Chapter 225: The Advantaged Side Makes the Play
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 225: The Advantaged Side Makes the Play
The moment the possibility of the Daughter of the Military State’s betrayal was mentioned, the generals’ uncomfortable gazes turned to the staff officer.
It was a heavy burden, but it couldn't be helped. Someone had to address the issue, and more often than not, that duty fell to the staff officer.
As silence filled the room, Patraxion was the first to wave a dismissive hand.
“Now, now. That’s going a bit too far. What could they possibly have to make her defect?”
“They have the Pied Piper of Hamelin, sir. Major General Historia’s tendency to obsess over that incident is already well-known.”
“Oh? Is it that serious? The Daughter of the Military State is obsessed with some flute-playing punk?”
As Patraxion asked nonchalantly, another general who had accompanied the Gunner Corps shot to his feet to defend Historia.
“That’s impossible. When I was dispatched to the Gunner Corps to assist the Major General, she fought them with all her might! To discuss her defection is taking things too far!”
The glares directed at the staff officer were practically audible: Have you run out of people to suspect that you’re pointing fingers at a Gunmaster young enough to be your child? You should be ashamed of yourself. Tsk, tsk.
Though no words were spoken, the staff officer broke into a cold sweat under the barrage of such gazes and stammered out an excuse.
“I-I was merely… considering the possibility…”
“Let’s just wait a little longer. If Major General Historia truly infiltrated their ranks, she will contact us one way or another. All we have to do is wait for that moment.”
“I-I think so, too.”
Despite his attempt to deflect, sharp glares flew at him from all directions. The intimidated staff officer immediately regretted his words.
A staff officer’s duty is to always prepare for the worst, which often displeases the commanders. Still, wasn’t this a bit much when he was just doing his job? He was grumbling inwardly when it happened.
A creaking sound came from a golem sitting quietly in the corner. It was a communications magic golem. Hoping for any information that might break the stalemate, everyone’s attention shifted toward it.
The golem lifted its head, its movements so jerky they conveyed a sense of urgency.
『This is State Signaller Captain Piyu, in charge of the Meta Conveyor Belt. Urgent intelligence! Your attention, please!』
The signaller inside the golem shouted rapidly.
『Observation report! One container has left the belt and is speeding toward the Far East Coastal Road! I repeat, one container is speeding across the eastern plains!』
Several of the seated generals shot to their feet. The lowest-ranking among them, still a general but lacking seniority, rushed outside and began mustering the troops in a loud voice.
The enemy had made the first move. Their target: the Far East Coastal Road. They had finally left the Meta Conveyor Belt, shifting the conflict to a true chase on new ground.
“Speeding off in the dead of night? How proactive. I like it. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.”
Patraxion, who had been grinning, stroked his chin and fell into deep thought.
“It’s a bit early, but it seems their plan is to flee to the Duchy before sunrise instead of facing us at the terminal.”
“That makes sense. They wouldn’t want to face a large army on the plains in broad daylight. All forces, stand by! I will contact Bernartern myself!”
While Prelvior moved about busily, Colonel Gand approached Patraxion discreetly.
“This could be a diversion. Unless it’s a direct order from Command, what the signaller provides is merely intelligence. Ultimately, it’s up to us to ask for details and make a judgment. Please ask the signaller if there’s any other information.”
“Why are you telling me? You do it. It’s a pain.”
“…I am not of the rank to interject here, sir. You must do it.”
“You usually nag me so much. And now you’re acting all humble in front of others. Are you trying to put distance between us?”
Unable to stand it any longer, Colonel Gand ignored Patraxion and shouted himself.
“Signaller! Are there any distinguishing features on that container?!”
『The container’s exterior was riddled with bullet holes, and four wheels, seemingly a hasty modification, were attached underneath. It appears to be a desperate measure to cross the plains.』
“A modification? But if it has wheels, that increases the chance of it being a diversion. It could roll without much effort... What’s powering it?”
『In front of the container, a massive red horse over three meters tall was pulling it! We believe it to be the Sanguine Horse Ralion, a retainer of the Progenitor recorded in the history books!』
The Sanguine Horse Ralion, a retainer of the Progenitor, was said to have never left her side. Its presence meant one of two things: either the Progenitor was actually with it, or this was an incredibly elaborate diversion.
In any case, the intelligence had been provided. The decision was theirs to make. Colonel Gand asked again, hoping for another clue.
“Any other features you haven’t mentioned? Tell us anything.”
『The possibility of it being a diversion was high, so I did not include it in the initial report, but the silhouette of a young woman in uniform was visible on top of the container, shrouded in darkness.』
Everyone fell silent. It was painfully obvious who the young woman in uniform was.
Colonel Gand muttered, “…If that’s a diversion, it’s a very convincing lure. So convincing we can’t afford not to check.”
Historia was likely in that container, whether it was a trap or not. This meant they had to send forces to catch up to the Sanguine Horse and confirm what was inside.
The staff officer and several other generals appealed to Prelvior.
“Splitting our forces is a bad move. We must choose one target.”
“If only we had one more clue.”
Choosing one location meant leaving the other open. They could split the troops, but they couldn’t split the Six Generals. Without one of the Six Generals present, they could stall the enemy, but they couldn’t win.
The final decision rested with the Mage Marshal and the Sunderspear, but it was the generals who devised the strategy. As their deliberation deepened, Patraxion, who had been leaning back in his chair, spoke to the magic golem.
“Signaller. Where did they jump off the belt?”
『Assuming no movement on the Meta Conveyor Belt, it’s about a fifty-minute journey from here.』
“Alright. Grandma! Let’s get ready for a little trip!”
Prelvior showed interest in Patraxion’s actions. “Why do you ask?”
“I told you before. Historia let herself get caught.”
“I heard you. What does that have to do with… Ah.”
Historia had been captured on purpose. That meant she knew which was the diversion and which was the real target. If so, she would have left a sign of some kind—a code, or a signal.
The Mage Marshal’s thoughts caught up, and she let out a small sigh.
“I see! If we find the signal the Major General left, we’ll have our clue! You’ve been useful for once, you brat!”
“Don’t just say you’re proud of me, you have to actually trust me. That’s how you treat a child. Oh, wait. I guess you wouldn’t know, Grandma, since you never got married.”
“Nonsense. I am married to my magic.”
“The classic line every old maid worships like a god.”
The other generals had to try their absolute best not to show even a hint of a smile. If even a chuckle escaped, not just their military careers but their very lives could be shattered.
After his undignified muttering, Patraxion turned from the Mage Marshal and gave his command.
“Alright, let’s prepare for both scenarios! One plan for if the container is a decoy, and one for if it’s real! Be ready to respond to either!”
At the command of one of the Six Generals, the troops moved swiftly. They maintained close contact with Bernartern through the signaller, preparing to counter both possibilities.
Patraxion flew through the sky with several other generals, carried by Prelvior’s magic. Her spell, which felt like a giant grabbing hold of the wind itself and striding forward, was a nauseating experience, like being on a ship tossed in every direction at once.
The only reason Patraxion didn’t get sick was because his constitution was beyond healthy—it was robust.
“Ugh. If you don’t know Gam Qi Art, you’ll get sick one hundred percent of the time. No wonder there’s that joke that a prerequisite for promotion to general is ‘surviving the Mage Marshal’s flight magic.’”
“Which bastard is spouting such nonsense?”
Upon arriving at their destination, the Mage Marshal, the Sunderspear, and the other generals quickly turned on their searchlights and scanned the area. On the eerie belt, which looked as if darkness had just departed, lay a few containers scattered about, casualties of the earlier battle.
Patraxion spotted familiar footprints. He stood over them, matching his stance, and replayed the afternoon’s battle in his mind.
He had arrived at this spot and fought the Progenitor. He’d charged in and been thrown back several times. The space beyond the darkness was so black it was like true night had fallen, making it hard to see, but… he was sure the container they were in was…
Thirty paces from here.
Patraxion took thirty long strides, almost at a run. When he took the final step, the spot where the container had been was now just flat ground.
“Hmm. They definitely moved the container.”
As he muttered, his eyes caught sight of a piece of a container lying unnaturally overturned at a corner of the Meta Conveyor Belt. He rushed over in a single bound and picked it up.
Then, a triumphant smile spread across his face.
“Just as I thought.”
It was braille, delicately punched with Qi. A military cipher. Historia had pretended to be captured to pass them information.
Patraxion hadn’t bothered to memorize such tedious ciphers, so he handed the message to Colonel Gand. Gand read it aloud.
“The red horse is a decoy.”
The Gunmaster’s infiltration had been meaningful. They had a new, critical clue. Prelvior nodded firmly, and Patraxion grinned.
“You hear that? The Sanguine Horse is a diversion. The real targets must still be on the conveyor belt! Everyone, get ready!”
*
Alright, here’s a ball.
You have to hide it from an eager audience. What’s the best way to do it?
Should you hide it in your left hand, or your right?
Tyr chose the right hand. Azzy sniffed it out. Nabi hissed, so I got scared and showed her immediately. The Regressor tried to pierce through the trick with her Jade Eyes… I’m never showing her a magic trick again, seriously.
And Historia, puffing out clouds of cigarette smoke, said, “…The hands themselves are the trick, I suppose.”
Just as I thought. Having known me for a long time, she gets me.
The moment you mention the left and right hands, their attention is drawn to those two options. In reality, there’s no reason to hide it in either. Simply by presenting the choices, you make them fixate on the answers provided.
When in fact… it’s hidden in my pocket.
“Let’s go inside.”
That was my suggestion.
Truthfully, we probably could have broken through via the coastal road. Tyr’s power is formidable, and the Regressor has enough strength to make it happen if she stops holding back.
But there’s no need to clash with the Military State. If the enemy got desperate and brought in a regular army like Bernartern, we’d be the ones in trouble. At that point, it might really become a life-or-death battle.
Not that the Military State would be crazy enough to mobilize its regular army. That’s just absurd.
So.
“We’re going to the Inner Circle. We’ll enter the interior of the Meta Conveyor Belt and take a shortcut.”
There’s no reason to head for the Duchy. None at all. Besides the Military State, who would even bother trying to catch us?
We can just loop around to the north and head to the Fallen Dominion by way of the Abyssal Wastelands.
“While their attention is focused on the Far East, we’ll hide in the Military State’s blind spot and head north. Once we’re well ahead of them, we’ll get back on the Meta Conveyor Belt disguised as cargo… and enjoy a nice, comfortable trip.”