"This is easy?"
Magnus’s words caught the won off guard.
Simple? With over forty thousand enemy troops outside and barely a thousand of their own - forty to one - there was nothing simple here.
"There’s no way to make them fight each other. No matter what we do to provoke them, they won’t take the bait. They’re too smart for that," Sophia said, her tone sharp with disbelief.
Magnus didn’t argue. He just picked up a pen, tapped the map in front of them, and asked, "This... is where Cliff’s unit is based, correct?"
"Yes. No doubt about it," Sophia nodded.
"And this is where the Ridgebreak Battalion is camped?"
"Right. That’s where they are now," she confird again quickly, then added, "But getting them to clash - it’s impossible. They won’t be tricked that easily."
Still ignoring her doubts, Magnus tapped again on Cliff’s position. "So if Baxter wants to attack us, he’d have to pass through the Ridgebreak camp?"
"Exactly," Emily nodded this ti.
Having confird the positions, Magnus set the pen down and looked around. "Then all we need... is to make Baxter strike first."
"The logic’s sound, but how exactly do you plan to provoke him?" Charlotte sighed. "We’ve already brainstord a dozen ways. Pretending to be Ridgebreak soldiers won’t work. We’re all won - can’t pull that off. And sneaking around Ridgebreak’s flank to hit Baxter directly? Too risky unless it’s a small team, maybe a hundred, through the back route over the mountain."
"No need to pretend. And one hundred’s plenty," Magnus said with a calm smile.
He traced a line across the road near Baxter’s camp. "Both their armies likely brought supply wagons, either at the rear or in the center of the formation... I’d bet on that."
He paused, then continued, "Ignore Ridgebreak for now. All we need is to find the location of Baxter’s food wagons tonight - then blow them up. Whether it’s late tonight or early tomorrow, once his supplies are gone, he’ll have no choice but to move."
"Blow up Baxter’s supply wagons?"
The won exchanged uncertain looks. It felt like Magnus was planning to burn soone else’s bridge, not his own.
"So you an..." Emily started slowly, thinking aloud, "We hit Baxter’s wagons before they get to the negotiation table. Without food, he’s forced to act... is that your angle?"
"Exactly," Magnus nodded. "No supplies ans he has to fight. Even if Ridgebreak opens a path, Baxter won’t dare rush through without backup. He’s gotta move with Ridgebreak - deal with them first - then co for us."
Sophia frowned, voice full of concern. "But... what if Baxter just retreats? What if he pulls back to Springvale City without food and ditches the whole thing? We’d be stuck facing Ridgebreak alone!"
"Not a chance." Magnus shook his head firmly and looked at Sophia. "You and Charlotte both ca from the army. Think about it - if you two were commanding Cliff’s n and soone blew up your food carts, what would you do? Tuck tail and run?"
"No way," Sophia replied, just as certain.
"Exactly." Magnus rubbed his temples. "With Cliff’s temper? If his officers dare crawl back to Springvale City that easily, they’ll get a bullet in the head before they make it past the gate."
Charlotte nodded. "Forget Cliff. In any unit, a commander screwing up like that would be facing a firing squad."
"Which ans there’s no retreat. They’ll have no choice but to dig in and fight for it. So here’s what we’re doing - midnight, we blow up their supply carts. Then get ready for the counterattack."
He stood up, tone final. The won around him understood in full now. The stakes were obvious, and a fight - if won - ant real breathing room for the Ice Regint in this underground depot. The tension shifted, lit with a spark of excitent. Even Charlotte and Sophia looked at Magnus differently now. Respect - just a trace, but undeniable.
With the plan nailed down, Magnus wasted no ti assigning tasks. "Emily, Sophia. You two see that everyone’s prepped by nightfall."
"Liana, open it all up. Whatever good food we’ve got, hand it out. Let the team enjoy a proper al. Weapons? Don’t conserve. Bullets, shells - bring it all out. And crystals. Charlotte, pick 500 of our best fighters. Give them tal Crystals only. Once that’s done, give them a solid pre-battle talk. Set the rewards, give them sothing to fight for - and sothing to hope for."
"Yes, sir!"
"Got it!"
"Understood!"
The won stiffened up, blood running hotter now. Energy buzzed through them. Sophia turned to Magnus. "Who’s handling the cart bombing?"
"I am." Magnus’s voice was steady. "I’m leaving soon. No large group needed - Abigail, Emma, you’re coming with . We’ll bring fifty Awakened."
"On it. We’ll get ready."
The Doyle sisters stepped forward. There was a flicker of sothing in their eyes - not quite love, not pure anger. A tangled ss. They hadn’t yet forgiven Magnus for using them like tools, but there was no going back now.
By 1 a.m., Magnus, the sisters, and the fifty won were assembled and ready. Before heading out, he went over the key points one last ti.
Emily, Liana, and the others hadn’t slept. They ca out to see him off. Sarah didn’t even hold back - threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Magnus chuckled. "What’s with this sendoff? We’re raiding carts, not heading for the grave. Look at you all - like we’re never coming back."
Charlotte frowned, worry creeping in. "Magnus, stay sharp. Those food carts hold their whole supply chain together. They’ll guard them tight. If things go south, don’t act tough. Fall back if you must. Your life’s the real goal here."
"I’ve got rocket launchers," Magnus grinned, patting his back. "Relax. We’ve got this handled."
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