Borkal stood in front of Claude once more.
"Looks like you've been doing well. Your muscles are all toned up now, unlike when I first saw your fat jiggling," said Claude as he poked Borkal's belly in satisfaction.
Losing 40 kilograms was a huge change for Borkal. At the very least, his uniform didn't feel as tight as before.
Even though he still looked fat, he didn't look like he was panting and jiggling every time he moved.
Borkal ignored Claude's teasing and looked up at the ceiling as if there was something there that was worth studying.
Clearly, he was dissatisfied with Claude forcing him to lose weight and felt that he had suffered enough in Thundercrash.
That was why he was rather arrogant at the moment. He had probably heard from Moriad that Claude was going to ask him to do something important and decided not to cooperate with him to show his displeasure.
Claude had never doubted his playmate's abilities. The fatty had a natural affinity with people. As long as he got familiar with them, he could easily win their goodwill and they would help him as much as they could without realizing it.
That was why Borkal was like a fish in water when it came to doing business. He knew how to share the profits and reap the benefits equally. He also had a harmless, honest face that made people feel friendly and unguarded. Coupled with his shrewd business acumen, if he couldn't make money, who else could?
So, when Claude heard Moriad grumbling about how his friend was able to eat enough food for three to four people in Thundercrash, he knew that his plan to help Borkal lose weight had been foiled.
No matter how strict he treated Borkal, it was useless. That fellow had already made Thundercrash's canteen his own territory.
The reason was simple. Even though Borkal could enjoy the treatment of a field officer with his rank of major, he could only eat one more person's worth of food under normal circumstances.
When Moriad complained that Borkal could eat three to four servings of food, it meant that he had gained the canteen's extra help and trust, allowing him to eat to his heart's content in the canteen.
Claude wasn't annoyed that Borkal ignored him. He returned to his desk and sat down. He didn't make a sound and just looked at Borkal.
The office fell into a moment of silence. Time passed minute by minute, and still no one spoke.
Borkal couldn't hold it in any longer and started sneaking glances at Claude, only to see him lazily leaning on the table and staring at him with interest.
Borkal started to feel that his entire body wasn't quite right. After all, he was standing while Claude was sitting and looking at him with a judgmental gaze. He felt uncomfortable no matter what position he was in.
"W-Why did you call me here?" Borkal was the first to speak. He had lost most of his vigor.
Since he was under someone else's roof, he had no choice but to make a move. He decided to get past this hurdle first.
"Major, you'll have to report to me first," Claude said as he put his hands behind his head.
Borkal was furious, but there was nothing he could do.
Claude was his superior now. What he said was true. Even though Claude was the one who summoned him, he was only a major. He had to greet Claude first.
"General, Major Borkal Bodeman, Battalion Commander of the Bangilia garrison of Simirok prefecture, reporting for duty. I'm here to listen to your orders."
Borkal had no choice but to stand at attention and salute Claude before shouting out his position and rank.
"At ease."
Claude returned the salute casually and said in a business-like tone, "Major Borkal, I'm sorry to inform you that there's no longer a garrison of Bangilia garrison of Simirok prefecture.
Because they have been reorganized into the Thundercrash Regiment and a few Monolith Regiments, your original position has been removed. You are now just a Major waiting to be assigned to our overseas colonies war theatre … "Lin Sanjiu sighed.
Also, there's been a lot of controversy regarding your appointment. Many people believe that you're not a qualified officer. Based on your physique alone, they can conclude that you're not suited to be a soldier.
So, some people suggested that you be discharged from the army as a captain. What do you think?
What do you think, Major Borkal? "
"I don't think so!" Borkal glared at Claude with veins popping out on his forehead.
If he were to retire as a captain, he would become a disgrace to his family.
Everyone knew that he was originally a major, but he was demoted a rank after a trip to Nubissia and was forced to retire. That meant that his family's business would no longer benefit from him and his rank would become a laughing stock. He would never be able to raise his head again.
"Claude, is this how you treat your best friend?"
Borkal's face reddened. "Don't try to be polite. I know you have something important for me to do. That's why you're using those words to threaten me into serving you willingly.
Just tell me, what do you want me to do for you? "
However, Borkal didn't expect Claude's reaction to be even more intense than his. With a loud smack, Claude slammed the table and stood up angrily. "You still have the cheek to say that you're my good friend?!
I told you to go lose weight, but you're freeloading happily in the Thunderclap Regiment!
You eat the amount of food for three or four people every meal. Are you a pig? You only know how to eat and keep gaining weight. Look at your body. Do you even look like a soldier?
You're 1.76 meters tall and you're still around 194 kilograms even after losing 80 kilograms. You're full of fat.
Do you think I'm humiliating you by suggesting for you to be discharged from the army?
I'm trying to protect your life!
Idiot!
This is a war zone, not that peaceful city of yours where you just eat and drink. Every soldier here is prepared to fight for their lives on the battlefield!
Do you think you'll have a good ending on the battlefield with that fat of yours?
Do you think I'm humiliating you by asking you to be discharged as a captain?
Idiot, don't forget that this is a war zone. You can only be discharged if you're demoted.
You're not a soldier who can just go home if you can't pass the inspection. You're a major, a garrison battalion commander. From the moment you received the order to be transferred to our war zone, your fate was tied to ours. If we don't demote, we won't be able to pass the approval of the ministry of the army. Do you understand? "
Borkal stiffened his neck. "I don't want to be discharged …"
"You don't want to be discharged?" Claude laughed angrily. "Then what can you do?
With that body of yours? With how good you are at eating?
Or when you get captured by the enemy, you can use your huge appetite to eat up the enemy's logistics?
I'm doing this for your own good, fatty. I want to keep you alive.
Don't forget that you're the only son your parents have.
By the way, I heard that you already have three sons. If you don't want your children to lose their father at a young age, it's best that you listen to me and retire.
Even though you'll be demoted by one rank, you'll still be able to stay at home safely. Your family will be reunited, and that's a blessing. "
"It's not like I haven't fought before, Claude. Don't talk about taking care of me for my own good.
You know that if I were to retire, I won't be able to raise my head in front of my children for the rest of my life.
I won't even be able to attend the veterans' gathering. They'll see me as a disgrace to the military. "
Borkal looked into Claude's eyes. "I know you have other plans. Just tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Claude shrugged helplessly. "Good. You're still quite sharp. You know that I won't force you to retire.
Honestly, Borkal, you should know your own physique. With your fat body, you won't be able to go on the battlefield. The enemy will treat you as a high-ranking frontline commander and eliminate you immediately.
"As for the military, you won't be able to find a good position in HQ either. You're an expert in business.
"As for your military skills, you know that you're not even as good as a recruit who's been in the army for half a year.
"I wanted to put you in the logistics department, but Major-General Skri is a strict man. The moment he sees your body, he'll immediately suspect you of embezzlement. Otherwise, how could you be so fat?
"What I want is for you to take off your uniform. Of course, I'm not asking you to retire. I just want you to join the intelligence department. With a body like yours, no enemy will suspect you of being a secret agent.
Here's a document for you to take a look. After reading it, you'll have two choices. You can either act according to the plan or you can retire. You can make your choice. "
Borkal glared at Claude hatefully. That bastard is setting me up again.
Having known each other for so many years, he naturally knew Claude's temperament.
But Borkal was also helpless. Who would've thought that after being separated for so many years, there would be such a huge gap between the two of them when they reunited?
Claude had already become a major-general of the kingdom, the highest commanding officer of the war theatre and the linesman of Thundercrash.
Borkal, on the other hand, was only a major of the local garrison. He was in Claude's hands and had no choice but to do whatever he wanted. It was a feeling that made Borkal feel terrible.
He opened the document and scanned through it. His eyes lit up.
The document was simple. Borkal was to become a smuggler under the guise of a shareholder of Wild Bull Firm and head to Port Vebator to look for business opportunities and gather intelligence on the enemy.
Wild Bull Firm used to be a famous firm in Balingana that specialized in the production and sale of wild bull products.
But after the colonial war broke out, Marshal Michelic ordered for the firm to be fortified and it was forced to move to Anfiston.
Due to the loss of the opportunity to hunt bulls, the business of the trading firm collapsed and they couldn't make ends meet. Claude instructed Myjack to buy the rights to the firm at a low price and turn it into a trading firm that worked with the intelligence department.
The plan was for Borkal to act as a shareholder of Wild Bull Trading and bring four shallow sea flat-bottomed transport ships filled with provisions to Port Vebator in Shiks. That way, they would be able to find a way out for the company that was on the verge of collapse.
Claude was very generous and gave Borkal 20% of the shares. In other words, Borkal would be able to pocket 20% of the profits from each deal.
"Aren't you afraid that people will say you're funding the enemy if you use provisions to do business with the enemy?"
Borkal asked Claude with a sneer. According to the document, the Shiksan colony's food shortage hadn't been alleviated. They mainly relied on shipping supplies from their homeland, which was costly and costly.
Bringing provisions to Port Vebator should be a lucrative business.
Claude laughed heartily. "Don't worry. No matter how much you sell, I'll be able to steal twice as much from the enemy on the battlefield!"
Borkal could only curse him inwardly.
Having been in Thundercrash for half a year, he had heard countless legends about Claude.
In the eyes of the folk, Claude was indeed an invincible hero, especially his lackeys. They praised him as if he was a god of war, which Borkal found hard to believe.
"Do I have full control over all the transactions?" Borkal asked.
"Yes. As a shareholder of the firm that's on the verge of collapse, you have full control over what you buy and sell.
However, I suggest that you buy as many draft horses as you can. Due to the migration of a hundred thousand households, draft horses are in short supply. The market price for them has tripled.
I believe that if Shiks has spies in the theatre, they would've reported it long ago.
So, buying draft horses from Port Vebator is the only way to do business. Otherwise, you'll attract the enemy's attention if you ignore the lucrative draft horse business and buy other supplies instead. "
"I've heard Thundercrash's canteen manager mention this before. They say that when they go out to buy vegetables, people often stop their carriages and ask if they're willing to sell their draft horses for a high price.
As a result, they have to bring guards to watch their carriages every time they go out to prevent the draft horses from getting stolen, "Borkal said.
Claude could only smile helplessly. "There's no way to solve this problem right now. There have been many disputes about draft horses recently.
That's why I hope you can buy more draft horses from Port Vebator to alleviate the lack of draft horses in the theatre.
However, your main task isn't to do business. What's more important is to find out what happened to the spies we had in Port Vebator. That's why we didn't know anything about the port for three months. "
"I also need a year's worth of the Wild Bull trading company's accounts and old staff. As a shareholder of the company, I have to understand all their business dealings and channels, as well as their connections in various regions," said Borkal.
"That's only right. I've already prepared everything for you."
Claude pulled on the bell behind him and his adjutant, Major Anders, came in. "General, your orders please."
Claude pointed at Borkal. "Bring him to Colonel Kofist of the intelligence department. Tell him that the plan codenamed Wild Bull can be carried out."
"Yes, General."
Even though he didn't know what the plan codenamed Wild Bull was, Anders still politely asked Borkal to follow him.
Borkal looked at Claude and saluted before leaving with Anders.
When Claude returned home for lunch, he finally got some good news from his sister. The actual hot air balloon machine was ready.
However, she didn't like it at all. It was bulky and clumsy. It didn't have the finesse or power that Claude wanted her to make in the past.
Angelina felt that it was an insult to her to use alchemical formations to make such a clumsy thing. She would never make something like that again.
Claude laughed heartily and told Angelina that it was worth as much as an alchemical rune formation.
After the meal, he ran to his sister's lab impatiently to see and touch the thing with his own eyes. After confirming that the thing was similar to the one he saw when he was young, he ordered Gum to bring a few men to load the thing onto a carriage and send it to the iron ore workshop.
He also sent someone to inform Weyblon to go to the iron mine.
The hot air balloon had many shortcomings. For example, it was very slow to start up for the first time. After burning a lot of firewood, it took about ten minutes before the piston connecting rod on the circular cylinder was finally pushed up. Then, the iron pipe chimney at the side discharged black hot air. The piston connecting rod fell down, pushed up again, and fell down again. The clanging sounds were very ear-piercing ….
Claude looked at the flabbergasted Weyblon and laughed. "My friend, what do you think of this compared to water power?"
"Unbelievable!"
Weyblon exclaimed, "General, how did you design a machine that uses the heat of fire as its source of energy?"
"It's actually very simple, my friend. If you notice that when boiling water, the steam can push open the lid of a heavy kettle, you'll know that hot air has the same effect."
"General, you really are a great genius!"