Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 241: Protect Arkansas (3) The Strategy Meeting

Chapter 241: Protect Arkansas (3) The Strategy Meeting

The night in Arkansas was unusually still, the air thick with anticipation. The House of Roses buzzed with quiet activity as the plan to protect the city from Duke Ravindor’s impending grasp began to unfold. Gildevart, Lyan, Josephine, Abraham, and their newfound allies gathered around a large table in the main hall, a map of the city spread out before them.Lyan, standing at the head of the table, surveyed the faces of those assembled. His gaze lingered on the knights he had brought, their expressions resolute. "We don’t have much time. The Duke’s influence is spreading fast, and we need to act quickly."

Josephine, seated next to him, nodded. "We’ve identified key points we need to protect and fortify. The market, the docks, and our supply routes are critical. If the Duke controls them, he controls the city. Uh?" Josephine’s voice wavered slightly at the end of her sentence.

"B-Big sis?" Alina voiced her concern.

"No. It’s nothing, it’s fine. It seems that I’m just slightly tired," Josephine replied reassuringly, a hint of redness on her face.

Under the table, Lyan’s hand was caressing Josephine’s crotch, his fingers teasingly entering her underwear. His skilled hands circled and caressed her, eliciting a rush of arousal. Josephine’s right hand went to Lyan’s pants, startled by the size and heat of his arousal.

(L-Lyan...? How bold of you. Fufufu!) Josephine thought, biting her lip to suppress a moan.

Gildevart pointed to the map. "Our first priority should be securing the loyalty of the remaining council members. We can’t let them sway more people to the Duke’s side."

Abraham stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "I’ll handle that. I know a few who might still be on the fence. With the right persuasion, they can be brought back to our side."

Lyan nodded. "Good. While you’re doing that, we need to disrupt the Duke’s supply lines. Xena, I want you to lead a team to intercept any shipments heading to his forces."

Xena’s eyes gleamed with determination. "Consider it done. We’ll make sure nothing gets through."

Alina leaned over the map. "What about the spies? If they continue to feed the Duke information, all our efforts will be in vain."

Josephine’s expression hardened for a second. "We need to root them out, one by one. Belle, you’ve always had a knack for gathering intelligence. Your potions and magic will have a great use on this mission. I want you to identify and neutralize the Duke’s informants together with Ravia and Raine. Uhn?" She let out a muffled moan, her legs trembling. Luckily, the serious atmosphere kept the others from noticing her struggle.

Beneath the table, Lyan had discreetly set a soundproof barrier to mask the wet sounds their hands were making. His fingers moved faster, while Josephine’s hand stroked him with increasing speed.

Belle nodded, her face set in determination. "I’ll start immediately."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence as everyone considered their roles. Lyan broke the silence. "Remember, this isn’t just about fighting. We need to win the hearts and minds of the people. Show them that the Duke’s promises are lies and that we stand for their freedom. The next phase will come after."

Josephine nodded, her voice shaky. "Let’s not waste any more time. We have a city to save... U-Uh...." She let out another muffled moan, her legs trembling vigorously.

She came, her body shuddering with the intensity of her climax, but maintained her composure as best as she could.

Lyan, sensing her release, withdrew his hand discreetly and placed it back on the table, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. The meeting continued with renewed urgency, the team ready to take on the Duke’s forces and protect their beloved city.

___

As the meeting adjourned, the group dispersed, each heading to their respective tasks. The night air was crisp as Josephine made her way to the market district, where she had arranged to meet a few trusted merchants.

She found them gathered in a dimly lit warehouse, their faces tense with worry. "Thank you for meeting me," Josephine began, her voice steady. "We need your help to keep the city from falling into the Duke’s hands."

One of the merchants, a burly man named Roderick, spoke up. "We’ve heard rumors, Madam. But what can we do? We’re just merchants."

Josephine stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "You’re more than that. You’re the backbone of this city. If you stand with us, we can ensure that Arkansas remains free. The Duke’s promises of nobility are empty. He’ll take everything from you once he has control."

The merchants exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves. Finally, Roderick nodded. "We’ll stand with you. Just tell us what you need."

___

Meanwhile, Abraham moved through the shadows of the affluent district, making his way to the home of Councilman Darius. He slipped inside, his movements silent and precise, until he reached the councilman’s study.

Darius looked up, startled. "Abraham? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," Abraham said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The Duke is using you and the other council members. His promises of nobility are lies."

Darius frowned. "You think I don’t know that? But what choice do we have? He has power, and he’s not afraid to use it. If I have enough power, I would oppose it confidently as well,"

Abraham leaned forward, his eyes intense. "We have a choice. Stand with us. We can protect the city and its people. But we need your help to sway the council back to our side. We’re together with the hero of the Goblin King Quest, I’ve talked with him personally and he has joined hands with the crown prince of the Astellia,"

"Oh. With that guy?" Darius hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I’ll do what I can. But don’t rely on me too much,"

___

At the docks, Xena and her team of mercenaries which consisted of several girls from the House of Roses who secretly could fight as well moved swiftly and silently. The moonlight glinted off their weapons as they positioned themselves along the pier, waiting for the Duke’s supply ship to arrive.

Xena’s keen eyes spotted the ship approaching, its silhouette dark against the night sky. "Get ready," she whispered to her team.

As the ship docked and the crew began unloading crates, Xena gave the signal. Her team moved in, their attack swift. Within moments, the crew was subdued, and the supplies were under their control.

"Burn everything," Xena ordered. "Let the Duke know we won’t make it easy for him."

___

In the heart of the city, Belle moved through the crowded streets, her ears attuned to every whisper and murmur. She had a network of informants who fed her information, and tonight, she needed every bit of it.

She found her first target, a minor noble named Clarence, the very young noble who fought with Alina as he was about to force himself to the girl before. He’s someone who had been feeding information to the Duke. She approached him in a busy tavern, slipping into the seat next to him.

"Clarence," she said softly, her voice laced with menace. "We need to talk."

Clarence paled, recognizing her immediately. "W-What do you want?" His feet turned cold as he could feel countless of hands strangling him, ignorant that all of those hands were just illusions.

"You always have a choice," she replied coldly. "No need to stop feeding the Duke’s information. But from now on, go to the House of Roses before you submit your report."

Clarence nodded frantically. "Alright, I’ll do so. Just... please, don’t hurt me."

___

Back at the House of Roses, Josephine returned to find Lyan waiting for her. He looked up as she entered, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and worry.

"How did it go?" he asked.

Josephine smiled slightly. "The merchants are with us. They’ll help however they can."

Lyan nodded. "Good. We need all the help we can get."

As they spoke, Alina and Xena entered, both looking exhausted but determined. "We intercepted the Duke’s supply ship," Xena reported. "It won’t be reaching his forces."

"And I’ve started identifying the spies," Belle added, joining them. "It’s going to take time, but we’ll root them out."

Gildevart entered last, his face grim. "We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but we’re making progress. The council members are starting to come around. Well, not a lot, but enough to make sure the city goes back to normal when everything is done. I’ve also contacted the other mercenary groups as well,"

Lyan looked at each of them, his heart swelling with pride. "We’re doing everything we can. Now, we need to keep this momentum going."

___

Over the next few days, the group’s efforts intensified. Josephine worked tirelessly with the merchants, ensuring that the market remained under their control and that supplies were distributed fairly. She used the House of Roses as a center of information, coordinating efforts and keeping morale high.

Abraham continued his efforts with the council, using every bit of his influence to sway them back to their side. He leveraged old alliances and forged new ones, slowly but surely bringing the council back from the brink of treachery.

Xena’s team launched a series of raids on the Duke’s supply lines, disrupting his efforts to strengthen his position in the city. Each successful raid further weakened his hold and emboldened their allies.

Belle’s intelligence network worked around the clock, identifying and neutralizing the Duke’s spies. It was a dangerous game, but Belle played it with skill and precision, ensuring that their plans remained hidden from enemy eyes.

Through it all, Lyan coordinated their efforts, his strategic mind constantly adapting to the changing situation. He worked closely with Gildevart, ensuring that their defenses were solid and that they were ready for any move the Duke might make.