"Thank you very much, Your Excellency Hansen. This mission is not based on the number of people to be useful, my knowledge of invisible magic, and my knowledge of the underground races gives me the confidence to complete this mission. If someone follows, it is easy to reveal their whereabouts. However, after I start the operation, you will start the rescue operation as soon as possible, and what we need to think about is how to retreat. Hathaway shook her head again and rejected Maxim. Hansen's kindness.

Maxim. Hansen nodded, he couldn't really think of anything else he could do to help in this situation.

"Retreat is an art, what do you guys think?" Hathaway looked at Dumeny. Haran.

Art?

In the eyes of these soldiers, retreat is almost synonymous with escape, when can it also be called 'art'?

Dumeni. Harang was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the other party was asking himself, and he hesitated slightly before saying: "The prisoners of war are interned in three mines, if you are acting at night, they should be in the barracks outside, and it is easier to rescue than during the day." ”

"How many of these prisoners of war are there? How much more combat power do they have? ”

"About four thousand or so. Combat effectiveness is almost zero, maybe they will be able to get weapons from dwarven soldiers, but not many. ”

"Do you have a way to communicate with them?"

"There are survivors in the vicinity of these mines who are able to communicate with them."

Dumeni. After Harang finished speaking, he added: "Those survivors can be relied on. As long as you make an appointment, if you can really transfer most of the underground dwarf soldiers. We have the means to launch attacks on these mines at the same time. ”

"It's okay to bomb the camp inside and outside. But have you ever thought about how to retreat? What to do if you encounter an enemy pursuer? ”

"Of course, it's a bloody way!" Aside from Lago. Seppus growled.

Hathaway glanced at him with an idiot look and asked, "Your Excellency Cyps, what is the purpose of the soldiers' fighting?" ”

"Yes...... Honor! ”

Hathaway shook her head.

"Yes...... Victory! ”

Shake your head again.

See Lago. Seppus looked a little crazy, and Hathaway said slowly: "It's for survival." ”

Survive?

Not only a few officers present, but also Leonardo next to him. Beirut and others also looked at her in amazement, hoping to get an explanation from her.

"What's the use of a soldier? In peacetime, we only know that consumption does not know the return, and after the death of the war, we still need to pay for it, and in war, regardless of victory or defeat, it is always the civilians who suffer the most. But. It is the sacrifice of the soldiers. In exchange for the chance of survival of those nobles and commoners. And the most important thing for a soldier is to let his husband survive, so that he can have a chance to ensure the survival of others. ”

Everyone was thoughtful.

Hathaway glanced at the crowd and continued, "If shopping is your purpose. Then I will build yì yì you directly into the dark region. Maybe you'll be able to get your wish halfway through. But if it's to survive, then you'll have to plan carefully. ”

"Your Excellency, what do you have to say. We really don't know much about that. "Dumeni. Harlan decided to hide his clumsy with Largo. Cyps's idea is similar, they all fight if they can't run.

Hathaway nodded, "There's one thing you have to be aware of. For example, people who are disabled or incapacitated are destined to be abandoned, and if you have the slightest patience, you will plunge yourself and others who would have had the opportunity to escape into the abyss from which you will never recover. So I hope you don't get hot-headed when making decisions. ”

"We can't abandon ......" Largo. Seppus was about to speak again, but was overshadowed by Dumeni. Harlan stopped, "Please continue. ”

"Since the captives were all warriors of the Alpine Kingdom, they should be familiar with the geography of the Kingdom. After the successful rescue operation, you disperse and retreat, pre-book a place that you all know, and at a fixed time you must assemble there, and then retreat in the direction of Vannar. You can prepare simple supplies such as food and weapons at that rally point. When implementing this plan, two things should be done, one is to place as many scouts as possible, once an underground dwarf comes, it means that the rendezvous site is exposed, and there must be emergency measures to prevent others from falling into the trap, so prepare a second rendezvous site; Second, it is necessary to strictly implement the plan and retreat at the specified time......"

Hathaway's method was seen in military books on World War II, and now it is also the first thing to say. These people in front of her are either the backbone of the army, more than enthusiastic, but lack the theoretical literacy of relevant military aspects, or they are good personal strength, but they are laymen in the military.

"Caution and concealment are the keys to a successful retreat, and I am not asking you to abandon your comrades, but to make you make the most valuable choice." Hathaway concluded.

She knew that these young soldiers were unwilling to abandon their comrades, but reminded them not to make unnecessary sacrifices, "Living does not mean that you are more cowardly than the victims." ”

"I can only pray for you, and may the god of luck always be with you." Leonardo on the side. Beirut could only express his helplessness and emotion with a heavy sigh.

Seeing the resolute attitude of the female mage in front of him, Dumeni. Haran said, "Your Excellency, I know that you have made up your mind, and it is clear that I cannot shake your mind at all, and all I can do now is to provide you with the help you need. ”

As he spoke, he took out a bag made of coarse cloth from under the table, and it looked like a thick stack of things were placed in it, "This is the most complete and detailed military map I have in my hand, and it is marked with some paths that have just been explored, which may help you, and the mining area you are going to is also on it." Although I don't know what is going on inside, the surroundings are very. ”

Hathaway opened her baggage, flipped through it, and pulled out one of them...... That's where that iron mine is.

"When are you going to go, and have you thought about which route to take?" Dumeni. Haran asked.

"The sooner the better, of course."

Hathaway gestured her finger on the map: "This road seems to be the closest route, so I'll take this road." ”

Dumeni. Haran's gaze looked at Largo to the side. Seppus, among his men, there is no one more than Lago. Seppus is more familiar with the terrain of the mountains.

Seeing the squadron leader's gaze, Lago. Naturally, Seppus understood, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "If you want to enter from this direction, I will follow the mountain stream, so that the speed can be faster." ”

As he spoke, the experienced squad leader stretched out his finger to draw on the map, and finally he pointed to a small dot marked on the map.

"It's just that the end of this creek is more difficult to walk, and from there to the mine, there are all cliffs."

Hathaway took a closer look at Lago. Seppus pointed out the route and nodded: "I will choose this route, this route is only a dozen kilometers away from the destination, it is not easy to walk, but the road is not easy to pass, and it is also not easy to attract the attention of the underground dwarves." ”

Dumeni. Haran spoke, "I will let Largo follow you, he will be the best guide." ”

"It's a great honor to be with you." Largo. Seppus straightened up and gave Hathaway a military salute, his respectful expression showing no hint of falsehood in it.

Even the bravest soldier is small in the face of the power of magic, especially since he has seen Hathaway fight at Taniguchi...... He could vaguely guess that this girl was a more powerful mage than the middle-aged man.

Of course, he also knew that if it weren't for the attack of this female magician, many of them would definitely be difficult to see the blue moon in the sky again...... It is the glory of a soldier to follow the strong, so when he heard that he was a guide for Hathaway, he was extraordinarily energetic.

Early the next morning, Hathaway set out, this time not in a magic robe, but in a homemade camouflage suit, which would not be easy to identify if she hid in the grass or in the bushes, even the boots on her feet were camouflage.

In the distance, a majestic mountain peak stands between the mountains, and the posture of standing out from the crowd even gives people a sense of awe. Hathaway knew that the peak was not far from the mine.

Two days later, the road became rough and difficult to navigate. When Cyps moves, he has to take out the map and reconfirm the direction of travel.

"Your Excellency, there is the stream not far ahead. However, the current is very fast this season, and there is no place on the map that is suitable for going down. ”

Hathaway nodded silently, she already trusted this excellent guide at the moment. Hathaway even felt very lucky to have the help of such an excellent guide, and the correct guidance could save a lot of trouble.

Searching for a path to the creek, a path hidden in the trees appeared before them. Leaving the avenue, I turned into the side path, which became more and more difficult to navigate. The reason for this is that the dense jungle, which should have been a smooth road, is full of tangled tree roots. The only thing to be thankful for was that after a short walk, she heard the sound of gurgling water, and Hathaway could faintly see that a trail was slowly passing through the mountains in the distance...... This can't be named 'stream', in Hathaway's opinion, it should be a small river, more than ten meters wide of water, it is definitely unrealistic to jump over. (To be continued......)