The Massive Bait

"Stefan did a good job!"

Jürgen looked at the telegram in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he murmured his praise.

Although last night's fire had not directly killed many people, the blazing inferno had surrounded everyone. The enemy had blocked their only escape route with its positions, and despair had spread like a plague. In the end, Groschwitz had been forced to order everyone to surrender.

It was noon by the time the Elbe River Convention Organization's allied forces and Hanma City's militia arrived in a hurry. Only then did Stefan's taut nerves begin to relax.

Faced with the enormous pressure of guarding more than ten thousand prisoners with just three thousand men, Stefan had racked his brains. He'd gone to great lengths to calm the restless prisoners, vividly describing the generous treatment offered by the United Fruit Company on the Southern Coast of the Inner Sea, the warm and pleasant climate, the friendly, free-spirited women, and the wonderful prospect of returning home safely after just a few years in the sun.

The members of the Winged Hussars were nothing like those in a traditional army. Aside from the noblemen without inheritance rights, most were small landowners from the countryside. They instinctively resisted hard labor such as railway construction; only the lure of exotic lands could soothe their discontent.

The great quantity of gold Frederick had brought back from the Southern Continent had especially inspired some of them to dream of striking it rich.

Jürgen handed the telegram back to the aide beside him, spread the map across the folding table, and began concentrating on planning the Assault Corps' next move.

The Assault Corps had secretly set out from Stork Port and slipped north for over three hundred kilometers. Now, just over twenty kilometers to