Chapter 21: Capture the Leader First

Marvin has not yet gained Calanthe's complete trust.

He grew up in the king's house for the first 17 years of his life, and he knows the temper of these powerful people. They don't trust others so easily, even if they are sure that he is Prince Amavit 90 years ago.

So he is alone.

It's not that one person can't do things, you can catch the thief first.

In the noble war, if the leading noble dies, the war will naturally fail. Who doesn't join the army to eat food? Who doesn't fight to plunder? The lower-level soldiers will not die for the noble masters.

The front-line commanders have all died, and the defeated soldiers who fled south from the Manada Valley will definitely prevent the follow-up advance troops from continuing to move north. This raid has failed.

But the main camp of the Nilfgaard Northern Expedition Army is still intact on the south bank of the Nasir River. Cintra will not be safe unless this Northern Expedition is completely disintegrated.

He must first kill the commander of this Northern Expedition, the Duke of the Empire, Menno Kuhoon. If the opportunity is good, he can kill a few more officers.

As a bionic machine, the raven can fly as long as it has energy and the material is not overly fatigued. So he is much faster than Marvin.

In the infrared field of vision, the military camp on the south bank of the Nasser River is densely packed with black tents, and the red figures are basically sleeping in the tents.

But why is the huge tent in the center of the military camp still lit? It's four or five in the morning. Who is so worried and hasn't slept all night?

Modus: "Boss, what's going on?"

Marvin turned his horse and walked into the woods on the side of the road to hide. The other horse had been exhausted and released two hours ago.

Marvin: "Go down and take a look at the tent with lights on in the middle. Don't be discovered."

Modus: "Okay."

...

The damn weather in the north is still so cold in February. It's better to go to the Golden Tower City.

But fortunately, the weather is cold, so the plan of gathering magicians to freeze the river surface can succeed. Menno Kuhoen was a little proud.

He tightened his fur cape and called his trusted servant to add some charcoal to the brazier.

It's been a long time since I led the troops in person, so I'm not used to it. I've been slacking off.

Menno got up so early because he was old and didn't sleep enough, and he was worried about the situation on the front line.

Although he had thought of a plan to deal with it regardless of winning or losing, Hawat Mohan's ambush plan in the Manada Valley still surprised him a little.

After all, he is a new general that His Majesty values, and he is really capable. It's a pity that Mohan is not on his side, alas...

The most important reason why Marshal Menno got up so early was that he wanted to meet a very important person.

Fortunately, His Majesty Emhyr sent him to lead this northern expedition, so he had the opportunity to meet the elf in private. In fact, it's not that important, but it's better to try.

A raven flew over the tent under the cover of night, and a tall man walked in under the guidance of a servant, revealing one side of his pointed ear under his half-long hair.

Under a row of bright candlelight, the tall man revealed his face, with several black and white paints painted diagonally on his face, as if to cover up his overly handsome face.

Menno's trusted attendant left the tent and stood guard outside the door. He knew that the master was about to have an important conversation and could not be disturbed.

The tall man lifted his short coarse cloth cloak, revealing the three lightning marks on his shoulders, and gave a standard Nilfgaardian salute, "Good morning, Duke. Colonel Isengrin Faotiana, the commander of the Vrihede Brigade, is reporting in!"

Although the other party was an Ion Sidi whom he hated, Menno still smiled skillfully, nodded and said, "Good morning, Colonel. You don't need to address the title in the army. Has the Vrihede Brigade been stationed?"

Isengrin replied in a deep voice, "Yes, Marshal, our troops have been stationed 5 kilometers to the east 4 hours ago."

The Vrihede Brigade is an independent cavalry brigade in Nilfgaard. All members are Ion Sidi elves who are good at fighting and riding and shooting. They are outliers in the Nilfgaardian army. But in order to help the tribe gain the last living space, Isengrin accepted the prophet's order and took his companions to help Nilfgaard fight.

He didn't know whether it was right or wrong, but they didn't have many choices.

He didn't know what Duke Menno Kuhoon wanted to say to him, or why he was so sneaky.

The Marshal sat in his chair, waved his hand and said, "Don't be so nervous... I won't assign you too heavy a task for this attack on Cintra."

It's been almost a thousand years. Since losing their last territory, Toussaint, the Ain Sidi elves have no home. They are regarded as heretics by humans wherever they are, despised, cursed, slaughtered, and besieged.

Isengrin knew the cunning and greed of humans, and he didn't believe that the cunning Nilfgaardian marshal in front of him would be kind. He just bowed his head and held his chest and said, "Thank you."

Sure enough, Marshal Menno added half a sentence, "But there is a price."

Isengrin saluted again with his chest: "Please say, Your Excellency Marshal."

"Don't continue to support our emperor, you are soldiers..." Marshal Menno stared at the elves' eyes, not missing any subtle expressions, "Soldiers should stand with soldiers."

Isengrin actually understood, but he couldn't express his opinion.

Although the Vrihede Brigade was not stationed near the Golden Tower City, he had heard a little about the game between the upper echelons of the empire. He did not want to participate at all. They could not afford to play.

A crack was opened at the bottom of the tent, and a raven sneaked behind the armor rack and poked its head out from behind the boots to take a look.

The marshal didn't see it, and the colonel who lowered his head didn't see it either.

Isengrin had a wooden face, trying to make himself look like a paralyzed face and said: "I don't quite understand, Marshal..."

"No! You understand." Marshal Menno stood up, "What did His Majesty Emhyr promise you to make you willing to waste the few people who were already few to participate in the war?"

The marshal's momentum completely overwhelmed the taller elf, and asked: "Tell me, what is it?"

Isengrin's stubborn temper came up. He was not a Nilfgaardian, why should he be afraid of a weak human?

"White Flame promised to give Kaedwen to us after unifying the continent." The elf answered simply.

"Haha..." Menno laughed, "It really fits his style, so stingy." He sat back in his chair, "It may take seven or eight years to really conquer Kaedwen. How many people will be left by then? How can you develop in that poor mountain valley?"

The elf colonel argued: "We just need a piece of land to survive..."

The marshal waved his hand to interrupt him, "Do you think that the great emperor will really remember his promise seven or eight years later? Do you think he is a man of his words? Hahaha... elves, you are too naive."

Isengrin was a little angry, he choked "Then what can you give us?"

"Compared to our 'generous' Majesty, we will not let our allies wait so long, nor will we use a piece of cold mountain as a bargaining chip." Menno regained his kind smile, "North of Styga, except Toussaint, you can choose any territory. If it is an existing province of Nilfgaard, you can arrange for your people to start migrating after the war. We have enough troops to ensure safety."

Anyway, the other party is still unclear about his side's details, anyway, it's just an empty promise, Marshal Menno opened his mouth and didn't feel bad at all.

In order to make the bargaining chip sound like, he also deliberately added two limiting conditions. South of Styga is the core area of ​​the empire, of course it can't be given away; Toussaint was once the capital of Ain Sidi, and it can't be given away either. Look, how real it is.

He believed that Ain Sidi would not start migrating so soon. As long as they dared to show up, the northern barbarians would definitely not mind taking a bite on them. Especially the mad dog Henselt would definitely not mind taking the first bite.

Compared to the invisible and intangible Kaedwen promised by Emhyr Enreth, Marshal Menno's promise has been upgraded to visible and intangible, which is an improvement. And the elves really don't like the cold Kaedwen.

This is indeed a better bait for the Ain Sidi elves, at least Isengrin is tempted.

But what this elf with more force than brain power doesn't know is that the promise of human nobles is basically only valid for equal status.

The powerful marquis will not make a real promise to the idle baron, and the nobles will not make a promise to the common people. The human nobles will not fulfill their promises to the weak foreign races. Everything is a lie.

Isengrin was silent for a long time before he spoke: "I can't make a decision. It depends on the prophet..."

"No problem." Marshal Menno interrupted him rudely again and nodded, "Give my regards to the prophet Francesca..."

It is Menno's task to win over all the neutral factions in the army. The Vrihede Brigade is not the focus. The Ain Sidi Elves and Francesca Findabe behind them are the focus, but the Vrihede Brigade is a very easy rope to grasp.

If the long-ears can really change their positions, Menno will undoubtedly gain greater voice in the faction.

In order to further gain people's trust, Marshal Menno put another chip on the table. He said, "Your Majesty supports you in setting up that guerrilla group in the north. What's it called? It has also brought you a lot of trouble, right?"

Isengrin replied, "Squirrel Party."

"Yes, that's it." Menno spread his hands and said, "You have weapons and you have resisted, but has the situation improved? No. So why do you still listen to the emperor?"

Because Henselt, the current king of Kaedwen, is extremely disgusted with all non-human races and has slaughtered non-human races in the country time and time again, more and more elves, dwarves, and halflings have risen up in resistance, either to avenge their relatives and friends, or because of grief for the death of rabbits...

Two years ago, these non-human races that resisted tyranny suddenly had organizations and weapons. They wore decorations made of squirrel fur and called themselves Scoia's Party.

Once the hatred between races begins, it will not stop easily. The revenge of the Squirrel Party gradually spread to innocent human civilians, so humans also hate non-humans more and more.

The Scoia'tael began to spread outward from Kaedwen. A few or dozens of Scoia'tael could appear anywhere in the north. They would kill patrolling soldiers, rob passing merchants, and rob sparsely populated villages... The flames of hatred gradually burned everyone's sanity.

Isengrin was silent. Now the Scoia'tael was a little out of control, and no one could stop the flames of hatred from spreading. What should I do?

He didn't know how to answer the marshal's question until he left.

Menno squinted and watched the elves leave the tent. He was very satisfied with the effect of this conversation. At least the news would definitely reach the elf prophet.

...

Ravens can share not only vision, but also hearing. How can a video be without sound?

Marvin basically heard all the conversations between Menno and Isengrin. It turns out that the Nilfgaardian Empire is really not a monolithic entity, and the domestic conflicts have become so intense.

Then Marshal Menno should not be killed first. It would be appropriate to let him go back to make trouble for Emperor Emhyr.

But he couldn't continue to lead the army to the north. But now was not the right time to do it. Although it was not yet daybreak, it would soon be daybreak.

Marvin used the raven's positioning to teleport to the woods near the military camp, waiting for the next dark.

He didn't just wait, he practiced swordsmanship, read books, and learned magic, while the raven flew over the military camp to search for key targets that were easy to attack.

Since his spiritual attribute broke through 60 points, he felt that he was not far from learning the portal, only a thin layer of paper. But there was still something missing to break through this layer of paper.

In the past, it was either inconvenient to practice magic in the wasteland low-magic world, or there was no time at all due to tight mission time. Now he can continue the previous learning progress.

In addition, he also went back to Cintra City.

Queen Calanthe had not returned yet, but the riots in the city had subsided.

Modus saw a little girl with mouse-gray hair in the palace garden. Although the little girl's lace skirt is beautiful, it always gives people a strange feeling when she wears it: "She shouldn't wear a skirt!"

The little girl is always accompanied by a druid wearing a tall hat, almost inseparable.

If I'm not mistaken, the little girl is Princess Cirilla of Cintra, that is, Ciri, and the druid is Mossak, the magic advisor of the royal family of Cintra.

Marvin was not in a hurry to complete the task as long as he found Ciri.

Blood transformation cannot be completed in one go. If it is carried out rashly, it will definitely conflict with Mossak who protects him. There is no need.

He has already thought of the follow-up plan.

…

At midnight, on the south bank of the Nasir River, a piece of indissoluble darkness roamed in the quiet Nilfgaard camp.

Marshal Menno Kuhoen was knocked unconscious silently, and the beautiful attendant who was lying in the same bed with him had his larynx crushed.

More than a dozen officers died in their sleep...

Until a low-level mage who got up at night accidentally discovered this murderous darkness, the riot began.

Explosions, flames, blood splashing in the tent...

Marvin used up one Fat Man nuclear bomb and all the fragmentation grenades and plasma grenades in stock, and finally caused a camp roar.

Camp roar, also known as camp bombing, is an extremely special military phenomenon. Soldiers will shout and even kill each other after being suddenly awakened at night, causing the entire military camp to fall into chaos. This phenomenon not only frequently occurs in ancient wars, but also has records in modern wars.

These have nothing to do with Marvin. He has already taken the unconscious Marshal Menno on horseback and slipped away in the chaos.

The soldiers guarding the camp gate only saw four horse legs running over, and above the horse legs was a ball of darkness that could not be blown away. Then the two were killed by the ice arrows shot from the darkness.

That night, Marvin harvested another 16 white treasure chests, plus the previous day, a total of 24.

...

In the early morning, before dawn, the kitchen of the Sintra Palace was already busy. There was no way, the queen woke up very early today, and breakfast had to be prepared immediately.

In the small restaurant, more than a dozen candles were burning on the iron-gray ceiling candlesticks, and the flames illuminated several oil paintings hanging on the wall.

One of the paintings was of a little girl with mouse-gray hair. She looked very unhappy, perhaps because the pink bubble skirt made her uncomfortable, or because she was dissatisfied with the hairstyle the maid helped her comb.

"Since the battle of Haji Fortress lost to Aedirn, Temeria has begun to weaken. The new king has just come to power, and I don't think they are willing to send troops to help us." Queen Calanthe put down the teacup and rubbed her forehead.

She had changed back into her regular clothes. The navy blue waisted robe made her look a little younger, but she still couldn't hide her fatigue.

The queen took another sip of black tea before continuing, "Aedirn... We used to be too close to Temeria, and the conflict between Aedirn and Temeria has lasted for 30 years..."

"Rivia and Lyria?" The queen shook her head helplessly, "They are also facing the attack of the southerners, and it is even more impossible for them to send troops to support us."

Ester Tursek took a sip of wine and asked, "So you are so anxious to get Cirilla engaged? With Redania?"

He also changed his armor and wore a blue robe and bear skin waistcoat.

Kalanthe nodded, "But that child, ah..."

It can be seen that the failure of the battle in Manada Valley this time was a big blow to the lioness, and she began to expose her weak side.

However, Princess Cirilla is indeed a worry.

Two years ago, Kalanthe made a marriage contract for Cirilla. The other party was the Weiden family, a powerful noble in Temeria.

A year ago, the Weiden family wanted to take Cirilla to stay for a few days to bring the two children closer. Who knew that this girl would run away halfway and plunge into the Brokilon Forest.

Is that a place you can just break into?

The Brokilon Forest is the territory of the tree spirits. Those green-skinned women who don't like to wear clothes will kill any human who breaks into the jungle. There is also a legend that they will capture human girls and turn them into tree spirits.

At that time, Calanthe was angry and worried.

Fortunately, fortunately, Cirilla met the demon hunter.

Although Calanthe didn't like the demon hunter with a pair of cat eyes, he did save Princess Cirilla and avoided conflicts between Temeria and Cintra.

Ester Tursek scratched his beard on his chin and asked, "How about hiring mercenaries from Kovir? This should be the fastest way. I'll go to Little Skellige again. At least the Tursek family will support us."

"We don't have so much money and food..."

At this time, the sound of armor colliding came from outside the small restaurant, and soon the palace steward came in with a guard.

The guard reported: "Your Majesty, Your Highness... That man is here, the man in Manada Valley the day before yesterday. He wants to see you, and he is in a hurry."

The couple looked at each other.

After they returned to the palace, they immediately asked the butler to find the portrait in the warehouse. Prince Amavit on it looked exactly like that man.

"Ester, what do you think? Is he really Amavit 90 years ago?" The queen stood up and paced back and forth anxiously, "How could someone not change at all after almost 100 years?"

Turseq took a sip of wine and said carelessly: "Who cares if he is or not, anyway, he did save us. Let me make it clear first, if he wants to break in, I can't stop him."

Kalanthe looked at the still deep night outside the window, "He came so early, maybe, maybe there is a way..."

The queen raised her head and ordered: "Bring him in, be polite."

"Your wish, Your Majesty."

...

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