Chapter 118

Wow, thank you guys so much for the support. Coming back to all your kind words has been really nice to see. PLUS we actually surprised our power stone record this week by an INSANE amount! 44 power stones! That's crazy. You guys are amazing. 

I want to shout out some of you legends: 

Atomic_Ix, Nathan_Kelly, Muky_, Cirilomacho, Funnygrunt, Peni_Makutu. 

Much love to yall.

PS: I was going to release this chapter yesterday but I had a date so couldn't finish. 

The chapter starts here:

Kane calmly walked between two tents, near a corner of the camp. He did his best not to draw too much attention to him as he disappeared into the dark, private area. 

"Akak you there?" Kane peaked into a mid-sized crack in the wall. 

"Yes, my lord! I have come with two of these ratfolk assassins."

"Good. Have they scouted the area?"

"Yes, we are currently coming up with a plan of attack. Annius and I brought back as many troops as we could. The horde has grown to an astronomical size but I fear it's mainly full of goblin fodder. Luckily we have quite a few goblin shamens and warg calvary. We also have two full companies of soldiers. Newly outfitted crusaders and veteran legionnaires stand ready to fight for you. Galter also brought Othes and Skag as well as the current best assassins the ratfolk have. They are already being deployed to sabotage the camp." 

"Good, I have men doing that as well. Together we should be able to weaken the defenses considerably. That's not the issue. As confident as I was with this attack there's a snag."

"What is it, my lord?" 

"The camp's leader is one of the strongest of the kingdom's battle masters. Apparently he has two battle arts, only one being known."

"I heard. We have a couple of ratfolk running intelligence. But Skag also thought of a weakness we could exploit." 

"What is it?"

"Well his rats couldn't do it but if one of your men inside could sneak into the field kitchen and find the food they make him then you could poison it. I assume the battle art helps against many poisons so I am unsure how strong it would be. And if it doesn't kill him maybe it could at least weaken his power." 

"That's an excellent idea!" Kane was excited at the prospect but slightly embarrassed he didn't come up with it. 

"I concur. When the battle starts Galter, Othes, and I will rush to your side and help with the battle master. But how would you like the rest of the troops to act? We could play this several ways." 

"When the White Sparrow Kingdom attacks I want the legionnaires to back them up. Hopefully, the messenger has explained what's going on. At least warned them of the army and told them we will fight by their side. I want the Crusaders to attack the camp from behind. It won't be defended right away as this battle is going to be held in the open plains. They can sneak out of the forest and break in. Then go through the camp and attack from behind. The horde will attack IF the White Sparrow Kingdom's forces dwindle. I don't want to show off the horde if I don't need to. It would cause unnecessary complications." 

"As you say, my lord. I'll send another messenger to the leader of the White Sparrows forces when they arrive just to update them on everything. Hopefully the general leading it is strong." 

"Be warned Akak that there is still a higher-up who is working with the Kokarians." 

"Do not worry. He will only say what's important to the battle. I wish you luck with your plans my lord." 

"Yes, and good luck on your side. I hope all goes smoothly," Kane said as he walked away. 

Now it was time to figure out the best way to poison Lord Fulbertus. Luckily Kane had a system that had many interesting and deadly things, AND Kane had been saving his points for quite some time. 

"BOT you got any poison recommendation?" 

[Well we have a recent vintage sourced the magic beast known as the Green Arrow Spider. One vile is 5,000 shop points.]

"5,000?!" Kane was so shocked at the price he ignored the sommelier persona BOT took. The vial that BOT showed him was about the size of a baby carrot. "Any other options?"

[I'm afraid with your current points and the specifics for this target this is your only option. The next poison that would work against someone with this battle art is 70,000 shop points. You only have 67,000] 

"How does that make sense?" 

[I don't make the rules, I just enforce them.]

"Whatever, just buy it already." 

[Done. You now have 62,000 shop points left.] 

"Alright, now I just need to slip this into some stew or something." 

Kane wasn't sure where the makeshift kitchen would be but decided to follow the largest smoke trail. It was a good assumption that that's where they would be cooking food inside the camp. 

"You need something soldier?" 

As Kane was coming upon the cooking area, an older man in messy civilian clothing spoke out to Kane from behind a pig head. 

"You the cook?"

"One of 'em, why you looking for scraps?"

"You got any?" asked Kane, deciding to play along. 

"None of you soldiers are getting anything until it's time. Stop scavenging and do something useful."

"How about I help here?"

"Well for once one of you speak sense! Go grab those pots! And don't drop anything! This pig is going straight to his lordship!" 

Kane went to do as the man said. With the info that he gained, Kane could sneakily put the poison into the sauce that was simmering nearby. And it didn't take long for him to bring the pots nor for the cook to get pissed about something out, leaving him turned away from his food.

"That was easier than I thought," Kane said to himself as he walked outside the mess tent. Now that the poison had been administered Kane was going to meet up with General Fukyo when he heard lots of yelling near the front of the camp. 

Kane immediately walked over to check out the commotion. Many soldiers were looking over the wall and some worked together to open the main gate. Kane was one of many to peak outside the crack. 

"It seems reinforcements have arrived," Kane quietly said to himself. 

"General Kakasi is here! Down with the White Sparrow Kingdom! Victory is ours!"

Kane didn't need any more information on who this man who brought more troops to the camp was. He felt the danger, the fury, the power. It was another battle master. And the knights that followed him were not made up of scraps like the rest of the camp. Shiny armor and deadly auras surrounded the troops. They marched in attention, clearly experienced soldiers. 

"You got to be kidding me," Kane said.