Report to camp

Early Autumn, Year 1884 of the Sear Empire Calendar.

It had just rained. Leaden clouds shrouded the sky over Xiuwa City, casting a gloom over the damp, chilly streets. A travel-worn stagecoach arrived from afar, the horses exhausted and the faded carriage body streaked with dried mud. It rattled its way into the market district, bells jingling, before finally coming to a halt in front of the station.

A boot stepped out of the carriage, followed by another. Above the long boots were a pair of slender legs, clad in a black traveling outfit, and above that, a young, beautiful face. Her skin was pale and flawless, with a delicate nose and soft lips. Her hazel-green eyes shimmered like emeralds, bright and spirited beneath long lashes.

Showing no signs of the dishevelment or fatigue one might expect from a long journey, the young woman surveyed the strange city. She picked up her suitcase, waved away the station hands rushing forward to solicit business, and walked out of the station.

Xiuwa was not a friendly city.

Crude, looming buildings blocked out the light, leaving the narrow streets dark and oppressive. The stone pavement was scarred with deep ruts, and rainwater filled every crack and crevice, splashing up as muddy sludge with every step.

Ragged children played in the streets. One half-grown child tripped over a loose stone, sending the black bread in his hand rolling across the ground. It coated itself in sewage and mud before being snatched up by another, luckier boy. Before he could even take a bite, the child's mother rushed out, slapped the little thief across the face, snatched the bread back, and—cursing all the while—shoved it into the hands of her still-crying son.

The child stopped crying. He looked at the boy who had been slapped, grinned widely, and triumphantly gnawed on the mud-soaked bread, completely forgetting the pain of his bleeding, scraped knee.

Nearby, a drunkard who couldn't pay his tab was being beaten by several shop hands. He was dragged out by his feet and thrown into the street, his bruised face stained with phlegm and blood, inciting a roar of laughter from the onlookers.

The City Security Squad patrolled lazily, their red uniforms buttoned crookedly. They followed their routine of extorting drinks from taverns, turning a blind eye to the thief fleeing down the adjacent street. One officer walked past the collapsed drunkard, noticed a speck of mud on his freshly polished boot, and raised his foot to wipe it clean on the unconscious man's body.

On the street corner, a group of urchins had caught a scrawny rat and were playing a game of "Judge." The poor creature scurried anxiously inside a metal cage, poked and prodded by sticks until it jumped up and down in panic. Finally, doused in lamp oil, it was set ablaze, turning into a ball of fire. The children playing judge and lawyer laughed manically as the rat screamed, the air filling with the nauseating stench of scorched flesh.

The coachman cracked his long whip, and the hired carriage bearing the new guest began to move again. Inside the window, a pair of green eyes watched silently. Her gaze swept over the beggars crawling by the roadside, the vagrants rummaging through trash, the urchins with their cruel smiles, and the security officer weighing his coin purse as he walked toward the next shop. The carriage rattled as it turned the corner.

As the premier military base of the Sear Nation, the Xiuwa Base was located in the suburbs, existing like a separate city just a stone's throw away from Xiuwa itself. The massive base housed tens of thousands of soldiers, with numerous departments and a strict, imposing order that struck fear into the local populace.

In the leisurely afternoon, a knock sounded on the door of the Military Administration Office. The Captain behind the desk sat up slightly straighter.

"Come in."

The young woman who pushed the door open was still wearing her traveling outfit, but beneath her beauty lay the cold, resolute temperament of a soldier. She executed a perfect military salute.

"Report. Lin Yilan, reporting for duty as ordered."

The Captain masked his shock at her stunning appearance and took the file she presented. His gaze paused briefly on the "Top Secret" stamp.

"Lin Yilan. Transferred from Del City. Graduated from the Imperial Royal Military Academy. Excellent military skills, performance record is... wait. Apologies, but you are reporting as a Private?!"

The unmistakable addendum on the file made the Captain freeze. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Just which high-ranking official did you offend?"

"Subordinate is only following orders to report to Xiuwa. I know nothing else."

The soft but firm rebuff curbed his overflowing curiosity and brought back his reason. The classification of the file indicated that prying was forbidden. The Captain sobered up, weighed the situation, and couldn't help but secretly speculate about this peculiar résumé.

This beauty had likely enraged some powerful figure and suffered a demotion. They might not even intend for her to return alive. Getting involved could lead to unpredictable consequences; for the sake of his career, it was best to stay away.

The Captain glanced at that cold, exquisite face with a hint of regret, snapped the file shut, and rang the bell to summon the orderly.

"New recruit reporting. Take her to get settled."

The orderly asked respectfully, "Sir, which division should I take her to?"

"The Infantry Battalion has filed countless reports complaining about a shortage of personnel. Just—" After all, she was a rare beauty; the Captain's heart softened, leaving her a sliver of a chance. "Take her to report to Jones."

The Xiuwa Base had several infantry brigades. Each brigade was divided into five battalions, and each battalion into ten companies. Jones was the Lieutenant of the 5th Company, 3rd Battalion. It was one of the squads most frequently deployed for combat, and also the very bottom of the military hierarchy.

The infantry companies had strong combat capabilities, but their casualty rates were correspondingly high.

Lieutenant Jones, having served on the front lines for years, was known to all for his foul temper. The hideous scar on his cheek made people afraid to look him in the eye, and he was especially terrifying when enraged.

His fierce, thick brows knitted together as he stared at the new recruit with extreme dissatisfaction, making no attempt to hide his disgust.

"Have you undergone basic training?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Can you use a gun?"

"Yes."

"Go get your gear. The squad assembles in thirty minutes. I hope you didn't pass your assessment just because of that face."

After dismissing the rookie who looked to have zero combat power, Jones cursed under his breath, once again badmouthing his superiors.

The situation in Xiuwa City was chaotic. They had taken significant losses recently and were critically short of experienced veterans. He had emphasized the need for reinforcements multiple times, yet the result was either fresh meat or women.

If it were a quiet period, perhaps there would be a chance to train them. But right now, insurgents in Xiuwa were attacking City Hall, and the 3rd Battalion had been ordered to engage and clear them out.

He just hoped this ill-timed, unlucky sod had enough luck not to get killed on her very first day.