Chapter 90 The Empire's Military Miscalculation - Part I
"Is everything going smoothly?"
"Yes, it seems that the bastard Golden Fox has done his job well. The swarm of monsters has reached the Emerald Cat village and has entered combat with the stationed forces."
Caide, a military officer of the Bezelus Empire, smiled with satisfaction at the report brought by his subordinate.
Thanks to Coras, the leader of the Golden Fox, he managed to infiltrate the Euphemia territory, and the first thing he did was incite the monsters.
Now that Coras has severed the communication routes between the villages, if the Emerald Cat village comes under attack by monsters, many of the civilians will have no way to escape into the forest, scattering in all directions.
He was targeting that situation, planning to kidnap several beastmen, including Thea, and return to the Empire.
Of course, there are risks.
If they fail here and end up captured by Euphemia, all members of the unit, including him, would effectively 'cease to exist from the beginning', and would be easily discarded.
Knowing this, Caide wore a confident expression.
Without doubting his own capabilities, he believed everything would go smoothly.
"Have you managed to track the fleeing Emerald Cats?"
"Ah, well... It's difficult to follow the beastmen in this forest... I'm sorry."
"Hmm, is that so..."
Sighing, Caide let out an exasperated breath.
Although they are an inferior race that cannot use magic, it seems they still have the advantage in the woods.
But it's too naive.
And Caide took out the magic tool.
"Commander, what is that?"
"It's a magic tool, a transmitter. With it, you can find out Gray's current location as he approaches the target, guided by Coras."
Gray doesn't know that he's been fitted with a transmitter, Caide says.
Yes, it was no mere coincidence that Gray got lost and that Yumie happened to be passing by.
All of this is to find out where Yumie is, and where Thea is, who is clinging to her.
It was Caide and Coras's plan from the beginning.
(That's just completely ridiculous. To think that he could easily invite someone in just by showing a somewhat pitiable child.)
Due to factors like Gray's experiences with the Neithardt family and his position in the empire, he's become a rather timid boy who's easy to sympathize with.
Naturally, being of high noble blood, he doesn't look bad either, and if it's Yumie Granbell, whose name is already becoming known even in the empire, she might indeed try to take care of him── that's what he thought.
Still, Caide chuckles, finding it unexpected that things have gone so smoothly this far.
(Being a 'soft touch' is tough. Little do they know how that kindness could lead not only her but also others into a trap.)
With those thoughts in mind, Caide directs his subordinates towards the location determined by the magic tool.
Soon, they encountered a group clad in deep hoods and cloaks, slowly making their way through the forest.
"Captain, is that them?"
"Oh, there's no mistake about it."
According to the information, the Emerald Cat clan excels in medical techniques due to their abilities, and there are many sick people in the village.
It seems Thea and Yumie are also staying there.
Even though they're beastmen, they likely can't move quickly with sick people in tow; the group's pace is very slow, with some moving cautiously on their feet and others carrying children.
Just as the information stated, Caide smirks.
"We'll make our move. First, we'll show them an illusion of a monster, and while they're panicking, we'll seize our chance and abduct them."
There were some people with unusually large builds walking in front and behind the group, perhaps to guard them while they were evacuating... but that was all.
Once the refugees see the monster and start to panic, it will be extremely difficult to calm them down.
In the meantime, secure the objective.
His subordinates, about ten in number, all nodded in unison at that instruction.
"Now, let's get to work"
At Caide's command, his men move out, blending into the trees of the forest.
In the meantime, Caide activated his magic.
In sync with the footsteps of his subordinates, he conjured an illusion of a monster, making it appear to be among the refugees.
'Gwooooo!!'
"There it is, a monster!!"
"Kyaa!"
"Help me!"
As the fake roar echoed, the line of refugees broke apart and began to scatter in all directions.
At that moment, his hidden subordinates closed in on the group.
Their target was a small child with a similar physique to the primary target, Thea.
(Gotcha)
Confident in the success of their plan, Caide and his subordinates all murmured this in their hearts.
However.
"Huh... you've really come, haven't you? How foolish"
"What, guwah!?"
The moment the child they attempted to abduct raised their palm, Caide was stunned as his subordinate's body erupted in flames.
"What happened?" murmured Caide, as those who had been thought to be refugees suddenly threw off their robes all at once.
Seeing the figures that emerged from under the robes, Caide forgot to hide and yelled.
"Damn it... were we betrayed!!"
"Betrayed is a bit of a misrepresentation, isn't it? Originally, it was you all who tried to... no, to trap Euphemia, wasn't it?"
There were no refugees among the group.
The men, who were well-built, were bending over to look like refugees, and dragging their feet in an unfamiliar performance.
The fact that they appeared to be holding a child was merely a disguise, using the equipment they were using.
Among the group, only 2 people, just a child, announced themselves as if they were the master of the "knights"──no, in fact, as their master.
"The Kingdom of Ortria is the 'best', the Belmont Knights. In the name of Monica Belmont, who temporarily holds full authority over the order, I declare this. If you do not want to be burned to death here and now as a disgraceful barbarian, then surrender obediently."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)