Chapters Chapter 285: Kang Chul-In, the One-Man Army! (2) (1/2)
Meanwhile, in the Chamonix Mountains’ Itaracia Fortress...
“A blitz tactic… advancing our army rapidly is the only solution.”
Lee Ji-Tae arrived at the best conclusion he could at the moment.
“Signaller!”
“Yes, commander-in-chief!”
“Send an order to the main force to head east.”
“Yes, sir!”
Lee Ji-Tae had yet to conquer Zolushka completely, but he had no intention to dilly-dally. Time was precious. Atal Ramanujan’s soldiers were poorly trained, and supplies were running low. He couldn’t afford to drag the war on any further.
Zolushka, Iota, Gothika, and Shen… if we conquer these four territories and claim their farming land and mines, we will still be able to sustain the military expenses, albeit not by much.
However, he also didn’t want to cut off more than he could chew. If he could conquer Shen, which possessed fertile lands along the Khartoum river, Atal Ramanujan’s financial outlook would be much better. In addition, Lee Ji-Tae could form a ‘super defense’ across the triangle connecting the borders of Iota, Gothika and Shen.
I have to be careful. Both Valhalla and Gullveig are fighting for supremacy. They want a 1v1 situation, not an emergence of a third superpower.
Lee Ji-Tae had a sharp intuition. He knew how to see the big picture.
Silently… let’s conquer the Shen territory and then stay low. We have to increase our strength.
A perfect strategy. Well, almost perfect at least. Lee Ji-Tae had failed to take into account a huge variable called Kang Chul-In. His strategies were bound to go amiss.
Why was that? It was because the deal between Kang Chul-In and Lily Sephardi was something that even a genius like Lee Ji-Tae couldn’t possibly predict.
***
“Lord Lily Sephardi, you protect the Lord’s hall.”
Kang Chul-In spoke.
“Don’t step a single step out of this land.”
“Yes, oppa!”
At that moment, Rooibos suddenly interrupted.
“H-However, Your Majesty! Her Majesty Lily has already lost all her soldiers. The two of us can’t defend the hall alone...”
“It’s not just the two of you.”
“What? Are the reinforcements…?”
“Not yet.”
“I can’t comprehend Your Majesty’s intentions at all.”
In the end, Roobios gave up trying to understand Kang Chul-In. That man surpassed everything that Roobios had expected, leaving the latter dumbfounded at every step.
“Come forth, specters!”
Kang Chul-In roared.
Sssssss!
The spectre knights revealed themselves through a curtain of black mist. Riding on the backs of their phantom steeds, they were known as the spectre cavalry.
“Wow… t-these high-class undead monsters!”
“They will protect you two. Now, Atal Ramanujan’s weak soldiers will never penetrate the Lord’s hall.”
“T-That’s right!”
“Well then, focus on protecting your master.”
“Yes, Supreme King of the West!”
Rooibos bowed.
“Also.”
Kang Chul-In turned around to face Lily.
“Just to reiterate, don’t ever leave the Lord’s hall.”
“Okay!”
“You know what I mean?”
“If a Lord… abandons the Lord’s hall… he or she doesn’t deserve to be one...”
“Ok, as long as you understand that.”
Kang Chul-In nodded. A Lord must never leave the heart of the territory. Whoever did had to suffer the wrath of his or her people, not to mention the loss of authority. A classic example could be found in Korea’s history books, in which a nation’s king fled to another country during a barbarian invasion. He was then criticized for generations and more to come.
“Well then, see you later.”
Kang Chul-In turned his back.
“A-Are you going alone?”
“Certainly not.”
“W-Who else?”
“Two more people.”
“...”
“That’s more than enough.”
He was right. Kang Chul-In had brought Nilus and Kim Sung-Hee along just in case.
Let’s hope there are many potions in my inventory.
Of course, he still had to rely on some drugs to reduce the potential strain on his body.
***
“Nilus!”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Reinforce this building’s durability!”
“Certainly, Your Majesty!”
Nilus chanted a spell which caused Zolushka’s inner castle to radiate a brilliant silver light.
“How’s the durability now?”
Kang Chul-In asked.
“With this spell, this infrastructure could even withstand Hecate’s bombardment!”
Nilus promised with confidence.
“Excellent.”
“Haha! I’m flattered, Your Majesty! It was only possible due to the small range!”
“Still, this should be enough to last until the reinforcements arrive.”
“As long as you are happy, Your Majesty!”
Nilus didn’t like being in charge of the bombarding. Thus, he appeared extremely delighted to be summoned by Kang Chul-In.
“Kim Sung-Hee!”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
Once known as a chaebol family’s tomboy – no, crazy bitch – Kim Sung-Hee kneeled in front of Kang Chul-In with respect.
“Show me what you are capable of.”
“I will do you proud, Your Majesty!”
“Yes, take this opportunity to upsize your troops too.”
“Certainly!”
Kim Sung-Hee always complained about having too few soldiers.
Although she had upsized her army significantly during the battle at Deathwin, it was still not powerful enough.
“Nilus, the Royal chief magician, and Kim Sung-Hee, the commander of the first unit of the Imhotep Immortal army. Here are my orders.”
Kang Chul-In commanded.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” “Yes, Your Majesty!”
Nilus and Kim Sung-Hee kneeled down.
“I will handle this arch-shaped passage myself. You two deal with any enemy that infiltrates from the rear.”