Chapter 13. Canibar Territory (1) Part-1

"F-first, I'll head to Lenia Territory, then Bellon Territory, then… the capital… No, here before that… and this place too…"

Halsem struggled mentally while looking at the map in the VIP room of Count Shabel's estate. He was deciding on the best route to buy all the Dwarves they needed, according to the information he had obtained from the Merchant Guild regarding the movements of the Slave Merchants and the places where they conducted their business.

"T-this is hard! It's way too complicated…! These slave merchants… why are they moving all over the place?! Just pick a spot and sell your slaves!"

"If it's too hard, wanna just give up?"

Halsem's head shot up upon hearing Ellin's taunt, and he shook his head.

"What do you mean! There is no such thing as giving up for a gambler! Also, since I've already been compensated, my pride won't let me quit! Don't you know the number one rule of merchants: you must give back twice the original compensation upon failure! How would I pay twice the amount of gold you've given me?!"

Ellin looked at Halsem as she leaned over and whispered to Tom, "This guy, can we trust him?"

"He's a nice guy at heart, and he's more trustworthy than the average merchant. Besides, if what Halsem says is correct, we'll just garner more suspicion hiring other Slave Merchants. The job is buying Dwarves in bulk, after all. I think he's the most appropriate person for the task."

"Nnng, but still, no matter how you break it, he says it'll take too long?"

"Yes, but there is a solution. For the short term, we can hide out without buying any Dwarves."

"Is that right…? I'm relieved if that's the case, but…"

Ellin nodded and looked outside. There was a dark cloud overhead. The wind was starting to blow, and even though it was evening—with the sun still loitering around above their heads—the sky was dark as the night. Soldiers holding torches were quickly moving through the city.

"Ey! Hurry up…!"

The city's residents, sensing something was amiss, were nervous. The movement of so many soldiers was far from ordinary.

"All refugees, please gather here! After a simple investigation, we shall let you go!"

The soldiers were directing the refugees to leave Canibar. As they did so, they didn't disclose the fact that the Holy Kingdom was currently launching an attack. This was a measure taken in the hopes of minimizing the certain chaos such news would bring.

"It looks like they're quite busy. Do you think something happened?"

Tom rubbed his chin ar Ellin's question.

'…They haven't announced that the Holy Kingdom is invading.'

It was a wise decision. If they frightened the people now, the security of the city would become unstable; it could even lead to riots.

'But… there wouldn't be a riot if there were only ordinary citizens.'

It would be naive to assume that there were only actual refugees among the throng of people below.

"It's an invasion!"

Someone within the crowd began to shout.

"The Holy Kingdom is attacking!"

"We're all going to die!"

"This is all because of King Paulie! That bastard dared to refuse to worship God!"

'…Agents.'

This was a common tactic. Agents of the aggressor would infiltrate, sow chaos, and incite the masses. These plants among the refugees were currently shouting for all they were worth.

"We have to give up now!"

"If we want to live, we have to open the gates and surrender!"

"We'll all be burned at the stake if we are found to be heretics!"

"We must pledge allegiance to our God, Lord Artarrk and Pope Salem…!"

However, their ploy didn't last long, and the soldiers moved quickly to find and capture them.

'They acted rather swiftly. Were they already monitoring them?'

Tom smiled in amusement.

"What? An attack? By the Holy Kingdom…?"

Tom nodded in response to Ellin's question.

"Yes, they'll arrive in two days' time."

"W-why are you only now telling me such an important thing!?"

Tom stared at Ellin for a second before clapping, having remembered something.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you."

"Y-you're too much! I have to know things beforehand in order to help!"

"Yes, you're helping plenty. Probably."

"Probably…" Ellin's shoulders sagged. "Then what about us…? Shouldn't we flee? If there are high-ranked Holy Knights, won't they recognize us? What if they catch on that we're buying Dwarves…?"

"It's alright. I was actually waiting for them to attack."

"…What do we do after they attack…?"

"We stop them."

'Stop…? The Holy Kingdom…? Why?'

Ellin frowned, looking at Tom.

"I just don't know what you're thinking." Tom merely smiled instead of responding. "Then, we don't have to tell that guy?"

When Ellin pointed to Halsem, Tom shook his head.

"He'll be fine. If we tell him for no reason, he might start shouting that he wants to leave again."

Halsem was so busy double-checking the map and the information on merchants, that he wasn't aware of what was happening outside.

***

Count Shabel Canibar moaned. He, who was staring at the commander's map, slammed his fist down on the table and shouted profanities.

"…Those crazy bastards!"

'To think they would actually invade early! They're moving at a rapid pace. It's as though they've been planning this for sometime, rushing to attack only a week after gathering 50,000 men. They didn't even show a moment of hesitation. From their resoluteness, their only desire is to crush the Kingdom of Aylans in one fell swoop.'

"Are they actually looking to turn the entire continent against them? Salem Gottshuranche! To be so crazy…!"

He had heard rumors of the premise upon which the war between the Holy Kingdom and the Kingdom of Aylans had begun: It was because Pope Salem had insulted King Paulie and Akareal, his queen.

He had heard that Salem had battered the Queen with insults so vile and depraved, that he dare not repeat them. As such, Shabel had believed these rumors to be exaggerated. Despite how graceless or clueless the Pope may be, as one who had risen to such a station, he didn't believe that the Pope could act in such a way. However, he now had a whole different view. The Pope was… mad!

"…If the border is overrun through, we'll also lose the opportunity to defend the other territories."

He had sent out a request to the king and the other territories for reinforcements, but it would take much too long for them to arrive. His territory would be a battlefield in two days' time.

He might be able to endure for a week against 50,000 men, but the chances of reinforcements arriving in that window were almost nil.

"Evacuate all the refugees and distribute every weapon we have to every man capable of fighting! If we fall, the kingdom won't have time to stop the bastards! If we don't hold them here, the capital itself will be at risk!"

The knights gathered around him nodded in response to his orders. Shabel turned to the side as a drop of moisture trickled in from a small crack in the window. A heavy wind accompanied the rainfall. There was a storm brewing.

'… That's a relief. With this kind of weather, it should delay the Holy Kingdom's march. But…'

It was eerie, as though the ominous weather was a premonition of the days ahead.

***