I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1344: The Silver Lining

Admiral Yan stood there for a few seconds, not saying anything. It wasn’t that the experienced war master had no answer for Northern, but rather that Northern’s tone in dropping this revelation had caused him to doubt his own response.

The levity of the matter. The way Northern conveyed it to him. Made him worry and stiff with confusion. Even though there was an answer forming in his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was utterly wrong.

Such that he had to carefully lean forward and ask.

"Lord Northern... uhm, are we in danger?"

Northern turned to the Admiral, utterly lost and confused.

He turned to the distance, where the fog disappeared into the forest, and turned back to Admiral Yan. Then he grinned.

"What? No! Not at all! We are not in danger at all! Goodness! I like your spirit!" He clapped once, the sound sharp in the fog. "We are not in danger! They are the ones in danger!!"

Northern said this energetically. He was suddenly in a good mood thanks to Admiral Yan’s response.

He had been trying so hard to get a bunch of people to see him and believe in him, and finally here was one person who finally saw eye to eye with him. It felt... golden!

But before Northern could bask more in his euphoria, the young man said again, cautiously:

"So... they... they are here? Does that mean they’re here? You weren’t speaking hypothetically?"

Northern paused. A mild displeasure crossed his face.

"Uh? Why would I?"

Admiral Yan found no words for retort. He hesitated and stuttered.

"It’s... it’s just that... this is the opening salvo of a battle that could very well determine the fate of an entire country, and you break the news like you’re talking about your love life?"

Northern’s confusion grew, and it reflected plainly on his face.

"Love life? I’ve never had an active love life. I am really confused about the source of your misconception, Admiral Yan."

Admiral Yan looked even more confused. He breathed in and out, pressing two fingers to his forehead.

"Are we getting attacked?"

Northern nodded.

"I believe I made that clear enough."

Admiral Yan felt like he wanted to pull out his own hair. His hands actually twitched toward his scalp before he stopped himself.

"That’s the thing! You didn’t!" The man let out with a frustrated tone.

Northern, meanwhile, shrugged.

"Not my fault, really. I think I’m used to things like this happening, so I wasn’t just surprised. Aside from that... I’ve been surveying them for a couple of days, and they really are a small number. Not an issue." He tilted his head. "Why do you look so shaken?"

Admiral Yan continued to stare at Northern.

’I’m not sure this man understands at all!’

Northern turned away from him and replaced the confusion with a casual smile. Then his expression shifted... Serious now.

"But you are yet to answer my question, Admiral Yan."

Admiral Yan felt like he was yanked to life by the intensity of Northern’s voice.

He looked forward, toward where Northern was currently looking. He wasn’t sure why the young man was so glued to the forest beyond the dark fog. All he could see was darkness.

His face straightened. His dark eyes grew even darker.

"If the Empire has mobilized their troops, then we are expecting an imminent attack on our vanguard. The Empire is pompous. They’re powerful and it’s quite obvious. Against a small nation like us, they will use us as an example. They will end it swiftly and as boldly as they can. I think they’ll simply come in through our front door and break through with overwhelming force and numbers."

Northern noted the man’s words.

’He’s not dull.’

The Admiral’s voice grew colder.

"The best way to defend ourselves is to make their advance easy."

Northern’s expression was blank. The man continued.

"We can focus our war machinations and men in resistance. But the resistance is not to the end that we defend our gate. It is to the end that we make sure they break it. However, not without getting tired."

Northern looked at the man. A small light finally found his eyes.

"You want them to retreat?"

Admiral Yan nodded.

"Yes... they’ll be retreating not out of loss but fatigue."

"But the Empire has surplus men to waste. Would there be a benefit to them retreating when they can simply send in more troops less than an hour later?"

The Admiral regarded Northern’s eyes and nodded with a smile.

"You’re right, Lord Northern. That’s the point of the resistance. The whole point is to make the Empire think they’ve already broken down our gate... then we bring the real fight inside the city. We know the mountain far better than them. We can use that against them."

Northern appreciated the idea that the Admiral was sharing.

’But it’s old... the Empire knows this. It’s how Ryugan fought them in the past, a reason for many of their undecided battles against Ryugan.’

The Reimgard Empire had maintained several decades of peace and inactivity. Between the years from their back and forth with Ryugan and now, they’d grown immensely.

Northern shook his head.

"Such a plan is suicide, Admiral Yan. Not only are you underestimating the Empire, you’re overestimating yourselves. You think because of things like training and landscape you can turn the tides on people who pride themselves in being the beacon of power."

Northern allowed a thoughtful pause, then shrugged.

"Or maybe I’m simply giving the Empire too much credit. But that is your plan, and I don’t see it ending in victory. You and your kingdom will be slaughtered like insects."

Admiral Yan still had that strong look in his eyes. Like dark amusement.

"But there’s a silver lining, isn’t there?"

Northern raised his brows.

"Please. Amuse me."

The Admiral smiled darker.

"We have you. The Empire doesn’t."

Northern blinked at him for a moment. Then he let out a big laugh.