Chapter 23: The plan for war

"And when you do get a good number of soldiers?" Kael asked.

"Then our strategy will be used. Since they will most likely have a larger army because they'll also ask for help from other kingdoms, we draw out their soldiers and kill from the lowest ranks to the highest. At least the kingdoms that might help them will be few—after all, there's the ancient warrior behind our princess, and your elder sister is back. Before they learn about her background, no one will dare to act rashly," the middle-aged man explained.

"Seems feasible, but nah. A lot of you will die, and you'll still lose in the end. This is it—listen carefully," Kael began, his tone commanding as the room fell silent in anticipation. Despite his reputation as a mere perverted rich child, something had changed recently.

But the question remained: was it just his appearance that had improved, or had his mind grown sharper as well?

"Here's the plan. We—the Eryndor Kingdom—will provide the powerhouses. Your job is to gather a lot, and I mean a lot, of cannon fodder. There's a hillside they'll have to pass through—that's where we'll attack.

The stronger ones will prepare boulders, large ones, while the cannon fodder will roll them down, crushing the weaker soldiers on the ground. The powerhouses will reveal their auras but won't move," Kael explained, his voice steady and calculated.

"But Crown Prince, wouldn't this be the perfect time to attack directly?" one of the men questioned.

"Is it? What we need is for the weaker soldiers to die first. That way, the cannon fodder on our side will have no one to fight and can focus on the enemy's powerhouses. This will weaken them, creating more opportunities for you to secure victory in this war," Kael replied.

The room fell into a stunned silence. His plan was feasible but undeniably sinister. It was a strategy that essentially sacrificed thousands of lives to weaken the enemy. Everyone was shocked—how could the Crown Prince be this ruthless?

"But Crown Prince, isn't this too much? How many of our people will die?" one of the generals asked in disbelief.

"The real question is, do you want to win this war or die?" Kael retorted, his cold gaze sending chills down their spines.

"Crown Prince, isn't there another way?" Garrick, the so-called Son of Destiny, stood up and questioned him.

Kael's lips curved into an amused smile as a thought crossed his mind. "Hehehe, Son of Destiny... Is the world sensing your death and trying to prevent it? Or is it just your natural trait as the son of destiny taking over?"

"Oh? You have a better plan? Let's hear it then—I'm all ears," Kael said, his slight smile almost mocking as Garrick hesitated.

"I... I think if we sit down, Commander Darius can come up with a better plan—or we all can, with so many minds at work," Garrick argued, and Kael's smile widened.

Kael watched as most of the people in the room nodded. The thought of sacrificing hundreds of thousands of soldiers was terrifying.

"You all agree?" Kael asked, his gaze sweeping across the room. When they nodded, his expression hardened.

"You're all fools. Do you think even with a better plan, this many soldiers won't die? You're outmatched in strength and vastly outnumbered. Your soldiers are fighting at least five opponents each. They will die, and eventually, you'll lose the war. Tell me, what will happen to their families? To your families? To your kingdom and the ancient warrior? Hahaha!" Kael laughed coldly, his composure unshaken.

"At their realm, there's likely a rule preventing them from interfering in such conflicts. If not, then why haven't we seen the ancient warrior make a move in hundreds of years? If you can come up with a better strategy, I'll listen. If not, I'm leaving. The fate of the Jimi Kingdom means little to me," Kael finished, his words leaving the room in complete silence.

Garrick, the Son of Destiny, couldn't refute him. No matter what strategy he came up with, the death toll would still be massive. In the end, the Jimi Kingdom was doomed.

"I agree with the Crown Prince. It may seem cruel, but this is the only way to ensure victory. As a fellow war veteran, I can see the truth in this plan," Darius, the hidden powerhouse, finally spoke, his words carrying immense weight.

The generals fell into deep thought, analyzing Kael's strategy. At first glance, it seemed like they were carelessly sacrificing lives. But upon closer inspection, it was a calculated move—their only chance at survival and victory.

"A lot of people are going to die... Sigh, why do I feel so guilty?" Garrick thought. But after reflecting further, he realized Kael was right—there was nothing he could do.

Kael turned his gaze to Garrick, a grin forming as he thought to himself, "No heroine to stand by your side, no assistance... You've always been my pawn, my so-called bodyguard. I wonder, though—just how strong are you now?"

Using his All-Seer ability, Kael checked Garrick's stats:

Name: Garrick

Position: Bodyguard of the Crown Prince

Rank: Martial Master, Stage 1

Luck: Son of Destiny (Currently has an Ancient Warrior as his master)

Luck Value: 200 (Low)

"Fascinating. I'm stripping away his luck fast , really fast ," Kael mused.

One by one, Kael had dismantled Garrick's support. First, he took Kim, his own fiancée, who was originally the supporter of the Son of Destiny. Then, he imprisoned Seraphim, his own sister, for attempting to kill him. Next, he eliminated Ash, his maid, who was supposed to assist Garrick in defeating him. Finally, Valthera, who was supposed to support Garrick at the central continent when he moved there, is now here and supports Kael instead.

Garrick might have other allies, but for now, Kael had removed all the crucial ones.

"Your death is drawing closer," Kael thought, his expression unreadable as he waited for the generals to decide.

Would they follow his ruthless strategy or gamble on Garrick's idealistic approach? One thing was certain: Darius, a grandmaster-level expert, had already voiced his support for Kael. His terrifying aura alone was proof of his power, leaving little room for doubt.

The room hung in suspense as the weight of Kael's words sank in. Victory or annihilation—there was no middle ground.

"But Crown Prince, the cannon fodder won't just be our army; soldiers from other kingdoms will also be involved. How do you plan to—?" The general who had stood up paused mid-sentence, the meaning of his words already clear.

"Just offer them enough benefits," Kael replied calmly, and the general sat back down without further protest.

"Crown Prince, we agree," a voice came from the doorway as an elderly man entered the room. Recognizing the familiar face, Kael raised an eyebrow. It was Kang Lea, the advisor to the King of the Jimi Kingdom.

"Haha, good. Then we'll wait for the reinforcements to arrive before executing the plan," Kael said, and everyone stood, ready to put his strategy into motion. Just then, the curtains flew open, revealing a stunning figure.

"Stop!" a breathless voice called out. A young woman stepped into view, her face flushed, beads of sweat dripping down her chin onto her simple but soaked clothing. It clung to her body, emphasizing her delicate frame.

It was Kim—her unparalleled beauty unmistakable. She was the bride of the Crown Prince, the princess of the Jimi Kingdom, and the first heroine meant to support Garrick.

"Kael… please… This is too cruel," Kim pleaded, walking toward the table where the group had gathered.

"Princess!" "Princess, why are you here?" "Princess Kim…"

The generals all spoke in alarm, their voices filled with shock and concern.

"Princess Kim, you shouldn't be here," Kang Lea said sternly, but Kim ignored him, her gaze locked on Kael.

"He's right. Why are you even here?" Kael asked, amused.

"To speak to you before it's too late… Kael, our people—don't let them die like this," Kim said softly, her eyes misty with unshed tears.

"About to cry, huh? Didn't you hear what we've been discussing? There's no other way, Kim. Go back to the kingdom. The war is about to begin," Kael said coldly, his tone dismissive.

Kim choked on her words but gritted her teeth in defiance. "Why can't I protect my own people?" she shouted, her voice filled with anguish. Everyone in the room was stunned.

Had they ever seen the princess this angry—or this vulnerable? She looked like a pitiful, enraged animal, cornered by circumstances beyond her control.

"If we don't go with this plan, there won't be any 'people' left for you to protect," Kael replied, his tone sharp. Kim froze, her retort dying on her lips.

At the back of the room, Garrick watched Kim intently. It was only the second time he had seen her, yet the strange feeling lingered—like she was meant to be someone important to him.

"Kael…" Kim called out softly as he walked up to her. She looked up at the tall, handsome figure before her—his soft pink lips, defined jawline, and piercing eyes. His beauty was mesmerizing.

Her breath hitched as Kael leaned in closer, his face just inches from hers.

"Huh? Does he want to whisper something to me? Is it about my people?" Kim wondered, but then she felt something soft press against her lips.

Kael kissed her.

She stood frozen, her lips parting slightly in shock, and his warm tongue slid in, igniting a spark that made her mind go blank. Before she could process the sensation, it was over.

"I'm meant to be your husband. If you can't even trust me now, how can you trust me to lead our kingdom to greatness in the future?" Kael asked. Kim nodded stiffly, her thoughts in chaos as Kael smiled.

"Best way to keep a girl quiet," Kael thought smugly as he returned to his seat.

"Escort Princess Kim out and begin the plan," Kael commanded. Guards entered, bowing, and Kim followed them out reluctantly.

Beside Kael, Garrick's gaze lingered on Kim's retreating figure. A strange, hollow feeling gnawed at him.

"What is going on?" Garrick thought, puzzled and uneasy.

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