‘It’s here? What were they thinking…’

‘This is nuts. All I see is ice… are we really going to be traversing this place?’

‘Do they think we’re damn polar bears or something?’

Tommy frowned as he watched the troops’ morale plummet.

‘This isn’t good. It’s a hard enough assignment as it is, but if the men’s morale is this low on top of that…’

It was so bad that he even considered making an example out of some of the men.

But such measures would only momentarily force discipline. Completing a mission as difficult as this one required the entire group to be united in their cause…

‘If our lord was here… no, if only Sir Taker was here, he would’ve been able to rouse the men.’

Tommy realized that his charisma was lacking. He had labored to become an Expert come hell or high water, but that did not mean he had the skills to rally the men. In the first place, Tommy was unfamiliar with the role of a leader as he preferred to take a step back and quietly focus on his given assignments.

It was at that moment that Rick took a step forward and shouted.

“Brighten up, the lot of you! Why do you all look to be in such pain? Hmm?”

One of the soldiers opened his mouth.

“Well, that’s…”

“Hmm? What’s the matter? If you’ve got something to say, be on with it and make yourself heard.”

Rick said to the hesitant soldier, who continued to close and open his mout...