Firearms in a Fantasy World

Chapter 97: Outraged

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

After dismissing Emerson, Paul and his associates remained in the reception room and gathered other senior officials from the Cabinet and the military.

The atmosphere quickly turned into a war council.

"We must make the Kent family pay!" The officers were fired up upon hearing of the actions of the Kent family's envoy.

Alden Town had already conceded so much, yet the other side had taken advantage with excessive demands, which was a great humiliation.

After thorough discussion, several resolutions were quickly reached:

1. Strengthen reconnaissance in border areas and remain vigilant of Emden's movements.

2. Mobilize the intelligence department to gather information on Emden, from high-ranking personnel to military deployments.

3. Form a third infantry battalion based on the current Independent Rifle Company, with Joyce, formerly a sergeant under Schroeder, appointed as battalion commander.

4. Strengthen militia training through the General Staff, supplementing the regular army when necessary.

5. Order the navy to prepare for combat operations, ready to support ground actions at any time.

If they wanted to initiate combat immediately, the troops stationed in Alden Town could depart within two hours. After all, Emden was adjacent to Alden in the south, so extensive preparations like those for a long-distance campaign were unnecessary.

This was the advantage of a standing army. For small-scale operations involving a few thousand troops over short distances, they could be assembled and deployed at any time.

Paul concluded that Earl Kent, his opponent, was different. Although their overall strength was formidable, to conduct a proper lord-to-lord war would require 1 to 2 weeks to gather their forces.

This dilemma troubled him. Should he lead his troops to catch the Kent family off guard first? Or wait for the Kent family to slowly gather their forces and initiate an attack?

If he attacked first, he risked stirring up a hornet's nest without justification, especially since the Kent family had not inflicted any substantial harm on them yet. It would undermine his moral standing, and could provoke retaliation from Duke Fraule and his many vassals. That would be disastrous.

But if he passively waited, giving up the advantage of speed seemed foolish. Military strategists from ancient times emphasized the importance of "speed" in warfare, both at home and abroad.

The officers, led by Bryce, looked eagerly at Paul. "Lord Grayman, let's strike first!"

After careful consideration, Paul opted for caution. After all, the Grayman family were direct vassals of the King in the northwest. If the Kent family indeed harbored ill intentions, they needed to weigh their options carefully.

The likelihood of war breaking out was not a certainty.

Therefore, at the end of the meeting, in addition to the five measures mentioned above, Paul only ordered martial law to be imposed in Alden and Byerldine, refraining from declaring war on Emden.

...

In the lord's residence of Emden, Bailan Castle, there were no towns or villages, only a solitary castle where members of the Kent family and their servants resided.

Emerson paced nervously in the hall, awaiting the outcome. His steps echoed off the walls.

Finally, footsteps approached from the corridor, and a figure emerged into the hall.