At that moment, as Leonardo was being dragged along with his arm outstretched and a blank expression on his face, a group of individuals in combat uniforms suddenly approached Hugo and him. When Hugo stopped walking, the one who appeared to hold the highest rank saluted Hugo and spoke.
"Loyalty, Bruno Amos, Deputy Commander of the Council's Southern Branch. Greetings, Council Commander."
"Loyalty, it's been a while," Hugo responded, returning the salute. The Deputy Commander of the Southern Branch, a large man with the build and strength of a bear, continued speaking to Hugo with a slightly nervous demeanor.
"Hazelnut, the Deputy Commander, boasted that he would come back, so I thought he would be here... I didn’t expect you to come in person, Commander."
Hugo let out a small, amused laugh.
"Well, there were various circumstances."
Bruno, the Deputy Commander, carefully glanced at the handcuffs on both Hugo’s and Leonardo’s hands and then spoke with a slightly worried tone.
"Then, that person is..."
Hugo also looked at Leonardo for a brief moment before turning back to Bruno and nodding.
"Yes, it's Leonardo Blaine."
Bruno, who had been holding back his words, took a step closer to Hugo, lowering his voice as he looked at Leonardo, who stood behind him with a deeply disgruntled expression.
"Commander, are you really thinking of having him participate in the subjugation?"
Hugo tried to mask any concerns and appeared calm in response.
"If any issues arise, I will take responsibility."
Leonardo, feeling irritated by being treated as a problem even after everything he had been through, was further annoyed by Hugo's actions. He had promised that they wouldn’t come looking for him if he helped with the subjugation, and now Hugo was acting like a guardian, promising to take responsibility. Leonardo just wanted to abandon everything and leave.
However, knowing he needed to stay quiet to escape this situation quickly, he forced himself to turn away, pretending not to hear.
Hugo, turning to Bruno, asked, "Where are the battalion commanders of the Southern Branch?"
"Currently, all three are inside the peninsula. Two battalions are stationed near the northern mountain range, and only one battalion has managed to clear a path in the east to reach the 7th peak. However, there’s a monster nest nearby, and with the subtle volcanic activity surrounding the area, further entry is blocked."
"Hmm..." Hugo murmured, thinking for a moment before asking again.
"What about the operations officer? I'd like to hear more details. Is there a planned entry route?"
At Hugo's words, Bruno turned around and gestured for someone to approach. A man who had been waiting in the back quickly stepped forward.
"Loyalty, Gray Scott, unit commander of the 12th Battalion of the Council's Southern Branch. Currently serving as the operations assistant for the Elder Millie Peninsula subjugation operation."
"Loyalty, report on the current progress and future direction."
As soon as Hugo finished speaking, a makeshift table was placed in front of them by some of the members, and an operational meeting began, with Gray Scott marking the map with data about the terrain and emerging monsters on the Elder Millie Peninsula.
Leonardo stood a little behind Hugo, as much as the slack from the connected chain would allow, and listened intently to the planned route described by the operations assistant.
"Near coordinates 827, 34, 1129 in the eastern zone of Elder Millie, there is a nest of 'Sigals.' Sigals are solitary creatures that don't tolerate high temperatures very well, and they are the least numerous of the monsters on the peninsula."
"..." Hugo remained silent, listening closely.
"Currently, two companies of the vanguard from the 9th Battalion of the Southern Branch have approached the Sigal nest. The plan is to eliminate them first, use the location of the nest in a dormant volcanic area to set up an intermediate base camp, and then move forward from there."
"Sigals... They are violent and dangerous creatures. It will take time," Hugo remarked. "What comes next?"
"Beyond this, we must pass through an active volcanic zone to enter the next section. The 'Drocs' inhabiting that area are highly sensitive to the scent of blood. We plan to lure them with animal blood and eliminate them near the coast. Drocs are numerous but vulnerable to water, so ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ by surrounding them on three sides and driving them toward the water..."
Gray Scott and Bruno Amos continued their detailed explanation, moving model pieces across the map. However, Hugo seemed dissatisfied with the plan. Though he was listening, his expression did not reveal approval.
"Then, is the western zone empty?"
"In the west, the army of Parren is stationed in the plains, cooperating in monster extermination. However, the path leading further into the interior beyond the plains has more monsters and active volcanoes, so they’ve been unable to advance recklessly."
"The army of Parren?" Hugo asked, furrowing his brows.
Bruno glanced around briefly before continuing.
"Currently, their forces are facing severe damage from monsters crossing the border, so part of their army has entered the interior of the peninsula. It's difficult to clearly define the borders on the peninsula right now..."
Bruno trailed off, realizing that discussing another country's military involvement in Council matters—especially in front of the Duke of the Empire—was not the right move.
Hugo cast a long, heavy gaze over the commanders, and they all lowered their heads in unison, almost as if in apology.
Sighing, Hugo refrained from blaming them too harshly. The real issue, after all, was the absence of the Imperial Army, who should have rushed to protect the borders first but instead shirked their responsibility.
Crossing his arms, Hugo stared down at the map, considering the situation. It seemed that there was a better strategy to be had, but since the terrain and monster distribution of the peninsula were still unclear, it was difficult to issue operational orders hastily.
In the midst of this, as Hugo pondered, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Rather than that, how about doing it this way?"
Turning around, Hugo saw Leonardo standing behind him with his arms crossed, his face showing clear displeasure.
As the three commanders of the operational meeting looked at him, Leonardo approached the table, stood next to Hugo, and began speaking.
"The reason Sigals remain on the peninsula despite their inability to handle high temperatures and their smaller numbers is that they have the strength to prey on other types of monsters. If it were me, I’d avoid the Sigal nest, head straight into the active volcanic zone, and lure the Droc horde—who have an acute sense of smell for blood—into the Sigal nest."
He continued, gesturing at the map while moving pieces around.
"While the two groups are distracted, fighting each other, we can pass through the Droc habitat, which is less active, and make our way quickly, without much resistance. As for the west, though the plains are easy to access in the early stages, they’re vulnerable to defense since they’re open on all sides. But Parren has many well-trained cavalry, so they would excel in battles on the plains rather than in the mountains."
"..." The room fell silent as Leonardo finished speaking.
"So, if some companies from the Council push the monsters out of the foothills in the west, and Parren's army handles them on the plains, a joint operation could save time and benefit both countries," Leonardo concluded.
He crossed his arms again, eyeing the map as if reviewing the operation he had just suggested.
Suddenly sensing a shift in the atmosphere, Leonardo looked up.
The three men who had been deep in discussion were staring at him with intense expressions.
Leonardo blinked, confused by their gaze, before frowning and speaking out.
"What’s with those eyes?"
The three men continued to stare at him, and finally, Hugo, whose brow furrowed more tightly than usual, grabbed Leonardo’s arm with a serious expression and asked,
"Leonardo, have you been to the Elder Millie Peninsula before?"
Leonardo glanced down at Hugo’s hand gripping his arm, then nodded reluctantly.
"A few times, for a mission."
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"
At the question, Leonardo gave a dumbfounded look.
"You only asked if I knew about the Elder Millie Peninsula, not if I had been there."
Hugo’s face darkened slightly, but since Leonardo's words were true, he didn't push the matter further. Instead, he turned to Gray Scott, the operations assistant, and asked,
"What’s your evaluation of the operation this guy suggested?"
Gray Scott, who had been staring at Leonardo with a blank expression, snapped out of it at Hugo’s words. He lowered his head and silently stared at the map for several seconds, as if deep in thought. After a while, as if having reached a decision, he raised his head and spoke.
"It’s ingenious."
His words, though directed at Leonardo's idea, carried an underlying praise for him as well. At this rare compliment, Deputy Commander Bruno blinked in surprise. He knew well how strict Gray Scott could be.
"I’d consider recruiting him for the operations command based on that," Gray Scott added.
Leonardo blinked, feeling awkward at the praise, but quickly recovered and grinned.
"Of course, I’m such a high-quality resource."
Hugo glanced at him, slightly stunned by how quickly Leonardo’s demeanor had shifted. He chuckled and replied,
"Since you’re a high-quality resource, recruitment might be difficult, but we can certainly accept your assistance."
He then turned to the personnel waiting in the back, his expression serious.
"Commanders of each unit, assemble in front of me."
