Chapter 146
****
John spoke reading one of the reports from his spies, "It seems that the Royal family has decided and made their choice . It seems they still value the internal harmony and reduction of losses and hence their indirect support to Duke Fjord . I guess they have forced us this time around . This time they will see a war that was never witnessed in this continent . Taylor, from now on gather as much food as possible, even if it means buying at exorbitant prices from other domains, try making trade routes to the southern island of Elf kingdom as well . This time we can't trust the Royal Family as they may go back on their deal . The way they are encouraging people to migrate here at North-Frontier town reflects that they will use food as big leverage from now on and wait for the perfect time to strike us when we are in need dire need of food . I am sure they too are planning for raids in secrets . That would mainly be internally on our Granaries I think . Anyway, Increase the security of the Granary . As for the Immigrants, we will take in more people, as our domain will need people in the future and this works to our benefit . The Royal Family is just behaving the way I expected them to . I guess they are easy to manipulate . "
Taylor nodded and added his position on the current matter, "Lord, it's good that we can already make contacts with the elves because of Duke Sapphire . Their Nature magic with our Newest Technologies and farming techniques will increase agricultural production in our domain, manyfold . I will try to contact Elves on a personal level as well . When our biggest trade fleet travels there, I will send our naval fleet as well to protect them . "
John nodded, "Yes, it will be a big and good opportunity for us . We have to start making preparations for their arrival as said by Duke Sapphire . I hope to get their co-operation in exchange for Nature magic . I want this meeting to be a success . Make the best of our preparations which goes well with their local culture . If needed hire a man who is adept at Elvish culture in south . "
Taylor noted the requirements on a memo and spoke, "Yes, Lord . I will make sure that this meeting will be a success for us . "
****
Meanwhile, Ross read a letter which was addressed to him and spoke to Blake soon afterward, "Blake, you will have to leave for now and Join Eric at the eastern port . I hope you can report to Lord that we have found a lot of metal mines and some new types of mines that we are investigating currently . However, our biggest gain this time is the magic metal mine from our exploration this time around . Making ammunition, as well as our guns and Ballistae, would give us the best results with the magic metal . It is a piece of big news for our domain since war is near . I hope you can relay it to Lord personally . "
Blake nodded, "Well, that's all okay, but what about those blue horses, I feel they will be our biggest assets in case of war . They are quite mobile in water as well as land .
"Hmmm . . . For the blue horses . We will keep them here . We are calling it Aurora Horses as they are the native of this island . You only need to report about them directly to Lord Taylor or Lord himself . Because I feel taking Aurora Horses to the mainland will expose their uniqueness and people will naturally be curious about them which will, in turn, expose this island and our base . I think we should keep them hidden . Make sure to make a gag order so that no one spills one bean about it . We will use these horses in the war for invasion as well as escape, additionally they will be great for kiting . "
Blake asked confusingly, "What is kiting?"
Ross smiled and spoke, "A new term made by Lord . You will understand later on . "
Blake nodded even though he didn't understand, "True, I too feel they would be our biggest assets in the war, they can tackle geographical advantages and are quite diverse with a lot of mobility compared to normal horses . Well I still need to know what is kiting . "
Ross reminded Tornwall, "Meanwhile, tell Master Tornwall that he can send his disciple Tim immediately as we can start other operations over here as it is safe now compared to before . From the letters and reports, this time it seems that Fjord will start sending his hordes of ships and start raiding soon enough as there has been an increase in the number of ships as well as the posture of their navy on Morgan fleet which travels north regularly . Morgan family will be in danger if they don't get our support in time . They only have 5 ships . These days they are only traveling with Duke Rose's ship to avoid confrontation as Duke Rose's men too are armed with Ballistae . "
Blake frustatingly spoke, "Such a hassle man, can't you just write and jot it down to report it to Lord . How do you expect me to remember so many things at once?"
Ross shook his head, "Nah, there is a lot of confidential information this time . Lord specifically said that he wanted to hear it from your mouth or your trusted men's mouth himself as he doesn't want to leak any information this time . With so much information, I naturally wouldn't have trusted you but I guess this time orders are orders . All of us have to follow them . "
Blake sighed in front of inevitable circumstances, "Okay, would you be okay with 3 ships over here?"
Ross thought and spoke, "Hmm . . . 3 ships are okay for now, bring more supplies for ammunition, next time you travel . During this war, you can use this island as your base and take them by surprise in case something expected happens . I think you will get more ships on the way you come here . This time I am going to make shipyard over here so that we can realize all the new types of ships that Lord wishes to make this time around . "
Blake laughed as he heard about the shipyard and ships, "hahaha, Good I will be hoping for a big and armed shipyard along with the coast . I expect nothing less from the new inventions of Lord John's Designs . Okay, I will be Leaving now . "
****
On the Western front in a certain Manor,
Lukavv spoke to Duncan after hearing the new reports, "This time, we will act against Felix when the Radiant church focuses and reduces their surveillance on us and increasing their focus on Count John . This time I will catch all of those assholes unprepared . He will be tortured just like his knights who committed that sin in the past . I have never forgotten that night . Felix will beg me to kill him when I catch him . As for that old man, I will make sure to make him go insane after he hears of this news . Hmph . . he thinks I don't know about his deliberate ignorance and his support to him behind the scenes just because I loved Apophis who was Demon girl . He seems to think that I don't know about his disdain for the demons . This kingdom will be in turmoil after Fjord starts his raid and I will make sure it is in chaos . "
Duncan nodded and agreed, "Yes Milord . Our armies are all set for your orders . We are fully prepared to raid our enemies . "
Lukav nodded, "Okay, What are the report's on Hector's side?"
Duncan took out a document and spoke, "From our reports, he will attack Count John after the war starts . It seems he hasn't heeded your advice . Do you still want to save him?"
Lukav shook his head as he heard Duncan, "No, it is his choice . I will only consider it if he comes to me . "
Duncan cautiously asked, "What about count John? I think he is someone who values words . Hector has offended him a lot of times . If it were you in Count's place, you would have already killed him or a conspiracy would have been going on to kill him . Meanwhile, Count John is also aware of Hector's plan of assassinating him long ago . When Evan's incident happened Hector decided to stop that assassination . This time as well this war has started because of Hector's conspiracy . You might already know that, right?"
Lukav thought nostalgically and then spoke with determination, "I guess then this is Hector's fate as he takes a lot after Felix . I guess this start of the war is still good for us as I won't get the same chance ever again to catch Felix again . Okay, I have decided, We will start collecting strategic resources and also order more of those ballistas from Count John . Offer him Critical information as he would most likely want to arm himself with information right now . My revenge for Apophis is greater than anything in this world, I will make sure that our plan succeeds this time around . Those assholes will pay for what they did to Apophis . No one can stop me this time around . Not even my mother . "
Duncan listened and spoke, "Okay, Milord . Is there anything else?
Lukavv reconfirmed again, "Are there any suspicious movements from anyone . "
Duncan thought about suspicious movements and thought about Ralph, "I think Ralph is one and another one would be Count John himself as he is increasing the northern patrols nowadays with the new ships he bought . While Charlie also is making suspicious movements this time around with Radiant church contacting him frequently . Currently, Charlie's whereabouts are unknown . Meanwhile, I think Count John is overthinking that the dwarves will invade and hence his increase in patrolling in the northern waters nowadays . "
Lukavv spoke with a grave tone, "Maybe, there is something else . My instincts say so . I don't think Count John would worry about dwarves right now at least and even if the dwarves invade this time they will be in for a surprise with these new weapons . And they would not be foolish enough to invade without any inspection and surveillance on local populace . I don't think they will invade until the end of this war when Fjord asks their help . "
Duncan thought about certain scenarios and agreed but thought about a certain report, "I guess this is true as well . They won't invade without thinking, but from the reports, these days they had a lot of aggressive patrols in the eastern waters . It seems something has changed, at least when it comes to their patrols . I guess I am only imagining . There is also another peculiarity to note, Recently Count John and his men are buying food at an alarming rate and that too at exorbitant prices . Should we be alarmed?"
Lukav smiled and spoke, "As expected he doesn't trust that slimy old man . I think he already guessed that old man's intentions and hence his buying spree . The only thing he has to worry about is the old man Eanred and the dragon knights who can change the battlefield within a short time after they are deployed . Anyways, we will attack Felix's castle after Fjord starts his Raids on Count John . At that time the Church would be more focused on the eastern hemisphere . At that time I will see how that Asshole David saves Felix's ass . After Felix, David will be the one who we will target and try to capture . They won't have an easy death after what they did Apophis . "
Duncan sighed as he heard Lukav and thought nostalgically, 'I guess the end fate of Apophis was the turning point in Lord's life . She had a lot of influence on the lord . I guess Lord truly Loved Apophis, both lord and that girl are pitiful souls indeed . That pope indeed is a devil in white clothes clinging to power by any means . I guess he feared lords influence on the Radiant church and the kingdom if he married a demon girl . Even Lionheart was no good . A corrupt man, I guess this comes because of his fight for the throne with his brother . '
