hesitant: "What if Bard is right? The tunnels might be our best chance for success."
Adam, firm: "We have a plan, and we're going to stick to it. Improvisations don't always work."
Lemone, persuasively: "Lieutenant, I offer you a compromise. We will send a scouting party to inspect the tunnels upstream. If they are secure, we can use them."
Adam, giving in a little: "Very well, Bard. But if anything goes wrong, you will be responsible."
Lemone: "Lieutenant, you are obsessed with rules and procedures. Sometimes you have to think outside the box."
Adam: "And sometimes, these beaten paths are there for a good reason, Lemone. You want to play the hero? You risk dragging the whole squad down with you."
Lemone: "I'm not a hero, Lieutenant. I'm simply a soldier seeking to accomplish my mission."
Adam: "And me too, Lemone. But I will do it while protecting my men."
Lemone, exhausted by the fruitless debates, decided to let go. He withdrew away from the group, seeking a moment of solitude. It was then that the dark entity, this voice that had been echoing in his mind for weeks, was heard again.
"See, Lemone? You're too weak to resist. You're letting yourself be influenced by these little soldiers. You're much smarter than them, aren't you? You can accomplish much greater things."
The voice was smooth, almost seductive, but Lemone shivered. He knew that behind these words hid a perverse manipulation. The entity continued:
"This lieutenant Adam, he doesn't deserve you. He is an obstacle in your path. By sabotaging his mission, you will discredit him in the eyes of everyone. You will become the hero you always dreamed of."
Lemone knew that the entity had uncovered its true intentions. His goal was to fail the mission, sow chaos and rise in rank by taking advantage of the situation.