The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 627: Volume 16: Mists and Illusions, - 20: Difficult Problem

Chapter 627: Volume 16: Mists and Illusions, Chapter 20: Difficult Problem

"Fran, well done, I am quite satisfied. The only thing that I regret is that the numbers are a bit too few. Compared to the Storm Infantry Corps, our Self-defense Army seems too weak. Don’t you think we need to continue expanding the size of our Self-defense Army?" Komer’s face was brimming with a contented smile, and he gave Fran, who had come to report, the proper military salute before asking him to accompany him on the inspection.

"Baron Sir, we can’t increase any further. The quality of the troops is more important than quantity, and they are not yet fully qualified. Perhaps after this battle, they will truly grow. To tell you the truth, I am already very satisfied with their performance, but if we were to expand further, I’m afraid the quality of our army would be hard to guarantee. My suggestion is to wait until this batch has become qualified soldiers before considering anything else. I understand your concerns, but rushing the growth of the army would be counterproductive. I will do my best."

Now, Fran had fully regained his former dignity as seen in the Myron Duchy. With respect to this seemingly frivolous lord entrusting him with the complete authority to recruit and train the Self-defense Army, Fran showed no sign on the surface. However, the pride and gratitude deep in his heart were already deeply etched. Noble arrogance and narrow-mindedness were things he had seen too much of in the Myron Duchy. No lord could possess such a magnanimous heart. Perhaps this lord had his shortcomings, but nobles were never without flaws. To have such a lord, Fran was extremely content.

"Hmm, Fran, I understand your thoughts, but I must remind you not to limit your vision to what is immediately in front of you. Just one Storm Infantry Corps could destroy us several times over. If we didn’t have the magicians’ support, if we didn’t sever their arms in advance, this battle might cause us to lose everything, leaving us no chance to turn the tables. Our enemies in the future may be more numerous and stronger, so we must be doubly careful. I entrust the military affairs to you entirely. Whatever you need, I will have Puber do his best to meet your needs. You must build me an army that can take to the Battlefield and win battles whenever I need it. Do you understand?"

The warmth in Fran’s heart surged as he heard Komer’s somewhat somber words, which nonetheless conveyed trust. His Adam’s apple moved slightly, but all he could utter was, "Lord, Fran understands."

"Good, understanding is enough. This archer unit looks quite formidable as well, but their numbers are too few. Archers will play a crucial role in the battles to come." Komer looked, full of cheer, at the rows of archers passing before him, their statures slim compared to the Half-Beastmen, equipped with bows of varying lengths, their faces full of vigor, making it apparent to everyone that they were skilled with bow and arrow, Elves and Half-Elves alike.

In response to Komer’s exacting standards, Fran could only offer a bitter smile. Archers were not like ordinary infantry who could look the part just by taking up a Long Spear; it required real talent. These archers with Elf Bloodline had exceptional talents, but it did not mean they were naturally qualified bowmen, especially as formal archer units, which required even more effort to train. These individuals with Elf Bloodline were each more stubborn and sensitive than the last, making Baoling’s efforts to train them quite challenging, evidenced by his noticeably thinning hair.

"By the way, Fran, what do you make of the Homer Army in Bruce Fortress? What tactics will they use against us?" This was Komer’s primary concern. Although they had solved the problems of their magicians and Knights regiment, the more than ten thousand soldiers of the Storm Infantry Corps could still completely annihilate his Three Thousand People. Currently, their only advantage was probably that the enemy had no clear idea of their hidden strength and did not dare to make a move rashly.

"The enemy is currently hesitant. They do not know how many magicians we possess, while they have lost this Power. Thus, their Commander lacks the decisiveness to predict what the battle would be like without magical support. If I were the Commander, I would lead the Army without hesitation to kill their way in. A few magicians alone are hardly enough to change the outcome of a battle between more than ten thousand people and three thousand." Fran spoke slowly, "But that’s just my thinking; the Homer People might not see it that way."

This was exactly what Komer feared most. If the Homer Commander recklessly attacked, the only thing he could do was to retreat temporarily. These three thousand troops were his main Army, and once the enemy saw through the illusion of strength, the war would hold no suspense. Relying solely on magic was not sufficient to withstand a charge from such a large-scale Army, especially since the opponent’s Army was a well-trained Regular army. They would not scatter in panic at the first sign of magic like the Beastmen would.

"Fran, not to hide anything from you, this is precisely what I’m worried about. Do you have any idea how we might keep the Homer People from acting rashly?" Komer nodded, not hiding his concerns.

"That’s going to be difficult. It’s improbable that we could stage a surprise attack on Bruce Fortress. The only other option is to deepen the enemy’s fear. If their Commander is a coward, perhaps making them realize the difficulty of the situation could be a good strategy." Fran didn’t have much confidence himself, knowing the huge disparity in strength. Any somewhat intelligent Commander should be aware that even with just over ten thousand infantry, they could win this battle.

"No, that’s unlikely. If we cannot completely defeat them, they will always remain a significant threat to us. And I feel that to rid ourselves of future trouble, taking Bruce Fortress is our most secure option." Komer thought in silence for a while, dismissing his previous idea. With Bruce Fortress in Homer’s hands, the Homer People could pose a constant threat to Leon and even the survival of the entire Caucasus region. The only option was to sort out Bruce Fortress at the root.

Well-versed in strategy, Fran naturally understood that taking Bruce Fortress was the best way to ensure the safety of Leon and the Caucasus. As long as Bruce Fortress was controlled, it was nearly impossible for the Homer People to retake Leon. A naval attack on Leon would only lead to heavy losses without adequate supplies. The noose of lacking supplies could strangle any landing Army, with no commander willing to take such a risk, especially in regions as desolate as Leon, where local resupplying was nearly a fantasy. Even if you intended to steal provisions, it was not feasible. The idea was appealing, but with over ten thousand soldiers garrisoned in Bruce Fortress, who could take it? No one could accomplish that.

(To be continued. For further updates, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM, where Chapters are more frequent, to support the author and Authorized Reading!)