Chapter 11: Efficient Execution
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The atmosphere in the Obsidian Audience Chamber was thick with anticipation. Kenji Tanaka stood beside a glowering General Gorgath, presenting their finalized, compromise plan for the Sunken Fen campaign to Lord Valthor. Using his now-signature shale tablets, Kenji walked Valthor through the key phases: Gorgath’s diversionary attack by the main force (adequately supplied but with strict resource limits Kenji had imposed), followed by the targeted infiltration strike by two elite battalions aimed at the Mirefang Lizardmen's temple-vault, utilizing pre-placed supply caches and optimized routes Kenji had meticulously mapped. He presented the cost-benefit analysis again, showing the projected resource expenditure versus the potential (though still speculative) value of the marsh-pearls and soul-peat.

Valthor listened, occasionally interrupting with sharp questions that showed a surprising grasp of the strategic implications, if not the financial details. Gorgath remained mostly silent, his simmering resentment palpable, clearly unhappy with the constraints but unable to fault the plan's internal logic now that Valthor seemed receptive.

"A balanced approach," Valthor finally declared, nodding slowly. "Sufficient force for glory," he acknowledged Gorgath, "but with the… efficiency the Overseer insists upon." He pointed a claw at the final cost projection. "See that you adhere to this budget, Tanaka. And Gorgath, see that your legions bring me victory and plunder worth the expenditure." He waved a dismissive hand. "Proceed. Launch the campaign at the next auspicious alignment."

Kenji felt a surge of relief so profound it almost buckled his knees. Phase one complete: campaign approved, budget allocated. Now came the infinitely more terrifying part: execution. Both of the campaign, and of the sting operation against Quartermaster Skabb.

As Gorgath stomped off to issue orders, radiating frustrated energy, Kenji met Lyra’s gaze across the chamber. She gave a minuscule, almost imperceptible nod. It was time.

The next few cycles were a blur of controlled chaos. Kenji and Lyra worked relentlessly, overseeing the deployment of resources for the Sunken Fen campaign according to the detailed logistical plan. Kenji monitored the newly enchanted tracking tags on key supply shipments, cross-referencing their movement with the established routes, watching for any deviation that might indicate Skabb’s interference. He liaised constantly with Commander Borgh of the Seventh Spine Legion (still dour, but grudgingly cooperative now that Project Serrated Edge was tied to the success of his legion's parent campaign) and the commanders of the elite strike force battalions. Every cask of rations, every bundle of cursed ammunition, every replacement shield was accounted for, budgeted, and tracked with obsessive precision.

Simultaneously, the sting operation unfolded in the shadows. Lyra, using her network and considerable diplomatic skill (of the demonic variety), arranged a clandestine meeting between the resentful Hobgoblin sergeant, Krell, and Quartermaster Skabb. Krell, equipped with the discreet 'whisper-moss' recording device concealed within his tunic lining, approached Skabb under the guise of seeking a 'mutually beneficial arrangement.' He hinted that Treasury officials were sniffing around Depot Gamma-Seven, mentioning Kenji Tanaka by name, and offered to 'lose' incriminating inventory logs or provide false testimony about damaged goods – for a substantial price, payable in high-quality stolen gear Skabb was known to hoard.

Kenji waited anxiously in the archive, listening to second-hand reports relayed by Lyra from Imp Squad 7 members monitoring Krell from a safe distance. The meeting took place in a dingy back room of a notoriously rowdy barracks tavern. Skabb was initially suspicious, wary of the Overseer's recent activities. But Krell, playing his part perfectly, appealed to Skabb’s greed and paranoia. He dropped details about the missing flails, mentioned Grok the Shiv by name (information subtly fed to him by Lyra), and emphasized the threat posed by the meticulous 'human accountant.'

Skabb, according to the imps' observations, eventually took the bait. He boasted about his connections, complained about the difficulty of moving large shipments past Citadel patrols, confirmed his dealings with Grok the Shiv, and haggled fiercely over the price for Krell's silence and cooperation. Crucially, he explicitly mentioned diverting shipments intended for the Seventh Spine and other units, describing his methods for falsifying records. The whisper-moss, nestled securely, absorbed every damning word.

Krell extracted himself from the meeting, sweating but successful, delivering the whisper-moss back to Lyra. Kenji listened to the recording – Skabb’s grating voice, full of arrogance and avarice – with a grim sense of satisfaction. They had him. Clear, undeniable proof of theft, conspiracy, and black market dealing, recorded via magically enhanced moss.

Just as this crucial evidence landed in his hands, reports began filtering back from the Sunken Fen.

The initial phase proceeded almost exactly according to plan. Gorgath’s main force engaged the Lizardmen warriors near the swamp's edge. The fighting was fierce, but thanks to Kenji’s insistence on adequate (but not excessive) ammunition and ration supplies reaching the front lines via the optimized routes, the demonic legions held their ground effectively, pinning the bulk of the enemy forces. Casualties were within projected parameters – still horrifying by human standards, but significantly lower than typical for such a large engagement, primarily due to fewer units running out of supplies mid-battle or being forced to fight with broken equipment.

Then came the critical phase: the elite strike teams, utilizing the infiltration routes Kenji had mapped based on Lyra’s research, bypassed the main fighting. Their pre-placed supply caches were intact and precisely where planned – a testament to the improved logistical tracking Kenji had implemented. They reached the temple-vault complex with minimal resistance.

Kenji, Lyra, and even a reluctantly impressed Commander Borgh monitored progress via intermittent scrying pool updates in a secured chamber. The tension was palpable. One wrong move, one unexpected patrol, one failure in the elite troops' specialized gear (which Kenji had ensured was top-quality, as budgeted), and the raid could turn into a disaster.

The scrying pool shimmered, showing glimpses of disciplined demonic commandos breaching the temple defenses, disabling magical wards (costs Kenji had budgeted for Zaltar's counter-spells), and overwhelming the temple guards. They moved with speed and precision Kenji hadn't thought possible for demonic forces, likely spurred by competent leadership and the knowledge their escape route and supplies were secure.

Finally, the image cleared, showing the strike team commander holding aloft a heavy chest overflowing with gleaming, iridescent marsh-pearls. Another team secured containers filled with the dark, pulsating soul-peat. The primary objective was achieved. The withdrawal, also meticulously planned by Kenji with fallback routes and emergency extraction points, began.

When the final reports came in, the results were unprecedented. The Sunken Fen campaign was a resounding success. The Mirefang Lizardmen leadership was crippled, the temple-vault looted, and significant resources were recovered – the estimated value actually slightly exceeding Kenji's cautious projections. Most astonishingly, demonic casualties, particularly for the strike teams, were significantly lower than even Kenji’s 'optimistic scenario' forecast. The combination of targeted strategy, reliable equipment, and, crucially, flawless logistics had resulted in a victory that was not just decisive, but efficient.

General Gorgath was, for perhaps the first time in his long, brutal career, stunned into silence. He received the reports in Valthor's presence, his usual bluster absent. He couldn't deny the success. He couldn't deny the lower casualty rates. He couldn't deny that the scribe's 'meddling' had resulted in one of the most effective campaigns in recent memory. While he clearly still hated Kenji, his arguments against efficiency and planning had evaporated in the face of undeniable results.

Lord Valthor was ecstatic. Plunder, victory, efficiency – it appealed to his vanity, his greed, and his surprisingly pragmatic side. He lavishly praised Gorgath for the 'glorious victory' (conveniently ignoring the logistical backbone provided by Kenji) but then turned to Kenji with genuine approval in his burning eyes.

"Overseer Tanaka," Valthor declared before the assembled court, Gorgath included. "Your methods, though strange, yield impressive results. The Sunken Fen yields treasures beyond expectation, at a cost far lower than feared. Your 'efficiency' proves its worth on the battlefield."

This was Kenji's moment. With Valthor's praise echoing in the chamber and Gorgath temporarily silenced by success, he stepped forward, holding the whisper-moss device containing Skabb’s confession.

"My Lord," Kenji announced, his voice clear and steady. "While optimizing legitimate operations yields results, true efficiency requires excising the rot of corruption that diverts resources from your glorious purpose." He looked directly at Valthor. "The audit of Legion Command finances, concurrent with the campaign preparations, uncovered significant, deliberate misappropriation orchestrated by Quartermaster Skabb of Depot Gamma-Seven."

A murmur went through the court. Accusing an established Quartermaster, even a Goblin, so directly was bold.

"Skabb?" Valthor frowned. "A minor functionary."

"A functionary, my Lord," Kenji stated, "who systematically stole Legion supplies – weapons, rations, equipment – intended for your troops, including those fighting in the Sunken Fen. He falsified records and sold these stolen goods on the black market through intermediaries like Grok the Shiv, enriching himself while weakening your legions."

He held up the whisper-moss. "As proof, I present a recording of Quartermaster Skabb himself, boasting of his crimes and negotiating further illicit acts."

He activated the device. Skabb’s grating, greedy voice filled the stunned silence of the Audience Chamber, confessing to the thefts, naming his contact, complaining about the Overseer’s interference. The evidence was damning, undeniable.

When the recording finished, Valthor’s expression was glacial. Corruption within his Dominion, especially when it directly impacted his military might and finances, was an unforgivable insult. His gaze, cold and hard, fell upon a trembling Citadel guard captain.

"Bring me Quartermaster Skabb. And this 'Grok the Shiv'. Immediately."

The resolution was swift and brutal. Skabb and Grok, dragged before the throne, quickly confessed under Valthor's terrifying pressure. Their pleas for mercy were ignored. Valthor, in a display of calculated fury, made an example of them. Their 'liquidation' – as Lyra might put it – was public and creatively unpleasant, serving as a stark warning against theft and corruption within the ranks. The stolen goods recovered from Grok's operation were funneled back into the Treasury reserves.

In the aftermath, Kenji's position was unassailable, at least for the moment. He had delivered a stunningly successful, efficient military victory through meticulous planning. He had exposed and eliminated a significant source of corruption, recovering stolen assets. He had proven the value of his methods beyond any doubt.

Gorgath, though still resentful, could no longer openly obstruct Kenji’s audit or reforms without appearing incompetent or complicit. Zaltar remained aloof, but even he couldn't deny the Treasury's improved standing might benefit his own research in the long run (provided he submitted proper budget requests, Kenji mentally added). Valthor viewed Kenji with newfound respect, seeing him not just as a novelty, but as a genuinely valuable asset – a tool for achieving his ambitions more effectively.

Standing once again in the relative quiet of the archive, Kenji allowed himself a moment of profound relief. He had navigated the treacherous currents, balanced the demands of war and investigation, and emerged stronger. The successful campaign validated his logistical planning. Eliminating Skabb sent a powerful message and plugged a major leak. Project Serrated Edge could now proceed with fewer obstacles. The budget, while still precarious, was slightly healthier thanks to the Sunken Fen plunder and recovered assets.

He looked at the budget outline on the shale slab. The Military expenditure section suddenly seemed slightly less intimidating. He had won a major battle there. But the war for fiscal responsibility was far from over. Zaltar's arcane black hole still loomed. Valthor's 'Sovereign Imperatives' remained a volatile drain. And the fundamental task of building sustainable revenue streams hadn't even begun.

Still, tonight felt like a victory. He had proven that even in Hell, efficiency could execute. He picked up his charcoal stick. Time to update the asset column.

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