In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 173 Reconnaissance Force Of The Five Great Tribes

Who wouldn’t appreciate genuine respect and admiration? Michael wasn’t a materialistic man, but neither was he a lofty idealist.

Amid the calm atmosphere, Michael turned to Andrew, the commander of the Special Task Force, and offered a word of caution.

"This is a reconnaissance mission around the fortress. There’s little chance of danger, but we can’t afford to be careless. Stay vigilant; the Pamir Imperial Army’s vanguard could still appear," Michael advised.

Andrew, his expression tense, nodded earnestly. As the youngest son of Duke Capone, he had long fallen short of his father’s expectations. Now, under Michael’s command, he hoped to redeem himself as the commander of the task force.

"Yes, Sir. Both the task force and the soldiers are on high alert. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the results of our training, and we’ll give it our all," Andrew assured him.

Michael avoided Andrew’s burning gaze, his smile tinged with bittersweetness. He knew these young nobles would likely never see true battle.

"Good. That’s the right attitude. But don’t overthink it. Treat this as an opportunity to get to know each other better—it’s only the first mission, after all," Michael said.

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Behind Andrew, Sir Adam interjected with a bright grin.

"But wouldn’t it be incredible if we encountered and defeated the Pamir Imperial Army’s vanguard? It would be a chance to prove ourselves and earn great honor! I can’t wait to test our training in a real fight," Adam declared, his golden hair gleaming in the sunlight.

Adam, a notorious troublemaker, had been reluctantly included by his father, General Louis. Yet, despite his initial resistance, Adam had come to enjoy the camaraderie and sense of accomplishment the training provided.

Michael chuckled at Adam’s enthusiasm, recognizing the general’s carefree attitude in his son’s exuberant remarks.

"Indeed. If such a situation arises, be ready to show your bravery," Michael replied with a smile.

Pamir Imperial Camp

It had been half a day since the armies dispatched by the various tribes of the Pamir Empire had gathered. Despite their full assembly, the offensive had yet to commence. The reason was simple: too many leaders led to discord.

Even during peacetime, the tribes bickered endlessly over territorial disputes and resources. Now, with diverging priorities, they couldn’t even agree on the direction of their advance.

Crown Prince Oswald, the nominal commander of the united forces, remained in the central command tent. Yet, none of the tribal chiefs acknowledged his authority, largely due to his reputation as a libertine.

The Lion’s Mane Tribe and the Fire Boar Tribe advocated for an attack on East Fortress. They argued it was critical to focus their forces there to preempt the reinforcements from the Radiant Holy Kingdom.

In truth, their insistence stemmed from anger toward the kingdom for promising aid but failing to deliver. They didn’t know the food supplies had been intercepted by Michael’s pirates.

On the other hand, the Black Hawk Tribe and the Stone Bear Tribe pushed for an assault on Orlando Fortress. Unlike other fortresses, which had been taken or heavily attacked, Orlando Fortress had repelled the allied tribes’ advances due to Michael’s decisive actions.

Kanta, the Lion’s Mane chieftain, scoffed at their arguments.

"Hah! It’s not about strategy. You just want to rescue your captured tribesmen."

Kisha, the Red Serpent chieftain and a longtime rival of the Stone Bear Tribe, added mockingly, "Why bother with weaklings like them? Sacrificing a few captives is better for the tribe’s future. Losing 200 warriors because 300 couldn’t handle themselves? What a disgrace."

Yandor, the Stone Bear chieftain, clenched his trembling fists. His youngest son, Karato, was among the captives. The shame stung as much as the worry.

Falcon, the Black Hawk chieftain, stepped in to support Yandor.

"Enough! Now’s not the time for blame. We should cut down that brat Michael before he becomes more of a threat."

The aggressive Fire Boar chieftain, Petan, snorted derisively.

"I’d like to see what makes him so special. Either way, I don’t care where we go. Let’s see how my tusks fare against him."

With that, the chiefs resumed their squabbling.

From his seat of honor, Crown Prince Oswald massaged his temples. The bickering had been going on for hours. None of them would yield an inch.

This was precisely why the Pamir Empire, despite its vast territory and population, had failed to conquer the Rubel Continent.

Repeated invasions meant nothing if the tribes withdrew their forces the moment they secured some benefit, fearing further losses. If they could unite and commit to a proper campaign, the Three-Nation Alliance would pose no challenge.

Instead, they remained paralyzed by fear of losing influence or falling from the ranks of the Five Great Tribes.

Unable to endure the infighting any longer, Oswald finally shouted.

"Enough! That’s enough! We can’t delay our decision any further. Intelligence reports that the enemy’s reinforcements will soon arrive at their fortresses. Do you want to retreat again with only minor gains? I have a proposition that should interest everyone."

The chiefs fell silent, their attention on Oswald.

He knew his reputation as a libertine was holding him back. But if he intended to defy his father, he needed to prove himself competent.

"I recommend attacking Orlando Fortress. Both the Lania and Elonia crown princes are stationed there, along with two beautiful princesses. On top of that, the Lania crown prince is so arrogant he hasn’t even requested reinforcements. I don’t believe this Michael is as formidable as you think. His victories are thanks to ambush tactics and the aid of a dragon and sphinx. If we take Orlando Fortress and capture the crown princes, the rewards will be immeasurable. The princesses are a bonus."

Yandor nodded approvingly, and the other chiefs reluctantly agreed.

Though each chief was capable in their own right, a compelling argument was all it took to align their interests.

After further discussion, they agreed to send an initial reconnaissance force. Members were drawn from the Five Great Tribes and the broader allied forces.