Antares Merchant Guild Blocking the Way

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was already July of 1785 by the Galintea Continent Common Calendar.

"Your Highness, the White Lion Legion spent three months wiping out the bandits in Westwood Province and is now heading for Fabucia Province. What's strange is that after the New Year, His Majesty the Emperor provided strong logistical support and military supplies for the White Lion Legion. He hasn't delayed their military expenses or pay even once since then. As a result, the soldiers of the White Lion Legion have high morale and are full of confidence in the bandit-suppression campaign ahead..." Jenorio was reading a secret report from the central region concerning the White Lion Legion.

Lorist gently shook his head. "The White Lion Legion is going to suffer in Fabucia Province. Commander Seberg won't be able to deal with the mountain bandits and mounted bandits there..."

"Your Highness, why do you think that?" Jenorio asked curiously.

"It's simple." Lorist pointed to a map of the central region hanging on the wall. "Of the eleven central provinces, apart from the family territories of Grand Duke Handra, Grand Duke Fulendo, and Duke Shahin, Westwood Province suffered the least from banditry because it lies between the three provinces containing the direct territories governed by those three Grand Dukes. The White Lion Legion made the right choice in starting its campaign there, and our family's efforts to transport them there in winter weren't wasted.

"Even so, it took the White Lion Legion more than three months to suppress the bandits in Westwood Province. That was with the assistance of the three Grand Dukes, who used their family forces to seal off every route out of Westwood Province. Only then were the mountain bandits and mounted bandits active in the province trapped