Stanki, within the city of Stanki.

A plump middle-aged man in a robe of fine silk paced restlessly across the castle hall.

He was Duke Willis, lord of Stanki.

His face was knotted with worry.

Word had reached him: Baha Balm was coming to attack.

In the past, he wouldn’t have flinched—didn’t he have twenty thousand troops to defend his walls?

But after seeing Baha Balm’s battle record, a trace of panic crept into his heart...

Crushing Leahdon. Wiping out bandit clans...

Weren’t those feats far beyond what his twenty thousand men could achieve?

Just days ago, he’d lounged on his chaise, drowning in wine and women, lost in decadent pleasures.

Now, his domain was on the brink of ruin.

The sheer drop left him seething with frustration.

His ministers were tense too, but offered no useful counsel.

"My lord," one advisor urged, "our priority must be to intercept Baha Balm’s army beyond our borders."

"Send troops *out*? Are you mad? Hold the city! Hold it at all costs!"

Even insulted as a fool by this fat lord, the minister remained calm, methodically laying out the situation.

This was Karl Sven, Stanki’s sharpest strategist. His duty was to strengthen Stanki... though his lord was utterly incompetent. Loyalty kept him here—he owed Willis his life, saved from starvation years ago.

"If we lock all twenty thousand men inside the city," Karl reasoned, "Baha Balm can simply bypass Stanki and ravage our outer territories. The losses would be catastrophic."

"So what if we lose land? Is it worth *my* life?!"

"Your life is precious, my lord. But if they find us cowering behind walls, they’ll plunder freely, retreat, then return to grind us down later. Hiding won’t save us long-term."

"Tch! Annoying! Then what do *you* propose?!"

"Intercept them beyond our borders. With our numbers, we can bleed them dry. Losing even a fraction of their current twenty-thousand force would make them think twice before besieging us."

"And who protects *me* while my army’s gone?!"

"A few thousand can hold the city walls, my lord."

"Tch! Their general crushed *ten thousand* at Leahdon! Easy for you to say! If those troops get wiped out, will *you* take responsibility?!"

"I will bear full responsibility. Trust Stanki’s soldiers and commanders!"

"Tch... Fine! Do it!"

Willis had no better plan. He had no choice but to listen.

Dealing with Willis exhausted Karl. Cowardly. Weak-willed. Distrustful of his own men...

Without Karl, Stanki would have collapsed years ago under this drunken lord’s rule.

"Very well. I’ll make the arrangements."

"Hmph. Fail, and fall on your sword."

"Yes, my lord."

Karl meant it. If he failed, he *would* die to repay his debt.

His talents could earn him riches anywhere—but gratitude chained him here, serving Willis with every breath.

He swallowed his frustration and strode toward the barracks.

At the gates, Stanki’s general awaited him.

"General Herates..."

"Give your orders, sir. We obey."

Herates wasn’t a fool like Willis. He knew *this* man was why Stanki still stood.

He trusted Karl’s wisdom completely.

Relieved, Karl skipped lengthy explanations.

"Take ten thousand light infantry. Ambush Baha Balm at the border pass—the fastest route to Stanki City. They *must* cross that forest. Bleed them as much as you can."

Karl never planned to win outright. Light armor meant quick retreats. In dense woods, cavalry couldn’t chase. Light infantry would vanish like mist.

If Baha Balm marched with ten thousand, crippling thirty percent would make defending Stanki effortless—and leave room for counterattacks.

Sieges were nightmares: boiling oil, crushing boulders raining from prepared walls...

But Karl’s gut tightened. Rumor said Sass Vies himself commanded this invasion.

Two battles. Two victories. Both against overwhelming odds.

That record alone proved his skill.

Ambushing wasn’t enough. He needed backup plans.

*Think.*

Karl’s title—Stanki’s Greatest Strategist—was earned.

Grand tactics. Governance. Deception. Open warfare. All near-perfect. His talent 【All-Rounder】 boosted every skill by ten percent.

He’d mastered astronomy, geography, mathematics—anything to push his base abilities past eighty, letting 【All-Rounder】 crown him a master.

But Sass Vies was no rash youth. Calm. Unpredictable. A mind both steady and brilliantly fluid.

Karl rubbed his chin, mind racing.

"General Herates! Summon your deputy commander."

"At once. Fetch the deputy!"

A soldier dashed off.

Karl’s eyes sharpened.

He saw a way. A way to shatter them utterly...