Chapter 251: Just Accept It (3)
Chapter 251: Just Accept It (3)
“What exactly do you plan to do with that food?”
For a moment, Patrick didn't understand the question.
What did he mean, what was he going to do?
Food is for eating.
And right now, Latenov was crawling with starving people. Therefore…
“I’m going to distribute it immediately.”
“…….”
“Is there some other way to use it that I don't know about?”
At that, Noah smiled as if he had expected nothing less.
“And then what?”
“…Huh?”
“After you’ve handed out the food to the citizens, what’s next?”
“…….”
“You haven't thought that far ahead. You’re just trying to put out the fire right in front of you. Tsk, tsk. Is that brain in your skull just for decoration?”
I really want to hit him.
That smug face and that smile were waking up the Black Fire Dragon slumbering in my fist. But…
‘Patience. I must endure. I have my reputation as the Radiant Dragon Hero to consider. How can I go back on my own word?’
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. If you had just given them the food and left it at that, this place would have collapsed within a month. You absolute moron.”
Come to think of it, does anyone here even know I’m the Radiant Dragon Hero?
Regardless of honor or promises, I feel like burying my fist in that annoying face would make me feel incredibly refreshed.
As Patrick was entertaining those thoughts, Noah spoke.
“If you distribute the food I brought, you might be able to soothe the citizens of Latenov for the moment.”
“Right.”
“But that won't lead to victory in this war.”
“…Keep talking.”
Patrick, starting to feel that Noah’s words were worth listening to, prompted him.
Noah continued.
“Even if you distribute the food, there’s a limit. To win this war, we must capture the King of Harbor, who abandoned the capital and fled.”
“I know that. I know, but…”
“Right. While you were wasting time getting hooked by a stupid trick, the King of Harbor has likely gone into perfect hiding.”
“…….”
“So, the priority is finding where the King of Harbor is. This food must be used for that purpose.”
“Wait, used for that? What do you mean?”
“First…”
Noah calmly laid out his plan to Patrick.
Patrick’s face remained stiff throughout the explanation, but he didn't interrupt.
“…That is my plan.”
“…….”
“You look like you don't care for it.”
Patrick roared.
“Of course I don't! Your operation basically amounts to pushing civilians into the war.”
“It does.”
Seeing Noah’s expression, which seemed to ask what the problem was, a murderous intent radiated from Patrick’s body.
Noah flinched for a second, but he bit his lip and spoke.
“Don't be a spoiled brat, you damn child!”
“…….”
“A war where no one dies and no one gets hurt? Do you think such a thing exists in reality?”
“…….”
“If you weren't prepared to see blood, you shouldn't have started a war. No matter what shame or humiliation you had to endure, you should never have chosen war.”
“…….”
“The best choice a monarch can make during a war is to win while shedding the least amount of blood. Those who hesitate because they want more than that end up causing more bloodshed than anyone else in the end.”
Patrick had no rebuttal.
Noah had seen through the essence of the man named Patrick and identified his weakness.
Just like Duke Krupa had.
The only saving grace was that Noah was currently in a position to lend Patrick his strength.
‘The path where the least blood flows…’
Yes. That would be the right way.
It had to be.
After much thought, Patrick finally spoke.
“Civilian casualties must be minimized. That is my condition.”
A flash of contempt appeared on Noah’s face. Patrick met his gaze stoically.
The two men stared each other down.
It was Noah Gregory who finally broke the silence.
He placed a hand over his heart and bowed politely.
“As you command.”
* * *
Patrick granted Marquis Noah Gregory operational command.
The allied forces were momentarily shaken by the news, but they quickly accepted it after seeing the massive amount of food Noah had brought.
In their current situation, the food Noah provided was so desperately needed that they had no choice but to welcome it, regardless of who brought it.
The Schneider Territory army immediately began distributing food to the citizens of Latenov.
“Line up! Get in line!”
“Children and the elderly first!”
“There’s plenty for everyone, so don't push!”
Once the food was distributed and the citizens were calmed, the situation improved significantly.
The citizens of the capital were bewildered even as they received the food.
“I thought there was no food left?”
“I know, right?”
“Do you think they were hiding it all this time and are only releasing it now?”
“Maybe.”
To the citizens whispering such things, an Elf supervising the distribution stepped forward.
“This food is what the Royal Army under King Darius, currently stationed outside the capital, was holding.”
“What… did you say?”
“As you know, before King Darius left the capital, he forcibly requisitioned food from here. Is that not so?”
“Well, that’s…”
“We’ve reclaimed a portion of it. So, in a sense, this was originally yours.”
At the Elven warrior’s words, the citizens finally nodded as if it made sense.
The Elven warrior then said to them:
“But there is a problem. This food won't last long before it runs out…”
“What?”
“Is that true?”
To the startled citizens, the Elven warrior continued.
“I heard it will all be gone in three days at most.”
“Ah… No…”
“How can this be? Then… then what are we supposed to do?”
The cruelest way to drive someone to despair is to give them hope and then snatch it away.
To the citizens of Latenov, who had suffered through terrible hunger, the news that the food was running out was equivalent to the end of the world.
The Elven warrior told them:
“We are also running our reconnaissance network at full capacity to find King Darius. If we find him, we can recover the food he stole from you.”
“Ah… Hmm…”
“I see…”
“Ahem…”
The citizens looked hesitant.
Despite everything, King Darius was still their King.
To the citizens of the capital, who had lived in a more affluent environment than other regions, the idea of capturing King Darius didn't sit entirely well with them. However…
“We’re facing difficulties due to a lack of manpower, but we intend to do our best. We’ve even put up a bounty of 10,000 gold, so perhaps a tip will come in…”
“10,000 gold?”
“Is that for real?”
“A tip… You mean just finding out where he is and letting you know gets us 10,000 gold?”
The citizens reacted with shock.
The Elven warrior nodded readily.
“Of course. Considering the treasures left in the royal castle, 10,000 gold is nothing.”
“I… I see.”
“Ahem… Cough…”
Having heard the Elf’s words, the citizens cleared their throats and moved away.
Their walking pace quickened, and soon they were running.
‘10,000 gold.’
‘That’s enough money to change my life—no, the lives of my descendants.’
‘I’m going to find him. I have to find him.’
Humans driven by greed show incredible tenacity.
That day, the rumor that Patrick had placed a 10,000 gold bounty on King Darius spread like wildfire.
By the end of the day, ten percent of the capital’s population had passed through the gates to the outside. The next day, it was thirty percent, and soon nearly half the population was outside the walls, searching for King Darius.
* * *
Human Wave Tactic.
It was a simple, blunt strategy, but one that proved effective in many situations.
From actual combat to sabotage, facility construction, and search operations…
Most military operations become more effective as the number of people increases.
If you gather 10,000 people and give them shovels, they can level a mountain.
That is the power of numbers.
And one only truly realizes its might when they are on the receiving end.
“Duke Krupa. Those who discovered our formation are fleeing.”
“Catch them and kill them. Do not let a single one escape!”
“Yes, sir!”
Duke Krupa, having given the order to the knight, bit his lip hard.
“Double Dragon… so this is how you’re going to play it?”
He never imagined they would incite the capital’s citizens to create a massive search network.
The effectiveness of a search network involving hundreds of thousands of people was staggering.
Even though he had reduced his escort to a minimum and set up camp in a secret hideout, people were discovering their location every other day.
Duke Krupa had captured some of them to ask about the situation in the capital and was left utterly stunned.
‘To think they would use such a move. Did I misjudge him?’
He didn't know where the food had come from, but the skill with which they manipulated the citizens using that food was extraordinary.
Claiming the food came from King Darius’s army.
Setting a 10,000 gold bounty.
Using Elves to lead this information campaign.
They had put effort into even the smallest details to deceive the people.
‘Even if it’s the same words, people trust what an Elf says more than what a human says.’
It wasn't that Elves never lied.
However, the baseless superstition that Elves do not lie was widespread among the commoners, and it was a fact that they lied far less than humans.
By putting those Elves at the forefront of the information war, they had achieved these undeniable results.
Beside Duke Krupa, King Darius spoke in an anxious voice.
“Alexander, what do we do now?”
“…….”
Duke Krupa thought to himself.
‘At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before our main camp’s location is discovered. Then it’s over.’
They had abandoned the thick walls and thousands of guards to settle in this hideout with barely a hundred troops.
All of this was done under the grand premise that they would never be found.
If their location was discovered, the Double Dragon would descend upon them immediately.
With the forces currently present, they could never protect the King.
‘I must make a move before it’s too late.’
Having made up his mind, Duke Krupa spoke.
“Your Majesty, you must immediately issue orders through the communication devices to all regions to attack the capital.”
“Are you saying we should abandon the blockade on the Iron Mountains?”
“We must.”
“Mmm…”
If they released the Dwarves they were barely holding back, all the time and military expenses they had consumed would vanish into thin air. However…
“It is far better than Your Majesty being captured by the enemy here.”
“Sigh… It can't be helped. This is all because of my worthless son.”
King Darius decided to follow Duke Krupa’s plan.
It was time to mobilize the entire army for a head-on confrontation with the Double Dragon in the capital. However…
BOOM!
A massive roar was followed by a slight tremor.
It was an impact so great that the cave they had chosen as their hideout shook.
In an instant, the faces of King Darius and Duke Krupa stiffened. Simultaneously, a knight ran in and shouted:
“Your Majesty, we are under attack! The Double Dragon has appeared in person!”
Duke Krupa’s eyes squeezed shut.
* * *
“These bastards aren't moles, yet they were hiding in here.”
The entrance was a narrow cave barely large enough for a bear to squeeze through, but inside, it opened up into a vast space.
Judging by the signs of artificial refinement, it seemed to be a hideout prepared for exactly this purpose.
It was a cave entrance that would be nearly impossible to find.
But conversely, it had a weakness.
“Kilios, there’s definitely only one entrance, right?”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed it through the wind spirits.”
“Good. A king in a trap, then.”
The corners of Patrick’s mouth curled up.
“I’m going in. Everyone else, just make sure the entrance is secure.”
“Understood. Well, it’s pointless to say this to you, but be careful.”
“It really is pointless.”
After leaving the defense of the entrance to the others, Patrick charged into the cave alone. And then…
“Enemy!”
“Block him! No, kill him!”
Naturally, knights swarmed out like bees from a disturbed hive.
Though few in number, these were elite knights handpicked to guard the King at close quarters.
Most were at least 5-Star, and there were even a few 6-Stars among them. However…
“Die!”
What did that matter in front of Patrick Schneider?
In an instant, a flash of light erupted, and the heavily armored knights were sent flying like wooden dolls.
“Gah…”
“Aaaargh!”
Having easily blown away the knights in front of him, Patrick charged straight ahead.
“Anyone who blocks me dies!”
The knights flinched for a moment at Patrick’s momentum, but they still fulfilled their duty to the end.
“Block… block him!”
“Aaaaah!”
“Double Draaagoooon!”
The knights of the Harbor Kingdom were desperate.
It was only natural.
These were men trained to sacrifice their lives to protect their King.
But the gap between them and the Double Dragon was too vast to be bridged by willpower alone.
Patrick advanced relentlessly, swinging his sword, and each time he did, the knights of Harbor fell like autumn leaves.
And finally, Patrick saw them with his own eyes.
Behind the final defensive wall of knights, two men were glaring at him with gritted teeth.
Upon confirming their identities, Patrick paused for a moment.
He rested his sword on his shoulder and spoke.
“Which one of you is His Majesty, King Darius?”
A middle-aged man with dark brown hair took a step forward.
“I am Darius Michael Harbor III.”
Despite the shabby cave refuge and the dire situation, his dignified appearance held the majesty of a nation’s monarch…
“You son of a bitch!”
CRACK!
He had it… right up until he didn't.