第１６１１堀：軍の更なる活動 (Part2)
"Ugh, that’s just too unpleasant. But the fact that I can't say it's impossible is what makes it so delicate."
Indeed, it wasn't impossible. Even without Vilia and Hiiro, who served as Dressa’s direct subordinates, there were plenty of capable officers available. The reason Vilia and Hiiro were so highly valued by Dressa was simple: trust. They were family, living under the same roof. Of course, military personnel might live together during campaigns or training, but that didn't equate to the bond of family. Because she knew their true capabilities, her trust in them was absolute; they operated with a silent, intuitive understanding that required no explanation. In that sense, they were incredibly easy to work with. It wasn't that other soldiers were inconvenient, but one naturally has to be more guarded around those who aren't family. That was precisely why I preferred to keep my wives gathered in one place—here in Weed.
In a strategy game, you’d dispatch your best subordinates to every corner of the map to bolster your national strength. But I had no need for territory, and I refused to put them in harm’s way, which was why I maintained this configuration. It was precisely because they were all gathered in one place that I could mobilize a strike force during an emergency, like the situation in Suls. If everyone were scattered across different regions acting as lords, they wouldn't be able to move freely, and any competent enemy would surely sabotage them to keep them pinned down. This setup was, in part, a countermeasure against such tactics.
"So, I understand that we can afford to divert our forces, but we don't actually know where the enemy is, do you?"
"We don't know yet, but our intelligence division has already extracted their faces from our memories to confirm their identities, right? They’ve been tracking them from Vinosia. If they’re hiding somewhere, the trail of eyewitness reports will eventually go cold. Which means..."
"The enemy's location will naturally reveal itself? But what if they hide their faces, use disguises, or employ perception-altering magic?"
"Well, it’s a given that the Dark Guild types would use those kinds of tricks, so we’re investigating the underworld sectors in every region as well. Even they can't survive without resupplying. They’ll inevitably have to buy food. Whether they show their faces or keep their identities hidden while doing so, that’s another matter."
"I see. By tracking things like food supplies through the underworld, we can naturally narrow it down."
"Exactly."
The intelligence agents tracking the Dark Guild from Vinosia weren't just following their physical movements; they were monitoring their supply lines as well. Since we knew exactly when they had departed, the investigation was straightforward.
"So, catching the tail of the Dark Guild is just a matter of time?"
"Pretty much. It’s been about two weeks since we returned, so it wouldn't be strange if they’ve already picked up some information. After all, our mobility is on a different level."
It was true—they had departed about ten days before we arrived in Vinosia. If we hadn't been traveling by vehicle, the gap would have been much wider, but our swift action had paid off. Combined with the seven days we spent investigating in Vinosia, we were chasing them with a lead of about twenty days. And, of course, our intelligence division had both vehicles and a speed of movement that was simply incomparable.
"I don't know much about this sort of thing, but isn't it usually impossible to catch someone when there's a twenty-day gap?"
"Well, there are professional ways to handle that. Even you, Dressa, wondered how I knew where you were, didn't you?"
"Ah, I suppose you have a point. You have information networks everywhere, don't you?"
"That’s the gist of it. Besides, the enemy is busy looking for places to hide, while we are solely focused on the hunt. If you ask who has the advantage in speed..."
"Then the pursuer is definitely faster. Thinking about it that way, maybe I don't need to worry so much?"
"Who knows? People—or rather, the world—are unpredictable. What if the Dark Guild manages to steal a core and something outrageous happens?"
"Stop that. That’s the kind of thing they call a 'flag' in manga and games."
"As if something like that would happen so easily in reality. Still, that’s exactly why we’re doing high-altitude reconnaissance. I’m counting on you."
"Ugh, so we’re right back where we started. Fine, I understand."
And so, we continued to devise further plans to hunt down the members of the Dark Guild. We would strike not only from the sea but from the sky as well. We would take every measure possible.