<h4>Volume 3, Chapter 208 - The Map Drawn by the Tacticians (1/2)</h4>


    The forces of Germion Kingdom that had gathered at the western region started advancing west at the behest of the king.


    To the goblins that was an act of war from a great nation, and word of it was immediately brought before Pale Symphoria, who has received the divine protection of the goddess of vengeance. It was for this reason that she used the remnants of the Elks n to create a of intelligence gatherers in the east and the south. With them, even if Pale herself might be in the western capital, she knew everything about the enemy armies, down to the food they ate.


    As such, it came as no surprise to her that Germion Kingdom chose to attack. The Red King had driven the Goblin King out of thends of the Old Ashunasan Alliance, and although the Kushain Believers continued to hole up within Cultidian yet, they were basically out of the game. As such, to Germion Kingdom, this was the same as breaking free from the yokes of the southern region that once bound them.


    The rising giant to the east, the Holy Shushunu Kingdom, was Germion Kingdom’s ally, but it was a shaky rtionship at best. Based on the movements of the various countries, it was likely that Germion Kingdom had made a contract with the Red King. Finally, it has been reported that the northern bandits have been dealt with.


    From the results brought by the Storm Knight’s sessor, it could be said that Lili Aureya, a descendant of the tribe of cursed swords, was not an ipetent person. The fame of the warrior maiden whose red hair fluttered in the snowy battlefield of the north spread far and wide throughout the region. In fact, she was well known even in the capital.


    She who had been bestowed by King Ashtal the Vashinant as proof of her status as holy knight was not looked so favorably upon in the kingdom, but now her name dazzled brightly as a young holy knight. And the kingdom itself which was surrounded by three forces when the goblins conquered the west now only had one enemy left.


    Compared to their situation, the goblins were clearly suffering.


    Germion Kingdom, which boasted a powerful army, threatened them from the east, while a great country was trying to give birth to itself in the south, consisting of Elrain Kingdom, Pena, Tortoki, and even a portion of the former Kushain Believers’ territory. Within that was Pale’s sworn enemy, the Red King.


    It was a country that could be equivalent to two Germion Kingdoms, although a part of its territory was indeed a desert, but even then their wealth could no doubt match the Holy Shushunu Kingdom’s.


    ◆◇◆


    With the charisma of Archduke Brandika Rual Fatina holding them together, various great people have gathered around him including Carlion the genius tactician, Grave the Old Enchanter, Saldin the Vanguard Commander, Cell the Sword Dancer, and Shunrai the Scimitar Swordsman. As guild leader to a coalition of many ns, Archduke Brandika’s position even within Elrain Kingdom was firm.


    To make things even better, his engagement with Queen Rashka was announced just a few days ago, and Pena itself has dered that they would be working with the Red King. Even though the Red King had grown so quickly in such a short period of time, the various surrounding countries had no choice but to allow them to rise.


    The Red King may have spent 10 years in the east building their foundations, but that meant little when within a span of one year they were able to turn themselves into a force that couldpete


    with a giant like the Holy Shushunu Kingdom. It was a feat that would’ve surely beenughed off otherwise as nothing more than foolery. Even if the people saying it were the very same ones who took over the free cities. It was the sort of feat that would surely be the first and thest of its kind.


    Well, at the very least, such a thing has never been done before in history. The map of the kingdom drawn by the genius tactician dazzled as brilliantly with glory as it flowed with blood.


    “And that’s precisely why I can see their weakness.”


    Pale smiled coldly as her thoughts ovepped with the map before her.


    The Red King was putting all of its efforts into intelligence. It was to the point that even Pale found it difficult to gather information about them.


    Pale’s thoughts brought her to King Ashtal of Germion Kingdom.


    What was his next move?


    Queen Raksha’s engagement was bound to have an effect on the surrounding countries.


    Was King Ashtal at ease because he’s formed an alliance with the Red King? Or perhaps he feels more threatened than ever?


    Pale believed it was surely thetter, for the holy knights who participated in the battle would have surely informed the king of the events that transpired in it.


    King Ashtal was not particrly brilliant, but it was precisely because of that that he should have realized that the Red King grew due to the genius tactician manipting enemies and allies alike to fight each other and profit off of them. And once he realizes that a


    delicious prey has already been conveniently ced before him - What else but the goblins? His bitter enemies. - he would’ve surely shuddered in fright.


    King Ashtal’s achievements may not seem muchpared to the genius tactician’s or the Red King’s, but his record could be described as consistent. That was the sort of man King Ashtal was, Pale believed.