Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 208 - 6: Squad Tactics and Spear Shield Flow

Chapter 208: Chapter 6: Squad Tactics and Spear Shield Flow

"In the past, everyone stayed in the same team, which fostered the development and synergy of our tactics, but it limited your individual growth," Aske said calmly. "Next, I plan to train you to split up and fight independently."

"We will divide the team into Team A and Team B and operate separately."

"For the assault group, Sigrdrifa in Team A, Eleanor in Team B."

"For the scout group, Peggy in Team A, Mia in Team B."

"For the arcane group, Thira in Team A, Medea in Team B."

"For the ranged group, Miel in Team A, and I am in Team B."

"Considering my strength, the healer Nora will be assigned to Team A," Aske said lastly.

The girls pondered.

According to this arrangement, Team A has five people including a healer, and Team B only four, making it seem that Team A has a greater advantage.

However, the Squad Leader is in Team B! That means Team B’s strength cannot be measured by numbers alone! Damn it, I really want to be in Team B with the Squad Leader!

For a moment, the girls in Team B revealed mysterious smiles, while those in Team A wailed in their hearts.

Noticing the stark contrast in morale between the two teams, Aske added,

"Don’t be too concerned about the team assignments. This time I am in Team B, but next time I will rotate to Team A, and so will Nora."

And so, everyone breathed a sigh of relief... except Nora, who felt tears streaming in her heart: Aske, do you despise me that much?

Soon, everyone stood in their assigned teams, as per Aske’s division.

"After the division, follow the formations I previously taught you, based on the roles you’re playing," Aske said, a clear reminder to the girls in Team A, "The scouts roam nearby for reconnaissance, maintaining mobility across the field; the assault team stays central, ready to support the surroundings."

"The arcane and ranged groups are responsible for dealing damage, mindful of maintaining distance and positioning relative to the assault team. With that, let’s move out!"

Thus, the five girls of Team A entered the town first, soon disappearing around a corner of the opposite street.

"So, how shall we in Team B conduct our operation?" Medea asked with a smile, "Are you truly not planning to command this time, and solely focus on playing the role of a ranged damage dealer?"

"Of course. Otherwise, the division would be meaningless," Aske responded. "But before that, everyone stay here. Eleanor, come with me, we are going to find some small creatures nearby to teach you the ’Spear Shield Flow’ of the Trinity Tactics."

Eleanor was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t yet told Aske her plans going forward. Seeing that Aske wanted to teach her something new, she was momentarily lost for words.

Aske took a long spear from his back, holding it in his right hand, with a shield in his left, leading her further into the town.

"Aske," Eleanor mustered her courage and quickly stepped forward, "I want to ask you a question."

"What’s the matter?" Aske asked.

"It’s like this," Eleanor hesitated, choosing her words carefully, "I have a friend who ran away from home before..."

"You can speak plainly, no one else is here," Aske said casually. "The friend you’re talking about, is it actually you?"

Eleanor: ...

"Alright," she revealed a resigned expression, dejectedly saying, "I ran away from home before."

"Continue," Aske said.

"Then, the Duke of Carinthia that we encountered recognized my family... He has already sent someone to send a message," Eleanor took a deep breath before continuing, "If my family wants me to come home, I might not be able to continue being a mercenary."

"Why?" Aske asked in surprise.

Eleanor was speechless. Wasn’t that obvious? If I could be a lord, why would I still be a mercenary?

"Because my family might give me a fiefdom," Eleanor said.

"There’s no direct opposition between being a lord and being a mercenary," Aske responded, "You could do both."

"Really?!" Eleanor was astonished, how the hell could I do both?

"Of course, look at Andrea," Aske said, "Although he is the Squad Leader of the Steel Cross Mercenary Group’s Eastern division, he also has a fiefdom through his family and holds the title of a minor lord."

"So if he’s constantly on the move, how is his fief governed then?" Eleanor inquired, puzzled.

"He leaves it to his Cabinet," Aske explained, "As a lord, most of the governance is done by your cabinet subordinates, regardless of whether you’re there or not. Of course, if you are an expert in finance, management, taxation, public relations, and such, forget what I said."

Eleanor paused for a moment, then suddenly realized that Aske might actually be right.

Take her father, for example, the Duke of Bavaria, who nominally governs the entire Bavarian Duchy.

In practice, most of the territory had been granted to his vassals, and the remaining Weisbach family lands were managed by the cabinet subordinates.

Father listened to subordinate reports for an hour starting at 9:00 AM in the castle’s council hall, then after making key decisions (which only required his signature),

the rest of his day was spent hunting, feasting, reading, or traveling through his lands for inspection (or leisure).

With that in mind, being a lord didn’t really mean doing serious work and it could be boring...

What she truly wanted wasn’t the title of a lord, but her father’s recognition. Staying in the fief every day without being able to go out would be quite dull.

Better to stay with the team.

Taking a long breath, Eleanor reflected, "Not bad, Squad Leader, any difficult problem seems to be easily solved in your hands."

"Stop with the flattery," Aske said, "Now, let’s get serious. What I’m about to teach you is a unique set of tactics that is one of a kind in this world."

(Trinity Tactics is a school of tactics derived from countless professional competitions and optimized; it isn’t originally from the game world.)

As the two were idle chatting, a creature walked along the street ahead.

The creature looked like a massive scorpion, its lower half covered in fur with six articulated limbs, and an upper body that stood upright like a human. Where arms should be, it possessed large pincers, had a hideous face, and insect-like mouthparts between its three pairs of compound eyes, which made Eleanor shiver and hastily prepare her long spear and shield for battle.

"Ah, here comes a monster right in time," Aske seemed very enthusiastic, picking up his spear and shield, ready to move forward, "Watch carefully."

"Who are you?" the monster asked, seeing Aske approach fully armed and becoming somewhat wary, its voice raspy.

"And who are you?" Aske, experienced in dealing with mutants, didn’t respond directly to the question but instead posed a question of his own.

"I am a resident of this town," the monster said.

"How could a normal resident look like you?" Aske pressed on.

"Me? What’s wrong with me?" the monster said, perplexed, and then it seemed to notice its own pincers as if realizing something, its voice quivered, "I, I am..."

"...a monster!"

It let out a sharp, piercing shriek, its giant pincered hands opening and closing violently as it lunged fiercely towards Aske!