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Every little skirmish or grand battle, losing will always shake you.

Whether it’s a physical tremor or a mental one, it shakes you, no exceptions!

So, who shakes more profoundly?

Is it the one who loses every time? No, it’s the one who always wins.

Those who are utterly convinced of their victory will tremble significantly more from just one defeat.

Prince Georg Sistania of Dedorant knew this fact very well.

Thus, he wanted to push even harder before the Empire could reorganize itself.

For now, everyone in the Empire must still be reeling from the shock of defeat.

He mustn’t let that opportunity slip. A little more aggression now could yield greater victories.

He needed to teach the boldly advancing Empire just what defeat feels like.

He must make them freeze in panic, their minds and bodies paralyzed for a moment.

In that instant, he would mop up Ross Tanika and redirect all forces towards the Empire.

‘If the war continues, surely discontent will start bubbling up within the Empire too. If they unexpectedly struggle, other kingdoms on the continent might start entertaining other thoughts.’

With that in mind, Prince Georg Sistania hurried to prepare for the next attack.

Yet, he wasn’t in a position to launch a large-scale offensive just yet.

“Report on the damages.”

“Yes, Your Highness. First, here are the casualty figures for our forces that engaged with the Empire’s Western 9th Legion and 14th Legion. The numbers compiled so far surpass ten thousand.”

“Ten thousand? Surpassing ten thousand?”

They had taken down forty thousand but suffered casualties of ten thousand in return.

Some would say that’s a massive victory since the exchange rate is four to one.

However, compared to Dedorant and the Empire, this wasn’t particularly pleasant.

The intention was to shatter the Empire’s spearhead. To break the very pole holding that spear.

They had certainly wrecked the spearheads—they were utterly destroyed, no chance of reuse.

But breaking the pole itself ultimately failed.

At this rate, the Empire could just replace the spearhead.

The likelihood of Dedorant coming out sooner than anticipated had increased.

“Moreover, damage reports from our troops that engaged with the Eastern Legion, Southern Legion, and Northern Legion of the Empire are also being compiled. The casualties aren’t as overwhelming, but reorganization is certainly needed.”

“The reserves are in the same boat. Everyone has fought to their limits; rest is essential.”

Indeed, they say the Empire is the Empire. Is it tough to contend with such a large nation?

That was precisely why Prince Georg felt more bitterness and regret.

He and his elite guard should have breached the Empire’s gates.

They needed to shake up the border regions and burn down their facilities for reorganization.

Why, of all things, did the Empire have to have its greatest genius tactician right there?

Even now, thinking back to that moment gives him chills.

The entire frontline was in disarray from the worst defeat, with reason close to paralysis.

And amidst it all, they set up such a trap and beckoned him in!

If a different, ordinary commander were there instead of him…

They would’ve thought, ‘This is a diversion because there’s nothing here,’ and pushed forward.

In that instant, a blade would’ve dropped right on their neck!

“Thanks to that, our plans have been severely disrupted.”

Aligning a counter-strike to the Empire’s offensive while simultaneously hitting the rear was the original plan between Dedorant and Prince Georg.

They aimed to crush both the enemy’s combat effectiveness and their will.

The operation was flawless. He thought there couldn’t be a better plan.

No matter how formidable the Empire might be, this attack would have to be permitted.

Yet, a tactician boasting an extraordinary brain thwarted that plan.

It was as if they had anticipated this move, preparing for it in advance.

Offering a bait so enticing that it drove the enemy insane!

Suddenly, they aimed to flip the tide of the battle back in their favor!

Fortunately, he hadn’t fallen into the trap, but everything got tangled.

Dedorant’s main force had come to a halt, leaving even the elite guard to step in.

They needed to impose more losses on the Empire to keep them from moving.

‘…I’m worried.’

In that fleeting moment, Prince Georg felt that twinge of concern.

Had the enemy been from another kingdom, this single attack could have easily ended their chances.

Despite the damage incurred, the Empire still stood right before him!

Moreover, they still held all sorts of winning cards in hand.

The only comforting fact was that they had dealt a severe blow to the Empire, aiming for a quick resolution.

The ongoing wars had already drained a significant amount of national power from the Empire.

It wouldn’t be able to sustain a war of such enormous scale for long.

The fact that this operation succeeded was due to the Empire’s high command showing such movements.

They didn’t want the Empire to wobble too much, so they rushed to strike and take the royal capital.

The result was the utter destruction of the spear they had hoped to prepare.

‘The momentum remains in the hands of Dedorant. It must be maximized.’

The Empire’s troops must be firmly rooted in shock from their first and exceedingly grievous loss.

He had to seize every benefit he could amidst this opening.

Now, it was a matter of who has even a single coin in their pocket—this is how the game is won!

“Accelerate the reorganization. Once any units finish their preparations, the very first to strike shall be the weakened Western Legion of the Empire. Afterward…”

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, a messenger rushed frantically into the barracks.

They were so hurried they might as well have been rolling on the ground.

“What’s gotten you so riled up before His Highness?”

“I-I apologize!”

“Duge! What are you doing, treating a messenger who risks their life to deliver news like that?”

Prince Georg chided the commanding officer, quickly summoning water.

He handed it to the messenger, and it was only natural for their eyes to brim with tears.

“Now, speak. What news bears enough urgency to prompt your condition?”

“Yes! I bring urgent news, Your Highness! This morning, there was a surprise attack in the northern regions beyond the borders of Atria!”

“A surprise attack?”

At that word, everyone, including Prince Georg, tilted their heads.

Certainly, it was shocking news, but it didn’t seem that serious when concluded quickly.

After all, Dedorant had suffered a crushing defeat; what could the enemy possibly do now?

It would be little more than a momentary stall.

At most, they might send a reserve unit to stir up trouble and return—

“However, the enemy responsible for the surprise isn’t from the Imperial Legion. Their armaments are different.”

“Different armaments?”

“Ah, it appears to be from the Demon Tribe. Seems like they’re heavy infantry from Nobogord…”

—Bam!

In that instant, Prince Georg shot up from his seat.

Nobogord? Heavy Infantry of the Demon Tribe? They breached the borders of Atria?

He knew from the reports that Nobogord had sent reinforcements to the Empire.

But that had been merely a formality; he thought they would act just enough to save face.

Even though Nobogord had sided with the Empire, it didn’t matter much if they won or lost.

He didn’t expect them to put their blood on the line taking action themselves.

‘Even if they did fight, I figured it would take at least two months for command issues to get sorted out. But how? In less than a month, this happens?’

They wouldn’t risk sending their own troops after draining their own resources.

That meant the reinforcements sent had been mobilized!

However, for that quick of a deployment, they must be acting under the Empire’s command…

“Surely not.”

“Your Highness?”

“Surely not, did they resolve the command issues this quickly? Handing over control of tens of thousands, if not hundreds or thousands of troops, so casually?!”

The plan to pressure the Empire by teaming up with Nobogord had failed.

That was due to the not-so-great relationship between Atria and Nobogord.

Yet, one would think the relationship between the Empire and Nobogord would be exceptionally unified, but that wasn’t entirely true.

Despite shaking hands, there were definitely gaps. They could never perfectly synchronize.

—that’s what Prince Georg had thought when he was met with the next news, causing him to sigh heavily.

“They reported it as a surprise, but it seems it’s not just a simple hit-and-run. Estimated forces exceed twenty thousand, and they’re sweeping through the border region, annihilating every defensive unit in their path…”

The vacancy of the Western Legion would soon loom large.

They should be in a state of fear, knowing they might get attacked at any moment.

Yet, that invaluable reinforcement, that elite combat force, wouldn’t just be redirected to Atria?

‘This is beyond simple predictions. This is certainty. Our Dedorant also knows it lacks offensive capability; that’s why they’re not hastily filling in the gaps of the Western Legion!’

They’d been taken by surprise. He never imagined they would grasp their situation so quickly.

He had been confident that while crushing the Imperial troops, he would have wiped out all the scouts and spies lurking around; there wouldn’t be any essential information handed over for a while!

Given the situation, he had to hurry and finish the reorganization.

The Empire seemed intent on expanding the frontlines to slow down their own preparations for the offensive.

Before that could happen, all available resources must be concentrated to take down the remaining Western Legion of the Empire—

“Wha-Your Highness! Urgent news!”

“What now?!”

“To the south! An attack by Benito, it’s an assault by the Empire’s Southern Legion!!”

“What nonsense is this! The Empire’s Southern Legion must’ve suffered significant damage as well!”

“No, it’s not the Southern Legion deployed this time! It’s the 4th Legion! The new Southern Legion isn’t joining the frontline but is directly attacking south towards Benito!”

With the Southern Kingdom now allied with the Empire, rather than supporting the Imperial troops that had just been defeated,

The Southern 4th Legion pushed right through, barreling straight towards Benito!

Hearing this, Georg began to grasp the Empire’s intent.

It felt as if that tactician from the Empire, Kael, was whispering to him:

“I think I understand now why you’ve gone through such lengths to prepare for that counterattack.”

“You’re running seriously low on cards, aren’t you?”

“Now, who has the greater hand?”

 

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