Chapter 260:

Chapter 260:

Was it the beginning of the Great Raid of the Olkan Code, or just a temporary plunder?

Given the circumstances, it was more likely the former. If that was the case, Isaac alone could never stop it.

All Isaac could do was delay their movements even a little.

These orc nomads, once they started a Great Raid, became unstoppable war machines.

They did not understand the concept of forward-thinking, healthy consumption, and circulation. They cut down all the trees, dug up all the mountains, burned them, and used stolen technology to create whatever they desired.

While the World’s Forge revolved around precise handcraft workshops led by artisans, the Olkan Code operated on mass production and mass consumption.

Warnings like “You’ll go bankrupt eventually” were useless. They indeed just went bankrupt.

They squandered all their assets and went bankrupt several times, waiting until time restored their assets and population. Therefore, ironically, the most valuable plunder and precious protection target for them was ‘knowledge.’

Because knowledge never gets consumed no matter how much you use it.

The Olkan Code’s production and consumption included their own lives. Paradoxically, the reason the Olkan Code had not conquered the world long ago was precisely because they did not fear death.

Tactics and technology developed because of the fear of death.

However, the Olkan Code believed in the immortality of the soul, so they were brave and easily died. Initially, other faiths were surprised and terrified by the Olkan Code’s attacks, but eventually, they devised responses. The Olkan Code, before coming up with countermeasures to those responses, would all die and go off to reincarnate. Their next invasion would be decades or even centuries later.

‘...That means, we can’t stop them until they are all dead and can’t continue the war.’

Naturally, Isaac did not have the power or ability for that.

At least, he needed equal forces, like the Empire’s army or other faiths. The Great Raid of the Olkan Code always led to terrible disasters for the Empire, so it seemed hard to stop them unless the Dawn Army was immediately redirected here.

‘But would the Codex of Light give up the advent of the Millennium Kingdom to protect the Empire? Those bastards?’

Based on what he had seen so far, no.

Even if the Empire was completely burned down, the Dawn Army would head for the Holy Land. He could only rely on the Imperial army.

Or other faiths.

If not, he would have to rely on Isaac’s personal connections.

***

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

A group of paladins rode into the city of Seor with the sound of fierce hooves.

The paladins, in their shining white armor, cast new light on the desolate city filled with fear and dread. The paladin who led the group quickly stopped in front of Isaac.

It was Rottenhammer.

“Isaac! I’m glad I can repay the favor so soon. Where are the enemies?”

“Thank you for coming so quickly, Commander Rottenhammer. The enemies have retreated for now, so there’s no immediate need for battle.”

“Is that so? Then let’s unload our gear first.”

Rottenhammer gave some orders to the paladins and then dismounted. He approached Isaac with a serious expression.

“I heard the Olkan Code has invaded. In fact, Seor wasn’t the only place to report sightings of orcs. We’ve heard reports of orcs from several places in the south as well.”

“From the south too...”

“It seems they are coming in three directions. They bypassed the Kingdom of Wallachia, so there’s a bit of a gap, but it seems likely that the main force is headed here, to Seor.”

The likelihood of a Great Raid increased.

Isaac could not understand why the Great Raid had been triggered.

“By the way, I heard that the Codex of Light attacked the Olkan Code. I thought it unlikely with the Dawn Army being so occupied, but do you know anything about this?”

“The Codex? Are you referring to the Dawn Army in Ciero? There’s no way. No matter how foolish they are, they wouldn’t do that. Not because they’re incompetent, but because they’re not smart enough for that. Even finding the orc village in the Mann Sahar Plains, where the Olkan Code is based, would be difficult.”

The Mann Sahar Plains were vast and barren, with hardly a hill or mountain in sight even after three days and nights of travel. It was no different from a desert in terms of finding water or people.

Even if the Dawn Army in Siero lost their way terribly, they would not make such a mistake.

“First, we need to consider abandoning Seor.”

“...What?!”

The mayor of Seor, whom Isaac reluctantly included, asked in a shocked voice. But Isaac had to say what needed to be said.

“I mean, we need to abandon it in the long term. Seor, as a trade city, is not suitable for defense. It’s surrounded by open plains, the river is easily polluted, the walls are low and damaged, and it’s easy to besiege with no reinforcements arriving soon. How can a city that was breached by a mere hundred reconnaissance troops hold a siege?”

“But...”

“Quiet.”

Rottenhammer’s stern word silenced the mayor of Seor. The large hammer he had placed on the wall beside him likely played a bigger role than his dignity.

Isaac nodded gratefully at Rottenhammer and continued.

“But it’s a waste to simply give up a city like Seor. Not all evacuations are complete yet. So, we will conduct a delaying action centered around Seor, making it seem as if capturing Seor alone is a satisfactory achievement for them.”

Isaac added a note for the mayor of Seor.

“Of course, we will recapture it as soon as possible with the help of reinforcements. But with our current forces, we cannot hold out here indefinitely.”

“How do you plan to make them satisfied with just taking Seor? If this is indeed a precursor to the Great Raid seen in records, they won’t be satisfied with just this. Do you have an attractive gift prepared?”

Previous Great Raids had penetrated deep into the Empire and even threatened Ultenhaim. Since the Olkan Code’s goal was simply plunder, there had been no significant damage, and they were eventually driven out. Therefore, the Codex of Light did not consider them a major threat.

Unlike the Immortal Order, which succeeded in occupying and settling in the Holy Land.

“An attractive gift would be nice.”

Isaac said, stroking his chin.

“But I don’t have the means to prepare an expensive gift. I am a humble and poor Holy Grail Knight. However, I know how to make a gift appear attractive.”

Isaac smiled at the mayor of Seor.

“Mayor, you once invested in Loracus, didn’t you?”

The mayor’s face soured at the sudden mention of Loracus. The expensive plant that had swept through Seor, with merchants and farmers buying it up, causing its price to skyrocket and disrupting the market, was a nightmare for the mayor.

“...Well, I knew it was speculative, but who didn’t buy at least one back then?”

“I’m not blaming you. How much did you buy it for?”

The mayor of Seor, uncomfortable with the topic, cleared his throat but eventually admitted.

“For a quite high price.”

“Then suddenly, the market price plummeted. What did you think as you watched the price fall?”

The mayor of Seor wondered if the Holy Grail Knight who had caused the price crash was mocking him.

But Isaac’s face was serious.

“...I hoped to at least break even.”

“That’s my strategy.”

The mayor of Seor looked puzzled. Then Gebel, understanding Isaac’s point, spoke.

“You mean to make them suffer great losses in capturing Seor, so they consider breaking even to be satisfactory.”

“Exactly. I can’t give the Olkan Code a valuable gift.”

Isaac looked out at the plain in front of Seor, soon to be a battlefield.

“But if they hold something worthless, even finding a stone in it would make them happy.”

_____________

Rate us on Novel Updates, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to translate more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156