209 Unknown Enemy (2/2)

The air within the study shifted as the emperor set down his cup.

”You, come with me.” He glanced at Rin coldly before walking out of the room.

Rin blinked before standing up from her seat and followed behind him. A strange feeling arose in her heart.

...

”What?”

Inside the imperial office, the emperor, General Donghai, and other officials gathered around the room. After hearing the scouts report, the room fell into a deadly silence.

The emperor looked at the report with eyes trembling from rage.

”Explain!”

The scout tensed but still replied, ”Two of the western provinces have been overrun by an unknown group of men. The governor and cities were all burned down...there were no survivors.”

Following the soldier's words, the entire room fell silent – everyone's complexion whitened, their eyes widening.

The emperor knitted his brows even more fiercely. His tone couldn't help but become a bit harsher, ”Who are these men? Bandits?”

”It's unclear, your Majesty.”

Everyone, the soldiers, generals, and commanders within the room fell into a cold silence. The empire was already having a dispute with the Eastern Empire, and now they were confronted by an unknown enemy. A strong one at that. Standing on the side, Rin's eyebrows furrowed. She looked down at the report and quietly thought to herself.

The emperor leaned back in his chair with a ghostly expression. Bearing his head in his hand, he looked up tiredly.

”How many reinforcements do they need? And how quickly?”

The scout stared at the report and wearily looked back at the emperor.

”Both provinces requested two hundred fifty thousand soldiers. It seems the enemy is moving fast, thus, they asked for them to arrive within three days.”

Even though they had more than enough soldiers to offer, supplies were their biggest issues. Already, they used an adequate amount to defend against the Eastern Empire. Five hundred thousand soldiers to travel within three days...The number of supplies would not be enough, not to mention the additional soldiers in the provinces.

All the men went quiet upon analyzing the situation – their anxious faces turning grimmer by the second. When the emperor's sight fell upon the figure standing on the side, his eyes lit up.

”Strategist...what do you think?”

His question shocked many within the room.

”Your Majesty?” One of the generals looked at him with bewilderment.

The general had overheard of the emperor and northern strategist's arrangement. Every so often, he would hear his own soldiers talk about the young strategist's training methods. The boy was rather good from what he heard. But frankly, the general didn't believe a young boy was capable of such skill. It took years to gather knowledge and experience.

”Your Majesty, I don't—” The general had been about to speak when the emperor held up his hand to silence him. He felt the emperor's eyes coldly glance at him, forcing him to shut his mouth.

”Well? Do you have anything?” The emperor looked back at Rin.

When she heard the emperor's voice, Rin lifted her head slightly, revealing a subtle and bright smile. It made her face all the more enchanting.

”From what we've been informed, the enemy is not weak in numbers or strength. As of now, they've seized two provinces, meaning they have more supplies and bases.” Rin explained. ”We should proceed to send reinforcements to the provinces but also dispatch troops to the ones overrun.”

”You...You want us to send troops to the provinces they already destroyed? What good will that do?” The general couldn't help but ask.

The dimples on Rin's cheeks gradually deepened, but there was not even half a smile at the bottom of her eyes.

”Of course, I mean taking down their headquarters. When their headquarters are down, the others will be forced to return to protect their supplies. That is after we gather enough information on them to issue an attack.”

”How will you do that? With what men?” Hearing the emperor's voice, Rin shifted her gaze.

”Naturally, we'll use the new recruits I trained.”

”You're confident in them?”

”I'm confident in my teachings,” Rin replied with a calm grin.

The moment Rin finished speaking, something within the emperor's eyes sparked. There was silence as two pairs of eyes stared at one another, fixed in their own thoughts. When it was clear he couldn't interpret Rin's expression, the emperor let out a small sigh.

”In that case, we'll do as you say.”

”Your Majesty, you can't—” The general from before began in a quick, urgent voice, but a raised hand cut him off, and the emperor's deadly eyes froze him into silence.

”We will carry out the province's requests for reinforcements and mobilize the new recruits to attack the enemy's headquarters.”

”But—” The general began once more, then closed his mouth with a click at the emperor's glower.

When everyone was dismissed, the emperor stood beside Rin and said in a low voice only the two of them could hear: ”Don't disappoint me.”

Glancing at the emperor who stared at her with cold, distrusting eyes, Rin just smiled.

”Don't worry, your Majesty. I won't.”