City of Desire: Chapter 764 Plans and Politics I (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

Marquess Grimvale

I watched my army charge toward the enemy. They had promised not to attack if the undead came, but since Silver had dealt with the undead, they moved to attack.

It is a test. I have to show Tabes that I have power, or they would keep harassing me.

They are not attacking to conquer; they are not ready for it, with most of their forces busy carving out a piece of the empire, but they could, if they sense enough weaknesses.

My general is leading the battle, but if the commander of the other fortress enters the battlefield. So, will I.

The chances of that are small, but not negligible.

“It’s such a regret that we couldn’t use this opportunity to finish off the undead,” said Dasir. I am regretful as well.

Silver called, asking to merge the forces to attack the undead. I would have done that because it's what I want: to conquer the whole region.

He was even willing to give me Ashton Harbor after we conquer it, but I declined.

I had sent someone to watch the battle. I know what happened, better than anyone else in the region. Silver had shown his true power; it is far greater than any of us had imagined.

I would have accepted the offer if Silver hadn't crushed the enemy so overwhelmingly, forcing the undead to take a strategic retreat.

Because then I would have been confident to deal with him, but now I am not so sure.

It pains me to accept it, but it's true. It is why I declined to gather my forces with Grelthaven.

Because if we somehow defeated the undead. Nothing would have stopped Silver from coming at me.

I need something to stop him, and there is no better weapon, for now,  than the undead.

I know, this could bite me in the future, but the way Silver is growing, I can’t take the risk of him growing too powerful that he would come at me.

Especially now, since I have just arrived in the region, I need time to stabilise and grow before I start my plans to conquer Renwell.

“Don’t worry; there will be a chance in the future,” I replied.

The undead retreated, and they will come again, and by that time. I need to be ready, next time, they will be more powerful and fully aware of all of Silver's cards.

Once they finish destroying each other, I will swoop in and deal with whoever comes out victorious.

Making Greltheaven mine.

I am confident it will happen. I still remember the last conversation I had with the crown prince, where he said, The undead will not leave the region alone.

I tried to ask the reason, but the man didn’t say anything further.

Everybody understood the undead wanted something from the region.

It is not as basic as them wanting to pestle the merchants, who are big backers of the forces opposing them on the island.

The crown prince knows something, but he isn’t willing to tell, and I am not too worried about it. I will find that thing once I conquer the region.

…

Silver

“Forward!”

I said to the army of eighty thousand, and we moved.

It had been only fifteen minutes since the battle was over, and I was already moving with my army. They need rest after such a big battle. Instead, they are marching with me.

I need to follow and press the undead. They might attack Panar, and I won’t allow that.

Half a million is a considerable force. It won’t take the undead more than a minute to break through its gates.

I don’t think they will try it, but I need to be ready in case.

I didn’t even return to the city; all my time had gone to contacting people. Not even one of the bastards was ready to move with me to deal with the undead.

“This is such a great chance to deal with the undead,” said Cardin before sighing.

He is riding beside me. He is the highest-ranked officer coming with me. Stone is injured; he could fight, but I need him in the Greltheaven.

As for Azalia and Hiren, both of them are heavily injured. They are in no condition to fight.

“It is, but we alone couldn’t do it,” I replied, shaking my head.

I might have taken my forces to Ashton Harbour, but it is unlike any of the other undead cities. It is their base on the continent, and they have spent considerable resources fortifying it.

It would need a large force to defeat the undead there. The force, I don’t have.

“Lord of Port Midlet on the line,” informed Zela.

She is injured; the self-destruction of the Necromancers’ special undead hadn't even spared her. However, Jon and Garzong are in much worse condition.

If it were not for the shields that had appeared to save them, not a single one would have survived.

“Connect me to Zanav,” I said and took her hand into mine.

Since I couldn’t gather all the forces in the region to mount an offensive against the undead, I am going to do something that will reduce their threat to me.

I had talked to him for nearly twenty minutes before talking to the Lord of Deerpond for fifteen minutes.

“Do you think it will work?” asked Cardin as I had finished with my call.

“I don’t know,” I replied. I genuinely don’t know, but I hope it does, despite knowing that if it worked, it would bring me more headaches in the future.

There will also be benefits beyond just helping with the undead.

A moment passed, and I looked in front of me. I could see the undead, far from the massive unending horde, not long ago, but it could still pose a threat to us if it turned.

In the battle, I had improved tremendously, but I still have no confidence to win against that Knight.

My sword is advantageous against the mages, but less so against the enemies who fought with weapons, not spells, with the Knights being the greatest.

So, I truly hope it wouldn’t turn, but one part of me wishes that it would, as it would give me a chance to finish off the undead.

Though even if it happens. It won’t come without a high cost.

I pushed away those thoughts and turned to Zela. “Ask Ina to call me,” I said. She had been informed of the battle's outcome, but there are a few things I need to discuss with her.

…

Deerpond

“…still, the question is, can we trust Silver? He might attack us,” said Ronda.

“That is always a possibility,” replied Silva.

It had been an hour since Silver’s second call, and I was in the conference room with the top brass of the army, discussing what he had suggested.

“There is also the question about the undead. If the horde came, we would be sandwiched between the city and the horde,” added Darious, my son.

This had been going on for an hour. We were unable to make any decision.

We need to make a decision quickly, or this opportunity will slip out of my fingers. I had waited for it, and now, with the big part of the undead destroyed, I could take it.

Still, the risks are enormous, but the rewards are just as great.

A few minutes passed, and the discussion continued with those in favour and against it. I didn’t say anything, but listened when my assistant came close to me.

“Zanav had moved his army,” he said. Instantly, the whole room quieted down.

“West?” asked Silva. Our west means his north. “Yes,” he affirmed. Nobody has to guess where he is going.

“Silver is a bastard!” cursed Ronda and a few others. It’s clear he didn’t only call us. Since Zanav is moving, it only leaves us one choice.

“General Silva, lead the army to Almin,” I finally ordered.

There is not a single voice of opposition. Since Zanav moved, we will have to move as well, or we will lose this opportunity, and I refuse to do that.

…

Marquess Grimvale

“Deerpond’s army is moving,” informed Dasir. I didn’t move my eyes away from the battle ahead of me, but my expression changed.

“Silver,” I stated.

He didn’t call me, but I know it is his doing. My sources had confirmed it as much.

“He is very intelligent. If they succeeded, it would lessen the weight of the undead off him,” commented Dasir, sounding impressed.

So am I, despite being a little frustrated.

Not because it is happening,  ultimately, this is going to help me, actually, but because I didn’t think about it. If I had suggested it, though, it wouldn’t have worked.

They would have looked at me suspiciously. Especially Deerpond.

“Ask Karjan to ready our forces,” I ordered. Karjan, my general, is stationed at the Wildhelm, along with part of my army.

Dasir was surprised by the command, before his eyes widened in realization.

“You can’t be thinking that, my lord. We need a good relationship with him; this will break it,” he stated, but I smiled.

“It would have worsened eventually, when we had begun. It might as well do it now.” I replied.

Since everybody is going to conquer some territory, I might do that as well. I didn’t plan to do that this early, but it is fine as well.

This is an excellent opportunity. Something I wouldn’t have gotten before the rest of my army came.

Now, Silver’s machination provided me a chance, and I am going to take it, despite the consequences. They are bad, but the benefits I will get will be worth it.

Though it still made me frustrated and angry, seeing how giddy it is going to make Silver.