Meanwhile, in the main camp of the Warlov Empire, commanders Chang and Warka were looking up at the sky with their arms folded. They did not move an inch, but simply continued to look up at the heavens.
"So what are you going to do, Worker?"
Not bothering to hide his irritation, Chan opens his mouth. Hearing his voice, the worker slowly straightens his posture.
"I can't help it, sir. There's only one thing to do. That fortress of Dorga will have no choice but to cut off its food supply and leave it out in the sun to dry. But the enemy has the sea at his back. If they bring food from the sea, we will eventually run out.
"We know that. We know that. We have proposed it many times in the military council. But didn't the vixen deny all of them?"
"Hmmm."
"After all, she doesn't want us here. She wants to get rid of us. Just like she did with Suno."
"......"
Worker slowly closed his eyes. It was exactly one year ago. One of their comrades-in-arms, a commander, had taken his own life. It was a trauma that still lingered deep in their hearts.
Commander Suno was a man with a strong sense of justice. Exactly one year ago, Deputy Commander Siwa wanted to remove one of his staff members. The reason was that he was not working according to her wishes. It was Commander Suno who trained the staff member. He told Siwa that her way of thinking was wrong. However, this was the beginning of a long series of criticisms from Deputy Commander-in-Chief Siwa and General Gesikhana, who were constantly picking at the corners of his head with a toothpick.
Chan and Waqa desperately tried to defend their colleague, but their criticisms went on and on, until Commander Suno became so exhausted that he finally took his own life.
"Maybe we will suffer the same fate as Suno."
"That's not going to happen, is it? ......"
At that moment, a soldier appeared and kneeled down in front of them.
"Ha, I'm telling you. The Commander-in-Chief wants to see you.
"You've come to ......."
It was Commander Chang who muttered to no one in particular. He replied that he would be right there, and stood up, shaking his huge body with great gravity.
"We have to run as far as we can," he said.
"...... Well, it's not a complimentary act for a military man."
"Don't be sarcastic, worker."
The two men left the scene, exchanging such conversation.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
"So, what's the plan?"
As expected, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Shewa was sitting next to General Gesikana. Not only that, Commander Gigi and Commander Toits were also present. The absence of the other young staff members was their only relief.
The two men remained face down and did not answer anything. They knew that there was no use in answering, and the best thing to do at this point was just to remain silent.
"Sheeva is listening, why don't you answer?"
General Gesikana's voice can be heard, but the two men do not speak.
"Will you stop being so silent? Our army is supposed to be active in exchanging opinions and planning our operations. You two always remain silent and refuse to say anything. Is that the attitude of the commander of our army?
The general takes a slow breath, but the two men are lying face down, not making eye contact. He looks at them and opens his mouth again.
"Why don't you come to us if you have any problems in planning a strategy?
The worker jerked. General Gesikana and Deputy Commander Siwa looked at each other.
"You don't have a plan, do you? Then let me give you some instructions. You two, go to the Agartha camp."
"......!?"
The two looked at Siwa's face with a scowling expression on their faces, as they were not expecting such an instruction. She watched them with a blank expression on her face.
"Agartha is the only place that was not damaged by the attack the other day. The other countries that sent reinforcements are all suffering. It is unacceptable for Agartha to stand idly by. You must do whatever you can to move Agartha and make it participate in the attack.
"Participate in the attack? When do you mean attack?"
At the sound of Commander Worker's voice, Deputy Commander Shewa sniffed.
"You will decide when and where to attack," he said. Then take the plan to Agartha."
"Wait a minute. Isn't it funny? If we make a plan and Agartha agrees to it, but you disagree, it will be meaningless.
Please make a proper plan to prevent that from happening."
No, that's not right. We don't mind, but if Commander Chang's concerns come true, our country will lose the trust of Agartha. If we lose Agartha's trust, we will lose Heedata's trust, won't we?"
No, you can't be so sure. Don't underestimate Agartha. It has ties to Niza, Lamaron, Hradime, and Midei as well as to Heedata. And they have the kingdom of Thana under their control. Crimiana is also ......"
"I know, right? That much? So, as long as you guys have a good plan to prevent that from happening, it's not a problem."
"You know what?"
"Well, wait."
General Gesikana interrupted the tense atmosphere. He looked around at everyone and slowly opened his mouth.
"Chan has a point. This is the plan that these two men are going to make. They may not always be able to come up with something that can stand up to a military discussion. Now, Gigi... You're to join them in planning the plan.
"Yes, I understand..."
Gigi replies with an expression that says, "I have no choice. Chan and Worker both exhale slowly, their eyes like dead fish, as they look at her.
The two of them exhaled slowly with eyes like dead fish.
It was only a few hours later that a messenger from the Warlovian Imperial Army arrived at the Agartha camp.
"What is the matter?
It was Matkal who opened his mouth. She looked at the three people lined up in front of her with a blank expression.
"Well, ...... we asked you today: ......."
The one who is mumbling is Commander Chang. He is shaking his huge body and wiping the sweat from his forehead. Behind him, Gigi looks on with cold eyes.
"I've come here today to ask you for a favor.
It was Commander Worker who opened his mouth as if determined to do so. He looked alternately at Matkal and at Linos, who was sitting beside him, and continued in a calm voice.
"Early in the morning of the day after tomorrow, we will launch another general attack on Dorga. Therefore, I have come to ask the Agartha army to lead the attack.
"Oh, you want us to go first?"
It was Linos who raised his voice. His face is covered with a cloth, which makes his voice a little muffled and difficult to hear, but when I look into his eyes, I see that he seems to be smiling under the cloth.
"Yes. The valor of Agartha's army is well known among the neighboring nations. If the mighty Agartha takes the lead in the assault on Durga, morale will naturally rise and other armies will be the first to attack.
"That's very kind of you, but I don't think it's any different from the last operation.
"The outer moat of the dolga has been considerably lowered by the last assault. We do not think it will be difficult to go over the moat this time."
"Beyond the moat, beyond the walls, how far will you go?"
"All at once, we will take over Dorga."
"Doesn't look much different from last time, does it?"
"We understand your concerns, but we ask for your cooperation in our efforts to retake Durga.
Workers bow their heads with indescribable expressions. Linos, watching him, raised his voice in disgust.
"I don't think this is any different from what you said last time, but is it okay?
His gaze fell on Gigi. She made eye contact with Linos for a moment, but quickly averted her gaze.
"I'm sorry, sir. Could you please keep your mouth shut?"
"What?"
"We are asking you, Mr. Matkal. We are not asking you, a mere commander, to do this for us.
Gigi looked at Matkal as if he were glaring at him.
"I disagree. ....... I'd like to ask for a decision from Mr. Rinos."
"What? Mr. Linos?"
"Yeah, I said that."
At the sound of Linos' voice, Gigi fell to the ground as if in a crumpled heap.
"I told you to keep my existence a secret. I guess it's decided.
Linos laughs as he says this. Chan and Worker looked on in astonishment. .......