Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: 54. Capital Siege Battle (2)
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Commanders holding positions of upper echelon or higher had gathered at the Capital Defense Force headquarters.
The faces of the commanders entering the conference hall were uniformly grim.
It was inevitable.
The current strength of the Capital Defense Force stood at 30,000.
Even including the hastily conscripted citizen militia, they barely reached 40,000, while the Philius Empire's forces encircling the central capital numbered well over 100,000.
Originally, the enemy hadn't been this numerous, but reinforcements had joined them, swelling their ranks exponentially.
"There are too many! We can't guarantee how long we can hold out."
"Just how many enemies are we talking about?"
"At least 150,000!"
"What? Who was the reconnaissance commander that reported the Philius Empire's forces at only 100,000?"
"It seems the empire's troops stationed in the rear near the border have joined them as well."
The commanders gathered in the conference hall muttered darkly with hardened expressions. This was possible only because the Capital Defense Force commander hadn't arrived yet.
It was right in the midst of this negative exchange that...
"The Capital Defense Commander is here!"
With a sharp voice announcing his arrival, the doors swung open, and Count Raikellan, the Capital Defense commander, strode into the conference hall flanked by his staff officers.
The commanders, who had been spilling all sorts of defeatist talk just moments before, instantly fell silent and watched Count Raikellan with tense expressions.
Count Raikellan, the Capital Defense Force commander, swept his sharp gaze over the assembled commanders. His face made it clear he had a rough idea of what had been discussed.
The commanders who met his eyes couldn't relax their stiffened muscles.
"How dare you speak of defeat before the battle has even begun?"
Count Raikellan spat coldly. The sharp rebuke made the expressions of the gathered commanders harden even further.
"We can win this. No, we will win."
Though Count Raikellan spoke in a calm voice, the commanders' reactions remained icy.
"But, Commander. The Philius Empire's forces are far too overwhelming. With their numbers exceeding ours by four times, it's not just that we can't promise victory—reality forces us to discuss defeat."
One middle-aged high-ranking commander couldn't endure the commander's optimism and spoke bluntly.
At that moment, Count Raikellan's gaze fixed on the outspoken high commander. The middle-aged officer shuddered at the chilling coldness in those eyes.
"I-I'm sorry."
He hastily apologized, but it was already too late. A man in black robes standing beside Count Raikellan stepped forward.
The black-robed man closed the distance to the middle-aged high commander in an instant and swung his sword at him.
"Argh!"
In the flash of the sharp blade, blood sprayed like a fountain. The high commander let out a scream of agony before collapsing limply.
"W-What?!"
"What the hell...?"
The commanders in the hall were shaken by the sudden killing. Count Raikellan, who had watched silently, finally spoke.
"In wartime, acts of treason are punishable by immediate execution."
"Well said!"
"A just judgment!"
Those agreeing with Count Raikellan were all under Veris's command. They weren't full 'puppets' blindly following Veris's every whim, but they had been indirectly influenced by his brainwashing, leading them to unwittingly support the Apocalypse Society and its puppets.
Even after such a brutal execution, with so many high commanders voicing agreement, the others had no choice but to hold their tongues despite their dissatisfaction.
"We will not be defeated."
"But, Commander... The disparity in forces is too great."
Another high commander spoke cautiously. Count Raikellan glanced at him, let out a short sigh, and shook his head.
"If we're short on troops, just conscript more. Mobilize another 20,000 citizen militia."
The high commander who had cautiously voiced his opinion was left speechless by Count Raikellan's words.
The Philius Empire forces surrounding the central capital from beyond the walls were mostly well-trained elites.
Conscripting another 20,000 civilians wouldn't solve the problem. It might buy a little more time, but even that wouldn't last long.
'What on earth is the Capital Defense Commander thinking?'
'Something seems to be impairing the commander's normal judgment.'
This was the shared thought among the commanders in the hall. Count Raikellan sensed the ominous atmosphere but ignored it and walked toward the military map on the wall.
"From now on, all units will follow my deployment orders. No objections—hold your assigned positions at all costs."
Deployments began. Units under commanders even indirectly influenced by Veris's brainwashing were unconditionally placed toward the royal palace and inner citadel, while those untouched by any brainwashing were sent to the outermost walls and front lines.
"The walls are buzzing with activity. Looks like they have no intention of surrendering."
Marquis Crayer spoke calmly as he lowered the telescope from his eye. Raymond nodded slowly before replying.
"According to intelligence from the Central Intelligence Agency and the Highfel Special Operations Bureau, the central capital has fallen entirely into the hands of the Apocalypse Society. We should rule out any chance of surrender."
"His Majesty the Emperor is right."
Marquis Crayer agreed. Raymond's gaze then turned to King Rudel, who stood beside them with a complicated expression.
"If they resist fiercely, the central capital will suffer significant damage as well."
"Please don't worry about that, Your Majesty. For the sake of liberation, the Jaist Mage Kingdom is prepared to make any sacrifice necessary."
King Rudel replied, biting his lip until blood seeped out. The final moments of Marquis Incred were vividly etched in his eyes, fueling a raging fire of hatred.
Raymond nodded silently at the sight. It was unfortunate for King Rudel, but his deep-seated hatred meant no pesky concerns during the siege, which was fortunate for the Philius Empire forces.
With such profound hatred toward the Apocalypse Society ingrained in him, even if the central capital took heavy damage from the battle, King Rudel wouldn't be the first to demand reparations.
From the Philius Empire forces' perspective, they had secured a battlefield where they could fight without reservations.
"I hope you remember those words later."
"I won't forget, Your Majesty."
King Rudel reaffirmed, and a satisfied smile spread across Raymond's lips.
"The attack will begin in a few days. Sort out your feelings before then."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
Though his hatred for the Apocalypse Society ran deep, King Rudel was still the ruler of the Jaist Mage Kingdom, and the Philius Empire forces were now poised to assault the central capital.
Even if it was a campaign of subjugation for liberation, the deaths of numerous civilians in the process were unavoidable, leaving King Rudel's heart in turmoil.
After King Rudel and Marquis Crayer withdrew, Raymond returned to his command tent.
As he was settling his mind and body ahead of the impending battle, Count Potas, head of the Philius Central Intelligence Agency, visited his tent.
"Your Majesty. We've obtained information on the high-ranking Apocalypse Society executives currently residing in the Jaist Mage Kingdom's capital."
"Is it reliable?"
Raymond's eyes widened at Count Potas's words.
This reaction wasn't due to any underestimation of the Central Intelligence Agency or Highfel Special Operations Bureau.
The Apocalypse Society treated information on its high executives as top secret, and they had never obtained solid intel before.
"Our agency acquired it for the first time yesterday, and the Highfel Special Operations Bureau has repeatedly verified its authenticity. At the very least, I'm confident it's accurate."
Strong conviction rang in Count Potas's voice.
"Tell me."
Raymond nodded and urged him on. Count Potas then reported the details on the high-ranking executives in the Jaist Mage Kingdom's central capital, as acquired by the Central Intelligence Agency and verified by Highfel.
When the five-minute briefing ended, Raymond's eyes gleamed brightly.
"Not bad at all. I'm impressed by how detailed the information is."
"In cases like Veris and Abgard that we investigated this time, they moved recklessly quite often while seizing control of the Jaist Mage Kingdom's central capital. Unlike other Apocalypse Society high executives, their movements were more exposed, making it relatively easier to gather intel."
Count Potas offered every humble excuse, but Raymond, who had battled the Apocalypse Society for so long, knew how secretive and tight-lipped they were. He couldn't help but admire the Central Intelligence Agency's achievement.
"Well done, Count Potas. I'll ensure the agency receives ample rewards personally."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Count Potas bowed politely. Raymond's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"With this level of detail on them, we could strike from behind or set a trap."
"It won't be easy, but it's worth attempting."
"If the intel is accurate, the fiercest fighting will be inside the inner citadel rather than the outer walls. To minimize our losses, we need to take out their heads first."
The Jaist Mage Kingdom's central capital was under the Apocalypse Society's control. However, Veris's brainwashing had limits, so he couldn't turn the entire Capital Defense Force into 'puppets.'
His chosen method was to make the inner citadel nobles and high-ranking Capital Defense headquarters personnel into puppets, while applying indirect brainwashing—suggestions—to mid-level commanders.
Low-level commanders and soldiers were completely unaffected from the start. Thus, decapitating the leadership, assassinating Veris, and neutralizing the inner citadel nobles and high-ranking officers would likely lead the bulk of the forces—low-level commanders and soldiers—to surrender without hesitation.
"Give me just two days. I'll devise a solid plan."
Siege preparations would be complete by morning at the latest tomorrow. As head of an intelligence agency, Count Potas surely knew this.
Yet he spoke thus, effectively requesting a one-day delay to the siege.
"Can you devise a plan that minimizes military casualties?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. I'll do my utmost."
Count Potas exuded confidence.
And the next morning, as the Philius Empire forces finished siege preparations and stood ready, Count Potas arrived.
He had said it would take two days, but he returned in just one. Anxiety flickered—perhaps he was here to explain uncertainties in the plan or admit defeat.
But such worries melted away like snow upon seeing Count Potas's confident expression.
"You're back sooner than expected."
Raymond grinned. He hadn't heard even fragments yet, but Potas's overflowing confidence assured him it was a promising plan.
"The plan came together faster than anticipated."
"May I hear it?"
"To explain briefly: Yesterday, I learned from King Rudel about the existence of secret passages. He was negative about them, but after sending Central Intelligence agents to investigate, we confirmed they do exist."
"Yet the Jaist royal family never knew about them until now?"
Had they known, they might not have lost Marquis Incred during the escape operation.
"Without additional intel from Highfel Special Operations and King Rudel's testimony, even we wouldn't have found them."
Count Potas's face darkened as he spoke.
"How wide are these secret passages?"
"Too narrow for a large army. But if we move stealthily and take enough time, we can infiltrate a substantial number into the royal palace."
"Not bad. Send in elite troops first to secure the surroundings and establish a foothold, then gradually bring in follow-ups."
"Surely Your Majesty doesn't plan to include himself among those elites?"
At Count Potas's sharp question, Raymond grinned instead of answering. Desia, standing behind him, let out a short sigh, while Gestain silently shook his head.
Count Potas bowed his head in resignation. With no strength left to restrain the stubborn emperor, he could only entrust himself to the flow of the times.