EP.225 The Advantageous Side Sets the Strategy
When the possibility of the Military Nation's daughter betraying them was mentioned, the generals' uncomfortable gazes turned toward the staff officer.
It was burdensome, but it couldn't be helped. Someone had to point out the issue, and with high probability, it was the staff officer's duty.
As silence lingered, Patraxion was the first to wave his hand.
"Tut. That's going a bit too far. What does she have over there that she would defect?"
"The Pied Piper of Hameln is there, isn't he? Director Historia's tendency to obsess over that incident is already well-known."
"Really? Just that much? The Military Nation's girl is obsessed with some flute-playing freak?"
When Patraxion asked without much thought, another general who had followed the Extermination Squad jumped up and defended Historia.
"That's impossible! When I was dispatched to the Extermination Squad to assist the Director, Director Historia fought against them with all her might! Discussing her defection is going too far!"
No one else to suspect, so they suspect a much younger Director? At their age, they should know some shame, tsk tsk.
With such gazes pouring in, even if unspoken, the staff officer sweated and made excuses.
"I, I too... it's just a possibility..."
"Just wait a moment. If Director Historia is truly undercover, she will contact us in some way. We just need to wait for that."
"I, I think so too."
Despite carefully avoiding the topic, sharp glares flew from all directions. The intimidated staff officer soon regretted his words.
It is the staff officer's role to always prepare for the worst, which often displeases the commander, but aren't they being too harsh when he was just doing his job? He was inwardly venting such complaints when...
A creaking sound came from the golem sitting quietly. It was a communication magic golem. Everyone's gazes focused on it, hoping for information that could break this stalemate.
The golem raised its head, creaking to the point where its urgency was palpable.
"Meta Conveyor Belt operator, Military Nation Communications Officer Captain Piyu! Emergency information! Please pay attention!"
The communications officer inside the golem shouted rapidly.
"Observation report! One container has left the belt and is speeding toward the Far East Coastal Road! Repeating. One container is speeding across the eastern plains!"
Some seated generals jumped up. The low-ranking generals who lacked experience despite their rank ran outside and loudly called their troops together.
They made the first move. The target is the Far East Coastal Road. Finally, they had escaped the Meta Conveyor Belt, and a true chase would begin on new ground.
"Speeding at this dead of night? How proactive. Very good. Doing something is always better than sitting still. Always."
Smirking, Patraxion scratched his chin and fell into deep thought.
"It's a bit early, but it seems they intend to flee to the Principality before sunrise instead of settling the score at the relay station."
"Probably. They wouldn't want to face a large army on the plains in broad daylight either. All forces! Stand by for now! I will also contact Bernartern!"
While Prelvior was bustling about, Colonel Gand, who had approached stealthily, spoke to Patraxion.
"There is also a possibility that it's a disguise. Unless it's a headquarters order, what the communications officer provides is merely information. Ultimately, it's up to us to ask for detailed information and make a judgment. Ask the communications officer if there is any other information."
"Why tell me? You do it. I'm lazy."
"...I'm not of a rank to butt in here. You have to do it, General."
"You usually give me such a hard time. But you act humble in front of others. Are we strangers?"
Unable to bear it any longer, Colonel Gand left Patraxion and shouted.
"Communications Officer! What are the unique features of that container!"
"The outer walls of the container are covered in bullet marks, and four wheels, seemingly hastily modified, are attached underneath. It appears to be a desperate measure to run across the plains."
"Modified? But if it has wheels, it might be even more likely to be a disguise, since it would roll without having to touch anything... What is the power source pulling it?"
"At the front of the container, a giant red horse over 3 meters tall was pulling it! Presumed to be the Blood Demon Rallion, a vassal of the Progenitor recorded in historical texts!"
If it's the Blood Demon Rallion, it is the Progenitor's vassal, a familiar name that is said to have never left her side. If that is present, either the Progenitor is actually with them, or it's a highly elaborate disguise.
Regardless, the information was given. The judgment was theirs to make. Colonel Gand asked again, wondering if there were any other clues.
"Any other characteristics you haven't mentioned? You can tell us anything."
"I did not report it separately because of the high possibility of it being a disguise, but on the top of the container, shrouded in darkness, the silhouette of a young woman in a uniform was visible."
Everyone stopped talking. It was as clear as day who the young woman in the uniform was.
Colonel Gand muttered.
"...If that is a disguise, it's a very reliable bait. So much that we absolutely cannot stand not to confirm it."
Probably, Historia is inside the container. Whether it's a disguise or not. At the very least, it meant they had to send troops to catch up to the Blood Demon Rallion and confirm what was inside.
The staff officer and several other generals appealed to Prelvior.
"Dividing our forces is a bad move. We must decide on one."
"If only there was one more clue."
If they chose one side, the other would be left empty. The troops could be divided, but the Six-Star Generals could not. Without the Six-Star Generals, they could block them but could not win.
The final decision-makers were the Demon General and the Absolute Spear, but the ones who devised the strategies were the generals. It was a time for their worries to deepen. Patraxion, who had been sitting leaning against the backrest of his chair, spoke to the magic golem.
"Communications Officer. Where is the location they jumped off the belt?"
"About 50 minutes away, assuming the Meta Conveyor Belt is stationary."
"Alright. Old hag! Let's get ready to go for a bit!"
Prelvior showed interest in Patraxion's actions.
"Why are you asking that?"
"I said it earlier. That Historia let herself get captured on purpose."
"I heard that. What does that have to do with... Ah."
Historia let herself be captured on purpose. If so, it meant she knew what was a disguise and what was real.
Then she would have left some kind of trace in some way. Be it a code, or a signal.
The Demon General, whose thoughts had reached that point, let out a small sigh of realization.
"I see! If we find the signal the Director left, we can get a clue! You've been helpful for the first time in a while, brat!"
"Instead of just saying 'well done, well done' with your mouth, you should trust me. That's the attitude you should have toward your kid. Oops. The old hag hasn't even been married, so she wouldn't know."
"Nonsense. I am married to magic."
"The typical words old spinsters put on a pedestal like a god."
The generals had to try their best not to show even a hint of a smile. If even a little leaked out, not just their military career, but their entire life could be shattered.
Muttering without any dignity, Patraxion left the Demon General behind and gave an order.
"Now, let's prepare for both! Separately for if the container is a bait, and if it's real! Prepare so we can respond in any case!"
Following the general's order, the troops moved busily. They maintained close communication with Bernartern through the communications officer, and prepared to respond to both scenarios.
Patriaxon flew into the sky with some generals using Prelvior's magic. Prelvior's magic, which felt like a giant grabbing the wind whole and walking, gave a terrible feeling, like being on a ship tossing up, down, left, right, forward, and backward.
The only reason Patraxion didn't get motion sickness was purely because he was robust beyond just being healthy.
"Ugh. If you haven't practiced the Body Tempering Technique, you'd be 100% motion sick. This is why there's a joke that a condition for promotion to general is 'being able to endure the Demon General's flight magic.'"
"What bastard spouts such nonsense?"
Arriving at the target location like that, the Demon General and the Absolute Spear, along with a few generals, quickly turned on searchlights and scoured the surroundings. On the dreary belt, where darkness seemed to have lingered until just a moment ago, several containers caught in battle could be seen scattered about.
Finding familiar footprints, Patraxion aligned his feet with them and stood, recalling the battle that had taken place during the day.
After arriving at this position, he fought against the Progenitor. He initiated the fight only to be sent flying back numerous times. Beyond the darkness, it was so dark that it was hard to see, as if night itself had visited... but clearly, the container they stayed in was...
30 paces from here.
Patriaxon walked thirty paces with long strides, almost as if running. When he took his last step, the ground where the container had been showed only a flat floor now.
"Hmm. It's certain they moved the container."
As he muttered, his eyes caught a piece of a container unnaturally overturned at the corner of the Meta Conveyor Belt. He dashed over and picked it up.
And then, he smiled triumphantly.
"Just as I thought."
Braille delicately pierced with Qi. It was a military cipher. Historia had pretended to be captured and fed them information.
Since Patraxion didn't memorize the trivial ciphers, he handed the ciphertext to Colonel Gand. Gand read it aloud.
"The red horse is a bait."
The Director's infiltration had meaning. A new and crucial clue had been provided. Prelvior nodded firmly, and Patraxion smiled broadly.
"Did you hear that? The Blood Demon is a disguise. They must still be on the conveyor belt! Everyone, get ready!"
Now, there is a ball.
I have to hide this ball from an audience burning with anticipation. So, what would be the best way to do it?
Should I hide it in my left hand, or my right hand?
Tir chose the right hand. Azi smelled it and found it. Navi got scared by the teeth-chattering and quickly showed it. The Regressor tried to pierce through it with his green eyes... From next time, I absolutely won't show him magic, seriously.
And Historia, puffing out cigarette smoke.
"...The hand itself is the trick, I suppose."
As expected, maybe because she's known me for a long time, she knows me a bit well.
The moment the left and right hands are mentioned, their attention is focused on those two. Actually, there's no need to hide it there. Just by presenting the choices, they become buried in those answers.
When in reality... it's hiding in my pocket.
"Let's go inside."
So I proposed.
Actually, even if we break through to the coastal road, we could somehow make it. Tir's power is fearsome, and the Regressor possesses a power capable of achieving anything if he doesn't care about the means.
But there's no need to unnecessarily clash with the Military Nation. As they say, if they bring out regular troops like Bernartern with their eyes rolled back, we'd be the ones in trouble. From that point on, we might really have to fight to the death.
Surely the Military Nation wouldn't go crazy and bring out the regular army. That's an absurd thought.
Therefore.
"We are the Inner Circle. Let's infiltrate the interior of the Meta Conveyor Belt and cut a shortcut."
There is no reason to head to the Principality. In the first place, besides the Military Nation, who would go out of their way to catch us?
We could just go around the top, pass through the Abyssal Wasteland, and head to the Allied Nations.
"While their focus is centered on the Far East, let's hide within the folds of the Military Nation's robes and head north. After getting far ahead, we'll hop onto the Meta Conveyor Belt pretending to be cargo... and enjoy a comfortable and pleasant trip."