Chapter 34 [Royal Capital Illustra, Part 1 Kingdom Army's First Battalion]
In the capital Illustra, named after the kingdom itself, aside from the Royal Guard protecting the royal castle, a whole battalion of the kingdom's army is stationed. The headquarters of the permanent unit, the First Battalion, not only commands the battalion but also oversees the entire kingdom army. There is no central command or high command organization known as headquarters for the entire military.
At the First Battalion's headquarters, a meeting was underway to discuss the recent events in Baron's territory. A non-commissioned officer was reporting to a man who appeared to be a general.
"So, in the end, how much damage did Baron's forces suffer?"
"The vanguard squad that attempted to invade the Silva Forest was annihilated. The remaining squad, which was to provide supplies and replacements, suffered heavy losses as well. In the attack on Baron's capital, several, including Baron himself, were injured or killed. However, Baron survived despite being severely wounded."
"Hmph, that rotten noble surviving is beyond bad luck. He should have just died without any lingering regrets."
"Apologies, my hearing is not at its best. What did you say?"
"Never mind. So, in the end, was it the elves who dealt with Baron's forces?"
"That's the issue. Since the battle in the Silva Forest was a magical one, it's reasonable to assume that elves were involved. However, the attack on Baron's territory..."
"Elves generally don't directly attack towns or villages. Moreover, the reports indicate that the attack on Baron's territory involved simultaneous widespread arson."
"Yes. Moreover, it happened at night. The actual chaos caused by the fires was severe, and amid the panic of frightened residents, incidents of violence and looting occurred, causing extensive damage."
"It doesn't seem typical of elves. Warren, what do you think?"
The man, who seemed to be the general, turned to a young man who had been silent until now.
"Before that, I'd like to hear the report about the damage in areas other than Baron's capital."
"Huh? Come to think of it, there were issues with the roads, right? Krushank, explain."
"Yes, sir. Traffic has come to a halt in various places along the roads connecting Baron's capital to different parts of the territory. The road between Doran and Baron collapsed in the mountains, and communication has not yet been restored. The bridge in the Parel Canyon is still broken, cutting off traffic with Mord. Also, on the roads to Rozimo and Ninvik, there were cases where horses and cattle inexplicably refused to advance."
"What? Are horses and cattle siding with the elves?"
"No, upon further investigation, it was found that gravel on the roads carried the scent of dragons or some magical beasts. Horses and cattle were frightened by that smell, causing them to stand still. It seems the cause was only recently discovered, and until then, they were puzzled over the situation."
"Hmm. So what? Warren."
"Clearly, it's not in line with elven thinking. Rather, it's closer to the thinking of our human race. But if that's the case, it raises the question of who the executor is. At the moment, there is no one obvious with a reason to be hostile to Baron other than the elves of the Silva Forest."
"Damn. Even if that rotten scoundrel has enemies, it wouldn't be strange for him to have plenty. But launching such a widespread attack on Baron's entire territory, there must be both a reason and the capability. At this point, there's no one that fits the bill."
"Lord Warren, is the road blockade such a critical issue?"
"Boris, if you're also my nephew, you should have noticed that it's more than just a road. Doran is the granary of the entire Baron's territory, covering a third of the necessary grains. Mord is not only within Baron's territory but is also one of the kingdom's major horse-breeding areas. Rozimo and Ninvik are large market towns. If communication with these places is hindered, it could be fatal for Baron."
"Doran and Mord rely heavily on Baron's sales of grains and horses to purchase essential goods. If the road to Baron is blocked and these necessary goods cannot be obtained, Baron will inevitably have to seek buyers, even from outside the territory."
"In that case, Baron's territory..."
"Yes, if this situation continues, Doran and Mord might consider breaking away. If things go badly, Baron might face economic ruin."
"The problem is who painted this picture. It doesn't fit the elven way of thinking. If it's a human... there's something that bothers me a little."
"Something bothering you?"
"Do you know about the discovery of something resembling a dungeon on the outskirts of Morou? The aftermath of that."
"Come to think of it, there was a commotion about the hero's party being wiped out or something."
"So many rotten things. No, those heroes were affiliated with Baron's Adventurers Guild, making them, in a way, part of Baron's forces. The fact that their strength was depleted before the invasion of the Silva Forest is what concerns me."
"Is Morou's dungeon a prelude to this incident? If so, Baron's attack might have been planned even before the invasion of the Silva Forest. Moreover, if the dungeon is involved... "
"You might be overthinking it. The incidents with the 'Unreturnable Labyrinth' and the 'Quicksand Labyrinth' were merely personal revenge battles against the hero's party, and the fact that the heroes were part of Baron's Adventurers Guild was coincidental. The culprit causing this uproar is the same Crow gang as Baron. There's no elaborate conspiracy that Warren seems to be worried about. However, Warren and the staff have been accustomed to considering the worst-case scenarios as military personnel, so they see it as a meticulously planned and grand conspiracy or a national strategy.
"Warren, this is no longer a problem to be considered solely by the military."
"So..."
"Yeah. We'll head to the royal palace first thing tomorrow. You'll accompany me."
"Ugh... I'm not good with that kind of thing."