A FATHER WHO LOST HIS CHILD

Few hours later,

Governor General Cowan's Office at NTUC Temporary Post, former Office of The Ministry of Foreign Trade, Audience Hall.

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" Tell me, Captain Herman Dirkse Hendepoel, what's going on here? Why did I had some feeling that everything is mess up in our side?" Governor General Cowan take a sip of his liquor.

" Reporting, Sir. We had completely lost First and Second company army in King's assassination mission on Mount Luwa. Though his guard forces where destroyed, The King himself was able to escape and whereabout is still unknown. It appeared that he had received some support from his loyal retainer, Duchess Nindya Titan."

" How come ? Those were our undefeatable forces from previous Herencian and Balakkan War. Who had they confronted ?"

" We had suspicion into The Titan Family, Sir".

" I never heard about them before. Wasn't Titan family not too influence before, was they ?"

" Yes, Sir. They were just weak nobles, we should not worry of them. But taking the current development into consideration, I'm afraid we have too underestimated them. To completely destroyed two company armies full of veteran soldiers, such feat were really not a joke."

" So you are taking into consideration to turn a family which is only consisted from an old granny and his middle-aged son into enemies of NTUC ?"

" I suggest that we better worry that sorry, Sir"

Governor General Cowan nodded and then wrote something on his parchment.

" Please, Continue, Captain Herman."

" We also had lost the Third and Fourth company army in Magelang City blockade mission. They were untraceable. No track either. Even their luggage were gone. We had some suspicion they already had confront Titan Klan's secret force. We believed that they were ambushed while on their journey toward Magelang."

" How can you be so sure, it was Titan's deed ?"

" The failed assassination mission which is involved First and Second company army, might have a result the leakage of these confidential information. It seems some survivor of these forces has been forced to spill out some words regarded our plan. Those information were used effectively to annihilated the Third and Fourth company army. These could only be achieved by the same faction, The Duchess Nindya's secret force."

" So, did you want to raise our vigilante toward hers?"

" Yes, Sir."

Governor General Cowan nodded and then wrote something on his parchment again. His face showed his inner true feelings. Clearly, he is unhappy. One could see his dark expression.

" And we lost a key person in our ally's side, Mr Frank Zonc. He was assassinated by someone during previous fire incident in red district. The building in fire belongs to Mr Fritz Hayes, both of them had an enmity toward Titan's Family and vice versa. So, it did not take any genius to know that there were Titan's hand behind the scene. I was there and so did Evenhart van der Schuere. We also almost lost our life, if the Sandyakala groups did not interfere."

" What ?" The Governor could not hold his shocked. He clenched his fist and slammed the table.

Slam!

That furniture exploded into smithereens.

" This is real harashment toward NTUC! That Duchess should paid this debt!"

" Indeed, Sir. Even the new King had a debt grudge into Titan's especially with their heir, Meyrlion Titan. Particularly in Rara Ayu case, many years ago. After her death, their rivalry had growth into irreconcilable things." Evenhart van der Schuere voiced his mind.

" True, Sir. The conflict between Hayes - Zonc Family toward Titan's had been triggered since long age when their ancestor was still alive." Hermann said.

" Do you both want to said that the mighty NTUC had been be caught in a snare between three family's rivalry ? And the Marcog forces was just their victims?" Governor General Cowan looks so angry.

" Sir, we just believe that we missed in calculating some fatal risks into our trading aggrement. This should had been done by Lord Francois."

Governor General Cowan release his heavy sight. His long moustache was also down dangle toward the ground.

Sigh!

" To had loss all four company army.. damn it!"

A soldier came to their room with a gim face. He presented a perfect Nevernian military salute.

" First Private Gerrit of the sixth company army of Marcog Forces, Sir ! Request approval to interrupt, Sir. An urgent message!"

The Governor General nodded and said, "Tell me!"

That soldier put a step front and whispered to Governor General Cowan's ears.

" There were a riot in Los Ary Village in Paques Sub-district. The fifth company were annihilated."

General Cowan's feels like he had just heard a thunder streak nearby.

" What ? You are not joking, soldiers ? What about the Captain ? Captain Vincent ?"

Soldier Gerrit put a step back and presented a perfect Nevernian military salute.

" With all my respect, Sir ! The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example. They live on forever in the Hearts and Minds of those brave enough to follow in their footsteps."

Soldier Gerrit put a step forward, take Cowan's hand, reverse it and put something to Cowan's palm. That was Vincent's necklace wrapped in Nevernia national flag. Then Gerrit softly lead that palm closed.

Cowan's eyes were slowly closed to. His cheek was now become wet. From the tremble back, ones would know that he was trying hard to suppress his emotion.

Soldier Gerrit put a step backward and presented a perfect Nevernian military salute.

Then he turned his body and leave the room.

Both Evenhart van der Schuere and Herman Dirkse Hendepoel bowed his head.

" Both of you..." Cowan said to them with a tone that not belong to his usual demeanor.

He looked so shocked and frail.

" We are understand, Sir. We'll take our leave now."

Both of them stood up, put a step backward and presented a perfect Nevernian military salute.

"Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it's been done."

Cowan's could not answered them. He just nodded and hold Vincent's memento. He felt so sad, very sad. So hurt, an unbearable hurt, the unbearable sadness of a father who loss his dearest son. And he felt so alone, all alone. And the time felt stopped, there won't be tomorrow morning again.