Lord Of Puppets

(Dammit... This isn’t good.) – thought Thauma as it was in its workshop.

(Adventurer guild was the one that provided them with information?!)

(THEM!?)

(But.... BUT WHY!?)

(WHY DID THEY PROVIDED THEM THE INFORMATION?!)

"..."

(Was my assumption incorrect?)

(Are they really working with each other?)

(This isn’t good.)

"..."

(This isn’t good....This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good. This isn’t good.)

(Wait!)

(If they are really working together, then why kill the guild master?)

(To deceive me?)

(Did they... No! They did!)

(My scout golems that were watching the camp back then were shot down before they know it!)

(That means enemy WAS aware of their existence!)

(According to the prisoners.... They had apparently obtained the past records of the dungeon raids, DIRECTLY FROM THE ADVENTURER GUILD!)

(They didn’t stole it or anything... They were just... GIVEN TO THEM?!)

(...This.... THIs changes the situation....)

(But what if they tricked them?!)

(YES! THAT IS THE POSSIBLITY!)

"..."

(But how high are chances?)

"..."

(DAMMIT!)

(Was it all the lie then?!)

(If that is the case.... Then... Then...)

"..."

(Is peace really physically impossible?)

(Then.... What do I do?)

(Am I really locked in the eternal cycle of war?!)

"..."

(No! I need more!) -thought Thauma as it began picking up its torture tools.

(I need more information! Maybe there is something I’m missing right now!)

(Yes! I need to get a better picture! I NEED MORE INFORMATION!)

Thauma in desperation wanted to obtain more information, anything that would increase its chances at obtaining peace and quiet, just anything that would make sure that there won’t be any more conflicts.... But while it was at it, the trouble was already brewing anew.

As Thauma suspected... There were survivors.

The red bow archer.

He managed to escape the forest without Thauma noticing and quickly returned back to the camp where the remaining soldiers who were left to watch over the camp where gathered.

With their help, the most valuable objects were carried out of the camp before the golems could raid the place.

And upon running away and making sure they are far away from the dungeon; the surviving Crow Watchers made a new quick set up camp.

For what reason?

Communication.

"So.... Let me get this straight.... You failed?" – asked the distorted voice, which came out from the suitcase stored device.

"..."

"Yes." – said the archer with red bow.

"The entire army was wiped out... And the only one who managed to get out alive is me who went with the army, alongside the soldiers who stayed behind in the camp."

"We got completely annihilated."

"..."

"So let me get this straight." – said the distorted voice.

"An elite army, which contained countless number of soldiers, which pretty much had completely on average D+ adventurer rank.... A group of elite knights, who were also vampires and a bunch of mages that can create golem army reinforcement or make new golems on the spot.... You are saying, a big and powerful army, which already dealt with countless problems and shit... Was just wiped out?"

"I’m sorry if I’m asking a dumb question here."

"I know I told you all to pretend to be strong and shit, in order to fool annoying gazes... But here is the thing."

"You bastards are strong."

"So what is the meaning of this?"

"Was it really the golems that wiped you all out?"

"Full report."

"On the spot."

"Now."

"..."

"As you wish..." – replied very nervous red bow archer as he then began giving in details what happened, from the very moment to when the army entered the forest, to the total annihilation.

"..."

"That is, it..." – said the nervous archer as he finished his story.

"..."

"..."

(Why is he so silent now?) – thought nervous archer.

"..."

"I see...." – said the distorted voice after being silent for noticeable amount of time.

"Then what is your opinion on the matter?"

"M-mine?!" – replied the archer.

"Yes. Yours." – said the distorted voice.

"..."

"The information... It wasn’t fully accurate." – said the archer.

"I don’t believe this is adventurers’ fault though... That dungeon master seems to know art of war and what not... He was hiding his full strength while also manipulating the entire battle.... And setting up a trap that ended up wiping us all out."

"Honestly, these golems are somewhat powerful.... And they had huge numbers...."

"But I think the most problematic things here are two points."

"The territory advantage."

"And the enemy intelligence."

"The entire forest may had been turned into a trap field completely under dungeon master’s control... And the enemy knows what to do and when to do something..."

"The enemy didn’t used the traps outright, since they wanted us to come into the danger zone, so they would be able to use traps on us, no matter what we would do..."

"Not only that, the traps were definitely not magic based.... They were fully physical traps."

"The enemy...."

"..."

"There is a chance that the enemy may had used physical type traps in order to avoid the mana detection.... I don’t have any confirmation.... But again... Based how enemy fought...."

"..."

"I understand." – said the distorted voice.

(Still, to think that this dungeon was really that advanced?) – thought the owner of the distorted voice.

(Even if the dungeon master was extremely intelligent being, it would lose no matter what if the dungeon’s forces were weak.... That means one thing.)

(They have force somewhat powerful enough to wipe out a town.)

(There were several boss monster present... 4 to be specific.... But there is good chance that there was more.)

(According to the report, the dungeon originally was a triple floor dungeon with 2 bosses and dungeon master... That is the theory written... But then again, it is a solid theory.)

(But again.... How long the dungeon was left active?)

(What monster it gave birth to?)

(The dungeon could now have like what? 4? 5 bosses beside the dungeon master? Maybe even 6.... What he said was about that bastard hiding his strength... Yeah... It would make sense.)

"..."

*Sigh*

"Let me ask you something, vice-captain." – said the distorted voice.

"Do you think we should go on the full out assault again?"

"..."

"No." – replied the archer who was the vice-captain of the fallen Crow Watcher army.

"We lack too much information."

"Not only that.... With that kind of enemy in front of us... A head on fight is beyond dangerous."

"The dungeon didn’t came unscratched, we had caused it lose countless number of golems.... Then again, there are these bomb dogs and traps everywhere..."

"..."

"I know.... I know the orders were to subjugate and take control over the dungeon as soon as possible... But right now, it is beyond risky."

"Yeah.... I can tell." – said the distorted voice.

"...Not only that, we can’t make the story public."

(Crow Watchers are currently seen as symbol of "protection" and "control".) – thought the owner of the distorted voice.

(If THAT kind of news were to spread around.... When the things stared calming down... It would only invite the disaster.... But coming up with the fake story will be annoying.... I guess we will need to sacrifice few cards.)

(Not only that.... This whole incident proves something.)

(The pure VALUE!) – thought extremely excited figure as they couldn’t hide their giant smile.

(If that dungeon was truly capable of producing weapons and golems that had ability to slaughter the Crow Watchers... And if the dungeon master is REALLY that intelligent... Then it straight up increases the value of the dungeon further!)

(I thought at first it would be something like a decent upgrade... A step towards new stage.... But now?)

(We need to secure the dungeon no matter the cost!)

"..."

(Although I say that... We can’t really do anything big right now.) – thought extremely annoyed figure.

(We can’t deploy the fourth army, which are the second strongest army belonging to the Crow Watchers... Since they need to still pretend to be weak in case of "situation" popping up regarding hostile attacks from other nations.)

(We can’t also deploy the first army, the main army, since it would definitely draw too many unwanted eyes...)

(I can’t go there, nor that guy.... That guy... Or that guy.... Our options are very limited.)

"..."

"Dismissed." – said the distorted voice.

"I will deal with the cleanup."

"For now, you stay out of sight. Got it?"

"Yes." – replied the red bow archer before moments later the owner of the distorted voice ended up the call.

"..."

*Sigh*

(Welp... I’m guess I’m doing this.) – thought the owner of the distorted voice.

(Honestly, I didn’t told HER about the dungeon, since I knew she would instantly go there and everything... But right now, she is the only one who can do the job.)

(The main reason why I wanted to avoid having her learn about the dungeon yet.... Was because she was needed in her position.)

(But now?)

(...Oh boy... I guess I have to release her leash for now.)

(She is hard to control....)

(But she is definitely going to conquer that dungeon no matter what.)

(In the name of her own greed.)