Meanwhile, in the Crimson Dragon Army camp nestled on a slope, half a mile away from the Hippo Land, Rocky was studying the topographic map of the vast Hippo Land in his tent.
A few moments later, Sabina and Marin walked, side by side, into the tent.
"Rocky, have you prepared any plan to launch an attack? What is your strategy to fight the battle?" Marin asked upon noticing Rocky's eyes were fixed on the topographic map, analyzing and studying the map.
"No, I am yet to figure out how to approach a full-fledged attack!" Rocky answered in a cold detached voice. He stood there with a reserved expression, arms crossed over his chest as he raised his head and shook it.
Sabina and Marin exchanged glances with an evident feeling of despair. They both sensed that there was something wrong with Rocky's tone. As the Commander in charge who led the troops, he was responsible for making an effective attack plan at the earliest. However, even though it had been a day since they reached Hippo Land, he still hadn't chalked out any concrete plan. And yet despite all of this, he didn't seem anxious or even ashamed at the very least.
"I have prepared an effective attack plan. Would you like me to elaborate and discuss it?" Marin offered, blinking more than normal, as though she had already considered the possibility that Rocky wouldn't have had an attack plan yet.
"Really? That's great and such a big relief! This being the case, it's safe to say I don't have to think about this any further," Rocky answered in a cheerful voice upon hearing her announcement. Noticing his reaction, both Marin and Sabina immediately rolled their eyes at his clear laziness and behavior to shrug responsibility of such mammoth importance.
Without wasting another moment, Marin walked right up to the topographic map and began explaining her attack strategy while pointing her fingers at the map now and then to make it easy to visualize the plan.
"A few hours back, along with some soldiers I went to analyze the defense line of the Timber Deity Empire troops. Towards the end, I found a dead angle of their defensive line at this spot. I think we can use this dead angle to our advantage. We may launch a surprise attack with about three thousand forces. With the weak angle and the surprise element, I'm sure we will successfully defeat the defending troops of the Timber Deity Empire and draw their attention. While this is unfolding, the rest of the soldiers can ambush the enemies in the west of Hippo Land. With the defending troops of Timber Deity Empire being engaged with our surprise attack troops, we will gain an opportunity to enter the central area of Hippo Land as long as we break through the woods. By then, we will be close to the camp of the defending troops of the Timber Deity Empire. At most, they are only seven thousand people. Therefore, we have a great advantage over them
no idea that you were at the Wild Heaven Pass too at that time. So, why did you appear at Geisha House and rescue me the other day? Commander Ji, have you been tailing me since then? All of this seems too weird to be considered as a mere coincidence!" Rocky asked her straightforward without hesitating since they had talked and revealed so much.
"On that particular day, I just happened to pass by." Sabina tried to explain even though she knew it sounded too farfetched.
"Did you really think I would believe this?" Rocky asked, raising his eyebrows as he expressed his doubts.
"Believe it or not, it is your choice. You should just be grateful that I didn't kill you that day. You were lucky!" Sabina exclaimed as a sudden coldness flashed in her eyes. As a reflex movement, she moved her gaze down beneath Rocky's waist as she began recollecting her thoughts. She could not help but recall what had happened at that time. In an instant, her eyes got even colder.
"Hello? Are you planning to do something with my dick?" Rocky inquired in a lewd tone, suddenly covering his crotch with both hands, like a chaste girl.
"Just go to hell! I don't plan to do anything with your..." Sabina gave him a fierce gaze with her piercing eyes as her face flushed red with anger and embarrassment. She did not intend to fix her gaze so awkwardly let alone be commented on for it. She was so furious that she turned around and left the tent immediately, without uttering another word, because she didn't even want to look at Rocky.
"Sabina is quite an interesting woman. But since I went to the Wild Heaven Pass, she has appeared everywhere I have been. That cannot be a mere coincidence. Has she been following me and my every move? What would she possibly gain by doing so?" Rocky muttered under his breath. A sly yet attractive smile began to form on the corners of his lips. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide with some realization.