The northern entrance of the city of Kofdale was plunged into chaos.

A winged Minotaur plunged from the sky, targeting a soldier locked in combat with a skeleton warrior.

Sharp claws reaped like a scythe, severing the soldier's head in an instant. Blood spurted out and the decapitated body fell to the ground.

Dodging several arrows, the demon returned to the sky, dancing exuberantly with the soldier's head in its hand, releasing grotesque laughter.

It gnawed the skull like eating a watermelon, took a few greedy slurps of brain matter, and then discarded the head.

About thirty such monsters roamed the sky.

Countless skeletons, zombies, and other undead beings roamed the earth.

The newly killed soldier was infected by the evil power and staggered up from the ground, morphing to a headless zombie.

The northern gate of the city was breached, and new undead monsters kept entering the city.

To cope with the monsters, other soldiers in the city were urgently mobilized, with more troops pouring in from various locations for defense.

At that moment, a warehouse near the north gate was temporarily requisitioned by the army for a makeshift command post.

The owner of the warehouse had long fled to unknown places.

Vernon, the Guard Captain of Kofdale, was present. The Guard Captain, second only to the mayor in power, was in charge of the city's defense.

He discussed countermeasures with four competent-looking army captains.

A detailed map of Kofdale was placed across the wooden table, with a stone on the northern gate location and over a dozen flags positioned elsewhere.

Then a soldier burst in.

"Report! We can’t find the governor at the town hall! Also, there’s no sign of him at his mansion."

"…Understood, keep searching elsewhere and if you find the governor, please ask him to come quickly."

"Yes, sir!"

When the soldier left, the slightly overweight Guard Captain wiped the sweat from his forehead with his wrist.

He had reached his position through bloodline and never faced a real battlefield.

This usually safe town hardly had cases of murder.

Even if there were, they were dealt with by his subordinates. Yet now, with the town under demon attack, he was asked for advice on every decision.

Any mistake on his part could result in the fall of the city to the demons.

The whole city might be doomed, with all its citizens forming the demon’s feast.

Such incidents occasionally happened in various countries around the continent, especially this year! Two "General" level demons had appeared in the north part of the continent!

He had assumed that his southern city would be safe - who could have predicted this sudden disaster?

He had never directly commanded a battle of this level. His role in the military was that of a consultant, providing suggestions without taking responsibility, as long as they were reasonable

After an intense mental struggle, three difficult commands were issued.

The commands were to send all soldiers to reinforce the north, request support from the Adventurer's Guild, and evacuate the civilians to the east.

These commands seemed reasonable, but he didn’t know what impact they would have when implemented.

He was running out of energy to think.

Feeling slightly faint with the heavy responsibility shouldered, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

What to do next when Lord Harrison, the mayor, couldn’t be found?

As the highest-ranking official present, he had to issue the next command.

Perhaps, he thought, it’s better to ask the opinions of his subordinates.

He looked at the captains in front of him. "What do you think?"

One of the young captains seemed eager to present his views.

"Guard Captain Vernon, I don't think it's wise to keep sending our soldiers to die. As the Demon Legion has already broken through the north gate, its defensive value is lost. Unfortunately, we have to leave the inhabitants of the north gate, but looking at the current situation, we should rationally decide to temporarily abandon them! We need to have all our forces assemble in the middle region and team up with the adventurers for a counterattack. We cannot let our forces scatter! Steady reinforcements only drain our already thin military power."So, it's that way! It seems so reasonable! So, I had previously made a wrong command?

Vernon felt his stomach ache even more and wanted desperately to go to the bathroom.

“You are oversimplifying Lord Vernon's orders!”

A middle-aged soldier captain with a large beard appeared to be mocking the young soldier captain after hearing his statement.

“Let me ask you, if we abandon the North Region, do you know how much it will demoralize our soldiers? Know that many soldiers aren't like you, they are civilian-born! Their homes and families mostly reside in the North Region! Thus, currently speaking, army morale is extremely high and the desire to fight is strong. It hasn't suffered because of the fall of the North Gate. On the contrary, giving a retreat order would be a blow to the soldiers' motivation, and it might even incite revolt among the subordinates.”

Ah! So there was that aspect to consider! I actually hadn't thought of that!

After such an analysis, it seems my command wasn't wrong.

Vernon felt his urge to visit the restroom lessen somewhat.

He nodded appreciatively towards the soldier captain, feigning agreement with his ideas.

Just as the young soldier captain looked set to retort, the middle-aged soldier captain spoke again.

“Do you think Lord Vernon's order only takes into account that much?”

What?! There's more?

Vernon perked up his ears.

“If we abandon the North Region without defending it, it would be alright if we recapture the North Region, but what if we can't? Koverdale will still fall! Rumors of the Koverdale guard fleeing without a fight will spread across the nation. Even if these rumors are false, the power of public opinion is gold. If the surviving North Region civilians take their complaints to Duke Rapimentes or the king, even if they know we're innocent, they will still have to satisfy the rage of the people. If we're fortunate enough to still be alive at that time, we might be sentenced to execution! Not to mention losing all our honor and being labeled cowards! Even if investigations prove we died fighting in Koverdale, no one would believe it. Instead, we would be seen as cowards who died in retreat, becoming the laughing stock of everyone.”

Ah... That makes sense! Really reasonable, hey!!

So, it seems like my command was rather insightful.

Vernon turned to the young soldier captain and shook his head in an act of disappointment, showing pity in his eyes as if to say you are too young, too impulsive, and think too little.

The young soldier captain seemed to get embarrassed and tried to argue something.

The middle-aged soldier captain spoke again.

"Cool down and think carefully before you speak. Consider the profound meanings behind Lord Vernon's other two orders. Do you think Lord Vernon's other two orders were given arbitrarily? Lord Vernon deliberates carefully before issuing each order! I suspect that even before the orders were issued, he had envisioned several plans in his mind, only then selecting and issuing the most rational order."

Stop!!! Don't say anymore!! I'm going to feel so embarrassed!! Actually, I didn't think that much.

The young soldier captain lowered his head in thought, and when he looked up, he seemed to have understood something.

"I see. I suspect Lord Vernon considered these three aspects! To regard all three aspects, indeed, these orders were the most wise."

Three aspects?!

Oh no, I'm not even sure what the three aspects are. I need to think carefully!

…

It's not working. I can't think of anything!

The middle-aged soldier captain seemed quite satisfied that the young soldier captain had caught on, and helpfully reminded him again.

"Actually, I think it's not just three aspects, I thought of four! But I think these four aspects might not all be what Lord Vernon considered. Lord Vernon may have considered something deeper."

Another aspect has been added?!

Please! I have absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about!

Please explain! Let me understand what these four aspects are.

Showing some degree of respect, the young soldier captain saluted Vernon, and respectfully asked.

"Lord Vernon, please forgive my lack of intelligence in following your steps. I implore you to elaborate so that I may understand your prescience, I believe it will enable me to better accomplish the tasks you assign."Bastard! Don't ask me!! I don't know a thing, totally clueless about what you guys are thinking!

All eyes were focused on Vernon, who appeared calm and unflustered on the surface.

Realizing all eyes were on him, Vernon felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

Would they let him off if he rushed off to the toilet now?

Right! He should talk his way out first.

Then go to the toilet.

Vernon waved at the young squad leader, indicating he should not be too agitated.

His face was serious due to the stomachache.

He shook his head slightly, pointing at the map.

Everyone followed Vernon's hand and looked at the map. The pointed place wasn't in Kofdale.

Vernon simply pointed randomly, he didn't dare to point inside the city.

Seeing everyone look at the map as he expected, Vernon breathed a sigh of relief.

"There are actually five aspects, the fifth is right...."

He said, tapping the map with his index finger, implying that they should think on their own.

Everyone looked thoughtful, the middle-aged squad leader even grimaced and scratched his thick beard.

Good!! Keep pondering! I'll make my way to the toilet.

"I knew there were five aspects, just as I thought! Vernon, you are a great commander indeed."

A familiar voice rang out from behind.

Vernon knew this voice very well.

Isn't this Governor Harrison's voice? When did he come?!

Most importantly, when did he start listening?