Riches and Bitches: I have a gate to an isekai and leveling-up system!

It didn't take all that long for all the officers gathered in the general's tent to read through it, regardless of what angle they were looking at this torn piece of paper at.

Reading through the tone didn't mean figuring out how they were to comment on it, especially when even the commanding general himself didn't bother to utter a single word about it.

"You are here to advise," Yrven, the man boasting the highest military rank below the emperor himself within the entirety of the empire, addressed his officers. "So what do you think you are all doing, staying silent?!"

Yrven's voice lacked the usual edge, the underlying fury that all of the present has long since gotten used to. And once again, just like when the man suddenly calmed down, this difference was the very source of their fear.

Fear, that soon turned into realization that things weren't going anywhere near to what they had all expected to have reported by the end of today.

"We should punish all the traitors who dared to blemish the imperial honor with their shameful retreat!" One of the nobles, eager to gain the generals' recognition, came forth with a suggestion.

A suggestion only someone appointed to the job through his connection rather than his merits could propose.

'It's one thing to bully your own troops while in the times of peace, but to keep doing that when all the facts are pointing out to us losing?' Hugo thought, shaking his head in silence.

He was the lowest-ranking officer within the tent. The youngest of the few strategists present and mere errand-guy to the generals.

In the eyes of all the others, he was merely a tactician who managed to somehow clutch his way through all the steps leading up to his promotion to a strategist rank.

Or, in simpler terms, he was the last person who should be speaking out right now, save for if he wanted to become a scapegoat for not only the general, but all of his officers to express their dissatisfaction on.

"Keep those ideas for when you are back at your father's mansion," Uzan, one of the few officers who gained their high rank through nothing but merit and despite his common upbringing was quick to put the stupid companion of his own.

"What the hell do you…" The noble officer was quick to take Uzan's words of advice for an insult, and as quick to spin them in a way he found most beneficial to himself.

Yet, when it came to expressing his anger, Yrven's empty stare was all that it took for the young officer to shut his mouth and look down, his embarrassment and fear taking the place of his haughtiness and eagerness from before.

"All those who attained their rank through their noble connections, out," Yrven ordered silently paying no mind to how much of an insult it would be, or how much of a sleight it would be on the honor of those who would actually follow it and leave.

'If they leave, it will be akin to admitting they bought their rank,' Hugo thought, unnaturally amused by the notion.

The people were dying at the fortress, sure, but at the current point of his military career, it was something he had long since grown used to. And so, while the ongoing massacre was quickly proving to be a fact rather than a mere worry, he just couldn't help but enjoy watching how those who spent so much effort bullying him in the past were now getting their due desserts.

"My general, with how you've put it…" one of the promoted nobles spoke out, eager to mend the general's political mistake before he forced his own officers to do something they would never forgive him.

"Listen, and listen well you morons," Yrven raised his head as he scolded everyone in the tent out loud. "We underestimated the enemy. And that means, this isn't just another one of the conflicts we can steamroll through our enemies."

Yrven took a deep breath and closed his eyes, turning silent for a good few moments before turning his eyes open and standing up.

"Right now, we are in a serious war. And that means, I don't have the time nor energy to entertain your idiocy. So, let me say it for the second and last time."

Yrven took a deep breath before slowly heaving it out.

"All those who got their rank through any other means than merit, out."

Once again, the insides of the tent filled with nothing but silence. And then, one by one, people started to leave.

Starting with those who used their merits to get to the high positions so that they could show off their actual skills and serve the empire in the best way they knew, then with those who simply wanted a nice job and with those who simply wanted the bragging rights completing the parade.

By the time the forced, voluntary purge came to an end, the crowded tent proved to be extremely spacious, now that there were only eight people in total occupying its insides.

"Now, I ask you again," Yrven moved his eyes from one face to the other, giving himself a proper opportunity to look each and every last one of his remaining officers directly in the eyes. "You are here to advise, so, what is your advice?"

Huge looked to his left and then to his right, seeking inspiration from his more experienced colleagues.

'Even if I'm one of the few who remained…' he thought, gritting his teeth as he continued to pray that someone would finally speak up, 'it is not my place to utter a word.'

"Guys…" Yrven sighed while lowering and then shaking his head. "I'm not going to eat you, so if you have anything to say…"
Find exclusive content at empire

Hugo took a deep breath.

"Sir general, there's no use arguing about reality. We might dislike it, but things are what they are, regardless of our opinion on it."