Chapter 469: An Obvious Gambit [I]
While the rest of the Ivory territory was thrown into chaos, their troops trying and failing to defend the two western Rook and Knight Sectors, Thalia had initiated the counterattack.
This was a perfect opportunity, after all.
Samael’s aerial unit was all but wiped out from how recklessly he dropped those two platoons into her rear lines.
The skies over the Great Divide were finally clear of the Ebony forces’ oppressive blockade.
Moreover, two of his strongest soldiers were currently busy fighting deep behind her borders. Even if they somehow survived, they wouldn’t be able to retreat back to their territory in time.
So with more than forty Cadets and two very powerful heavy-hitters, her younger brother’s defenses were practically begging to be breached.
To capitalize on this, she had sent Casey and her unit, inflated with twenty more Brawlers and ten additional naval specialists, to secure the two Bishop Sectors they had conquered.
Their own Bishops were with them. It was a large detachment of around sixty-five Cadets, give or take.
They were crossing the rainforest on their side, making their way toward the central river on foot. Since they would be fighting instead of sneaking in today, their formation was kept tight and disciplined.
Once they crossed the river, Brawlers would take the front while Sentries would position themselves right behind them, flanked by Scouts and Supporters and Summoners with Casters at the very back.
Some of these Cadets would stay behind to seize the supply drop nearest to their position.
In fact, every Ivory troop who wasn’t fighting was given the same task: seize the supplies.
A logical move. Whatever forces Samael didn’t send into Thalia’s territory would be busy defending their own vulnerable Sectors.
So even if they managed to ward off her main push, they wouldn’t have the spare hands or the mobile units left to contest the supply crates dropping into the river.
The starvation strategy Samael had spent six grueling days orchestrating would be reversed in a single afternoon.
In short, sending his aerial unit on that kamikaze mission was stupid. Sure, he managed to win two of Thalia’s Sectors. But now what?
He wouldn’t be able to bring his own Knight and Bishop across to lock down those newly conquered Sectors, and even if he successfully defended against Thalia’s invasion today, his army would be left starving from here on out.
The Mock War was practically over.
And this was exactly what was troubling Casey.
She only met him once, but Samael Kaizer Theosbane didn’t give off the impression of a man who made dumb blunders.
He seemed impulsive and frivolous, egoistical and arrogant, short-sighted and not short-sighted at the same time. A man of many contradictions.
But everything he did seemed to have a hidden purpose. Above all, he was cunning. And shrewd. And, based on his strategies, ruthless.
So why would he make a move so blatantly self-destructive? No, he wouldn’t.
This was a gambit. Casey just didn’t know what the trap was, which unsettled her.
She clutched an item in her pocket and sighed, wishing her Shadow was with her. If he were here… he…
A lump formed in her throat at his memory, sudden prickles of moisture stinging the back of her eyes.
Casey shook her head, braved back the tears, and forced the feeling down, locking it away deep in her heart somewhere — somewhere she would only allow herself to visit once she had avenged him.
It helped that her attention was quickly drawn to the couple walking a few paces ahead of her. A tall girl with waist-long strawberry blonde curls, pinching the sleeve of her boyfriend — a boy with messy brown hair and a silver-blue trident slung casually across his shoulder.
“Do you not have a storage Card, Ivan?” Casey called out.
Ivan looked back. His face, half of which was covered by the ically large glasses that gave him an owl-like appearance, lit up with a sheepish smile. “No, I don’t. I can’t seem to get my hands on one. They’re also all so expensive.”
Irina shot him a look that was equal parts affection and exasperation, lightly swatting his arm. “I told you I could lend you whatever money you need. You’re just too stubborn to accept it.”
“Hey, a man’s gotta carry his own trident!” Ivan retorted with an easy laugh.
A genuine smile crossed Casey’s face. “So, what’s so special about it? I’m guessing it must be special since you carry it around everywhere instead of just using a weapon Card. Wait, let me guess, it lets you control water, right?”
She was ready to act surprised if he confirmed it, not wanting to e across as a know-it-all, but instead, a flicker of panic crossed Ivan’s face.
It was brief, perhaps no more than a fraction.
Then he laughed it off. “What? No, no. Where did you get that idea? It’s just a gift from a friend, no special enchantments.”
Casey frowned. Why was he lying?
She had seen him burst pressurized geysers from the waterlogged ground during their fight in the Ebony territory’s Western Bishop Sector.
Did he think she didn’t notice that?
There was a wall of fire in her face, Casey recalled. He must have assumed the smoke and flames obscured her view.
There were no other Cards summoned around him aside from the one that kept his light armor manifested and a few that granted basic physical buffs.
Which meant that the geyser hadn’t e from a spell. It came from him. Or, more accurately, from his trident.
Regardless, she didn’t press the matter. People were naturally secretive about their trump cards, especially in a petitive academy such as Apex where today’s ally could easily bee tomorrow’s rival.
Still, Casey felt a bit let down. They had only been working together for a week, and while she knew better than to expect absolute transparency from someone she had just met, she had genuinely begun to consider that guy an honest rade.
To see him lie so smoothly, without even a single hitch in his voice, left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Sure, people are layered. She knew that.
She also knew that trust was a currency you shouldn’t spend recklessly.
Besides, considering what she had planned for the rest of this war, she couldn’t possibly lecture anyone else on trust and honesty without feeling like a hypocrite.
“Fair enough,” Casey said smoothly, letting a faint, self-deprecating smile touch her lips to play off her question. “A gift from a friend is reason enough. Weapons with sentimental value hit harder anyway. I would know.”
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