The atmosphere was tense, like a taut bowstring. Elena's face was grim, her heart filled with shock and anger.

She never imagined that the mastermind behind Sergei's murder was Ivanov—the Reich's frontline marshal, someone she had no choice but to trust.

Elena's gaze was sharp as a sword as she stared coldly at the captain of the guard, her voice tinged with disbelief: "Are you telling the truth? Do you dare to confront Ivanov face to face?"

Elena's voice was icy, as if it could freeze the surrounding air.

The captain of the guard sensed Elena's murderous aura, and his body trembled involuntarily. He hurriedly shook his head, his eyes filled with fear.

"No, no, I dare not confront Marshal Ivanov face to face. He is a marshal, while I am just a lowly guard captain, and I was forced to carry out this mission. If I confront him, I will lose my life."

His voice trembled slightly, as if he were begging for Elena's mercy.

Elena gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with fury. She grabbed the captain of the guard by the collar, drew her longsword from her waist, and held it to the captain's neck.

"You'd better tell the truth, or your life will end immediately." Her voice carried a hint of threat, announcing his fate.

The captain of the guard's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with fear. He scrambled to his knees, his voice tinged with despair.

"General Elena, please spare me. Even if I don't carry out the order, someone else will. General Sergei will surely die." His tone was pleading, expressing his helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Elena suddenly realized that Ivanov had planted more than one person around Sergei.

Her brows furrowed, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes: "Who else is an assassin sent by Ivanov?"

Her voice carried a hint of inquiry, as if she were searching for an enemy lurking in the shadows.

The captain of the guard's answer sounded somewhat weak. He shook his head, his voice tinged with confusion: "I don't know. None of us know each other, and I don't know who else is here."

Elena's face was grim, her heart filled with anger and helplessness.

She knew that if it really was Ivanov's decision, then no one would dare to disobey him.

Ivanov was an absolute master of manipulating people's hearts in the Slavic Empire; his scheming methods were impossible to guard against.

Those who were manipulated by Ivanov all had something on them that he could use against them.

Thinking of this, Elena changed the subject, her gaze fixed on the guard captain, her voice tinged with inquiry: "Do you have some kind of leverage that Ivanov has over you?"

The captain of the guard nodded slightly, a hint of helplessness and fear flashing in his eyes.

"My sister is in Petrov's hands. If the mission fails, my sister will die."

His voice was low and trembling, as if he were expressing his helplessness and despair.

Elena grew increasingly shocked as she listened. She never imagined that Ivanov would resort to such despicable tactics against his own people.

"Where is your sister? I can help you rescue her." Elena's voice was firm, and her expression was serious, without a hint of joking.

However, the captain of the guard shook his head, a hint of despair in his eyes: "There's no need for this. Sergei is dead, the mission is complete, and Petrov promised to release him once it's done."

In Elena's heart, Sergei's death weighed heavily on her, leaving her feeling powerless and angry like never before.

Just as she was lost in deep thought, wondering how to avenge Sergei, her lieutenant rushed into the tent once again, breaking her reverie.

The lieutenant's sudden intrusion ignited Elena's anger like a powder keg. She abruptly stood up, her eyes flashing, and demanded furiously, "What is it now? Speak!"

The lieutenant was stunned by Elena's almost murderous aura. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully explained, "A cavalry unit of about five or six hundred men has arrived outside, but they are not Ai Zijun's subordinates."

Upon hearing this, Elena frowned, her brows furrowing like a sky filled with dark clouds. She waved for someone to take the captain of the guard away, then turned and walked out of the tent.

She looked in the direction the lieutenant was pointing, and indeed, under the cover of night, a cavalry unit had arrived outside the military camp. Their figures were faintly visible in the moonlight, as mysterious and unpredictable as ghosts.

Just then, a messenger rushed over like a shooting star, his steps hurried and chaotic, like an ant on a hot pan. He ran up to Elena, panting, and reported, "Reporting to the General, Chen Zhennan has arrived, and he, he..."

Elena clicked her tongue impatiently, her brows furrowed like two small mountains. She asked urgently, "What about him? Just say it, don't beat around the bush!"

"Chen Zhennan has brought Marshal Ivanov. Petrov is in the prison van belonging to Chen Zhennan's troops." The messenger finally finished speaking in one breath, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Elena stood in the shadows of the tent, her figure appearing particularly lonely in the dim light.

Upon hearing the news, she was stunned, as if struck by lightning, and stood there speechless for a moment.

Elena was in shock. She never expected that Marshal Ivanov would actually be captured by Chen Zhennan, and that it would happen so quickly, like a sudden storm, catching her completely off guard.

Her eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, as if she had witnessed the most impossible thing ever.

Her lips trembled slightly, her voice shaking: "How is this possible? Ivanov was actually... captured by Chen Zhennan?"

Standing at the entrance of the tent, Elena felt frozen in place, her heart filled with panic and unease.

The capture of the Empire's marshal by the enemy was undoubtedly a great insult to the Empire's dignity, like a sharp dagger piercing the heart of the Empire.

Although Elena now only feels hatred towards Ivanov, damn it, his status is what it is. The marshal being captured alive is a disgrace to the entire empire.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and Elena's heart was filled with struggle and contradiction.

She knew that once this news got out, it would deal a devastating blow to the morale of the empire.

She had to act immediately to prevent the news from spreading.

Finally, Elena took a deep breath, a determined glint in her eyes.

"Pass on my order: the entire army must immediately clear the way and let Chen Zhennan in. But as soon as he enters the camp, find an opportunity to kill him!"