Vol 2 Chapter 19 (2/2)

He wanted Karl to raise the morale of the soldiers, but he can’t afford to push him too hard

If they lost hin state

「But why is it that the minds of humans are rendered useless when they’re cornered…?」

There’s a greater sense of danger than when the neighboring country of Schteizen once invaded Back then, even if he had died, the great nobles were still be around, even if they were incompetent He didn’t feel any anxiety about the future back then Though theythem, he realized for the first time how important they were

「Can’t have this now If the commander loses his nerves, the soldiers ant to become deserters」

After laughing at hie the subject

「Have we found the location of the Fourth Imperial Army’s supply trains?」

「No We believe they are likely here, but… we have yet to discover them」

The location to which the staff officer looked down and pointed was the area around the fort which the Fourth Imperial Army fell If they can at least crush the supply trains, they can avoid a drawn out war They’ll even be able to lower theirthe tides of war to their side But there is the concern the opposite will happen There’s the chance it may actually solidify the enemy’s unity

「… This is a difficult position, but if it will give us even the slightest bit of an advantage, we should crush the supply trains」

Right now, he’s willing to grasp at straws They also need this to raise morale

「Umm, also, do you not mind if they add the rebel army to their ranks?」

「I doubt that will happen They can’t roup of slaves that don’t have any training They’ll actually be a hindrance If it were me, I’d probably just kill them off」

「But the Fourth I if we should consider the possibility that there may be a reason for that」

「I’ve thought that a nuain an advantage in battle… But considering the enemy’s standpoint, they outnumber us, so they have no need to take them into their ranks Even if they were to use them as a wall, if the slaves ran off midway, it would send their formation into a disarray」

Ranquil crossed his arrunted

「A reason for the but a hindrance… I can’t think of any possibilities」

「They 」

Maybe he was trying to ease the tension, but the staff officer made an attempt at a joke

Nor to alleviate the gloomy atmosphere He has to be thanked for that spirit of his Which is why Ranquil s the question seriously

「That’s not likely If their aih to do that There’s no need for theroup like the rebel army」

Said Ranquil as he shrugged his shoulders

「There’s no point in worrying about it The more we think about it, the more we fall for the enemy’s trick We’ll end this conversation here For noait for the spies to return to deterht assault」

There’s no need for them to take upon a problem on their own

After a while, he received word that the spies had returned

Ranquil told theh A man appeared at the entrance and knelt

He thanked him for his work and asked him for his report

「Then, I shall state my report」

The spy bowed and spoke carefully and fluently

「Once I infiltrated the eneiven alcohol to raisewith their arh they were not worried of an attack in the night The eneued than expected, and they don’t seeht Meanwhile, there are 1,500 ca for a night assault」

「So they’re also preparing after all… Did it seem like ouldn’t encounter any probleht assault?」

「Although their security is on high alert, I believe a night assault will surely be successful」

「Hht I’ll have food and water prepared for you You may leave now」

「Yes! Excuse me!」

As the spy left, the staff officer approached Ranquil with an expression of delight

「It see preparations, so I wonder if it would be better for us to act first to make the preemptive strike」

「There’s no need to rush so We should wait to hear fro a decision」

They can’t begin anything until they first hear fro, it would i told him they should proceed cautiously

「Bring in the next one」

「Yes」

The staff officer didn’t look convinced, but he obediently nodded His i how they were toyed with by one man in the afternoon, the fact that they are outnumbered, and the constant deserters, the spy’s report was extre But if it happens to be a trap, it would cost them dearly The country’s fate is on the line

「… We still have ti all the reports」

He realized a sense of hesitation growing inside himself, but he shook his head to dispel it

「I have brought him」

「Good Let’s hear your report」

「Yes!」

The second ave his report

「Once I infiltrated the enemy encampment, I saw that the soldiers had spears and bows in hand in preparation for a night assault They did seeh, and their co them It looks like it would be difficult to launch an attack」

The faces of the staff officers turned pale So that the reports are different

Ranquil placed his hand on his forehead and let out a sh

「Were there camel cavalrymen outside?」

「There were, but there weren’t any riders I believe theyelite soldiers」

「All right You may leave」

「Yes!」

Aftersure the spy left, Ranquil looked drained as he dropped into his chair A staff officer brings him some water

「Thank you」

「But this is quite a probleht differences, but with such significant inconsistencies in the reports, we can not make a decision so easily」

「Mht Let us hear from the others as well Then, ill all discuss it」

After that, they ushered in the third and fourth spies, but the only report which differed was the second one

Ranquil calls for the second spy once more and cross examines him

「Do you knohy you were called for?」

「N-No, I don’t」

「Your report greatly differed from the others」

There was a look of shock pasted onto the spy’s face Not only the staff officers, but Ranquil as well, cursed the spy for his i

「Search this man’s body I’m sure he’s been bribed」

The soldiers at the entrance held his aran to search his body

「H-Here! There’s a se amount of Schteizen silver coins!」

「It’s settled then」

「N-No!」

The now pale spy screamed Ranquil questioned him with cold eyes

「What do you mean, no?」

「I haven’t been bribed! The eneh alert!」

「Then what is this? Why is this s— all these Schteizen silver coins in your breast pocket?」

「Th-That is…」

The spy hesitated to speak Ranquil signaled to the soldiers

「Off with his head」

「P-Please, wait! That’s really not the case! Please, have mercy, General Ranquil!」

An executioner’s blade fell down on the neck of the spy as forced to the ground In the blink of an eye, a spray of blood paints the tent red Ranquil steps on a cooling puddle of blood and spits out annoyed…

「To be deceived by such a thing during your country’s time of need!」

He throws the contents of the s at the corpse, and the coins scatter all about Ranquil breathes heavily and his shoulders rise and fall as he gives out his order

「We will launch a night assault The ene!」

「But it seeht assault…」

「I don’t care That’s why the soldiers were instructed to keep their arht assault without neglecting security」

Ranquil looks down at the map and speculates on the enemy’s path of advance

「If they were to launch a night assault froe detour And they have 1,500 men It would be pointless if we noticed their presence fro So I don’t believe they would coe number of caht in three layers We’ll invite theht to the front Have the men prepare their bows and spears」

「Yes!」

The staff officers hurry off and rush out the tent This is a critical moment Then, Ranquil suddenly remembered the existence of the man in black

「Wait」

Ranquil calls out to one of the staff officers and stops him

「Yes?」

「assign the unit prepared for the man in black to Lord Karl’s security」

「Understood!」

For one with as much military prowess as he, he could easily rush in first to their center If they crush the 1,500 ca Karl, there’s no doubt the o up If they succeed with the night assault, he’ll be all alone with no help, and they’ll be able to deal with him in any number of ways

「I’ll put an end to you here」

This is how the Lichtein Dukedom came to prepare for an all out assault