The Allied Forces Have Already Cast a Vast Net!

The Allied Forces Have Already Cast a Vast Net! "...I'm surprised. I thought the Empire had sealed off all that information, and that no one else would know it. It seems Baron Myka's intelligence network is even more impressive than I imagined."

Sellviya gave Myka a deep look but did not press the matter. She pulled out the chair before her and sat down, then poured herself a cup of black tea before calmly asking,

"Still, compared to all that, I'm more curious about why you sought me out."

"Not that I'm being nosy, but with the Allied Forces having been defeated, a lord like you should have little time or energy to spare for meeting with a lowborn person like me. Yet you did it anyway."

"Hmm, I have to admit, that's rather suspicious. Let me guess—did you receive special operational orders from some important figure?"

"..."

"Looks like I guessed right. But there's no need to stare at me so frighteningly. I can assure you, I have no spies in the baronial castle."

"The reason I guessed was simply because, while walking around the baronial estate earlier, I noticed that the direct members of your family, who should have been present, had inexplicably failed to appear today."

"Also, if I remember correctly, around noon today, Bahamut Town seemed to gain a foreign merchant caravan. There were quite a lot of people, young and old alike. They didn't look like merchants at all. They looked more like refugees fleeing with their entire families."

"What do you think of that, esteemed Mr. Myka?"

"...Just as that person judged, Sellviya, not only are you incredibly powerful, you're also very intelligent. Pino was indeed fortunate to die by your hand."

Seeing Sellviya casually expose his arrangements, Myka did not get angry. He merely took a sip of tea to steady himself before voluntarily revealing some information.

"Since you came to this meeting willingly, I assume you already know that the Allied Forces have been defeated. The Empire is currently dispatching troops to eliminate the remaining forces in the Walden region, while also suppressing and governing the other unoccupied towns within Walden Territory. Bahamut is on that list as well."

"Furthermore, perhaps because the Allied Forces wiped out a badly wounded Imperial unit near us yesterday, the Empire is placing considerable importance on occupying Bahamut Town."

"According to the latest intelligence from our agents, the Empire has assigned an Imperial commander to lead a force of more than six hundred men here to carry out the occupation and governance of Bahamut."

"And the reason I sought you out is related to this matter."

Recalling the arrangements made by that Allied Forces Lieutenant General in the telegram, Baron Myka felt a chill run through his heart. He took a deep breath, slowly set down his empty teacup, and spoke solemnly to the sharp-eyed Sellviya.

"That person hopes you can eliminate the commander the Empire has sent this time. Ideally, you will take his head and bring it back. Once his death has been confirmed—"

"As a reward for completing the mission, you may directly join the Fifth Allied Forces Battle Group and serve under that person as the commander of an army special operations unit of no fewer than six hundred men. Your starting rank will be captain."

So the person behind Myka was one of the Allied Forces' upper ranks.

No wonder he had sought her out himself and knew about all that information from her past.

If it was the Allied Forces, then everything made sense.

But the Fifth Battle Group?

If she remembered correctly, wasn't that the unit where the kingdom's strategist known as the Star of Dawn, from Victoria Kingdom, served?

So the person speaking to her this time was acting under the Star of Dawn's arrangements?

If that was true, then the Fifth Battle Group would not be a bad place for her.

After all, that person had fought the Empire's damned White-Haired Demon General several times.

At only twenty-three years old, she had independently commanded forty-six wars involving more than ten thousand participants each, and every one of them had ended in victory for the Allied Forces.

If Sellviya could work for someone that powerful, then her goal of destroying the Empire would likely have a far greater chance of being realized.

Sellviya was tempted, but none of it showed on her face. She merely raised an eyebrow and spoke in an amused tone.

"Captain? That position is a little lower than I expected, but it will do."

"Also, I'm curious—just who is the commander the Empire has sent to suppress Bahamut this time? For someone even Baron Myka calls an important figure to care so much, he must be someone remarkable. Would you mind telling me? I need to judge whether I'm capable of accepting this mission."

"While I do consider myself fairly strong, I have to admit that the Empire has quite a few powerful people."

"For example, the Empire's famous Ghost Walker. Those spells that come and go without a trace are truly far too deadly for a lowborn person with nothing but brute strength like me."

"So, if you have detailed intelligence on the target, why not tell me? Let me consider it properly."

"After all, although I do have a personal grudge against the Empire and think every moment about how to get revenge, I'm actually a coward. I can't take on a mercenary job with risks that are too high."

At fifteen, she had destroyed an Imperial magic enhancement laboratory by herself. At sixteen, she had slaughtered an Imperial army force numbering nearly six hundred men on her own.

That same year, she had forced her way across the border, torn apart the Imperial border garrison's defensive line with terrifying brute strength that left people in awe, escaped alive from an area guarded by elite troops, and reached the kingdom.

If someone like you was a coward, then every single person in Bahamut Town would not even deserve to be called trash!

Baron Myka sneered inwardly. To be honest, he truly was somewhat afraid of this monstrous Beastfolk woman.

But when he thought of that Lieutenant General's arrangements, he gained much more confidence.

He knew that even this woman, who believed her martial strength was no weaker than the Star-Shattering Sword Saint's, would ultimately become a chess piece in that person's plans, obediently following the schemes of Lieutenant General Roxie, the Star of Dawn!

Therefore, Myka did not refuse Sellviya's probing. Instead, he spoke openly.

"There is no need to worry. Your target this time is John Maslow, a low-ranking commander of an Imperial Mage Soldier mobile unit. He does not have much combat experience, and his individual combat ability is unknown."

"The only thing we have for reference is the intelligence our agents sent regarding him. He received perfect evaluations in both magical spell courses and shooting courses at the Imperial Military Academy. Therefore, we can basically conclude that he possesses a certain degree of combat ability, roughly equivalent to a member of a special operations unit. He does not pose much of a threat to you."

"However, John Maslow's individual combat ability is not important. What comes next is the key point. Based on that person's analysis, he is very intelligent and exceptionally skilled at using schemes. It could be said that the Allied Forces' defeat this time was entirely his doing."

"Even more troublesome, compared to the Empire's White-Haired Demon General, this man named John Maslow is completely unscrupulous in his methods."

"In this war, he despicably employed a false surrender tactic and successfully destroyed the Allied Forces' Anti-Magic Device. It was precisely because of that act that the Empire gained its opportunity to turn the tide in the Walden War."

"Someone who disregards the laws of war and possesses no moral bottom line can be considered far more cunning and ruthless than the White-Haired Demon General was in his youth. He is, without question, a genius commander with the makings of a true warlord."

"Therefore, to prevent him from growing into a future threat to the Allied Forces, that person gave me the order to assassinate him."

"That is all the intelligence on John Maslow."

After the White-Haired Demon General Dormammu, had the Empire produced another outstanding commander of the younger generation?

It had to be said, this was indeed a severe blow to the Allied Forces.

No wonder they were willing to tear away all pretense to launch such an assassination operation.

After all, a single White-Haired Demon General had already allowed the Empire, which should have been destroyed, to cling to life until now. If another appeared, then the Allied Forces' victory over the Empire might be delayed by another hundred years.

Listening to Baron Myka's description, Sellviya immediately understood the situation.

However, she did not agree at once. She unhurriedly lifted her black tea and took a sip, then asked Myka with great interest, "I understand the target's situation. What is the specific operational plan? Baron Myka, surely you do not think I can withstand the bombardment of Imperial Mage Soldiers alone and simply take his head directly?"

"Although Half-Dragons do possess a certain resistance to magic, that resistance has its limits. Forget six hundred Mage Soldiers—even the combined spellcasting of thirty people would probably be enough to leave not even ashes of me behind."

"And I believe you understand that very well, don't you?"

After saying that, Sellviya looked at Myka across from her with a smile that did not reach her eyes, waiting for his answer.

She did want to join the Allied Forces, but she would not die for an empty promise.

If it were six hundred ordinary army soldiers, she could give it a try. Displaying her strength appropriately would allow the Allied Forces to reassess her value.

But if it was six hundred Mage Soldiers...

Forget it. Before such a terrifying monster army, never mind trying to kill that so-called target.

Even getting close to him would be difficult.

Moreover, his cunning was supposedly far greater than the White-Haired Demon General's?

If Myka's intelligence was true, Sellviya had no doubt that the moment she infiltrated within a kilometer of his camp, before she could even begin her assassination plan, the Mage Soldiers' Explosive Magic, powerful enough to destroy everything, would be waiting for her.

She needed Myka to provide a practical plan to convince her.

Otherwise, this so-called assassination mission was destined to be a one-way ticket to hell.

And she would never rush headlong toward her own death.

"Of course. Considering the target's special nature, that person has already made arrangements for this assassination operation in advance."

Myka was not angered by this. After all, Sellviya's reaction had also been anticipated by that person.

All he could say was that she truly deserved to be called Victoria Kingdom's most talented commander. Before even drafting the plan, she had taken every factor and possible complication entirely into account.

Even he himself had been unwilling, yet in the end, under her arrangements, had he not obediently cooperated, abandoned his family's foundation of several centuries, and chosen to become one of her chess pieces?

Myka could not help sighing inwardly. Casting aside his complicated thoughts, he met Sellviya's scrutinizing gaze and slowly revealed that person's arrangements for the assassination mission.

"The plan for this assassination mission is as follows. We have already gathered soldiers around the four villages under Bahamut Town's jurisdiction."

"After John Maslow leads his troops into Bahamut Town, I will pretend to surrender and cooperate with him in governing the town. At the same time, I will create a few problems for him, then personally help resolve them, thereby gaining his trust and lowering his guard."

"While he is busy handling administrative affairs, the four units should also be able to complete their assembly and join forces."

"At that time, I will send out a signal and have those four units feign a counterattack against Bahamut Town, drawing John Maslow's attention. Unless something unexpected happens, he will certainly organize his soldiers to defend the town, while also arranging for me to lead my personal guards in assisting him."

"Accordingly, the number of guards around him will be reduced. At that point, Sellviya, you can disguise yourself beforehand as a maid of the baronial estate. Under the cover of night, use serving him as an excuse to approach him and strike, eliminating him completely."

"That is the entire plan for this mission. Are you satisfied?"

After speaking, Myka calmly looked at the red-haired woman before him. Her expression remained placid.

Yet seeing the flicker in her eyes, Myka knew perfectly well.

This woman would definitely agree in the end.

Because this scheme had been proposed by the Star of Dawn herself. The exquisite calculations and the contest of human nature were enough to make anyone certain, the instant they heard it, that this was an absolutely flawless plan.

No one could reject merits delivered right to their doorstep.

Not even Sellviya.

A false surrender, a feigned attack, and an assassination?

A chain of vicious schemes. It even seemed to draw inspiration from John Maslow's tactics.

This style of imitating another person's strategy, then defeating them in the field they excelled at most, was surely the work of the Star of Dawn.

It seemed the Allied Forces were not entirely made up of idiots after all!

With the plans of this one and only Star of Dawn of the Allied Forces, this mission no longer had any possibility of failure.

It seemed she had no reason to refuse benefits delivered right to her doorstep, either.

A smile slowly curved Sellviya's lips, but she did not immediately agree. After thinking for a moment, she finally spoke under Myka's puzzled gaze.

"A very good scheme. Before such an inescapable net, no matter how intelligent John Maslow may be, he will probably find it difficult to escape death. I have no reason to refuse. However, I need to make one alteration to the mission details."

"I have no interest in becoming a maid. On the other hand, I'm quite interested in becoming your daughter."

Sellviya said with a cheerful smile.

She was certain she had no ability to play the role of a maid.

More importantly, she did not trust Myka. Even now, she could not be sure whether this cunning old man would discard her after using her.

Therefore, the best approach was to tie her interests to his.

Only by creating a situation where they shared both glory and ruin could she ensure that, after successfully killing John Maslow, she would not become Baron Myka's discarded pawn!

At that thought, the smile on Sellviya's face became even more radiant.

Then, ignoring Baron Myka's dark expression, she turned toward him with a beaming smile.

"So, my dear father, are you ready to welcome the Imperial commander who will soon arrive with me?"

(End of Chapter)