I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 105 The Empire's Confidence

So, is he admitting that he has unique intelligence channels?
A mysterious intelligence channel that even the Prime Minister was unaware of?
It's no wonder that the royal family values ​​them.

John Maslow, he really is something else!

Conrad gave John a deep look, but he didn't intend to ask any further questions. Instead, he smiled and said:

“That’s true. Everyone has their own secrets, and I’m no exception. Since it involves Major John’s personal privacy, I won’t ask any more questions. Let’s change the subject.”

"Snapped!"

As Conrad snapped his fingers, the tightly closed door was slowly pushed open from the outside.

Immediately afterwards, a soldier carrying a tray came to the conference table, placed the coffee and sugar cube bowls in front of the two men, and then the men backed out of the conference room.

Throughout the entire process, the other party did not make a sound, and even when they approached John, their breathing was barely perceptible.

Like a ghost that blends into the darkness.

"Ding!"

Conrad casually picked up a sugar cube from the saucer and put it into his coffee cup, then picked up a silver spoon and began to stir it.

The clinking of spoons and teacups echoed continuously in the conference room, like fairies dancing gracefully, crisp and melodious.

But his deep blue eyes remained fixed on John across from him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Major John, aren't you going to add some sugar cubes?"

"Thank you for your concern, but no need. I prefer a pure taste to sweetness."

"Pure, a good habit, worthy of praise."

As if struck by a thought, Conrad's gaze faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, took a sip of his coffee in silence, and then spoke up:

"Major John, what are your thoughts on the current battlefield situation in the Empire?"

Are you referring to Faoken Bay or...?

"I'd love to hear your thoughts on the overall situation, if it's convenient for you."

"Although the situation on all three fronts of the Empire is not optimistic, in my opinion, we still hold the dominant position. After all, the Empire's magic soldiers are invincible, which is common knowledge that everyone knows."

"But the premise for us to maintain this advantage is that the Allied forces have not made any technological breakthroughs in anti-magic devices, nor have they developed any new magic facilities."

Seeing Conrad's surprised expression, John swallowed the bitter, sour coffee in his mouth without showing any emotion, and then slowly said:

"Major General Conrad, as the head of the intelligence department of the Second Air Force, you should know better than me just how terrifying the Allied magic technology can be on the battlefield."

"After all, as far as I know, the Second Air Force, where you are, has captured quite a few magical devices from the Allied forces during their battles."

"After witnessing those devices with their bizarre effects, low cost, and exceptionally high efficiency, what are your thoughts on this?"

"..."

Conrad didn't speak, but slowly suppressed his smile and began to scrutinize John seriously.

It was as if he were to re-evaluate this rising star of the empire in his mind.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke:

"Some tricks and gimmicks are not worth worrying about for the Empire at all. These are the exact words of the Ministers of Military Affairs, and I wholeheartedly agree with them."

"But is that really the case, Major General Conrad?"

John knew what was going on, though he saw Conrad remain silent.

At this moment, the other party possessed a level of clarity that other high-ranking officials in the empire could not match. Otherwise, after he took office as Minister of Defense, he would not have gone against the majority opinion to demand that the Ministry of Military Affairs start the research and development of magic technology, instead of limiting himself to the research of magic cannons and magic guns in the past.

Therefore, he immediately and without hesitation expressed the same view as the other party:
"The Allied forces' magical technology is indeed weak now, but that doesn't mean it will be in the future. Moreover, after capturing so many Allied magical technology devices, Major General Conrad, you should also know that the Allies are constantly improving their devices during the war and gradually demonstrating their increasing power on the battlefield, right?"

"You only need to compare the number of magic soldiers lost in the Imperial Air Force's 1st and 2nd Armies in recent wars with past data to get the correct answer."

Seeing Conrad's furrowed brows and silent demeanor, John, realizing he had been persuaded, smiled slightly and then directly stated his conclusion:
"Furthermore, Major General Conrad, don't you think that the current situation is somewhat similar to the situation when the Empire had just started training magic soldiers, and the Victoria Kingdom, which was then the world's hegemon, looked down on us?"

"However, the difference from the past is that we have now gone from being the ones who are looked down upon to the ones who look down upon others!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Conrad's brows furrowed even more, and his gaze toward John was filled with surprise.

In fact, just as John had guessed, Conrad did see the potential of the Allied magical technology, but he hadn't paid much attention to it before.

After all, unlike John, a novice commander, he had been in the military for eight years and had a better understanding of the Empire's current military strength than John, who had just entered the battlefield.

Although the Allied magical technology devices did indeed cause some troop losses to the Empire during the war.

But those losses are just a drop in the ocean compared to the Empire's current overall air force strength.

After all, the Empire has a full 120,000 active-duty magic soldiers!
A mage soldier, when fully charged with magic, can annihilate everything within a kilometer in the blink of an eye.

And this is the terrifying existence.

The empire, however, has a full 120,000 people!

What is this concept?
This means that if an empire truly wanted to dominate the world, it would only take a single thought.

Faced with this massive demonic army, which is so large it could almost be described as world-destroying, there is no other possibility for any country in the world today but annihilation.

The Empire didn't do so for two reasons. First, the resources consumed by a full-scale attack would have crippled the Empire. Second, it was related to the magical characteristics of the magic soldiers' spells.

Any area bombed by magic soldiers will not only be completely swallowed up and turned into a terrifying crater, but will also lose all life under the influence of the annihilation power!
According to research data from the Imperial Research Institute, land bombarded by explosive magic will be unable to support any life for at least the next twenty years.

Even if it is not designated as a planting area or a construction area, the residents who live on this lifeless land for a long time will suffer from a terrible demonization disease because they cannot obtain magic power and other elements to replenish themselves, and eventually die as crystallized corpses.

Therefore, given these negative effects, it is not an exaggeration to call the area after the magic soldiers' attack a forbidden zone.

It is precisely because of this reliance on the power of magical soldiers to forcibly dominate, only to end up with nothing but barren land, that the Empire has never shown the world its true power.

Therefore, it is natural that the Empire would look down on the Allied technology under such absolute power.

Even before this, Conrad, who had already sensed something was amiss, never imagined that the Allies might use magical devices to overthrow the Empire.

But after hearing John's explanation...

Conrad then thought that perhaps he should re-evaluate the Allied forces' magical technology devices.

He pondered silently, listing this matter as one of the many things to do upon returning to Elena. Then, Conrad gave John a deep look and said:

"Major John, your insight is indeed quite novel. I have learned a lot. After I return to Elena and compile the corresponding data, I will report it to Prime Minister Wolf."

"At that time, you might even gain the Prime Minister's favor!"

Finally, Conrad gave John a meaningful look, the meaning of which was immediately self-evident.

"Everything is for the sake of the empire."

John responded without any outward sign of emotion.

But looking into Conrad's calm eyes, he understood that he had achieved his goal.

After he released fabricated false intelligence, expressing his concerns about the Allied magical technology.

Conrad, the legendary spy and current henchman of Prime Minister Wolf.

After discovering his value, just as he had expected, they tried to win him over.

Although we still haven't been able to find out why Wolf attacked us.

However, based on Conrad's behavior, John guessed that the other party was probably unaware of the inside story either.

Otherwise, by now the other party would probably have already made an excuse to go to the toilet, and then immediately reported the situation to Wolf through the communication device, requesting the cancellation of their support order.

But the other party still hasn't gotten up, which clearly means they don't know the reason either.

This made John somewhat uneasy.

"By the way, Major John, while strolling around this afternoon, I found the scenery in Walden to be quite beautiful, suitable for sketching and improving my painting skills. So, I'd like to take you to the starting point again in two days. What do you think?"

Conrad said this with a smile.

His amiable demeanor made it seem as if the person who never showed any leniency and was known by many as the 'Iron-Blooded Torturer' for his exceptionally ruthless and cruel interrogation methods was not him, but someone else.

"I have no objection, but it is up to you, Major General Conrad."

John, of course, wouldn't refuse such a good opportunity, and immediately agreed without hesitation.

“Very good. Your understanding makes me very happy, and it also reminds me of the days when I was studying in Elena, when Lieutenant General Dolan, who was a year ahead of me and was my senior, took me out to taste delicious food during our studies.”

"I remember that Lieutenant General Dolan was known as a 'five-star food critic' by many people because of his exceptional passion for food. He was a well-known figure at the military academy, and it makes me nostalgic to think about it now."

"When you arrive at Faoken Bay, Major John, remember to give him my regards and tell him that I miss him very much."

Conrad said this to John with a sentimental expression, as if he were really reminiscing about the good old days, rather than subtly reminding John that the so-called Lieutenant General Dolan was nothing but a good-for-nothing who did nothing but eat and drink.

John naturally understood the other layer of meaning in Conrad's words, but on the surface, he still responded with a smile:
"Upon arrival, I will give my regards to Lieutenant General Dolan, Major General Conrad."

He then finished his coffee, slowly rose, and gave the other person a military salute.

"It was a very pleasant conversation with you. Although I would love to continue, it is getting late and I need to take care of some matters in Longyan Territory. Therefore, Major General Conrad, please allow me to take my leave. May the glory of the Empire be with you."

"May the glory of the Empire be with you, Major John."

"Tap, tap!"

"..."

Standing there, watching John's composed departure, Conrad's eyes unconsciously narrowed slightly.

He silently reviewed all the details of his conversation with John that day, especially the certainty John displayed when he mentioned the Allied forces' magical technology.

It was as if the other party had already glimpsed the future.

The confidence and determination in his words moved even Conrad.

"He's a talented person; it would be such a waste to just let him go like this..."

Conrad muttered to himself unconsciously, then, as if making a decision, after a flash of insight, he slowly picked up the communication device and gave the order to his deputy:

"Have someone bring the radio station here immediately. I have important information to report to His Majesty the Prime Minister!"

……

I got an upset stomach from eating frozen pears these past two days, barely managing to write 8,000 chapters a day. I'm better now and have started updating more frequently to make up for lost time. I still owe 7 chapters.

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(End of this chapter)