The plan begins

Ryan's words resonated deeply, prompting the soldiers to share serious looks.

"My Lord... Forgive my boldness in asking, but... Are you truly serious about this?" Gilbert couldn't help but inquire.

Ryan nodded affirmatively. "Yes, this is the only way I can govern this city without interference," he explained, pausing for a moment before adding, "Haven't you noticed? Those corrupt individuals seek to take control of the city themselves, so they can indulge in their corruption and lay the blame for their misdeeds at my feet..."

Gilbert, the soldiers, and the nearby servants exchanged uneasy glances.

"My Lord... I must express concern; this will be perilous. They have significant forces within the city, stronger than ours..." Captain Claude couldn't resist saying.

"I share the captain's concerns, Your Highness. How can we stand against the established forces of these officials in the city?" one of the soldiers asked.

"Your concerns are well-founded," Ryan acknowledged with a smile. "However, I am confident that my strategy to eradicate this corruption will be effective, provided it is executed flawlessly..."

Captain Claude persisted, "But Your Highness, executing your plan without hitches seems exceedingly challenging."

Ryan offered a reassuring smile. "You need not worry, for I have a secret weapon at my disposal."

The room fell into an intrigued silence before a soldier ventured, "A secret weapon?"

Ryan simply nodded, keeping the details to himself. After all, he couldn't disclose that he potentially had access to a live map of the city of Bathsheba through the system's fiefdom feature.

Although Ryan couldn't disclose the nature of his secret weapon, the system map, he still managed to share enough to keep trust without revealing its true nature. Understanding the importance of maintaining his team's confidence, he explained, "My secret weapon is, in fact, my intelligence on these officials. I'm aware of their haunts, whether they're guarded by their soldiers or not."

This revelation helped the soldiers grasp why their prince and lord had been rigorously training them over the past couple of days.

With their concerns addressed, Ryan proceeded to outline his strategy to the soldiers.

The plan was as follows: first, the soldiers would disguise themselves in civilian clothes, blending in as ordinary citizens.

Next, they would discreetly gather at the tavern frequented by these officials every night.

Then, at Ryan's signal, the soldiers would detain these officials and swiftly escort them to the castle.

In the impoverished city of Bathsheba, the number of these corrupt officials, including the elders, totaled merely eight.

The city's governance included five elders who also served as officials, alongside three lower-ranking officials: the Magistrate, the city treasurer, and the overseer of public works and agriculture.

Over two days of monitoring via the system map, Ryan noted that five elders frequented the tavern, with three of them visiting daily. The other two elders' patterns were less consistent, making Ryan unsure of their regularity compared to the trio.

Meanwhile, when the elders occupied the tavern, the three subordinate officials stayed at their homes. Ryan observed that these officials' residences were lightly guarded, if at all. Their families were present, but the soldiers under the officials' command didn't actively protect the homes. Instead, patrols occasionally passed by.

This led Ryan to a dual strategy: not only planning to capture the elders at the tavern but also to dispatch soldiers to infiltrate the homes of the lower officials for a surprise arrest.

"Trust this intelligence; it's accurate and will guide us to the precise locations of these corrupt officials at the crucial moment," Ryan declared with conviction.

Gilbert couldn't help but wonder about the source of Ryan's detailed knowledge. The frequented places of the officials were closely guarded secrets, presumably known only to the establishment's owner and staff, who were unlikely to share such sensitive information.

As the soldiers leaned over the map Ryan spread out, pointing to locations and detailing his strategy, curiosity and anticipation filled the air.

In the still of the night, the city of Bathsheba was far from silent. People continued their work in the fields and on construction sites, and certain establishments, like the Bathsheba Tavern, remained a beacon of activity.

The tavern welcomed all sorts—drunkards seeking solace in their cups and revelers looking for a night of escape. Inside, the atmosphere was lively with patrons seated at tables, indulging in drinks and the company of the tavern's entertainers.

Among the crowd, a solitary figure clad in a robe and hood, with a half mask obscuring the upper part of his face, sat alone, quietly sipping water. Despite the disguise, it was clear the individual was young.

Around him, robust figures lounged at their tables, some indulging in strong liquor, others captivated by the women's attention, a sheathed dagger resting casually by their side. In this place, armed patrons were not an uncommon sight; adventurers passing through Bathsheba often wore their weapons openly, blending seamlessly with the local crowd.

The tavern's routine buzz was momentarily disrupted by the sound of the swinging door. The newcomers, also robed and hooded to conceal their identities, were greeted with unusual deference. The tavern owner himself stepped forward to welcome them, guiding them to a private room with a level of personal attention that was rare.

The young man in the half mask watched intently, a spark of recognition lighting his eyes as he observed the cloaked figures welcomed so personally by the tavern's proprietor...

The young man whispered under his breath, a hint of amusement in his tone, "Well, isn't this my lucky day? All five have shown up, saving me the hassle." He pondered to himself, 'After all, capturing three and then having to deal with the remaining two in the fortified elders' hall would have been quite the ordeal...'

Then, almost imperceptibly, the young man shared knowing looks with the other muscular figures scattered around the room, some seemingly lost in their drinks, others seemingly distracted by the company of women.