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Hringhorni – Rec Area

Masaki: Ha, there it is! Rīchi, Seven Pairs, Two Dora. That’s Mangan, 8,000 points.

Mio: Aw man…this is bad. If I don’t do something fast, I’m going to enter the negatives.

Masaki: And with that, I’ve risen to third place.

Mio: I excepted that Yang Long would be a pro at this.

Yang Long: Of course. However, I’m still not quite used to this ruleset.

Mio: In China, everyone always pays out points no matter who discarded the tile that formed the winning hand, right?

Yang Long: Yes. And if all the players are highly skilled, the matches can become quite heated.

Mio: Maybe we should try out those rules sometime.

Masaki: What surprised me was finding out that Gaen knew how to play.

Gaen: …..

Mio: Hey, Gaen, where’d you learn about mahjong?

Gaen: What is your intention in asking me that?

Mio: Just curious.

Gaen: …It was popular within the Volkruss Cult for a time.

Yang Long: That’s something that I did not know.

Masaki: Was that at the same time that mahjong was introduced to La Gias?

Gaen: …Yes.

Mio: Whoa wait, Kan! Too close, too close, caught it just in time…I KAN’T believe I almost let that happen.

Masaki: …That was awful.

Gaen: …Hm.

Mio: Huh? Something wrong, Gaen?

Gaen: …No.

Mio: And I take my extra draw…well whaddaya know?

Masaki: Wait, are you Tenpai?

Mio: Am I? What do you think?　

Mio: …Aaaaand Rīchi! Gotta go big or go home.

Yang Long: …Don’t be so hasty.

Gaen: …I’m pushing.

Masaki: Nothing doing. I’ll fold.

Yang Long: Hm, that’s a Pon.

Mio: Ack, I’m getting skipped! I can’t believe I have to skip my turn! …This is a real PON-derous situation.

Masaki: Why do you always have to make such stupid puns…

Gaen: Hh…h…

Mio: Huh? That noise again…Gaen, are you sure you’re alright?

Gaen: No…it’s…nothing…

Mio: Ah, that’s a Ron! Rīchi, Honitsu, Double South, Ura Dora numbered at…

Mio: Wow! Three!! That’s Baiman! I’m out of last place!

Gaen: Tch…curses.

Mio: I really didn’t think a live tile would appear this late in the game. Thank you, Gaen!

Gaen: …..

Mio: I’m even more surprised that you decided to chase. Discarding that South Wind is what really caused things to GO South for you.

Gaen: …Heh.

Mio: Eh? What? Gaen, did…did you just laugh?

Gaen: Wh…What…

Mio: I heard you make a strange noise.

Gaen: …That was nothing more than a breathing exercise to aid in mental concentration.

Mio: …Or is it that you’re on the low boiling point of laughter?

Gaen: …Absurd. I’m leaving.

Mio: Ah, wait! We’re still in the middle of…

Masaki: You think Gaen was laughing? Really?

Mio: Yeah, I’m pretty sure that he was.

Masaki: Someone actually laughing at those bad puns? That ain’t normal.

Mio: …I’ll need to investigate this further.

Hringhorni – Briefing Room

Masaki: So, what’s going on?

Guido: We’ve discovered that Southern Shutedonias has been building a clandestine fortress.

Tytti: A fortress? That’s a violation of the peace accord!

Wagner: Yes, and we cannot afford to overlook it.

Masaki: Do we know where it is?

Xenia: Yes, it’s on the outskirts of Enid City, near the temporary border. It’s about thirty minutes away from our current location.

Wagner: Right, let’s hurry.

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Chapter 27 : The Benevolent Leader Dusdresh

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*Enemy units and automatic turrets deploy in response to the Hringhorni’s arrival*

Lune: That’s…a pretty big fort.

Masaki: Tch, looks like they’re pretty dug in.

Leffen: They’re here…alright, let’s lure them in range of the gun batteries as per our plan.

Zanboss: Roger, General.

Riko: The Antiras Squad again…we won’t lose this time!

*The Antiras Squad deploys, Battle Starts*

*Turn 3 Player Phase, the Lastoll and Jeifar arrive*

Gino: Sorry to have kept you waiting, Precia.

Masaki: …I bet you were practicing that line the entire way over here.

Precia: Welcome back, Gino.

Gino: Hm…I’m glad I was able to finish my work as quickly as I did.

{Gino VS Riko}

Gino: Captain Sandleave!

Gino: …Which one are you again?

Riko: I’m Riko.

Gino: I see, I beg your pardon, Riko.

{Rosalie VS Riko}

Rosalie: Hey, Riko!
　
Rosalie: Uh, no, you’re Niko…right?

Riko: I’m Riko, Rosalie.

Rosalie: You’re so alike. You should wear nametags or something.

{Gino VS Leffen}

Gino: General Dusdresh! This is the first time that we’ve met on the battlefield.

Leffen: Ah, Major Valencia. There’s no need to hold back on your using the School of Immutable Eternity.

Gino: I am aware of that.

{Rosalie VS Leffen}

Rosalie: This stinks…I really don’t want to fight you, Leffen.

Leffen: You’re still too naïve, Rosalie. You’ll never survive on the battlefield like that.

{Masaki VS Leffen}

Masaki: To be honest, I don’t want to fight you. You’re like the one guy in the South with his head on straight.

Leffen: Hm…if you’re expecting me to go easy on you, you’re sadly mistaken.

Masaki: Tch, I knew there was no avoiding this.

*Defeat Leffen or defeat all but three enemy units*

Leffen: …Looks like we’re finished. I surrender.

Masaki: Surrender?

Leffen: The battle is yours. There’s no point in resisting any further.

Masaki: …Understood. I accept your surrender.

Leffen: Thank you. I’m glad that there be no need for further losses.

*Leffen and any remaining enemies retreat, ending the stage*

Hringhorni – Guest Room

Leffen: Commander of the Southern Army, Leffen Dusdresh.

Wagner: I bid you welcome, General Dusdresh.

Leffen: You fought splendidly. As I would have expected from the famed Antiras Squad.

Masaki: So you’re the leader of the South?

Leffen: If you’re talking strictly about it’s regional army, yes, but in terms of overall leadership, no.¹

Masaki: Ah, I see. I guess it’s no good my telling you that you need to back down.

Leffen: I’m only carrying out my orders to the best of my ability. That’s something you’d need to take up with the Southern government.

Masaki: I thought you’d say that.

Lune: Still, building that fortress is a violation of the treaty.

Leffen: …I cannot deny that.　

Leffen: However, I was given an order to do this. Thus I had no choice but to proceed.

Masaki: …This may be a shot in the dark, but were you given this order by a man named Ongaredd?

Leffen: …Unfortunately, I cannot say. I’m bound by a oath of confidentiality.

Masaki: …That’s fine. We’ll find out soon enough.

Leffen: Also, I want to be assured that the captured soldiers will be treated well.

Wagner: You needn’t be concerned. We will treat them in accordance with the Vespina Treaty.

Leffen: I’m relieved to hear that. After all, Captain Sandleave is a model soldier in our military.

Wagner: We are currently negotiating with the Southern army for the return of the prisoners.

Leffen: That will take some time to complete, correct?

Wagner: Yes, is there anything you would like to request before that?

Leffen: I saw that Major Valencia and Rosalie were a part of your squad. I know them. I’d like to have a few words with them…

Wagner: Hm, I suppose if they’re willing.

Masaki: Alright, I’ll go tell them.

Hringhorni – Lounge

Masaki: Hey, Gino, Rosalie. I know you two just got back, but I have something to ask you.

Rosalie: Huh? What is it?

Masaki: General Dusdresh wants to talk with you. Do you guys know him?

Gino: Yes, we trained together in the School of the Immutable Eternity. He was the senior pupil under
Master Shumel.

Masaki: Oh yeah, Shumel. Immutable…what was it again?

Rosalie: Immutable Eternity. It’s the most famous school of swordsmanship in La Gias.

Masaki: What about the Divine Infinitude?

Gino: That’s a very elite style. Not everyone is strong enough to be able to use it.

Masaki: Hmm, guess that’s just the way it is. Anyway, the general is waiting for us. Let’s go.

Gino: Of course.

Hringhorni – Guest Room

Gino: It’s been a long time, General Dusdresh.

Rosalie: Glad to see that you’re all right.

Leffen: Ah, Major Valencia, Rosalie. It’s good to see you two in good health as well. Although, Rosalie, you’re different from when I last saw you.

Rosalie: Eh? How do you mean?

Leffen: Let’s see, it’s been two…no, three years. Back then, you seemed more, how should I say…withdrawn…　

Leffen: Now you’ve changed. You’ve become a young woman with a pretty smile.

Rosalie: Aw, shucks, are you tryin’ to flatter me? Please, do go on.

Leffen: Ha ha, I see you still have that peculiar accent.

Gino: Let me ask you frankly, General. Do you intend to keep expanding the warfront of the South?

Leffen: I can’t give you the details due to military secrecy, but I don’t think that will happen in the immediate future. But afterwards…

Gino: I see…I’m sorry to hear that.

Leffen: As am I, Major Valencia. Were it possible, I would see us move towards peace.

Gino: I agree.

Masaki: Well…any decent soldier knows that war is a last resort.

Leffen: Of course. No true general would want to send his men to their deaths.

Leffen: Don’t mistake me, though. I may wish to avoid fighting, but when I have to, I’m not afraid to die. That’s what a soldier is.

Masaki: Yeah…I know what you mean. I know, because…I feel the same way.

Leffen: Well, I think I’ll retire until the POW negotiations are concluded.

The Benevolent Leader Dusdresh End

Masoukishin II Chapter List | Next Chapter: Shu’s Schemes

¹ A more literal translation of the previous two lines would look something like this:
Masaki: So you’re the general (大将) of the South?
Leffen: If you mean that term literally, yes, but in terms of actual leadership, no. I’m just the commander of the regional army.
In Japanese, the kanji that Masaki uses (大将) can refer either to a specific military leader (ex. General or Admiral) or a general term for a leadership position (Boss, Chief, Leader, etc.), hence Leffen’s use of the phrase “If you mean that term literally”. Since the term General in English doesn’t need this kind of clarification, I decided to rework how this part of the conversation plays out.