The Herb King

Chapter 21: Leric’s Plan

“General! Captain Anton Lassiter reporting!” Anton walked in front of General Gavin and did a snappy salute. His eyes filled with the ferocity of a beast who was about to show its fangs! Behind him were about five hundred soldiers standing upright like unsheathed swords!

The General glanced at Anton and nodded his head solemnly. He then stared at Leric and gave him a knowing look.

Seeing this, Leric smiled and stood beside the General. He first looked at his father and then the five hundred soldiers behind him. Leric saw that Samira and her two friends were among the bunch, but he wasn’t surprised since the three girls were quite strong despite their young age.

Samira Reynolds in particular was already at the peak of Level 2 Esper. She might be the youngest Esper to ever reach this level of power! Of course, this was only true if Leric wasn’t included in the list.

Skylar and Kathlyn on the other hand were newly ascended Level 2 Espers. They might be weaker than Samira, but they would still be considered as top geniuses! After all, people their age were mostly hovering at Level 1.

Anton Lassiter and the five hundred soldiers knitted their eyebrows when they saw the mysterious Level 4 Alchemist standing beside the General. They wondered what he was about to say.

Leric cleared his throat and stared at everyone with a piercing gaze. No one dared to look at him straight in the eyes when they saw this. He was giving off a heavy pressure just by standing there and when they met his gaze, it felt as if they were looking at an ancient beast!

.....

“After observing the battlefield, I noticed that the Northern Viper Group has set up more than a dozen trenches. If our soldiers fell into those trenches, most of our fighting force would be crippled, leaving us at their mercy. In order to counter this, I concocted a plan together with General Gavin...” Leric paused and glanced at the General.

General Gavin coughed awkwardly, but he didn’t let anyone see his embarrassed look. He didn’t come up with anything! It was Sir Aethelwolf who came up with the plan! However, he knew that the Alchemist was doing this to enhance his prestige in the army. During this dire circumstance, a General must be reliable!

Leric continued. “At the moment, some of our soldiers are preparing a few things that would make those trenches ineffective. If The Northern Viper Group truly has a wise tactician on their side, he would certainly notice our movements. If he realizes that we have noticed the trenches that they had prepared beforehand, their tactician would send a vanguard force to attack us. This way, we will be forced to enter the battlefield, but that is when you guys will step up...” Speaking up to this point, Leric suddenly revealed a harmless smile, but everyone who saw it felt their hairs standing on end!

“The General has already sent a group of soldiers to set up traps, so we have nothing to worry about the Northern Viper Group’s vanguard force. With General Gavin holding the fort, they should be able to hold down the vanguard force in check! During this time, you will go with me to launch a sneak attack on their camp and kill their tactician! Without him commanding those ruffians, they would be like headless flies!”

Anton Lassiter and the rest were shocked when they heard the elaborate plan of this Alchemist. He was brilliant! He even discovered the trenches made by the Northern Viper Group in a short amount of time!

General Gavin who knew nothing about this part of the plan was also stunned in silence. He could only stare at Leric’s side profile with a look of awe.

You have learned the skill [Intimidate]

You have learned the skill [Persuasion]

You have learned the skill...

After he told them about the plan, Leric saw a bunch of new skills appearing on his Status Screen. He glanced at them briefly and laughed in his heart.

He was becoming even more powerful as time went by! It might not be long before he would surpass the strongest experts of Leone Kingdom!

“You’ve heard the plan! Now, prepare to execute it!” General Gavin said in a stern voice.

Anton and the others immediately saluted and prepared themselves. There was a look of anticipation in their eyes as they stared at the harmless-looking Alchemist standing beside the General.

They didn’t realize that this handsome young man had already become the pillar of their entire army!

***

Meanwhile, in the Northern Viper Group’s camp.

Solas was overlooking the battlefield with a deep frown. “Did they notice the trenches?” He muttered.

Standing behind him was a frail-looking old man in his sixties. His murky eyes were observing the battlefield. Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows and said. “They’ve noticed the trenches... It seems like someone with great eyesight is hidden among their camp...”

The old man moved his gaze towards Solas and said urgently. “Boss Solas, we must send a small force of soldiers to interrupt them! From my observations, they are planning to fill the trenches with boulders! Without the trenches, their army would soon march towards us! The Northern Viper Group might be ferocious, but against Gavin’s Flame Tiger Army, it would be a tough battle to win!”

Solas gritted his teeth when he heard the old man’s words. “F*ck! Men, have five hundred of our best fighters attack those bastards! Quick!”