At this moment, Sam is looking at the maps that are laid out on the table. He was quite shocked as he looked at one after another. Because each Map and Layout is painted extremely well, that they are almost realistic.
Not just that, they are extremely detailed and mapped in such a way that they can be used for hatching battle plans. Every weak point of the location was given out clearly and it is extremely easy to understand.
The most impressive work of all is the map of the whole Union. Even though it didn't include every single detail and he cannot be sure that it indicates every location there is, but he can bet that there might not be a more detailed map than this in the whole Union.
He observed all of them before asking Chatur.
"Chatur, what is wrong with your squad? Why did they give you away like that? You are an excellent addition to the team. You are even a Naga. I don't think race is the problem."
"Well, according to them my mapping ability no matter how good it is cannot be used in a direct battle. I can scout a location, I can identify the weaknesses of the locations easily and I can think of a thousand ways to destroy the location, but all of that was being buried and I was not given a chance to say that I can be useful this way, because my combat ability is subpar."
Sam was even more surprised.
"Are you saying that you never got a chance to show this ability of yours and get your required respect with that? Trust me Chatur, I would pay a bomb to hire a guy as skilled as you. You might not be good at combat, but your military acumen and mapping ability can make up for that subpar battle skills easily. It is unfair that you never got a chance."
"No, I got a chance fairly, but what is unfair is some guy wanted to try to get his name out there in front of the big dogs and improvised the plan I drew up and that also involved with a route I said highly dangerous in a plan of his own and it backfired.
He threw the blame on me and I cannot defend myself because of my lack of battle skills."
Sam thought for a moment and looked at him with deep thought. He hasn't seen a talent like this in a long while.
Even though Chatur's talents don't include in open wars and such, he is good at pointing weaknesses in layouts and he is a great addition to make fool-proof important constructions at the same time, he is also good for besieging and such.
He is also a great painter artisan.
"How did you scout all these areas? If you are not strong enough, how can you enter the enemy's territory?"
"Who said I have to be strong to enter the enemy territory, all I need to have is the talent to be discreet." He took out a paintbrush and turned himself into his human form. He started painting something on his face and he changed completely.
Even his aura changed.
Then with another wave of his brush, his face changed into Sam's and another wave, even his aura was disguised.
He turned himself back and said.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg. I entered the places deep enough to get the blueprint of one of the sect's bases. But I never got a chance to present myself."
Sam looked at him in the eyes and said. He cannot trust him clearly, because his abilities are too good to be ignored by the castle. That too when they are in such a situation.
"You are my assistant until the task is over. Report to the squad that I am taking you over and even send an application to the commanders. You are not going back anytime soon and that is if you ever go back.
After that, pull whatever strings you have to get me a meeting with the Merchant Union representative of Nagin castle and after that meeting, we are going to the base of the Union sect near our Volcanic Cannon."
Sam went on to look at the layouts regarding this location, while Chatur went to do what he was told.
The layouts are made in such a way that they could plan ahead if they want to do something to that base just by looking at it. There is no need for pre-fight scouting at all.
He marked some points and waited for Chatur to come. After an hour, he came back and said.
"The meeting with the merchant union representative should wait for a while. He is not here. He is off to a meeting with the remaining members from different castles. It is regarding the ongoing mess."
"Then, when can we meet him."
"Tomorrow, if he comes back and the day after tomorrow by the latest. But I have other options if you don't mind."
"What are they?"
"I have some connections with the merchant union members. I can get in touch with some of them. Which planet members are you going to make a deal with?"
Sam thought for a bit and said.
"How about the Merman Planet for the starters? Get in touch with someone who can make a deal of a product worth a few hundred million spirit stones. We can meet them tomorrow. If the deal is set, you can get two percent as a fee."
"I don't need a fee."
"I don't take anything for free Chatur. If you really want to do this, just to be friends, yes sure. You can do that. But that doesn't come into conflict with the business and I would pay for your efforts. And it is not easy to become my friend and it wouldn't depend on the favors you do to me. It would depend on your plain character. So, don't worry.
Now, why don't we make a move and secure the Volcanic Cannon and the nearest base of the Union sect now?
Do you have a flying beast?"
"Yes, I do. "
"Then let's go."
The Volcanic cannon is three hours away on this beast and when they arrived, the guards stationed here from the Nagin Castle are having a hard time.
There are fifty of them and there are signs of battle. Half the group is injured and there are some corpses around them.
The volcanic cannon looked like a volcano but it is too steep and straight and it is an active volcano. From what he heard, it shoots the resources out of it every month and the quota for this month would be in a week. This is the best time for the Union sect to trap this as they would get an immediate benefit right after and even if it was taken away later, that would be worth it.
He landed at the base and the squad leader came running to him and asked.
"Who are you guys?" He is a human and most of the squad members are human too and the rest of the non-human is all half-Naga.
Sam flashed his badge and asked.
"Which squad are you guys?"
"Squad 30."
"Okay now, what happened here?"
"They are chipping us down. Our squad used to have seventy members. But now, there are only fifty members. They are just attacking and retreating on the flying beasts and long-range attacks. They are more people, more resources, more beasts, more strength, and more support.
They are fucking my ass here."
His voice sounded frustrating.
"Why are they not sending the reinforcements?" Sam asked.
Chatur is the one who replied though.
"The political conflicts within. The Union sect is set on getting this no matter what and no commander wants to send his own squad to get them. And they don't want to weaken the remaining resource points and that led to the six special commanders."
Sam looked at the squad leader and said.
"I will need you guys to get ready, in a few hours their base is going to go down. I don't know what you guys do, but find more people to hold it down before their reinforcements come again."
With that Sam and Chatur started walking away.
The squad leader was dumbfounded.
He didn't know what happened, all he knows is some youngster comes here and flashes a special commander badge on his face and then says, the base of the opponents that they are facing for days and lost twenty men.
After some thinking, he just considered this as a cocky man trying to show off.
But what he doesn't know is Sam is walking straight towards a place that could give a proper view of the base.
They walked towards a cliff nearby and entered a cave that was covered with a load of soil and rocks a few feet below the surface.
After climbing into that opening and moving high enough, Sam used his back and legs to stay there and Chatur is right below him.
Not many people pay attention because the crack is tapered inside and from outside of the cliff, it wouldn't look like it could fit a person like that.
"I must say chatur, you could pick some great positions.
I can look at the whole castle from here and this is exactly what I need to finish off this base."
"What can you do from here? It is too small to use archery. It can be used to keep an eye on their movements. Nothing more."
"In normal cases, Yes. But it is me here and all I would need is this place to do what needs to be done. Now, let us finish this thing and have a great meal with whatever local specialties we can get in this area."
