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Chapter 945: Strategic meeting (1)

Despite his calculated but restrained display of competence, his keen mind and tactical acumen did not go unnoticed.

Honestly, though, it was not that he said something particularly smart, but rather that people couldn\'t think as he did and couldn\'t remember things as he did.

Not that Erik spoke in riddles or used complex jargon, but rather that his mind operated on a different plane.

He saw patterns and connections where others saw chaos, found solutions where others saw obstacles.

It also helped that most of the achievements Erik made were earned thanks to the information The got from Fischer and Van Dyke.

Everything was staged, after all.

The man often struggled to understand why others couldn\'t see it.

It wasn\'t even a matter of intelligence, but rather a difference in perspective.

He had an uncanny knack for remembering minor details and putting them together to make a web of knowledge that helped him make decisions.

People among the blackguards were sure Savage Blood would be accepted into the

blackguards, and that he would not fail the test he was asked to take, which he did, passing it brilliantly.

After that, he became a blackguard, getting the Initiate rank. Of course, his mentor was still Silent Scream, but what changed was that Erik, or rather, Ben Fink, was now officially a blackguard.

The amount of information he received also increased, and that information he gave to the rebels.

Of course, he had to pay attention to what he said to them, and if the rebels planned attacks, they had to be careful as to not let the blackguards understand there was someone within them working for the rebels.

Though Erik had it easier than a classic spy, because by reading the people\'s mind, he could gain information without exposing himself.

The problem was that the blackguards were very serious about security. They never shared too much, more often than not, they gave information to their members only regarding the jobs they had to take.

However, everything paid off, because the rebels attacks became much more deadly, much more safe and far more remunerative.

Of course, Van Dyke also decided it would be better to help Erik gain trust and ascend the ranks of the blackguards by purposefully loose some battles.

That would look like a stupid waste of lives, and it was, really, but aside from making Erik learn merits, it was also a way to keep the blackguards unaware of the actual situation and to make it possible to stage attacks that would be much more devastating than the losses they had.

Most of the intelligence Erik shared was about where troops were stationed.

Van Dyke often used distraction tactics, making Volkov and the blackguards focus on battles Van Dyke and Fischer didn\'t really care about, while they sent specialized agents to attack less guarded places or assassinate targets.

Since Erik arrived, even Dark Tendrils\' group interferences became less problematic.

The higher-ups had taken a special interest in Erik\'s progress after the breach in Sector 7342, where Erik\'s efficiency during the thaid breach had earned him commendations.

However, now, he was often assigned to tasks that demanded more than just brute strength, providing him with the perfect cover to gather intelligence.

Especially because he had been assigned to a team.

Erik stood in the dimly lit briefing room of Barrack A3, the fortified building for the Blackguard soldiers.

The walls were full of maps and tactical displays, casting glows across the masked blackguards\' faces.

Silent Scream had gone on another assignment, leaving Erik and his teammates to take care of a quest they received alone.

Those guys had the same rank and were put together under Silent Scream\'s surveillance to train a new team of blackguards. That was customary for the blackguards.

It was the same that happened to Momentum\'s team. Initially, it was a team just like Erik\'s, with no rank and being under scrutiny. But through time, they ascended the ranks, to the point they were considered among the best within the blackguards.

The people joining him were a guy under the alias of Shatterfist, a very promising initiate who became a blackguard two months earlier and came from Khunelerp. He was also the nominal leader of the group.

Next to him stood two individuals: a woman known by the alias Missing Air and a man referred to as Brute Ape.

Erik stood at the periphery of the room, listening as Shatterfist spoke. His voice, muffled by the mask, was deep and commanding.

"Recent intelligence suggests increased rebel activity near several strategic locations. Our focus must be on reinforcing the key outposts assigned to our team, particularly deposit 89 in

Sector 458."

Brute Ape, standing to Shatterfist\'s right, nodded in agreement.

"The rebels have become bolder," he said, "and their tactics are getting more refined. But I do not agree with the deposit 89 part."

His gloved hand gestured emphatically, "In my opinion, I think we need to ensure that deposit 234 is defended as well."

The only problem was, he and the others knew they didn\'t have enough resources to do that.

"The rebels target places where brain crystal rifles can be found, and that deposit stores those things. Only Dark Tendrils prevented some attacks, but he can\'t be everywhere."

Since the rebels\' attack intensified, Dark Tendrils\' team became famous among the blackguards.

They were efficient, ruthless and rapid. There was no better team within New Alexandria, at least officially.

Even that was Fischer and Van Dyke\'s work. Since they couldn\'t get rid of Dark Tendrils\' group, the best thing to do was to stage attacks against targets the group would try to defend.

It worked, because that forced Dark Tendrils\' group to get out and stop them, and that was used to study and observe them.

The only problem was that the rebels never understood where they went, or when they

appeared.

Even if they knew the group was coming, they never ambushed them, and Erik couldn\'t help because of his duties within the blackguards.

The tactic worked because Dark Tendril was no longer a ghost for the rebels, and they found out all their brain crystal powers.

Erik activated his Instability brain crystal power again, tuning into Brute Ape\'s thoughts.

The man was considering doubling the guard and installing additional automated defenses in

deposit 234.

"I don\'t know if we have enough resources to power up both locations quickly enough,"

Shatterfist said.

"We must choose what to focus on."

Erik shifted his focus to Shatterfist\'s mind. He knew the man was giving priority to deposit 89.

Basically, the two wanted to defend only one place with the people they were given.

Both were right, but Shatterfist was slightly more right than Brute Ape.

Deposit 89 was a heavy artillery-mana-powered depot, a critical asset in the defense of New

Alexandria.

Brute Ape, however, preferred to defend a deposit holding brain crystal rifles. Both locations held valuable equipment, but there were significant differences.

Then Missing air turned to Shatterfist. "Explain your prioritization of Sector 458."

Shatterfist turned to her.

"The heavy artillery in deposit 89 is crucial for our city\'s defense. Mana-powered cannons can decimate large groups of thaids or rebels from a distance, providing us with a strategic

advantage."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "If the rebels were to gain control of this

depot, they could use the artillery to breach the gates or to attack strategic locations without the need to employ men and women."

The woman nodded, seeing the logic in Shatterfist\'s words. "True, but we must consider all assets."

"The brain crystal rifles stored in Deposit 234 are equally critical," Brute Ape said.

Brute Ape tapped his gloved finger on the table. "These rifles are not only powerful but

versatile. They can enhance a soldier\'s abilities, making soldiers deadly regardless of their brain crystal power." He paused, his posture rigid. "Do you really think a mass attack wouldn\'t lead to a breech within a gate?"

He leaned forward. "If the rebels gain these, they could drastically improve their combat effectiveness, and that across the entire board. You are already seeing the result on the battlefield from those they already stole." His breath rasped through the mask. The rebels hadn\'t yet finished building the tunnel, but a lot of deposits had been attacked, and the rebels got their hands on a lot of interesting things, among them brain crystal rifles. "These weapons are lightweight, portable, and capable of being used in various tactical scenarios, making them ideal for guerilla warfare, which is what the rebels are using most of the time. Don\'t forget, their goal is to kill us all."

"Both arguments have merit," Missing Air said. Shatterfist pressed forward. "We must reinforce deposit 89, I say. The mana-powered artillery can control the battlefield. The artillery\'s destructive power cannot be left in their

hands."

Brute Ape countered, "But the rifles allow for stealth and precision. They\'re easier to move and conceal, making them perfect for covert operations. If the rebels get their hands on these rifles, they could wage a war of attrition."