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“Your Excellency Yuri!” (Dimitri)

Dimitri said with a look of joy on his face when he saw me. Although he had been entrusted with significant authority, it was clear that he wanted to seek instructions.

“Dimitri, there’s no time. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say and follow my orders.” (Yuri)

“Yes!” (Dimitri)

On the table in front of Dimitri were maps scattered about, and on top of them was the piece of paper I had seen earlier. He had likely already read its contents.

“The report that Liao Rube has started a rebellion isn’t misinformation intended to confuse us. We’ve also received a message from Myaro.” (Yuri)

“………” (Dimitri)

Dimitri had a tense expression.

“Therefore, we’re retreating. Full army retreat.” (Yuri)

“Understood. Then—” (Dimitri)

“Wait, hear me out to the end. Don’t miss a single word. This is important.” (Yuri)

“Ha—?” (Dimitri)

Dimitri looked puzzled.

“First, about the route we’ll use for the retreat. If we use the communication line we talked about yesterday, it will definitely not go well. A trap that will cause us fatal damage is lurking somewhere. As a result, we’ll lose much of our fighting force and either be annihilated on the spot or weakened to the point where we won’t be able to fight Liao Rube’s rebel army. In that case, we won’t be able to take back Sibyaku, and rebuilding our forces away from our base will be extremely difficult. In short, we’ll be ruined. That’s absolutely what’s going to happen.” (Yuri)

Dimitri was dumbfounded at my prophetic words, then his expression turned grim.

“Why do you think that will happen? Do we have any information?” (Dimitri)

“Why was Liao Rube able to start a rebellion? It’s because Kien Rube died four months ago, isn’t it?” (Yuri)

If Kien hadn’t died, Liao would never have been able to assume the position of head of the Rube Household. Therefore, he wouldn’t have been able to freely move the entire Rube Household army, and without military authority, he couldn’t have started a rebellion.

Dimitri’s face turned astonished.

“Since back then? So, the enemy launched their offensive just to kill Kien-dono?” (Dimitri)

“Yes. It must have been a risky gamble, but they sacrificed one of their treasured Temple Knight divisions just for that.” (Yuri)

If their only aim was to kill Kien, they could have infiltrated a spy to assassinate him. That would have been much cheaper. After all, Kien wasn’t hiding on the far side of a peninsula full of Shanti. He was stationed on our side. However, they deliberately started a war and killed him during battle. If he had been assassinated by another method, even if it had been disguised as an accident, I would have investigated the incident thoroughly.

What was their objective, and who benefitted? Naturally, Liao would be the first suspect, and preparations for the rebellion would have become much more difficult.

However, if Kien was killed on the battlefield, there would be no room for suspicion. In hindsight, the enemy’s straightforward targeting of the main camp was likely to ensure Kien’s death, but aiming for the enemy’s command center is a standard tactic, not a trick. No one found it strange that Kien was severely injured during the battle. The enemy deliberately chose an extremely costly method solely to prevent any doubt about Kien’s assassination.

“We’ve been completely fallen into that strategy. And retreating via the pre-arranged communication line is exactly what the enemy would expect us to do. We’re up against people who went this far. There’s no way this will end with, ‘Phew, that was close, but we managed to retreat’.” (Yuri)

In short, the enemy has overturned the table and seized the initiative. To reclaim it, we’re deep in enemy territory with limited options. We can’t move freely with a conventional approach. If Alfred had been working with them from the start, setting up a few traps along the communication line wouldn’t be a difficult task.

Like I did in the past, they could destroy a bridge-like structure, or they could destroy a makeshift dam upstream, creating an impassable area. Alternatively, an enemy force of around 20,000 could be lying in ambush somewhere along the line, ready to secure a defensible fortress. We wouldn’t be able to retreat while towing heavy artillery, making it difficult to capture the fortress. Meanwhile, the army that crushed Angelica would come after us, and we’d be caught in a pincer attack.

“…But if we don’t use the communication line, how do you plan to retreat?” (Dimitri)

I need to tell you that now.

“Just listen. I’m giving you full authority over the army from now on, so I need to lay out the course of action in case I die.” (Yuri)

“Huh—? Die?” (Dimitri)

“Listen. If I die, you’ll have no choice but to use the communication line, but don’t try to head north. Aim for Shantinion. Do whatever you can to outmaneuver the enemy. Even if it seems inefficient or risky, keep doing it. Playing in the enemy’s hands will result in much greater losses.” (Yuri)

“Understood.” (Dimitri)

“And if you manage to preserve some of the troops and return, do not fight Liao Rube. It may be difficult for you emotionally, but you must adhere to this rule at all costs.” (Yuri)

“Huh? You’re saying we’ll forgive the usurper and submit to him? That’s—!” (Dimitri)

Just imagining it made Dimitri flush with anger.

To say the least, fleeing with our tails between our legs from Liao, the usurper, was an unbearable humiliation for a vassal of the Hou Household. Whether they win or lose, their mindset is that everything starts with a fight. However, that would be a problem.

“Liao Rube simply couldn’t stand living under my governance, but he’s not a traitor. He’s not going to sell out the country just by being left alone. If we engage Liao Rube in a battle with our already depleted forces and lose, and if we also weaken Liao’s forces, then we’re playing right into the enemy’s hands. Liao will become prey for them, too.” (Yuri)

“But—” (Dimitri)

“Don’t fight, carry Shulika and cross the sea. This is an order. Do you understand?” (Yuri)

That is, if Shulika manages to escape. This kind of tactic, where the enemy’s central authority is swiftly and unexpectedly targeted, is known as a decapitation strike. But capturing the entire royal castle before Shulika has time to escape on an Eagle is no easy task. There’s still a portion of the royal guard stationed at the castle, and Shulika is being protected by the Queen’s Swords.

As Dimitri processed my words, his expression soured, as if he had swallowed something bitter.

“I don’t have time to persuade you. Just agree.” (Yuri)

“…Understood.” (Dimitri)

“Now, I’ll transfer full command of the army to you. After I leave… let’s say, defend the village behind us for 40 minutes. If I don’t return, begin retreating to the southwest. Got it. Repeat it, Dimitri Daz.” (Yuri)

“…Understood. For 40 minutes, we will defend the village at all costs, and then we will begin our retreat.” (Dimitri)

“Good. See you.” (Yuri)

I stood up from my seat.

I grabbed one of the pure white signal flags bundled near the entrance to be used for communicating with the Eagles.

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