The situation around Pavilion had unfolded greatly to the advantage of our 12th Legion.
Initially, the allied forces of the three kingdoms were about equal in strength to ours. Plus, with their hostility towards the Empire, their fighting spirit wasn’t something to scoff at either. But after several battles, their once-fiery determination wasn’t what it used to be.
At first glance, it seemed like they had suffered significant losses in combat, but there was more to it. For instance, their command was showing signs of internal strife. They were suspicious of each other, and when it came time to fight, they’d hold back to preserve their own troops.
Indeed, the attacks on the two adjacent mountains, handled separately by the forces of Burkhai and Caden, had been met by our commanders with one common observation:
“Though the attacks were fierce, they seemed more like probing moves rather than all-out assaults.”
“If the risk of casualties rose too high, they’d immediately withdraw without hesitation.”
It was clear that the assault on Pavilion had failed, and now, their focus was on minimizing their own casualties. After all, if the losses were too high, their voice in the alliance would naturally weaken.
The reason we released only the soldiers of the Porland Kingdom under the negotiation with the legion commander was rather simple. Among the three kingdoms, their representative was the easiest scapegoat in the current situation.
The alliance of the three kingdoms required a single commander, not multiple ones from each kingdom squabbling over orders. So, after a series of compromises, one commander was chosen. But would that really work smoothly within their ranks? My answer is a firm “No.”
More likely than not, each kingdom’s representative received their own set of instructions from home—to seize as much control as possible. And ideally, to do this legally would be the best outcome.
Let’s face it: even in a team-based online game with strangers, there’s often drama. Now we’re talking about kingdoms that have always been suspicious of each other, yet they were expected to magically unite. It’s laughable!
“But isn’t this different from a game? There’s an enormous enemy ahead, the Empire! Isn’t unity essential?”
Oh no, it fits perfectly. The only difference might be that the Empire allows for negotiation, whereas game opponents typically don’t. And the Empire’s apparent willingness to negotiate has only fueled more suspicions within the alliance.
Why do you think the Empire hasn’t purged or sidelined the Pro-Empire Faction? It looks like they’re keeping the door open, extending an olive branch of sorts. Naturally, some of those with shrewd minds within the alliance would interpret this as, “Hey, maybe we can negotiate and save ourselves, but only if we act fast!”
“Sorry, folks, we can’t save everyone. But hey! If you play your cards right, maybe we’ll save you!”
“First come, first served. Would you rather d*e standing next to your buddy or come over to our side and live?”
And conveniently, we provided a seemingly logical reason for our selective approach. Among the three kingdoms, Porland is the weakest. Even if they somehow won against the Empire, they’re unlikely to turn the tables. They’d more likely end up getting swallowed by Burkhai and Caden, especially since the latter kingdoms would prefer the region to be divided among two instead of three.
“Porland knows this; they’ll overreact to even the smallest provocation. Burkhai and Caden, on the other hand, will start questioning Porland’s loyalty at the slightest hint of deviation.”
Suspicion between nations—especially when they’ve been historically wary of each other—is unavoidable. Once it takes root, it’s nearly impossible to erase, even with the best intentions. This is doubly true for nations instead of individuals.
“Master Kael, the Legion Commander requests your presence.”
“Ah, yes, I’ll come immediately.”
I was already heading there to thank the commander personally for his excellent leadership. Without it, my somewhat clumsy and makeshift plan would’ve fallen apart. Using two mountaintops instead of one, inducing fear of flanked attacks to hold their center, and exploiting prisoner releases to stir internal discord—none of these would have worked without our legion’s solid support.
“This time, we got lucky.”
Had it not been for the fortuitous circumstances and the formidable 12th Legion, it would’ve been a disaster. Truly, luck is the ultimate ability in this world, no doubt about it.
As I entered the commander’s tent, I was greeted with a warm smile—a far cry from the initial look of unease when we first met. Victory really does make everything seem more stable.
“It seems that we won’t lose control of Pavilion after all.”
“Is that so?”
“Today, you didn’t see it? Their initial ferocity is gone, and now they’re stuck, bickering among themselves. Their so-called alliance? Just a patchwork of three different armies!”
Releasing prisoners was a win-win for us, reducing mouths to feed, but for the three kingdoms, it raises doubts: “Are they planning a betrayal?”
Of course, Burkhai and Caden will outwardly reassure Porland, saying, “Of course not, we’re united under the banner of the alliance!” But behind closed doors, you better believe they’ll be investigating. And if they sense a betrayal, they’ll waste no time invading Porland.
“…And Porland will protest, saying they’re not doing anything of the sort! But nations value survival over trust. And even the most loyal can snap under constant suspicion.”
Why target Porland? Besides the fact that their commander is involved in Pavilion, there’s much more at stake here for the Empire.
“Good news just arrived. Our 7th Legion has successfully reached their designated position nearby.”
“So…”
“Exactly. Push forward a bit more, and we enter Burkhai territory. Imagine how nervous they must be, knowing their homes could become a battlefield!”
Burkhai, the largest of the eastern kingdoms in both landmass and population—now they’re the ones hosting an Imperial legion on their own soil. Had we not broken through Pavilion, this wouldn’t have happened. Naturally, they’ll look for a scapegoat, and it’ll almost certainly be Porland.
“Burkhai will pressure Porland, either to replace their commander or to step up their efforts. Of course, the actual details of the situation won’t matter in the heat of the moment.”
“They’ll make Porland the fall guy no matter what happens.”
The commander chuckled before looking at me.
“At first, I thought the rumors about you, Master Kael, were exaggerated.”
“Ah, I see. My apologies for not giving you more reason to trust me.”
“Not at all. The fault was mine for judging you too quickly as inexperienced. If it weren’t for the Crown Princess’s orders, I might not have listened to you. Truly, I owe much to you.”
The fact that the commander admitted this spoke volumes. A true hardhead would’ve taken credit for my ideas, tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “I’ll take care of you later!” Or worse, tried to claim the wins as his own.
“If he did that, we might’ve had a revolution on our hands.”
The Crown Princess must’ve known this possibility. That’s why she paired me with a trusted, proven legion commander.
“Well, I think I should return to the Empire now, Commander.”
“So soon?”
I’ve done all I can here. I’m not a commander or a soldier. The three kingdoms are stuck—they can’t win or retreat without significant consequences. From now on, it’s just pure combat, and the seasoned officers here are far better equipped to handle that than I am.
Besides, pushing too hard could backfire. If they suddenly unite under pressure, all our efforts to divide them would be wasted.
Time to step back and let the tension simmer. They’ve already stirred the pot enough—it’ll boil over on its own.
“You don’t need to worry. If Porland defects, all the better. Even if they don’t, we’ve sown the seeds of doubt, making things easier for the 12th Legion.”
“Worry? I’m not worried at all. In fact, I’m a little sad to see you go. Several of the field commanders are already expressing regret.”
“Rather, it’s me who feels the sadness. Working with such experienced and cooperative individuals has been an honor.”
Building networks for the sake of my family’s future was necessary, and trust-building wasn’t difficult. Trust grows quietly from polite exchanges.
“What’s your plan when you return to the capital? Will you join the second wave of reinforcements and come back here?”
“Haha, who knows? We’ll see.”
Though I didn’t mention it to the commander, there was already another meeting scheduled.
“When you return, let’s discuss something more… serious, Master Kael.”
The appointment was with the Crown Princess herself.
