It has been over half a month since the attack on the Fourth Prince. The first month of summer is already halfway over. Among the soldiers who went on the expedition, those with minor injuries have fully recovered, and those with severe injuries can finally move around a little. However, Lucas will continue to support them, taking care of them until they are completely healed.
Today is also a sorrowful day, as the severely injured soldiers are being discharged from the military. They will be transferred from the Military and Political Department's hospital to the Convalescent Hospital. There, they will recuperate until they are fully healed and ready for discharge. All medical expenses will be covered, and they will continue to receive their regular salaries.
The Convalescent Hospital is a facility Lucas established specifically for those requiring quiet recovery, such as severely wounded soldiers and Research Department personnel. It also serves as a training ground for intern doctors to learn how to care for patients.
Both the Military and Political Department's hospital and the main Sedona City Hospital are incredibly noisy. Only the Convalescent Hospital, situated in a more remote area, offers the necessary peace and quiet. Most importantly, it is a place for learning.
Ultimately, the Convalescent Hospital is Lucas's internal medical facility, designed to provide severely injured soldiers with a place to learn new vocational skills. Most soldiers discharged due to injuries are disabled. What can they do in the future? The killing techniques they learned in the army are no longer useful, so they must learn new skills—such as becoming intelligence informants.
However, their character will be observed during their stay at the Convalescent Hospital. If they prove unsuitable for intelligence work, they will simply be reassigned to regular civilian jobs, such as working in the textile mills.
In the plaza of the Military and Political Department, the thirty-five severely injured soldiers scheduled for discharge have gathered. Some are on crutches, some are in wheelchairs; some are missing arms, and others have lost an eye...
They all look up at the fluttering black dragon flag on a red background. Today, they are leaving. They will no longer be able to eat the delicious food in the military camp, nor will they be able to train with everyone else.
Tap, tap, tap... Aiden strode up to stand beneath the military flag. The sharpness in his eyes softened slightly, a trace of reluctance and sorrow flashing in their depths.
"Everyone, you are heroes. You are the heroes of Sedona City."
Aiden swept his gaze over the thirty-five soldiers before him, his voice deep and solemn. "You are also the lucky ones. You are still alive. Compared to the heroes lying in the Forest of Glory Monuments, you are fortunate... yet also unfortunate."
The severely wounded soldiers all lowered their heads. Yes, they were lucky to have survived, but unfortunate to have ended up disabled.
The Forest of Glory Monuments is located on a small hill a few kilometers outside Sedona City. It has been designated as a military cemetery, with dedicated caretakers watching over it.
"The unfortunate part is that you are being discharged."
Aiden's voice suddenly rose. "But the fortunate part is that even after you are discharged, the City Lord is taking care of your future employment. You will receive severance pay. Compared to those serving under other nobles, you are incredibly lucky."
Gratitude shone in the eyes of the severely injured soldiers. They were no longer ignorant commoners who had just joined the army; many rumors circulated within the military ranks.
There were many stories about the knights serving other nobles. Often, when a knight was severely injured in battle, they would be ruthlessly abandoned by their lord, left to live out their twilight years in utter misery.
If that was the fate of knights, it went without saying what would happen to ordinary soldiers like them. The fact that they were receiving a pension equivalent to what would normally take ten years to earn, along with guaranteed post-discharge employment—it was truly as good as it could possibly get.
They even remembered how envious their former comrades had been, grumbling about why they weren't the ones severely injured, which had made the wounded men so angry they wanted to hit them.
"You must remember that you came from this place. No matter what you do, you must never do anything to betray the City Lord, nor anything to betray Sedona City. Otherwise, there will be nowhere for you to hide." Aiden's voice grew fierce, his eyes wide and brimming with killing intent. "I will personally lead men to hunt you down and drag you back to face justice."
"Yes, sir!" The thirty-five severely injured soldiers shouted in low voices.
"Let the discharge ceremony begin!" Aiden shouted loudly.
Tap, tap, tap... A squad of soldiers jogged over, carrying trays. On the trays sat a set of training uniforms—not formal military uniforms, but ones they were allowed to take with them. There was also a quilt and a pair of shoes. These three items were theirs to keep, a welfare benefit provided by the army to discharged veterans.
In addition to these three items, there was a veteran's certificate and a coin pouch containing their severance pay. Aside from these things, absolutely nothing else could be taken from the camp. Of course, the hospital gowns the severely wounded soldiers were currently wearing didn't count.
As for the pensions for the fallen soldiers, the military had sent personnel to deliver them directly to their families' doorsteps, as well as to guide them to the Forest of Glory Monuments to identify the soldiers' graves.
This comprehensive pension system meant that in the event of a large-scale war, the pensions alone would easily cost tens of thousands of gold coins. But a war on that scale would likely be a conflict between nations. The ultimate benefit of this system was that the soldiers were willing to put their lives on the line and fight without fear, making it incredibly easy to recruit new troops. Once word of today's discharge arrangements spread, it would undoubtedly trigger another massive wave of enlistment.
Swish! The severely injured soldiers snapped a crisp military salute. The soldiers carrying the trays stood behind them, everyone's eyes fixed on Aiden.
"Ceremony complete!" Aiden returned the salute.
Swish! With the salute finished, the severely wounded soldiers began walking toward the exit of the military camp. They turned their heads back to look at the camp again and again, their eyes red. When they had first arrived, they were full of anger and complaints; now, as they left, their eyes brimmed with tears.
Tap, tap, tap... As the severely injured soldiers reached the main gate of the military camp, they saw a row of soldiers standing on either side, all eyes focused on them.
"Salute!"
A loud voice rang out, and the two rows of soldiers simultaneously raised their hands in a farewell military salute.
"Sob..." The severely wounded soldiers couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears instantly streamed down their faces as they choked back sobs and walked through the camp gates.
It was just a short distance, but it took them several minutes to finally pass through the gates. Turning around with red eyes, they offered one last military salute before boarding the carriages bound for the Convalescent Hospital.
They were officially discharged. They were Sedona City's very first batch of veterans.
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