Chapter 176 - War preparation (2/2)
While some people preferred not to see Lucien being so brutal, Cassidy couldn't wait to see him cut Ivan's head off.
He looked at Scarlett. "The spy left Portgreen city four days ago. Do you think the mercenaries are still resisting?"
Scarlett nodded. "No matter what advantage Ivan got, he would still have a hard time dealing with all the mercenaries."
"Black Hand is not the best leader, but without me there, he leads everyone. So in total, he controls more than twenty thousand rank-B mercenaries, many A-rank, and a lot more weaker mercenaries."
Lucien was glad that he didn't kill Scarlett because her help makes everything easier. Still, he knows that her help has some limitations.
"I suppose it won't be simple for you to take back your position as the mercenaries leader."
Scarlett explained her point honestly. "Losing me and Cornelius was what made Black Hand unite all the mercenaries under his banner. Now he must have the loyalty of a lot of them."
"But since they are now in trouble and on the weakest side of the conflict, I just need to show them a way to peace. The only thing mercenaries want is the means to make money."
"They don't care who is in charge... In fact, the problems with the adventurers were my fault."
Scarlett did not regret trying to undermine the adventurers' power and influence, but she knew that Lucien doesn't like her manipulative attitude. So she couldn't help but bow her head in shame.
Olivia still doesn't like Scarlett. But she knows they are both in the same situation, being the least liked members of Lucien's harem, by wives, especially Cassidy.
So she thought that approaching Scarlett and solving their past differences would benefit both of them.
She held Scarlett's hand on the table. "It wasn't only your fault. I also always tried to undermine the influence of the mercenaries and make you look like villains."
Scarlett did not push way Olivia's hand because she knew Lucien would be happy with them getting along.
She smiled at Olivia. "Who would have thought that we would become part of the same family... Sorry for everything I did to you."
Olivia smiled too. "Yes, now we are one great family. I am also sorry for everything I did."
Cassidy couldn't take that any longer and hit the table. "Damn! Wasn't this supposed to be a conference to talk about the war? But here you are doing a fake performance just to have my husband's d.i.c.k inside your dirty pusssies longer."
"OUR HUSBAND!" Olivia and Scarlett exclaimed together.
Cassidy stood up and pointed her silver greatsword at them. "Do you think he would stop me from killing you both now?"
Lucien can't help but have a headache with that conflict. The fact that Olivia and Scarlett had done Cassidy so much harm could not be erased so easily.
Cassidy isn't his second wife just because she is an incredible woman, but because she accepted Lucien with an open heart at first.
Even though she was very much in need of his help, she was not only very grateful to him but accepted him as her King.
That would always make Lucien have a special affection for her. Something he couldn't force himself to have for Olivia and Scarlett, who weren't friendly with him at first.
Still, after he accepted them into his family, conflicts like this couldn't be allowed, even if incited by his beloved Queen.
*Pah*
The loud sound of the slap Lucien gave Cassidy on the ass echoed across the room, causing everyone to go silent. Not even a breath could be heard.
Then without removing his hand from her ass, he squeezed it. "I wouldn't have to stop you from killing them because you wouldn't do that, right?"
"..." Cassidy tried to maintain eye contact with Olivia and Scarlett, but her face started to blush.
The powerful and majestic Queen has a strong personality, but just feeling Lucien's touch, she becomes cute and docile like a little bunny.
While continuing to caress her ass, Lucien looked at Olivia and Scarlett. "The mistakes of the past must not influence us to make new mistakes.
"We are a family now, and we must not fight. We must also not use manipulations to get what we want, but always be honest with each other."
"....." After Lucien spoke, the silence continued. Cassidy, Olivia, and Scarlett did not want to back down and show weakness.
Lucien knew that if he is strict with his wives, they would obey him to avoid fighting, and not because they really wanted to get along.
But his unorthodox methods always seemed to have a very good effect, even though small conflicts couldn't always really be avoided.
He stopped caressing Cassidy's ass and slowly started to move his hand away.
Lucien didn't have to say anything for Cassidy to understand what kind of punishment she would suffer from creating problems.
She quickly held his hand to her ass while making a regretful expression. "I'm really sorry."
He again started stroking her ass, making Cassidy blush again.
Cassidy didn't really want to start fights with Olivia and Scarlett, but she was furious when she remembered everything Mia had to go through when she was sick. There is nothing that makes a mother angrier than the suffering of her children.
Still, she no longer wanted to blame Olivia and Scarlett for that and create problems for Lucien. He is doing his best to make her and her daughter happy and safe.
She looked at Olivia and Scarlett and spoke sincerely. "I'm sorry."
Olivia and Scarlett also didn't want to fight Cassidy, thus creating troubles for Lucien, so they quickly responded together. "I'm sorry."
Lucien smiled as he could feel their sincerity from the connection he has with the girls. Although it seems a little invasive to know their feelings, they were pleased with it as they could feel that he really loves them very much.
Cassidy again sat down in the chair on Lucien's left side. She moved his hand to her waist, and so he continued stroking her while L.u.s.t had not even for a minute, stopped caressing his c.o.c.k, sitting on his right side.
"Well, let's continue talking about what's important now." Lucien refocused on his plans again.
"So, Scarlett will assume the leadership of the mercenaries as soon as we kill Black Hand and Ivan, while Olivia will assume the leadership of the Guild."
"The point is, in order to reach these two and others who might cause problems, we may have to go through many mercenaries and adventurers."
"Killing all in our way may not be very good for Cassidy's popularity as Queen, by taking back the crown with a bloodbath. So we have to act quickly, and disable most people in combat."
Olivia quickly thought of something. "Even though I don't have as much influence as Ivan should have now, I'm sure many adventurers are not in favor of war, and I could keep some of them from getting in our way, but I don't think I can get them to help you kill Ivan or any other adventurer."
Scarlett also thought the same thing. "I may also be able to keep part of the mercenaries away from the conflict."
"Yes, that would be nice. Even if you can only influence a few people, it would already be useful." Lucien responded.
"I know that Portgreen is your home and Its people your associates, but as everything will be in chaos, you should not go alone. Ghilanna and Astrid will accompany Olivia to gather the adventures that are still loyal to her while Rose goes with Scarlett."
Lucien realized that he was planning everything with the thought that all his wives would fight alongside him, but maybe not all of them wants to go to battle, and he would respect that since they would be inevitably killing many loyal people to Ivan and Black hand.
As everyone was at the table, he just spoke lovingly. "I will understand if some of you don't want to be part of this."
"We're going with you!" All the women responded together, even Kara, who has no combat skills.
Kara was embarrassed. "I don't fight, and I don't have magic either, but I can help with first aid.
Lucien smiled at her. "Okay, be ready, and I can call you from the Purple World when someone needs first aid."
Everyone knew he could heal someone quickly with a little bit of his saliva, but for the cute Kara, knowing that Lucien appreciates her help is very nice, and she proudly smiled.
Lucien then looked at Angela. "Angela... you have Bluewing to take ca-"
Angela quickly responded. "I stopped being the Queen of Bluewind when I agreed to be your wife along with my daughters. I'm sure Ron will take care of everything here. Now is the time for me to go with you, so I will fight by your side."
"Mm." Marie and Lena nodded while making a sound of agreement.
Then and looked at Aria and Ella.
Before he said anything, Ella quickly made her point clear. "We are strong! The training with Cassidy has been excellent, and both my mother and I will fight alongside you."
Cassidy confirmed Ella's statement. "They are already S-rank, and even though they don't have exceptional strength and experience in combat, their agility is very high, and they have been training a lot."
"Okay, but we'll always be close." Lucien smiled.
Although most of the adventurers and mercenaries in Portgreen are B-rank, Lucien knew that there were many A-rank and some S-rank. He also knew from the spy report that Ivan was much stronger than before, as were some of his comrades.
Still, he and a few of his wives are in the Mortal Realm, so Lucien was very confident to be able to fight comfortably and still guarantee the safety of everyone, thus allowing his strongest wives to have more freedom in the battle while the less experienced used this opportunity to gain experience in real combat, which is quite different from simulations and sparring sessions.
Lucien looked at Angela again. "Angela, you go with Rose and Scarlett to talk to the mercenaries that are still loyal to her."
Then he looked at Alden. "Only the female troop's equipment is ready, so I will start traveling with them today. You wait until tomorrow when Rebecca is going to finish repairing the Light Empire army's armor then head over to Portgreen. I will leave someone to guide you."
Ron quickly spoke. "I can guide them myself."
Lucien has nothing to complain about Ron, as he is really an excellent friend.
"I appreciate your help, Ron, but since I'm already taking your Queen with me, I think you'd better stay and take care of Bluewind. Just send someone to guide them."
Ron wants to help Lucien, but he knows that someone needs to keep Bluewind safe and in order. "Okay, I am going to send some spies with Alden. Not only to guide them, but they can also be useful to you in the battle."
Lucien nodded at him. "Thank you, Ron."
Then he talked to everyone. "I sent Kylee to prepare the troops, so we will be leaving in an hour."
"OK." Everyone responded together and started getting ready.
Alden went to the barracks of the male troops. Even though they were only going to start marching tomorrow, he wanted everyone to be ready.
Ron went to prepare his spies to guide Alden and the male troops and also to help Lucien.
Lucien's wives could relax. They didn't really need to travel as they could stay in the Purple World and use the portal to arrive at Portgreen when Lucien reaches their destination.
L.u.s.t also told Lucien that he could create portals in the Purple World for places he has been, as well as places his vision reaches. But to make a portal to a distant place like Portgreen, it would need an enormous amount of demonic energy, which Lucien did not have right now.
Anyway, he and his female troops, who are S-rank, could make the trip in two days or less if he uses his essence to help them recover their energy so they wouldn't take a long time getting there.