Chapter 58

'I should have just kept my mouth shut.'

Leonardo was overwhelmed with extreme regret for running his mouth earlier at the situation unfolding before his eyes.

Battalion Commanders, unit commanders, company commanders, operations analysts, operations assistants, adjutants, and all sorts of titled individuals from the Council were gathered in front of him.

They were all looking at Leonardo with doubtful eyes, and next to him stood Hugo.

Hugo spoke to Leonardo in a somewhat gentle voice, as if trying to ease his burden.

"Leonardo, you just need to say what you mentioned earlier in a bit more detail. Anything is fine, whether it's about the characteristics of the inhabiting monsters or the terrain, whatever you know."

Although Hugo said that, the Battalion Commanders, except for Deputy Commander Amos and Unit Commander Scott who had heard Leonardo's story earlier, seemed to be waiting to evaluate how perfect of an operation he would speak of.

With all the unpleasant gazes, Leonardo swept his eyes over the crowd. Then, extending his right hand with the handcuff to the table, he said,

"Give me any pen."

Immediately, someone quickly placed a pen in his hand. When he turned his head in that direction, Flynn was standing there looking this way. Perhaps as the Commander's adjutant, he had accompanied them this time as well. Leonardo, seeing the unexpected face, slightly raised the corner of his mouth and then turned his head back to the front and spoke.

"Pay attention. I'll only explain once."

At his instantly changed demeanor, those who had intended to just observe hurriedly took out pens and notebooks to take notes.

Leonardo explained the entry route to them step by step based on his experience of having been to the Elder Millie Peninsula and the knowledge he had.

His operation was not a one-dimensional method of breaking through one stage at a time, but a way to enter the interior more efficiently and safely by utilizing the characteristics of each terrain feature and monster. Those who were listening to the operation explanation softly exclaimed in admiration and quickly jotted it down in their notebooks.

Afterward, Leonardo marked the main habitats of each monster on the map with a pen, explained the interrelationships and food chains of the inhabiting monsters, and listed their characteristics. The analysts from the operations department arranged the troops considering the scale and characteristics of each unit based on that information.

"Monsters aren't brainless either. Even if it's an active volcanic zone, if there's a monster nest, you should rather be glad. It means that place has less volcanic activity and is a relatively safe zone."

The commanders who were listening attentively nodded their heads at the new perspective he presented.

"However, there are only two types of monsters that just walk around next to the flowing magma. First, 'Ilaptor.' It's a reptilian monster capable of both quadrupedal and bipedal movement. That's why it's quite fast. These guys have poison sacs in their teeth, so when disposing of them, you have to cut their necks first and bury them in the ground."

"What's the composition of the venom?"

"If it touches the skin, it swells up and blisters form. However, if this flows into the blood vessels inside the body, the blood coagulates and the limbs become paralyzed, so you have to compress and tie the bitten area as much as possible, then crush a grass called 'Degalianif' located near their habitat, feed it to them, and apply it to the wound. It will neutralize the toxicity and prevent it from spreading quickly."

However, Leonardo added that in that state, combat would be impossible, so they would have to quickly return to the headquarters and receive treatment. Then, the medical team officer asked Leonardo,

"It seems difficult to treat with general recovery magic, so do we need to cut open the wound and extract the poison?"

"If the bitten area is large, that would be the answer, but if it's small, there's no need to go that far. The venom of Ilaptors has a peculiar property that corresponds to sodium chloride, so if you soak the wound in a small amount of salt water, the poison will naturally come out due to osmotic pressure. The rest can be neutralized with Degalianif. That's enough. But if left untreated, it's fatal."

As the medical team officer nodded, this time, Bruno, the Deputy Commander of the Southern Branch, continued,

"What's the other type?"

"The remaining one is 'Dermocas.' It's a mammalian monster that inhabits most of the peninsula and mainly lives underground. It's a quadrupedal creature with sharp claws that can dig tunnels at a considerable speed. If not provoked first, it's relatively docile, but once disturbed, it's more violent and annoying than Sigals. Moreover, they live in groups, so their numbers are also enormous. Their areas of emergence are spread out in many places, so the exact location of their nests cannot be specified."

"Any weaknesses?"

"The bulging part on their back, like a lump. The wrinkled part looks like a human brain. That's both their strength and weakness. With that brain part, they can send ultrasonic waves that only their own kind can feel, allowing them to communicate and convey intentions even from a distance. But if that part malfunctions, their movements completely stop."

"..."

"If you aim for that spot, you can kill them instantly, but if you carelessly cut other parts, a green mucus-like substance with acidic properties comes out, so it's better to kill them instantly in one go if possible."

At the characteristics of the tricky monsters, Bruno nodded his head while pondering something. Leonardo looked around once more with a sharp gaze and spoke to them as if firmly warning them,

"The fact that these two species casually roam around the active volcanic zone doesn't mean they have a tolerance for magma."

He emphasized by tapping his temple with his finger.

"It means their intelligence is high. Don't think of them the same as other monsters. They know how to think. And they also know how to read human fear. Showing fear is equivalent to turning your back on them. Keep my words in mind."

At Leonardo's serious face, some commanders gulped. Leonardo, who had swept his gaze over them, soon relaxed his expression and spoke as if he had done his part.

"That's all I know. I don't know beyond this midpoint because I've never been there myself."

Although Leonardo had finished speaking, everyone seemed busy organizing what they had heard, so Hugo opened his mouth.

"I hope you all listened well. Each commander should quickly disseminate what you've heard to the units you command and ensure that everyone is familiar with it. Operations analysts should redistribute the troops based on this, and once the first operation plan is completed, we will reconvene the meeting."

"Yes, understood!"

The commanders answered in unison to Hugo's instructions. Hugo lightly nodded his head.

"Dismissed."

"Dismissed!"

Those who had gathered quickly dispersed, shouting the dismissal. As the humans surrounding him disappeared, Leonardo let out a small sigh and brushed his hair back.

Hugo tried to comfort Leonardo's shoulder but stopped and spoke to him instead.

"You did well, Leonardo."

At the unfamiliar words he heard from him, Leonardo made that awkward expression again. Hugo quietly thought to himself,

'He's weak to praise.'

However, this time, instead of immediately showing a smile like before, Leonardo opened his mouth with a face that seemed to have something on his mind.

"But... the things I said are all stories from a few years ago, and the situation may have changed a lot now. And I don't know the entire military structure of the Council, so there might be a lot of impractical content."

"You don't need to consider such aspects. That's the job of the operations officers."

Even at Hugo's words, Leonardo seemed worried about his own judgment. Seeing his appearance, Hugo calmly asked Leonardo,

"Do you know who has the greatest decision-making power here right now?"

Leonardo answered as if it was an obvious question,

"It's you, isn't it?"

"That's right. Everything you said will be carried out as operational orders after my final approval. Therefore, a thorough review will be conducted before approval, and if any problems arise after execution, that's something I will take responsibility for, so you don't need to worry. I'll take full responsibility."

At those words, Leonardo quietly looked up at Hugo. He stared intently into Hugo's eyes, then slowly nodded his head with the corners of his mouth slightly pulled.

"Well... if you say so."

Although he said that, Leonardo felt the burden that had been lingering in him noticeably lighten.

As if sensing that feeling, Hugo showed a faint smile. Leonardo felt like his thoughts were being read by him again, so he slightly frowned and turned his head in the opposite direction.

At that moment, a majestic trumpet sound was heard from beyond the closed gate, and the sound of horse hooves gradually approached. Then, a member on the watchtower above the huge gate blew the Council's trumpet and shouted loudly,

"It's the Knights of Hareth! Open the gate!"

The members began to slowly open the gate by turning the large handle connected to the heavy iron door of the gate. Through the slightly opened gap, an enormous number of cavalry could be seen rushing in, raising a cloud of dust.

"It's the Knights of the Hareth Marquis family."

Hugo spoke while looking at the flag of the Hareth family fluttering at the tip of the knights' spears. In the center of the silver background, the spirit of a dynamically galloping red steed rippled with the wind.

At that moment, feeling a slight tug on the handcuff attached to his left wrist, Hugo turned to the side where Leonardo should be. However, he was not beside him but behind him.

In a way, it was closer to hiding, so Hugo asked with a puzzled face,

"Why are you doing that?"

"...I don't really want to run into them."

While Hugo was finding his inexplicable words strange, the Knights who had passed through the fully opened third gate poured into Fidele Territory inside the gate.

Although they should have been quite exhausted from crossing the vast Elder Millie border zone, they quickly dismounted and moved the injured first. And among them, the one wearing red armor and standing at the forefront got off the ornate saddle.

Deputy Commander Bruno Amos of the Southern Branch immediately approached that person, pointed in Hugo's direction, and conveyed something to them. The person wearing a helmet listened to Bruno's words, nodded their head, and approached Hugo with the knights around them.

As Hugo turned his head towards them, the leader in red armor clenched her right hand into a fist, placed it on her left chest as if in silent prayer, lowered her head, then raised it and spoke to Hugo,

"Cordelia Hareth, daughter of Marquis Arthur Hareth. Greetings, Duke Agrizendro. Glory to Raina Logia."

Hugo also slightly nodded his head and replied,

"Glory to Raina Logia."

The one who introduced herself as Cordelia Hareth took off the red helmet she was wearing in front of Hugo. Then, silver short hair flowed down, revealing the appearance of a strong woman with red eyes. She held the helmet to her side and spoke to Hugo again,

"I didn't know you would come in person, Your Grace."

"Call me Commander."

"I will correct myself, Commander."

"I heard the news that Marquis Hareth's health had deteriorated. Is the young lady personally leading the Knights?"

At Hugo's question, she made a bitter expression.

"Yes, that's right. It seems that my father's health has greatly deteriorated due to long exposure to volcanic ash and harmful gases while directly guarding the frontier. So currently, I am managing the territory and the Knights as the successor."

"You have been working hard."

"You flatter me."

Cordelia, who was conversing with Hugo, suddenly noticed the handcuff attached to his left wrist. And as she moved her gaze along the chain connected to it, she could see someone standing behind Hugo. Cordelia's expression changed to a slightly perplexed one.

"Excuse me... Your Grace, no, Commander. Who is the person behind you?"

At her question, Hugo was briefly lost in thought about how to explain this. Judging from Leonardo's demeanor, he seemed to not want to run into them, so it was difficult to forcefully introduce him.

On the other hand, it was also impolite not to mention the existence of Leonardo Blaine to her, who could be considered the current manager and owner of Fidele Territory.

As Hugo pondered and delayed his answer, Leonardo, who had been hesitating at Cordelia's question, walked out from behind him on his own feet and slowly stood next to Hugo.

His expression seemed somewhat embarrassed and mixed with various emotions, and Cordelia Hareth, who saw him, spoke with a surprised face,

"Blaine?"

At her behavior that seemed to know Leonardo's face, one of Hugo's eyebrows slightly rose. Leonardo made a slightly heavy and embarrassed face, then tried hard to raise the corners of his mouth and create a smile.

"It's been a while, Lieutenant Hareth."