Chapter 105. Sothing Was Off, the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom’s Legion Muster
News from the Sixth Battalion arrived quickly.
They had already taken complete control of Galefall Fortress. There really had been only a single recruit legion stationed inside, and they had found neither hidden troops nor any unusual magic array.
What was strange, however, was that the civilians inside the fortress had long since been evacuated, and even the stored grain and fodder were pitifully scarce, as though they had been deliberately cleared out beforehand.
William held the Communication Crystal in his hand, his fingertips tightening slightly.
The calm at Galefall Fortress felt far too deliberate. The evacuation of the civilians, the lack of provisions, and the presence of only recruits... when those clues were strung together, they gave off an indescribably strange feeling.
After thinking for a mont, he said to Zoe, “Go call in several of the Royal Legions’ legion commanders. Tell them it’s a military council.”
These Royal Legions answered directly to the royal family, and their commanders were all trusted confidants whose families had served the crown for generations. They were absolutely reliable.
A short while later, Marquis Peter entered the Main Tent together with several legion commanders clad in heavy knight armor. The royal insignias on their armor reflected the candlelight.
William explained the situation at Galefall Fortress from beginning to end, then said in a low voice, “I keep feeling that there is deception hidden in this, but for the mont I still can’t see what Silver Oakleaf intends. What do all of you think?”
The Fifth Legion Commander was a stern-faced middle-aged man. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Your Highness, there is definitely sothing wrong here.”
“Silver Oakleaf would never abandon a fortress for no reason, nor would they leave recruits guarding such a vital passage. The civilian evacuation and the emptied provisions clearly show that they made preparations long ago.”
The Seventh Legion Commander nodded in agreent.
“This subordinate agrees. But the information we have right now is too limited. We have not caught any ambushing troops, and we have found no trap. If we insist on guessing at the enemy’s intentions, we may only drive ourselves into a dead end.”
After a pause, he proposed, “Since Galefall Fortress is already under our control, we might as well continue advancing according to the original plan. Let the vanguard slow its pace and strengthen reconnaissance.”
“If Silver Oakleaf truly has so move prepared, sooner or later they will reveal a flaw.”
Marquis Peter added, “This subordinate believes we can split our forces. Leave the Sixth through Eighth Battalions of the Royal First Monster Legion to garrison Galefall Fortress.”
“The main force can continue advancing. If the army ahead is attacked, the forces at Galefall Fortress can reinforce them in ti, and they can also guard against our rear being cut off.”
As William listened to their analysis, his fingertips tapped lightly against the table.
What they said made sense. There was no aning in remaining trapped in endless speculation. Only by continuing to advance could they force Silver Oakleaf to reveal its hidden card.
“Then that is what we’ll do.”
He made his decision. “Pass down the order. The Sixth through Eighth Battalions of the Royal First Monster Legion will garrison Galefall Fortress, strengthen its defenses, and closely monitor all surrounding movents. If anything unusual happens, report it imdiately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The main force will continue forward. The vanguard will be replaced by the scouts of the Ninth Battalion of the Royal First Monster Legion. Expand the scope of reconnaissance. If they encounter the enemy, they are not to fight head-on unless necessary. Their main objective is to determine the true situation.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The legion commanders accepted their orders and withdrew, leaving only William and Zoe in the Main Tent.
“Your Highness, do you suspect those nobles?” Zoe asked softly.
William raised his head and looked in the direction of Galefall Fortress, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes.
“For Silver Oakleaf to grasp our movents so precisely, either their reconnaissance capabilities far exceed our expectations...”
“Or there are ‘eyes’ by our side. What happened at Galefall Fortress may well have been aid at those ‘eyes.’”
He wanted to see whether, once the main force continued to advance, those people hiding in the shadows would continue passing information to Silver Oakleaf.
And he wanted to know whether the elaborate setup Silver Oakleaf had arranged was ant to buy ti, or whether it was preparing an even greater counterattack.
By evening, William led the main force into Galefall Fortress. The soldiers set up camp inside the fortress in orderly fashion, and cooking smoke curled upward in the fading dusk.
The council hall had already been converted into a temporary command room. A massive map hung on the wall, marked with the terrain and strongholds of Silver Oakleaf’s Eastern Frontier.
William stood before the map, his fingertip tracing the region behind Galefall Fortress.
There lay a vast open plain, stretching for thousands of miles with fertile soil. It was the primary grain-producing region of Silver Oakleaf’s Eastern Frontier, and it belonged to a count nad Kao.
By all logic, Silver Oakleaf should have stationed heavy troops to guard such an important food-producing area, yet the current intelligence showed that only a few local garrison units were there. There was not even a trace of a regular legion.
“A flat expanse for miles, with no terrain worth defending, and yet they still emptied it of troops...”
William murmured to himself, his brows drawing together even more tightly.
Silver Oakleaf could not possibly be unaware of the importance of those plains. If they were leaving them unattended, then either they had so other sche, or they were luring the enemy deeper in.
Zoe brought over a cup of hot tea and said softly, “Your Highness, Count Kao is not considered part of Silver Oakleaf’s core power. I’ve heard his relationship with the royal family is distant. Perhaps... he never received any orders to deploy his defenses?”
“Impossible.”
William shook his head. “No matter how distant he is, he would never joke around with his own territory. Iron Skull Fortress has only just fallen. Silver Oakleaf’s focus must now be on the Eastern Frontier. That is basic military common sense.”
He turned and looked out the window. In the night, the outline of Galefall Fortress was gradually fading into darkness, with only the torches of the patrolling soldiers still moving outside.
“Pass down the order. Early tomorrow morning, the entire Ninth Battalion of the Monster Legion is to move out and scout the surrounding area. The Royal Legions will guard the rear and maintain formation as they advance.”
“Tell everyone in the Ninth Battalion to keep their eyes wide open. Even if it is only a rabbit running across the plain, I want it reported.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After Zoe left, William turned his gaze back to the food-producing region on the map.
More than a dozen villages and towns were scattered across that land. If Silver Oakleaf truly intended to make a move, those villages could both hide troops and serve as bait for a trap.
He had even begun to wonder whether the enemy might burn their granaries and cut off his hopes of resupplying there.
But if they did that, Silver Oakleaf’s own losses would be enormous as well.
“What exactly are they waiting for...?” His fingertip pressed heavily against the mark indicating Count Kao’s territory.
As the night deepened, the candlelight in the command room flickered, illuminating William’s contemplative profile.
At the sa ti, in the Silver Oakleaf Kingdom’s Royal Council hall, the atmosphere was grave, yet faintly relaxed.
“We have already verified the attitude of Kadiya and Dragon.”
A prince bowed as he delivered his report.
“They are indeed only going through the motions. They have no intention of fully supporting Kroll, and they have even secretly reached an understanding with us. As long as their own borders are not affected, they will not interfere in the war on the Eastern Frontier.”
Seated in the place of honor, Silver Oakleaf’s king, Odyssey V, slowly nodded, and the tension in his expression eased sowhat.
“In that case, we have nothing left to worry about.”
He suddenly struck the table, his voice firm and decisive.
“Pass down my order. Mobilize the kingdom’s military strength. Leave a small number of garrison forces on the Western Frontier to restrain the Foreign Race. All remaining main forces are to be transferred east. Their target is the Kroll legions in the Eastern Frontier.”
The nobles in the council hall were all startled, but then battle intent flared in their eyes.
“Your Majesty, Kroll has thirteen legions, as well as that unknown Gold Legion and its Legendary Combatants. We...”
“Since we are fighting on our ho soil, the advantage is ours.”
The king cut him off, his finger stabbing hard at the map.
“I intend to swallow these hundreds of thousands of troops in one bite and leave the Kroll Kingdom no ti to react.”
“As for the Legendary Combatants, you need not worry. The Ancestors will deal with them.”
He looked toward the Minister of Military Affairs at his side.
“To buy ti for troop mobilization, we must hold William back. The performance at Galefall Fortress must continue.”
The Minister of Military Affairs bowed and replied, “Your servant has already made the arrangents. Count Kao will resist layer by layer and slow their advance.”
“Very good.” The king rose to his feet and swept his gaze across the assembled generals. “I am giving you half a month. You are to complete the troop concentration within that ti. Half a month from now will be the day the Kroll legions are annihilated.”
“We obey.”
Silver Oakleaf’s mobilization order spread through the kingdom like an undercurrent.
The legions on the Western Frontier quietly withdrew eastward. Local garrison troops were urgently reorganized, and even the two Monster Legions that had originally been responsible for guarding the Royal Capital began breaking camp and setting out.
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