Corporal Lach Wickten sat in the back of a supply wagon that was headed to the frontlines. The new and improved Schmidt Needle Rifle was in his hands that Ludwig had improved after thorough and rigorous stress testing. The young man cleaned the rifle with great care while dressed in his camouflage smock and field cap, with his helmet lying beside him.
This supply convoy not only brought forth much-needed supplies to the frontlines but reinforcements to replace the soldiers who were wounded or killed in battle. Some of these men, like Lach, were returning to the frontlines after being injured themselves.
The young Corporal could not wait to show off his new prototype rifle to the soldiers in his unit. As such, he was eager to regroup with them. By now, Berengar and his army had advanced beyond the City of Milan after stealing its treasures and was on its route to the small city of Parma, which lay between them and Bologna.
