My Platoon is F**king Hopeless

“No, wait a moment. Let’s calm down.”

I took a deep breath.

There’s no way to know until I check the stats. Even if the written report is in shambles, we don’t know how the actual performance will be.

Why, even Napoleon was said to have health issues before becoming emperor. Some records even mention mental illness.

Maybe it’s an origin stone with that kind of effect?

Mental illness can be treated with consistent care and attention.

“Status window!”

I brought up the panel I had turned off earlier.

Sure enough, the squad management screen, which had been blank until just moments ago, was now filled with four faces.

——————-

[Northern Corps 3rd Magic Battalion, 2nd Platoon, 5th Squad]

Squad Leader: Enok Revendale

Lumina Blue

Bella Meyer

Claude Rain

Roxanna Elrim

——————-

Haozhi’s personnel management system is made up of quite a complex and sophisticated mechanism.

It didn’t become the unmatched hardcore strategy simulation for over ten years for nothing.

Generally, to bring subordinates’ stats to their ultimate level before war begins, three conditions must be met.

First, understand the tendencies of the soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers under your command and provide them with appropriate ‘training solutions.’

The battlefield is about efficiency.

How efficiently you train and improve the skills of your unit members determines the stats at the start of a world war.

A soldier who seems like just a random grunt when neglected…

Can be trained into a fearsome warrior like Lü Bu, capable of taking down enemy commanders single-handedly, with the right solutions.

That’s the power of training emphasized in Haozhi.

Second, fill up ‘combat experience.’

Before war breaks out, assign missions focused on eliminating bandits, criminals, or monsters.

This increases the chances of obtaining artifacts from monsters or criminals and naturally accumulates combat experience.

Of course, training is important. But combat experience is even more crucial.

One combat experience is far more efficient in improving subordinates’ proficiency than a hundred training sessions.

The higher the combat experience, the more likely they’ll receive a ‘veteran’ bonus when entering battle.

And finally…

Increase loyalty towards the commander.

Have you heard the term ‘morale-bread’?

It refers to when a unit’s morale (Morale) hits rock bottom (0), causing them to flee during battle.

In short, it means ‘unconditional surrender.’

Abandoning combat and reorganization, leaving behind weapons and allies to run away.

Not only does it fail to stop the enemy, but it also effectively breaches a defensive line.

Once ‘morale-bread’ happens, that battle is as good as lost.

Therefore, to prevent this, the subordinates’ loyalty towards the commander, meaning the player, must be high.

Appropriate training solutions.

Plentiful combat experience.

Loyalty.

If these three factors are satisfied, any low-grade squad can transform into a war machine.

So it’s not time to give up yet.

Who am I?

More than just someone who has played Haozhi for over 10,000 hours—I’m rotten crude oil.

I can’t afford to whine and run away just because of a low-grade squad.

Besides, I probably can’t run anyway.

“I need to check the stats first.”

Just as I was about to check Lumina Blue’s stats on the screen…

Knock knock.

A clear knocking sound came from outside, followed by a voice as pure as crystal.

“Enok Revendale, Squad Leader? Are you still asleep?”

Who is it? Before I could think, the word ‘squad leader’ caught my ear.

Is she one of my squad members? Or maybe the adjutant?

What should I say… As I stood there dumbfounded, my mind went blank.

“…Hmm. Then, excuse me.”

The tightly closed wooden door opened.

Due to the lack of windows, I hadn’t noticed the sunlight shining brightly, illuminating her silver hair that shimmered in the light.

“A.”

“Oh.”

“You’re already awake, I see?”

She looked much prettier in person than on paper, with a somewhat cynical impression.

From her crimson lips, bitten to the point of bleeding, to her emerald-like eyes gazing at me, everything came into view at once.

She was Sergeant Lumina Blue.

“Yes.”

I dryly replied to Lumina. It wasn’t intentional; I just reacted without realizing due to my fluster.

After all, she’s a character from the game.

I haven’t figured out how to interact with her or what to say yet. So I just blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Hmm… Sorry. If I had known you were awake, I wouldn’t have entered so casually.”

“It’s fine.”

Indeed, it was awkward.

“Anyway, what’s the matter?”

“Ah, actually!! Since today is your first day, the battalion commander requests your presence!”

Unlike earlier when she seemed relaxed, now she gave a meticulous answer.

Even though I didn’t point anything out. Why is she acting this way?

Actually, the important thing right now isn’t Lumina’s changed attitude. The words ‘battalion commander meeting’ made me feel dizzy.

I’m already struggling to communicate with Lumina, a squad member, and now I’m supposed to face the battalion commander?

I’m a veteran. Even though this is the world of Haozhi, it’s natural for newly assigned second lieutenants to attend battalion commander briefings.

I also know very well that a second lieutenant’s first impression is decided during those briefings.

‘This isn’t just a game element. From now on, I need to be careful with every word and action.’

Interaction.

The point where I can only observe situations through a monitor has long passed.

Now, I need to observe, understand, and utilize everyone’s reactions to my words and actions.

Of course, I shouldn’t forget that I need to induce such reactions to achieve my goals.

The current situation is no different.

If I mess up my first impression with the battalion commander, I’ll likely face a terrible military life from here on out.

Moreover, with the squad members already in poor condition, there’s no need to make enemies with the battalion commander.

To successfully complete the game, cooperation from battalion commanders and other unit commanders is 100% necessary.

“…”

“Um, Lieutenant Enok, sorry to bother you. Your participation is mandatory. It’s a kind of ceremonial event all second lieutenants attend.”

“Not at all. I wasn’t saying I won’t participate…”

I paused to organize my thoughts. Regulated my breathing and regained composure.

Come to think of it, there’s no need to overthink this.

Didn’t I go through battalion commander meetings countless times in the army? They won’t ask difficult questions.

Besides, since I’m familiar with the ins and outs of the Haozhi universe, if questions about international affairs or the military come up, I should be able to handle them to some extent, right?

After all, I didn’t get reincarnated into an unfamiliar game, so there shouldn’t be any hard-to-answer questions.

“Could you guide me to the battalion commander’s office? I’m not familiar with the area yet.”

“Ah…! If that’s the case, it’s no problem!”

Fortunately, Lumina readily agreed.

While it’s true that people shouldn’t be judged solely by documents, she definitely seems better than what was noted in the special remarks.

“Then please follow me.”

I followed Lumina out of the shabby room.

Judging by the looks of it, the place where my room is located hasn’t been properly maintained for quite some time. The hallway is full of dust, and spider webs hang in the corners.

It feels like they hastily cleaned up just my room upon hearing about the new officer’s arrival.

It seems like I’m the only resident here too.

Looks like rookie treatment is pretty much the same whether here or there.

“Excuse me, Squad Leader?”

“Yes, Sergeant Lumina.”

“Have you seen our squad’s personnel information?”

Of course, I’ve seen it.

As I nodded instead of answering, Lumina sighed, “Ah.” Does she know what’s written in the special remarks?

Well, it would be strange if she didn’t, given how blatantly it’s stated.

Reacting to my expression, Lumina averted her gaze and continued hesitantly.

“Uh… Don’t worry too much, and if you file objections to higher-ups…”

“That’s fine.”

“Pardon?”

“Because you can’t judge until you’ve seen directly.”

After all, squads can’t be changed without battalion commander approval.

And even if the stats are good, there’s no reason to give up just because something strange is written.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s impossible to judge performance without checking the stat window yet.

Even if the basic stat total exceeds 300, it’s quite decent. There’s also a possibility that various traits could create synergy.

“Judge until seeing directly…”

Although Lumina mumbled something, I dismissed it easily because, as soon as we stepped out, a grand Western-style building appeared before us.

A long rectangular gray brick building. The roof is finished with red paint slanted along the slope, exuding a strong European architectural style.

I glanced back briefly at the building where my quarters were located. A wooden structure completely different from the brick building.

Honestly, it felt like the wall might collapse instantly if hit strongly.

‘Geez…’

Feeling the stark difference firsthand made it all the more bitter. I cleared my throat and asked Lumina.

“Is the battalion commander’s office inside there?”

“Wha!? Oh yes, it is. That’s the main building.”

Ah, the main building.

That makes sense. Not just the dormitory, but various offices are likely located there too.

I nodded and replied to Lumina.

“The guidance is sufficient at this point.”

“Yes, understood. By the way, the battalion commander’s office is on the second floor!”

“Thank you, Sergeant.”

“Glory to the motherland.”

Click. Lumina brought her legs together, placed her right hand on her chest, and lightly bowed her head.

It was a disciplined gesture.

I immediately realized that this was the salute here and returned it identically. It was simple enough to follow easily.

‘I didn’t even know the salute method. Meeting without knowing this could’ve been disastrous.’

Standing there blankly in front of the battalion commander as a new platoon leader. They’d probably say, “Like father, like son,” referring to the squad and its leader.

‘That absolutely cannot happen.’

My goal is to save this ridiculous country from the world war happening five years later and return to reality in style.

I have no intention of making a mistake with the first button.

‘At least it’s a win-win situation.’

Leaving Lumina standing there watching me, I confidently entered the main building.

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