Chapter 210 - A Town for a Backwater Lord
The plan is straightforward.
First, Anastasia Union's regiment will attack the Empire from the north, putting pressure on them. The Leader might even capture a few fortresses, but that’s just a diversion, really.
The Empire has its main army stationed in the north to face the hostile northern kingdoms, but it also has regional armies to watch over the capital and the vast territories.
Anastasia Union’s role is to draw the Empire's main army north and to shift the focus of the regional armies toward the north as well. This will reduce the Empire’s vigilance in the south.
To achieve this, they need a strong momentum and significant victories. But with the Leader at the helm, Anastasia Union will do whatever it takes to repay their debt to Exembra. They are determined to deal a heavy blow, and their aggressive approach might even rally the northern kingdoms to join in. This could escalate into a major offensive.
Once the attention is focused on the north, we will launch a surprise attack from the south.
Our target is the newly established Eastern Expeditionary Force, a military unit tasked with conquering the eastern continent. They are still in the preparation phase, but they are a critical target for us.
The Crimson Knights will lead the assault, striking swiftly at night and withdrawing before dawn. Under Flannel's leadership, they are well-equipped to pull off a successful surprise attack. The target is still in the hypothetical stage, so an elite force like the Crimson Knights should have no trouble.
The Clad Family will face the Legisamo Cartel. They are eager to avenge past wrongs and have Cloud Cutter, who can deal a crushing blow in any situation. The Legisamo Cartel won’t go down easily, but the Empire’s movements and the cartel’s actions will be separate, making a night raid more likely.
The Clad Family will repay all the debts incurred by the chaos in Exembra. We will leave it entirely to them, and with additional forces from Anastasia Union, they should achieve significant results.
As for the other drug cartel, the Snake Head Society, the Clad Family seems to have engaged in some secret negotiations. It would be troublesome if they interfered or misjudged the situation. But if the Clad Family can take out a rival organization, the Snake Head Society won’t mind. The details are unclear, but it seems we don’t need to worry about them.
Our Kikyo Society will also attack the Empire’s expeditionary force, but our main focus will be on destroying supplies. We will not act alongside the Crimson Knights but will target weapons, armor, magical items, potions, and food supplies. We aim to disrupt or significantly delay the enemy’s expedition. While a crucial role, it’s a bit of a supporting part.
The Eastern Expeditionary Force is located a few hours’ drive from here. This town is in a prime position for our operation. The Crimson Knights have already dispatched scouts, so any changes in the situation will be quickly reported.
The other target, the Legisamo Cartel, is further away, so the Clad Family will need to move a bit more. But this is their chance for revenge, so they won’t complain.
In summary, while Anastasia Union creates a distraction, we and the Crimson Knights will launch a surprise attack, achieve quick results, and withdraw. The Clad Family will also withdraw after their mission, though we don’t know their exact plans. They might have other tasks to complete before returning to Exembra.
That’s the general plan. We want to avoid unnecessary complications and finish our jobs efficiently.
The attack is scheduled for two days from now. We have today, tomorrow, and the night after to rest.
In the meantime, we will take a break and, on the final day before departure, we plan to strike the local lord. This is where the captured people are likely being held, and freeing them will prevent the enemy from strengthening their forces. It’s also a good way to pass the time.
After a brief discussion at the inn, the groups left, leaving minimal communication personnel behind. The Crimson Knights are secretly setting up camp, and Flannel will return there. They are handling surveillance and intelligence, so we have nothing to do. They even provided us with a detailed map of our target, making our job easier.
The Clad Family is already on the move, leaving us as the only idle group.
We took the days of arrival and the next day off, and by mid-afternoon, we were brimming with energy. After a hard journey, we now had too much time on our hands. After an early lunch, we chatted together.
The open terrace of the café felt pleasant, and we relaxed, passing the time. The additional sweets and tea helped ease the boredom.
“...It’s so boring. Should we go in now, a bit early?”
Tonight is the main event. We will launch a surprise attack on the Empire’s expeditionary force, but first, we have a small matter to settle with the local lord. We planned to pay him a brief visit in the evening and leave town, but the boredom is getting to us, so maybe we should strike now.
“Now? Wouldn’t that draw too much attention before the main attack?”
“Graylease is out on reconnaissance. We should wait until he returns.”
“Makes sense. Good work.”
Graylease had been busy. For a minor lord, a straightforward frontal assault seemed sufficient.
We waited, and during this time, Liliane and Valeria, who had been keeping watch, returned and were replaced by two young men. Just then, our scout returned.
“Hey, you’re back. How did it go?”
Everyone looked at him with anticipation.
“I found a castle in a remote location, which took some time, but I learned a few things.”
A castle? For a minor lord, this is quite impressive.
“Interesting. So?”
“The castle isn’t in the town itself.”
“Not in the town? What do you mean?”
He explained that there is a large lake to the west, and the castle is on a small island in the middle. The only way to reach the castle is via a long bridge, which requires permission to cross. Even Graylease couldn’t infiltrate the castle, though it might be possible at night with sufficient cover.
From the shore, Graylease posed as a tourist and used his magic to sense the area. He also observed and questioned townspeople and soldiers.
According to his findings, the lord's army likely numbers around five hundred, stationed in the castle. The town has another unit for maintaining order, but the lord needs a significant force to assert his authority in this region. For a minor lord, this is a considerable military presence.
“From what I can tell, the main source of income here is probably human trafficking.”
“Based on magic sensing, there were several strong reactions underground. It doesn’t seem like they’re just holding criminals. It’s likely the captured people.”
So, this is a human trafficking hub. The lord’s income also includes the proceeds from the local drug trade.
The town has developed, but the local economy isn’t robust enough to support a grand castle, let alone an expensive army. This reveals the secret source of their wealth.
Hmm, but the location is problematic.
We can storm the castle, but we need to ensure the captives can escape, which means securing the bridge. Leaving any enemies behind would complicate matters.
“What to do with five hundred enemies?”
Even as a warm-up, this is a significant challenge. Taking them all on would be troublesome.
Hmm, perhaps we should quickly storm the lord’s quarters, take him hostage, and use him to disarm the soldiers. With only the lord and his army to deal with, we wouldn’t need a complex strategy, but we can’t afford to draw too much attention before the main attack on the Empire.
Even a minor deviation could disrupt our plans, and Flannel and the others would be upset if we caused trouble during a joint operation.
Everyone seemed stumped, and the mood was somber.
Just as we were considering abandoning the idea, the situation changed. The area began to buzz with activity.
“...What’s happening?”
“I’ll check.”
Graylease surveyed the area and approached someone who might know what was going on. He returned shortly.
“Yukari-san, it seems someone is attacking the town!”
“At this moment? Who?”
“The townspeople don’t know. Should we go see?”
This is getting interesting. Even the bored faces of the group lit up with excitement.
With renewed energy and plans in place, the group was already feeling restless.
As they chatted about the impending assault at the café, the situation changed once again.
Next time, the short prelude to the main event, “Lend Your Strength to the Surprise Attack,” will begin. Who will take the lead in this exciting prelude? Stay tuned!