"Screw it, he must be the traitor," Arthur firmly said before adding, "I want you to go inside and start the preparations."
"For what?"
"My godfather… he is nearby," Arthur said, "but to summon him here we'll have a very narrow window. So, go in there and start doing everything in your hand. Everything will be under your disposal, even the pillars."
Doaf's face changed the next moment he heard these words. "Are you telling the truth? How did you know?"
"Enemies sometimes might help without knowing that," Arthur only said that with a faint smile, "also tell the crow to be ready, a very important mission is ready for him."
Doaf wanted to ask, but he knew Arthur wouldn't say anything to him. Arthur's face told him how dangerous the current situation was, and so he didn't delay and went back to the garden through the portal.
'Shouldn't we go back and hunt him down?' Gege said, 'you suspect he is the traitor, and leaving him loose is very risky.'
"And risk losing the allegiance of all the cultivators we worked so hard to save?" Arthur shook his head, "that would be stupid. Plus the best plan to counter the enemy's is to make him believe he is winning while you prepare a surgical strike at the most crucial timing."
'That's why you need the crow?'
"That's why I'll need even Deem and Gor's help as well," Arthur nodded, "send a word to the two, they must leave a backdoor in all the arrays back at the sect. everything should eventually be controlled by the two, and that includes even the arrays that hold the sect in place."
Gege didn't get his meaning, but he knew any sect to be established must use a myriad of arrays. Those peaks weren't only naturally found, but also had a hand from the arrays hidden in the infrastructure of the sect.
'Alright, what about the crow?'
"Take him out," Arthur muttered, "I have to explain everything for him to know what to do."
The next moment a portal appeared and the crow looked quite unsettled.
"I won't accept going back to that worthless place," the moment he appeared he instantly said, "send Amera or Doaf instead!"
"Even if the fate of the entire war resides over your actions? Over this mission's shoulders?" Arthur calmly said and his words managed to attract the attention of the crow, silencing him from speaking anymore.
"The traitor… I believe I found him."
"What?!" the crow instantly said, "where? Who is he? Tell me and I'll bring his head to you."
"It's… not that simple," Arthur sighed, "he is the leader of the sect."
"…"
The crow's face told Arthur he realized what he was worrying about. "Are you sure?" the crow couldn't help but ask, "that man… it's so dangerous to come near him now."
"I know," Arthur sighed, "but I've a great suspicion towards him."
"Like what?" the crow demanded an explanation, and Arthur simply explained.
"No way we would miss such a thing back there," the crow couldn't help but get angry, "that man is lying… he is indeed a traitor. Let me get his head now!"
He was very enraged by the hidden accusation of lying or being negligent in his task. "No, we can't touch him now… plus I don't know if those under him know of his true colors or not."
"This…" the crow paused as he realized how true Arthur's words were, "it's hard to decide… and too risky to wait till the final battle to draw in to act."
"So I'm leaving you behind for that," Arthur said, "I can't let anyone impulsive like Amera to do this. She won't hesitate to bring his head and cause chaos amongst our forces, a thing our enemies wouldn't dream of happening."
"What about Doaf then?" the crow stubbornly asked, "he isn't that impulsive and as wise as me."
"He has another mission to handle," Arthur simply said, "I can't entrust any of my regular forces either with this task. Y'know how crucial this mission is, a single mistake, or even a single misjudge in timing of action would result in a very drastic result."
The crow's face showed how conflicted he was. "Then let me go and hit those bastards coming from that side," he motioned his head towards the direction of the ground army.
"This… sigh, alright but don't get too deep with them," Arthur couldn't help but grant his request, "I don't want the traitor to do whatever he wants at the start of the fight."
"The fight won't start unless one of the two forces arrive here," the crow tried to give more reasons to his request, "and so I would arrive here at the same time as them."
"Just make sure to stay alive when that happens," Arthur jokes.
"No one can take off my head this easily," the crow didn't seem to take the joke lightly, "and I won't fall in the same trap again, I promise you that."
"Alright then," Arthur helplessly said, "I'll send all your forces with you then and keep you informed all the time by the updates."
The crow knew his meaning as Arthur planned to make the tree be in constant contact with him. "Also if by any chance you found that cloud, don't engage and hurriedly inform me."
"I'll write back if that happened," the crow simply said, "but I doubt that cloud will appear there."
"No harm to be cautious," Arthur said before the next moment Gege opened many portals and hundreds of crows appeared next.
"I assume we should be hidden, right?" the crow asked.
"It's best to do that," Arthur nodded, "also leave a small elite force behind just in case."
"I understand," the crow then led his army in a very wide detour around the sect so no one would spot him.
"Keep the tree always in contact with him," Arthur said, "what about Deem and Gor?"
'They have got the tip,' Gege said, 'and they promised to do their best in the time they have.'
"They will have more than they imagined," Arthur smiled when he thought of this in another light, "at least the crow harassment will delay the speed of that approaching army."
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