The Amber Sword

The guests were obviously Brendel’s acquaintances – the Grey Fins Nagas. The pearl, delivered from Sani, was a gift from Winter Dew, Queen of the Nagas. It was some sort of magical tool used for communication between Nagas. Unfortunately, the production of this tool was limited, preventing all the important people around him from posessing one as well.

As soon as the black pearl glowed, Brendel immediately realized that Sani had arrived. The ones who reacted, however, first were the White Lion Battalion soldiers stationed as lookouts. The young soldiers from Trentheim naturally recognized the Nagas and led them directly over to Brendel’s party.

The first thing that Brendel saw was the sturdy, taller-than-average Sani the female Naga beside him. While female Nagas could be alluring by human standards – as was the one next to Sani – they were still far from actually being human. Female Nagas all had sharp, pointy ears, smooth skin, and three thin gills above the collarbone, and, just like male Nagas, their lower halves were those of snakes.

Brendel was a little confused in the beginning about the reason why Sani did not meet up with Amandina and sail together to Trentheim. But once he saw the female Naga, he immediately understood the reason. He recognized the female Naga too – she was Bridget, the giant sea monster. She was also one of the main priestesses of Queen Winter Dew.

In the Naga clan, those who conducted rituals and those in charge of wars were all women. Although Sani was a warrior, he was only a front-line soldier. Even though Sani later obtained the power to lead the tribe of the Grey Fins Nagas from a series of coincidences, he was an exception. The Nagas were still usually a matriarchal tribe society.

Noble female Nagas like Bridget typically appeared in the army under the identity of being priestesses,  but were in fact probably there to supervise the army.

Brendel now understood the other party had come to form an alliance with him. Her appearance also explained where the Coast Guards in the ports of Ampere Seale had gone. It seemed like the Naga tribe had already decided right from the beginning that they wanted to participate in this war.

This area was also a 25-30 level adventuring area known to Brendel. There was a defensive fort further south of Ampere Seale and beside it was a sawmill nearby which supplied charcoal to Aouine daily. Brendel had done countless missions in that area.

There was also a small iron ore mine nearby. Because of the huge charcoal supply, a large number of blacksmith villages had emerged in that area around the Year of Harvest (Year 360). With the defensive fort as the center, to the east lay mountains, and to the west was a gentle coastal area with a dense population.

Brendel’s gaze fell on this area, and he drew a line with a premeditated plan in mind.

The young people were arguing.

Carglise believes that they should take advantage of their small-numbered yet elite troops to block the Black Blade Squad in the Farma Valley. This valley penetrated into the northern part of Arreck. The terrain was dangerous, but made it perfect for an ambush.

Enrique, however, believed they should enter the Farma Mountains through the northern main branch of the Arreck Mountains. The would use the advantage of having fewer but individually stronger soldiers circle the enemies as they retreated. This was an unusual but great idea.

Brendel heard and he realized, This is guerilla warfare! We can use that as the alternative.

His mind had wandered for but a minute, the dispute over there becomingfierce. Enrique mocked the rigidity of Carglise’s mindset and his Military Dogmatism. Carglise returned by saying how crude his methods were, uncivilized as banditry.

The argument between both parties did not come to a conclusion; Bennett supported Carglise’s point of view, while Mok thought that Enrique’s was better. Only Freya, Rouka, and Maynild looked at Brendel.

Brendel smiled slightly and pointed somewhere on the map. “Let us hold a grand banquet for the Black Blade Squad right here.”

Everyone directed their attention to the location under Brendel’s fingertip and saw the location he was pointing to was not far from their current position. He drew a line directed towards a place called the Mar Highlands.

What kind of place was that?  

Everyone saw that the place on the map was obviously not the most defensible place. The Mar Highlands was a plateau, and although it was also the intersection of three mountains, the open area was a flat alluvial plain, making it suitable for an army to spread out. Battling here would be a problem. If Brendel had not taken the lead earlier and commnaded them to kill their way out, everyone present – including Carglise – would have suspected him to be a spy of the Northern Army.

“Mr. Brendel……?”

“Believe me, this is the best option.” Brendel laughed slightly and said, “I would not joke about my own life, right?”

“But why?” Freya asked.

The reason is very simple. Brendel grinned to himself secretly. This place, the Mar Highlands, was the nightmare of countless players. There was an instance dungeon known as the “Ruins of the Afiga Cathedral” in Mar Highlands. Afiga was a famous demon king in Vaunte, apparently rumored to be an actual devil. In truth, this cathedral had little to do with him, but it was occupied by a group of Wind Elemental monsters from the Mountain of Quelled Storms. But the dungeon was buried deep down in the ground, and might not have even been discovered during this century yet.

This cathedral was released in a later release of the game. There was also a small prerequisite quest for it. Brendel could totally imagine how big of a trouble the Black Blade Squad would be in if he were to dig out the entire thing. All the players who challenged it at that time were defeated, and it was not until five years after the release that someone finally managed to complete this dungeon.

Not to mention that in front of the Mar Highlands were the gathering grounds of the Redback Boar monsters. Without knowing the correct route, these herd creatures of level twenty and above would be enough entertainment for their enemies.

Brendel felt like bursting into laughter just from the thought.

Besides, it would lower the enemies’ vigilance by choosing that place.

But he decided not to say anything. Although the students of the Royal Cavalry Academy were trustworthy, it was hard to say when it came down to the private soldiers under Audine.

He waved his hand to signal everyone else to stop discussing among themselves. Brendel had already built up his prestige as a commander, and although the young people still had some doubts about him, they still believed their commander would be a great leader.

“This place is actually an upside-down triangle. If we guard two of the hills, we might be able to defend ourselves. I think our Lord has his own considerations… But isn’t this place too close to the fort of Ampere Seale?” Rouka frowned and asked.

“Exactly the opposite; we are going to attack along this line,” Brendel said while pointing to the manor.

“Ah, What? Seriously?” Enrique immediately stood up. “Lord, this seems to be unnecessary. If you are just wanting to show off our military prestige and put those northern people in shock…… Okay, I admit that we are already very powerful.”

“No, it is necessary.” Brendel gave him a smile. Then he turned around and said to Sani, “Sani, can you and your men sense your Demon Whales?”

Sani was stunned for a moment, then nodded his head.

“Then please bring them along with you and go immediately. You must bring Miss Amandina to me by tonight.”

“No problem.”

Brendel rolled up the parchment and said to the others, “All of you, go prepare for battle. And don’t forget to beat the shit out of our enemies!”

Everyone exchanged doubtful looks, but all they could do was to stand up and bow.