The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 240: The Civil War in the Principality (5)

“Waaahhhh...!!”

“Yeaaaahh...!!”

Cheers echoed through the air.

The soldiers of Cove, having fought a long and grueling battle, cheered as they discarded their weapons and armor in victory.

“...”

Fran stood on the highest terrace of the ducal palace, waving at them. However, despite the victory, his expression remained stiff.

“Ghh—!”

His head jerked at the sharp pain in his side.

Try smiling, will you? Karyl, standing beside him, mouthed the words.

The commanders were curious about who the man next to Fran was, but none dared to ask. After all, he was the hero who led them to victory in the Battle of Cove, and that was enough for them.

“Growl...”

“Grrr...”

The Sea King and Water King were scavenging usable parts from the wreckage of the Silverwing fleet around them. Seeing these massive monsters move at Karyl’s command, Fran didn’t dare to resist anymore.

Smile, I said. Everyone is happy. Don’t worry. Anthem wouldn’t kill you. He still has some loyalty left for you.

Gritting his teeth, Fran forced a smile as he waved, then turned suddenly to head back into his room.

Bang!

Slamming the window shut in frustration, his true emotions laid bare as he faced Karyl.

“...What do you plan to do now?”

“What else? We march to the White Bunker. Announcing the victory at Cove will boost the soldiers’ morale,” Karyl explained, perched on the table.

“You said you sent troops to the Brown Ant and Yoman? Are you planning to go there?”

“You seem desperate not to go where Anthem is. Don’t worry. We won’t go there. Well... maybe you’ll beg to go there later. And we won’t go to the Brown Ant or Yoman either. Sending troops there means we won’t worry about those two places anymore.”

“...Huh? You think you can capture Yoman, where Ganis is? He’s the banner of the principality. Even Kuwell MacGovern would have a hard time against him.” Fran frowned slightly.

“I know, but that’s not your concern. Your job is to lead us to victory in the battles ahead.”

Karyl dismissed his concerns and spread out a map.

“Then where do you... plan to go?”

“Here.”

Without hesitation, Karyl pointed to a spot on the map.

“Here...?”

Fran looked at him, baffled.

“There are four paths to the White Bunker.”

“F-Four?”

Fran asked, slightly flustered.

“The quickest but most treacherous route is over the Great Wall. Yoman has never fallen, so this won’t be an easy task.”

“But you sent your people there. Are you not confident you can bring down Yoman?”

“Well, we’ll see,” Karyl gave a vague answer. “The second method is the most orthodox. Following the river upstream from the mouth of Binfredo. That’s where Anthem Howard is.”

Indeed, the outcome of battles within the principality often hinged on whether one could control the mouth of the river at Binfredo. That was why they had made every effort to hold the defensive line there.

Of course, if Karyl hadn't shown up, the defensive line would have collapsed, and the battle would have ended swiftly, as Fran had hoped.

Damn it... If only he’d come a few days later...

Thinking this, Fran felt even more bitter. But he didn't realize that if the defensive line had collapsed, his own head would have rolled along with it.

“The third method is through the swamp of the Brown Ant.”

At Karyl’s words, Fran’s frown softened as he glanced at the map.

“Sure, we’ve gained the upper hand in that battlefield, but it doesn’t hold much strategic significance in the grand scheme. The swamp is hard to use as a base, and Tuli’s main forces aren’t stationed there, so it’s not a significant blow.”

“If you look only at the Brown Ant, yes. The swamp’s significance lies not in itself but in the two peaks behind it.”

“...”

Karyl moved his hand behind the swamp.

“If you block the swamp, you can cut off the supply lines to the strategic twin peaks, Frau Hat. There’s no need to establish a base there. Just prevent the enemy from securing the swamp.”

“That’s... That’s foolish! Haven’t you considered that the supply routes through the swamp would slow us down drastically? Our forces at the Brown Ant could become isolated!” Fran retorted.

Swish—

When Karyl raised his arm, Fran flinched involuntarily.

“You seem to have forgotten who I sent there. There’s no need to worry. She’ll hold the Brown Ant regardless of supplies.”

Miliana, the Dragon Queen.

Fran, realizing Karyl’s point, quickly lowered his head and stared at the map.

“So... you’re thinking of striking all three locations at the same time? That’s certainly a feasible plan.”

Fran finally understood why Karyl had sent forces to those two places.

“But Yoman and the Brown Ant are decoys. The real blow will come at the Binfredo River. By sending strong fighters to those two places, you plan to divert the enemy’s attention and then strike where Anthem’s forces are, correct?”

Karyl confidently moved the pieces on the map haphazardly as he spoke, “It’s a strategy that could change the tide of the war even with just three people. They’re meant to be used as bait anyway.”

“That kind of thinking is why Tuli is using you,” Karyl went on. “Have you forgotten? I said there are four methods.”

“...What?”

“Using decoys to divert attention at the Brown Ant and Yoman is correct. But we won’t secure victory at Binfredo with your forces. I have no intention of giving you the glory.”

“What do you mean...?”

Karyl pushed the piece representing Anthem’s forces at the mouth of Binfredo off the map.

“The most important decoy to me is you. You need to keep the enemy’s attention focused.”

Clatter—

The piece rolled off the table and onto the floor. Watching it, Fran felt an unbidden surge of anxiety.

“Why do you think the sea between the empire and the principality is called a strait?”

“Well, obviously... because it’s the sea that lies between the empire and the principality.”

“That’s the problem. You always think of this sea as solely yours. But you’re not the only ones living here. What’s at the end of the strait, or more precisely, at the northernmost part of the continent?”

Fran’s eyes wavered.

“You’ve forgotten one thing. The strait is indeed wide, making it hard to pass without a massive ship, especially with the Archipelago of the Giant Specters, the Sea King’s lair.”

Karyl slowly moved his hand across the map.

“Heading south, it becomes a vast ocean, seemingly endless. But going north, the passage narrows.”

“...”

“If the empire attacks the principality from the north, your proud Iron Fleet will be useless. They won’t need to engage in naval battles. And if they come from the north, they can strike the rear of the White Bunker.”

Swish—

Karyl moved his hand.

Behind Tuli’s domain at the White Bunker, there was only the Dragon’s Lair and the base of the Dawn Council, the Ivory Tower. Most of the defensive forces were concentrated along the Binfredo River, meaning the rear of the White Bunker was virtually empty.

It wasn’t just this battle. The principality had always prioritized the front, leaving the rear less defended, simply because no one had ever attacked from the north.

For hundreds of years, this complacent belief had remained unchanged, ultimately becoming an unquestioned fact.

Tap—

Karyl pointed to a spot on the map.

If the Great Wall of Yoman was considered the front gate of the White Bunker, then the massive fortress on the opposite side, which could be regarded as the back door, was Moon Ether.

Fran’s eyes wavered.

“Despite having the weakest point that could decide the fate of the principality, no one paid any attention to it. Why is that?”

Fran’s complexion turned pale at Karyl’s words.

“Because you always believed that the north would merely pose a threat and nothing more. You never considered they might actually attack you. After all, they have never moved south before.”

There was only one northern threat Karyl could refer to.

“The immigrants...” Fran muttered to himself, in disbelief.

Understandably, no one had ever considered this scenario.

“You were complacent. You harassed the north countless times, but the immigrants never provoked you first.”

That was why it seemed so natural. Both the empire and the principality saw the immigrants as mere barbarians, powerless against the great powers of the continent.

“Are you saying you’ll use the northern immigrants to attack the rear of the principality?”

“Yes,” Karyl said calmly. “The Brown Ant, Yoman, and the Binfredo River...”

Karyl pointed to the marked spots on the map.

“That’s not all. Every ongoing battle is just bait to me. You have to run yourselves ragged to divert the enemy’s attention. That way, Tuli won’t even sense the dagger pointed at her back.

His sinister grin left Fran stunned.

“You... You madman! How dare you let those filthy immigrants set foot in the principality...!”

Fran’s rant was cut short, as Karyl clamped his hand over his mouth.

“Mm... Mmmph...!!” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Karyl gave a meaningful laugh.

“Filthy, you say? That’s too bad, since you’ll share in the victory I bring. And the northern immigrant will stand proudly behind you. The whole world will see it.”

“What...?”

“I’ll make sure your name is etched deeply in the history of the principality. And because of you, our names will be remembered as well.”

Fran’s face twisted in horror.

“Do look forward to it.”

“You... You...!!”

Crack—

At that moment, Karyl pressed down on the head of the piece representing Tuli’s forces at the White Bunker.

Snap! Crack!

The piece cracked and shattered under the strain, the sheer force from Karyl making Fran cower back.

“...How? Even if the waterway narrows, it’s still the sea. Crossing by ship would take too long,” Fran said as he stroked his aching jaw.

“Don’t worry. The immigrants will cross the sea without ships.”

“...What?”

Fran looked at Karyl, puzzled by his cryptic words, unable to grasp his true intentions.

Waaahhhh...!!

Yeaaahhh...!!

“If you’re curious, see for yourself.”

Karyl grinned as he watched the soldiers cheering in victory at the Cove harbor.

“Now, let’s march, Fran Lurein.”