Married into Alpha Lord

Chapter 57

Darren's POV

"How's the preparation going?" Floyd asked as he entered the main tent. "Good so far," I answered, "We've been able to get a sight of their general layout. It won't be difficult to land an attack."

"Hmm," Floyd mumbled as he sat down on the wooden chair. I'm quite surprised when I found out that he was here. Maybe the king wants to challenge his son's capability to resolve issues like this.

I just hope everything ends well so that I can return home fast.

"Do you have any concerns?" I asked Floyd looking at the map and the document of our strategy.

"I'm not gonna lie, I don't feel good about this plan," Floyd sighed as he put down the papers. "It feels weird that everything runs so smoothly. And it's just a week ago that we struggled to keep them in check thus making you come here," he continued.

"You want to postpone?" I asked. I understand his point. The current condition should not have any need for the Northern military to come. Yet, here we are.

"No," Floyd shook his head. "This is the right thing to be done. I don't want to prolong this any further."

I nodded. I understand his worry as I also feel the same, but this is the only option we got. After so many attempts to negotiate and they keep refusing,

When I was about to leave to do some final checks, a soldier rushed in. He looks in a hurry, yet confused.

"Where is your manner in front of the Prince?" I scold him first.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness," he gave a deep bow towards Floyd. Afterward, he faced me again. "Sir, you have an urgent call from the North," the man said. I raise my eyebrow, telling him to explain more.

"Our base, in the North. They just contact us, asking to speak with you," he said.

I was so confused. "Is there a problem there?" I suddenly feel worried. Most of the skilled soldiers and knights are here. There would be a problem if something happened in the North.

"No... it's just... Your partner, Sir. He insisted on speaking with you," he said. I didn't even hide my surprised and confused look. Why? It's not like Caden to be so reckless like this. Furthermore, he openly contacts me in public. Something that is not like him.

Something not right. Without further due, I immediately go.

The small section of our communication base is dedicated to contact home. Private channels that only connected to two ends, Royal palace and Northern base. This place is always busy, but not like now. It is usually organizedly busy, receiving and sending messages to our frontmost soldiers. Now, people whispered on the side looking confused and cautious.

As I stepped in, I noticed some important figures there, including the Royal's Head Knight and even Caleb. I walk closer to the communication screen where I notice his familiar figure.

I can see Caden on the screen. He looks... unusual. Even when I'm not in the same room as him, he gave this menacing aura that I never seen before. I notice the soldiers and knights behind him look strangely awkward and very cautious.

"Caden?" I call him. His eyes are wide open but it's clear that his mind is not there. His pupil just returned its focus when I called him.

"You haven't stormed there, haven't you?" Caden suddenly asked.

I was startled and confused but managed to answer no to him.

"Okay, first, I need to confirm something," Caden started. "You'll attack them because they've infiltrated our territory, right?"

I nodded.

"Their base... are all of it on our side or are there some parts that actually still sit on their land?"

Huh? I asked for the map, rechecking their position. "Half," I answered. "Only half of their entire camp was on our territory," I add.

"Their land. Is it located on the hill? Are there any highlands on their part?"

I look at the maps again. This is something that has actually bothered me for a while. Why did they choose this location?  "The backmost is no the hill and there's a ridge right behind them," I said. We've witnessed how hard the smaller allies leave that place. The geography of their camp can't be said to be easy for them to escape.

"From that border, how far is it to our nearest settlement?"

"Around three to four hours of ride."

"Tck," Caden clicks his tongue, he clearly looks annoyed and returns to his thinking zone.

"Caden, explain," I asked. He must realise something. Something that has been bothering me but too wild for me to imagine.

Caden looks doubtful, but then he gave a long sighed before he answered. "It's a trap."

The room became silent as soon as he said that. I also notice the soldiers in the North are also gasping when Caden utters those remarks. Everyone is just pure confused and skeptical.

"On what basis could you say that?" I asked. I don't hide my slightly angry tone. How the hell can he conclude that just based on those infos?

"Here's some facts. The parts of their base which actually land on our territory is only their outermost camp. Their main post is surely still on their own territory, on higher hills nevertheless. They've been here far longer than our troops, how can you be so sure that they haven't installed any traps there? Also, if you haven't noticed. That mountain range used to have an underground mine that has been abandoned. They've surely used those tunnels and even create new paths," he explained. He took a break for a while and have a deep breath. "You're going there yourselves right? Don't! As soon as you defeat their base, they'll activate the trap. My guess is that they've dug more tunnels and are going to destroy the grounds. Next, backups will come from both the hills and underground tunnels. In the moment of confusion, they stand a chance to defeat you. Worse, they've installed bombs there."

Caden finished his explanation which was reasonable at some point and went absolutely crazy next. It's hard to digest his explanation, but I can't brush up on these possibilities after knowing it. Having working with him for a long time, I can never took a side eye on his predictions.

"What should be done then?" I asked. Caden won't state problems without lining multiple solutions.

"Before moving forward, you need to confirm all of these. Send spies and infiltrate their base. Send another group to round and scan the perimeter and locate their backup. Better if you send assassins so you can immediately take down those back up. Make sure to replace them with our man so they won't be suspicious, then-"

"Hold on!" I cut him, "assassins?" I asked in confusion.

"What? You don't have anyone that specialized in assassinations in your military?" Caden asked with the same confused look. "Some spies?" he added.

"I'll have them ready," Floyd suddenly interrupted. I was so focused on Caden that I almost forgot that we were conversing in this open channel.

"Greeting, Your Highness," Caden suddenly acted formally. He must just realised that Floyd was around.

"Sir. Caden, before we continue, I want to ask something," Floyd begin. "If they really did as you say, won't the soldiers in their camp are going to die as a bait?"

Caden sighed. I notice him murmuring a silent 'obviously' as he bowed his head to nod. "Yes, Your Highness," he answered.

"Then, how can you be so sure that they'll sacrifice an entire army?"

"'Cause that's exactly what I would do," Caden affirmed confidently.

Everyone who hears him would assume that he's just insane, but somehow I know he's not lying. The reason why he could easily read it, then create a fast countermeasure.

He had done these before.