Chapter 461 - 407: Only by Understanding Sacrifice Can One Understand What Courage Is

Lu Jia understood, of course, that Reinhardt’s appointment of her as the third commander would never pass in an internal Battle Group meeting. Even if it did, she would have resigned on her own accord.

Having personally experienced the cruelty of politics and power, she made no comment on the appointment. It was a move to protect both herself and the sisters she represented in this high-stakes meeting. She was also keenly aware that her own strength did not yet qualify her to bargain with the other leaders around the command table.

Her best course of action was to remain silent and expressionless, and ultimately, to unconditionally accept a reasonable appointment.

Clearly, it wasn’t just the courage and skill she had displayed during the earlier battle on the bridge.

Lu Jia’s conduct at this very moment made Koller appreciate the young woman all the more, and he found he had no real objection to her appointment as his adjutant.

After all, compared to this confidante of the Lord of Vengeful—the future leader of the Blood Flame Order—his own two adjutants were the ones who had utterly disgraced themselves.

With Lu Jia’s position settled, all that remained were the arrangements for the others.

The first order of business was to strip Think Tank Serni and Think Tank Harvey of their positions as the commander’s adjutants, removing them from Koller’s command.

Anyone with eyes could see that Reinhardt’s decision was a clear move to weaken Koller’s power.

As it stood, the Military Affairs Department had yet to assign a third commander. Urus’s core forces had been all but wiped out in the recent battle, and his personal strength was far inferior to Koller’s.

Furthermore, the Silencers’ casualties had occurred in the shadows of the intelligence war, which did little to build a commander’s public prestige.

If Reinhardt didn’t intervene, it wouldn’t be long before Urus’s voice on the bridge’s command dais was significantly diminished—an outcome Reinhardt wished to avoid.

If a situation like the landing on Cyrenaica were to happen again and Reinhardt couldn’t command the battle directly, Koller would have absolute authority on the bridge.

He needed a balance of power, a fighting force of Vengeful Angels, not a situation where Koller’s faction grew so dominant that it invisibly squeezed everyone else out from the core of power.

Besides, the two men’s combat records were abysmal. Despite possessing powerful Spiritual Talent, their contributions were less than that of the Navy veteran, Kurs.

Especially when compared to Urus’s Silencers.

These two had just found a corner of the deck to lie down in and stayed there until the battle was over. It was an absolute disgrace—!

If something like this had happened in the legion of the Eldest Son of the Emperor, a thirty-year sentence to a penitent Battle Group would be considered a light punishment.

Even if Reinhardt didn’t punish them, Koller would have taken action himself.

His subordinates’ disgraceful performance during the battle was a slap in the face to him, the Vengeful Grand Think Tank and Commander of Vengeful. The fact that Reinhardt hadn’t kicked them out of the Vengeful Angels entirely was already a show of respect.

"...Regarding the matter of these two men’s passivity in battle, does anyone have anything to add?"

Urus shot a silent glance at Koller. Had he and the Silencers achieved a decisive victory, he might have savored a moment of private satisfaction. But thinking of his Battle Brothers, now forever at rest a kilometer underground, filled his heart with nothing but rage and hatred.

Koller snorted, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Sir, I believe their punishment is far from sufficient. We sacrificed so many of our comrades, only for them to be stripped of their adjutant titles?

That punishment is far too light.

I propose they be demoted further. Strip them of their positions as Editors and have them work alongside the Clerks in the command structure.

They can have their status as Vengeful Think Tanks restored when they have atoned for their sins, and not a moment sooner.

Sleeping through an entire battle—what a disgrace!

The Empire has countless Psychics and those with the Wizard Bloodline. Does that mean every single one of them is expected to collapse and wait for death after a shock from the Void Realm?!"

Koller’s voice was loud and merciless. He deliberately infused his tirade with Spiritual Power, ensuring it reached the ears of everyone present.

Upon hearing this proposed punishment, Serni’s face flushed crimson, while Havier’s turned deathly pale, his pallid lips trembling.

Even though they had realized the gravity of their actions upon waking and had been doing everything in their power to make amends... but when Serni looked up and saw a frail Clerk walk past, his clothes long since soaked through with blood, he could no longer endure such profound humiliation.

He threw down the documents in his hands, tore the sword-shaped insignia—the symbol of his status as a Vengeful Think Tank—from his Power Armor, and turned to face the leaders on the command dais. Dropping to one knee, his face flushed and his voice trembling, he said, "Lord of Vengeful, and... and Commander Koller, I...

I will accept any punishment!

But I have only one request! From now on, no matter how dangerous the mission, I beg you to allow me to be the first to volunteer. This shame can only be washed away by sacrifice and death!"

Skolov, a member of the Honor Guard and a former mentor of the Emperor Shield First Group, turned and looked silently at Serni.

Serni raised his head and their eyes met. They had clearly recognized one another.

But if anything, this recognition only intensified Serni’s shame. To think that he, a Think Tank of the Emperor Shield First Group, could have committed the crime of passivity in battle.

’Unforgivable!’

The even younger Think Tank, Havier, had served in the Think Tank Group of the Iberian World ever since awakening his Wizard Bloodline. Joining the Vengeful Angels was his first time on the front lines.