Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Extra Strategist's Royal Road
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A simply constructed prisoner camp within the army encampment.
I headed there with Eonia in tow.
"You captured a lot of them."
The number of prisoners alone reached nine thousand. The tally had ballooned exponentially as soldiers wounded by arrows surrendered en masse.
"Eonia, where did you say that guy was?"
"..."
"Eonia?"
"I'm sorry, Als."
Eonia suddenly apologized. The reason was trivial.
"I should have at least understood the strategy you devised, Als..."
"I didn't explain it, so it couldn't be helped."
"But...!"
"That's not what I expect from you. No need to mope."
She seemed to think I'd been slighted by the other officers. She was upset that she hadn't properly defended me in that situation.
"If it's bothering you that much, come to my tent later. I'll teach you some basic military tactics."
"To your tent, Als!?"
"When I have time. I can't have you showing up whenever."
"I-I'll definitely come!"
I soothed Eonia like that and soon encountered our target as we walked.
"Urgh...!"
A man on his knees. It was Madon's Grand General, Julian Craig.
He looked up at me and ground his teeth.
"So you're Wade...!"
"And you're Julian Craig, the one who betrayed Albad and defected to Madon. You actually thought of collaborating with Albad."
"Hmph. Personal loyalties and sentiments are meaningless if it means winning the war. My teacher knew that, which is why he reached out to me."
"Well, I agree with that part. That's why I'm here to see you."
"You don't mean..."
"I do. Spill the internal intel."
"I underestimated you. To think you'd spout such nonsense at Julian Craig himself. I'm Madon's Grand General! You think I'll betray them?"
"I'm not asking for Madon's internal intel. I'm asking for Albad's. You've betrayed them once already—twice should be easy, right?"
"Bullshit. I have nothing to say to you."
"Is that so? Fine then. Hey, execute him."
At my order, the executioner stepped forward with his axe. Julian's eyes widened in shock.
"W-Wait! E-Execution? I demand prisoner treatment! Executing a high-ranking prisoner before negotiations..."
"Who cares? I'm a mercenary, aren't I? I don't sweat the details of armchair debates. What are you waiting for? Execute him!"
"Wait! Wait!"
Julian cried out desperately. He must have sensed I wasn't bluffing.
Faced with real death, he flipped his attitude like turning a palm.
"I'll talk! Anything about Albad, not Madon! Just stop!"
"If it's false intel, I'll have your head right then."
"Understood. Just lower the axe..."
"Hmph. Lower the axe."
Julian started spilling everything he knew.
Based on that intel, I decided on my final move.
News of the battle at Setes Crossroads quickly spread to the other fronts.
The first to hear was Pollick Highlands, the closest to Setes Plains.
"R-Re-Repeat that."
Albad General Yussis Goldray could hardly believe his ears.
"Yes, sir! The Kalliper forces utterly crushed Madon's army! Madon's troops, bereft of command, scattered in retreat!"
"How is that possible!"
Madon had more troops. And plains terrain favored tactical engagements where one side couldn't unilaterally pummel the other.
"Damn it! This puts us in danger! Adjutant! Redirect all scout forces to the southern sector immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
The news reached the Kalliper camp at Pollick Highlands as well.
Lutger let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
"Is that really true? Not false intel?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Hard to believe. Julian's skills shouldn't have faltered. When will the detailed report arrive? I'm curious."
"The battle details should arrive by dawn tomorrow!"
Anton, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
"Lord Lutger. With the situation like this, the enemy before us will have no choice but to focus on the south."
"Indeed. If the army that crushed Madon advances north, Pollick Highlands becomes the prime target."
"Then shouldn't we coordinate our movements?"
"Normally, yes... but I suspect Wade doesn't want that."
"Pardon? Our lord?"
"If he did, he'd have informed me beforehand. But he only told me to hold here—nothing else."
"So our lord has another plan?"
"Not certain, but..."
"But what other plan could there be? The best move now is to drive out Pollick's forces."
"There's one. A risky gamble."
"What would that be?"
Hearing it, Anton fell silent for a moment.
*
*
*
Due to distance, the news arrived a step later in the north.
Gillas Melburn, receiving the report first at Moro Highlands, headed to Kain in Godin Valley with the messenger.
Kain sighed deeply upon hearing it.
"To dispatch Julian so easily. Mercenary Wade... he possesses skills rivaling the Ten Heroes."
"N-No way! Teacher, the Ten Heroes? The Julian who won wasn't even in the top twenty warlords!"
"You know Julian's skills best, Gillas. He could stand toe-to-toe with the warlords."
"Urgh...!"
Gillas gritted his teeth and said,
"Teacher. Give me ten thousand men! I'll head straight to Pollick Highlands, link with Yussis, fortify defenses, and buy time!"
In that time, Kain could break through the north, evening the odds.
Kain was already deploying a scheme to cook the enemy. In three days, it would be complete, dealing severe damage to Dunan's Kalliper army.
But Kain shook his head.
"No. It's already checkmate."
"Pardon?"
"Mercenary Wade. If he's thinking the same as me, he won't come to Pollick Highlands. He has a more lethal move."
"What move..."
It was none other than this.
Hours later, a breathless messenger burst in.
"Urgent report—!! Kalliper forces from the south have crossed the border and are invading our territory!"
This was precisely why Als had Illya neutralize the enemy's guerrilla unit by force.
Because his main force had already crossed into Albad territory.
"That bastard...! Sound the alert in the east immediately! Lock the gates and hunker down! If we buy time...!"
"Too late."
"But if we hold at the gates..."
"They already have detailed intel. Salleon faction forces gathered info when they entered our lands... and Julian won't have kept quiet."
Kain was certain Julian had spilled everything. Supply routes, depots—all of it.
"We must retreat immediately."
Kain issued an immediate withdrawal order.
It meant Albad's defeat.
Kalliper's overwhelming victory at Setes Crossroads had created momentum for a counteroffensive.
Moreover, Madon's routed army fled south to their own territory, not west into Albad's, so even stragglers couldn't bolster defenses.
Als swiftly crossed the border and invaded Albad territory.
Three fortresses fell to his rapid advance, and one walled city succumbed to surprise assault. All thanks to Julian's spilled intel exploiting weaknesses.
Albad Kingdom was in chaos.
Albad scrambled to restrict inter-city travel and enact emergency conscription in major cities.
But by then, Kalliper had achieved their goal.
They'd successfully paralyzed Albad's eastern territories temporarily. Meaning total supply disruption.
Supplies to Pollick, Moro, and Kain's northern army—all cut off at once.
Als had seen the forest, not the trees.
Not just destroying routes or depots, but severing the source, trapping Albad's entire army in a vise.
Albad forces that had invaded Kalliper territory retreated in haste.
In the process, Als caught Yussis Goldray's retreating twenty thousand from behind at Pollick Highlands.
"Damn it all...!"
Yussis hung his head. Lutger's army bore down from the front, and Als had severed the rear.
No supplies, no retreat—combat was hopeless.
"It's over."
He had one choice left.
Unconditional surrender. Abandon fighting and surrender outright.
Normally, with prisoner treatment uncertain, full surrenders without battle were rare. But this war was special.
Albad & Madon already held over ten thousand Kalliper prisoners.
Post-war accords would include exchanges, so surrender meant high survival odds.
"Lay down your arms, all of you. I won't let you die like dogs here."
At Yussis's order, Albad soldiers tearfully dropped their weapons.
Lutger, capturing them all, finally faced Yussis.
Clench! Yussis bit his lip so hard a piece tore off.
"As I thought... it was you! Lord Lutger...!"
"Long time, Yussis. Never imagined reuniting like this."
"Urgh! You, who abandoned Albad—what face do you show on this battlefield? Serving Kalliper and turning blade on Albad!"
"No. Albad abandoned me. I still remember. The locals hurling stones and curses at my daughter. The nobles coldly rejecting my pleas for help!"
"Teacher Kain didn't turn away! He promised to find a way—have you forgotten?"
"And? After six years waiting in Karlon Highlands on that promise, what solution did teacher provide?"
"Teacher did his best!"
"Yes, but results matter. Wade truly cured my daughter."
"What...!? Is that really true? How did he cure that vicious disease...?"
"Yussis. The Lutger Rosenberg you knew is dead. That era's pride and honor are gone from me."
He'd abandoned country, subordinates. Nothing left but his daughter.
"For her, to repay Wade's grace, I've chosen to live out my days. Anything in the way... even teacher Kain's head will roll."
"You're serious... Truly abandoning country and master!"
"Yes. Tell teacher that. Next we meet on the battlefield, I'll take his life!"
Als watched their exchange with interest.
"Eonia, fetch some popcorn quick."
"Pardon!? P-Popcorn...?"
Eonia pondered seriously what popcorn was.
Als munched on emergency rations with a smile.
'That leaves five of the seven vassals secured.'
One thing was clear.
Of the seven vassals, recruiting Lutger Rosenberg was a resounding success.
*
*
*
Albad withdrew all invading forces and worked to normalize their paralyzed eastern territories.
Judging he might get isolated by Albad reinforcements, Als captured Yussis's unit and hurried back to Kalliper territory.
Both sides pulled back, entering a lull.
At that point, Als received a military council summons. Location: Gransel, midway between northern and southern fronts.
Als granted his troops rest and headed to the council with only Eonia.
"General Wade enters!"
The rowdy council chamber fell deathly silent.
"......"
Awed stares, as if beholding an unknown beast.
Als strode in and took a back seat. Then said,
"Continue as you were?"
As if it were none of his business.
Duke Helian grinned.
"Can't do that. The star has arrived. Wade, splendid work. Crushing Julian Craig like that—no one predicted this victory."
"Just luck."
"Luck, eh? Then lend us that luck for the coming battles."
Helian pointed to the war map.
"This is our chance to corner Albad. Wade, lend your strength."
"...Haha."
"What's that laugh?"
"Sorry. Please continue."
"Hm. We hold Madon's Grand General Julian Craig and Albad's Fourth General Yussis Goldray as prisoners. Enemy strength visibly weakened. Push now, and we'll sweep them easily. Right, Wade?"
"Not wrong, but not as easy as you say. My eastern raid triggered Albad's emergency conscription. If we attack again, those conscripts will man every point. Stalemate ensues, prolonging the war. Bad for Albad and Kalliper alike."
"Hm."
"Also, excuse me saying so, but several southwestern estates were looted and burned. Relief for those lands and people is needed."
"Heh, like 'Libel,' for instance?"
"..."
"Well, fine. Temporary truce for prisoner exchange before resuming anyway. If it falls through, we may need to recontract you. Keep that in mind."
"No way it falls through. Salleon faction's head is our prisoner. Their nobles will bend over backward to make it happen. You'll squeeze them with it. So why talk continuing the war here? You're just posturing."
Duke Helian raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"You push for war to complicate exchanges, forcing Salleon nobles to offer more. Obvious play-acting."
"You knew it all. That laugh earlier makes sense. Heh, Wade, you're even more to my liking. Political savvy too."
"Even kids could see it."
"Well, then everyone pretends they heard nothing."
All officers here Helian faction, so they nodded silently.
"May I go now?"
"Yes. You exceeded expectations splendidly."
"Yes. Then, Your Grace... keep that promise."
"Don't worry. I'm no petty Salleon scum."
Als left the council chamber.
Once gone, silent Grand General Dunan spoke.
"Your Grace, is that wise?"
"What?"
"His skills—if he defects elsewhere, huge threat."
"Grip his weakness? No. Corner types like him, and they bare sharper fangs. Can't read his motives, but he doesn't seem hostile to Kalliper. Nor truly allied with Crossing."
"Then..."
"Maintaining this relationship is ideal."
"What if he joins Salleon faction?"
"We prevent that. Even if he does, he's ultimately working for Kalliper's greater good—we could overlook it."
Helian gazed at the map.
"Dunan, international dynamics will shift soon. Crossing's Three Lions War, this one—just the start. For Kalliper to survive the maelstrom, talents like him are essential."
Helian felt a near-certainty.
A colossal war shaking the entire continent loomed near.