Chapter 897

"I'm sorry... but that's not possible."

General Gino blinked a couple of times. Hearing such an unexpected reply, even the seasoned general struggled to maintain his composure.

Before the already-shaken old general could be hit with another shock, Yuder quickly continued.

"Because everything you're asking for... has already been prepared."

“...What do you mean by that? So you're saying...”

“Seeing that you came all the way here alone, I don’t think you're entirely unaware of who the spy might be. You simply wanted external confirmation—something only the Cavalry could provide.”

General Gino fell silent. That alone was enough to confirm Yuder's words.

“In that case, there's no need for us to move. Whoever you suspect... your guess is probably correct.”

The general’s eyes wavered slightly. After a moment, he let out a low groan and pressed a hand to his forehead.

“There’s really no hiding it, huh... Yes. I came here suspecting that one of the students I’ve trusted and assigned duties to all this time was a spy. Hoping, foolishly, that I was wrong. Maybe... you've already guessed the name. The one in charge of the Special Task Force...”

“Special Officer Galexantr Balfos. I saw him briefly during the day of the hailstorm. I remember him.”

“......”

The old general didn’t speak right away. Complex emotions passed through his eyes. Though they were quickly subdued and hidden behind practiced composure, Yuder could easily guess what was going through his mind, having seen it before.

Relief, since things seemed to be resolving quicker than expected. But also unease—how much had the Cavalry already uncovered? How had spies breached them unnoticed, while the Cavalry had seen through it sooner? Shame from lagging behind an external force. Concern over his own authority and command.

And most of all, the cold realization that the Cavalry had been watching this all unfold, yet had never informed him directly. That would weigh heavily.

‘If it’s General Gino, then he’s probably already realized that the Emperor and Kishiar suspected even he might be entangled with the spies in some way.’

“Because I failed to properly lead the Southern Army... His Majesty and the Cavalry Commander must have been gravely concerned. Things are already chaotic within and without, and to think this old servant added to their burdens... I’m ashamed.”

True to form, the general voiced the exact thoughts Yuder had expected. Yet, curiously, there was no bitterness in his tone.

Yuder looked at him and suddenly ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) asked,

“Are you... not resentful?”

“Resentful? Toward whom? Ha. I may be old, but I’m not that far gone. Don’t embarrass me further.”

Rather, he said he was thankful to have found out, even now. Though his face looked somewhat worn, there wasn’t a hint of falsehood in his words.

Very few in high positions, with his age and stature, could so frankly admit their mistakes. Especially someone like him, a Swordmaster respected across the Empire. Yuder finally understood why so many Cavalry members had come to admire the general after the hailstorm.

“Galexantr... I always knew he had more ambition than skill, and not enough diligence to bear that burden. Still, I thought age would teach him humility. That he’d find his place.”

“......”

“I told myself I was judging him as a superior, not a teacher... but clearly, I wasn’t. I’m ashamed to admit that here, in front of someone so young.”

“May I offer a personal thought?”

When Yuder asked quietly, the general chuckled and nodded.

“Of course. Do you have more to share?”

“No, it’s not information. Just my opinion.”

Yuder looked him straight in the eye and spoke.

“Have you ever harvested sweet potatoes, General?”

“...Sweet potatoes? You mean... the food?”

Caught off guard, General Gino blinked in confusion. But when Yuder didn’t smile, he gave a serious reply.

“Yes, I have. When I was young, I wandered a lot and once worked at a farm in exchange for a meal. That was when I realized how hard it is to grow and harvest the food we eat so easily.”

“Then this will be easy to explain.”

Yuder continued, still expressionless.

“Though it's disappointing to learn your student was part of the enemy’s roots... I believe Galexantr Balfos is but one part of a larger tumor buried beneath this Empire—like one sweet potato root. And once we pull him up, many others attached to him will come up with him. Don’t you think it’s just like harvesting sweet potatoes?”

“......”

The general’s expression shifted subtly.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“We still don’t know how many like him remain hidden. But the fact that we’re pulling the first one from the Southern Army is a great fortune. I’m sure both the Commander and His Majesty saw it that way as well—that’s why they made this choice.”

The general, who had parted his lips to speak, closed them again.

“To be honest, the Commander was about to have me contact you directly regarding Galexantr Balfos. You happened to come to us first—but I don’t think the order really matters in this case.”

“...In the end, what matters is pulling out all the sweet potatoes, huh?”

“Yes. And if I may be so bold to say, I’m quite good at that kind of work. I grew up in the mountains, after all. And since you have some experience yourself, I doubt there’s anything to worry about.”

As Yuder ended his final words with a deadpan face, a brief silence followed.

Then—

“Puhuh! Hahahaha!”

The Sword of the Empire, Gino Bodelli, burst into laughter, throwing his head back without a care for his image.

“Haha! Where did such a brilliant man come from? The mountains, you say? I almost regret never visiting them now!”

The laughing general no longer felt like the solemn, dignified veteran. For a moment, he resembled the carefree wanderer of his youth, when he’d thrown aside responsibilities and lived only for the sword.

Yuder thought that smile resembled Kishiar’s, somehow. Not because they shared blood—it wasn’t that kind of similarity. It was the attitude behind it. That clear, unrestrained smile offered at an unexpected moment—open, honest, and without walls.

That way of recognizing someone and, in a flash, connecting with them.

Perhaps it was because Kishiar had learned the sword from General Gino. Whether the saying that teachers and students come to resemble each other applied here, Yuder didn’t know. But he was certain that the two shared something in common.

Maybe that was why both men were so deeply respected by those beneath them.

It was just a passing thought, but for the first time, Yuder felt a subtle sense of familiarity with the general—someone he’d kept at arm’s length and assessed objectively until now. He’d always known the man was Kishiar’s teacher, but only now did he truly feel it.

“Well, it’s been decades since I last harvested sweet potatoes, and I may not be confident in my skills... but for His Majesty and this Empire, even this old, rusty sword must be used to pull out the rot. It’s embarrassing to admit there were rotting tubers in the garden I thought so well-tended... but if this old man can still be of use, I’ll help however I can.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

“We’ll speak again in detail later. I’ll need to inform both the Commander and His Majesty.”

The general extended his hand to Yuder for a handshake. Had any of the young swordsmen who idolized him seen that, they might’ve fainted on the spot.

‘...Is this okay?’

Yuder took the hand slowly and returned the gesture. The general patted his shoulder.

“To be honest, I had my doubts about you before I came here, despite all the rumors. But now... I’m ashamed I ever thought that way. Since arriving here, it feels like every day, another layer of blind prejudice has fallen away—and today might be the most eye-opening of all.”

After speaking with a voice full of emotion, the general suddenly smiled with a secretive gleam in his eyes.

“Now I understand why the Commander holds you so dear—and why he wanted to dance with you. Come to think of it... he’s always liked people like you, ever since he was a child.”