The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 599: Standstill

After Ansem's collapse, the Kingdom’s army took shelter in Shantal, the closest mid-sized city to the battlefield. Leo was then faced with two options.

One, he could ignore the besieged royal army and proceed north to confront a separate detachment of enemy forces.

Or, he could monitor the situation of the besieged royal army.

The former would involve assuming the retreating royal army could no longer pose a threat, and focus on whittling down the remaining enemy forces. The latter involved keeping an eye on the besieged royal army. Both the royal and imperial armies had taken significant damage.

"Your Highness, should we not head north for now?"

"I also think so, but..."

In front of the mid-sized city of Shantal, Leo was hesitant to make a decision.

Thorough information gathering had revealed that the supreme commander of the royal army, Ansem, had not shown himself during the retreat.

If Ansem, of all people, was not showing himself before his demoralized troops, it meant there was a reason he couldn't show himself.

Had something happened to Ansem?

That was the imperial army's conclusion.

If that were the case, the sudden retreat would make sense.

Knowing this, there was no need to focus on the royal army in front of them.

If they focused on Ansem's downfall and attacked recklessly, the imperial army would also suffer significant damage. Therefore, it would be better to prioritize joining the remaining 70,000 troops.

Leo understood this.

However, he couldn't make that decision.

"Our army has also suffered significant damage in the fight with the royal army. The soldiers are exhausted, and morale is low. If we head north in this state, a significant number of soldiers will drop out. If we are ambushed in such a state, it would be difficult to recover."

"If Ansem can't move, an ambush is unlikely."

"We only know he hasn't been seen. We have no confirmation that he's down. Everything could be a trap."

What came to Leo's mind was the image of Ansem leaving briskly.

Could his condition have suddenly changed from that state, causing him to collapse?

Or had he been sick from the state of their duel?

Doubts only grew in Leo's mind.

There's no way an opponent who's ill could perform a duel to that extent.

The only plausible scenario was that Ansem's condition worsened after the duel. It was known that Ansem already had health issues. Intense battle could upset his condition.

However, still...

"Isn't the timing of Ansem's collapse too convenient for the imperial army?"

In Leo's mind, the image of Ansem up until now was etched.

The figure of Ansem, controlling the situation, creating his advantages.

Therefore, Leo could not fully believe the conclusion that Ansem had fallen.

He could more readily believe that everything was a trap set by Ansem.

So...

"...We'll hold our ground here. Even if we need to move, the soldiers need rest first."

"Aren't we playing into the hands of the royal army?"

"Even if we are, that's fine. If they want to buy time to rest, we will do the same. Be it a trap or Ansem's downfall, they can't hold out in that city for long either."

Because time was on the side of the imperial army.

Maintaining the status quo may seem passive, and ideally, they'd want to avoid it.

However, acting recklessly when information is not definitive could worsen the situation.

It was after careful consideration that Leo made this decision.

"...We will encamp here. Even if we decide to move, we can't unless we let the soldiers rest."

"Aren't we falling into the Kingdom's army's trap?"

"If it's a trap, then so be it. If they want to buy time to rest, we will also just rest. Be it a plot, or if Ansem has fallen, they can't stay in that city for a long time either."

That's because time was on the Imperial army's side.

Maintaining the status quo may seem passive, and it was something he'd rather not choose.

However, if they moved recklessly in the absence of definitive information, the situation could worsen.

After considering all this, Leo decided.

"Understood. So, we don't need to siege the city?"

"Even if we lay a siege, we don't have the luxury to engage in a siege battle. A sham siege wouldn't mean anything. We would just exhaust ourselves. It's enough to just camp here."

Doing nothing also requires courage.

This wasn't a situation where they were doing nothing out of inertia. They were choosing to do nothing. There were many things they could do.

Facing the enemy and deliberately doing nothing required courage. It would also heighten anxiety.

The soldiers would get restless.

There was also a need to control that.

But still.

"Are you saying we will have another battle after we rest?"

"I don't know. Just... I feel an alarm ringing in my heart. We mustn't leave here. That's why we're staying here, and we will let the soldiers rest as much as possible in preparation for any emergencies. I don't know whether this is the right decision. But still, I don't feel like moving from here."

Feeling a strong determination in Leo's words, Theodore, who was standing by his side, bowed on the spot.

It was because there was no need to say anything when the decision was this firm.

■■■

When Ansem returned from the darkness.

By his side was Count Magellan, a close associate of the crown prince.

"...Why are... you here...?"

"Oh, Your Highness. You're awake. Everyone will be pleased. Everyone has been eagerly waiting for you, our hero."

"Answer my question..."

Ansem, forcing his paralyzed body to move somehow, managed to sit up.

Before he went to sleep, Ansem had ordered Lisette to retreat to a nearby city.

Looking around, it seemed that it was successful.

However, next to him was Count Magellan, a close associate of the crown prince. Ansem could not understand why.

"Scary, scary. I've come with reinforcements. To be precise, I've brought the reinforcements."

Saying that, Magellan pointed at the window.

Ansem, glaring at Magellan, somehow moved towards the window, following the wall.

What Ansem saw there was beyond his imagination.

"What is... that...?"

The Imperial Army, camping at a distance from the city.

They were being attacked by something flying in the sky.

Their numbers were easily over ten thousand.

"It's an evolved version of a drug that turns humans into vampires... It's from a certain organization. They grow wings like the flying demi-humans, their appearance strays quite a bit from humans, but as you can see, their "performance" is excellent. And they can listen to our commands. Well, only one out of ten succeed... But many people die in wars, so such minor demerits should be overlooked."

"What... are you talking... about?"

"Don't worry. We have plenty of drugs. They should be continuously carried in while those things distract the enemy. This city has around fifty thousand people. We can secure another five thousand."

It was hard for Ansem to understand.

Nevertheless, Ansem reached for a sword that was nearby.

His heart told him that he could not let this man run loose.

However,

"Oh, your sister is also with us. It would be best not to make any rash decisions."

"You...! Does the Crown Prince... My brother know about this!?"

"Of course. In fact, it was the Crown Prince's idea."

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