Chapter 681: The Reason for Betrayal

The fierce battle beneath the wall was still ongoing.

Even though the level of carnage was nowhere near the boundless flesh-and-blood battlefield outside, still, no matter what, this kind of close-quarters brawling was always more interesting to watch than two sides trading blasts. It also wasn’t affected by the “lots of smoke, no injuries” rule, and it was easier to tell which side had the upper hand.

So after watching for only a short while, Lorne suddenly turned around, preparing to leave.

“Looks like you don’t need me here. I’m heading out first. Hurry and patch # Nоvеlight # that breach, so nothing unexpected happens.”

“Understood.”

Funal nodded.

In fact, taking advantage of the moment the two were locked in fierce combat, logistics soldiers had already rushed up and begun rapidly repairing that breach.

Luckily, the repairs weren’t affected. Just like Muen had guessed earlier, because the insider in the fortress was about to be dragged out, this time the insider and the demonfolk outside coordinating with him had acted too hastily.

This war had only just begun. No matter how formidable the demonfolk’s million-strong army was, at this moment it still hadn’t fully advanced to the base of the wall.

So after driving back that last wave of enemies, the demonfolk—despite their advantage in numbers—actually didn’t have follow-up forces to fill the gap.

If the demonfolk’s preparations had been just a bit more thorough this time, or if Muen’s cat-and-mouse game had been one step slower, that breach could have become a real wound that would tear open the wall’s defenses.

“Anyway... I’ll go talk with that old brother.”

Lorne sighed, his gaze sweeping over this enormous fortress.

Even if he was a duke, even if he was the Lion King, there were still people and matters in this fortress that he couldn’t control.

...

...

“Let me go! What do you think you’re doing?!”

On the man-made inner wall with a clear view, Old Robert was still struggling nonstop.

“You little brats, you actually dare attack me? What rank are you, to dare attack a superior officer? Do you know what crime it is in the Empire to attack a superior officer? You bastards will get sent to Shirli Territory to grow potatoes!”

“Still arguing?”

Vick couldn’t stand people who betrayed the Empire the most. He viciously planted his foot on Old Robert’s face, spat once, and said,

“You admitted it just now, you traitor!”

“What did I admit...? I... I was only trying to help Young Master Muen. How can you slander me out of thin air?!”

“Alright. Whatever you have to say, say it when you’re put on trial. If we really got it wrong, later I’ll make Vick apologize to you.”

Ebul said it steadily.

“Huh? Why me?”

“That’s not the point.”

Ebul pulled out a piece of rag. Judging by the bloodstains and grime on it, this cloth had wiped the blood of who knew how many comrades—yet now, for the first time, it was going to be used to gag a traitor.

“You... bastard...”

Panic flashed through Old Robert’s eyes. As he clenched his teeth, the inner side of the metal hand that had been tightly pinned behind him suddenly shifted with a tiny mechanism, and a sharp dagger slid out.

Since he’d done something like this, he couldn’t leave himself without a way out. These were just ordinary brats. Maybe only Ebul posed a bit of a threat, but even that wasn’t hard to deal with.

Right now, everyone’s attention was probably on Muen Campbell’s side. As long as he could solve all of these people within a minute, he’d have plenty of time to find a way to blend into the battlefield and get out.

The battlefield was dangerous, but it was still better than getting caught. More than anyone, he understood how those lunatics in the Empire’s military tribunal treated traitors to the Empire!

Old Robert’s thoughts spun rapidly. The on-the-spot reflexes drilled into him through a long military career surged back into play again.

He only needed a chance—one moment where the other side relaxed their guard—and then he could...

“Let him go first.”

But at that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

It was gentle and steady, like autumn sunlight spilling over the earth—never scorching, but warm enough.

Because the one speaking was the true sun of the entire Abyss frontline.

“D-Duke?”

Old Robert couldn’t feel any of that warmth that could illuminate the whole fortress. He felt like he’d fallen into an ice cellar.

“Y-you... why are you here?”

“This fortress hasn’t had an insider for ten years. Since the Empire’s investment into the Abyss looks, no matter how you see it, like an incomparably stupid choice, I came to take a look.”

Lorne waved his hand, signaling Ebul and the others—who were so excited they could barely speak and were hurriedly snapping to attention—that there was no need for ceremony. He casually found a rock and sat down right in front of Old Robert.

“Robert, I remember you arrived at this fortress earlier than I did.”

The first time Lorne came to this fortress was already thirty years ago. Back then he had only just inherited the ducal seat, and everything about this vital imperial fortress was unfamiliar to him.

And at that time, it was Robert—already a fortress veteran—who led him through everything here.

“You used to be the most fanatical demonfolk extermination zealot. You took part in nearly every large-scale war against demonfolk. Your hands have been stained with the blood of at least a hundred demonmen.”

“You hated demonfolk more than anyone, because your comrades, your superior officers, your soldiers, and many people you knew well all died at demonfolk hands.”

“Even you yourself once escaped death from demonfolk with your life—leaving one hand and one leg behind on that battlefield forever.”

“But someone like you chose to betray the Empire and throw yourself to the demonfolk side.”

Lorne had Old Robert stand up, then looked him straight in the eyes.

“Tell me. Why? Do you have some unspeakable reason?”

“...Ha. What unspeakable reason could there be?”

Seeing that he truly had no hope of escaping anymore, Old Robert instead became rather unrestrained.

He took out a bottle of liquor and drank in huge gulps. The alcohol ran down his filthy clothes, spilling everywhere.

After he finished, he wiped his mouth and said,

“It’s simple. Because I’m a coward. Because I’m afraid of death.”

“Afraid of death?”

Lorne couldn’t help showing a puzzled expression.

“You, who’ve been through who knows how many wars, and brushed past death who knows how many times—you’re afraid of death too?”

“Yes. I’m afraid of death too.”

Old Robert gave a self-mocking smile.

“After someone truly experiences what people call death, there are only two possibilities. One is to put life and death completely out of mind and become even braver. The other is... to fear death even more, and become a complete coward.”

“And I... as you can see, Duke, I’m the latter.”

Old Robert lowered his head and looked at his mechanical arm, the smile on his face growing more and more bitterly mocking.

“The older I get, the more I feel my body weakening, and the more I fear death. That’s why I chose this road. There’s no special reason, and there’s no unspeakable hardship—only because I’m a coward.”

“But if you fear death, why would you do something as dangerous as being an insider instead?” Lorne grew even more unable to understand. “With your seniority and military merit, as long as you applied to me, I would have transferred you to the interior. You would have received a large retirement payout, and a fertile plot of land in Campbell territory. You could have lived leisurely there until you died peacefully... You shouldn’t have ended up like this.”

“Ha... because as a coward, I’m not only afraid of dying on a battlefield. I’m afraid of every kind of death. Even that kind of peaceful old-age death... the moment I think about it, I’m terrified beyond belief.”

Old Robert’s hand trembled slightly, as if he’d already begun to taste that fear.

But then his smile turned strange—almost mad.

“So I chose to become a demonfolk insider. And the demonfolk promised me that as long as I helped them, they would give me... true immortality.”