Chaos' Heir Chapter 975: Siege

Chapter 975: Siege

Both Prince Thomas and Lieutenant Dyester felt the urge to complain as soon as they saw the chosen list.

The holograms pointed at a big planet near one of Baoway's trade routes. The place had breathable air and a decent atmosphere, but its natural resources had little value. The Global Army didn't even bother to colonize it fully and only used it as a ma.s.sive warehouse due to its useful location.

The planet itself wasn't an issue. The problems started with the conditions listed by the Global Army. It wanted Khan to play the role of the attacker, going against a fortified, militarized, and well-protected structure. The siege's outcome would decide the war's winner, and the defenders clearly had the advantage.

That almost performative battle was the Global Army's way of handling internal conflicts, and the siege was only one possible iteration. In the past, Generals and other human leaders had to engage in ground fights, s.p.a.ce contests, and more to settle in-fighting. That approach turned war into a b.l.o.o.d.y game but worked in preserving lives and military equipment when peaceful resolutions weren't possible.

Of course, the siege's conditions were overbearing on purpose. The Global Army wanted Khan to refuse the offer or waste time negotiating better terms. The attacking side would always be at a disadvantage, but things didn't have to be so harsh.

Khan had just spent eight months relying on the pheromone and his army's superior defenses to defeat an entire species of monsters, so he didn't underestimate those disadvantages. However, the list had many aspects that Khan liked. The militarized structure was small, with its capacity barely reaching five hundred heads. The planet and place also had nothing valuable, so Khan wouldn't have to worry about destroying valuable equipment or resources. It was even relatively close, so mobilizing the army wouldn't take long.

The conditions wanted attackers and defenders to have the same number of troops, which was crazy when adding the fort and military equipment to the equation. Yet, deploying fewer soldiers meant putting fewer lives at risk for Khan, so he saw those terms in a positive light. Moreover, metal barriers, turrets, and rifles had little meaning to Khan. Those defenses were already in pieces in his eyes, and the battlefield's limited scope would only favor his destructive power.

Prince Thomas glanced at Lieutenant Dyester, waiting for a timely complaint. The two had reached the same conclusion, but Master Carl held the authority in that field. It was his turn and job to address concerns.

Nevertheless, to Prince Thomas' surprise, Lieutenant Dyester remained silent, studying the list's conditions. Unlike the Prince, the Lieutenant had seen what Khan could do, so he knew how little value many of those adverse conditions held.

Lieutenant Dyester also understood Khan's character, giving him insights into his plan. Wasting time would increase the pressure on Baoway and its business partners, causing general displeasure. Even the Empire might join that trend, creating real problems for Khan's authority and forcing him to compromise.

The Thilku Empire wouldn't do that, but neither the Global Army nor Lieutenant Dyester knew that, so the latter believed Khan wanted to solve the problem as quickly as possible. His battle prowess could compensate for most of those adverse conditions, so accepting them would give him the initiative.

"Do you want to surprise them?" Lieutenant Dyester asked.

"He wants a show," Khan said. "I'll give him a show."

Lieutenant Dyester looked at Khan deeply but couldn't find the strength to speak. Khan wanted to use the battle's public nature to his advantage, and that approach had worked for him in the past.

"We have defensive equipment suitable for a siege here," Lieutenant Dyester announced. "Though, the Scalqa aren't ready for such advanced military tactics."

"There won't be any siege," Khan revealed, accepting the chosen conditions through his genetic signature. "The Scalqa will only need to charge forward."

"Having someone to guide them in these unknown conditions can save many lives," Lieutenant Dyester suggested, attempting to involve himself in the imminent battle.

Khan smiled at the Lieutenant but shook his head. He had decided. Khan wouldn't leave any room for doubt. He would make sure the next battle would remove any future idea of finding problems with his organization.

Prince Thomas felt left out of the conversation but was able to read the room and remained silent. He was responsible for the current problem but knew when to step aside. Besides, the usually grumpy Lieutenant Dyester peacefully played along, which spoke for his confidence in Khan's decisions.

The interactive table's holograms changed after Khan's order. His sudden agreement to those unfavorable conditions surprised everyone, especially the Global Army.

The Global Army felt little hope to defuse the situation but wanted to remain on top of it, controlling both sides to limit the damage and put itself in a favorable position. However, Khan's immediate decision ruined its plans, forcing it to agree with Brigadier General Meadrey's fanatism. The battle wouldn't only happen. It would also be broadcast to parts of the world.

The number of incoming calls, messages, and meeting requests skyrocketed in seconds. Theoretically, Khan had to address his business partners before making such decisions, but it was too late now. Khan even hoped he could postpone all politics until after the battle, but that was probably unwise.

"Take out shields and mana-enhanced armor from our armory," Khan ordered. "Pick five hundred Scalqa and teach them how to use them. They probably won't need them, but it's safer that way."

Lieutenant Dyester nodded, pulling out his phone to deal with the order. Meanwhile, Prince Thomas browsed through the many notifications before looking at Khan. A weak "My Prince" also left his mouth.

"Call a conference," Khan sighed, admitting defeat. "I'll make an announcement but won't host private meetings. They'll happen after the war."

Prince Thomas immediately got to work. Truth be told, he was entirely in favor of Khan's decision. Engaging in politics when everyone else had some leverage would only earn Khan endless discussions and attempted rip-offs. Addressing the doubts after solving the problem

was far better.

"Also, Uncle," Khan added, lowering his head as strange helplessness surged inside him. "I trust you'll uphold my will no matter the situation or consequences."