Chapter 148 : Chapter 148
Chapter 148. Incorrect Meeting (2)
Of all families, the Bazar family.
Roden felt that fate was quite cruel.
It was because another family among the three that participated this time could have sufficiently come to the 3rd Corps front.
Either the Kalif family or the Tiaref family.
Well, since the Kalif family had to protect the Astral Plains, even if they couldn't come, the scenario where the Tiaref family came instead of the Bazar family was sufficiently possible.
But the Bazar family came to the 3rd Corps front, and thanks to that, Roden was in crisis.
Because there were so many people in the Bazar family who knew Roden was the Billem Caravan Leader.
It was natural since Roden had been periodically visiting the Bazar family and showing his face.
So as soon as Roden obtained the news through intelligence that the Bazar family was coming to the 3rd Corps front, he boldly closed the business.
He called back the Infantry Platoon that was dispatched, hurriedly relocated the new recruit unit, and selected and brought along the caravan employees who wanted to follow Roden.
Because of that, it was chaotic for a while.
It was fortunate that Chevalier exerted effort in moving the Main Battalion troops to Velia Castle.
Otherwise, it would have been several times more chaotic.
‘Is it because I always prepared to pull out? It’s fortunate that I could wrap up the business cleanly without any problems.’
Even though things proceeded urgently, there was no one who failed to escape.
Just this alone was very fortunate for Roden.
In addition to this, it was also a satisfactory situation that a certain amount of wealth was accumulated thanks to burning the last flame while expanding the business recently.
‘Even if this war ends, there will probably be no problem feeding those who follow me for several years.’
Roden closed the business faster than expected as the Bazar family came to the 3rd Corps front, but he decided to think of this matter as positively as possible.
Anyway, it was a positive thing that he no longer had to bother going to Vinchih once a month.
Of course, due to this, Roden could no longer acquire quality information, but it was an unchanging fact that he had gained a lot anyway.
‘Right. Now is the time to focus only on the battle in front of my eyes.’
It was when Roden was organizing his thoughts like this.
Michael spoke to him.
“The war situation is certainly not very positive.”
It was as Michael said.
The war situation was currently extremely disadvantageous to the Allied Forces.
The fact that two corps-level troops were besieging Kroxen Castle and Velia Castle respectively was proof of that.
“Numbers really are a bully. To think we went from being the ones besieging to being the ones besieged in an instant.”
“It's not just the numbers that are amazing. The supply rate of magic artifacts is higher than last time. Besides, I heard the commander on that side is a 7-star.”
It wasn't for nothing that the Bazar family was evaluated as one of the three largest families supporting the Empire.
It was possible because the skill of the head, Deniz, had risen to the stage of 7-star.
They even say a clear mirror reflects a clear face.
That Deniz was a 7-star meant that the troops under him also had high skills.
Actually, among the troops besieging Velia Castle, there were quite a few notable ones.
Not to mention 3-star knights, 4-star knights could also be seen frequently.
Even 5-star knights and 6-star knights were visible.
In fact, they were more numerous and powerful than any unit Roden had faced.
It was not a waste to call it a crisis.
“By the way, didn't you say you met the enemy commander before? Was his stage 7-star back then too?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then how did you not get caught despite facing him?”
“Since I had to disguise myself as a caravan leader, I used a secret technique that can hide my stage.”
“……You managed to have even such a secret technique.”
Michael threw questions like this whenever he had time, and those questions were mostly about Roden.
And Roden gave answers obediently to such questions as much as possible.
If it were in the past, he wouldn't have done this, but now it didn't matter.
Because the difference in ability between Roden and Michael had widened significantly.
Rather, Roden was warning Michael by frankly confessing his abilities.
Warning him not to dare think of turning him into an enemy.
Michael also didn't not know this fact, but he continued to throw questions.
Unlike Roden who had the purpose of warning, Michael wanted to become Roden's person.
And recently, Roden also felt this hint.
However, he hadn't grasped the reason why Michael wanted to become his person.
Even if Roden's standing had risen a lot compared to before and he was evaluated as the number 3, he was still lacking compared to Leon and Malena.
So for Roden, it was difficult to grasp Michael's intention.
‘No matter how much I think, I don't know. It would be better to just ask outright.’
It was when Roden thought this and opened his mouth toward Michael.
Ttaengttaengttaengttaeng!
The sound of a bell was heard from the opposite castle wall, and the Main Battalion soldiers raised their voices urgently.
“It’s the Imperial Army! The Imperial Army is swarming in!”
***
Deniz quietly watched the Imperial Army running with ladders to capture Velia Castle.
Kuwung! Kuwung!
Boulders launched by catapults flew over Deniz's head and pounded the castle wall.
And with that sound, Deniz ground his teeth with a ppadeuk sound.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Now Deniz also knew.
The identity of the Billem Caravan.
Even when he declared participation in the war and arrived at the 3rd Corps front leading his troops, he didn't know.
But he found out after belatedly receiving the news that the Billem Caravan had suddenly disappeared and investigating it.
That the Billem Caravan was an intelligence organization of the Allied Forces.
For Deniz, who was trading food with the Billem Caravan, it was shocking news.
It was natural since he was actually pouring money directly to a spy, as well as providing information.
He didn't know what kind of rebuke he would receive from the Emperor if he returned to the Empire like this.
Considering the Emperor's personality, there was a high possibility that it wouldn't end with just a rebuke.
For that reason, Deniz had no choice but to make the following resolution.
‘I must definitely produce results in this war enough to cover up the mistake.’
It was one day when Deniz was steeling his mind like that.
‘!’
He discovered a familiar face on the castle wall of Velia Castle.
Surprisingly, that person was Roden, who had approached him pretending to be the Billem Caravan Leader.
‘Why is that guy there?’
The shocking fact didn't end here.
He found out that Roden was the commander of the Allied Forces defending Velia Castle.
For Deniz, it was a situation where anger filled up to the top of his head and he was bound to explode.
And this became an opportunity for Deniz to make up his mind once more that he must definitely achieve results.
It wasn't just making up his mind.
‘By any means necessary, I will execute at least that guy with my own hands!’
Deniz shouted in his heart while looking at the place where Roden was standing.
Recalling the events of a short while ago for a moment and firmly engraving his resolution again, Deniz asked the person beside him.
“How do you think it will go today? Will we be able to capture Velia Castle?”
The one who received Deniz's question was Prokle Aponin, a high-ranking noble who had no choice but to participate in this war with the Bazar family.
Prokle was the head of the Aponin family and also a 6-star knight.
“We will do our best, but it will be difficult. As you know, in siege warfare, the defending side is much more advantageous. Even if the troop difference is three times.”
At Prokle's appearance of listing things everyone knew as if they were obvious, Deniz
momentarily felt a surge of anger, but he barely suppressed it.
Then he spoke.
“……Who doesn't know that? I'm asking if there is a method, a method. Even if we fail today, we must capture Velia Castle tomorrow.”
However, Prokle answered slowly while touching the tip of his chin, as if he had decided to turn Deniz's insides upside down.
“What method would there be other than besieging like this and hoping the Allied Forces get tired. If at least explosive crystal orbs worked, the battle would have been easier, but even this doesn't work.”
“…….”
When they attacked Velia Castle on the first day, the Imperial Army had no choice but to suffer great damage.
Because a situation occurred where they threw explosive crystal orbs over the castle wall, but they were blocked by an elastic and transparent membrane, causing damage to the Imperial Army instead.
So since the first day, the Imperial Army deliberately didn't utilize explosive crystal orbs.
As for magic artifacts, it was to the extent of actively using defensive crystal orbs to climb ladders.
Of course, even this wasn't very helpful because it was over if the ladder was pushed away.
“I don't know where the Allied Forces obtained magic artifacts, but eventually, to capture Velia Castle, there is no other way but to steadily engage in attrition warfare. Or keep pounding the castle wall with catapults to bring it down.”
“…….”
Prokle continued to speak calmly about only theoretical things, and eventually, Deniz couldn't hold back his anger.
“Because who doesn't know that…….”
However, Deniz's words couldn't continue to the end.
Because Prokle cut off Deniz's words and brought up a decisive story.
“Or you could use ‘that’ here.”
“……If you mean ‘that’?”
“That’s right. ‘That’ which we purchased from the Penitudo mage tower this time.”
At the same time Prokle's story ended, Deniz's expression, which had been consistently bad, brightened.
It was understandable because if they used ‘that’, it was clear that the current frustration would be cleanly resolved.
“Right. I hadn't thought of that. Good. Let's go with using ‘that’.”
Eventually, the Imperial Army pounded the castle wall with full force today as well, but failed to capture Velia Castle.
However, despite that, the atmosphere of the Imperial Army was strangely good.
Because Deniz, who used to shout every time they failed to capture Velia Castle and returned, was quietly smiling.