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As the four entered the Spartan camp, the transition from the quiet dockside to the chaos of a military staging area was immediate. Thousands of Spartan soldiers, mercenaries, and support staff milled about—sharpening weapons, organizing gear, or tending to the wounded. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, bronze, and cooking meat.
They began asking the scattered Spartan soldiers for directions to the Polemarch's tent. The soldiers, impressed by their confident strides and powerful presence, were unusually respectful. After piecing together the general directions, they quickly navigated through the organized sprawl and walked toward the edge of Pagai Village, where the highest-ranking officers were stationed.
When the four arrived, they saw a large, heavily guarded tent situated on a slight rise—clearly the main command post.
"That must be it," Atlas murmured, his eyes sweeping over the guards.
He quickly gestured for the other three to follow his lead. Atlas moved with a casual authority that demanded respect, his demeanor suggesting they belonged exactly where they were.
As the four got closer, they were quickly blocked by a pair of stern-faced Spartan hoplites.
One of the Spartans raised his spear, blocking their path, and asked loudly, "State your business, stranger."
Atlas met his eye calmly. "We are mercenaries. We were asked by Officer Stentor to assist the Polemarch with the tasks he will give us to soften the Athenian targets."
Hearing this, the Spartan soldier lowered his spear slightly but asked for proof.
Atlas turned to Kassandra and subtly gestured for her to show the Spartan seal Stentor had given them.
Kassandra pulled the heavy bronze seal from her pouch and held it up. Seeing the official Spartan insignia and the weight of the document's seal, the Spartan soldiers immediately gave way, their expressions shifting to respect.
The four continued forward and entered the spacious Polemarch's tent. Inside, they found a middle-aged man, his beard grizzled, his face tired, constantly writing on a scroll with intense focus, surrounded by maps of the region.
When the Spartan Polemarch heard footsteps, he raised his head. He saw three powerful-looking men and one woman, all armed like elite mercenaries, and he raised an eyebrow.
"What brings you all here?" he asked, his voice rough from shouting commands.
Atlas showed the Spartan seal that Stentor had given them and placed it on the table. "We were told to help and assist you by doing some tasks to prepare the field for the main Spartan force."
The Spartan Polemarch briefly glanced at the Spartan seal before leaning back in his camp stool, thinking about what essential tasks to delegate. After a moment, the Polemarch gave Atlas three specific objectives.
"In order to weaken the Athenian forces stationed in Megaris, we need three things done immediately," the Polemarch explained, holding up three fingers. "First, you must strike at their supply lines and command structure. That means you need to kill their commanders and captains, burn their supplies, and loot their war treasures."
The Spartan Polemarch pointed his finger at a certain location on a large, detailed map pinned to the table. "This is the Athenian station in the Fort of Geraneia, just the opposite of this village. That is your primary target for the first task."
Atlas saw the location on the map—a formidable defensive position but not far from where they stood. He gave the Polemarch a nod, indicating that he understood the objective. However, Atlas, being practical, asked, "Is the stolen war treasure yours, or is it ours to take?"
The Spartan Polemarch gave a dismissive nod. "What's yours to take is yours to keep, mercenary. We pay in opportunity and resources, not coin."
The Spartan Polemarch then asked if there were any other questions regarding the first objective. Atlas was silent, indicating there were none.
The Polemarch then explained the second task. "Your next task is to find and kill a Spartan traitor. That traitor was sent here by the Athenian dogs and disguised himself as one of us. He stole a tablet containing an account of their activities in the region—names, plans, supply routes. You just need to find and kill him, then retrieve or destroy the tablet. Simple as that."
Atlas gave another nod, comprehending the need for espionage and security.
Finally, the Spartan Polemarch explained the third task. "Lastly, this task is relatively loose, but important. You just need to assist a Spartan Captain who is investigating why our supplies—especially food and water—keep disappearing from our forward camps. If you find any lead or find who stole our supplies, just kill them. That is all. Any questions?"
Atlas said none.
The Spartan Polemarch waved a hand toward the tent flap. "Good. Now on you go. Every hour you waste is an hour the Athenians hold onto this region."
The four companions exited the Polemarch's tent and started walking back through the dense Spartan camp.
Alexios was the first to break the silence, his face twisted in frustration. "Why do we have to take this many tasks, Atlas? This is ridiculous! With this many, it could take months to complete. Why don't we just use our methods and go directly to meet Nikolaos?"
Lukas, while not openly complaining, also felt that too many tasks were troublesome and a significant waste of time that could be better spent tracking down clues about the cult.
Kassandra was also helpless by the extensive arrangement, but she had more patience than her brother. She was about to explain to Alexios that they needed leverage, but Atlas cut her off.
Atlas explained calmly and seriously, stopping them in the middle of a less crowded path.
"Patience, you three. I know you find this a waste of time, but this will be your first true war you will be experiencing and participating. You will learn many things that are not taught in peaceful times." Atlas's eyes swept over the massive, organized camp, the eager faces of the young soldiers, and the weary faces of the commanders. "Here, you will see who truly suffers from war that was cast by a strong polis . You will see the corruption, the politics, and the endless violence that ripples out from the decisions of men like leaders of their own factions. We need to be on the field to understand the scope of the enemy we are facing and the world we are trying to save."
He looked at each of them, his stare intent. "Do the tasks. Do them quickly, quietly, and ruthlessly. And while you do them, pay attention, observe closely and learn. The knowledge you gain here will be more valuable than any gold or any meeting with the Wolf."
The three remained silent, absorbing what Atlas just said. They understood that Atlas was playing a long game, and they were ready to participate.
(PS: Please support me on patreon there 135+ chapters there and there also my new GoT: The True Dragon Fanfiction of Game of Thrones
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