Chapter 499 ·Upheaval (3)

Blinded ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍by his thirst for revenge, Salah began to speak. "Those who remain in Bukhara are filthy apostates whose greed has led them to deny the one and only Allah."

Grand ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍General Talib felt a scoff rising in his throat, but he quietly kept his mouth shut for the time being. He wanted to listen and see what sort of information this man was willing to offer.

"It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wasn't enough for them to drag those filthy infidels to this war; now, they're completely relying on them! Just look at them, Grand General! They've clumped all their forces together in Bukhara and are just turtling behind the walls. What else could they possibly be waiting for?"

Talib ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gave an amused laugh.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was something he had already sensed.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍enemy who had been stalling for time by spreading the front wide and engaging small localized skirmishes were now stubbornly holding their ground in Bukhara instead of fleeing

They had abandoned that strategy and gathered their entire force together at Bukhara. Thanks to that, not only Talib himself but also the two Amirs who had been fighting elsewhere had been able to join forces here.

Talib had a sharp mind for military matters, and he already had a fair idea of what lay behind it.

"They are holding out in the hope that the Far East infidels will drive our imperial forces away from the south," he said.

It was laughable.

He had already sent the Old Man of the Mountain and the Brotherhood of Purity to hunt those infidels down.

The fact that they went without regular soldiers and brought only the Hashashins bothered him a little, but Talib did not let it trouble him. Even if they didn't wipe out the whole infidel army, assassinating their leadership was more than enough to trigger a collapse.

Obviously, Talib didn't breathe a word about the Old Man of the Mountain to Salah.

He was curious to see how much more information the man would let spill.

His expectation proved correct, because Salah continued to run his mouth.

"Worse yet, the infidels have proclaimed that if they win this war, they will station their own soldiers in our territories. And those deranged apostates are actually planning to accept those terms!"

Talib scowled at this. His adjutant looked equally repulsed.

"Hah. They really have lost their minds. To even entertain the thought of letting an army of infidels into our territory… Whoever agreed to that is the lowest scum of the earth."

Talib was already planning to butcher them all, but now he had a genuinely righteous reason to do it.

While Salah secretly swallowed a triumphant grin at Talib’s reaction, the Grand General’s face suddenly went deadpan.

"So what is it that you want?"

The question struck directly at the heart of the matter.

Salah hesitated for a moment, then answered while carefully watching Talib's face.

"We simply wish to follow the will of Allah the Almighty and purge these filthy apostates and infidels from our sacred lands. That is all the reward we need. Once the war is over, we will humbly return to our original domains and serve the Sultan."

It was a long and incredibly greasy speech, but Salah delivered it without any noticeable change in his expression.

"Hmm."

As Talib contemplated the matter, his adjutant used voice transmission to send his opinion.

—Grand General. He's dressing it up in religion, but all he's saying is that he wants to keep his lands and his title as Lord.

Since Talib’s talent was non-existent when it came to politics and diplomacy, his adjutant was there to translate the political maneuvering into plain words.

The adjutant's interpretation was accurate.

Of course, Salah knew that becoming a vassal under the Sultan meant he would have far less power than he used to, but he did not care.

As things stood, losing the war meant he lost everything.

And even if they won, his situation would not improve.

Victory would mean the infidels stationing their soldiers in his lands, which would be no different from falling under a different empire anyway.

He would much rather submit to the Khalas Empire than bow to the infidels who had humiliated him, and he had not a shred of intention of living under their rule.

Though Salah was filled with rage, he had finished all these calculations before choosing betrayal.

‘Fools. To think they actually believe those infidels will treat them any better than the Khalas Empire would.’

He mentally laughed at the lords stuck in Bukhara. 

When the Grand General did not respond, Salah panicked and quickly sweetened the deal.

"This is not a request we make empty-handed, of course. We fully intend to bleed with you in this holy war against the apostates and the infidels. We have already made preparations to bring down Bukhara."

Only then did Talib show a flicker of interest. "You have a way to bring it down tonight? Let me hear it."

"Bukhara is currently being defended by several lords who have divided the walls among themselves. Each lord guards his own section."

That exact setup was the only reason they had been able to sneak out of the city and walk right into the enemy camp without raising alarms.

"If you just give us the chance to join your holy war, we will leave the sector we're supposed to be guarding wide open for your army to march right through."

The corner of Talib's mouth lifted slightly.

He was confident he could take the city within five days at the latest, but this was not a bad offer.

Capturing Bukhara would not end the war. Besides consolidating the territories already seized, there was still the war with the Christians in the West to consider. Reducing casualties even by a fraction would be to his advantage.

"It is not a bad offer."

Salah realized the Grand General had taken the bait and was about to smile, but Talib asked another question first. "However, how am I to trust the likes of you?"

Those wide-open walls could very well be a trap.

Salah just laughed off the suspicion. "Hahaha. That is precisely why we lords have come in person. Our lives are entirely in the Grand General's hands, so how could we possibly lay a trap?"

Talib held Salah's gaze for a moment before giving a slow nod.

This was a man who valued his own life above all else; he would not sacrifice himself to spring a trap.

"Order the soldiers to prepare for battle. Those who were held in reserve during the day's fighting will form the vanguard, and those who returned from the field uninjured will follow as the rear force."

"As you command."

The adjutant left the tent and went to the intermediate commanders to relay the order. "Move as quietly as possible so they do not catch wind of it."

Taking the adjutant's strict warning to heart, the commanders scattered and carefully passed the order down to the soldiers. The imperial soldiers likewise began to form up quietly.

You could split the soldiers' reactions into two completely different camps.

Those soldiers who had originally been inhabitants of the coalition's territories and had been forced into service as human shields after the occupation were rigid with fear and dread.

However, the soldiers who had been imperial troops from the outset were visibly excited.

Until just a short while ago, the sounds of aroused moaning had drifted from every corner of the camp. The holy war awaited them, and those who distinguished themselves in it would receive generous rewards. Like those men enjoying themselves, they too would spend a fiery night and would be free to take the women beyond those walls as they pleased.

And that was not all.

By earning merit, they might rise to a higher station.

As the imperial soldiers formed up with visions of the pleasures and rewards that would follow the holy war dancing in their heads, the adjutant returned to the tent and quietly asked the Grand General, "Do you truly intend to return their domains to them, Grand General?"

"Don't be ridiculous. A man who stabs his comrade in the back once will do it again. Once Bukhara is taken, they will be executed on the spot."

"Your wisdom truly knows no bounds, Grand General."

Talib smirked. "It is thanks to your counsel."

While the Grand General and his adjutant exchanged these pleasantries, a commander arrived outside the tent. "Grand General! Preparations are complete!"

Talib and the adjutant stepped out.

Taking his place at the very front of the formation, Talib gave the order. "Right flank, begin the advance."

The section of the wall that Salah and his fellow lords had been defending lay on the right from the imperial army's perspective. Talib's order was passed quietly, and before long the soldiers of the right flank moved silently toward the walls. They pressed forward through the deep darkness of the late night.

Only when they had drawn close to the walls did a shout burst from the wall directly ahead of them.

"Enemy attack!"

The soldiers on the forward wall cried out in alarm and began firing arrows in a frenzy. Then they noticed something wrong.

"What are you doing?!"

The soldiers on the right-side wall were supposed to be repelling the enemy, yet they were not firing their bows at all. In fact, they were actively lowering ropes and ladders down to the attackers.

A few commanders finally realized what was happening and began shouting.

"It's betrayal!"

"Attack them!"

The arrows now turned away from the approaching enemy and toward the soldiers on the right-side wall. In the blink of an eye, the ramparts devolved into a chaotic internal fight.

While the coalition’s troops were busy slaughtering each other up top, someone reached the base of the wall and scaled it as if it were flat ground.

A moment later, dozens of arcs of Force Qi and Saber Force scattered from the blade he swung.

The Amir commanding the right flank had personally entered the fight.

His efforts rapidly swelled the number of imperial soldiers climbing the walls. The defenders on the forward wall were being cut down in droves, and as the enemy fell into disarray, the Grand General gave the order.

"Left flank and main body, advance!"

Knowing stealth was pointless now, the imperial army unleashed an earth-shattering roar the second Talib's words left his mouth.

"Allahu Akbar!"

***

As dawn began to break, the Grand General entered Bukhara with a frown. The siege had succeeded, but his expression was grim because several key figures had slipped out of the city in secret.

"This has become troublesome."

Talib clicked his tongue in irritation and issued an order. "Tell the soldiers who labored in the holy war to take their pleasure."

Shortly after his order was given, screams rose from every corner of Bukhara.

"Guess it's time to clean up the trash, too."

Now he needed to deal with the traitors who had thrown open the gates for him. He was just thinking of them when his adjutant approached with urgent steps.

"Grand General! A messenger from the Sultan has arrived."

Talib frowned.

It was the hour of dawn.

For a messenger to arrive at this hour meant he had traveled day and night without rest. If the news was important enough to warrant that, Talib could already guess what it was.

"Looks like those Crusaders finally got off their asses and marched on us."

"It seems so."

"Bring the messenger to me first."

The adjutant departed to carry out his instructions, and Talib clicked his tongue again.

The coalition’s lords he had failed to capture today kept flickering through his mind.

Moving from here to the western border would take at least fifteen days. If those bastards had raised their armies, he needed to begin moving west without delay.

The news the messenger carried largely matched his expectations. The order was to settle the east as quickly as possible and return while Amir Barhim bought time in the west.

"Hmm. The enemy's main forces are nearly annihilated; the best course would be to leave the cleanup to one Amir and the Old Man of the Mountain, then march the army back west."

No sooner had Talib organized his thoughts and opened his mouth than the messenger lowered himself and spoke.

"G-Grand General. T-Truth be told, I encountered an unbelievable piece of news while traveling here."

"Unbelievable news?"

"I-It is... I received word that the O-Old Man of the Mountain was killed in action by the infidels, and the B-Brotherhood of Purity has been nearly annihilated."

“…”

For a moment, Talib was entirely uncharacteristically speechless.

The Old Man of the Mountain had been defeated?

No matter how much Talib personally disliked the old assassin, the man's capabilities were undeniable.

Yes, he had certainly disliked the man, and his death was rather welcome news from a purely personal standpoint.

But it would also inevitably cause tremendous setbacks for their great endeavor.

With the Old Man of the Mountain gone, he could not leave the task of occupying the east to a single Amir, especially not with the infidels still at large.

His mind reached that point, and Talib asked with uncharacteristic urgency, "What about the infidels? What casualties did they suffer? What are their movements?"

"Their casualties could not be precisely determined. However, I received word that they have begun moving toward Merv."

“…”

Talib fell silent once more.

His mind went blank for an instant, something he had not experienced since rising to the rank of Grand General.

A problem far greater than the death of the Old Man of the Mountain had arisen.

What if those infidels had already seized control of Merv?

‘My supply lines and my only route of retreat are completely cut off.’

It felt as though black storm clouds were rolling in across a sky that until now had shown him nothing but victory and a bright future.

A storm bearing the name of the Evil God.

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