Chapter 228: Dirtiest Bastard on the Battlefield

Over the years, Korr and Moon had worked together. Reluctantly, they had no choice but to work together.

A lord who was despised by his best-performing slave and a child who was caught one day and turned into a war slave and was told to find a way to live.

The truth was that Korr, for as long as he could remember, since that day Moon fell into his hands by the sheer stroke of luck, since the day he became 135, Korr had never once looked down on him.

The gibberish Mando was speaking, the guaranteed victory thanks to numbers and experience, thanks to superior and stronger individuals on their side.

It was something Korr had seen many times: enemies who trusted themselves too blindly against a small army.

Against a child slave.

His eyes fell on Mando again, the man who seemed to be in his mid-twenties with brown mane-like hair and beard, cheerfully speaking like victory was already secured in his pockets.

It wasn’t until Mando said, "For over 70 years, this was how we did things, and now it isn’t any different."

Korr couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

Slam~

He slapped the table before him as restlessness took a huge leap; he stood up violently. "Sir Enzo, there’s something I must say now before it’s too late."

Enzo leaned his head forward, eyes focused on Korr. "Go ahead." He allowed it.

Korr took a breath. "I think we’re making a huge mistake."

Mando frowned in evident displeasure. "Might esteemed ascender elaborate?" he said in a tone laced with mockery.

Korr ignored him, not sparing him a glance; his eyes were on Enzo. "Sir Enzo, I know everyone believes..." Korr paused for a moment. "Moon... Moon is a proud warrior who would never resort to trickery or any schemes."

Korr leaned both his hands on the table. "If you truly think so, you’re gravely mistaken," he said in a grave tone.

"That bastard is anything but proud, maybe in duels only." Korr paused. "On the battlefield, he’s the dirtiest bastard you could ever meet; he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals."

Korr wasn’t done; he raised his voice. "He wouldn’t mind dragging his own face through mud, playing dead, or even throwing away one of those who are on his side to save his own life."

Meanwhile, on the Strand side, Gustav and Talia both looked confused. Gustav even held a hint of dormant anger under his clean features and gaze.

"What are you talking about? Why give up two defence lines?" Talia asked, sparing Gustav any inconvenience.

"Just do it; we’ll concentrate the defence on the main castle line." Moon didn’t look like he would explain what he had in mind or why he was doing this.

"Sir Moon, this is our land," Gustav said slowly in a low, emotional tone. "We can’t just give it up."

"Gustav, this might be your only chance to save the lands you speak of," Moon said, matching his gaze. "Look here." Moon pointed at the map.

His right index and middle fingers pressed together firmly and landed on the two very close lines. "Doesn’t this small place seem a very cheap price to pay for this?"

Thud~

His left palm landed on the kingdom as a whole.

Gustav and Talia fell silent, staring intently at the map. "I won’t promise, but if we truly win, taking back these lines won’t be impossible," Moon added while relaxing back into his seat.

For Talia, who believed Moon was an upright warrior, she couldn’t understand the purpose of his suggestion.

Gustav, on the other hand, fell into his seat; he didn’t respond, nor did he seem to be responding any time soon.

Moon pursed his lips; he stood up. "I guess that’s it for today’s meeting." He turned around, leaving.

"Wait!" Talia called. "What’s your plan?" she asked, stopping him from leaving.

Moon shrugged. "Plan?" he asked back. "Do you really think we have enough troops to defend three lines one after another?"

It might not have been the main reason Moon was planning on abandoning these two lines, but it was nonetheless a very valid reason that left both Talia and Gustav speechless.

Slam~

Closing the door behind them, Talia and Gustav looked at the map again and the total numbers of troops.

Their numbers were still stable but would soon start collapsing thanks to the defection orders.

"He’s not wrong," Talia said slowly. "It might sound crazy at first, but scattering our troops over three defence lines only to relocate survivors who might not even make it..."

Her voice trailed off; she refused to finish the sentence she was about to say.

Gustav didn’t say another word, but he understood instantly; he could see it now more clearly.

Moon was right; if the troops were smaller in size, scattering them was a very unfavourable approach. They were also unfamiliar with the horrors of war; unity was power for them.

"Let’s end this meeting here," Talia said. "We’ll begin with the evacuation of any civilians around these lines and relocate the troops to the castle of Deshter."

Gustav sighed and nodded. "Will proceed right away."

In the Control Centre, Lucen had both meetings play with audio for the first time.

The purpose of this room was to monitor the trial, not spy on the ascenders; thus, no audio was available until the meetings started.

The meetings of both sides, the discussions, and the suggestions were listened to thoroughly.

Hugh chuckled lightly. "That Ashspawn child is needlessly too cautious," he exclaimed at Korr’s warning about Moon’s methods.

Meanwhile, Yutian didn’t react negatively to Moon’s suggestion.

"How are these two young ascenders related?" Yutian asked Ed, seated next to him.

Ed rubbed his chin. "They were partners for years until that Ashspawn betrayed them." He casually gave a normal answer that didn’t have any details.

Moon hadn’t told him any details, but he might have heard something while cooking, by sheer coincidence.

Yutian exhaled. "I suppose their fates will forever entangle until one of them dies," he said in a burdened tone.

Entangled fates forever till one dies... His words earned the attention of everyone seated in the room.

Samuel and Lazzaro were another ill-fated relationship that refused to end, no matter how much time passed.

There might be more unspoken stories, buried deep in the hearts of others who merely looked and didn’t give a word.

Ed nodded. "I guess they will need to settle it here; we don’t want any long-term ill-fated relationships," he said jokingly.

Everly, on the other hand, was holding a notebook and taking notes. As for Uon, he just sat there watching the screens with great interest.

Now that the meetings were over, Moon made his way back to the palace.

"Man, this is tiring," he whispered while walking. He had his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the sky.

"Would this even work?" he whispered again, tilting his head. "Well, I’ll make it work," he assured himself with a nod.

On his way, entangled in his own thoughts, Moon missed a trace of someone following him nimbly.

He almost missed it, if not for the beautiful fragrance catching his nose and senses off guard.