There is a manner of war. I had already made a prior recommendation of surrender to the former king Pahtzus and Absy Hanistra, Count of the Talmud.


    I am the regent of the Kingdom of Saawil and brother-in-law of King Hasse I. It is necessary to tell Pahtus, who pretends to be the king, to admit his crime and surrender to us. Though he is a bandit, he is royalty. There is a certain amount of courtesy.


    Of course, they will not accept such a thing now.


    The first person I confronted in the Giant Island Division was a messenger from the enemy who stated that the invaders would be vanquished once and for all. On the contrary, they even asked us to surrender.


    Please tell the former king and Counts Talmud and Samyut that I will do my duty as regent.


    I returned the messenger politely. Nothing good would come from ruining my reputation here.


    Leaving Ordana Nistonia to guard the flotilla, we headed for the Giant Islands. We move our troops toward the Dorn and Middle Dorn provinces of the Giant Islands.


    "Thank you, it''s very humid. I''m starting to sweat.


    During the march, Laviala was constantly wiping off his sweat. It was certainly much more humid than back home.


    "It''s fine if it''s hot, but it''s no good if there''s a plague. It''s better not to prolong the war.


    "In any case, we don''t have enough supplies for a long campaign. We don''t have the geographical advantage and it will be dangerous if we can''t hit the enemy all at once.


    Raviara knows the point of this battle.


    Yes, she does. We''re in a place where we can''t go back without a ship.


    If we lose badly, we''ll be on the receiving end of the hunt. There will be a hell of a lot of suffering.


    So we have two strategies.


    Either we will carefully take possession of the lands near us as if we were stroking them.


    Or, we can strike a blow so hard that the enemy can''t get up again, or at the very least, can''t pursue us.


    With Hasse in King''s Landing so afraid of me, I cannot take the former time-consuming and safe strategy.


    I will crush the former faction.


    Fortunately, the chance will come of its own accord. They will be annoyed if I attack them again and again. If I can lead them away, they''d love to have me.


    Beyond the small fortress, the western Khanistra plain stretches.


    The former royalists will meet us there with no less than 30,000 men, including Counts Talmud and Samyu and other minor lords.


    That''s about the size of my army. We could increase our numbers as much as we want if we put all our strength into it, but we cannot put too many men on the front lines when we cannot trust Hasse. A large territory means a large number of troops that must be allocated to it.


    It is also frightening to be unable to lead with a general whom you do not know. These are invaders who have come to our island. We did not want to clash with the enemy without a unified front.


    The troops were steadily dropping small fortresses and reaching the western Hanistra Plain.


    The enemy was already waiting for them on the other side of the plain.


    Naturally, a war council is held. It had been a long time since a major battle had been fought during a major war. Many of you have never seen a war of this magnitude.


    There were many calls to attack quickly and inflict a heavy blow. Even Rayon of the White Eagle Squadron, not to mention Orcus, the captain of the Red Bear Squadron, suggested something similar.


    I understand that they do not want to stay in an unfamiliar place for too long. That in itself is correct.


    But--


    --Don''t be hasty. It''s barbaric to go forward when the odds are against you.


    Oda Nobunaga, I agree with you. I''m that close to the High King.


    I know that the enemy has more longbowmen. If we move first, we will be at a disadvantage. There will be more casualties.


    "Everyone, put your lives in my hands. I will pay you back with interest. Your lives are my property. I will not throw it away.


    I looked at the general''s face and said.


    My profession is very special, Oda Nobunaga. When he first told me the name of my occupation, I was astonished. But I believed in my profession, and I have made it this far."


    I wonder if the effect of Oda Nobunaga is still being produced.


    No, that is no longer necessary. I have become enough like Odanobunaga myself.


    But the battle is not over yet. But the battle is not over yet. I must win it all so that I can return home. I will make the best move I can to do so."


    "Raviara, I entrust my life to you."


    First, Raviara said this with a resolute expression on her face.


    That was the catalyst.


    "I leave it to you!" I entrust everything to you, Your Excellency the Regent! The voices of the participants were heard in rapid succession.


    It is a great responsibility, but of course I do not intend to be crushed by it.


    Thank you. We will get results. Don''t worry."


    Then, looking at the map, I slowly mumbled


    "Move the men. I will make it look like we are leaving this battlefield."


    I run my finger over the map.


    "Thankfully, this is enemy territory in either direction. There are cities everywhere to plunder. Make them think we''re moving to turn the tide of the war. And let the enemy chase us."


    My finger stops at the right place.


    "When we''ve moved to the right place, we''ll stop. The counterattack begins. We''re going to wipe out their vanguard.


    I said again to make sure.


    "I repeat, all of them. I''m not exaggerating. We''ll take out anyone who comes at us. We''re the invaders. We''ll show them we''re not just cowards."


    I''m not a softy like Hasse.


    If you ask me if I''m a good guy or a bad guy, I''m a bad guy.


    And that''s okay. I''ll be a bad guy if it gets me my country.


    I said with a smile.


    "If our enemies fear us and despair, we have nothing to say. Do your best."


    We''re two steps away from the top.


    If we win this, we''re one step closer.