Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Galdion wanted the Kingdom of Ellemere to surrender not win against his third army.

The kingdom of Ellesmere had fought a hopeless battle, a futile fight that would have no impact on the fate of the kingdom.

Yet as if destroying that notion, the princess and the army she gathered emerged victorious against Blackthorn's third army. An event that no matter how much you think about it, any factors you consider would never make it come to pass.

So how did they do it? How did his third army lose?

Gladion was well aware of the third general's strength and the army he commanded. There was no way any kingdom around this region was capable of taking on such an army. The difference in quality and quantity was that big.

A kingdom that was on the brink of surrender shouldn't have the strength to emerge victorious. There had to be something.

"Your Majesty, the deserters who ran away from the war said that the princess of the kingdom was powerful enough to match the general of the third army in a duel and emerge victorious"

"Not only that, but she also possessed numerous powerful allies and tactics that defied common sense. The princess's army rushed in like a wave, thwarted all their plans and obstructed them from executing their tactics. It was as if the enemy knew all about their plans and actions beforehand".

The subordinate reported, sweat trickled down his body from the intimidating pressure.

Gladion narrowed his eyes, the more he heard the worse his mood became. It was a defeat, a complete defeat.

The enemy had managed to capture their capital back and his third army was gone. No matter how you put it, there was no way to sugarcoat things. It was their defeat.

"Dammit, those batards they have completely ruined my plans"

BANG… a fist landed and a portion of the wall behind the throne was smashed into pieces. Gladion was so pissed that he did not care about maintaining his kingly dignity. He was angry, bloodthirsty and wanted to kill.

"This is the first time something like this happened, the first time where a whole army was annihilated. You are telling me that it was because we wrongly judged the enemy's strength?"

"In this region who else is stronger than us? What's more, our opponent was only a third grade country without a single ranker. The Third Army should have been more than enough to handle and capture that kingdom".

The report did not make sense, they were overlooking something, something big, something that was the key to Ellemsere's victory but they had no idea what it was.

How could Gladion not be angry?

"That son of bitch, he set me up. He knew that something was going on with Ellesmere and used my hand to probe the enemy" He complained seemingly to no one.

In his mind was the crown prince of the kingdom of Golf, the one who lured him into attacking Ellesmere.

Why would he do that? What did he find? How were they able to notice the unsuality of Ellesmere?

There were many questions and no answers. However, that was not important right now. What was important was he wasted the strength of 'that person'.

The one who was key to his success, the one who allowed him to beat his competitors and ascend the throne. The one who was going to make his dream come true.

No matter what happens, he cannot lose the interest of 'that person'. He has to make things right.

The silence in the room was unbearable. Gladion after venting his anger, sat motionless on his throne. His expression now calm and unreadable.

"What happened to Ellesmere after it won the war?".

At that question, the subordinate answered "Your majesty, our scouts are in the capital and according to the reports they sent, the kingdom is beginning to make strange movements. It has summoned all of its regional lords and nobles to the capital and no news or traces of them could be found after they entered the royal palace"

"Not only that, we have also received reports that the structure of the royal court has changed completely. Our accomplices who had dealings with those nobles have stopped responding to our calls".

Gladion was silent, he was no amateur when it came to politics. He only needed to know a few tidbits to grasp the whole situation in Ellesmere.

"Striking when the iron is hot, she is taking over the kingdom in one fell swoop. Suppressing riots, keeping ones who are loyal and executing the ones who are of no use to you"

A tactic that he had used all his time. It was just that this time it was the enemy who managed to outwit him by executing his own technique.

"Mark out all the secret agents we sent to Ellesmere who are not responding. They are either discovered and caught or executed. Those who respond to our calls, use them to lay a trap for the enemy. We cannot let them bite more than they can chew"

Gladion gave one cruel order after another, unbothered about the lives of those agents and soldiers.

"Also send word to the other two generals. We will fortify our borders and prepare for the possibility of an incursion. We will also increase our military exercises all over our kingdom. We have to let them think that we are going to prepare for another attack".

"Understood" The subordinate bowed and asked a question "What should we do about the deserters of the Third Army who fled from the battlefield".

"Throw them to the underground chamber with our next group of people who will be going through the baptism"…

"As you command, your majesty. I will see to it immediately."

As the subordinate hurriedly left the throne room, Gladius leaned back on his throne, his mind already formulating a plan.

The situation was dire, but not beyond his control. He would not allow the Kingdom of Ellesmere, or any other power, to challenge his supremacy.

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