NOVEL NEXT Chapter 272
“Um, can I ask just one question?”
Jeongjae casually spoke to Jenis after a few days. Jenis nodded calmly, as if nothing was amiss.
“Of course. Is it about the operation?”
“Yeah, that’s it… I heard that the Magic Tower has started to relocate recently.”
“They’re moving all the fleets that were docked in Eramenia over to the Western Coast for mobilization. Of course, the Royal Family also has some ships they owned before, and there are a few vessels that were built for this operation. According to my calculations, there shouldn’t be any issues with the transport itself. Even if some ships run aground, there are ways to salvage the materials or find replacements.”
“No, that’s not what I’m worried about. Just, such a loud movement would surely catch the Demon King’s attention, right?”
Jenis nodded at Jeongjae’s question.
“That’s an unavoidable issue.”
“The Demon King is smart. He’s likely to read your intentions by watching your actions. Although he doesn’t have a strategic mind, he understands the importance of surprise in this operation. What I’m curious about is whether moving the Magic Tower is an action that shows our cards to the enemy.”
“That’s a good point, Professor. But that interpretation only arises because we know the answer ourselves.”
Dengan penuh percaya diri, Jenis berkata. Jeongjae, setelah mengenakan Harriet’s Glasses untuk meningkatkan kecepatan berpikirnya, memiringkan kepalanya.
“What do you mean, Jenis?”
“I instructed Sally Jeffrey to issue a mobilization order at the right time, including all the soldiers I have under my command into our allied forces. This movement means the Demon King won’t read my intentions. Well, let’s hope it works.”
Jeongjae began to rack his brain to understand Jenis’s words, but he still couldn’t grasp what Jenis was really planning. Jenis left without providing a detailed explanation to return to her duties in the barracks.
While Jeongjae stood alone, pondering Jenis’s words, the Demon King, concerned as the Grand Mage predicted, was holding a meeting in the Demon King’s Castle to deduce the Grand Sage’s intentions after hearing the news of the Magic Tower’s movement.
“What could this possibly mean?”
Violet Moriarty asked. Jean Helmut reported while kneeling before the Demon King.
“It must be for aggressive purposes. We know a lot about Harker. Just having faced him once, I can tell he’s nothing but an attack fool who has nothing in his head besides offense.”
“While he does have that aspect, he’s also a distinguished strategist with skills in retreating and reorganization. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the Grand Sage, Helmut.”
The Demon King pointed out in a calm voice. There was no need to strongly reprimand the commander who had made significant contributions with the last counterattack. Even after being admonished, Helmut stepped back, pleased for some reason. The Demon King, regardless, absorbed himself in his own thoughts without any interest.
“If it is for aggressive purposes, then they are likely planning to land troops on our Western Coast using the island on the Western Coast as a base. A terrifying assumption. If successful, it could mean a massive force that threatens our flanks along with the rebels we haven’t subdued yet.”
“Shouldn’t we respond quickly?”
The Succubus Queen asked. The Demon King frowned.
“But it could just be a ruse to divert our attention from the main southern direction, my mother.”
“It’s too big of a game for it to just be a simple ruse. It involves moving the Magic Tower.”
“Or perhaps it’s a symbolic act of relocating the Magic Tower as a form of propaganda, or a political intent to move the base away from the Imperial Palace to avoid interference from the Emperor… It’s complex. Honestly, I find it hard to believe this movement is genuinely aggressive…”
“Why is that?”
The Chancellor, Succubus Queen, asked. The Emperor tilted his head, looking as if he was asking a foolish question.
“Our Western Coast is surrounded by the territory of the Dragon Lord. In regions that aren’t theirs, there’s virtually nowhere to dock a ship, and even if you try to, the terrain is so poor that preparation wouldn’t be necessary. It would likely run aground by itself or become isolated without breaking through the natural geography. This means that unless the Dragon Lord allows access to his land, they wouldn’t even be able to attempt it.”
“I doubt the Dragon Lord’s loyalty.”
“It is suspicious. But knowing why it’s suspect only concludes even more that such a scenario is unlikely. The Gold Dragon is the most suspicious and cowardly of all. Would the allied forces be granted passage across his land? Absurd. There’s no way that personality could allow for that.”
The Demon King’s point was valid. The reason the Dragon Lord walks the tightrope between both factions is that he doesn’t want anyone encroaching on his territory. If humanity wanted to pass armies through the dragons’ territory, it would be impossible to persuade the Dragon Lord with any price or promise.
Thus, the Demon King couldn’t possibly think that the movement of the Magic Tower was about a landing attack on the West. He might think it was a possibility if the enemy commander was foolish, but despite occasionally winning, Margaret and Jenis were the best strategists of this age.
The Demon King didn’t want to underestimate the two. A landing probably wouldn’t happen. But to regard such a huge movement as meaningless or just trivial could also be to underestimate the enemy.
After pondering for a few dozen minutes, the Demon King suddenly spoke up.
“I came up with a hypothesis, but I can’t be sure…”
“Please, go ahead, your majesty.”
The Succubus Queen, aware of the Demon King’s wisdom, asked with the attitude of a student seeking answers. The Demon King hesitated before answering.
“If soon the Southern Lords, including Sally Jeffrey, mobilize on a large scale, this purpose may be clarified.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Succubus Queen reacted as if she had caught the same note as Jeongjae’s earlier words. Violet explained.
“Jean Helmut is right. The enemy is currently focused on attacking us to push us into a corner. But considering the enemy’s population, it’s clear they lack the military numbers to exert significant pressure on our forces. Currently, the one holding the most able-bodied men in the Empire is Duke Jeffrey, mother. Humans have to eat cultivated crops, and a lot of labor is needed to produce them.”
“I can understand that much.”
“However, there are many excellent administrators in the Empire. It is highly likely that grains have already been stored to last over a year. And if the Empire decides to end the war before this fall, it means there is a possibility of starting additional conscription from the territory with the most able-bodied men, sacrificing a year’s harvest.”
“The reason they would be that desperate is…”
“Because we are already fixing the machines. Once my father’s machines are completed, we will win this war. The enemy will know that we haven’t lost our devices forever, but that they are just temporarily broken… If they have accurate information, they’ll likely know we can fully repair them before the year ends. From the enemy’s perspective, they have plenty of reasons to feel they must behead Violet by the end of this year. Therefore, there are sufficient reasons to abandon agriculture in the Jeffrey Ducal Territory and gather more troops.”
“That makes sense. But how does that connect to the movement of the Magic Tower?”
“No matter how many ships we may have lost, and even losing the Kraken, if all the soldiers from the Ducal Territory come north, it shouldn’t be at the level of not being able to claim even a vacant house. If the enemy is considering mobilizing troops from the Jeffrey Ducal Territory… then the Western Sea would need at least minimal defenses. The Magic Tower serves as a very good structure for that. If that’s the case, this is a security measure in anticipation of additional mobilization. I think it’s a reasonable conjecture, isn’t it, mother? If conscription begins in the south, it could empower us.”
“Your majesty’s reasoning is sound. There is indeed a possibility that the enemy is moving for such reasons.”
“If that’s the case, there will soon be another offensive, your majesty.”
Helmut grinned. The Demon King nodded.
“Whether my conjecture is right or wrong, the enemy will attack again soon. And I believe the enemy’s main force is indeed from the south. They will attempt to advance infantry from the south while maneuvering cavalry eastwards, trying to seal off the eastern side of our Empire and this Demon King’s Castle again. While it’s good to pay attention to the west, we must still thoroughly prepare for both of these fronts, Helmut.”
“No problem. I think so too and am preparing all defensive strategies.”
“For now, let’s observe the situation a bit longer, then decide our future course based on any additional information obtained. Mother, please pay particular attention to intelligence and determine if there are signs of mobilization or additional conscription coming from the south. If not, we’ll need to rethink all our issues.”
“Understood, your majesty.”
“Then, let’s conclude today’s meeting!”
As the Demon King dismissed the meeting, the officials began to leave one by one from the Demon King’s Castle. The Succubus Queen, with a complex expression, left the Demon King’s Castle and became lost in thought.
“The Dragon Lord wouldn’t allow the enemy to pass… So the enemy won’t strike from the west…”
It sounded right. It was too clear and simple, and so self-evident that questioning it felt foolish. The Succubus Queen probably wouldn’t have questioned it either. If she hadn’t seen a very suspicious sight, no matter how trivial, she wouldn’t have had any reason to doubt this premise.
“Bernard Silverpoint…”
The Succubus Queen muttered. Would this matter be worth reporting to the Demon King? It could be. But still, there wasn’t enough information to formally submit a report. No, she was even more anxious about revealing that she had seen something to the enemy by making a premature move.
“Let’s move very discreetly, and I’ll catch a decisive clue.”
Elios vowed with a resolute look. Everyone has their own duties. Even if the queen of the succubi may not be the best strategist, she was undoubtedly an unparalleled expert in collecting and interpreting information on the continent.