229. Operation Name: Wildfire
“Temple of the Gods, grant us your blessing. Almighty Shield, we believe in your justice that brings peace to the world, and we confess. May your servant, who rests peacefully in your embrace, cross the halls of the Temple of the Gods and find peace under your power.”
“Temple of the Gods, grant us your blessing.”
“Look upon the souls tainted by the evil and filth of this world. Today, we mourn their deaths and pray. Grant them a place of happiness alongside the chosen saints, freeing them from the shackles of death to see you in peace.”
“May they live forever under the care of the Temple of the Gods.”
-Ding!
The bell rang, and the knights bowed their heads. The bishop of Shield sprinkled holy water on the altar where the remains were gathered and prayed. Fernandez watched the scene beside Kirhas.
The battlefield had already been cleaned up after several days. The corpses that once moved were piled up like a tower, lying on the altar. The priest took a torch from an acolyte and offered a short prayer.
The eulogy was over. Those who had risen as undead were treated as cursed minions and could not receive the burial rites of the bishop’s priests. However, at the request of Duke Carvelier, a funeral mass presided over by the priests was being held.
Those who knew this tragedy was orchestrated by the Emperor swallowed their anger as they watched, while those unaware praised the Duke’s benevolence. A politically decent start. It could use a few more spices.
Fernandez turned his horse and approached the Duke and the Prince, who were bowing their heads beside him.
“Isn’t that a bit too much?”
The Duke wore a sour expression. Fernandez, perhaps the hidden power behind the Chieftain, officially the only ‘favorite’ who could directly advise the Chieftain.
“Our priests, the priests of the Wraith Lords, and the mages have all cross-verified that they are not soldiers of the Wraith Lords. How could we manipulate that?”
“The priests of the Temple of the Gods can be persuaded. The priests of the Wraith Lords are our enemies anyway, so our claims won’t matter much. And the Imperial mage who verified them was Antaen, who is now dead.”
Fernandez spoke calmly. The Prince nodded beside him.
“Convincing the Church of the Temple of the Gods isn’t my concern. Duke, the reversal of this situation is inevitable. My father will attack Ribue no matter how things unfold.”
“Prince Robert. Even so, we don’t have enough troops to attack the Wraith Lords.”
The Duke didn’t know that Prince Robert was the leader of Iron Side. That was a secret between Robert, Fernandez, and Rene. Externally, the Prince was portrayed as a ‘righteous noble who stood against the Emperor’s tyranny.’
The envoy’s stay wouldn’t be long. And when the envoy returned to the Imperial Palace, the operation had to begin. The problem was that Ribue was a declining territory, and the other Electors wouldn’t help Ribue.
Ribue was isolated. A wasteland before the grasslands, abandoned after the western expedition. It was unclear how many Electors were aligned with the Emperor’s ambitions, but even those opposed to the Emperor wouldn’t help Ribue.
It was a matter of dividing interests. If there was an Elector actively opposing the Emperor, they would surely be a powerful Great Noble. They wouldn’t share their pie with Ribue, which couldn’t offer much assistance on the battlefield.
“Isn’t the Chieftain with us?”
“The Beastman Nobility is caught up in internal strife. The Chieftain came to Ribue to ask for help in ending the civil war. Even if two groups in need join hands, could they muster enough forces to attack the Wraith Lords and oppose the Emperor?”
That was true. The Chieftain’s forces would be heavily depleted just by ending the civil war. The west was in chaos.
“If the Emperor sees the situation in the west, he will surely send a legion. Since Duke Ribue has failed, the Emperor must send some signal. Externally, at least.”
“Externally, that’s likely. It won’t take long for the Imperial legion to turn into an attacking force against Ribue.”
If the Emperor’s scheme fails, he will expect Ribue to rebel.
In that situation, requesting a western expedition would be like throwing fish to a cat. The Emperor would gladly send troops to support the western expedition. His own army to stay even after the war.
Post-war, Ribue would be occupied by the Emperor’s forces. Meanwhile, the other Electors would fall into the Emperor’s grasp.
“The best way to expose the enemy’s weakness is to create the situation they most desire.”
Fernandez quietly looked at the Duke.
“We will divide our forces.”
“How? Our army is already insufficient.”
“If the Emperor joins the western expedition, the smaller our forces appear, the better. It will look easier to swallow. The rest of the forces will be sent to Gur.”
At his words, Robert nodded.
“When the Emperor’s core forces are concentrated in the west, the moment he is convinced of victory, Gur’s forces will occupy the Imperial Palace. The Emperor, busy with political maneuvers to win over other Electors, won’t be able to build a surveillance network over Gur. He will never suspect Gur of Trumille.”
“Assuming everything goes according to plan. Then the remaining forces, families, and people in this territory will have to face the Emperor’s army head-on. They won’t last half a day before being annihilated. Who will we leave in this zombie-infested land?”
Trusted individuals and key resources that can deceive the Emperor must remain here. They are the sacrificial lambs.
“I will.”
Fernandez looked at the Duke.
“I will stay as the representative of the Federation of Beastmen Nobles. Duke, you will stay too, won’t you?”
“…Right. Are we planning to die together? There’s no gain for you or the Beastmen Nobility. You’re not staying alone… Does this mean the Hearttaker Chieftain’s forces will remain?”
“If I proposed this plan and then said I’d escape, would you believe me? To make an Elector believe that an outsider must oppose the Emperor, I must stake my life.”
“What gain is there for you if the Emperor falls?”
“Well, Duke. Isn’t it better to have someone reasonable on the throne than a mad Emperor consumed by conquest and power?”
At those words, the Duke nodded.
“Is this the Hearttaker Chieftain’s will?”
“If that makes it more believable, then think of it that way.”
“Then it’s settled. Prince Robert, please propose the western expedition to the Emperor. The expeditionary force will be reassembled.”
The Duke smiled bitterly as he spoke. The last expeditionary force was a massive legion that concentrated the Empire’s full strength, and as its commander, he had ruled Ribue and amassed wealth and honor.
