Chương 195: War of Flags VII
The air in the room was still, thick with tension but also the quiet satisfaction of knowing we had the advantage. Lucifer sat at the head of the table, his gaze sharp, surveying the faces around him. I sat between Rachel and Cecilia, both paying close attention, while Seraphina, still pouting slightly, sat beside Cecilia with a faint smile on her lips. Ren leaned back in his chair, looking as casual as ever, while Jin remained stoic at the far end. Rose, the other strategist, focused intently on the map spread out before us.
Lucifer began. "We've had a productive second day. Let's start with the reports."
He turned to Jin first. "Your unit performed well, eliminating twenty Slatemark students while only losing five. Good work."
Jin gave a curt nod but hesitated before continuing, glancing at me. "It wasn't just strength that gave us the edge. The success was due to a false scouting report."
A ripple of confusion passed through the room as everyone turned their attention toward Jin. Ren raised an eyebrow, and Seraphina looked intrigued.
Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "False report?"
Jin nodded. "Yes. I lied about the terrain in the north. There's no forest there—it's a valley. I gave the false report on Arthur's orders to see if any of our plans were being leaked to Slatemark."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the words sank in. Leon, sitting quietly on the far side, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, though he was trying to keep his expression neutral.
I leaned forward, locking eyes with Leon. "And the false information worked perfectly. Jack's forces overcommitted to attacking us in the north based on that false report, and that's how we managed to trap and eliminate twenty of their students."
Rachel, next to me, looked surprised but impressed. "So there was a spy."
I nodded, my gaze still fixed on Leon. "Yes. Leon has been feeding Jack information."
The room went completely silent as everyone turned toward Leon, whose face had gone pale. His attempts to maintain composure were crumbling.
Lucifer's eyes were like ice as he stared at Leon. "Is this true?"
Leon's mouth opened, but no words came out. Jin's voice cut through the tension. "He sold us out."
Lucifer stood, his presence dominating the room. "Leon, you're no longer a part of this game. You've betrayed your academy." His voice was cold, final. "You're eliminated."
Before Leon could say anything, Ren was already standing, giving him a look that left no room for argument. Leon rose shakily, knowing there was no escape. He was escorted out, probably to be eliminated by Ren outside, leaving behind the weight of his betrayal.
The room remained still for a moment, the weight of Leon's betrayal hanging in the air. I broke the silence, my voice steady. "Now that Leon's out of the picture, we can move forward without Jack anticipating our every move. Let's get back to the reports."
Ren came back inside, his familiar smirk creeping back onto his face. "Lucifer and I scouted the central area. As expected, the other academies already clashed there and took most of the supplies with them."
I shifted my attention to Seraphina. "How's the supply depot?"
Seraphina straightened up, her usual confidence returning. "It's secure. We didn't lose anyone in the process. The depot is far enough from the other academies that it's pretty much ours. We've gathered enough supplies to keep us going for now."
I smiled. "Good work. The depot will be crucial for baiting Frostspire or Serpentstone. If they make a move on it, we'll be ready."
Rose, who had been quiet until now, added, "The mana beasts we hunted for additional supplies were more of a challenge, but we succeeded. We've managed to gather enough to supplement what we've already collected from the depot. We'll need to keep hunting, though, if we want to stay ahead."
Rachel, sitting next to me, gave a small smile. "It seems like everything's falling into place."
I nodded. "It is. But Jack will know we've had success. He'll try something soon."
Lucifer's sharp gaze met mine. "What's the next move?"
I took a breath, weighing the possibilities. The reason Slatemark Academy triumphed over Mythos in the novel was simple—they outlasted us, waited for the others to wear us down, and then swooped in, capturing the flags of the weaker academies. But this time, things were different. Jack Blazespout wanted to kill Seol-ah Moyong, which meant he'd have to deal a crippling blow to Starcrest Academy. That worked to our advantage.
Our priority now had to shift. We couldn't waste time holding back—Frostspire and Serpentstone academies, the ones closest to us, needed to fall. They were weaker, and capturing their flags would give us an early lead. But Jack knew that. He'd expect us to strike at the nearest targets, and he'd be ready.
He wasn't going to attack Starcrest yet. He needed Seol-ah alive to act as a key player against us, biding his time until the final moments of this festival. Jack would want more information, more certainty. He wouldn't gamble with her life until the odds favored him.
But if I wanted to beat a manipulator like Jack, I couldn't let him wait for his perfect moment. I had to force his hand, compel him to act when he wasn't ready. The way to beat someone who thrives on control is to throw chaos into their plans. Scramble the board, move the pieces unpredictably, and tear apart the ideal conditions he relies on.
That was the only way to bring down Jack Blazespout in this game of war.
The question remained: how?
What could be so crucial that Jack would be forced to move against Starcrest Academy?
Fortunately, the answer came to me more easily than expected.
Jack, in all likelihood, had Slatemark Academy mirroring our tactics—hunting mana beasts for meat, just as they did in the novel. The mana beasts on this island capped at 4-star, as they weren't meant to be the primary threat. But the challenge lay in the limited number of locations where you could efficiently hunt enough mana beasts to feed an entire academy, especially considering the inexperience of the students doing the hunting.
"Jin, Ren," I said, turning to them with a focused gaze. "Lead your units to the north-west edge of the island. Scout near Slatemark and Starcrest academies, but avoid being detected by either side at first. Once you find a valley or forested area that looks ideal for hunting, then reveal yourselves—specifically to Starcrest Academy."
Ren frowned slightly, confusion evident. "You want us to engage with Starcrest there?"
I shook my head. "No. Just lead Starcrest Academy to that location and then retreat. Don't engage unless absolutely necessary."
Rose, sitting nearby, clapped her hands in realization. "I get it! You're setting up Starcrest Academy to clash with Slatemark over the mana beasts, aren't you?"
I gave a nod. "Exactly. Supplies are limited on this island, and a hunting ground like that will become highly contested. Jin will make sure one of Slatemark's scouting units is drawn to the same spot. The resulting conflict will keep Jack busy while we prepare for the next phase."
"What else?" Lucifer's green eyes rested on me, his voice calm but filled with expectation.
"We go for Frostspire Academy first," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips. "They didn't contest the center for supplies, according to our observations, which means they're likely running low. They'll be haggard, vulnerable. Serpentstone Academy, on the other hand, has a stronger defense, so we'll deal with Frostspire first and capture their flag."
Ian, ever the strategist, frowned slightly. "Won't Serpentstone or the other academies move against us once they see we're attacking?"
I shook my head, already anticipating the concern. "Rachel will stay behind. She'll use her light magic to create the illusion that all is quiet at our base. It'll be taxing, no doubt, but she's completed the first stage of the integration process. It's within her abilities, especially if we make it look like we're making moves elsewhere."
Rachel nodded, her blue eyes glinting with determination. "I can hold the illusion long enough to keep them off our trail."
"With Rachel anchoring the defense," I continued, "Ian and his unit will also remain behind to guard the base. The rest of us, including Lucifer, will attack Frostspire Academy and take their flag."
Lucifer leaned back slightly, eyes gleaming with approval as the plan solidified. The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of the upcoming battle hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.
This wasn't just about attacking or defending—it was about manipulating perception, forcing our enemies to see what we wanted them to see. The subtle magic of misdirection.
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