Chapter 118
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Chapter 118: Giving Them a Lesson
“What do you think we should do?” The words carried a consultative, equal tone—not how a great noble typically addressed a knight.
Whether intentional or not, Fina’s statement made her position clear. Faced with the acting family head’s firm stance, the generals could only feign attentiveness despite their inner resentment.
Midi glanced at the haughty military men and smiled before taking charge.
“Simple. Since this is war, it’s better fought on enemy territory. The Hamilton family’s Golden Lion excels at offense, not defense.” He spoke casually, having long mastered this back-and-forth with Fina. “Right now, our first step should be driving Sais’ forces out of our lands as fast as possible.”
_This is obvious!_
_Stop speaking in empty platitudes!_
_Is this guy really a genius commander?_
The generals listening intently cursed inwardly. In that instant, Midi solidified his image as a pampered pretty boy in their minds.
“Any thoughts?” Fina finally turned to the generals who’d been waiting impatiently.
Their moment had come.
Leading them was Viscount Clark Hamilton—white-haired, fully armored commander of the Golden Branch Legion, a level 48 Heavy Knight. He stepped forward, gave Fina a crisp salute, shot Midi a frosty look, and declared, “The Golden Branch Legion mobilized immediately upon learning of the invasion. All local garrisons were notified. With your order, Lady Fina, twenty thousand elites will march to the battlefield. Thirty thousand regional troops will join en route, totaling fifty-five thousand!”
True to his reputation as Belmar’s strongest legion commander, Clark methodically outlined the strategy using a magic sand table. Within minutes, the situation became crystal clear.
He concluded with conviction: “In one week, our twenty thousand elites will reach Flowing Water County fully prepared. We’ll annihilate every last Sais rat!”
The generals inwardly cheered this confident declaration—a soldier’s true bearing, leagues above Midi’s vague posturing. Every meticulous detail proved actionable. Compared to this, no one would tolerate letting some brat interfere.
“Well?” Fina turned again to Midi, expression neutral.
“Too slow. Give me a cavalry squadron. I’ll capture Flowing Water County in two days.”
The War Hall plunged into silence. When the generals realized they’d heard correctly, chaos erupted.
_Two days? Cavalry? Siege warfare?_
To seasoned military minds, this was lunacy. The pretty boy was clearly grandstanding—making outrageous claims for attention.
Yet with Fina’s support, even Clark’s objections meant nothing. The Golden Branch Legion belonged to the Hamiltons, not the generals. Losing a cavalry unit wouldn’t shake the family’s foundations.
Fina needed only one sentence to silence them:
“Midi and I once took York County with three hundred men against ten thousand Crimson Flame Legion troops. This won’t be different.”
The cold truth of this achievement struck the peace-softened generals’ weakest point. Their protests died.
Still, every general secretly hoped this “genius commander” would soon face humiliating failure.
Two days later, a cavalry force emerged near Flowing Water County’s hills.
Drawn from the Golden Branch Legion, it comprised three hundred Heavy Knights, a thousand Light Cavalry, five hundred mounted archers, and two hundred scouts—two thousand strong.
Fifty adventurers joined them, including attendants like Odel, Alyn, and Kelvin, plus reinforcements from Eagle’s Nest.
Mounted fighters and cavalry merged into Midi’s hybrid squadron.
Though small as a sparrow, Midi’s unit had all vital functions—reconnaissance, field combat, and frontal assaults. Yet cavalry remained cavalry, unsuited for sieges. The adventurers themselves knew little of warfare.
Flowing Water County wasn’t ordinary. Built along the Daim River, this harbor city used the hundred-meter-wide canal as its natural defense. Only three walls were needed, while the river served as both barrier and supply route. Blocking such a wide canal was impossible, and flooding it impractical. Controlling its docks meant effortless logistics—the main reason the Sais family chose it as their first attack target. Though lacking strong defenses, it made the perfect staging ground.
The Hamilton family’s Golden Lion flag had long been replaced by the Sais family’s black banner bearing pale flames. Twenty thousand elites of the Black Flame Legion now garrisoned here—Midi’s enemy.
Under the new commander’s order, two thousand cavalry and adventurers gathered silently on Daim River’s eastern bank by night. This side lacked walls, shielded instead by the river’s swift currents. Thick clouds smothered the moonlight, leaving only the river’s roar in the frozen dark.
The warhorses had eaten silence herbs—no neighs or snorts for eight hours. Hooves wrapped in cloth moved like a leopard’s paws. Black cloaks hid the cavalry in shadows. Despite Flowing Water County’s watchtowers and sentries every five paces, none spotted the invaders.
A tremor from Midi’s demon god arm sent magic waves carrying silent orders. Dozens of adventurers broke formation, guiding horses into the river until water reached their mounts’ legs.
These Ice Mages varied in level, appearance, and riding style—some bareback, others saddled—but shared one trait: all were graduates of magic’s advanced path. When dozens chanted the Mist Sorceress Alice’s designed spell in unison, their joined power rivaled nature itself.
Magic waves rippled from their chants, intertwining into a Tide of Magic. A cold wind stirred their cloaks, as if summoning northern ice to this land. Over the rapids, a fragile translucent shell formed. Though battered by waves, it clung and spread across the Daim River like tenacious ivy.
An ice bridge—Midi’s first critical move. Using Ice Mages seemed obvious, even commonplace a decade later. But in this era after Gran’s burning, few understood profession-specific tactics.
Current generals focused on grand strategy—planning from afar with Heavy Knights, Great Swordsmen, elemental mages, roaming gunslingers, and gunners. Their rigid armies used common professions, not adventurers’ diverse skills.
Midi, with past-life experience leading tens of thousands of adventurers, knew better. A team of elemental mages fought nothing like Ice Mages. Even Ice Mage units differed by individual talents. Leveraging each profession’s strengths defined Arad’s military future.
While generals clung to tradition, Midi surged ahead. Tonight, using reincarnation-gained insight, he’d teach the Golden Branch Legion’s commanders true warfare—where every soldier’s potential burns bright.
