<h4>Volume 3, Chapter 189: Encirclement (2/2)</h4>


    The merchant country of Pena proactively spread its influence to the north.


    When the Goblin King found out, he called back the forces he’d sent to the Kushain Believers.


    Gi Za Zakuend also came back with 400 new goblin soldiers after the trouble in the western region was concluded, bringing with him word that Gi Gu Verbena, who had gone to the unexplored territories, was on his way back with new forces.


    About 2,500 soldiers currently gathered under the Goblin King’s banner.


    Given time that number would only grow bigger as the Goblin King rendezvoused with Gi Gu’s forces.


    The Goblin King immediately called for a war council with the goblins, the elves, and Zaurosh.


    “The reason behind Pena’s expansion are those sand horses of theirs that can move freely through the desert. They’ve already expanded beyond the city states of thete Protea Faction and are continuing to expand north,” Zaurosh said.


    The Goblin King quietly listened to the intel of the Leon Heart n.


    “Leading them are the leader of the Blue Knights, Aizas, and his second-inmand, Allen. It’s the perfect lineup,” Zaurosh continued.


    “I don’t suppose he’d do something dumb and try to split his forces,” the Goblin King said.


    Zaurosh nodded. “Though young he’s already grasped the art of war. There are roughly 3,000 elites within the Blue Knights that he leads. At this rate, it’s only a matter of days before they attack Razuel.”


    “We can’t leave the small feudal lords to fend for themselves. We must meet their forces!”


    The Goblin King wanted to rendezvous with Gi Gu first, but unfortunately, the small feudal lords swore fealty to him precisely because they expect him to protect theirnds. He had to meet their forces.


    “Inform Gi Gu.”


    The Goblin King sent out a messenger to inform Gi Gu of their meeting point.


    “We need to cripple their mobility,” Gi Za advised.


    The Goblin King nodded. “The battlefield is a nd. The perfect ce for soldiers with high mobility to exhibit their strength. In that case, we’ll use the dark of the night, then without giving them any room to breathe, crush them until they’re wiped out! Gi Jii Arsil!”


    “Yes, Your Majesty!” Gi Jii answered the king’s call.


    “Move out ahead of our forces and find the enemy. Keep contact with them to a minimum. Once you’ve confirmed their position, contact us, but do not touch the enemy.” The Goblin King said.


    “As you will,” Gi Jii replied.


    The Goblin King turned his eyes away from the running Gi Jii and gave out his next orders.


    “Keep your respective toons apart and prepare for the enemy’s attack. If Gi Jii fails to find the enemy in time, we’ll be the ones on


    the receiving end of a surprise attack. Stay vignt and focus on cooperating with each other!” The Goblin King said.


    Thmander goblins nodded to the king’s words and bowed.


    “Now, go! Trample upon the invaders and bring peace upon thesends!”


    ◆◇◆


    “Fatina’s forces have reached the outskirts of Cultidian!” A soldier reported.


    The saint, Mira, raised the corner of her eyes.


    The influential people of Cultidian were gathered around her.


    “…Their numbers? Do they have siege weapons?” Mira calmly asked as she kept her emotions from leaking.


    “Approximately 10,000… We can see the banner of Brandika’s Red King, but we can’t see any siege weapons!” The soldier answered.


    “…They got us,” Mira said as she clicked her tongue, but no one heard her. That was what she truly felt, but that quiet annoyance of hers vanished in the midst of all themotion.


    It’s been 3 days since she sent out her greatest trump card, Vn Do Zul, in response to Germion Kingdom’s suspicious movements. She was able to send out 20,000 soldiers without any fears because her spies at Fatina said nothing was amiss.


    Fatina and Cultidian were both giant cities with a poption of over 300,000 and focused on agriculture. They could conscript their farmers whenever to make their armies, but that required time.


    Because of that she believed that as long as her spies could inform her beforehand, she would be able to respond to any threat from


    Fatina, so she was more concerned about the goblins to the west and Elrain Kingdom to the south.


    Unfortunately, her excellent mind allowed her to fall right into the enemy’s trap.


    All of this was ording to the schemes thought up by the Red King. That included figuring out Elrain Kingdom’s movements, dealing with them, and allowing Mira’s spies to roam freely.


    “yed like a fiddle…”


    Saint Mira curled her hands into a fist away from eyes.


    The army from Fatina probably intended to restrict the Kushain Believer’s movements.


    The fact they didn’t bring siege weapons with them was proof of that.


    It was as if the enemy knew that she’d intended to strike from behind that they brazenly showed off the might of their forces. Seeing that, Saint Mira deeply regretted.


    Sending her forces out thinking she was safe only to have the enemy’s army by her footsteps all of the sudden was the very definition of taking someone by surprise.


    This was a huge blunder.


    “Let the people of Cultidian know that the soldiers of Elrain Kingdom have note to invade ournds but to help subjugate the monsters,” Mira said.


    A cardinal bowed his head and left.


    “An unprecedented response, but with this, the people should calm down.”


    The influential people looked at her gently, but Mira was spitting internally at them.


    This was a message to the spies of the Leon Heart n within Cultidian.


    Chances were that even if they sent messengers to the bordernds, they still wouldn’t be able to overtake the march of the Red King.


    It was also necessary to reorganize the spies at Fatina.


    Mira would never forgive the fact that her spies had just been put to waste. This was her spitting back at the Red King.


    “But, of course… The Kushain Faith exists for the peace of the people.”


    Saint Mira smiled sweetly like an angel.


    Not one person among the influential people knew of the poison brewing behind that innocent smile.


    ◆◇◆


    After essentially securing Elrain Kingdom, the Red King set their sights on the merchant country of Pena next. The Kushain Believers to the north may have indeed stopped the upper brass of the old Elrain Kingdom, but they were able to stop them by using Germion Kingdom as a wedge.


    The rtionship between the Free Cities and Germion Kingdom that have been fighting for so long was not something that could so easily be fixed.


    “Germion Kingdom is indifferent to the Kushain Believers, but if we make use of the refugees, we should be able to seal the north’s movements,” Carlion exined.


    The upper brass of the Red King n, which now held a country, all nodded.


    “Next, we should aim for the wealth of the merchant country, Pena. The day we take Pena is the day we take the south… Well, more or less.”


    Elrain Kingdom’s crops and Pena’s taxes. If they could have both, they would be able to exert their dominance over the south.


    “But didn’t you just form an alliance with Pena?” Saldin asked.


    Carlion nodded. “Yes, to deal with the monsters and the Kushain Believers.”


    “Wouldn’t it be bad if we attacked them despite being allies? We’ll be known as traitors,” the old enchanter, Grave, added.


    Carlion nodded. “Which is why we’ll also be sending our forces to the goblins lording over the bordends.”


    “So we’ll be fighting them with Pena?”


    “Yes, on the surface.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “We’ll be leaking intel to the goblins about Pena’s movements.”


    When Carlion said that, everyone in the room nced at each other.


    “ording to our spies, they have elves too other than goblins,” Carlion said.


    “But, that’s…” Saldin spoke.


    But Carlion ignored him and continued. “ording to our spies in Germion Kingdom, the monsters excel in surprise attacks. But of


    course, that’s to be expected. After all, they are denizens of the night and boast of physical faculties beyond that of us humans.”


    “If the elves are with them, then they won’t fight to the bitter end. That betters their odds a little. We should expect a surprise attack from them, but… how big is their cavalry? Do they even have one?”


    “We don’t know. Even if they have one, it shouldn’t be anything considerable. It’s doubtful they’d be able to stand toe-to-toe with the Blue Knights,” Carlion said.


    “So you want to instigate the goblins to attack Pena, and while they’re being attacked, you want us to attack?” Brandika asked, causing everyone in the room to finally understand Carlion’s intentions.


    “Yes. We’re putting out bait for the wolves to fight over so we can im the prize without effort.” Carlion confirmed.


    “That would require they be kept in the dark of our movements, however,” Grave said.


    Carlion replied. “Ah, you needn’t worry about that. I”ve already asked Cell. Our intelligence is far better than theirs.”


    “Good, then. Everyone understands the n?” Brandika asked.


    The people replied with a ferocious yes.


    “Let’s go, genius adviser. If we lose, we’ll have a goodugh!”


    Spirits high, Brandika departed with the Red King n.


    Because of Carlion’s schemes, the Red King n was able to move a step ahead than any other power.


    “Ahh, by the way, Carlion.”


    “Yes?”


    “About Germion Kingdom… Since you’re going to anyway, you might as well make a big fuzz about the alliance.”


    “…Ah, you want to use Fatina as bait?”


    Carlion ced his hand by his mouth.


    Brandika smiled fiercely. “Nah, I mean Cultidian.”


    When Carlion stared nkly for a moment, Brandikaughed wholeheartedly, then he left Carlion, riding out into the north with his cavalry.


    “As you will.”


    Carlion deeply bowed his head.