Chapter 42: Taking what they are giving us
-" Jeffrey what is the priority on those matters? Should we focus on the demonic beats or the bandits?" Luckas doubts began to clear as he thought a little more.
The consequences of escalating these matters could be dire for the Tuivell family, but they did it nonetheless, even if the Herman family helped them with money, the price that the Tuivell family had to pay in a situation like that would be disastrous for them.
-" Uncle talked to my father a few days ago, and they decided to have the focus on the demonic beast, while the situation with the Tuivell family is infuriating, they don't represent a mortal danger to the territory."
-" What are the chances of the Tuivell and the Heigong working together?" Luckas question made everyone in the room lower their heads.
-" Low, but we can't be sure." When Luckas dropped the Heigong name Jeffrey's worries become evident.
-" If they worked together or even just accepted the help of the Heigong against a fellow nobleman, this would make every noble family from this kingdom distance itself from them, even their allies in anti-king faction." Alan thought for a bit and continued. " If they accepted something from the Heigong, it should be something like information."
-" So you are afraid of causing confronts on two fronts?"
-" Yes, if the two situations would scale now we are too low in manpower to deal with them, Philips fears that the Tuivell family is looking for an opportunity now that my father is away"
Luckas grinned when he heard that, he already had a plan in mind he just needed to confirm the last few things.
-" You should send Alan to Bryson too, this will be the optimal decision."
Luckas surprised everyone in the room, Jeffrey just talked about the lack of manpower and had already started his fear of Alan escalating the matter with the Tuivell family. Cyl especially thought that Luckas was talking nonsense, he always liked to do things safely, and sending Alan and Bryson who was the strongest in this expedition away was equivalent to crippling the forces of the expedition.
-" Why did you come to this answer?" Jeffrey had a frown on his face but decided to question Luckas.
-" If we are afraid of fighting a two-front battle, we should resolve one of these matters rapidly, if we keep like this, they will feel emboldened to do whatever they want when the situation worsens."
-" Hahahaha, Luckas is right, we should just stomp the rats in our territory, even if they want to send more here, they will need time to prepare." Seeing that Luckas agreed to him there too made Alan happy, he decided to take advantage of Luckas arguments.
-" If the situation with the Heigong prolongs for some time, this could backfire." Cyl instantly retorted.
-" Yes, of course, but if any of those situations is prolonged, it would be a disaster, including the Duke's stay at the frontier."
Jeffrey's frown disappeared from his face, doubts filled his mind, Luckas had quite the appealing reason, but he didn't understand what Luckas meant by his lasts word.
-" Do you think Father will be forced to stay there for longer?" Jeffrey never considered this, his father was away for six months already, even if he wanted to stay, the morale of his forces would be affected by staying there for too long.
-" We are considering that the Tuivell is trying to attract him, but, what if it's there is more to that? If what they wanted was the Duke to come back, they would have escalated the conflict already, each day that is past the time window for their move closes little by little." Luckas had a serious face as he talked;
-" So what are you saying is that the Tuivell is just a diversion?" Cyl began to think about the situation in a new light.
-" Well, if the Tuivell attracted the Duke, and he retailed against them, what would happen? What would the Tuivell family gain besides swords to their throats?" Luckas mind never stopped racing, the party incentives weren't clear so this made the situation hard to engage with.
-" I always questioned myself, the southern duke can't come to his help so easily, and even financial aid would be less right now as the trade routes are blocked because of the war." Jeffrey looked confused as he began to follow Luckas's lead. " Maybe the target isn't the territory, but my father?"
-" If they wanted to attack the Strafhampton territory, there are way too many deterrents, the needed to siege cities, there are allies in the surrounding area and of course, Maven."
Luckas arguments were making more and more sense to everyone, they never thought about the possibility of the true target being the Duke.
-" If your speculations are true this would be disastrous, not only for us, but for the king as well, my father's army is currently the biggest one in the frontier, so if he is taken out the king will receive a heavy blow, besides that, no one would dare to try to kill my father in his territory."
Jeffrey had a horrible face as he took a Voice Resonation stone and activated it. After a few seconds, it received a response.
-" Something happened Jeffrey?" Philips's voice sounded from the stone.
-" We have encountered a situation, and I would like your opinion." Jeffrey had a serious tone as he began to explain Luckas suspicions to Philips.
-" This is actually doable, Stanley generally doesn't leave the territory, this is a golden opportunity for the Anti-King faction to deal with one of the strongest allies of the king."
-" So what should we do? I plan to talk to father after this." Jeffrey's anxiety was visible.
-" What Luckas think? He was the one who had the first suspicions, so listening to him maybe be a good thing."
Everyone looked at Luckas with expectation in their eyes, even Alan now had a good impression of him as he recommended Alan's deployment with Bryson.
-" If they want to give us a bait, why we don't take it?" Luckas had a malicious grin as he spoke. " We should move most of the forces to where the suspected Tuivell bandits are, this way the people who are interested in the demonic beast situation will lower their guard and make a move."
-" So do you know who is behind the demonic beasts too?" Alan was surprised by Luckas's intellect, but, there was basically zero information about the demonic beast origins so he thought it was strange that Luckas knew someone would make a move.
-" There are some things we keep hidden as they are too important to be leaked." Jeffrey quickly interrupted Alan, while he trusted Alan and Bryson, the treasure hidden deep down their territory was too mysterious and Philips wanted to keep it a secret.
-" Jeffrey you can say about our findings to Alan and the rest, but only to them, it's better to have them informed before Luckas make his plan." Philips knew that it was time to let everyone know about the supposed treasure.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone