The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Ghislain’s bold declaration left Alex, Andrew, and Leo looking at him as if pleading.

"I do not grant permission for this campaign."
"Please! Can’t we just handle this war rationally?!"
"We’ve gathered a sizable force already. Shouldn’t we focus on fortifying the capital’s defenses while keeping our territories secure…?"

The three of them blurted out their concerns rapidly, each making their own case. Though their words differed, their conclusion was the same—they wanted to consolidate their strength and create a stable power balance.

Ghislain understood their reasoning. He knew that launching an attack from a disadvantaged position was a reckless gamble.

That’s how it always was. When you only get one shot, the weight of that decision becomes almost unbearable.

If they built up their forces, expanded their influence, and strengthened their position, their enemies would naturally tread carefully.

That was what the three of them wanted—an equilibrium, a delicate balance where neither side would make rash moves.

But Ghislain? He preferred to crush his enemies outright. That was the safest path.

"The best defense is a good offense."

"……"

"Think about it. Right now, Marquis Falkenheim and his vassals have no idea what’s happening here."

Ghislain had moved too fast. Even if Falkenheim’s direct informants had already reported the events, it would still take days for the information to reach him.

Ghislain pointed that out.

"We're in trouble, yes. But so are they. In fact, they're in an even worse position. They’re completely unprepared and frozen in place."

"……"

"So why should we give them time to mobilize their forces and prepare? If we move fast enough, we can cut them down before they even react."

"……"

The three of them were left speechless.

As insane as Ghislain sounded, there wasn’t a single flaw in his argument.

But just because it made sense didn’t mean it was easy. War was never that simple.

No matter how strong Ghislain was, Marquis Falkenheim was one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom. If his vassals rose in unison, he could gather an army of hundreds of thousands in no time.

Even if Falkenheim personally mobilized his forces, he alone commanded around a hundred thousand troops. That was an army that even a handful of transcendents would struggle to handle.

Not to mention, Falkenheim himself had powerful knights and elite warriors under his command.

Despite understanding Ghislain’s reasoning, neither their minds nor their instincts could fully accept his approach.@@novelbin@@

Then, as if he couldn’t care less, Ghislain casually threw out his next words.

"I wasn’t asking for permission. I was just trying to be polite."