The Gap Between You and Me - Chapter 132

Bernard asked with a straight face. Serious eyes with no hint of the slightest joke. A strange heat that could not be easily expressed in words spread in his eyes. The smile that spread across Herietta’s face gradually disappeared.

What. Herietta narrowed her eyes. Is she tired that her head isn’t working? What Bernard was saying to her, she couldn’t understand.

“Herietta.”

Herietta is bewildered by it, but Bernard calls her quietly.

“Do you think I can win this war?”

The question was heavy. Even without raising his voice, his voice came clearly as if it filled the room.

Was he looking at her? Or is he doubting himself as well?

“You intend to win.”

Herietta, who was staring at the man with the greatest power in the fortress, said.

“So, Your Highness will definitely win.”

There was no hesitation in her answer.

* * *

At the same time. A small meeting was going on within the Kustan military unit encamped in front of the Siqman Fortress. A large barracks was built in the center of the camp. A number of high-ranking knights sat quietly around the table inside.

They gathered together under the command of the commander, Edwin, and not from anyone else. They were wondering what was the reason for using an ineffective strategy without clear results. Can they hear an explanation from him today? Although they didn’t show it outwardly, in their heart, they were expecting it.

Before long, there were signs of presence outside. The cloth at the entrance to the barracks was lifted, and Edwin stepped inside. When he, the most powerful man in the group, appeared, the soldiers who were sitting in their seats automatically stood up and saluted.

“Sit.”

Edwin ordered bluntly. WIth his permission, the knights took their seats one by one.

Edwin strode over to the seat prepared for him and sat down. Lionelli, who came in after him, also took a seat next to him.

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Yes, Lord.”

One of the knights who had checked the number of people in advance nodded and replied. Edwin leaned on the back of his chair and glanced at the faces of the knights sitting around the table.

“You must be wondering why I summoned you here at this late hour.”

Edwin said.

“I don’t want to talk too long, so I’ll just go straight to the point. I received a report that all preparations for the fortress invasion were completed as of today. So we will now attack that fortress in earnest.”

The knights were agitated by Edwin’s declaration. Ready to invade the fortress? A full-scale attack? So, what are all the attacks that have been launched so far?

“Dame Lionelli.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Edwin’s call was immediately answered by Lionelli, who was sitting next to him. She was only slightly limping on her leg where Destrude had struck, but her other minor wounds were completely healed.

“Did you find the waterway leading to the fort?”

“Yes. As Lord expected, it was to the west. We have completely blocked off the passage, so they will probably be able to notice it by tomorrow morning.”

“You can’t let the water get too shallow.”

“Of course, Lord. I ordered the soldiers to watch the water flow carefully and shut off the passage on the other side when the proper amount is left.”

“Lord, are you trying to cut off the water supply by blocking the waterway?”

One of the knights who had been listening to the conversation between the two cautiously opened his mouth.

“I heard that there is enough water stored in that fortress for three months or so. Surely you don’t intend to wait here blindly for that long of a time, do you?”

“That period was calculated based on the average capacity of the fortress. Now that the number of troops has suddenly increased, they won’t be able to last for more than 15 days, let alone a month.”

15 days!

The knights’ eyes changed in a much shorter period than expected. In order to gain an advantage during a siege, the enemy had to be lured out at all costs. But to be able to do it in just 15 days instead of 3 months. The word would make their ears prick up.

“So you’re saying you’re going to open an all-out war with them in 15 days?”

“No.”

Edwin immediately denied it.

“Tomorrow morning, around dawn, the entire army will participate.”

“!”

A short moan and a rapid inhalation followed.

“Tomorrow morning? So why did you block the waterway? Wasn’t it to mentally pressure the Velicians to get them out of the fortress?”

“Of course, there was something like that.”

Edwin grinned and muttered. Then he glanced at Lionelli.

“What about the solvent?”

“That, too, has been prepared as Lord commanded.”

Lionelli answered Edwin’s question immediately.

Solvent?

The knights’ faces who had tilted their heads at the unknown word gradually hardened.

“Solvent?”

A knight sitting to Edwin’s left gulped and opened his mouth.

“So you intend to use solvent to set fire to the inside of the fortress?”

It was common sense that it was impossible to set fire to water. However, except when using special colorless liquids and solvents.

Water from the waterway flowed into the fort through dense iron bars. If a large amount of solvent was mixed in it and set on fire, the raging flames would spread freely into the fort along the waterway. Furthermore, the fires made using solvents could not be easily extinguished.

“There’s nothing like arson to catch the enemy’s eye.”

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