Chapter 227: Unbeknownst Warning

Moon, Talia, and a man who seemed to be older sat together at a round table.

The table was a large map covered in sand, figures, and arrows. Moon had never seen anything like it on the first floor; he had never seen a map until Uon taught him how to read one.

Reading one for war was a new experience.

Opposite them was the current highest authority in Strand entirely, the Supreme Commander who was in charge of the kingdom in place of the king while holding reign over the military as well as the warring laws stated.

Once a dropout second-floor ascender at the rank of captain, he was now temporarily titled Supreme General.

Gustav, a man whose hair was grey, looked tall and as straight as an erect spear, with a few wrinkles over his forehead and around his eyes, and a cleanly shaved face.

He started explaining the geographic relationship between Strand and Fable, while also explaining the nature of the history between them.

“The kingdom was established by King Yutian around 300 years ago; at the time, there was nothing on these lands between mountains and sea, sand and rock, nothing considered this place home,” Gustav began.

He went through the stages where the old king rescued children, starving travellers, and some who were even lost at sea.

The kingdom started with one man who gradually brought people around him over the years, turning a dry, rocky zone into a place where people could at last call home.

The old king seemed too loved in this small kingdom.

Moon and Talia listened attentively, seemingly interested in the ordinary-looking old man who was far from being ordinary.

Gustav went on with the story. He started explaining how the kingdom stayed safe all these years; it was only thanks to the old king himself.

The old king was strong, very strong compared to anyone in the region.

Yet, he was also growing old and suffering from old wounds that they had no means to treat. The old king, Yutian, gradually became weaker, while those who saw this kingdom as a target also grew stronger.

“We’re not sure if we should rejoice; His Majesty is not here and doesn’t need to suffer for the kingdom or…”

Gustav’s voice trailed off, but he didn’t say another word.

He cut off his own words so as not to say anything more or unnecessary. Something that could not be said in wartime, or that could turn offensive to the ascenders undertaking the trial.

Gustav was currently counted among the trial takers in the wave thanks to his special situation as a second-floor ascender, but also one of the defenders by default.

Once he was done introducing the history of the kingdom, the current situation they were in, and the troops, Gustav moved his gaze to the map.

But before he could start, Moon had a pressing question he needed to ask.

“Does that mean you have never once gone to war?” he asked lightly, even though the question was far heavier than his tone.

Gustav slowly shook his head. “Never.”

Moon nodded. “What about the enemy?” he asked again.

Gustav raised his eyes to Moon. “They’ve been expanding for over 70 years, starting from a small tribe,” he explained.

Moon nodded again. No emotion was shown on his face, as if he had expected it.

Gustav and Talia understood the reason behind these simple questions very well.

The baptism of war.

Men who had once walked the path of blood and those who had yet to see blood were completely different kinds of beings.

So many unspeakable things lay along that path.

Moon had been through many battles, seen those who were jumping in for the first time thinking they would live.

He had seen the enthusiasts who froze when the random guy they had met a day ago got stabbed.

Moon had also seen those who walked into war for the first time and performed perfectly.

His calm face and eyes hid a racing mind, seeking a way to recreate a certain event, one that would allow warriors who had yet to receive the baptism of war to integrate into battle seamlessly.

Gustav began explaining the geographic relationship between the two sides.

Strand was a coastal nation between a chain of mountains and the sea. It was split between four main states, with the capital, Jian, at the very centre of the sea coast.

Three of the states were not important in the war; the one at the front lines was Deshter.

Deshter was the state with the open path, not a gate carved into the mountains. Behind the mountain pass were the walls of the city, followed by the great walls of the castle.

Gustav slowly explained every route and their nature, which led to the first conclusion.

An army would have a hard time going through the mountain pass, but it would be impossible to get through the other side routes, which could at most allow for a cart to pass.

Moon looked wordlessly at the map; his eyes darted all over Deshter as if he were searching for something.

After a few minutes, Moon stood from his seat. He took two of the red arrows and placed one on the mountain pass and another on the city walls.

Moon raised his gaze to Gustav, tapping the table while looking up. “We’re giving up these two lines.”

Meanwhile, on the Fable side, a similar meeting was ongoing, yet it was also different.

Chief Mando was the current leader; he was younger than Gustav and also a man with war experience, as well as a second-floor ascender who didn’t give up climbing but returned for duty.

The current turn of events (the orders Enzo’s clan had given to the smaller clans) made the environment much, much lighter.

Mando started giving the history outline of Fable as well, a small tribe that expanded into an empire, which wasn’t much different from the introduction Gustav had given Moon.

Moving on to geography.

Fable was vast plains, fresh water, green fields, and countless resources as it currently was.

The reason for the expansion was very simple… they needed something more they didn’t have.

They wanted to have mountains… and more importantly, they needed access to the sea for more resources.

Enzo listened attentively, as did Lorian and his new partner.

An older second-floor ascender who was on standby in the Havoc Clan was now deployed to replace Dara alongside Lorian.

Avri, who looked bigger and older than Dara, yet also had the same Havoc Clan’s dominant features.

Hulking height, bulky body and oversized muscles.

His hair was far longer than Dara’s.

The room also had Zera and, of course, the one who knew war and the enemy most.

Korr.

Even though everyone rejoiced at the turn of events, Enzo stayed his usual collected self, but Korr looked rather restless.

They all listened to Mando wordlessly… the troops, the path, the plan… everything without interruption.

The plan Mando had arranged was exactly what Gustav had in mind… it was a perfect confrontation war, with no need for ploys or games.

That was the way of Fable.

They believed themselves strong and numerous; thus, there was no need for any tactics.

“For over 70 years, this was how we did things, and now it isn’t any different,” or so Mando said.

Korr’s restlessness took a huge leap; he stood up violently. “Sir Enzo, there’s something I must say now before it’s too late.”

He interrupted the ongoing meeting.

I wanted to post a pic, but after two hours of fighting the damn asshole who had its legs spread wide (roots), it finally came out in pieces.

It looked too bloody and gory to post honestly, and we only managed to extract one.

Everyone was tired after this bloody round.

I’m here now thanks to the medications I took, which are usually forbidden steroids, but fine for me today.

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