Frank and Leo emerged from the hidden passage just as the sun dipped below the rooftops, painting the town in orange and purple shadows. The envelope's contents burned in Frank's mind—the upcoming strike, the routes, the symbols. Every detail was a piece of a puzzle they could use to protect the town.
"We don't just wait," Frank said firmly, spreading the maps across a crate in the square. "We act. Knowledge without action is useless. We'll set traps along the predicted routes and assign watchers to every alley, rooftop, and street corner."
Leo nodded, enthusiasm replacing his earlier fear. "We can do that. We've trained, and the townsfolk helped before—they'll help again."
Frank studied the maps. "The first thing we do is channel the attackers. We'll block secondary routes and force them into streets we control. Then we use obstacles, barrels, and ropes to slow them down. And we'll place lookouts here and here," he pointed to rooftops and corners, "so we can anticipate their moves."
He paused, looking at Leo. "Remember, this isn't about fighting every attacker. It's about using the environment, protecting civilians, and striking only when necessary. They want chaos—we give them order."
Leo gripped his stick tightly. "Got it. We set traps, watch the routes, and control the battlefield."
"Yes," Frank said, a spark of determination in his eyes. "And we need contingencies. The leader we're facing is clever. They'll expect us to follow the obvious patterns. We'll need decoys, signals, and fallback positions."
As night fell, Frank, Leo, and a few trusted townsfolk began setting the first traps: crates and barrels to block alleys, ropes tied to bells to alert of movement, and makeshift alarms with overturned pots. Each trap was designed to slow the attackers, not hurt them, giving Frank and Leo time to respond.
Standing atop the rooftops, Frank surveyed the town. The streets looked calm, almost peaceful, but he knew better. Danger lingered in every shadow. The leader was still out there, watching, calculating, waiting for them to make a mistake.
Frank turned to Leo. "Tonight, we're not just defending the town. We're sending a message. That whoever they are… they're not the only ones who can plan, anticipate, and fight."
Leo smiled faintly, though tension still tightened his jaw. "Then let's show them what we've learned."
Above the town, hidden in the shadows, the leader's eyes glinted with interest. Frank's preparations had not gone unnoticed. The game had escalated.
"There he stands… and now he prepares," the whisper seemed to float across the rooftops.