“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The Leonios Civil War

The war began during the latter part of January 1939 when the 55th King of Leonios died unexpedtedly. The king’s nephew, Kirlos Onios, took the crown and proclaimed himself the 56th king. The citizens of the nation rejoiced and celebrated the coronation. However, there was someone who didn’t like the news. He was one of the most powerful politicians in the kingdom, known for his great service in the modernization of the nation’s military.

His name was Francious Spones, Chief of Staff of the Leonios Royal Armed Forces. The general was known for the orchestrated killings of many of the late king’s people. He wanted to take the throne and proclaim himself as the new king.

In April of 1939, his army began a campaign to conquer one-third of all the major cities. He wanted to spread the ideology of Fascism across the entire nation.

King Kirlos Onios fought back and mobilized his loyal soldiers under the leadership of his trusted generals. With the overwhelming number of elite soldiers in the Kings’ army, they managed to drive General Spones’s rebel army back.

The two opposing forces built trenches dividing the nation into west and east. The western side was under the rebel forces of General Spones, while the eastern side was under the King’s protection.

Both sides decided to use the same tactics used by the Ming Empire. A long year of civil war began. But the war born of vengeance and deception eventually brought peace across the world. Due to other nations used this opportunity to send aids to benefit in the war, there concerns about political superiority had shown up.

September 12, 1940

17:23:20 PM

In the darkest era of the kingdom of Leonios, blood and corpses were scattered across San Jose City. Cries of children, adults, and even soldiers could be heard around the area. The previously peaceful city became the most dangerous place and a new cemetery for the dead in the kingdom.

In the latter part of the occupation of the city, the remaining survivors started to evacuate the area and the rebel soldiers used their trucks to carry the injured, old, and children away.

A young, black-haired teenager wearing civilian clothes carried the dead body of a girl, maybe one of the victims from the massive bombing of the city under the orders of the new King. Tears flowed from his eyes. He was the only one left and didn’t make it in time to get to the last truck.

The boy, who was maybe 14 years of age, heard the sound of a radio nearby.

“------ s, -- s. come- --”

The sound of the radio faded in and out, but it still seemed to be working because it had picked up a call from the rebel headquarters. He put down the girl’s body in the floor.

“.…”

“Come in, 11th squad. Please respond. This is an urgent report from HQ. A spy was dispatched to your location. He’s the one responsible for the air raid call. You need to eliminate him before the enemies occupy the city. Please respond.”

As he heard the word “responsible”, it triggered his anger and need for revenge.

“Where is he?” the young man answered.

“A... kid? This is Rebel HQ. Do you know the members of the 11th Squad? Where is Captain Thules?”

As he looked around, only the burned corpses of rebel soldiers and a few civilians scattered around the place were left.

“He was probably killed in action from the airstrike earlier,” he answered emotionlessly. “All that’s left here are burned bodies.”

“So it means the 11th squad was wiped out, too? Can you identify yourself?

“Where is he?” he asked.

“He may still be in San Jose according to the last update. But can you identify yourself first?”

“Zero-”

He was going to say, “Zero chance to look for him.”

“Ze..ro? Well then, Mr. Zero, please wait for confirmation.”

“Sorry Mr. Zero,” the man on the radio came back on. “You’re not enlisted in any part of the Rebel Armed Forces. We cannot give the exact data of the spy.”

“Well then, enlist me now.”

The radioman felt the intensity of a kid who was willing to kill because of his dedication to serve.

“Well then, Mr. Zero, you’re enlisted. What division you want to get in?”

“The spy: where is the spy?”

The radioman mistook the intentions of the kid. He enlisted him in the Spy Network Division of the rebel army.

“Welcome to the Spy Network of the Rebel Army, Agent Zero.”

The call ended when the radioman gave him all the details of the whereabouts of the spy. According to their information, the spy was taking shelter inside San Jose’s city hall. He concluded that the spy was waiting for the arrival of the armed forces of the new king.

Before he started for City Hall, he decided to put the body of the dead girl in the fire nearby. While looking at the burning body of the girl, his eyes filled with bloodlust. In his right hand, he held an old watch.

“I promise to take vengeance on the man responsible for your death. I promise to take his life with my bare hands.”

The kid started to walk to City Hall.

“Consider it done.”

San Jose City Hall

18:35:34 PM

Inside the main hall, a man wearing the formal clothes of the King’s royal forces drank fine wine while looking at the devastated city. His name was Pucs Yotue, an agent of the new King. He was the person responsible for calling in an airstrike of the place. He had a round face, bald head and dark brown eyes.

He had reported to the Royal HQ about the placement of armament and total support of the citizens to the rebels. He had a reason for the calling for a strategic bombing of the city. The daughter of the Mayor of San Jose broke up with him last week. She was in love with a rebel Captain. Due to his desire for revenge, he decided take action.

He kidnapped her and tried to rape her in order to satisfy his need for love. However, one of the citizens caught him and the girl was saved. The citizens wanted to execute him for attempted rape. But the mayor interceded and deported him instead and ban him from the city.

Before he was deported, he called the Royal HQ and called in the air strike.

”You need to bomb the city now,” he said. “You need to bomb the city under the cover of darkness. There are a lot of anti-aircraft guns here as well so you have to do it at night, I said. Kill, kill, kill, destroy, destroy, destroy, destroy! But avoid City Hall since I am still here, under detention for my loyalty to the king. Please - before I’m executed by the filthy Mayor of this wicked city, bomb it now.”

And after his call, the strategic bombers of the Leonios Royal Airforce were immediately dispatched.

The bombing of the innocent city satisfied his hunger for “justice” and his vengeance. He laughed like a crazy man, and his glass of wine slipped from his hand and broke on the hall’s bare floor.

“Oh, it broke! Broke, broke, broke! Ahhh! My brain hurts. Hahahahahah!”

He scratched the part of his head where he was going bald.

But as soon as radio call came in, he stopped acting crazy.

“---.. Agent --- .”

He pick up the radio phone and he replied calmly, “This is Agent Pucs Yotue.”

“Agent Pucs, we intercepted a call from the rebels and found out that a rebel agent has been sent to kill you.”

“So, does that mean you’re sending a royal division to help me?”

“Sorry to say, but the 44th division under General Rodriguez are fighting rebels 2.4 miles away from San Jose. It will take three hours before they can arrive in the city.”

He thought to himself how worthless the royal forces were.

“Well then,” he said, “In other words I should deal with this rebel by myself. Am I right?”

“Yes indeed. We will give you your new orders after you kill the rebel agent.”

He put down the radio phone and smirk, “Fufu~ another one, huh? Oh my, oh my, let’s dig in.”

When he opened the main door, the blast of an explosion hit him. It came from the bombers returning to the area.

“---..---”

“This is LAF bomber commander O-12. Thank you for your cooperation, Agent Pucs. We’ve bombed City Hall and the remaining survivors of San Jose. We’re returning to base. Thank you.”

Agent Pucs, bleeding, his lower half blown off, answered the radio call. “I didn’t tell you guys to bomb me,” he cried. “Why did you do this to me?”

“-- … --- ---”

After the explosions faded away, a young black-haired man holding a small radio from the Leonios Royal Forces walked towards the ruins of the city hall.

“This is Agent Pucs,” the young man spoke into the radio. “Target secured. All of the remaining survivors are dead.”

The dying Agent Pucs looked up. “How-how..? You copied my voice? How the hell did you do that? ”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. Nice to meet you, Agent Pucs. Glad to see you suffering.”

“Who the hell are you!?”

“I’m the person who will end this worthless conflict.”

And a big stone from the ceiling fell down on Agent Pucs’ head, smashing it to pieces. Blood splattered around the place.

The kid walked away and dialed the secret code into the radio phone, contacting the rebel army.

“Mission accomplished.”