Chapter 980: Chapter 980: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow (2)
In the main meeting room of the Lord’s manor Frost alongside Baron Glorfile, Ovaria and General Anya/Diamond were invoking their auras to form a united front against Red and his colleagues, insinuating that you’re either with us or against us.
Red visibly frowned as the waves of intimidation washed over him, their combined strength was certainly comparable to their own and if the hidden S-rank behind Frost was included then the four of them were up against a steel wall, but what shocked him most was the bonds between them, clearly he and his forces would always be seen as outsiders, potential dangers throughout this entire operation.
He turned to his allies and quickly discussed their counter before facing Frost directly.
"Lord Frost, Baron Glorfile as far as I and my colleagues are aware all our forces are here in Niflheim ready to make way for Icethorne. We have not arranged for any hidden force to guard the rear at least not any with that kind of firepower, but I cannot speak for the overall intentions of the 2nd Prince and old noble families but in my personal opinion I do not think they would jeopardise our current alliance with such tactics." Before they left the 2nd Prince stressed several times that they should make nice with the neutral nobles and if needed debase themselves in their presence to make them appear more trustworthy, but the most important thing was to never antagonise Frost.
A hidden group with that kind of firepower lurking in the dark did not evoke a sense of trust, quite the opposite in fact.
"....." Frost’s gaze lingered on Red’s face trying to gauge the honesty in his words while at the same time trying to understand possible reasons for Sedrick to send a hidden group to his backdoor.
’He sounds genuine and considering the current political climate it’s doubtful Sedrick would try anything.’ What would be the point of him laying out his cards with that recorded message if he was going to do something like this.
He then looked at Baron Glorfile, received a curt nod then did the same to General Anya.
"I understand, then from both your point of view and the Baron’s this group has no affiliation with either of you?"
""Correct"" Baron Glorfile and Red both replied.
"Then that makes them our enemies, a force most likely arranged by Prince Randolph." Frost stated his opinion which after Red’s testimony was agreed on by all those present.
"Their targets are obviously the false caravans heading to Icethorne, whether they plan to ambush them or simply send back intel to those in the Capital it matters not, they need to be dealt with immediately." Frost would broker no enemy forces to reside within his territory without some sort of reprisal unfortunately however he lacked the strength to deal with them personally but luckily he was likely not their target and could therefore shift the responsibility.
"I can relay to you their numbers, characteristics and overall strength but since you’re their likely targets I believe the seven of you should be in charge of taking care of them." He would not risk a single inhabitant of the Dungeon while a veritable roster of meat bags resided within his territory, let Northrend people deal with Northrend problems.
Throughout this time Findley had been monitoring the group as ordered and sending the relevant data to Frost.
Red glanced at Baron Glorfile, they discussed a few technical details with him before the two of them turned back to Frost.
"We are in agreement, please rely all you know so we can be prepared in advance." With both sides willing to work towards the same goal a small smile donned Frost’s lips as he passed on the information gathered by Findley.
"Their total number is roughly 150, at least one A-rank, 15 B-ranks, 50 C-ranks, 70 D-ranks and 15 or so noncombatants and specialists." Apart from soldiers there was also medical personnel, tradecraft masters and those who were in charge of maintaining the health and safety of their battle mounts which numbered close to a hundred, thunder hoof antelopes and ice streaking lizards primarily. Good solid choices, expensive but not all that rare making identifying affiliation all but impossible.
"Their leader is a beastman, likely of the tiger tribe given his stature and the subtle markings on his hands. We’ve not been able to get a clear look at his face or his weapon given his attire, but I can tell you he has heterochromia, his left eye is blue while his right is brown." Given the distance and limitations of the Dungeon’s surveillance system it was difficult for even someone with Findley’s perception to glimpse much about these individuals. He could count the number of blips on the screen and cross reference that with the DP income details but for gleaming characteristics he focused solely on the leader.
The numbers Frost rattled off with feigned disinterest sent a shiver down Baron Glorfile’s back and had Red narrowing his eyes, the force was quite a bit stronger than expected, surpassing most if not all their individual caravans. In addition Red and Green recognised the suspected tiger beastman making them feel suspicious.
Crown Prince Randolph certainly had the means to arrange such a force given his majority control over the military but to do it so quickly surprised them. This operation to reinforce Icethorne was very discreet, their movements quick, decisive and in some cases very random yet despite their best efforts they had been discovered and acted against.
The neutral nobles weren’t fond of Randolph that much was clear, but their means was pitiful in the face of his overreaching influence. Their attempts to defy his orders and reinforce Duke Runak was to be expected and perhaps even hoped for as it would give him the needed justification to eradicate them before they had a chance to deal any real damage. Thus a scouting group could be expected given the political situation, but the force heralded by this A-rank individual was geared for more than just simple scouting, they meant business suggesting a more frightening possibility.
As if recognising the underlying meaning Baron Glorfile and General Anya turned to look at Red and his colleagues. The only reason such a force would be arranged in so little time would be if Randolph believed that another group would be taking part in this unsanctioned operation.
"That shouldn’t be possible, we took every step necessary to ensure secrecy but considering who’s leading them I can’t deny the facts....we’ve been discovered."
"You know this man?" Asked General Anya a tinge of distress in her voice, it wasn’t a good feeling to learn of your own ignorance. That their political enemies had forces unknown to you but known to each other.
"Yes, he’s one of Prince Randolph’s hidden blades and he never operates alone." Red then turned to Frost. "Did you perhaps see a female tiger beastman among the group, tall and perhaps wielding a pair of sickles?"
"I’ll ask." Frost brought his right hand to his temple and used the Dungeon menu to ask Findley telepathically.
’It’s too hard to distinguish Master, she could be there but also not.’ The record of passive DP couldn’t really be used as a clear indicator either, the further from the Dungeon they were the less efficient it became. Someone with entry level A-rank strength could appear as a peak B-rank.
"Unknown, she could be present but given the number, the distance and means of cloaking it’s....tedious to differentiate." Since the people here believed that his means of surveillance came from the S-rank standing behind him Frost changed the term hard to tedious so as to not raise suspicions.
"I see."
’Tedious to differentiate between A and B-rank, haaaaa S-ranks really are in a world all unto themselves.’ Frost’s answer served to further heighten the pedestal Maya was residing on.
"In that case we should move with the understanding that it’s not one A-rank we need to deal with but two." Better to assume the worst and be prepared than hope for the best and suffer the consequences.
Red then after a brief discussion with his colleagues briefed the rest on what he knew about the two tiger beastmen as well as the hidden blades in general which had Baron Glorfile, Ovaria and General Anya sweating buckets by the end. The hidden depths of Prince Randolph were disturbing to say the least. Even Frost a man who at this point could be considered nothing more than a nuisance to Randolph felt an intense danger, his desire to see a 40 metre wall around his territory sky rocketing.
"Since a hidden blade has been assigned to this task it’s clear that we’re their main targets rather than you Baron." There was no point in using a cleaver to kill a harmless rabbit after all.
"While that may be true it doesn’t change the outcome." While Baron Glorfile appreciated Red’s candour it was meaningless at this point, the two were on the same boat and thus needed to work together to deal with their shared enemy.
"The Baron is correct....so how do you plan to handle this?" Asked Frost, curious to witness how these 7 A-ranks would move against the opposition and ensure that not a single rat manages to escape back to Randolph.
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