Verse 208

When Baylor said this, Robin on the side couldn't help but hold his breath.

Although Bayrell and Robin had made a plan to expose the matter during the meeting before the informal meeting began, when Bayral actually spoke, Robin found himself much more nervous than expected.

He looked at Ashrufat's face. Although Robin had imagined this scene carefully, in fact Ashrufat's reaction was beyond his expectations. Ashrufat did not change his face, nor did he smile, did not show a surprised expression, and did not take any dangerous action, but considered it thoughtfully.

From this alone, it can be seen that this Ashrufat should know something about this matter.

“...... This one...... I know I shouldn't question it, but ...... Is it reliable?"

"Your Excellency," Béral smiled, leaning himself against the back of his chair. It should be noted that because he was wearing full armor, his action did not make him more comfortable, it was just a subconscious action. "The vampire...... We'll just call him as he calls himself - Duke Scarlet...... Duke Scarlet has changed his name at least twice, so I can't be sure about it...... That's your name...... Is it his real name? ”

"Oh?"

"I remember that the vampires were not yet in the world, and they were just harassing all over West Vania with a few hundred men. At that time, he called himself Pinod. When he finally assembled the army of the immortals and conquered Sivania, he changed his name to Ashrufat. Maybe he's used a few names before...... But according to the usual ideals, he must have changed several names along the way from faraway Kalean to Sivania...... May I ask," Beller asked, seemingly casually. "Do you already know about this?"

"No, I don't know. Ashrufat replied.

"But...... To be honest, I thought you would be in for a big surprise. Bayral said with a smile.

"Maybe it's because I'm a little numb to this kind of news. Ashrufat replied. "I've heard this kind of news several times. ”

"Oh?" said Beller, visibly confused.

"I originally thought that the name Ashrufaat was one of the rarer kinds. However, over this period of time, I have found that there are quite a few people with this name. For example, I just learned some time ago that there was a dwarf named Ashrufat. ”

"It should be...... Accidental homonyms in different languages. Bayral replied. "Although I don't know dwarven language, I guess 'Ashrufat' has some special meaning in dwarven language. However, in the lingua franca of mankind, 'Ashrufat' is just a pronunciation that has no real meaning. Don't be offended when I say that - it's a bit awkwardly pronounced. ”

"I thought so too. Ashrufat replied.

"By the way, Lord Eshurufat," Beller seemed to finally end the conversation. Of course, in fact, everything that could be said on the topic was basically finished, and Bayeur got what he wanted. "What do you think of this barbarian invasion? I would like to hear your opinion. ”

"What kind of opinion?"

"All of them, if you can. Bayrell said. "What do you think about the overall situation?"

"In my opinion...... The odds are slim. Ashrufat pondered for a moment and replied.

Robin couldn't help but want to speak, but in the last moment before the words came out, he finally controlled himself. This is Bayer's conversation, and he can't interject.

"Why do you think so?" said Bérale, who was neither surprised nor appreciative of Ashrufat's answer, but seemed interested.

Esseurofat was not the first to meet with Beller. So Bayral already had a rough outline of the overall situation at this time. Eryn had already told Bayrell all about the situation on the front line. In fact, the current situation is a bit strange: tensions are high on the part of the church, but public opinion in Eagle City does not see this invasion as a real crisis.

"Cultists this time...... I'm afraid it's not the same as all the offenses of the past. ”

"What's different?"

"Preparation. Ashrufat replied. In this regard, he does not intend to hide his secrets, but hopes to communicate well. Because he is facing a general who has never been defeated in a hundred battles and is known as the first general of his time. Bayral is not only the object of admiration and admiration of countless people, but also the protagonist of the military academy textbooks. The examples of the battles commanded by Bayrell are written in the book - he was the kind of great man who was destined to be remembered for eternity while he was alive. "This time the barbarians are ready to ...... It's completely different from the past. ”

According to the information from the front, the barbarians have about 50,000 men in terms of troops...... It seems that there is also an abundance of materials......"

"It's not these aspects, it's ...... Some other aspects. Ashrufat said. "In all past invasions, the armies of the barbarians seem to have been frontal attacks. Attack head-on. ”

"But the last time there was an exception, and last time, I remember very well, that the barbarians had rebelled against a number of traitors in the White Castle. At the critical moment of the siege, the traitors opened the gates...... Such a strong fortress was conquered by those barbarians like mustard. ”

"Yes, a mole is far better than a siege tower. Perhaps it was because of the sweetness tasted last time that this time the barbarian acted ...... I'm afraid it's not just as simple as arranging a few moles in the castle. ”

Ashruphat told him about what had happened in Fornoros, and of course, he wouldn't tell the inappropriate things, such as summoning demons to trick cultists into confessing. He just said that he had tried to extract information from the cultists. Beller listened, his brow slowly furrowed.

"If I'm not mistaken, I'm afraid this time the cultists' operations are no longer limited to the northern battlefields. Ashrufat said. "On the surface, it seems like an ordinary invasion, but it was something they had planned and prepared for years before they suddenly attacked. And what I know so far is only a tiny fraction of this vast conspiracy......"

"Interesting......" Beller nodded. "It's really not like what a barbarian would do. However, I have heard that the barbarian general who invaded this time seems to be a terroristic Chaos Lord. ”

"I believe it's a cover. It's a smoke bomb that makes us let our guard down. Because this kind of careful planning is probably not something that a sadistic believer can do. Besides, as I said, the altar on the other side of Fornoros ......"

"Well, is it Tzeentch?" Beller was a man who had fought against Chaos, so he knew more about Chaos than Ashrufat. "Such a well-thought-out arrangement...... Conspiracy, spies, plots...... Indeed, only Tzeentch's subordinates can do it. ”

"And I'm sure it's definitely not just the city of Fornoros. The infiltration of Gruni by cultists...... It's much deeper than we expected. And they have been lurking for so long...... Once it happens, I am afraid it will be beyond our expectations. In fact, I still can't figure out how to fight these hidden dangers lurking in the country. ”

"Yes, I agree with that. Bayrell mused. "Whoever it is, if he can spend a long time planning and arranging everything without being discovered...... This kind of rebellion, which has been quietly arranged for many years and then suddenly erupts, is extremely difficult to fight. ”

"When the time comes, as soon as our main forces confront the enemy at the front, and there is a continuous rebellion in the rear...... In this case, our army will be at a great disadvantage. ”

Bayrell nodded again, and he fully agreed with this judgment.

"But if you want to find out the source of these rebellions, those lurking enemies...... But it's very difficult. The church's ability in this area is limited, not to mention anything else, here in Eagle Falcon City, the base camp of the church, there are evil god believers lurking in the trouble. The church was helpless against them. ”

"So you say that the chances of winning this war are slim?" Beller suddenly laughed loudly, laughing so inexplicably that Ashrufat laughed, as did Robin next to him.

"Ashrufat, you're actually pretty good, but it's a pity that your mind has reached a dead end. ”

"What dead end?"

"I think you might be a perfectionist. The enemy has set a trap, and you are obsessed with lifting it. But it doesn't really need to be. The enemy does the enemy's, we do ours. In a sense, the victory or defeat of the war is like this room," Bayral gestured around. "There are a dozen chairs in the room, but each person has only one butt, so it seems like the two of us can't sit on that many chairs no matter how we sit. But in reality, we don't need to fill that many chairs...... Understood? Although the cultists of the evil gods have arranged countless arrangements, there is only one key in all of them. As long as you win at this crucial point, it doesn't matter if you lose everything else. Conversely, if it fails at this critical point, it is a complete failure. Even if you break all the traps, you fail. ”

Bayrell smiled and continued. "There is only one key, and that is the battlefield in the north now. In this battlefield, the main forces of the enemy are stationed. As long as we can defeat the enemy's main force, then even if the Chaos Believers turn Gruni upside down, we can easily return to the army and crush them. Conversely, if there is a defeat on this battlefield...... Then, even if you find out all the cultists lurking in the country and kill all of them, the war will still be lost. ”

"But these two ...... are interdependent. ”

"You should understand the power of a general...... He can make soldiers not know what they should not know. ”

Robin clearly saw that Ashrufat's face was confused at first, and then there was a look of sudden realization.

"War, usually for a certain purpose. Bayrell said. "But as soon as the war is at the beginning, it is independent. Just like when a mother gives birth to a child, the child is a separate person. Aside from that, I have a personal question I'd like to ask, which is actually something I'm curious about. Although it was a question, in fact, Bayral did not give the other party a chance to refuse. "I've heard about ...... When Byron left, there was nothing left in the treasury of Falcon City except bills...... How did you solve this fiscal problem? I remember you were chancellor of the exchequer. ”