"Creak!" At night, inside the City Lord's Manor of Horseshoe City, just as John was reviewing documents concerning the progress of Maslowism propaganda, Lunebo suddenly pushed open the door and entered. He immediately delivered news that jolted John awake:
"Battalion Commander, more than ten suspicious Centaur residents have gathered in the city. A patrolling Mage Soldier squad also discovered that they had amassed a large amount of funds. It seems they intend to escape under cover of night. Should we arrest them?"
"Yes, arrest them. Also, notify Upper Tier Barnabos and Lieutenant Igodala to lead the 1st and 2nd Companies, disguise themselves, and wait near the Horseshoe City warehouses. Have them prepare for combat."
"Also, Lieutenant Miles should be quite free right now. Bring him to me. Tell him I have an assignment for him."
"Yes!"
John slowly set down the documents in his hand, then issued a series of orders without hesitation.
Watching Lunebo leave with what seemed to be a realization, John turned back to the map before him. Knowing that the enemy had fallen into the trap, he showed no pleased smile. Instead, he lit a cigarette, took a drag, and frowned in thought.
He understood exactly what espionage activity meant.
It meant that the Beastfolk troops of the Saga Kingdom, who valued honor above life itself, had stepped into the trap he had prepared in advance.
It had been exactly seven days since he seized power through that nighttime meeting.
Over those seven days, aside from restoring military discipline and preparing for the coming war,
he had secretly assigned Samuel to spend some money bribing several Centaur residents under the pretext of promoting the Empire's majesty. In areas suspected of harboring enemy agents, they staged dozens of scenes in which the Empire oppressed Beastfolk civilians and