Chapter 442: Mixed Strategy Warfare

Charlot Mecklenburg and Duchess Mesu stood atop the walls of Sesath, signing a pivotal document—the Covenant of Alliance Between Count Mecklenburg and Duchess Mesu. This agreement would have a profound impact on future generations.

The two agreed to become allied families, maintaining unity on all matters unless a war broke out between the Fars Empire and Byron. In such cases, the other party would provide all necessary support, including material and military aid. Furthermore, both families pledged close cooperation across various sectors, including economics, trade, shipping, culture, arts, and crafts.

Charlot made a special prayer to the Serpent of Fate, receiving the god’s blessing. A silver serpent’s mark was left on the covenant, a divine token of approval.

This act startled Duchess Mesu, who became more wary of Charlot. She thought to herself:

"Could he truly be favored by the Serpent of Fate?"

"The Serpent of Fate is the most enigmatic of the nine True Gods, and the next era is prophesied to be the Age of Fate. With both the Bretagne and Mecklenburg families under its favor, their future knows no bounds. At least until the Age of Fate concludes, opposing them is inadvisable."

After the covenant was signed, Charlot withdrew from Sesath as promised. However, he didn’t leave empty-handed—taking with him the city’s entire fleet, the knight order originally commanded by Baron Merime Mesu, and even the baron’s personal assets. The cleanup was thorough.

Charlot also split the West Wind Knight Order into two. One force, led by Charlot, continued attacking Black Phoenix City by land. The other, commanded by Golden Ram Herolf, took the coastal route, intending to attack the city from the sea.

Duchess Mesu honored the agreement by lending ten Saint-rank individuals to Charlot. Leading them was none other than her daughter, Ardosa Mesu, who had recently become Charlot’s senior apprentice.

Charlot mused that he seemed to have an excess of senior apprentices.

Both sides tactfully avoided mentioning Baron Merime Mesu, as though he had never existed in this world.

...

Upon leaving Sesath, Andreas brought six Saint-rank captives to Charlot. He remarked:

“They seem to have some thoughts. Would you like to discuss them?”

Among the six were four prisoners captured during previous conquests and two former subordinates of Baron Merime Mesu, who also happened to captain the two alchemical warships. Despite their initial arrogance, witnessing the covenant between Charlot and Duchess Mesu—and seeing over twenty Saint-rank individuals aligned against them—had left them deeply shaken. They realized that refusing to surrender now would leave no future opportunities.

Charlot smiled and addressed them:

“Gentlemen, I am preparing to attack Black Phoenix City. As Black Phoenix citizens, you must be intimately familiar with its layout.”

“Don’t misunderstand me—I won’t ask you to participate in the assault.”

“You’re from Black Phoenix. Forcing you to attack your home would be too cruel. Instead, I hope you can contact your friends and family, urging them to leave the city to avoid harm from the coming war.”

This seemingly considerate gesture relieved the six Saints, who found it acceptable. Before they could formally surrender, Charlot had already given them tasks. None of them sensed anything amiss.

These Saints were all at the 19th rank. The stronger Saints had been deployed to the front lines, battling the Four-Nation Alliance. Many among this group had attained their rank not through cultivation but by using potions or rituals—common practices among nobles.

Charlot handed the six Saints his “new military strategy” in plain sight, instructing them to include the West Wind Knight Order’s attack direction in their letters to their loved ones. He emphasized avoiding harm to civilians.

The Saints complied without suspicion, for the world they inhabited lacked the cunning military stratagems of Earth. They couldn’t fathom Charlot’s use of mixed tactics blending Muddy the Waters, Feign to Deceive, and Lure the Tiger from the Mountain. Instead, they saw his actions as a gesture of goodwill.

Through their correspondence, Charlot’s “military plans” quickly reached Black Phoenix City, spreading widely among its residents.

...

Faced with an unexpected attack, the Black Phoenix royal family and nobles fell into chaos. However, under the threat of life and death, they managed to mobilize their remaining forces, planning an ambush on the West Wind Knight Order.

Unbeknownst to them, Charlot never intended to execute the announced strategy. With no opposition, his troops advanced swiftly and arrived directly beneath Black Phoenix City.

...

Black Phoenix City, like Strasbourg, was protected by the nine True Gods. Its divine monuments made it one of the strongest fortresses on the Old Continent, nearly impervious to invaders.

However, Charlot had already recruited many local Black Phoenix troops and prepared civilian disguises for his West Wind Knight Order. As refugees fled the city, his knights, dressed as ordinary citizens, infiltrated it in waves.

Though Charlot didn’t expect much from this half-baked plan, it surprisingly succeeded. Over 10,000 knights entered Black Phoenix City undetected.

With enough forces to launch an assault, Charlot acted decisively. He gathered all his Saint-rank individuals—including the ten from Duchess Mesu, four noble defectors, and six recent captives—and joined the infiltrators inside the city.

...

Charlot had spent over a year on the Old Continent, visiting various nations like Britannia in the Ingrima Empire and Asaburg in the Lionheart Kingdom. However, this was his first time in Black Phoenix City.

Black Phoenix City was a bustling trade hub, hosting visitors from overseas with customs vastly different from the Old Continent. They brought exotic goods unavailable elsewhere, creating an atmosphere of novelty.

Suddenly, Charlot recalled a small task assigned by the Serpent of Fate—to secretly mark the divine monuments of Black Phoenix City with its insignia.

Charlot smiled. He intended to earn as much favor from the Serpent of Fate as possible.

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