[Siena PoV]
Dozens of crows are flying across the sky. The fishy smell of the corpses in this place surely makes them want to feast on the human flesh that has begun to rot.
Two hours ago, a battle had just taken place here.
20,000 of our troops and 30,000 troops from the Greco Republic attacked 20,000 Imperial troops who were surrounded from two directions. Although we had superior numbers and a more advantageous position, the battle was not easy.
We estimate that 15,000 Imperial troops were killed in this battle, while the remaining 5,000 either surrendered or managed to escape our encirclement. On the other hand, the number of casualties suffered by our forces and the Greco Republic is estimated to be around 3,000 people.
After the battle ended, we headed to Ebro Village to meet with the Greco Republic side to discuss what steps should be taken after this victory.
Our military officials and the military officials of the Greco Republic then gathered in a multipurpose building in the village. After waiting for so long, our allied forces finally arrived to help in this war.
"Congratulations on your victory, Major Siena," said a middle-aged man with a thick beard. He is the Marshal of the Greco Republic—Auros Kaliantrus.
"This victory would not have been achieved if not for the assistance of the Greco Republic forces, Mr. Auros," I replied to him.
"You are truly humble, Major Siena. It was you who created the entire alliance strategy in this war so that the Empire had difficulty fighting us despite having more troops."
After exchanging formal greetings, we then discussed the main topic of this meeting.
After receiving word from the Reconnaissance Unit, we know that the Empire preferred to withdraw its main force to retake the Regium Fortress City, which is currently only guarded by 5,000 of our soldiers. This means the war situation has not changed except for the number of troops on both sides.
Currently, our combined forces with the Greco Republic that can be deployed number 67,000, including the troops we left behind in Tusculum City, while the Empire currently has a total of 70,000 troops in this region.
During this operation, we lost 13,000 soldiers, while the Empire lost about 40,000. Looking at these figures, it is certain that the operation we conducted has been a success.
"Major Siena, what is the next step we will take knowing the Imperial forces are returning to the Regium Fortress City?" asked Mr. Auros.
To be honest, I did not expect the main Imperial force to retreat. I wanted them to also move toward Ebro Village so that we could surround them from three directions. However, the enemy General seems to be very cautious and did not want to gamble with the stake of their offensive operation here.
With 70,000 troops retaking Regium Fortress City, they can hold out in this region as long as they want because their logistics supply route is not cut off. Although reinforcements will not be coming for some time because of the rebellion of the group I instigated in the Imperial Capital, this will not last long. The Empire must be currently recruiting new soldiers to be sent to the battlefield.
In addition, the last news I received regarding the condition of the Draconia Kingdom Forces in the Empire's eastern region is that they succeeded in conquering the small city of Sarisa and completed the first stage of the offensive operation.
"We must defeat their main force as quickly as possible," I answered him. "The longer this war takes place, the more the Empire will recover after suffering defeats in several previous battles."
"That's true; the Empire has more resources and population than the combination of our three countries," said Mr. Auros. "They will continue to recover unless we pressure them constantly!"
"You are right, Mr. Auros," I said to him. "Currently, the Draconia Kingdom is ravaging the Empire's eastern region; I hope they continue to pressure the Empire there so that their troop reinforcements will never come to this region."
The meeting did not last long; we agreed to head to Tusculum City so as not to burden the residents living in Ebro Village.
I then returned to my tent to clean myself from the stains of human blood from the previous battle. Upon arriving there, my maid had filled a bathtub with warm water.
After removing the armor and uniform I was wearing, I then lowered my body into the tub full of warm water and rested my head against the edge of the bathtub. The warmth of the water made the fatigue I felt after the battle begin to disappear.
Closing my eyes, I then thought about the progress of the war that has occurred so far. It can be said that currently, we have an advantage over the Empire. They will no longer be able to attack Tusculum City with only 70,000 troops, especially since the Greco Republic forces have arrived this time.
In addition, the attack by the Draconia Kingdom Forces and the terror group threatening the capital must be giving the Imperial high-ranking officials a headache now. It is all thanks to my strategy... I did not expect everything could go as well as this.
I then noticed a pendant hanging around my neck. This half-crescent moon-shaped artifact is a memento from my mother. For a long time, I have been curious about how my mother could obtain an artifact like this even though she was a Venetian who is a non-sorcerer.
Mother also said this artifact has a pair that, if combined, will form a full crescent moon and will have enormous power later. I have always wanted to find the pair of this artifact and learn more about my mother, who died when I was a child.
However, this matter seems to have to wait until after the war with the Aragon Empire is over.
"Miss Siena, there is someone who wants to meet you."
I heard the maid's voice from outside. I wonder who wants to meet me now? Didn't we just discuss what steps would be taken next?
"Alright, tell him to wait a moment," I replied while stepping out of the bathtub. "I will get dressed first."
After putting on my uniform, I ordered the maid to invite my guest to enter.
"Captain Siena." A man I recognized greeted me.
He is Alesio—one of my subordinates in the Intelligence Unit whom I sent to follow the Draconia Kingdom forces in conducting the attack on the Empire's Eastern Region.
What is he doing here?
"Alesio? Why are you here? Didn't I assign you to assist the Draconia Kingdom?" I asked him.
"It's a long story, Captain," he answered.
He then told me about the details of the offensive operation in the Empire's eastern region. On the first day, they could easily conquer two villages in that region and seize their food supplies. However, when they conducted an attack on the small city of Sarisa, they failed to take the city's food supplies because they had already been burned by the Imperial side.
In addition, Alesio also told me about a young man with black hair and eyes who was able to slaughter the 10 Knights he led while conducting a pursuit. Hearing his words, I was slightly surprised.
"A young man slaughtered 10 Knights?" I asked him doubtfully.
"That's right, Captain Siena. I faced him directly," Alesio answered with his head bowed. "He was like a demon in the darkness of the night. During the attack on Sarisa City, he was also able to kill one of the Draconia Kingdom Elite Forces one-on-one. We nicknamed him, the Ghost of Cataluna."
After that, Alesio also explained that when they continued the attack on Cataluna Fortress City, they did not find any Imperial troops inside the city at all. The disappearance of these Imperial troops made General Melisandru—the warlord of the Draconia Kingdom forces—hesitant to attack the cities in the Empire any further.
"Is that so? The General is afraid their troops will suddenly be ambushed while conducting an attack on one of the Imperial cities by the troops that disappeared?" I asked Alesio.
"General Melisandru chose to search for those missing Imperial troops before continuing the attack," answered Alesio, whose voice began to sound heavy. "However, after finding the missing Imperial troops, they always fled from our pursuit and never attacked even though we have used any method to trap them."
The enemy troop General turned out to be quite clever as well. Surely they are stalling for time to wait for something to happen there. Then, what are they actually waiting for?
"After a few days, we knew why the Imperial forces did this," said Alesio. "The logistics supplies sent from our country for the Draconia Kingdom forces never arrived after the first shipment came."
Hearing Alesio's answer made my eyes widen.
"What did you say!? The logistics shipments never arrived? How could this happen! If no logistics supplies are sent to their troops, then the entire Draconia Kingdom army will die of hunger!"
My emotions began to rise upon hearing this bad news. If this was the goal of the Imperial troops stalling for time and not fighting when pursued by the Draconia troops, then it is clear this delay in shipment was caused by them!
"After learning this, I returned to our country to find out the cause of the delivery delay," Alesio revealed. "When I arrived there, they said that Imperial troops ambushed the caravan group sending logistics supplies and even destroyed the Aquilino bridge, making the redelivery temporarily delayed."
Imperial troops are in the east of our country's territory?
How could that be!? The path we use should be strictly guarded so that no enemy troops enter or exit without us realizing it. Besides, we had ensured that not a single Imperial troop was in our territory before the war occurred.
"How could they enter our territory?" I asked him.
He only shook his head in response to my statement. "However, the witnesses saw the perpetrator of this attack... A man with black hair and eyes."
"Could it be..."
"That's right, Captain; the one leading the Imperial troops in our country's territory is that youth," said Alesio. "That means, somehow, he was able to lead troops across the Montana mountains and enter our territory undetected."
This is bad...
If left unchecked, they will always disrupt the logistics supply shipments to the Draconia Kingdom Forces. If this happens, the offensive operation in the Empire's eastern region will fail, and the enemy side will focus on bringing reinforcements to this region, making the war more difficult to win.
"We have sent 2,000 troops to search for them," Alesio revealed. "However, so far there has been no progress at all toward this operation."
This cannot be allowed...
To be honest, the war on this front will be stagnant after the main Imperial force retreats to Regium Fortress City. We cannot attack a Fortress City with 70,000 troops inside, and neither can the Imperial side attack a major city with 67,000 troops guarding it. After losing 45,000 troops, I doubt they will immediately conduct an attack again.
In that case, it seems I must settle the problem in the eastern region and return to this region as soon as possible.
"Alesio, you will return to the eastern region of our country," I said to him. "However, you will not return alone. I, along with the Tigrenata Battalion, will come along to defeat the troops led by that Ghost of Cataluna you fear."
"I understand, Captain Siena."
"We will move as soon as possible and will arrive there within four days."
The Ghost of Cataluna, huh? I am curious to know how strong and clever this man is, who even made 40,000 troops struggle against the tactics and strength he possesses.
It seems I am not the only one who created a strategy before the outbreak of this war. I must make him talk about how he and his troops could enter our country's territory when the war occurred.
***
[Raul PoV]
"Haachoohhh!"
Ughhh... For some reason, my nose suddenly became sensitive like this? Is there someone else talking about me?
"What is it, Captain?" Piers asked me.
"It's nothing; quickly finish your work, Piers."
After successfully destroying the bridge, we hurried back toward the base of operations in the forest. We then began to set traps around the forest where we are located because surely the Venetian Republic will deploy many troops to eradicate us this time.
According to Balian's statement, there are 2,000 troops currently sweeping the forest area to find the location of our base of operations. Honestly, 2,000 troops are a lot compared to the 200 people I brought on this mission.
It is impossible for us to win against that many troops if we fight directly. I have to rack my brain to whittle down their numbers before facing them directly.
After finishing setting up various kinds of traps, everyone then rested and took guard shifts. I sat leaning against a tree and then took out a half-crescent moon-shaped artifact.
I have not forgotten my main mission in the war at this time...
"Siena di Reginossa... We will meet, and you will answer all the questions that have been bothering my mind lately."