34: Discussion

The sound of discussion among the crowd was constant during the meeting.

Baron Nocturne pointed heavily at the position of "Eagle Beak Strait" on the sea chart, his voice steady and full of determination: "I will personally lead the main fleet of Thunder Island to ambush behind the heights on both sides of the strait. Once the majority of the Flamingo fleet enters the strait, we will block their retreat with falling rocks, fire arrows, and ballistae, cutting them in half! At that time, I will need Knight Rodney and Knight Barlett to lead their warships in a feint from the direction of the strait's exit to draw their attention and create a pincer attack!"

Rodney and Barlett looked at the sea chart, their brows furrowed. This plan sounded good, but their small fleets would have to face the first wave of pressure from the main pirate force head-on, which was extremely risky. Barlett couldn't help but say: "My Lord Baron, if we feint from the exit, what if the pirates become desperate and concentrate their fire to crush us first..."

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat stagnant for a moment. Baron Nocturne was about to explain when Linn, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Excellency the Baron's plan is very good; a frontal interception can indeed cause the maximum damage to Flamingo." Linn's voice was calm, yet it instantly drew everyone's attention. His slender fingers moved across the sea chart, passing Eagle Beak Strait and pointing further southwest, towards the general location of the Flamingo Pirate Group's lair.

"However," he changed the subject, his dark eyes sparkling with a calm and wise light, "I wonder if you all have considered another possibility? If we fight a fierce battle here with the main Flamingo force, even if we win, it will surely be a pyrrhic victory. But if we can take advantage of the moment they have mobilized everything and their rear is empty, we could send a surprise force to strike directly at their lair..."

As soon as he said this, the council chamber fell into silence. A sharp light flashed in Baron Nocturne's eyes, while Rodney and Barlett showed expressions of shock.

"Sneak attack the Flamingo lair?" Rodney blurted out, "Knight Linn, that's too risky! Not to mention that the Flamingo pirates' fortifications are extremely well-developed. The pirates left behind are by no means easy to deal with! Once we're bogged down, if Cedric returns with reinforcements, it will result in total annihilation!"

"Knight Rodney is right," Barlett also shook his head, "The risk is too high, and the gains won't outweigh the losses."

Baron Nocturne did not immediately refute him but looked deeply at Linn: "Knight Linn, please continue." He realized that what this young man proposed might be a bold concept that could greatly change the situation of the war or even reduce their own losses.

Linn remained calm and composed, his fingertip tracing an arc on the sea chart: "It's not about a frontal assault on their lair. My meaning is that once it's confirmed that the Flamingo main force has entered Eagle Beak Strait and engaged with Your Excellency the Baron, my Iron Sand Island fleet will bypass them to the vicinity of their lair. If their lair's defenses are empty, I will take the opportunity to capture it, burn their supplies, and destroy their Foundation; if their defenses are tight, I will cruise the perimeter, intercepting their communication boats and creating chaos."

He paused, raising his voice slightly with an unquestionable confidence: "In either case, once the news of the attack on the Flamingo lair reaches the front line, Cedric's military morale will surely be in chaos! The Foundation he has built for many years is under threat; he will never sit idly by and will inevitably split his forces to return for reinforcements! At that time, Your Excellency the Baron's frontal pressure will be greatly reduced, and you can take the opportunity to attack with full force. Meanwhile, the returning pirates will be worried about their lair, marching in haste with low morale..."

Linn's gaze swept over Nocturne and finally settled on the faces of the other two lords: "My Iron Sand Island will wait at our leisure and set an ambush in this unnamed reef area on the chart—" he pointed to a complex stretch of water between the Flamingo lair and Eagle Beak Strait "—to strike a head-on blow against that exhausted reinforcement army! Flamingo Island is crucial to Cedric; if that newly promoted Gold Knight is in the reinforcement party..."

His tone was resolute, carrying a chilling Aura: "I, Lynn Ellis, swear by my honor as a knight that I will personally lead the team to stall him, or even... try to defeat him!"

These words were like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake! Not only did he propose a flanking tactic, but he also took on the heavy responsibility of confronting a Gold Rank Expert!

Baron Nocturne's breathing became slightly rapid. His original plan was a brutal frontal war of attrition; even if he won, Thunder Island's strength would surely be greatly damaged. Linn's plan, however, was full of offensive spirit and cleverness. If successful, it would not only win the war but also greatly preserve the Alliance's, and especially the Nocturne Territory's, Origin Qi! As for whether Linn could stall a Gold Knight... recalling the messenger's report about Linn's unfathomable Mental Pressure, Nocturne felt a faint sense that this young man might actually be able to create a miracle.

Rodney and Barlett also looked at each other. If Linn could really pin down a Gold Knight, the pressure on their frontal battlefield would be drastically reduced, and their chances of survival would greatly increase. Moreover, since Linn was the one performing this most dangerous task, they were happy to see it happen.

However, Linn's plan was entirely for his own benefit. Flamingo Island, which had been cultivated for decades, must contain many resources. He would snatch a wave of them first!

"Brilliant!" Baron Nocturne slammed the table, an excited expression appearing on his face. "Knight Linn's plan is a stroke of genius! A frontal interception, a strike at the heart from behind, and an ambush midway! This way, the Flamingo Pirate Group will be unable to attend to both ends and will surely be defeated!"

In the gaze he turned toward Linn, the sense of appreciation grew stronger, even carrying a hint of wariness. This young man's strength was not only growing rapidly, but his strategic vision and courage were also astonishing.

"Since the strategy is set, the next step is the distribution of the spoils." Baron Nocturne sat back down, regaining his composure as a lord. "If we win this battle, the main island of approximately one hundred and fifty square kilometers and its surrounding small islands occupied by the Flamingo Pirate Group will belong to my Nocturne Territory. This is the territorial Foundation necessary for my promotion to Viscount, and it is not open for discussion."

On this point, no one had any objections. In wars between pioneering nobles, land was one of the ultimate goals.

Linn added: "My Iron Sand Island is newly established and lacks people and food. In this battle, all prisoners, slaves, and captured food from the Flamingo Pirate Group's lair and the reinforcement fleet must all belong to me." What he wanted was a population that could immediately be converted into strength and the supplies to sustain survival.

Baron Nocturne pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement: "Very well. The prisoners and slaves will go to you, and most of the food will also go to you, but my Thunder Island needs to keep a portion as a supplement for military funds."

"As it should be." Linn agreed.

"Then what about the gold coins and treasures?" Rodney asked hastily. This was what he and Barlett cared about most.

Baron Nocturne glanced at them and said in a deep voice: "All captured gold coins, jewelry, magic Materials, and other liquid assets will be distributed uniformly based on each party's contribution in this battle. Of course, Knight Linn has taken on the most critical tasks of flanking and intercepting the Gold Knight, so his distribution share should be thirty percent. My Nocturne Territory is responsible for the main frontal battlefield and provides most of the Alliance's supplies, so it will take forty percent. Knight Rodney and Knight Barlett are responsible for the feint and diversion, taking fifteen percent each."

This distribution plan was clearly biased toward Linn and Nocturne himself. Rodney and Barlett's expressions changed, and they were just about to speak up to argue.

But Baron Nocturne spoke first: "Furthermore, as an additional reward for the two of you sending troops to help this time, regardless of the outcome of the battle, I, Nocturne, will personally compensate each of you with five hundred gold coins!"

Five hundred gold coins! For small lords like Rodney and Barlett, this was a considerable windfall, enough to cover any losses they might suffer with some to spare. The two looked at each other, and the dissatisfaction in their hearts mostly dissipated. Their strength was not as great as Linn's or Nocturne's; being able to obtain a guaranteed return in such a dangerous battle without having to face the threat of the Gold Rank head-on was already a very good result.

"The Lord Baron is generous!"

"We have no objections!"

The two of them quickly expressed their stance.

Baron Nocturne nodded with satisfaction and finally looked at Linn: "Knight Linn, do you have any objections to this distribution plan?"

Linn smiled slightly; this result was within his expectations. He had obtained the most urgently needed population and food, as well as the largest share of the liquid assets. More importantly, through this battle, he would truly establish his prestige in the northern part of the Salu Archipelago. "It's very fair; I have no objections."

"Good!" Baron Nocturne stood up abruptly and raised the wine glass on the table. "Since that's the case, the Alliance is formed! I wish us a victorious start and the complete eradication of this cancer, the Flamingo! For the peace of the Salu Archipelago!"

Linn, Rodney, and Barlett also raised their glasses one after another.

"To victory!"

Four wine glasses clinked gently in the air, signaling that a fateful storm was about to arrive in the northern waters of the Salu Archipelago. And Linn would play a crucial role in this storm.