The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (90)

 

The boundary point between the northwest and northeast regions.

 

Aikuled was not a particularly important stronghold.

 

Due to the narrow roads, moving supplies between north and south was inconvenient, and military movement was also restricted.

 

Even if they wanted to expand the roads, there were key battlefields on both sides that demanded attention, leaving no time to spare.

 

To the west was Helikel Gorge.

 

To the east was Elvarfiel Lake.

 

Securing this place first was the top priority.

 

For both the Kar Tribe and the Empire alike.

 

However, the atmosphere changed significantly when both Helikel Gorge in the northwest and Elvarfiel Lake in the northeast fell to the Empire.

 

From the Empire’s perspective, having secured both strongholds, if they could just obtain Aikuled, it would complete a perfect route connecting the north.

 

That’s why it became a place the Kar Tribe could never surrender.

 

“…It’s rough.”

 

Lucael, who had arrived near Aikuled, muttered quietly while looking at the distant Aikuled.

 

The final stronghold they needed to pioneer was right before their eyes, but the terrain was much rougher than expected.

 

However, if they could just obtain this place, the path to the north would be perfectly opened.

 

Helikel Gorge had already completed its base construction and was ready to advance at any time.

 

At Elvarfiel Lake too, the army had advanced to the north and would soon begin base construction.

 

There had been some minor conflicts in between, but the Imperial Army, already in formation, had driven out the Kar Tribe without much trouble and defended Elvarfiel Lake.

 

At this rate…

 

“In one year, the foundation for advancing north will be complete.”

 

So they just needed to occupy Aikuled within a year…

 

“Were you here?”

 

Isaac, who was serving as deputy commander of this special unit, approached Lucael and asked.

 

Isaac also frowned as he looked at Aikuled’s formation in the distance.

 

“It’s not an easy place to enter.”

 

“That’s why we’re moving with a small number of unit members.”

 

“Even entering with a hundred men doesn’t look easy.”

 

Setting aside the rough roads, the width was too narrow.

 

Moreover, the simple straight path had the disadvantage of being too vulnerable to enemy ambushes.

 

“So perhaps… we might have to go around the side and climb up the walls where there’s no path.”

 

“…Like we did at Helikel Gorge?”

 

“That’s right. But it won’t be easy. Unlike the gorge walls, this place has quite a lot of obstacles in the form of bushes.”

 

Moreover, the incompletely frozen ice walls could become traps.

 

One slip could be life-threatening.

 

Lucael silently observed the terrain that would become their future battlefield.

 

He was drawing countless scenarios in his mind, but none of them were easy.

 

But then.

 

“Come to think of it, don’t you know a soldier named Arteon? I heard he was a soldier who carried out operations with you at Helikel Gorge.”

 

“…You mean Arteon? I know him, but why do you ask?”

 

“A letter came directly from the Corps Commander. That soldier will also join this special unit.”

 

“What?”

 

Isaac’s expression brightened immediately.

 

Seeing that, Lucael chuckled.

 

“Looking at your expression, his skills must be certain. I was wondering why the Corps Commander sent a letter directly. Now I can understand.”

 

“Arteon is really coming?”

 

“I heard he’ll join in a month. He went on leave after making great contributions at Elvarfiel Lake.”

 

Anyway, planning operations based on this terrain would take quite a lot of time.

 

Considering what they had to do ahead, a month wasn’t that long, so it didn’t matter.

 

“…Arteon.”

 

Isaac recalled how Arteon looked when he first met him.

 

That guy who accomplished impossibly reckless things one after another.

 

Especially the sight of him crossing a deep river with strong currents with just a rope tied around him was still vivid.

 

‘That guy… is coming to this unit.’

 

But Isaac felt nothing strange about it.

 

This special unit formed at Aikuled was truly composed of the elite of the elite, carefully selected from the north.

 

Naturally, that guy would have the skills to be included.

 

It’s just…

 

“A month.”

 

His anticipation swelled at the thought of seeing that guy again.

 

Eventually, Isaac followed Lucael as he turned around and walked toward the main base.

 

* * *

 

Late dawn.

 

It was the time when thick darkness engulfed Almers.

 

The coolly settled silence and corridors where not even a breath could be heard.

 

A shadow slid toward the room where Arteon was staying.

 

The footsteps were light as wind and stealthy as the darkness outside.

 

Click.

 

The masked figure who opened the door with a prepared key slightly opened it and looked inside.

 

Arteon could be seen lying on the bed, and with his steady breathing, he seemed not to have awakened from sleep.

 

Creak.

 

The door opened just enough for one body to squeeze through, and a stream of cold air seeped through the tiny gap.

 

The masked figure slowly bent down and looked at Arteon lying on the bed.

 

Swish.

 

Soon a dagger gripped in his hand was raised toward the sky, emanating sharp killing intent.

 

And just as he was about to plunge the dagger toward Arteon’s heart.

 

Whoosh!

 

A spear tip that suddenly extended from the thick blanket instantly aimed at the masked figure’s nape.

 

The masked figure froze, unable to react at all to what pierced through the blanket like lightning.

 

“What’s this situation, Rishiven?”

 

Then Arteon opened his eyes and spoke to the masked figure.

 

Along with cold eyes, subtle killing intent seemed to bind his entire body like a spider web.

 

But…

 

“Ah, Lord Arteon!”

 

She immediately knelt on the floor and bowed her head.

 

As Arteon sat up, Rishiven exhaled softly and confessed honestly.

 

“I, I wanted to see with my own eyes whether it was alright for Lord Arteon to personally participate in this operation… I apologize for my rudeness.”

 

At those words, Arteon silently looked down at her and quietly asked.

 

“Did you catch their tail?”

 

“Yes, rather, they are counter-tracking us. For some reason, they’re moving quite actively… it seems we can create the situation Lord Arteon wanted.”

 

However, Rishiven’s gaze wavered uneasily.

 

“But their movements are more active than expected and their resistance will likely be fierce… I’m worried about Lord Arteon’s safety.”

 

Presumably, due to this incident, there was a high possibility that intermediate-level assassins or higher would move from Nokton’s side.

 

“We can’t know the exact numbers… but there will likely be at least a dozen or more.”

 

No matter how much they helped Arteon, the power difference was clear.

 

Unlike themselves who had been scraping together information in the back alleys, those guys were trained from the beginning to kill those stronger than themselves.

 

The more Rishiven spoke, the more Arteon could understand why she had acted this way.

 

But….

 

“I don’t think the results will change just because you pass some test devised by someone who used to scrape by in the back alleys.”

 

“….”

 

At Arteon’s words, Rishiven just bit his lips tightly.

 

It was frustrating, but there wasn’t a single wrong point in what he said.

 

However, Arteon continued speaking without caring about Rishiven’s feelings.

 

“But we each have different specialties. Just as you have your specialty, I also have my own, so you don’t need to worry about that part anymore.”

 

Arteon’s eyes briefly reflected the past.

 

For over ten years, he had survived in this hellish northern battlefield.

 

He had killed hundreds of Kar Tribe members, and in the process had faced countless assassination threats.

 

Though the Kar Tribe preferred frontal warfare, their assassination attempts were dangerously beyond imagination.

 

Having survived all those situations, would he fall to assassins of that level…?

 

Moreover, hadn’t he now reached the 4-Star Realm?

 

He had even finished training to perfectly control the power that had been unstable from his sudden advancement.

 

Unless they were 5th Star assassins.

 

‘There’s no reason… I couldn’t handle them.’

 

Arteon organized his thoughts firmly and spoke to Rishiven.

 

“Please prepare as quickly as possible.”

 

Arteon’s voice resonated low.

 

“After we catch those guys, we’ll need to extract information… and that work won’t be smooth. They’re all trained.”

 

“I’ve already secured someone skilled in torture. Whether they’re trained or not… I can make them confess things that aren’t even true.”

 

Arteon nodded.

 

“Then let’s begin.”

 

At those words, Rishiven nodded silently.

 

* * *

 

“…Almers?”

 

“Yes, their base seems to be over there… but when I looked into it, they were nothing special.”

 

Kaltek’s brow furrowed at his subordinate’s report.

 

Did he really have to be beaten up like this by such trivial opponents?

 

Kaltek suppressed his anger while recalling the harsh reprimand he’d received from Jaikle.

 

He looked at his subordinate and asked.

 

“What size do they appear to be?”

 

“The ones moving behind the scenes are estimated to be roughly 30 to 40 people.”

 

“The level of back alley thugs is obvious. Handle it as you see fit. I’ll provide sufficient support.”

 

“Then I’ll take twenty lower-grade and five mid-grade with me. We need to crush them thoroughly to prevent this kind of thing from happening again.”

 

There was no place where rumors spread faster than the back alleys.

 

They needed to clearly show what the price was for messing with them.

 

Kaltek nodded at his subordinate’s words.

 

But then.

 

“…Wait.”

 

Kaltek spoke, feeling something strangely off.

 

If some guys who had been digging for information in the back alleys had messed with them….

 

Kaltek’s eyes narrowed.

 

It probably wouldn’t happen, but what if they had some other intention?

 

Kaltek, who seemed to be pondering something, soon appeared to make a decision and spoke to his subordinate.

 

“Go with Vashnell.”

 

“Vashnell, you mean….”

 

His subordinate’s eyes wavered.

 

Vashnell was an assassin with considerable skill even among the upper-grade ones.

 

To deal with mere back alley vagrants, there was no need to….

 

But soon the subordinate nodded.

 

“Understood.”

 

“Report to me immediately after you’re done.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As his subordinate finally left the room, Kaltek silently stared at that spot.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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