Chapter 421 Friendship

[Gewardin]

[officers' quarters]

The young man in uniform walking in front quietly opened the door of the bedroom on the first floor, then turned around, lowered his voice and said apologetically:

"Originally, there were several unused officers' apartments, but Major Seber and his friends came back from the wilderness some time ago, and they were all occupied without any explanation. I feel sorry for you, so I'll squeeze in with Lieutenant Colonel Moritz first."

Looking over the shoulder of the young man in uniform, Axel of Orange looked at the layout of the room:

The tables, chairs, doors and windows were all wiped clean, and it was obvious that they had just been cleaned meticulously;

The bedding is all available and should have been taken out from the bottom of the box not long ago. The creases on the sheets from being pressed for a long time have not gone away, and they have a unique unused smell;

There are tables, chairs and writing tools in front of the bed. There is also a small bookshelf filled with books on the desk. Judging from the titles on the spines, they should be specially selected types that he might like.

"It's good enough here." Ike was moved in his heart and asked jokingly: "You should let me live in the cell. After all, I am a prisoner. Aren't you afraid of me running away?"

The young man in military uniform smiled, gently pushed the door open, and explained in a low voice: "It is safer for you to live next to Lieutenant Colonel Moritz than to live in a cell. And Lieutenant Colonel Moritz is not like another major with a bad personality. , he is easy-going and has a good temper, and you won’t be offended because of his military rank when you live here.”

Ike didn't quite understand what the other party meant, but he nodded anyway.

The young man in military uniform thought of something, raised his hand to move his collar, and coughed slightly: "But there is one thing you need to pay attention to - don't make too much noise. Lieutenant Colonel... He has been in poor mental condition recently. Spend most of the day meditating, trying to sleep, and sleeping. If you are disturbed, he...he might accidentally hurt you..."

Ike listened carefully, but the more he listened, the more doubtful he became.

The young man in military uniform blinked and seemed to realize that he described the problem too seriously. He waved his hand hurriedly: "But it's just a possibility. You don't need to worry too much. Most of the time, the lieutenant colonel is normal."

"Otherwise, you'd better send me to the dungeon?" After hearing what the young man in uniform said, Ike couldn't help but lower his voice and pretended to be angry: "You want me to live in a room with an out-of-control horse?" Is it done? Winters!"

"Maybe more dangerous than an out-of-control horse." A young man in military uniform - Winters Montagne, the leader of the Tiefeng County rebels, a well-known blood wolf in the small circle of federal provincial officers assigned to Plato, Ai Ke's classmate and best friend - looked down and pondered for a moment, raised his head, and answered rigorously yet humorously:

"A runaway cannon is a more accurate metaphor!"

As soon as this was said, both of them laughed.

The two looked at each other, feeling familiar yet unfamiliar. Nearly three years have passed since I became a cadet officer.

Three years have given Ike the "upper class" demeanor and temperament. Just like a delicate and exquisite portrait carved from stone, Axel of Orange has also lost his childishness and grown into a handsome and friendly young man.

The changes in Winters are completely opposite. Three years of hard work have almost completely polished off the remaining hypocrisy and affectation of the "upper class" in him, revealing the tough steel billet inside. Time has not smoothed out his edges and corners, but has made his lines more distinct. He has become thin, heroic, capable and strong, and his every move reveals an untamable wild charm and a strong self-confidence.

Looking into each other's eyes, Ike shook his head, fell tiredly onto the bed, buried his head into the pillow, and let out a long sigh of comfort.

Then he turned around, gave a thumbs up to his old classmate, and complimented him half-heartedly: "We haven't seen each other for two years. Your sense of humor has improved a lot."

The young man in military uniform untied the armor belt outside his jacket, pulled out the chair, and sat astride it in reverse. He folded his arms on the edge of the back of the chair, tilted his head, and asked with an innocent smile, "Why do you think I'm joking?"

"Huh?" Ike sat up again, holding his arms.

"The captain who lives in this apartment with you." Winters pointed to the ceiling, half teasingly, half showing off: "He may not be the most powerful spell caster in the republics, but he must be the most powerful spellcaster in the republics. The most dangerous spellcaster in the Republic. Do you still think I’m kidding?”

Ike subconsciously held his breath, the hair on his arms and back stood up, and he sat upright involuntarily.

While Ike was still digesting the shocking information, the young man in military uniform patted Ike on the shoulder and said optimistically:

"But don't worry, I have taken away all the pointed things in this house, and now there is not even a fork. So even if the cannon is out of control, it is also an out-of-control cannon with no ammunition. And Lieutenant Colonel My mental state has been improving recently, so it shouldn’t hurt anyone.”

A strong curiosity surged in Ike's heart: "Well, this...Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, what happened to him? As for what you said..."

He instinctively wanted to find out, but suddenly remembered his identity as a prisoner, so he stopped immediately - because he did not want to use his friendship with Winters to find out the inside story of the rebels.

"You'd better not tell me." Ike shook his head: "I won't ask again."

"It's okay." The other party's attitude was so candid that Ike couldn't believe it: "The lieutenant colonel is trying to quit drinking. I heard it was scary before - but I wasn't around during that time. He has gotten much better recently."

"The more you explain, the more scared I am. Otherwise, will you let me live with you?" The more sincere the other party was, the less Ike wanted to hear it. He changed the subject and said in a long voice deliberately: "Oh, I forgot Yes, you already have a wife!"

"Fiancée." The young man in military uniform turned red, and he explained sheepishly: "Fiancée."

"But she is a great beauty!" Ike said enviously.

"Heh." The young man in military uniform unbuttoned his collar and pretended not to care and said, "That's it."

Ike couldn't help but lamented: "You are a racehorse, but you don't know how hard it is to pull a horse! I heard that you have a rich and beautiful woman who actively favors you. Everyone is jealous of you! When we were in Guitu City, let alone the beauty. On the flip side, even if you are occasionally invited to a dance, you can only watch others making the ladies giggle."

"It can't be called reverse support. To be precise, it's called..." The young man in military uniform held his forehead and thought hard: "I don't know how to describe it. Two people are in love?"

"Tell me about it." Ike became interested: "Tell me about how you two are so "happy" and let me learn from your experience."

"It starts with a slap in the face."

The young man in uniform was quite interested at first, then he tilted his head and looked at the ground in deep thought. After a while, as if he was reminiscing and sorting out his words, he sighed and said with a smile: "It's a long story, I'll tell you later."

"Okay." Ike vaguely felt that his friend seemed unwilling to tell the story of his fiancée in a frivolous manner, so he stopped asking. He changed the topic again and deliberately scolded: "But you didn't tell me that you were engaged. Isn't it too much? How difficult can it be to send a letter? Winters Montagne, I never thought you were Such a cold-natured person.”

"Actually." The young man in uniform cleared his throat awkwardly: "We're not engaged yet."

"You haven't even gotten engaged yet, so you took her over to live with you? Me, me, me..." Ike's eyes widened in shock at first, and then he fell limply on the bed like a burst water bag, whining unwillingly: "I really envy you!"

"You are in Guitu City." The young man in military uniform asked, "Have you heard about me?"

Ike didn't answer. He sat upright with his knees up, looked directly at his friend, and said seriously: "Winters, please don't ask me anything about the military situation in the United Provinces - I won't answer. At the same time, I won't inquire about anything." Your military intelligence. Is that okay?"

"No problem." The young man in military uniform smiled heartily: "You are my prisoner, and you are also my classmate and good friend. There is no conflict."

Ike let out a sigh of relief.

To be honest, from the moment they met, a slight estrangement filled the air between the two. It was invisible but real.

How could there be no estrangement? Even if we are close relatives, we will inevitably feel unfamiliar when we meet again after many years of separation. Not to mention that Winters Montagne and Axel Orange are not only friends, but also enemies, each with different responsibilities and missions.

Therefore, Winters Montagne and Axel Orange, who reunited, worked hard to maintain the atmosphere of the conversation, making a tacit agreement not to ask about things that might offend each other, and carefully looking for "safe topics."

Because they value this friendship and don't want it to be tarnished, destroyed and desecrated.

However, this "deliberately pleasing" and "cautious" way of getting along is precisely the main source of the "feeling of estrangement".

After Ike made the bottom line clear, the invisible sense of estrangement disappeared, and the two returned to the state of being inseparable and talking about everything in school.

"Actually, it's nothing." Ike propped up his body, sat back, and said with a smile, "Many classmates know about you."

"Oh?" The young man in uniform was surprised.

"After learning that you were sent to Plato and that Plato's classmates were sent overseas, everyone was very angry and felt that it was both disgraceful and unfair." Ike sighed: "Everyone We all care about you, so we try our best to find out about you. If anyone has any new information, the students in the 21st batch will know it quickly. When they learned that your military ranks rose so fast, everyone even joked that you were a blessing in disguise."

The young man in uniform listened attentively and nodded constantly. Ike looked at his friend's expression - the latter seemed to have many questions to ask.

But the young man in uniform didn't ask anything in the end, he just smiled and laughed at himself: "I'm just telling you, when did I become so popular? However, if you have a chance, thank everyone for me."

"Your information is most popular." Ike was reminded of his memories. He pulled the blanket under him and leaned on it. He changed into a more comfortable position and said enthusiastically: "Everyone thought you died in the battle, but why? A memorial service was held for you. Some people cried at the memorial service. Do you remember Danilo Olsper?"

"Of course I remember, but isn't he from the cavalry department?"

"He said that although you are not lovable, you are not a bastard." Ike imitated the tone of his classmates: "In the end, you died inexplicably, under the hooves of barbarians, and even the body could not be recovered. It’s not worth it! It’s not worth it! Why?!'"

The young man in military uniform subconsciously touched his nose: "Why do I feel... that he still remembers the grudge I made him on the nose until it bled for three days?"

"Didn't he also beat you black and blue?" Ike chuckled and asked, "Then you two cleaned the toilets for a month?"

"I want to clarify something." The young man in military uniform said righteously: "It was you who provoked us first and called us Veneta profiteers, so we beat you up. And I was forced to help. The first one was obviously Andre! He was also the one who started the fight! In the end, I cleaned the toilets for a month."

There was a smile on Ike's lips that only appeared when he recalled the past: "A fight with no outcome can be called a 'beating up', right?"

"Anyway, you students from the United Provinces bullied our Veneta students the most back then." The young man in military uniform couldn't help but laugh: "It was better to have a few fights in the end."

"It's not a matter of fighting." Ike corrected: "It's because the courses and training are too intense, and the instructor is particularly annoying. In the end, everyone is against the instructor with the same hatred, so naturally there will be no conflicts."

"Yes." The young man in military uniform sat casually leaning against the desk, with the lazy smile of his student days on his face again.

Both of them seemed to have thought of something, and the small bedroom fell into silence.

"That's right." Ike tried to break the silence with a new topic and said, "I met Andre. It's the big guy in the cavalry department, the stupid one...ah, you shouldn't need me to explain."

"Really?" The young man in military uniform answered cooperatively.

Ike pretended to be relaxed and said: "If he hadn't confirmed my identity, I would have stayed in the prisoner of war camp for a long time."

"Did he say anything weird?" The young man in military uniform asked curiously, "Or maybe he said something sarcastic to you?"

"No, he didn't say anything. He even comforted me a few words - although according to his tone, what he said sounded a bit like sarcasm." Ike forced a smile: "So I think he is not as annoying as before. "

"oh."

There was another moment of silence.

"Bud is in the south and will come to Jevaudan soon." The young man in military uniform raised his voice a little higher: "He must be surprised to see you."

"Ah, Mr. Bishop—I'd like to see him too."

There was another moment of silence.

Although both of them tried their best to find light topics, the atmosphere inevitably became more and more serious.

"Winters." Ike hesitated again and again, but chose to speak. He sat up, leaned forward, and looked at his friend sincerely: "Many of the militiamen in Shovel Harbor are bandits and thugs. I know it very well. But among them There are also many ordinary civilians—desperate tenants, forcibly expropriated farmers, and refugees who just want a good meal."

The young man in military uniform listened to every word.

"I know that the defeated are not qualified to make any requests." Ike's Adam's apple twitched. He knew that he was using his personal friendship to interfere with other people's actions, but he felt that he had the responsibility to do so. He asked with difficulty: "Can you let them go back?" Home? You can rest assured that they will never have the courage to resist you again."

After a moment of silence, the young man in uniform said, "Sorry, I can't agree to your request."

Ike endured his disappointment and nodded gratefully.

"But I guarantee that they will be dealt with fairly." A smile appeared on the lips of the young man in military uniform: "In fact, I plan to recruit the tenants, farmers and refugees you mentioned."

When he first heard his friend's words, Ike was a little caught off guard, so although the other person's enunciation was very clear, he still subconsciously asked: "What did you say?"

"I want to recruit the 'good parts' of your army and incorporate them into my army." The young man in uniform repeated it calmly.

Ike saw apology and approval in the eyes of the young man in uniform. The latter explained: "Originally, I planned to release the other Shovel Harbor militiamen on the spot after the criminals were screened out. But according to the battle report, the performance of the Shovel Harbor militiamen The level of training and discipline was beyond imagination..."

Ike felt a bitterness in his heart: "'Unimaginable training level and discipline', but the result was a complete defeat despite the superiority of troops."

The young man in uniform tried hard to find reasons and consider his words, not wanting to hurt his friend's self-esteem. Finally, he uttered a sentence with great difficulty: "That...that is not only a gap that training can make up, but also that the militiamen in Shovel Harbor seriously lack actual combat experience...It is already very powerful to train those rabble to be like that. I Even if you ask yourself, you can’t do it…”

"Okay." Ike shook his head: "Don't excuse me. This is a war - losing is losing, there is no excuse."

The young man in uniform was silent for a moment, then brought up the previous topic: "In short, it would be a pity to disband the prisoners in Shovel Harbor. Both of my company commanders suggested integrating them."

Ike felt even more bitter: "You mean, because of me, you won't release them on the spot?"

"right."

"They...I'm afraid they won't be willing to work for you." Ike wanted to try harder: "Mayor Potal has given them a lot of propaganda about you being rebels. Even if you forcibly integrate them, they won't be enough. Reliable, it’s hard to guarantee they won’t surrender again someday in the future.”

"Then we'll see." The young man in military uniform replied concisely.

There was another moment of silence.

The young man in military uniform stood up and said, "You can move around as you please in the officer's apartment block. Sorry, Ike, but you can't enter and leave freely in other places."

"Why are you apologizing?" No need to explain, Ike can understand his friend's good intentions. He smiled and said: "If I see something I shouldn't see, doesn't that mean I put myself in a moral dilemma?"

The young man in military uniform tightened his armed belt again and invited: "Come to my house for dinner? I will introduce Anna to you."

"Okay." Ike waved his hand and said jokingly: "Go quickly, let me be sad alone for a while. I'm in a hurry to cry, so I won't send you away."

The young man in uniform nodded and walked towards the door. After opening the door, he turned and looked at Ike.

"Don't take it to heart," he said.

Ike said helplessly: "I'm not planning to commit suicide, what are you doing?"

"Then I'm leaving." The young man in military uniform gave Ike one last look and strode away.

As the footsteps gradually faded away, Ike felt an unspeakable sense of loneliness, frustration and confusion.

When the footsteps completely disappeared, he buried his head into the pillow and shed silent tears for the first time.

Outside the window, a pine branch that had just sprouted new buds was swaying alone in the wind.

[67884/100000]

[A classic recollection of the glorious past - referring to leading fellow students to have a fight with students from the joint province, and finally cleaning the toilets for a month]

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