Plan-1

" Father! you are not thinking about going to her side are you?" Mera could tell by the look in his eyes that he was thinking about it.

Alastair was silent for a moment before exhaling and said," I-i don't know."

" What do you mean!? you said you left the army right?"

" She is right. Even if you go, there is not much you could do about it. Beside, the Duke has amassed a large army specifically for this purpose. We were there few months ago and he did warn us about the invasion." Felix interjected.

" What?" Alastair didn't know what to say. He was kept getting more surprises which made him question what really he was doing back in the army. How does everyone else knows about it except for the people in the capital?

" It's plausible. When I was visiting that place, I could tell it was a hub where different cultures mingled. It was easier for him to get whispers of Seracin preparing for invasion way before the capitol got wind of it. Not to mention if second prince is involved, he would have suppressed the news coming out from Northern dutchy." One of the people mentioned. He is among the handful that experienced what's life was like outside the village.

" He is right. If you really want to help her, you first have to solve the current problem with the Sablethorn house, after all the area they rule lies in the middle of the path one have to take to go to the Northern states." Felix didn't outright shut him down like others but put the perfect proposition regardless of what he wanted to do in future.

They had a common enemy and if he was able to move Alastair, the knight commander for the cause it would be beneficial for the eventual battle.

" I know he got his honor to uphold while you just want to save your ass but can someone tell me what we are up against first?" Noah asked. He believed in offense is the best defence, whether it was Seracins or Sablethorn, he didn't really care.

" Adding the hundred knights, they have a whole different division of elite knights in their disposal. Not to mention, their city is surrounded by high walls and a wide moats making it impossible for anyone to go through it unless you don't have proper identification papers." Felix paused to look at Noah's expression which didn't change much before continuing.

" A total of seven hundred personals if you count the archers and other infantry units. For the protection of family, a dozen royal knights that he personally invited from the capital that are akin to tens if not hundreds of ordinary infantry. Everyone of them in proficient in aura making them efficient when it comes dealing with sorcerer and assassins. What do you think? Is it impressive enough for you to save your ass?" Felix wanted to see the look of despair in Noah's eyes. 

The rude brat kept disrespecting him constantly not knowing how big the world is, he wanted to show him why even someone like Flame emperor was worried about fighting a noble family headon.

" Hundred people at the base of the mountain that means six hundred to protect the city. A dozen special knights? By the looks of old man, it seemed like this aura thing is some sort of power unique to knights. It's understandable or else the sorcerers would just overpower everyone. It must by why he is here hiding and not there taking revenge on them for hurting his students." Noah thought, arranging the information.

Knowing your enemy was the best way to learn about their weakness. Instead of an all out war, Noah thought it was best to just threaten them by kidnapping their son? It might not be good for the future but with the trajectory of the country, they wouldn't have enough manpower to worry about a tiny little village.

The problem was the merchant guild, he knew more than anyone who money moves world, being a person from modern age. He need to come up with something that would catch their interest. He had to do some more research to think of a way because he knew that person that lost his hand wasn't going to let this matter go easily.

Sablethorn hardly suffered any causality, they ran off before Noah could do anything but that pig bastard looked like some that would hold a grudge.

" How high is that bastard standing in the family? The one that forcefully tried to marry her." He asked.

" He is the eldest son of the family."

" Good. I don't know what he saw in someone like her but she is violent and throws a tantrum everywhere she goes-"

" You-" Mera gave him the death stares but he didn't care and carried on with his assessment. 

" But from his tone, he doesn't seem to be the one to give up. I am sure he would still be around hashing other plans. So, why don't we do this..."