Lafaye was standing in the highest tower of the Castle Aren.
"First the Path of Struggle... and now the Palrangka War. Others would have a hard time going through just one such dangerous adventure, let alone two, yet he makes such easy work out of them... I must say, he is indeed a remarkable person."
Immediately before the battle of the Garnav Plain, Weed managed to take the initiative by winning the broadcasting media to his side. Recalling the course of actions he had taken to that end and the outcomes it had brought, Lafaye could not help but feel bitter, as the person who was leading the Hermes Guild.
"Are you going to proceed with the plan?"
Bard Ray in his full armor ascended to the top of the tower. The Hermes Guild had supplied Bard Ray with the best equipment and brand new weapons for the upcoming war.
Lafaye answered Bard Ray calmly.
"Yes, we will carry on as planned."
"And the targets?"
They had devised a scheme to summon three flaming meteors, simultaneously aiming at Weed and the Arpen Kingdom's camp. However, they had yet to decide exactly which locations they would target with the meteors. Lafaye unrolled the map of the Garnav Plain and pointed at the place where the concert of Marey the bard had taken place.
"We should drop two of them here, where the biggest number of people are gathering."
"What about the third one?"
"I've chosen the construction site of the sculptures. That way we can destroy the weapons they have been making in preparation for the war."
In most cases Bard Ray was content with Lafaye's decisions, and this time was no exception. The Hermes Guild had been having difficulties maintaining their great empire. Little by little, they had been lead toward the edge of a precipice, and the only way left for them now was to fully rely on their military forces. In fact, this was what the Hermes Guild truly excelled at.
***
*Ssssswaaaa...*
Reeds swayed with the night wind.
The army of the Hermes Guild was stationed by the Dellawood River, which was a 30-minutes horseback ride away from the Garnav Plain.
"The troops of the Haven Empire look really magnificent, too."
"Yeah. This is a splendid view."
"Kuuu. Finally, the epic battle will take place today."
Well over a hundred thousand users were looking down upon the riverside from a distant mountain. The sight of great military tents, chariots and war horses standing in orderly lines was indeed deeply impressive.
"The Hermes Guild has always lived up to its name in battles that involved its real main forces."
"Those guys did more than just proving themselves. They have never been defeated in a war when they were led by Bard Ray himself."
"As far as I remember, they've never even had an even match. All of their victories have been overwhelming, crushing, absolute... all that stuff."
There were many users from the Central Continent who worshipped martial power. They had observed every victory the Haven Empire had achieved until now, and they believed that the Empire would be the winner this time, yet again. They had not joined the Northern Continent users and they followed the Imperial Army to the assembly area, dreaming of gaining membership of the Hermes Guild or hoping to get some crumbs off of their table.
