Slime Reincarnation

Chapter 108: Let’s Work Out Countermeasures with Krelia and the Others (2)

"That’s why, the moment they see you, they’ll run the opposite direction. If you confirm their position beforehand, position your people to pincer them from front and back. You don’t need to capture everyone, just one, or two, is enough. As long as you can tell the townspeople we caught them, we got them, that’s enough. No matter how many you capture, there’ll always be more of them for a while anyway. I imagine there’s an endless supply of low level lackeys to replace them."

"But then peace will never come to the capital!"

Krelia’s frustration ratcheted up another notch.

"You’re quite an impulsive captain, aren’t you. I hear you’re quite skilled with a sword, but you’ll need a bit more ability to analyze things calmly. Especially if you’re going to lead people."

"Ngh..."

She seemed to have the character not to argue back here. Someone capable of self reflection like that might grow.

"Why do you think this kind of harassment keeps happening?"

"Eh... it’s, sabotage against me, isn’t it?"

"That’s right, I think that’s exactly it. So then, doesn’t that mean it can’t go on forever?"

"Does that mean it’s aimed at bringing about my downfall?"

Krelia answered with a sharp edge in her tone.

"Even so, this harassment might stop, but I don’t think public order in the capital would actually improve. I doubt someone who’s willing to cause trouble for the whole capital just because they don’t like the way they’re being evaluated would make for a reassuring person in charge."

"I, I see."

Krelia looked a little pleased at that. She seemed like a fairly straightforward person.

"So if you’re going to remove anyone, it should be whoever is orchestrating this harassment. That would make it stop."

"But the enemy has a massive power backing them..."

Krelia looked down. The Pleasure ducal house’s influence seemed to be quite overwhelming.

"First, one more stopgap measure. A proposal for a new weapon. You mentioned the budget is tight, but this weapon I’m proposing has no blade at all. It can mostly be made from just worked iron. Let me borrow some paper."

I took the parchment she handed me and sketched something out with a quill. The weapon was a sasumata, a forked restraint pole. Yes, back on Earth it was a non lethal weapon used for subduing criminals, even issued to places like government offices. I added a hook shaped catch at the base and the crescent shaped fork at the tip, designed so it could also trip someone’s legs.

"With this, there’s no need to hold back worrying about accidentally killing someone with a spear. You can strike full force with this and still pin them down. Press the fork end against a wall and they won’t be able to move easily. Of course you can also strike the shins with it, or jab with the tip."

"What kind of weapon is this! Amazing! Just recently there were even people saying the capital’s guard was barbaric for cutting down someone who was only causing a bit of trouble..."

Krelia clenched her fist, looking frustrated.

"But this! This weapon is groundbreaking! Non lethal weapon, what a perfect way to put it! Let’s get a large batch of these made right away!"

Krelia was quite excited. Well, hopefully things would go smoothly from here. Let’s lay down one more groundwork piece while I’m at it.

"Now, one more thing. About how to handle the subordinates who won’t follow your orders."

"Yes, honestly that’s been giving me quite a headache. I’ve been sending trustworthy people to give instructions to each group, but none of them seem to be working out well..."

Krelia said this looking dejected.

"Let’s flip the approach entirely. Organize a unit made up only of people you can trust and rely on. And put all the people connected to that Sandric von Pleasure faction together in one place."

"If we do that, that unit won’t do proper work at all, will it?"

"That’s fine. Instead, prepare a simplified map of the capital each time, and mark down where each unit is assigned every day. Submit that to your brother and to the chancellor as well."

"Eh!?"

"Even if paper is precious, always post it up at guard headquarters so the person in charge of each unit can check it."

"What kind of effect would that have?"

Elincia asked directly.

"It’s simple. In the area handled by the unit connected to Sandric von Pleasure, ruffians will be running wild, and you can argue that Sandric’s incompetence is what’s failing to protect public order in the capital."

"I, I see! With this assignment map, we can report that they’re ignoring our instructions and not responding properly, which is why order is breaking down there!"

"But what if they realize the meaning behind this map and start deliberately concentrating ruffians in the area we’re responsible for?"

"Even so, that works in our favor. At least it means the area under heavy watch across the whole capital gets narrowed down to just the area they’re responsible for."

"Ah! I see!"

I gave Krelia a clear strategic answer to her doubt.

"Submitting this to your brother and the chancellor is essentially exposing the guard’s failures in the capital to higher authority, but the Pleasure ducal house’s power is simply too strong. If someone close to the royal family doesn’t recognize the current situation, it might become too late to fix."

"Ngh... but it’s also true that I myself haven’t been able to bring the capital’s guard together properly... It can’t be helped. I can’t leave the capital in an unstable state forever just because of my own lack of ability. Using this map based assignment to help my brother and the chancellor understand which units are the problem is probably the fastest way. Let’s start preparing today and put it into practice starting with tomorrow’s assignments."

Krelia stood up happily and reached out for a handshake. I stood as well and shook her hand.

(Though this is only the first step toward fighting back. The enemy will surely respond with countermeasures. Now then, how will they come at us...)

While hoping for the best in Krelia and Elincia’s efforts, I decided to wait for the report from Curacia, eighth in rank among the Ten Chick Generals, regarding Krelia’s situation. I’d factor that information in as well while working out our countermeasures.