The trade discussion

I entered the reunion room, the tension in the air thick enough to feel it. Daniel was already there, standing in the middle with Yuri. The rest of the team, Andrew, Sofia, Crimzo, and the soldiers who had been with us during the mission to capture the princess were all seated, their faces a mixture of concentration and curiosity.

There were also a few new faces scattered around the room, people I didn't recognize. Maybe some additions Daniel had made.

 I sat down next to Andrew, who nodded quickly at me. Sofia was nearby, her expression calm, and Crimzo leaned back in his chair, relaxed as ever. The room was quiet, waiting for Daniel to speak.

Daniel stepped forward, his voice sharp and to the point. "We've just received word from Drayton. They've agreed to the trade. The princess in exchange for all our soldiers they have."

Murmurs broke out among the group, but Daniel raised his hand, silencing them. "They're offering to trade 210 soldiers. That's every prisoner they've been holding. And after hearing the numbers, our king has already approved the trade."

I could feel the shift in the room. People started glancing at each other, trying to measure whether this was good news or something to worry about.

Daniel continued. "There's one condition. Drayton wants all their soldiers back—every last one. That includes the men we captured along with the princess. It's a lot to ask, but it's what they want. And if we agree, finally, our soldiers will get to see their families and friends again."

He paused, his eyes scanning the room. "I want you all to lead this trade. We'll be forming a temporary team for this operation, with extra soldiers to back you up if anything goes wrong."

Yuri stepped forward, his face calm but firm. "No," he said. "Forming a temporary team now will take too long, and we're short on time as it is. You know the split of the teams is coming soon, so it's better to work with the soldiers we already have."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Yuri? You're going to take this mission?!"

I glanced at Yuri, my thoughts swirling. He always seems so confident, so strong... but how strong is he really? I can't tell. Maybe this time, I'll get to finally see.

"I'll take 200 soldiers," Yuri continued, his tone unshakable. "The ones I've already trained. They're ready for this. The others can stay and prepare for their upcoming mission."

Daniel looked at him. "If you're sure about this, then I'll leave it to you. But Yuri, we can't afford any mistakes."

Yuri gave a small smile. "There won't be."

Sophia leaned forward, her voice calm but steady. "And if something does go wrong? What happens then?"

Yuri turned his gaze to her. "If it's a trap, we'll handle it. I've already trained these soldiers to work as a unit. They'll know what to do. But let me be clear here, this is about strategy, not brute force. We'll avoid a fight if we can, but if they push us..." He paused then said. "We'll end it quickly."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of his words settling on everyone.

Crimzo, sitting in the corner leaning against the wall, raised a hand casually. "What about us archers? What's the plan if things get ugly?"

Daniel stepped in. "If it goes wrong, the archers stay hidden. You'll be our eyes from a distance, and you'll cover our retreat if it comes to that. Crimzo, you and your team, your roles are the most important. Make every shot count, but don't expose yourself unless it's absolutely necessary."

Crimzo nodded. "Got it. Just give me a clear line of sight, and I'll make sure things stay under control."

Daniel's eyes scanned the room again, landing on me briefly before moving on. "This mission will require precision and discipline. There's no room for errors, always remember that. You all know your roles, do them, and we'll succeed. Any more questions?"

One of the unfamiliar men standing beside Daniel finally spoke. His deep brown skin contrasted with his short, neatly cut black hair, and his sharp, focused eyes carried the weight of experience. He stood with a disciplined posture, his muscular frame hinting at years of training.

"We'll handle the training sessions while Yuri takes on this mission," he said, glancing at Daniel. "This way, he can focus entirely on the trade without worrying about the upcoming team selections."

Daniel nodded, considering it. "That makes sense. If Yuri leads this, we need the trainees to stay on schedule. You'll oversee the classes and make sure nothing falls behind."

The man crossed his arms, his gaze changed toward Yuri. "That is... if you trust us with it."

Yuri gave a small, unreadable smile. "I trust the right people to do their jobs," he said simply.

Daniel clapped his hands together. "Good. Then it's settled. Yuri, focus on the mission. The rest of us will take care of things here."

Daniel gave one final nod. "Alright. Prepare yourselves. The trade will be after 3 days from now!"