Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Enema Operation
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I led the special force commanded by Nazir and Bayan toward the western great plains region.
The distance to my target was over a month and a half at normal marching speed. It was a longer trek than the one to Ramis, but far more comfortable. With ten days of operation time secured, there was no need to rush, and the vast plains provided ample grazing for the camels and water sources aplenty.
The only annoyance was the wary stares from nearby city-states and tribes every time we moved. We'd primarily traversed territories of coastal city-states hostile to Kara early on, so hospitality was out of the question. As a result, we endured relentless stalking and military provocations whenever we crossed their lands.
But no actual battles broke out. Even marching slowly, we moved much faster than their typical response time. By the time their patrols reported us and they dispatched troops, we'd already left their territory behind.
Still, I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me. Those coastal city-states might band together and strike at Ramis, which Kasim was defending.
Ramis held hundreds of ships seized from the Lobros navy. If they fell into enemy hands, Kara's future was done for. We lacked even basic shipbuilding capacity—no decent vessel to our name.
Sure, we could conquer those hostile coastal states on land, but who dives headfirst into bare dirt? Ships were essential, whether for sea trade or blockading routes.
But with Uncle Zenbe's mercenaries committed to the defense, it was fine. If Kasim held out for another two months, Ramis would be safe.
During the march, I unfolded the map I'd obtained from Ramis Fortress.
It depicted Lobros Kingdom's future sea trade plans in a tangle of crisscrossing lines. These routes connected the various coastal city-states, all converging on one final island.
'Jores Island...'
Jores Island lay about 510 kilometers south from the coastline where the Ipozium Mountains met the sea, and 370 kilometers west of Andrea, a city-state in the western great plains. It was a massive island, discovered by Lobros Kingdom just a few decades ago. Currently, it hosted only a single governorate the size of a baron's domain, but its development potential was enormous—far larger in area than my homeland, the Karl Grand Duchy territory.
Monsters infested the entire island, barely allowing that governorate to hold on. But once fully developed, it would make a perfect future refuge. Being surrounded by sea offered respite from massive continental monster hordes.
Flying monsters would still be a threat, of course, but relocating large numbers of Sika tribesmen for development and fortification could buy at least two more years of survival. No terrifying ground charges, at minimum.
Even in the era of destruction, Jores Island had endured longer than the northern orc plains, sustaining just a baron's worth of human settlement.
Bayan rode his camel up beside me.
"Master?"
I folded the map for a moment.
"What is it?"
"Can we really drive back Duke Bastain's army with just us?"
Anxiety radiated from Bayan's face. He clearly feared the duke's massive host.
"Yes."
"How? Their forces still number nearly 200,000, while we're a mere 4,000. No matter how I look at it, I don't see a path to victory."
I chuckled and beckoned Nazir over to join us.
"You two—what's our goal in this war?"
"To repel the Lobros army, right?"
I waved off Bayan's answer.
"No. We just need to make them retreat. No need to fully crush them."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"We only have to win once. A clash of thousands against thousands. Win that, and it doesn't matter if Lobros has 200,000 or 2 million—they'll pull back."
"Why?"
"Because this entire barren great desert will turn against the Lobros army. Man can defeat man, but not the land. Man's life is finite; the land's is eternal. They might dig a bit, sure, but they can't conquer its essence."
Bayan tilted his head, utterly baffled.
"That's not wrong, but how do we make the land our ally?"
"That's still a secret. Loose lips sink ships."
"Pardon?"
I unfolded the map again.
"You'll find out soon enough. Anyway, any interest in heading here?"
Bayan and Nazir glanced at Jores Island on the map where I pointed.
"An island?"
"Yeah. If we win this war, we get it. You two develop it—become governors there."
Nazir crossed his arms, scrutinizing the island closely.
"Quite a large one."
"Forested everywhere, plenty of rain for farming. Once developed, it'll be the best land for Sika folk. Your job."
"Governors...?"
"A post usually held by central court heavyweights like tribal lords. Manages crown territories."
Nazir and Bayan exchanged thrilled glances. Their dream was to become tribal lords.
"We'll do it."
"Not so fast. Monsters everywhere—dangerous as hell. But on completion day, big rewards await. Land at least count-level on the continent."
A count's domain was unimaginably vast. Fitting for a tribal lord.
"We'll do it."
"Think it over properly. We'll talk after the war ends. Focus on the fight for now."
"Yes, sir."
Good. Secured developers for Jores Island. I'd told them to think, but they'd go for sure.
We soon entered the western great plains proper. Now in Lobros territory, we had to proceed with extra caution.
I picked up the pace. The destination was just a day or two away. Getting caught by Lobros forces here would be a disaster.
As we passed a certain fortress, about thirty camel riders emerged from the gates and rushed toward us. Upon reaching us, they dismounted in unison and prostrated before me.
The leader, a man in his late thirties, stepped forward as representative.
"Lord White Mask. The tribal lord of Jafar sends his greetings."
Jafar was one of the western great plains powers that had fought Lobros alongside Brahma. After Brahma's defeat, they'd surrendered and joined Lobros, but no outright hostility with Kara.
They'd never attacked us.
"Right. What do you want?"
"We've heard of Kara's victories. Our congratulations."
After crushing Marquis Fabius's expeditionary force, Kara had toppled Ramis, Elama, Mrisella, Hussein, and more, vastly expanding its reach.
To the plains powers, this brought hope or dread. Anti-Lobros factions saw salvation in Kara; collaborators fretted as Kara swallowed half the western great desert.
"Thanks. And?"
"If you're off to strike Lobros, let us join you."
"You want to fight Lobros too?"
Jafar's lord bellowed.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"Lobros killed my father."
The previous Jafar lord had fallen in Brahma's defense. Natural for the new one to seek vengeance, but I couldn't ally with strangers deep in enemy territory.
Especially for this ultra-secret op.
"Appreciate the sentiment, but stand by."
"Pardon?"
"Guarding Jafar helps us more."
"But..."
Jafar's lord looked utterly dejected, thinking Kara had spurned him.
He might turn foe. I continued.
"In five or six days, I'll have a crucial task for you. But you need to stay in Jafar for it. Can you?"
"Yes!"
"Good. We'll talk then. Dismissed."
As I departed, I glanced at the jubilant Jafar men. Ally with Kara would prove right in the end, but right now? Foolish. Lobros was near, Kara far—what gave them the guts? Youth made them rash.
But stepping up for a dead father's revenge? That filial piety deserved respect. The deeply filial often prove deeply loyal.
'Finally here.'
Our ultimate destination: the Ipozium Mountains.
Standing before the endless sheer cliffs, I flashed a triumphant smirk. All that remained was to smash Duke Bastain's skull from behind. In a few days, bizarre news from his rear would send chills down his spine.
I scoured the cliffs northward.
"Where was it? Around here..."
Bayan stepped up, baffled by my odd antics in enemy lands.
"Master, why the Ipozium Mountains?"
"To seize Polkin Pass."
I revealed my intent plainly. No harm now.
Bayan rubbed his ears as if mishearing.
"Pardon?"
"Said we're hitting Polkin Pass."
My emphatic tone made his eyes bulge. Polkin Pass: an impregnable fortress never once taken. 4,000 couldn't do it.
"Master! Even a million couldn't take Polkin!"
"We can."
"How? The walls alone are 90 meters high. Arrows don't reach. No way up."
"There's a backdoor inside."
Bayan blinked furiously. Possible with a path, but unbelievable.
"Really?"
"Yeah. That's why I trained you on cliff climbing. It's treacherous."
Officially, no known paths into Polkin. But from a future view? Plenty. In the destruction era, monster hordes found several; I blocked one as relief force.
That path led inside Polkin Pass.
"Where is it?"
"You'll see soon. Almost there."
Soon, a tiny cave mouth appeared high on the cliff. Barely wide enough for one person, but spacious inside.
"There. Everyone, prepare."
I secured position, unsummoned my jet-black curved-horned horse, and prepped for rock climbing.
First, I slung a thin rope over my shoulder and crept up the near-vertical cliff. Risky, but abundant handholds made it manageable.
Reaching the hole, I glanced down casually—50 meters drop, dizzying.
I climbed in, lowered the rope, and tied it securely to nearby rock.
"Alright, everyone up!"
Troops climbed one by one. Tough for them, but the rope prevented mishaps. If monsters climbed it, humans could too.
Nazir arrived first. I handed him a magic lantern and shoved him inside.
"Good work. Head in."
Troops filed in. After a while, all but 200 camel guards completed the ascent.
I retrieved the rope and entered.
The cavern square teemed with people, lit dimly by my lantern. Eerily阴森 despite the light—untouched by man.
I took the lantern and advanced slowly. Drip-dropping water, stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. Weaving through, I stopped at a cave wall.
This spot. Blocked now, but monsters would carve it open later. I drew Yojjo and dug.
After a meter, faint outside light seeped in. With dusk falling, I repacked the dirt lightly.
"Alright, camp in the cave tonight. Depart tomorrow."
Needed a rest day. The real ordeal lay ahead: treacherous cliffside paths to the target. No night travel possible.
I gathered everyone for the ops briefing.
Polkin defenders: 3,000 minimum soldiers, 200 knights, one master. Reckless raid meant our doom.
I detailed enemy camp sites, Count Malthus's commander's quarters in the gatehouse, knights' mansion—plotting the raid strategy.
Dubbed the Enema Operation. Nail this rear strike, and Duke Bastain's Lobros army would be in dire straits. Supplies from home base choked off. Done right, we'd end the war here.