"Rizumi, hold your troop position. When a war breaks out, they will probably exert almost all of their strength on the frontline, you just have to attack from behind and make them panic and split up" General Romandia ordered Rizumi.
"Even though we don't know the exact number of enemy troops, we have to make the enemy think that we are not only on the defensive but that we are attacking them from behind as well." Romandia continued explaining the purpose of the task.
"But my army is only about 200 soldiers, no matter how elite we are, it's still impossible to fight the enemy from behind" Rizumi objected to his father's plan.
"You just burn what can be burned including weapons of war or provision and surround them with fire from behind, after that quickly return to the city" added General Romandia.
After hearing that, Rizumi immediately thought about which path was safe and hidden from the enemy. A little mistake and the enemy knew the route, it was the same as allowing the Rostalia soldiers to surround the city from various directions and also providing a direct path to the main city of the kingdom of Estafera.
"Okay dad" said Rizumi understanding his father's orders.
"It is reported that their troops will arrive at noon, now go rest and wait for the signal" Romandia gave information about the enemy as well as hints in carrying out the guerrilla attack.
"Okay dad, we will prepare" Rizumi replied after hearing the information.
After talking for a while about the strategy to be used, Rizumi got out of his father's tent and slipped back outside without being noticed by the patrolling guards.
---
When Rizumi arrived at the camp built by his troops, he was approached by Archi and Ruka, which could be seen from the looks on their faces, they were very curious about the results of the discussion between Rizumi and his father.
"So ?" ask Archi
"We will attack their rear today, my father will give the signal when the battle happens later" explained Rizumi telling Archi and Ruka his plan.
"Finally... after a long time we only practice in the kingdom" Ruka's happy expression heard that they would be involved in this war.
"As a woman, you shouldn't be happy to hear this… if it's like this, you will definitely be virgin for your whole life" Archi replied who was confused as to why his friend was so warlike. 'Does Ruka like to kill people' was what Archi thought seeing Ruka smile.
'Huaa… spinster you say,' Ruka shouted getting ready to hit archi.
"Enough and Ruka watch your voice, enemy spies may hear it." Rizumi replied trying to break up this meaningless quarrel.
"Ahhh… sorry Rizu" with an apologetic tone while posing cutely, Ruka suddenly becomes very obedient when it comes to Rizumi.
"Then let's rest, today will be quite a stressful and tiring day later." Those words came out of Archi's mouth with the intention of maintaining stamina that would later be useful in war.
"Archi, come with me for a moment" The words came out as if there was something to be discussed between the two of them.
"Hey... I wasn't invited?" Ruka asked Rizumi in a pitiful voice.
"This is a conversation between man" with a smile, Rizumi replied to Ruka so she wouldn't be disappointed because wasn't invited to the conversation.
Rizumi and Archi walked away from the camp area, the moonlight shone on that night beautifully and it was seen from a distance the city of Esmoth with its city defenses.
"So what does you wanna talk about?" asked Archi who was confused, it wasn't usual for Rizumi to talk to him alone.
"Just now, when I was trying to sneak up, it seemed I saw a girl who was a slave. Shouldn't that have happened in our kingdom? didn't the previous King forbid that?" asked Rizumi who wanted to confirm what he saw and believed about his kingdom.
Archi who heard those words could only answer it.
"It's true that it was forbidden, but ever since the new king was sworn in, this kingdom has been so focused on enemy attacks that internal problems are almost never taken care of" Archi explained the difference between the predecessor king and the current king.
"So what I saw was indeed a slave?!?" a high note came out of Rizumi's mouth hearing that.
"The probability is High, there are many unmanaged territories in this kingdom, unlike the previous king, the possibility of hidden crimes is increasing. No wonder slavery is increasing in this regard as well."
"How? Isn't it the duty of the king to prosper his people?" This time Rizumi, who couldn't contain his anger anymore, asked in an angry tone.
"We've been at war with the kingdom of Rostalia a lot lately, that's what made this happen…. Almost all of the funding is centered on the royal army." Archi explained what really happened and the pressure the king was going through at this point while trying to sit down on the grass.
"So this is inevitable huh… but still it's wrong, right?" Rizumi's voice began to lower with a sad expression on his face to see the irony of his kingdom.
Prioritizing his people at the risk of losing or sacrificing his people for victory. Either way, it's still hard to choose.
"Our current king is too harsh on his subordinates, from my point of view, he might have lost his sanity." Archi's critique of the king they served.
"Why is that?" Rizumi was surprised by Archi's statement.
"Recently, many impossible tasks were given to the soldiers, and rumors from within the kingdom itself, many decisions were detrimental to the people just to allow this country to last this long. I mean come on Rizu, Estafera is a small kingdom, how can it withstand up to 3 years from the attack of a large kingdom without losing any territory" Archi's view of the strange things that happened to the kingdom of Estafera
Rizumi who heard this finally realized that something was strange.
How can a small kingdom which is certainly not as big as a big country can survive for 3 years without losing any of its territory. Even from the resources of the troops alone it shouldn't be possible. However, in reality, no territory has been captured until now.
"Just making bad decisions that are detrimental to the people is not enough to last this long." Rizumi answered what he thought after hearing Archi's explanation.
"Yes, it's impossible, but there is another possibility," said Archi
"Could it be….. no, no, that's impossible right?" Rizumi surprisedly guessed and replied to Archi's thoughts.
"We are a kingdom, we can't do that." Rizumi's answer emphasized that no matter how bad it was, as a kingdom and king of that kingdom it was impossible to do such a heinous thing.
"I don't want to admit it either, but it makes the most sense" Archi replied with the conclusion that it was the last reasonable way.
What they mean is that the kingdom indirectly also runs criminal organizations as human trafficking or other as income for the kingdom itself.
Broadly speaking, the weakness of a kingdom is their economic income which only depends on the number of territories they control, of course this is what makes the assumption that a small kingdom that is attacked by a bigger kingdom is sure to lose.
But it's different if the kingdom runs a dark organization behind it, under the guise of being an enemy of the kingdom, of course this alibi is perfect as an additional income for the kingdom to survive attacks from other countries.
"Your father should also know this, I don't know why he didn't tell you," replied Archi, who issued a shocking statement.
"My father?" Rizumi who was surprised could only be silent while staring at the grass.
"I thought you knew this already, I mean didn't you get close to your father?" Archi asked surprised seeing Rizumi who didn't know anything about what was happening in the kingdom of Estafera.
"Then how did you know all of this?" asked Rizumi in an even tone.
"Through interrogation with one of the enemies while I was doing a different task with you" Archi replied in his usual tone.
"When this battle ends, I will make sure to return and ask to my father" Rizumi who said that turned to his camp.
Archi who heard that could only see Rizumi walking away, he could only sigh seeing his kingdom to act like that.
It was getting late, Archi finally returned to the camp after sitting on the grass for a long time.