Chapter 98: An army without any generals part 4
Over at the sword unit, Diaz could only stay rooted on the ground as he watches Friedrich and the others taking Margie and Rose away. He can't do anything because the people around him are already suspicious of his real identity. If he tries to chase after them, they might mistake that he is trying to run away.
He has to pacify the situation first. But the question is, how?
"Where is Chief Kylo when we needed him the most?" Diaz can't help looking behind him, hoping to see Chief Kylo. To his disappointment, he only found the other members of the Assembly of Freedom who were with him during the meeting.
Honestly, those people aren't part of the army of the Tenderfoot Village. They are more like hired mercenaries by Chief Kylo. That is the reason why no one is suspecting them to be members of the Assembly of Freedom.
Even if some people do, they won't dare make a move as they can't be certain yet nor do they want to offend someone who doesn't have a permanent address. Offending someone like that would definitely spell trouble as they can go in and out of every Village and Town in 'The Bridge' as they want and probably has connections almost everywhere.
Moreover, Old Chief George also didn't point out any of them, probably not yet…
"I am certain that cunning old man is thinking of using them later on," With a devilish grin on his face, Diaz added, "Since you aren't doing something to help me, I will also just watch you suffer in the hands of the old man,"
"General Diaz, what do we do?"
"We can hold them off for you while you go and escape,"
"Yes! Just return once again once you finally clear out your name,"
Unlike the other members of the Assembly of Freedom just now, Diaz has some very loyal underlings who believed him without any doubt that he is innocent.
That's the privilege of becoming a general. As long as one uses it well, they would be able to train and cultivate some soldiers who are willing to die for their general.
"I can't possibly just leave you guys behind," Despite the fact that he wanted to leave as soon as possible, he decided not to because it would make it even more difficult for him to prove his innocence in the future. What he has to do now instead is to find another way to pacify the suspicious mind of these soldiers.
Fortunately, he isn't someone incapable. So, it didn't take him long to think of a way out.
"Everyone! Are you seriously trying to believe the words of our enemy?"
"He has already proven to us that his words are worth believing!"
"I know, and I am also enraged at these individuals who dared to trick us! But you can't possibly believe that I am one of them, right?"
"Then prove it to us!"
"I am afraid, but I can't,"
"See! You are acting very suspicious!"
"Unlike those people, I am a general. If I remove all my armors and undress myself, do you seriously think that they won't take advantage of that?!"
"Well, they didn't do anything when these people were doing it!"
"What if that's just what they want all of you to believe? Think about it, what will happen when an army has no generals?"
"If you prove Old Chief George wrong, then we will believe you!"
"That's right! Just remove your clothes so we can get this over with and go on with the war!"
"I agree!"
"We agree!"
The loyal subordinates of Diaz can't help looking at each other as they found these people's explanations very reasonable.
They might be loyal subordinates of Diaz, but that doesn't mean they are idiots. Albeit their belief that Diaz is innocent hasn't shaken the least bit.
"But what if they kill me the moment I remove all my clothes? Can any of you take up the responsibility to lead everyone?"
"There are other generals left to lead us!"
"Even though Lotte and Adolfo are claimed to be dead by them, we still have Margie and Rose!"
Hearing that, Diaz can't help smiling in triumph. He can already see his plan becoming successful.
Diaz asked, "Do you? Look again,"
Everyone quickly turned their attention to the area where dense smoke is currently covering.
That was the place where both the Mages unit and the Priests unit are positioned strategically.
At first, they thought that some members of the Assembly of Freedom are trying to escape by using that smoke as cover. That is why they didn't mind what was happening over there.
If those people escape, then they can consider themselves lucky. As for why they didn't try to pursue them, it's because why bother? That's the area that the Mages unit and Priests unit are supposed to be responsible for, so they'll have to deal with that problem on their own just like how they dealt with theirs on their side.
However, after hearing Diaz's statement, they immediately became concerned about what was exactly happening over there.
As the smoke finally died down, everyone immediately found Margie and Rose missing.
"They've probably escaped,"
"Yeah,"
"Old Chief George told us that they are members of the Assembly of Freedom. Considering that they can use magic, they were probably the ones who covered the area with smoke so that they can escape easily,"
Diaz already expected such a response, "Over there," he pointed at Friedrich and the others who are carrying Margie and Rose.
As everyone followed where Diaz is pointing, they soon found a group of people who are trying to make their way to the Green Horn Village with two unconscious women on the back of two men.
"Just to let you know, those people are actually members of the famous Green Horn Knights," Diaz explained.
"Are you suggesting that we've been tricked?"
"Not necessarily," Diaz shook his head, "At the end of the day, this is a war! Whatever could get them the win, is a strategy that they would no doubt consider using, regardless of the consequences,"
"I won't deny it. They have indeed shown us a great favor by revealing the members of the Assembly of Freedom hiding amongst us. But as a result of that, look at what's happening around us. Our entire army has been turned upside down to the point that they were able to send a group of people to kidnap our generals in the middle of our army,"
"Never forget this fact," Diaz turns his head in the direction of Green Horn Village and stared straight at Old Chief George who is also staring at him back, "That old man over there is a very cunning fox who would do everything to keep his Village safe,"
"What happened just now is that what's good for us, was even better for them,"
"That's the exact reason why I don't want to remove my clothes. Because if I do so, as the only remaining general in this army, we will no doubt lose once they take me down,"
"An army without any general is no army at all, let alone a threat,"
"Wonderfully said!"
A loud applause was heard behind everyone.
Turning around, everyone saw Chief Kylo walking towards them along with a group of mercenaries guarding him on all sides.
"That's right! What Old Chief George has done to us revealed some unknown variables that could have very much cost us our win in this war,"
"Needless to say, what Diaz said is not the correct description to use," Chief Kylo shook his head. "The exact word to describe is; Old Chief George made a trade that has resulted in their side getting more advantages in this war,"
"With them getting two of our generals plus the other two that they killed, we now only have me and Diaz to lead us in this war,"
"One general and a commander. If I was part of the Green Horn Village right now, I would think of this war as a sure win,"
"Aren't I correct, Old Chief George?"
Although Chief Kylo's words weren't spoken very loudly, everyone was still able to hear every single word resoundingly and clearly, including the people on the side of the Green Horn Village.
"Admitting that you are correct would be the same as me admitting that I tricked everyone, which I clearly didn't do," Old Chief George heaves a heavy sigh of pity, "All I am trying to do here is to stop this meaningless war. Because at the end of the day, the people who are truly benefiting from these are the members of the Assembly of Freedom,"
"Don't you agree, Chief Kylo?"
"Are you perhaps suggesting that we should just end this war?"
"Your ideology might be to just accept 'The Bridge' as our home. But I am fully aware that the only reason why you think so is that you don't want to see any more meaningless deaths,"
"But, if there's a definite way to escape 'The Bridge', I know that you'll be one of the people who will step up first to express support,"
"A war between people whose wish is to just leave this place simply results in meaningless deaths to our people. The only people who would prefer and encourages such a thing are members of the Assembly of Freedom,"
"So, now you're trying to tell me that if I don't stop this war I am no different from a member of the Assembly of Freedom? Or possibly, I am one,"
"Isn't it so?"
"You're fully aware that what you are trying to accuse me of can ruin your image once it is proven wrong, right?"
"Don't be mistaken, I am just expressing a thought in my head," Old Chief George signaled his hand to bring forth some people.
In the next moment, a fully conscious Margie and Rose who are both tied on a chair using a very tough rope to prevent them from escaping were pushed by the side of Old Chief George by Roshan and Friedrich before the two stood behind the two chairs respectively.
"But we can ask people to confirm whether my thoughts are true or not," Old Chief George smiled at Chief Kylo.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶