The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Preparation

The D’Averon War Council

The atmosphere inside the D’Averon family’s war room had become considerably heavier than usual.

A large map of the surrounding territories had been spread across the center of the table, with several markers placed along the borders separating the D’Averon territory from Count Velmorne’s lands and the territory controlled by Viscount Randale. Reports, military records, and letters from neighboring nobles were scattered around it, while several officers stood around the table, quietly studying the situation.

At the head of the room sat Count D’Averon.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes had been fixed on the map for several minutes without moving.

Beside him stood his eldest son, Adrian, who had been carefully examining the eastern border, while Hans, his second son, stood on the opposite side of the table with his arms crossed.

The family’s captain and vice-captain were also present, along with several trusted officers responsible for logistics, reconnaissance, and the defense of the territory.

Nobody spoke for a while.

There wasn’t much to say.

The numbers alone were enough to make the situation clear.

Count Velmorne had approximately one thousand eight hundred and twenty soldiers, including four High-Ranking Knights, while Viscount Randale had brought more than three thousand soldiers of his own, supported by five High-Ranking Knights.

Together, they possessed more than twice the number of soldiers currently available to the D’Averon family.

Count D’Averon slowly exhaled.

"So they’ve finally decided to do this."

His fingers rested against the edge of the table.

"Velmorne has always been ambitious, but I didn’t expect him to be foolish enough to openly challenge the D’Averon territory after what happened previously."

Adrian glanced toward his father.

"Father, I don’t think this is simply about the territory."

"I know."

Count D’Averon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"That man has never been able to accept the fact that he lost to me."

There was a brief silence.

He remembered the previous confrontation with Velmorne clearly.

The man’s pride had been crushed, and although he had withdrawn at the time, Count D’Averon knew better than anyone that Velmorne wasn’t the type of person who would simply accept humiliation and move on.

He had expected retaliation eventually.

What he hadn’t expected was for Velmorne to find another noble willing to join him and bring such a large force into the conflict.

So this is how he intends to settle his grudge.

Count D’Averon’s expression remained unchanged.

He doesn’t simply want to defeat me. He wants to break the D’Averon family and take everything that comes with it.

The thought alone irritated him.

However, he couldn’t allow his personal feelings to influence his decisions.

The moment this war began, thousands of lives would depend on every choice he made.

"We cannot underestimate them," the captain said.

He pointed toward the map.

"Randale’s forces are larger than ours, and if Velmorne’s troops arrive from the northern border at the same time, we could be forced to divide our forces."

Hans frowned.

"Then we shouldn’t allow them to choose the battlefield."

The captain looked toward him.

Hans continued.

"If they intend to combine their forces before attacking, we should intercept one of them before they can join."

Adrian shook his head.

"That would only work if we knew which route they’re taking."

He pointed toward several roads marked on the map.

"There are too many possible routes, and if we move the majority of our troops toward one of them, the other force could simply change direction."

Hans clicked his tongue.

"So we’re expected to sit here and wait for them?"

"No."

Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on the map.

"We’re expected to make them believe we’re waiting."

Hans looked at him.

Adrian moved one of the markers.

"If we spread our forces too thinly, they’ll notice immediately. Instead, we should reinforce the western border enough to make it appear that we’re expecting an attack there while keeping our main force positioned here."

He tapped the center of the map.

"If they believe we’ve committed ourselves to defending the western route, they’ll naturally try to approach from another direction."

The captain nodded slowly.

"That would give us more time to determine their actual route."

"Exactly."

Count D’Averon listened quietly.

His eldest son had always been good at reading military situations.

Adrian wasn’t the strongest swordsman in the family, nor did he possess the overwhelming presence of his father, but he had a sharp mind and understood the importance of information better than most commanders his age.

Hans, on the other hand, was more direct.

He preferred confronting problems rather than spending too much time thinking about them.

The two brothers had very different personalities, but both had their uses.

Count D’Averon looked toward the captain.

"What about our neighboring territories?"

The captain shook his head.

"Most of them are still waiting to see how the situation develops."

"As expected."

Count D’Averon sighed.

"Then send requests for reinforcement."

The officers looked toward him.

"To every territory that has an agreement with the D’Averon family?"

"Not every territory."

Count D’Averon pointed toward the map.

"Prioritize the territories closest to our borders and those that owe us favors. We don’t need their entire armies. Even a few hundred soldiers from each territory would significantly change our situation."

The logistics officer immediately nodded and began writing.

"Understood."

"Also send a request to the territories that have trade agreements with us."

The man looked up.

"Trade agreements?"

"If Velmorne wins, he won’t simply take our territory."

Count D’Averon’s voice became colder.

"He’ll gain control over several of the trade routes that pass through our lands. The nobles who currently benefit from those routes will have a reason to prevent that from happening."

The officers exchanged glances.

It was an important point.

This war might have been presented as a territorial dispute between two noble families, but the consequences would extend far beyond the battlefield.

The D’Averon territory sat in an important position.

Its roads connected several regions, and many merchants relied on its trade routes.

If Velmorne took control of them, his influence would grow considerably.

And that would affect everyone who depended on those routes.

"Use that when sending the requests," Count D’Averon ordered.

"Tell them that if the D’Averon territory falls, their own interests will eventually be threatened."

"Understood."

Hans leaned over the table.

"Father, what about the royal family?"

Count D’Averon looked at him.

"They won’t interfere."

"Even if Velmorne and Randale are clearly working together?"

"The kingdom recognizes this as a territorial dispute."

He paused.

"As long as neither side violates the laws governing noble warfare, the royal family has little reason to intervene."

Adrian frowned.

"And if Velmorne wins?"

Count D’Averon remained silent for a moment.

If Velmorne wins, the D’Averon family will lose more than land.

He looked at the map again.

Their military influence would be damaged.

Their political standing would fall.

Their allies might begin abandoning them.

And once that happened, the family’s enemies would undoubtedly appear one after another.

The worst possible outcome would be a prolonged war.

That was the situation he feared most.

Even if they managed to repel the first assault, every battle would consume soldiers, supplies, and money.

Velmorne had more troops.

Randale had more troops.

And together, they could afford to continue the conflict for considerably longer than the D’Averon family could.

If this becomes a war of attrition, we’re finished.

Count D’Averon’s fingers tightened slightly against the table.

He refused to show that concern to the others.

The people in this room needed a commander, not a frightened father.

"We’ll need to conserve our forces," he said.

The captain nodded.

"Agreed."

"Do not waste soldiers defending every village."

Several officers looked surprised.

Count D’Averon continued.

"If an isolated village is attacked, evacuate the civilians and withdraw rather than trying to defend every inch of territory."

Hans frowned.

"Father, abandoning villages will affect our reputation."

"I know."

His voice remained firm.

"But dead soldiers won’t protect our territory."

The room became quiet.

"We’re not fighting to prove our pride."

He looked around the table.

"We’re fighting to ensure the D’Averon family survives."

Adrian nodded.

"Understood."

Hans also nodded reluctantly.

The captain looked toward the map again.

"Then what should our primary objective be?"

Count D’Averon answered without hesitation.

"Break their command structure."

The captain’s eyes narrowed.

"Velmorne?"

"Velmorne and Randale."

Count D’Averon pointed toward the two territories.

"If we can force either one of them to withdraw, the balance will change immediately."

Adrian nodded.

"Then we should focus our reconnaissance on locating their command centers."

"Yes."

Count D’Averon paused.

"And there’s something else."

Everyone looked toward him.

"I want additional scouts placed along every major road."

The captain’s expression became serious.

"Do you suspect something?"

Count D’Averon looked toward the report lying on the table.

"There are rumors that Velmorne has hired assassins."

The room immediately became tense.

Hans frowned.

"From the Assassination Guild?"

"We don’t have absolute confirmation yet."

Count D’Averon answered.

"But if Velmorne is desperate enough to gather this many soldiers, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has prepared something else."

Adrian’s expression hardened.

"Then we should assume they have."

"Exactly."

Count D’Averon looked toward the captain.

"Increase security around the command staff. No one moves alone, even within our own territory."

"Understood."

"And send word to the knights."

He paused.

"If anyone suspicious approaches the territory, they are to be detained and questioned immediately."

The captain nodded.

"I’ll arrange it."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!