A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

87 – Bring the Information

“Orcs.”

Karia gently tapped the armrest.

“Are they planning to hold Malta, the stronghold of the oil industry, and the Aylamians of the Golden Plains hostage to buy time?”

Orcs were formidable monsters. Not just in numbers, but also known for their tough skin and incredible vitality that made them almost indestructible monsters. For the Aylam army, it was impossible to risk losing the oil industry in Malta and the Golden Plains, one of Aylam’s major businesses.

Moreover, the Aylamians living in the Golden Plains outnumbered those who once resided in Damamba and Crescent Triangle for the sake of the north. Allowing the orcs to advance could potentially lead them to approach the trade route and push into Aylam’s mainland.

“It seems we have no choice but to concentrate our forces towards the orcs. This makes it difficult to withdraw troops towards Amir’s side.”

The numbers of orcs were so overwhelming that it would take all of the Aylam army’s firepower to barely hold them back. Over a hundred years, trapped in the wastelands of Karamba’s south, they had multiplied by absorbing the source of elixirs, making their numbers supernaturally vast.

Naturally, it became difficult to withdraw troops towards Prince Amir’s side. However, Karia saw beyond that.

“But this cannot be the end. There is something else being aimed for.”

“What do you mean?”

In response to Rashid’s question, Karia looked at the map spread out on the desk.

“To attack the Aylam army, it is essential to mobilize the strongest force Amir has, the Elephant Division. However, releasing the orcs has eliminated any viable path for the army, especially the Elephant Division, to advance.”

Karia explained to Rashid, pointing to a part of the map.

“The orcs have advanced, occupying the southern part of Karamba. Therefore, to strike the Aylam army, the only way is to come through the northeast path. But is it possible to advance through that region?”

Karia pointed to a section on the map. A barren land where once stood the plunderers who led the conquest wars of the Sultanate. Now, without Aylam’s refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, and soda, these beings couldn’t survive. It was a place full of nomads from friendly Aylam tribes.

“If Amir sends rebel forces here, it may backfire and lead to a counterattack. Isn’t that right, Chief Shiraakh?”

Shiraakh.

The leader of the nomads of the wastelands who led the ＜Cider Uprising＞, the incident that shifted power from the Sultan to Rashid. He looked as if he might explode at any moment, his face turning red.

It turned out that most of Rashid’s supporting tribes were nomads from the wastelands, meaning that during the rebellion in the capital, most of those who almost faced a sword at Amir’s hand were tribal leaders from the wastelands.

“Even if Amir tears him apart, that son of a b*tch will start a war as soon as he sets foot on our land, be it with elephants or whatever. Had it not been for the grain from Aylam’s mountains, we would have starved to death long ago. We unequivocally support Aylam and Prince Rashid.”

Shiraakh emphasized this fiercely. To the point where onlookers might be frightened.

“All warriors under my command are ready to gather at Crescent Triangle immediately. If I command, we will go and slit Amir’s throat right away!!…….”

“No. The nomads from the wastelands must not invade Crescent Triangle.”

Rashid interrupted the excited Shiraakh.

“Why not?!”

“Chief Shiraakh, are you capable of a siege?”

Shiraakh, the tribal chief, was left speechless by Rashid’s words.

Shiraakh’s tribes were adept at long-distance warfare. It was said that most of their forces were armed with horses and bows. Being tribes that primarily focused on swift plunder, this composition of forces was natural. Sultan Saladin also used them for pursuits, flanking attacks, and disruptive rapid movements, but not for sieges.

And attacking Crescent Triangle meant assaulting the palace, which was a fortress.

“Gongsongyong’s Elephant Corps is currently tightly held by Amir. If we recklessly push forward, we’ll only deplete our forces.”

“Damn it all!”

Chief Shirah lets out his anger. He, too, must have known that they lacked siege capabilities. However, considering that fact and making calculations in such a heated state of mind might be too much.

Rashed reassured him, “Even just guarding the northeast to prevent Amir from moving his forces is significant. Chief Shirah, your forces may not be able to siege, but wouldn’t you excel in plundering the slow-moving Elephant Corps that entered your territory?”

“Expertise. Swiftly maneuvering in the vast plains, endlessly striking and retreating, devouring – that’s our specialty.”

“Then please ensure Amir is blocked from attacking Damghamba and the Aylam army through the barren lands. That alone should suffice.”

“Understood. I’ll do just that!”

After concluding the conversation, Rashed looks at Karia. Surprisingly, Karia was watching Rashed, whose mind seemed unusually active, with interest.

“You really resemble Randor.”

“I’ve heard that before. Anyway.”

Rashed looks back at the map.

“If Amir’s plan isn’t to weaken the Aylam army by engaging in battle with the orcs, but rather to exterminate them, then a question arises.”

With the southern advance route, the only way to advance towards Damghamba blocked by themselves, why did they release the orcs?

“Releasing the orcs merely bought some time. Nothing more, nothing less. It meant needing time, even if it meant making the extreme choice to sacrifice the Karamba Empire people in the south. However, during that time, Amir’s army can’t do anything.”

Sending the army is hindered by the orcs in the south and the nomads in the barren lands in the north. The orcs are formidable, but with thousands of dragons and wyverns, giants, and even machine guns in the Aylam army, given time, they can eventually be dealt with.

It’s a situation of just buying time, unable to take any military action, yet despite that, why did Amir release the orcs?

“It seems impossible for us to figure this out. We need the help of another expert.”

“Another expert?”

“The Crescent Triangle expert. They know all the secret passages there and can catch rumors and gossip more sensitively than anyone else. And currently, they are infiltrating the Crescent Triangle, gathering information.”

A name flashes through Rashed’s mind.

The leader of the famous thieves of the Crescent Triangle and a member of the Saurians who crossed over to Aylam a few years ago.

“Crack from the Toi tribe!”

“I’ll contact my husband. Through Crack, we need to find out what Amir intends to do with the time gained by releasing the orcs.”

The wife contacted her husband.

She held the military firmly, and her husband…

“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll talk to Crack.”

He was a figure who held both gold and information firmly.

Crack. Saorik. And the Rang tribe of Chertu.

They were truly the all-star team of infiltration intelligence.

And they were struggling fiercely to extract the Aylam people remaining in the Crescent Triangle.

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“Now rest assured. I’ve sent it from Aylam.”

“My goodness! Thank you! Thank you!”

Swiftly infiltrating from Eldond Manor through Damghamba to the Crescent Triangle like ghosts, they quickly set up an undetectable secret headquarters underground with Crack’s help.

Systematically gathering information on the remaining Aylam people, they began sending the Aylam people back to Eldond Manor using teleport scrolls. At the same time, through a secret magical communication channel with the infiltration team, they could receive real-time updates on the dire situation in the Crescent Triangle.

“There are rumors abound that the Aylam people led the way and struck near the southern orc territory.”

“Many Karamba people have died. Those opposing Amir’s rule are being executed as examples on the streets. The atmosphere is grim.”

“All these events are being instigated as the fault of the Aylam people and Lord Randor. However, the incitement surprisingly isn’t gaining much traction. Even the commoners are not openly talking, as they fear Amir’s sword and sorcery. There is no one speaking favorably of Prince Amir.”

The situation in the Crescent Triangle was truly dire.

Sultan Saladin has died.

And Amir went around inciting that Sultan’s death was because of Aylam In. It seemed like a clever scheme to capture the public sentiment and use civilians as human shields, but the civilians were not fools. The public sentiment was grim, and Amir was suppressing the backlash of such people with swords and sorcery.

“Alright, understood. Keep up the good work.”

“Of course.”

After ending the communication, I sat on the sofa and absentmindedly stared at the ceiling.

“What exactly are you aiming for, Amir?”

By releasing the orc, Aylam’s military was delayed, but there was no news of military plans being executed in real-time through the crack. Amir’s army was only busy tightening the crescent triangle with civilians disguised in civilian attire.

It seemed they weren’t even considering a counterattack against Aylam.

I couldn’t afford to waste time like this.

What exactly is the plan?

At the moment when I was pondering,

“Lord Randor.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a message from Lady Karia.”

My secretary brought a magical communication device. I hastily accepted the device.

“Hello. How have you been?”

Lady Karia, dressed in military attire with a stern expression, softened her expression when she saw me. I smiled back at her.

“I’m doing well. Are you safe?”

“I’m fine as well. Hello. I have a favor to ask.”

“Go ahead. I will do whatever I can.”

“Could you use Crack, Seric, and Chertu deployed at the crescent triangle to find out what Amir Prince’s intentions are?”

“Amir Prince’s intentions?”

“You are aware that Amir regularly brings civilians into the palace to prevent dragon bombings, right? Could you somehow infiltrate and find out something?”

It was a difficult mission. The risk of being caught was too high, risking death.

But it was a mission that had to be accomplished.

“I will find out. Leave it to me. Hello.”

Karia faintly smiled across the communication at my words.

“I love you. I can’t wait to see you.”

I smiled back at Karia’s words.

“Me too. Stay safe.”

“I will. I’m sorry. I have to end the call now.”

The communication ended. She must be busy from her perspective as well. She has to fend off the orcs.

She was doing what she had to do.

And then I…

“I have things to do, don’t I?”

I needed to gather information.

I immediately initiated a secret communication with Crack, Seric, and Chertu.

“Can you find out what Amir Prince’s intentions are?”

It was a difficult request.

But the response came back confidently.

“Of course, it’s possible. But the Imperial dragons need to provide support. By having the dragons fly in the sky, causing chaos, it will make infiltration easier.”

“It’s not a problem. If you do that, can we really figure out our target?”

At my words, the three people laughed.

“Leave it to us.”

Southern hunters who could move through shadows using dark magic.

The assassination unit raised by the Sultan, the Rang tribe.

And even the thick-boned Crack of the Toi tribe, known for their thievery.

With these individuals, they had enough talent to create spy films surpassing 007 and Mission Impossible.