The Empire. The Ministerial Conference held under the Empire’s system.
Today’s attendees were the Minister of War, Minister of Magic, and the Minister of Finance.
The Chief of Staff, who usually acts as the head of the General Staff, should also be present, but he’s currently stationed on the battlefield.
Therefore, it was decided to substitute his physical presence with a virtual one via the magical communicator, just like previous meetings.
“Chief of Staff, could you explain that again?”
The Minister of Magic, the most senior of them all, finally spoke up. It was clear from his tone that he was more than a little confused.
[We require magicians assigned to each Concentrated Unit. These magicians must be proficient in Detection Magic.]
“A detection magic? How far exactly are we talking about here?”
[A minimum range of 3,000 paces. Ideally, a distance where we can detect and prepare for enemy ambushes in advance.]
Detect and prepare for enemy ambushes… That would mean the Chief of Staff, Kael, suggests an optimal range of 5,000 paces (approximately 3.5 kilometers). Quite a vast distance. Not impossible, but certainly not something the average magician could handle. This implies we’d need highly skilled individuals.
“Do you intend to deploy all of them to the Concentrated Units?”
[Not just the Concentrated Units. We also need personnel for a separately operated Mobile Strike Force.]
“…”
At this point, even the Minister of War seems to be glancing nervously at the Minister of Magic.
They all understand the situation — they’re at war, and every human and material resource needs to be deployed. But magicians are among the most important of those resources, incredibly powerful yet extremely expensive to maintain and deploy. To think that one skilled magician is worth roughly three thousand of even the Empire’s most experienced soldiers! Losing even a few magicians would be devastating. And Kael isn’t talking about just a few. He’s speaking in terms of dozens, possibly hundreds.
[The three Ministers present understand my concerns well.]
Kael’s voice on the magical communicator carried a faint smile as he continued.
[However, if we fail to preemptively counter the Dedolant Concentrated Units now, the losses down the line will far outweigh the burden placed on us today.]
“I won’t outright object, Chief of Staff. Even I, with little knowledge of warfare, understand the importance of supply lines. But a magician capable of this kind of Detection Magic has surely dedicated at least five years, if not more, to their craft. That’s the bare minimum. Most likely, they’d need seven to eight years of training.”
Even losing a few magicians would be like losing thousands of skilled Legion Soldiers. While every life holds equal value, the cost of training these soldiers and magicians adds another layer of complexity.
The three Ministers were visibly troubled, but this was expected given their administrative roles.
[I have already considered this issue.]
“You have a plan?”
[There are many ex-soldiers and veterans who’ve been sidelined due to previous injuries. Additionally, there are survivors from the 9th and 13th Legion. I intend to use these experienced soldiers to strengthen the Concentrated Units.]
“If nothing else, this would definitely boost their combat effectiveness.”
[This isn’t just about increasing the numbers; it’s about enhancing the overall strength. Any additional strain on the Concentrated Units will be manageable. Furthermore, these strengthened units will better support the magicians we place among them.]
Magicians and Legion Soldiers have always been a well-oiled team. The Minister of Magic nodded in agreement, seeing no need to press the matter further.
[As I said, failing to address the rear promptly will only disadvantage our forces. While this current measure might seem overreach or risky, looking ahead, it’s the least costly way to prevent massive potential losses.]
The voice from the magical communicator was filled with strength, confidence, and a firm resolve. This wasn’t just any voice; it was none other than Kael Klauwitz’s, the Empire’s top strategist whose track record was flawless—no failures or defeats, just victories.
Even someone as senior as the Minister of Magic or as high-ranking as the Minister of Finance, or even someone as battle-hardened as the Minister of War, felt somewhat diminished in his presence.
“…Naturally, deploying magicians isn’t solely about utilizing them as human resources. Your Grace, the Chief of Staff, you understand we will also require substantial material resources?”
[Of course, Your Grace.]
“The war is dragging on, and while victory is our foremost goal, the administrative arm of the Empire must also ensure the life and prosperity of its citizens. I apologize if it seems like I’m challenging your decisions frequently.”
Kael waved his hand, dismissing any such notion. Who could blame the Ministers? This was their duty, ensuring that every decision was well-weighed and prudent.
In the battlefield, the soldiers deserve every bit of support and kindness. But those commanding them must be held to the highest, most ruthless standards of accountability to ensure sound judgment.
“The Minister of Magic, it seems that given the Chief of Staff’s insistence, securing these supply lines is going to be a critical key in determining the outcome of this war.”
“I share your sentiment. With the Chief of Staff’s request, we will aim to muster as many suitable magicians as possible. It won’t be easy, but for the Empire, it certainly isn’t impossible.”
After some further negotiations, the deal was sealed, and thus, a new type of Concentrated Unit was born.
A combination that most other nations would only dream of. An absurd team-up of soldiers who should belong in the regular Legions and magicians who form the very core of the magical forces. In terms of sheer combat power, this Concentrated Unit was more like a specialized squad than a mere supply escort. Their strength was easily comparable to a whole battalion.
And as this new force set out, Kael took the next step.
“We’ll form a specialized Mobile Strike Force. Their sole mission will be to respond immediately when the Concentrated Units detect enemy incursions and then relentlessly pursue them.”
“If they attempt to flee into a forest, we’ll burn it to the ground. No matter how rough the terrain, we’ll follow them, and if they disappear, we’ll simply wait until they resurface.”
“They’ll be desperate. Sooner or later, they’ll have to stick their heads out, and that’s when we break their necks.”
While the Empire’s main force was already heavily engaged at the front, resources were now being channeled into the rear as well. The Dedolant Kingdom had expected that the Empire would focus their attention forward, leaving their rear exposed. Instead, the Empire had cleverly lured Dedolant forces into their own backyard.
“Now, let’s wait. Good news should be coming soon.”
*
Huff. Puff!
A Dedolant soldier emerged breathlessly, having barely escaped a recent encounter. Over the last two weeks, this soldier had successfully launched several raids on the Empire’s Concentrated Units, causing notable disruptions to their supply lines.
They had stumbled a few times, but certainly, they had managed to create enough chaos to affect the Empire’s logistics. This was exactly where the Dedolant command had anticipated the situation. Keep the pressure up, and the Empire’s offensive would gradually weaken, providing an opportunity to push them back.
But beginning yesterday, everything changed.
At first, it seemed the same. The Empire’s Concentrated Unit entered an ambush point once more. Although the Empire occasionally changed their routes, the destination of their supplies always remained predictable. Combined with better regional knowledge, Dedolant forces had a distinct advantage.
However, something was off. The Empire’s units, which usually followed predictable paths, had suddenly paused. They then seemed to do something briefly before moving forward—slowly.
By the time it dawned on the troops what was wrong, the Empire’s forces were already rushing toward their ambush positions, knowing precisely where the Dedolant soldiers were hiding.
It was as if the Empire could see every detail of their deployment from above!
“I have to inform other units about this development.”
With this in mind, the soldier ran hard, motivated by pride for Dedolant and the Deo people.
But soon enough, he found himself face-to-face with the Empire’s Mobile Strike Force, who looked like they were already fed up waiting for him.
“Do you surrender, or will you d*e for the glory of the Deo people?”
The mocking tone of the Empire’s squad leader was unmistakable. No interest in negotiation. No interest in valuable intelligence. They clearly knew everything already.
“…Aaaaargh!”
Deciding he might as well take one of them with him, the soldier charged. But a swift arrow ended his attempt before he could land a blow.
“Idiotic little Dedolant,” the squad leader sneered. They were all the same. Rushing in expecting some kind of honorable fight. Soon enough, it seemed the fate of Dedolant was sealed, with even their best soldiers being squandered in such reckless acts.
