Mixed Blessing System

"Oh? Do they?" Lothur asked as he thought about the complications this might bring for him.

"Of course!" Viktoria exclaimed. "Do you think we would accept the existence of such a group if it had no support? That's the only reason the Mouse Company still exists, considering the problems its members have caused to the province."

"I see..." He placed one of his hands on his chin and then said. "But it makes no difference. Or rather, it makes a difference since we must prepare ourselves to deal with those who support this organization. But as for the rest, it doesn't matter."

"What are you talking about?" She asked, trying to understand her husband.

Lothur looked into her eyes and asked. "What you think is preferable. Letting a wound on your hand kill you or accepting the loss of your hand to save the rest of your body?"

Viktoria's eyebrows drew together, and she answered him without much thought. "Sacrificing the hand is better, of course."

He said. "So, dear, right now, the body in question is your Frost family, and the wound is those organizations that are your enemies. If we don't cut off the hand and eliminate this 'disease,' it will spread throughout the rest of the body, eroding the life of your organization."

"You want that? Are you going to let parasites slowly destroy your family?" He took her arms, squeezing them a little so Viktoria could feel her position.

"But trying to do something will be worse. They will have reason to act openly against us..." She tried to argue but was stopped by him.

"They are already doing that, or wouldn't it be so obvious to everyone that your family will suffer at this Province Conference because of these rival powers!" Lothur laughed.

"Whether you like it or not, dear, they will degrade your family's position until you are powerless to react. So I ask you. Will you wait until they take away all conditions of reaction from your family? Or will you act while you still can?"

"That... That's not so simple."

"It is simple, Viktoria." He pushed her gently onto the bed and stood over her. "Cut off the hand. These powers will continue to come after your family as long as the problem exists. And as much as there are dangers in acting against these enemies, it is even riskier to wait until they fully overcome your family."

Her eyes twitched as she looked at him, knowing how dangerous it would be to do something like that but understanding Lothur's point.

Lothur's speech made sense. After all, this was how the Frost family had gotten to their current fragile situation, where they were in danger of being oppressed by the forces of the empire.

The Frost family had been mighty in the past, but over time it had become a power besieged by developing adversaries. But in the meantime, it had failed to develop and even allowed rivals to grow.

Eventually, due to adversarial development, this family began to decline from its position, both because of the purposeful actions of some of these powers and because it had been too negligent.

And now, in the present times, the people in this organization are afraid to act, causing even worse problems.

Viktoria knew all this and could not help but hesitate after Lothur's lines.

"And how do you intend to handle this? How is acting against the mere Mouse Company going to help us? What about the enemy's reaction?" She asked him, trying to know at least her spouse's plans.

Lothur then explained his thoughts to her. "The Mouse Company is probably not a risk to your family, but they are involved in the local plots and have contacts with the traitors in your family. So, taking them down may relieve some pressure on your household."

"In any case, the main point in taking them out is for me to take out those who have acted against me so many times... I will also be able to get something to prepare better for the Province Conference."

"Prepare better?" She asked.

"Hmm, you will understand later..." He answered her. "Anyway, we'll have a while before anyone gets suspicious of us. After all, I want only the two of us to be involved in this. So, it won't be easy for others to find out who is responsible for anything we do."

"Just the two of us? And how will we do that?" She smiled, thinking that Lothur was overestimating the abilities of the two of them.

The Frost family could destroy the Mouse Company in an afternoon if they desired. But that would only be possible using the many members of that organization. Therefore, how would two people at their levels do such a thing?

"The Province Conference takes place in five days, so let's do this over the next three days, eliminating one post at a time." He smiled at her, considering the numbers and locations of the enemies.

"Don't you think they'll get suspicious? Plus, I won't be able to eliminate the people in their main post. They are strong enough to protect themselves from me." She shook her head from side to side, indicating that such a plan would not be possible.

"Don't worry. I will help you with my skills. Don't underestimate the power of formations on a battlefield..."

Viktoria's eyes flashed in interest at what he had in mind, but she was still not confident.

He then said. "You just need to help me gather as many enemies that are about the same level as me in the first post. After that, you will understand why it will be possible for us to deal with the main post of that group on the third day of attacks."

Viktoria was still not OK with all that, but she asked. "Let's say that this is all possible. Won't they run away or react after the first attack? Why will they wait for our action?"

Lothur had already thought about that point and answered her. "That's the advantage of being in the middle of the Province Conference, dear. Right now, all the focus of the local organizations is on this competition."

"So what will the Mouse Company do when a useless competitor starts to stand out in the competition? Everyone will start investigating the situation!"

Viktoria's eyes widened at this possibility.

"In the midst of this, we will pretend to be in closed-door training on your family's property when we are not competing. But, at the same time, we will act against the Mouse Company." He smiled at her.

"At first, the enemies won't notice anything because they will have lost only the weakest rank besides being too busy with me. But in the blink of an eye, we will be at their main post, and by then, it will be too late for reactions!"

"Moreover, even if they realize something, we will have already diminished their forces, improved ours, and left our opponents confused to be able to focus on something, be it the conference or revenge."

"That..." Viktoria was surprised at Lothur's methods, shocked that he had thought of all this on his own.

His plan was not foolproof, but it was entirely possible to carry it out and bring some good results for them.

They had the Province Conference to create an alibi for them, so their chances would not be bad, even if they only eliminated one of the enemy posts!

...