Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1253: A Clean Route to Victory ( 1253 )

Vane exhaled slowly.

"But, Julius..."

Julius glanced at him, his eyes narrowing with a cold, warning smile. "Even if you are my vice leader, that doesn’t mean you can address me so casually. You will show proper respect and address me as ’Leader’ during meetings. Remember your place and show proper respect."

"S... sorry, Leader..." Vane gritted his jaw, forcing a calm expression while rage burned inside him.

Angrar reached for a piece of roasted meat from the platter served by the maids and glanced at Julius. "So... tell us about this new information you mentioned."

Julius crossed his arms, his expression turning serious.

"The Supreme Goddess informed me that soon, we will proceed with the first invasion." He glanced around the table before smirking. "Soon, the big wave will come, and the civil war among the nobles in the Human Kingdom will begin. We will split into teams to maximize our efficiency."

He snapped his fingers, and a detailed wooden map materialized in the center of the table, showing the continent where the Human Kingdom and other nations were located.

Julius stood and gestured toward the map. "The central part of the Human Kingdom is the Royal Capital itself. Our agents have already infiltrated the noble courts and gathered extensive intelligence on their movements and weaknesses."

His eyes turned serious. "But there is another problem."

The others glanced at him before Angrar spoke. "What is it?"

"We have detailed information about every noble region within the Human Kingdom. Their layouts, their defenses, their political structures, everything. We have mapped out regions like Turka, Garka, and even the Royal Capital itself. We could gather their intelligence within a month."

Julius rubbed his chin, his gaze fixed on a specific area on the map.

"But this one..." He pointed toward the region marked as Armand. "We have been unable to obtain clear information from any of our agents sent there. Some agents reported that it was difficult to enter, so they hired assassin houses from within the continent to infiltrate. But after several missions, none of the assassins or intelligence units sent were able to return or report back."

"Hmm?" Angrar looked confused. "Are you sure? Couldn’t they just pretend to be merchants or travelers and enter normally? Blend in with the crowd and gather information like usual?"

Julius rubbed his chin again before crossing his arms.

"That’s the problem. The Supreme Goddess mentioned that we cannot launch a full invasion without knowing the area thoroughly. We need to know where their military bases are, how strong their forces are, how many mages, magic archers, healers, and other specialized units they possess. Without that information, we would be marching blind into unknown territory. We need detailed intelligence to plan our attack effectively."

Karue glanced at him. "Is it just me, or is it strange that none of our agents want to go there themselves?"

"Perhaps because the Supreme Goddess forbade them from going alone?"

Julius rubbed his chin again. "That could also be possible... but why?"

Angrar crossed his arms. "Maybe because of the man who rules the Armand region. My goddess said he is not someone we can underestimate. She also mentioned that there are others serving him whom we should watch out for." He pulled out a report from his coat. "This is information I received from my goddess. She said there are highly skilled assassins serving by his side."

"Ah... now that you mention it, I believe one of them is named Alf. There’s also a maid who wields dual swords. My informant also confirmed that they are well-known. And they have a berserker serving him as well. According to records, he alone took down a Hydra."

"H... Hydra!?" Vane’s eyes widened in shock.

"What’s with the surprise?" Julius tilted his head and smiled. "It’s not like none of you could take down a Hydra as well. It’s not that strong, and you know that."

Vane glanced down at the table while Julius and the others continued discussing their plans.

Take down a Hydra?

We all took down a Hydra with a team.

And yet Julius mentions that one guy alone could take down a Hydra... and a berserker?

Seriously?

Berserkers are known to rely solely on physical strength, brute force, and relentless aggression, charging headfirst into battle with no regard for defense. They have no magic, no ranged attacks, and their fighting style is reckless and raw, all power and no finesse.

And a Hydra is highly resistant to physical attacks. Its regeneration makes it nearly impossible to kill with brute force alone. And yet this berserker supposedly took one down alone?

We needed a team of five to take down a single Hydra, and Julius said it’s not that strong!?

This berserker he mentioned took it down alone. ALONE!

I... I really want to know.

How long did the fight last?

How much damage did he take?

What kind of weapon did he use?

What condition was his armor in after the battle?

He glanced around the table. Everyone was excited, sharing intelligence and reports, combining their gathered information they have about Armand’s defenses and key personnel.

And yet, no one has real, concrete information about this Garius guy, his region, or a complete profile of the people who serve him.

All we have are fragments, rumors, and second-hand reports. How are we supposed to plan a full invasion with so little to go on?

Vane gripped the armchair, his knuckles turning white as he watched Julius casually finalize their plans, assemble teams for the next phase, and delegate tasks with an air of effortless confidence.

"Leader?"

Julius glanced at Vane. "What?"

"I believe we should gather more information about this region before..."

"Ugh... Could you stop interrupting when the rest of us are discussing?" Julius gave him a narrow glare before turning back to the others and continuing his plan. "Just listen and follow the plan. We don’t have time for second-guessing."

This guy... He only became leader because he’s strong. But he doesn’t have a strategic mind. He’s just confident because of his overwhelming power, his unique magic that none of the other summoned heroes possess. He never thinks things through, never considers the risks.

I was supposed to be the strategist among all of them. The Supreme Goddess herself said I would plan the invasion, coordinate the teams, and ensure our success. And yet Julius keeps ignoring my input, dismissing my concerns.

Did he forget that the Supreme Goddess already entrusted me with the planning for this mission? That I’m supposed to oversee the intelligence gathering, the troop movements, the timing of the attack?

Vane’s thoughts were abruptly cut off when he heard someone shout at him.

"Oi, Vane!"

"Y... yes?" Vane glanced around before noticing Julius staring at him, calm but with a sharp, warning smile.

"You should focus on what we’re discussing instead of daydreaming. Listen carefully and take notes if you have to. We don’t need unnecessary delays because you weren’t paying attention."

( End Of Chapter )