The Sovereign System.

The next two days were not kind to Luke. Despite getting the hang of riding, his legs felt like they were about to fall off, and the constant strain on his lower back from the uneven trotting only made matters worse.

By the third day, the group had officially entered the lands of the Qin Empire, creeping steadily eastward. Navigation had to be precise; any mistake could either overshoot the port or, worse, lead them to Xiu Fortress, alerting the enemy to their presence.

Fortunately, Luke was well-versed in navigation, thanks to Master Gale's lessons and his photographic memory.

He glanced around, taking note of his surroundings, his tired thighs clinging to the saddle. If one wasn't aware of the border, there would be little to indicate they had crossed into a different country. The border between the Empire and the Kingdom spanned thousands of miles—building a wall that long was impractical.

'Unless, of course, it was the Great Wall of China,' Luke thought with a hint of amusement. Still, having a wall and having enough men to defend it were two entirely different matters.

"How long until we arrive?" Kayson yelled from atop his horse.

"What?" Luke replied, swiping what felt like the thousandth bug from his face.

"HOW LONG?" Kayson repeated, louder this time.

Luke held up two fingers, signaling that they were less than two hours from their next waypoint. They planned to stop at a nearby forest to rest the horses and scout the area before deciding their next course of action.

Over an hour later, the tree line came into view, and Luke let out a sigh of relief. Once they arrived, the troops dismounted, giving both him and the horses some much-needed rest.

"LC, gather a few men to scout the area on foot. Stay close to the edge of the forest," Luke ordered, massaging his aching thighs.

The tall and skinny Lieutenant Commander stiffened. "C-Commander, I would prefer if you used my full title when addressing me."

"Huh? No way, it's too time-consuming," Luke retorted, waving dismissively. "If you don't like LC, come up with another nickname."

The officer's face twitched, barely concealing his anger, which painted an amusing picture. Luke could already guess what was likely going through his mind, but he paid it no attention. As long as the man followed orders, the rest didn't matter.

After giving a short bow to confirm the order, the long-faced officer stormed off, leaving Luke and Kayson behind.

Luke pulled a piece of dried meat from his bag and began chewing, smacking his lips together. The jerky was like rubber, but at least it tasted decent enough. By now, he was already missing the food from the Academy.

"You don't seem nervous," Kayson observed, idly twirling a stick in his hands. "Do you already have a plan in mind?"

Luke swallowed the large piece of jerky with difficulty, nearly choking on it. Grabbing his leather water bag, he drank deeply and let out a satisfied "Ahh."

When Luke recovered, he answered with a simple, "Nope," eliciting a comically exasperated expression from Kayson.

"What the hell do you mean you don't have a plan?" Kayson hissed, his disbelief evident.

Luke shrugged. "I'm not the only commander here," he replied, sending his friend a playful wink.

Kayson scoffed. "Could've fooled me. All I've done is basically follow you around. I bet some of the soldiers think I'm your subordinate."

"You're welcome to swear your loyalty to me," Luke retorted, only half-joking. In truth, he still wanted Kayson as a subordinate—not just for camaraderie, but to see what benefits the system would provide them both.

A twig sailed through the air, striking Luke square in the forehead. He flinched.

"I'll take that as a no then," he said, letting out a hollow chuckle.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Kayson broke it. "I don't believe you don't have a plan. You always have something cooking in that big head of yours."

"Mmm, you're right—except for the big head part." Luke's gaze shifted to his friend's annoyingly perfect face. 'Being so handsome has to be a sin…' he thought with irritation.

"We could easily destroy the docks, provided the Empire's forces haven't arrived yet," Luke said, a sly grin forming on his face. "But I have a way we can deal much more damage."

"Oh yeah? And how's that?"

Before Luke could answer, a soldier approached, saluting sharply. "Commander Drakon, our scouts are back to report, sir."

"Bring them here and fetch the LC for me," Luke replied, slowly rising to his feet.

The soldier hesitated. "I'm sorry, Commander, who is LC?"

Luke waved a hand dismissively. "You know, the guy with the long face—your old boss."

Understanding dawned on the soldier, and he quickly ran off to execute the orders. A few minutes later, the scouts and Lieutenant Commander Stoddard arrived for the debrief.

The scouts reported that the port was only lightly guarded, with around fifty men present. Most were preoccupied unloading a ship currently docked. The cargo consisted of grain, flour, wheat, and other foodstuffs being loaded into carriages for transport to the fortress.

"This shipment is likely intended to supply the fortress for the coming siege," Stoddard deduced. "We must not let it arrive, or the siege will last long enough for reinforcements to arrive from the Empire."

Kayson nodded in agreement but remained silent, his expression thoughtful. The group turned to Luke, awaiting his input.

"I think we should let them deliver the stock," Luke said with a mischievous grin. "In fact, I'll even help them deliver it."

"What?!" Stoddard and Kayson exclaimed in unison, the latter's chiseled jaw nearly unhinging.

"You can't be serious! What kind of imbecile have they put in charge of my unit?!" Stoddard's long face flushed a deep purple as his temper flared.

Luke's expression darkened, his voice cold and commanding. "Mind your words, Lieutenant Commander. Need I remind you of the penalty for insubordination?"

"N-No, Commander Drakon," Stoddard stammered, stiffening under the weight of Luke's gaze.

"This will be your final warning," Luke stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

'This guy just can't help himself,' Luke thought, shaking his head inwardly. 'And I haven't even told him the plan yet.'

Luke carefully explained his plan, going over the details thoroughly and ensuring both Kayson and Stoddard understood their roles. When he finished, he leaned against the tree behind him, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"T-This is madness… Luke, you can't do this. It's too dangerous," Kayson said, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

"I won't be alone, don't worry. As long as we pull this off, the siege won't even last three days," Luke replied confidently. "What say you, LC?"

Lieutenant Commander Stoddard stroked his tapered chin, his expression contemplative. "It is certainly feasible, though it carries its own risks," he said carefully. "How confident are you?"

"About as confident as I can be," Luke replied, doing his best to appear nonchalant. Yet inwardly, he felt the edges of nervousness creeping in.

"But why does it have to be you? There are five hundred men—any one of them could take your place," Kayson argued, his bewilderment evident.

"The decision has already been made, brother," Luke stated plainly, placing a reassuring hand on Kayson's shoulder. "All you need to do is stick to the plan. We'll rendezvous at the appointed place tomorrow night."

With that, he straightened up and added, "Now, let's get some rest. I'll ride out just before dusk."

As the Lieutenant Commander left to issue orders to his men, Kayson and Luke remained alone, the weight of the plan lingering between them. They sat in companionable silence, though it was clear the plan still gnawed at Kayson.

Luke shifted, massaging his thighs to ease his muscles. The journey ahead meant getting back on his cheeky mare, who seemed to delight in making his life difficult.

"You remember our vow back at the Academy?" Kayson asked suddenly, his tone softer than usual.

"Of course. I'm still looking forward to that wine of your father's," Luke replied with a chuckle.

"Then why would you personally put yourself in harm's way? Hayden—I mean, General Hart—only tasked us with taking out the dock. So why take such a risk?"

Luke let out a sigh, his gaze dropping momentarily. He understood Kayson's concerns. Part of him wished he could do as Kayson suggested—keep it simple, stick to the plan. But the system had other ideas.

A familiar translucent window appeared before his eyes, stark and unyielding, showing a new quest.

Main Quest: Ascent to Power (Part 2)

Details: The Sovereign System will not settle for weakness. Only those who aim to leave their mark in history may wield its power.

Task: Successfully reclaim Xiu Fortress within 5 days

Reward: Skill Selection

Failure: Removal of the Sovereign System.

Luke stared at the text silently, the weight of its demands pressing on him. At first, he'd been relieved that failure no longer meant being hunted by Sebastian. But then he'd realized the alternative might be worse.

Without the system, he would go back to being ordinary. His wealth of knowledge, his burgeoning skills, and, most importantly, his usefulness would vanish.

The thought of returning to mediocrity churned his stomach. Without the system, the Academy would undoubtedly cast him out, and his only option would be enlistment as a regular soldier—a fate that most likely end in a thankless death.

"There is no other way," Luke eventually replied, his voice calm as he wore a small, reassuring smile. "You forget, brother, that we have nearly twenty-five thousand men marching here. Even if it's only in name, we are Commanders. Their lives are our responsibility. If my actions can save even a few of these brave men, then I'll have done right by them."

The words, carefully chosen, painted a heroic picture of selflessness. Yet inwardly, Luke balked at the thought. It wasn't heroism driving him—it was necessity. He had no choice, but he knew this was the only way to get Kayson to drop the matter.

He could see his words were having an effect. The stubborn expression on Kayson's face softened, his furrowed brows relaxing. But then, with a sharpness Luke wasn't expecting, Kayson's eyes narrowed.

"You expect me to believe that bullshit!" Kayson spat, sending a light but firm kick to Luke's already sore leg.

"OW~" Luke yelped, doubling over slightly in exaggerated pain.

Their eyes met for a tense moment, then both burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet woods. Kayson stepped closer, throwing an arm around Luke's shoulders as he leaned against the same tree.

"Whatever your reasons are, just come back in one piece," Kayson said, his voice softer now, carrying an undertone of genuine concern.

"Why do you sound like a maiden watching her knight ride off to battle?" Luke quipped, nudging him in the ribs with an elbow. "It's creepy."

"You son of a bitch," Kayson shot back, delivering a few playful punches to Luke's stomach. The hits were light, more teasing than anything, his care and affection evident beneath the bravado.

For the next hour, they talked about nothing in particular, the easy banter a welcome distraction from the looming operation. For a brief moment, Luke allowed himself to relax, the tension in his shoulders easing as they laughed and reminisced.

It wasn't until a soldier appeared, his steps tentative, that the spell was broken. "Commander, it's time," the soldier announced, his voice low but clear.

Luke sighed, the moment of respite slipping away. He rose, brushing off his robe before clasping Kayson's shoulder in a firm grip. "Don't let your guard down," he said.

"You too," Kayson replied, his tone heavy with unspoken words.

Luke found his mare, the cheeky animal eyeing him as if daring him to complain. He met with Stoddard and three other soldiers, their armor stripped away to avoid detection. Together, they moved to the edge of the forest, the last light of the setting sun casting long shadows around them.

"As soon as the sun disappears, we ride," Luke said, his voice steady as he glanced at each of them in turn.

The men nodded in silent acknowledgment. Luke turned his gaze into the distance, where the Xiu Fortress lay waiting.