21st Century Archmage

Chapter 186: One who Knows How to Wait

Translator: Lei

Proofreader: Enigami

“From today onwards, the army organization will be broken down for the time being and well use these forces to fight the Laviter Empire.”

It felt like I was getting openly threatened by a gangster on a street full of people. We set up a basic defense formation centered around the hurriedly completed border fort. The already existing special patrol troops in the Kovilan Mountains changed locations, and more troops were sent to cover around 30 spots, which were positioned between the highest peaks. Because there was a double surveillance system, any enemy movements would be reported to Nerman the moment they showed up in the mountains.

Today, we were holding the final meeting for inspecting Nermans battle readiness.

“As you know, the imperial troops will come swarming in from both land and air. Unlike the surprise attacks relying on superiority in wyvern numbers that we have experienced in the past, they will definitely attack the territory with textbook coordinated operations. And all of Laviters forces will be concentrated here, on the border fort.”

Clack!

I rapped one spot on the Nerman map hanging on the wall with my baton. It was the border fort at the border between Havis and Nerman. This forts existence was certainly already known to our enemies thanks to the merchants passing through. The enemies likely knew about its sturdy walls, elite troops, and anti-air defenses that were only available in Nerman.

“Sir Derval, what is your prediction of the number of land troops that can currently invade?”

Although he was in charge of the territorys administration, because he had a natural-born sense for tactics, Derval elbowed out the other knights and took the spot as the strategy advisor. He responded immediately to my question by reading out the well-prepared documents in his hands.

“Our latest intel reports that the 10th Platoon of the Western Corps and the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 9th Platoons that are key components of the Southern Corps have 500,000 elite troops fully arrayed to invade our territory at the Havis Kingdoms borders. As you know, imperial platoons are made up of 100,000 troops each, with each corps having 5,000 cavalry and thousands of infantry, spearmen, archers, and artillerists. Of course, those numbers do not count the supply troops, who cannot be used for battle.”

‘Carelessly spitting out 500,000 like its the name of the dog next door…

It was information I already knew, but Dervals words were unpleasant to the ear. 500k was easy enough to say, but that number of Laviter soldiers was already on par with the total number of civilians living in Nerman. Even though we had dealt them a crushing defeat not long ago, they sprang back like nothing happened and were ready to attack once again.

“As for the number of wyverns that are the core of the force… We estimate that with the reserve wyverns of the remaining corps and the wyverns dispatched from each territory combined, there are around 1,500 wyverns total. This number does not include the reinforcements of the Yukane and Baerkain Kingdoms, as well as the Roen Principality.”

“Hmm…”

“Huu…”

This wasnt their first rodeo, so my knights were now emotionless in the face of such staggering wyvern numbers. There was no fear in their faces, but it seemed they couldnt suppress unconscious sighs. If you converted 1,500 wyverns to the same number of roast chickens, it would be enough poultry to eat for your entire lifetime.