Chapter 57

As the civil war in the Kingdom of Roshan intensified, it became increasingly advantageous for Otto. The best scenario for him was for the suppression forces and the rebels to fight each other to the point of mutual destruction. To achieve this, it was essential to crush the 9,000 rebel troops who had left the Canyon Ridge. Although the rebels had to give up the Canyon Ridge, they had suffered almost no casualties. About 500 of the troops who remained on the ridge fled and scattered as soon as the battle began, and they could rejoin the rebels at any time. Moreover, the 9,000 rebel troops who had left the Canyon Ridge were still intact. It would be problematic if they returned safely to their main force. 'I can't let them go like this.'

Otto's goal was for at least half of the 9,000 rebel troops who had left the ridge to be rendered combat-ineffective. This would ensure that the power gap between the suppression forces and the rebels was perfectly balanced, making the war even more intense.

"Your Highness, we must immediately pursue the rebels who have descended from the ridge. They must not return safely."

"I agree. Thanks to you, we have occupied the Canyon Ridge, but the rebel army is still intact."

"Look here."

Otto pointed to the map and explained to the Crown Prince.

"By now, the 9,000 rebel troops should be passing through this area."

"Oh."

"Their goal is right here, where your Highness stationed the army. So, our army should..."

"Advance immediately along this route..."

The Crown Prince understood Otto's words perfectly and pointed to the map.

"Surround and annihilate the enemy on this plain."

"Why did you choose there?"

"Geographically, it is very advantageous, and we can attack from both directions, giving us a significant tactical advantage. If we can defeat the enemy here, our army will achieve a great victory."

"You are wise."

Otto praised the Crown Prince.

'He's not a complete fool, after all.'

Strictly speaking, the Crown Prince was no ordinary person. It was just that Otto was too experienced, cunning, and intelligent...

"Shall we advance immediately?"

"Let's advance."

The Crown Prince nodded.

"Since you have laid out the plan so clearly, how can I not follow it?"

"Excellent."

"What's so excellent? I'm just doing what you tell me."

"Listening to the advice of subordinates is also one of the qualities a good ruler should have. Your Highness possesses such qualities, so you will become an excellent king in the future."

"Thank you. Hahaha."

The Crown Prince smiled awkwardly, pleased by Otto's praise.

'Oh, you like me, don't you, Louis Blanc?'

Otto smiled at the Crown Prince, finding him endearing.

* * *

Meanwhile, the main force of the rebels who had left the Canyon Ridge was wandering aimlessly. Suddenly,

"What? The Canyon Ridge has been taken?"

"What is this!"

"How did they know to attack the Canyon Ridge!"

The rebel officers panicked upon hearing the news.

"Commander! Commander Aquinas!"

"Where is the Commander?"

"Find the Deputy Commander!"

The senior officers searched for the Commander and Deputy Commander, but Otto and the swordsmen had already fled the rebel camp hours ago.

"Damn it! We must return to the main force!"

Colonel Hague, who suddenly found himself in the role of Commander, hastily led the rebels back toward the capital in the west. The situation was still unclear, and the key staff, including the Commander, were nowhere to be found. If they rashly attacked the Crown Prince's army and suffered heavy losses, it would be the end.

Therefore, Colonel Hague chose to return to the main force as safely as possible, which was undoubtedly the wisest and best decision. The problem was that the one moving the enemy was right above Colonel Hague's head.

Less than five hours after they turned back, the Crown Prince's suppression forces appeared in front of the 9,000 rebels heading for the capital.

"Annihilate the enemy!"

"Everyone, attack, attack!"

"Yaaaaaah!"

The suppression forces emerged from all directions and began to advance on the rebels.

"Form the battle formation!"

"Enemies! Enemies!"

The rebels were thrown into chaos by the sudden ambush and began to collapse almost immediately without being able to do anything. They were surrounded and ambushed before they could even form a battle formation, so their collapse was inevitable.

"Ooooh!"

The Crown Prince watched his army sweep away the rebels, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. Occupying the Canyon Ridge and sweeping away 9,000 rebels, from the Crown Prince's perspective, things couldn't be better. With the victory scenario unfolding from the early stages of the war, it seemed that he could suppress the rebellion and ascend to the throne in a short time.

'Cain Brigade Commander... I don't know your true identity...'

The Crown Prince looked at Otto and thought.

'Somehow, I will make you my own. With you, my Roshan's expansion into the continent will not be a dream.'

On the other hand, Otto had a different thought.

'Should I start to back off?'

Now that the balance of power between Crown Prince Louis Blanc and Duke Alex was 50-50, Otto's role was essentially over. Watching from a distance, the Kingdom of Roshan would collapse on its own...

* * *

The next day.

"What!!!"

Duke Alex was furious upon receiving the report. The strategic key point of the war, the Canyon Ridge, had been lost, and almost no troops had returned alive. In other words, they had suffered near-total casualties.

"Is this even possible! How could we lose the Canyon Ridge! How!!!"

Duke Alex lost his composure, raging and venting his anger.

"Aquinas, you incompetent fool! Not only did you leave the Canyon Ridge unguarded, but now you've been wiped out? Damn it! Where is Aquinas!"

"Your Highness."

A knight reported.

"General Aquinas is presumed to have been killed in battle."

"What?"

"Not only that, but the senior officers of the unit are also missing, so they must have been killed as well."

"Is that what you call a report!!!"

Upon hearing that the targets of his anger, General Aquinas and the senior officers, had been killed, Duke Alex's eyes bulged out of his head. However, the water had already been spilled, and there was no way to reverse it.

If only time could be turned back.

"...We will engage in a full-scale battle. Prepare to fight the enemy head-on."

Having lost all strategic advantages, Duke Alex decided to confront the Crown Prince with brute force. Losing the Canyon Ridge and 10,000 troops, he could no longer afford to be complacent. He had to engage in repeated battles and a power struggle, whether he liked it or not.

* * *

Immediately after sweeping away the rebels.

Otto bid farewell to Crown Prince Louis Blanc.

"What do you mean? Where are you going?"

The Crown Prince looked devastated at the news that Otto and his group were leaving. To the Crown Prince, Otto was like an army of a thousand. Thanks to Otto, the Crown Prince had gained immeasurable benefits. If Otto stayed, the civil war could be ended quickly, so his sudden departure left the Crown Prince in a state of shock.

"Your Highness, I rushed here to help you because of an urgent request."

"Is that so?"

"I have a more urgent request now. I will return as soon as I handle it."

"How urgent can it be to leave at such a critical time?"

"That is a matter of security, and I cannot disclose it. Please understand..."

"Ah."

"It's a request that will take at most a week. I will return as quickly as possible."

"Very well."

The Crown Prince, though extremely reluctant, could not force Otto to stay. Why? Because Otto was a mercenary, not a vassal of the Crown Prince.

"Cain Brigade Commander."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I have a request."

"What is it?"

"If you return... would you become my vassal?"

"..."

"If I am still lacking, but if you give me a chance, I will strive to become a ruler worthy of your expectations. Please... accept my request."

The sudden proposal.

'He's really fallen for me.'

Otto smiled inwardly at the Crown Prince's shy (?) proposal but maintained a serious demeanor outwardly.

"I am a mercenary. Also, you don't know my true identity, do you?"

"It doesn't matter."

The Crown Prince said firmly.

"As long as I can have you, I will not care about your past. Whoever you are, whatever you have done in the past, I will embrace and protect you."

"Is that... really true?"

"Yes, I promise."

"If that's the case... when I see you again... I will take off this mask."

"..."

"I will formally pay my respects as a vassal to my lord."

"Cain Brigade Commander..."

The Crown Prince looked at Otto with a wistful gaze.

'How can a tiger become a puppy? Wake up, man.'

Otto looked at the Crown Prince with a mocking smile and turned to leave.

* * *

Otto's plan was spot on. The Crown Prince, having occupied the Canyon Ridge, advanced toward the capital with terrifying momentum. In response, Duke Alex's rebel forces also advanced to defend the capital. Thus, battles of various sizes broke out across the Kingdom of Roshan. A fierce civil war began, with no day passing without bloodshed. The rebels and the suppression forces fought intensely, trading victories and defeats. The war was so intense that in just one week, the combined casualties of both sides exceeded ten thousand. The war continued, and by the time a month had passed, both sides had lost more than 50% of their original forces.

"Camille."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Move the army to the border with the Kingdom of Roshan and wait. I will go to Duke Alex."

Otto, who had returned to the Kingdom of Ota, gave orders to Camille and prepared to leave.

"Why do you have to go? Can't we just leave them be?"

"No."

Otto shook his head.

"If we leave them, there's a high chance they will agree to a ceasefire."

"A ceasefire..."

"The damage is too great. They might want to take a breather, even if it means dividing the country temporarily."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Just need to scratch Duke Alex a little. Then he will push for a decisive end."

Leaving those words, Otto headed to the Kingdom of Roshan to meet Duke Alex.