The Greatest Story Ever Written

Chapter 9

Within five weeks, Asylum has expanded towards Talisay's urban center and the ruins of Victorias. At the same time, the various communities residing in these areas join Asylum. Some as vassals; the others, fully integrated.

A new military branch was then made to ensure that Asylum has a proper standing army, not just garrison troops and skirmishers. The members of this new branch are simply called "warriors". They wear proper maille over gambesons and almost exclusively wield spears as their primary weapon, with arming swords serving as their sidearm. They have kite shields in their offhand and a barbute covers their heads. Like all other branches, they undergo basic training under Pacifico himself.

Warriors aren't just soldiers, however, for they are also used in expansion. They are trained by the engineers and craftsmen to build and fix roads and basic fortifications. Due to this, Asylum was able to quickly establish a fortified base in Victorias within a week after they were established.

While the northern expansion has gone swimmingly, the southern expansion towards Bacolod has proven to be more treacherous. Various gangs have established themselves and are in a constant state of war ever since they settled there. Asylum has managed to make a foothold in the area of the old northern terminals, but seizing more territory has proven itself to be more challenging than it first seemed.

Due to this, many explorers have been pulled from other areas and are now tasked with exploring Bacolod. The few warriors that have been fully trained are being redeployed to the foothold along with a few contingents of guards.

Due to the problem in Bacolod, Pacifico called another meeting, and all leaders were there – save for Jacob, who was supervising the redeployment.

"Greetings," he started. "It's been around two months since we started on our expansion plan."

"And it was going swimmingly," Remuel said. "The word 'was' being the keyword here."

Robin nodded. "Yes, the Bacolod campaign has been bogged down because of those warring gangs."

"And I do not understand why," said Sigmareth. "After all, you were able to defeat my horde before the army expansion."

"Simple answer," replied Harold. "Your horde had a central leadership and we did not need to worry about the destruction of various supplies."

"Don't forget the manpower we do not want to kill off during the conquest, too." Added Alejandro.

"Indeed," said Pacifico. "These all compound into this conundrum that we are in right now. After all, we cannot just explode them and occupy them afterwards."

"Then what we need is simple," said Sigmareth. "We need subtlety."

"Correct," replied Remuel. "In fact, I have a proposal."

"Go on," said Pacifico. "Do tell of your proposal."

Remuel used magic to project a map with various colored areas. "As we know, each of these colored areas are controlled by various factions trying to control Bacolod. We have the northern area of the urban center. The Black Fire Coven, the Monkey Clan, and the Tidal Wave Pirate Coalition are all controlling the other important areas of the urban center."

"Yes, and?" asked Sigmareth.

"And we should align one of them to us," replied Remuel. "If we somehow tip the scales in favor to one of the factions, it would dominate the others without being as destructive as we would be."

The room went silent as everyone pondered over the proposal.

After a while, Pacifico said, "We need to move quickly, then, and contact the one we wish to support as quickly as possible, then."

"True," said Alejandro. "However, what faction shall we support?"

"I suggest we support the Black Fire Coven," said Remuel. "They are witches, after all."

"I concur," said Sigmareth. "With the both of us, we should be able to manipulate them."

Harold nodded and said, "We should ask our resident witches as well. They might know something"

"Alright," said Pacifico. "With nothing else, meeting adjourned."

Everyone then quickly filed out of the hall and returned to their stations. Pacifico joined Harold as they went to the magical laboratory. In there, Pacifico found Cassandra together with some of her fellow witches.

"Cassandra," he called. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Not at all," she replied. "What is it, sir?"

"Are you familiar with the Black Fire Coven?" asked Pacifico.

"That name sounds familiar," she replied. After thinking for a while, she answered, "I do know them, and I am on good terms with their leader, Dea."

"I see," said Pacifico. "I have a mission for you, then."

Cassandra's expression lit up and said, "I would be honored to do it, sir."

Pacifico nodded and said, "Contact their leader and tell her that Asylum would support her and give her control over in Bacolod in exchange for their loyalty."

"You want them to swear fealty to you, sir?" asked Cassandra.

"Something like that," he replied. "You will be joined by one of your sisters, one of the demons under Sigmareth, and Remuel himself. Please do your mission as quickly as possible, for time is of the essence."

"Of course, sir," replied Cassandra.

Pacifico simply nodded in satisfaction before going off to meditate on top of his favourite boulder.