"We should directly confront them and take them down!" Someone advised as he argued with another person at the same table.
"No," another person rejected. "Even though we have more people, and the civilians, on our side, we can't be rash about this. The other side is more powerful and experienced, even if we have more people, we're just like sheep to the slaughter. Plus, our rebellion gives them more of a reason to not stay their hand and justify killing us all," He reasoned objectively.
This meeting was currently being held by the rebellion group—though they prefer to be called "Liberation Militia"—in the Town of Mayfire. These brave men are standing up against the harsh taxes and treatment they are receiving from the heads of this town as well as their guards.
Currently, they are discussing how they should go about doing so.
Though, there are still, in the end, only two ways their brains could come up with. Something implanted in them due to being born in this time, among these people.
Direct or indirect.
In this era where tyranny is rampant, hierarchy is striving, and the talented are suppressed. Battles and wars were fought in an unsophisticated and rough way.
Trained soldiers were made to fight with drafted civilians, one of which, or both, were made to pick up swords, spears, and sticks to fight against the enemy group who are in about the same situation as them.
After being given their weapons of war, they are told to rush towards their enemy head on without any plan or forethought.
Clashing directly with the enemy was the way war was fought in this era.
Bottom line is—war strategies and tactics were not popularized. Thought to be useless pieces of paper that only existed due to stupid people's overthinking.
Wars were thought to be a place of brute strength. Whoever was stronger would ultimately win in the end.
Just like this the meeting went on. One after another objected to this idea or that idea. They can't seem to agree on anything.
As the meeting dragged on, Victor finally couldn't take it anymore and cut in.
"Excuse me," he breathed out in mock politeness, "but in my opinion it's better to go both ways!"
Slam!!
The aggressive-looking man, that has been arguing for direct head-on confrontation with the guards, had struck the table with the palm of his hand, fuming in anger and annoyance. Then raising his other hand, he pointed into Victor's face rudely and hollered.
"You're just an outsider! You have no right to say anything here! It's already good enough that you get to be here!" Then he looked at Abner and Ash and sneered, "you even dragged other outsiders here with you!"
Victor pursed his lips and furrowed together his brows, he was clearly displeased. "Mind you, I was the one to help you guys kill that official!"
"So what?" That man, Sean, retorted in a sarcastic tone and folded his arms across his chest arrogantly. "Without you we still would've successfully assassinated that damned official and incited chaos among our enemies!"
"What?!" This time, Victor was enraged. Standing up abruptly, he knocked over his chair. He had braved danger—though to him it was not actually that dangerous—to end that evil and greedy pig of an official so that he could help them and this is what he gets?! Of course he was infuriated!
"Ok, ok! Calm down, the two of you." Someone at the table tried to pacify the situation, acting as the mediator. That someone was an old man named John. He was the oldest member here, and the most experienced, thus earning him some respect from the people here at the table.
After quieting down the still inflamed Sean, John turned to Victor and kindly addressed the young fellow who had greatly assisted them before.
"Mr. Victor, would you mind expanding more on your previous words as we seem to be going nowhere with this discussion?"
At this, Sean jumped out of his seat, seemingly about to flare up again, "Wha---!!"
John turned sharply and glared harshly at Sean this time, shutting the latter up. Then turning back to face Victor, he said again, "Since we are at a standstill, I would like to hear your opinion on how we should proceed."
"Hmm, that's more like it," Victor hummed and looked smugly at Sean.
"Grr..." Smoke seemed to be coming out of his ears from his suppressed anger.
Thumping his fist on the table loudly, he finally sat down with great reluctance.
"Humph!" Victor humphed and leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over on the other.
"Here's what I think," he starts as his expression turned serious, "Both direct and indirect attacks won't work."
John intercepted, "Then what should we do?"
Victor turned to look at John, then continued after turning back around to look at the rest of the people at the table, "Alone. They won't work if we separate them and rigidly think of them as two different strategies that we must choose between. Because they are not. We can combine them and fight both a direct and indirect battle, increasing our chances of victory."
"How can we combine something like that?" One curious and confused member asked, his expression clearly showing his doubts.
Victor smirked.
"Easy. We'll attack from the inside..." He swept his gaze around the table, "and the outside..."
——————————————
After Victor proposed his idea, the meeting continued in order to discuss exactly how they should carry out this new plan. The little details that needed to be fussed over.
As their discussion continued deep into the night and up till the sun rose high in the sky, Abner watched in silence as their conference unfolded.
Regarding their tactic of either a direct confrontation or a sneak attack Abner didn't think either of them would work. After all, this side lacked greatly in strength, strength in which numbers cannot make up for. Quantity can sometimes substitute quality, but not all the time. This case included.
So when Victor brought up his opinion on how this small startup organization should make their move, Abner agreed with this approach in his heart. Although the actual carrying out of the plan still needs some work, it was already much better than the previous suggested plans.
Abner reckoned that if Victor didn't assist this group of rebels, they would hardly make a wave no matter how insignificant.
The discussion ended.
After the meeting ended, Victor came up to Abner and Ash, "Come on, the meeting's ended. Let's hit the hay and take a rest before the final attack."
Then Victor walked off first, expecting the two behind him to follow him.
Abner took a few steps forward and then stopped.
A cool and calm voice flowed into Victor's ears.
"We are going to rescue Arlo."
Victor's steps paused. Without turning around he threw back, "Yeah, I know."
Abner advanced forward.
Past Victor.
This time warmer and determined.
"I'll be at the front."
At first Victor was confused, but after a moment, he understood what Abner had said.
'At the front lines, huh? Interesting…I'll get to know his real capabilities then.'
Victor smirked as he chased after the leaving backs of Abner and Ash, who had followed after Abner this whole time without a word.
------------------------------------
Inside of the town mansion.
Just like the group of people on the rebelling side, the captain of the soldiers of the town was also conducting a meeting with his immediate subordinates.
However, unlike the other's with the open discussion, the captain thought to take it upon himself to be the sole 'genius' strategist. He, whose name spelt the word arrogant, alone sprouted out his ideas and opinions and finalized their strategy for defending and defeating against the townspeople.
"...and that will be all for this meeting. Dismissed!" Roat declared pontifically as he slammed his palms down on the meeting table, creating a loud sound that reverberated in the enclosed room.
Upon hearing that, every person sitting at the table got up and saluted Roat before leaving the meeting room.
There was one exception, however.
Before leaving, the last person turned his head back to glance at the self-satisfied and confident Roat.
It was only for a second.
Before that person turned back to face the door.
And as the door slowly creaked near the doorframe, the person sneered as in his eyes brewed contempt and mockery. To whom it's quite clear who it is directed at.
"Trash."
He spat out behind his breath as he left towards the shadows of the mansion.