With every passing day the amount of soldiers in the city was increasing.

The new recruits were finishing their basic training and the levied army was about to be ready.

I arrived to Valencio’s mansion and waited to be invited. I was not alone here.

Many officers in armor, many aides with thick stacks of paper, and all other kinds of people were waiting.

The queue was very long, and at best I would see the duke by the midday.

A butler stepped out of Valencio’s office and glanced at the queue. As he was about to announce the next invitee, the butler leaned to a side and looked at me.

“Your Excellency, Sir Belov. His Grace is waiting for you.” I was about to notify the butler that there is a queue of people in front of me. The entire queue. But the man has already opened the door and was patiently waiting for me. Nobody dared to enter, so I had to make my way inside.

Valencio and the former rebel leaders were surrounded by stacks of paper, and only after I entered and the doors were closed they paid attention to me.

“Ah, Sir Belov! I was hoping you would come by!” (V)

“Was there something urgent you wanted to discuss…?” I prepared myself.

“Well, of course there is! These days I seen you so rarely that I wondered if you disappeared somewhere. Come here, have a seat. … Would you like some wine? It is from my collection. No need to be worried about it being poisoned.” The duke pushed me a cup of red liquid.

“I would be glad to have some… But this damned body…” I feel it would be wrong to have a minor’s body drink this.

“Is there something bothering you…?” Valencio looked at me with concern but I dismissed him immediately.

“There is nothing wrong. I wanted to report that all of our preparations are completed. We are ready to move out immediately.” The man appeared to be even more concerned.

“The defenses should be strong enough to hold back against any enemies. Our departure would not hurt your forces.” I assured him.

“It is not that… Khm. Captain, were you informed about the routes your crew may follow on your way to the capital? Carel, bring me the map.” One of the aides rustled the papers on his table, and found a scroll, which he threw to us.

“Nice catch~.” The duke smiled at me when I caught the scroll.

Still, I was wondering why he looked at me like this. I just caught a piece of paper?

Valencio cleared the table a bit by pushing the stacks of papers to the sides. Some stacks fell but he was more concerned with the map.

It was a very vague map but with the war room’s map I will be able to navigate with no problems.

“I will give you this map. Please, if you have any suspicions it might be stolen, burn it. It contains crucial information.” I nodded.

The duke showed me the possible routes I may use. Both of us agreed that the plains would be the best way. For him, it is a free space for his cavalry. For us, it is… Tanks love plains, nothing more.

There are a couple of villages on our way, and a river. As soon as we cross the river, we will have full freedom of maneuver.

Taking the villages is one thing, the other is holding them. The plan is that we will spearhead inside the enemy territory and make an opening for the duke’s forces to slip into the heart of the enemy forces here.

“How soon you might reach the capital?” (V)

“If the roads are good, and there will be no engagements, we might arrive within three days.” The man stared at me. I waved in front of his face but there was no reaction.

“Three days.” I repeated.

“With the God’s blessing we would only depart three days later. And the way to the capital would take us at least a week. I would expect our arrival no less than two weeks from now on. Please, can you reconsider moving out now?” (V)

“There is one thing I know for sure. The speed is the deciding factor of war.”

“I cannot agree with you more. Still. For this case... Captain… We have heavy cavalry…” The duke looked at me with a serious expression.

“Y-your Grace?!” The aides were surprised. I was dumbfounded.

“So what…?”