Chapter 337

“Huh? Not a frontal assault? What do you mean?”

Duncan looked at Max with a bewildered expression.

“Exactly as I said. We’re just going to pretend to besiege the city.”

The Celtrine allied forces had sailed swiftly down to Howell and were now marching towards the Imperial City.

They had subdued all the territories that stood in their way.

With the eastern army gone, there was no force that could stop their advance.

Except for the triple walls of the Imperial City.

“Pretend? How are we going to conquer the Imperial City by pretending?”

“Of course, there’s a separate main attack.”

Max pointed to the outer walls of the Imperial City, which were clearly marked on the map.

“This is just a diversion. We’re going to draw the attention of the Imperial City’s defenders to the outside.”

In other words, they were going to be bait.

“Then what’s the real main attack?”

Max slammed his fist on the inner walls of the Imperial City on the map.

“The inside. We’re going to distract the defenders and then infiltrate the city.”

“Huh? Wait, wait. Is that even possible?”

Duncan’s expression became even more bewildered.

“Even if we distract them, the Imperial City’s defenses will be extremely tight. Is there really a way to infiltrate it secretly?”

Gwen also chimed in, her voice filled with disbelief.

The others also had similar reactions.

Except for Milia, who was a fanatic.

“There is. A method that only I know.”

Max smiled confidently.

He had already discussed it with Regina and Lobel.

He was explaining it to the Turtle Unit now because they would be playing a crucial role in this operation.

The Turtle Unit would become legendary.

As the unit that conquered the invincible Imperial City for the first time.

“Listen carefully.”

* * *

Lambert Castle.

The atmosphere there was gloomy.

They had lost almost half their army in a disastrous pursuit, lured into a trap by the southern army.

It was a devastating blow.

Their morale had plummeted.

On the other hand, the southern army’s morale was sky-high.

Ninety thousand soldiers were relentlessly attacking Lambert Castle day and night.

They were holding out, but they were on the verge of collapse.

They were outnumbered, and their morale was low.

The fact that they had lost many of their archers, who were skilled in defending the castle, during the pursuit was also a fatal blow.

But there was still hope.

Reinforcements from the Celtrine allied forces, who had annihilated the eastern army.

They were clinging to that hope, desperately trying to hold out.

But then,

Shocking news hit Lambert Castle.

“W-What?! They’re marching towards the Imperial City?! Not here, but the Imperial City?! Is that true?! Are you sure?!”

Marquis Safia was so shocked that he asked the messenger repeatedly.

It was understandable.

They had been certain that reinforcements were coming.

But what?

They were marching towards the Imperial City?

Instead of coming to their rescue, they were moving further away.

What was going on?

“I-I’m sorry, but it’s true… I-I saw it with my own eyes… They’re definitely marching towards the Imperial City…”

The messenger lowered his head, his face pale.

It wasn’t his fault, but it felt like he had committed a grave sin by delivering this news.

The atmosphere in the room was freezing.

“Ugh, are they crazy?! What are they going to do at the Imperial City?”

Emily screamed, clutching her head.

“M-Maybe they’re planning to conquer the enemy’s capital and force them to retreat…?”

Ethan said, trying to be optimistic.

Emily shouted, “That’s impossible, you idiot! Even that guy can’t conquer the Imperial City! Does he think it’s Odinel?”

The Imperial City, which had never been conquered in two thousand years.

Everyone in the room knew of its formidable reputation.

It was an impenetrable wall.

Emily was certain that even Max, the undefeated genius, couldn’t conquer it with a few thousand soldiers.

And she wasn’t alone.

Almost everyone in the room thought the same.

“Hmm…”

Ethan fell silent.

Emily continued, her voice filled with frustration, “He’s deliberately abandoning us! He’s leaving us to die!”

“T-Then?”

“Then what?! We have to come up with a plan!”

“…There’s nothing we can do.”

Marquis Safia said, his voice filled with despair.

He had been in shock and rage earlier, but now he seemed to have given up completely.

The loss of their last hope had broken him.

“F-Father!”

“We have no choice but to fight to the death. We have nowhere to retreat.”

Even if they abandoned the castle and fled, it would be the end for them.

There was no other place that could withstand the southern army’s advance once Lambert Castle fell.

It meant that they would die whether they fought or fled.

So the best option was to fight to the death and hope for a miracle.

“…”

Emily understood her father’s thoughts.

She bit her lip so hard that it drew blood, her body trembling.

She had no choice but to accept it.

“…Let’s fight. That’s all we can do. I wish you all luck.”

The Marquis’s voice was heavy with despair.

The western army’s ordeal had just begun.

* * *

Celtrine Castle was also in a state of shock.

“H-How could he make such a decision?!”

“I-I can’t believe it!”

The lords were stunned.

They couldn’t understand why Max had made such a strange decision at such a crucial moment.

“Hmm, conquering the Imperial City is too risky…”

“B-But isn’t he the undefeated Young Master Max?”

“Do you know how strong the Imperial City’s walls are, and how powerful its defensive magic circle is?! Even Young Master Max can’t conquer it with that many soldiers!”

“Ugh, he was doing so well, and now he’s making such a reckless decision…”

“He must have gotten overconfident from his victories. It’s only natural for humans to become arrogant.”

The lords were panicking.

If Lambert Castle, the last bastion on the southern front, fell, the southern army would march north and attack Celtrine Castle.

They would be caught in a pincer attack.

It was a nightmare scenario.

“Your Highness! We have to send a messenger to Young Master Max! Order him to abandon the attack on the Imperial City and come to the rescue of Lambert Castle immediately!”

“Yes, Your Highness! Give the order now!”

The lords urged the princess to send a messenger to Max.

“Calm down, everyone.”

The princess raised her hand.

The lords fell silent.

Unlike them, she was calm.

But even she wasn’t completely unfazed.

She had been surprised by Max’s unexpected decision.

But she didn’t show it.

‘Hehe, if I show even a hint of panic, they’ll panic even more. I can’t do that in this situation.’

Princess Oscar made a calm and collected decision, as befitting a ruler.

She might have a twisted personality, but she was undoubtedly capable of being an emperor.

Her only flaw was her personality.

“I’ll ask him.”

She looked at Count Celtrine.

He was fidgeting in his seat.

‘W-Why did he have to make such a decision?’

He respected his son’s decisions.

But he couldn’t help but feel resentful.

Even he thought that rescuing Lambert Castle was the most sensible option.

He didn’t know,

That going to Lambert Castle would result in heavy casualties.

And that the princess was hoping for that outcome.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

Count Celtrine gulped nervously and waited for the princess to speak.

“Count Celtrine, did you know that Senior Max would make this decision?”

Her expression and tone were still gentle.

But Count Celtrine felt a chill run down his spine.

“…No, I didn’t. I had no idea.”

He denied it repeatedly.

His sincerity was evident.

The lords, who had been looking at him suspiciously, backed down.

“I see.”

The princess rested her chin on her hand.

“That’s a shame. I would have loved to hear the details if he had given you any hints.”

“Y-Your Highness, if he had given me any hints, I would have reported them to you immediately!”

Count Celtrine said, startled.

The princess smiled faintly.

And then, she said, “I know Senior Max somewhat. If he made such an unexpected decision, there must be a good reason.”

“Your Highness!”

“Even if there’s a reason, this is unacceptable!”

“The outcome is obvious! Please rectify this mistake before it’s too late!”

The lords pleaded with her.

Their lives were at stake.

‘Hehe, good. Keep stirring up the atmosphere.’

The princess smiled inwardly.

Max’s decision had thwarted her plan.

Honestly, she was impressed.

And curious.

What kind of outcome would his decision lead to?

She wanted to just sit back and watch.

But,

‘We don’t have time for that.’

She had to weaken Max’s forces now.

She felt like she wouldn’t get another chance if she missed this opportunity.

‘If everyone agrees and I give him an order, even Senior Max won’t be able to refuse.’

It was true that a commander’s judgment should be respected in war.

But there were limits.

If everyone agreed and she, the princess and the ruler, gave him an order, he would have to obey.

It wasn’t an unreasonable order. It was an order that reflected the consensus of the lords. If he refused, it would be a clear act of insubordination.

‘Hehe, I didn’t want to resort to this, but I have no choice. It’s all because Senior is so talented.’

The princess, who had been pretending to be deep in thought, raised her hand again.

The lords fell silent.

She said, “I’ve heard everyone’s opinions. I don’t like to interfere with a commander’s judgment, but after hearing what you all have to say, I don’t think I can ignore this.”

“Oh!”

“A wise decision, Your Highness!”

“Thank you for your decisiveness!”

The lords were pleased.

The princess’s lips curled into a smile that no one noticed.

“I’ll send a messenger to Lambert Castle immediately, ordering them to send reinforcements.”

* * *

“Y-You’re splitting our forces here?”

Hank looked at Max with a bewildered expression.

They were facing the invincible Imperial City, and yet Max was planning to split their forces?

“Yes, ten thousand should be enough.”

“T-Ten thousand?!”

“We need that many to be able to say that we didn’t disobey the princess’s order.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

“The princess’s messenger will arrive soon. I’ll leave those ten thousand soldiers to you, Sir Hank. Once the messenger arrives, follow the order and head to Lambert Castle. But don’t actually fight. Just pretend to help them and keep retreating.”

“I-I don’t understand!”

“You’ll understand when the time comes. I’ll leave it to you. I’m going to focus on my operation at the Imperial City.”

Max had already anticipated all of this.