"Alright, I'll head over there this afternoon to check out the situation and try to clear a path." Red volunteered himself upon hearing the plan for the northern escape route.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Next is the combat arrangement. Considering the opponent is the Ursus Regular Army, our initial defensive fortifications might not be very effective. After all..." Talulah looked toward Buldrokkas'tee.
The Captain nodded heavily. High-speed Battleships.
These behemoths were the core strength of the military—nightmares loaded with massive cannons, capable of carrying a vast amount of soldiers and equipment. In an era where tanks could easily crush infantry, these land-ships, nearly a hundred meters long, were the ultimate predators. There were only a handful of recorded instances where non-battleships had destroyed one—the most famous being when the Witch King of Leithanien and hundreds of High Tower Casters ambushed a Gallic ship with a massive, world-shaking spell.
The main group's plan to head north was intended to act as bait, luring the Ursus army away to give the elderly, weak, women, and children hiding in the south a chance to escape.
While they were looking distressed, news came that Flandre Scarlet and the Yeti Squad had returned, bringing a massive surprise.
"Let's go, let's see what surprise little Flandre has brought us this time!" Talulah rubbed her brow; Count Miles's threat was imminent, but she had to brace herself and face the present.
When the group arrived in the south, their jaws dropped. A massive, seemingly endless swarm of beasts filled the area.
"Heavens, so many animals! And most are alive—more than half are Camel-like Beasts. Talulah, we're rich!" Alina cried out. As the person previously managing the movement's tight finances, she knew how miraculous this was. Usually, they were lucky to catch one or two for food. Now, they had a herd so large they couldn't even bear to slaughter them all. Live beasts were far more valuable for transport, and they had plenty of other wild animals for meat. Alina estimated they could eat meat at every meal for a month.
"How are there so many?" Talulah asked softly as she caught the flying Flandre.
"Hehehe, I had good luck and found a herd, so I brought them all back." Flandre was smiling like a total goofball after being praised by Big Bear all the way home.
"How did you make them willing to follow you?"
"Animal Charm, a very simple spell. A Magic Girl can gain the support of animals with this Magic. Sister Alina can learn it too!"
Alina nodded. She had seen records of such spells in her bloodline but had never practiced them. It was like watching a video of a difficult pose; your eyes "learn" it, but your body doesn't. She realized she needed to spend more time practicing.
"Everyone, hurry and separate these herds. Our current pens might not have enough space!" Talulah's voice spread across the square.
The predatory Fang Beasts and Rift Beasts were dealt with first, as Flandre warned they would return to their original ferocity once the spell wore off. Others, like Jump Beasts and Shield Beasts, were penned. Even so, the sheer amount of meat from the slaughtered predators had everyone beaming with joy.
Back in the office, the discussion resumed. Upon hearing the situation, Flandre Scarlet expressed that waiting for death was unreasonable—they should just take the initiative. She offered to find Count Miles and take him out immediately.
"Flandre, don't be in a hurry. Once he arrives, we will indeed need you to carry out a Decapitation Strike," Buldrokkas'tee said.
"Oh, Captain, do you have an idea?" Talulah asked.
Buldrokkas'tee explained that since this was Count Miles's private operation, he would almost certainly be there in person, likely inside a High-speed Battleship. Flandre's ability to fly and turn into a small bat made her the perfect assassin.
In a formal military operation, killing a commander might not stop the machine. Once the person paying the bills is dead, the mercenaries and soldiers have no reason to keep risking their lives.
"No problem, Flandre guarantees she'll twist his head off for everyone to kick around like a ball!"
Alina pinched her cheek. "Little Flandre, where did you learn all this!"
"Television! All the bad guys say that!" Flandre replied proudly.
It seems Lungmen isn't a good place either; this child's personality has warped in just half a year, Talulah and Alina thought, exchanging a knowing glance. The Shadow Guards simply looked away, pretending not to hear.
With the plan in place, they shifted their defensive strategy. They weren't looking to defeat the army, only to delay them long enough for Flandre to finish the job.
They spent the next week moving the non-combatants to the southern refuge. To prevent a panic that the Reconnaissance Squad could exploit, they used the excuse that the Ursus Patrol was gathering a larger force than usual, and it was safer for the elderly and sick to move temporarily.
During this time, Flandre acted as a "master," wearing small glasses and teaching Talulah, Alina, and even Yelena basic spells: Animal Charm, Light Body Art, Strength Enhancement, and Confusion. These were low-consumption spells that suited Talulah's warrior style or helped the group's overall utility.
As for offense? Flandre insisted on Danmaku. "Danmaku is the best offensive Magic!" she claimed. She told Alina to develop her own style based on her preferences.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
A knock at the door interrupted their study. It was Doctor Anto, looking much sturdier than when she first arrived.
"I've come to ask, is a large-scale battle about to happen for the Reunion Movement?" Anto asked, looking directly at Talulah.
"Oh, why does Doctor Anto ask that?"