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"You did good, Mari." A matured, male voice spoke out. His tone was soft, welcoming, but oozing with cryptid dread.

"I know I did. Those Jalozians have been hawking all the merits, and they've killed too many generals too. I, at least, couldn't let them kill another general." Mari replied with a stiff, curt voice.

The night was mature. And the darkness the night always brought had already taken over the entirety of the Levarian camps.

The attack from the ninth Orcan general had been quelled earlier in the day thanks to the brave effort of General Varlen of the Jalozian Army, and the enigmatic mercenary K.

Yes, that was what happened during the day. But, during the night, the Levarian Generals' Alliance had arranged a meeting in their usual camp. All without inviting Varlen.

"Yes. We have to find a way to distribute the merits evenly amongst all the Empires and Kingdoms in the Alliance.." the matured voice spoke again.

All the generals in the alliance sat on wooden chairs in the large tent that surrounded a large, wooden table. Their faces were barely visible as the only source of light in the tent was a dimly lit candle that casted a warm, red glow in the tent.

"But.. how?" Another figure with a soft, masculine voice asked. "I know you're the leader of the alliance, but the Jalozians are part of the top two Empires in Levaria, so how are we even going to stop them from being victorious?"

The leader's lips curled up with a small smirk. "That's simple. We just have to create situations where they won't be able to gather any more merits."

Mari's eyes snapped open, "Leader. I think General Varlen and a couple other generals have a mission to go to Elyrus to kill the weakened Third Orcan general tomorrow?"

"Y– you're right. Yes. I did give them that mission. You're right." The leader caressed his beardless jaw. "I can stop them from going on that mission. Because, at the rate things are moving, this war might end soon. None of us here wants that to happen. We need.."

"I think all of us here already know that, Leader." Mari said as she placed her hands on the table, "If we stop them from the mission tomorrow, that we're not sure they would be successful with. Then what about other missions? How would we stop them? Would we be able to stop them forever? If we do so, they'll sense something is wrong." Mari added.

"Hmm," the leader hummed as he closed his eyes, deep in thought. "Wha–"

"What if we kill General Varlen?" Another member of the Alliance spoke up. The voice belonged to an old man. "Jalozi became the top nation in the Empire after Varlen became General twenty years ago after all. It means that guy's the reason for their rapid growth. I heard K won't even be on the battlefield if it weren't for him. He's the reason Jalozi is prospering!"

"You.. insolent!" Another voice rang out, a female voice. "How can you suggest that we kill Varlen?! Varlen that's been the pillar of the alliance even if he isn't the leader!?"

"She's right! How dare you Jephta!" A male voice rang out in support.

"But.. Jephta's right! It's the only way to.. it's the only way to slow down the pace of this war! He's the one who suggested that we attack the third Orcan general! That guy hates Orcs and wants to kill them all, but we don't! They're our..!"

"Silence!" The leader yelled, massaging his forehead with his fingers.

But they refused to listen to him, and continued arguing amongst themselves.

Mari scoffed, shaking her head slowly as she watched them argue.

'And they're supposed to be generals?' she thought to herself.

"I've made a decision!" The leader yelled.

This time, they all shut up, and intensely focused their gaze on the leader, waiting for him to announce his decision.

"During the Third Orcan general raid in Elyrus tomorrow… Mari, find a way to kill him." He spoke in a cold voice with his eyes narrowed and his fingers steepled.

Mari quivered for a moment, then she put on a frown as she grimaced.

'That's the stupid decision he reached? Really? Ha..' she thought to herself.

She didn't respond to him. She just sat, leaning back on her chair with her arms crossed.

"Did you hear me, Mari?" The leader asked.

Mari refused to answer.

"Mari?" He called.

She stayed silent.

"Mari!!"

"Fine." She finally replied. And as she did, she stood up immediately, walking toward the entrance of the tent with her teeth gnashed.

No one said a word. Mari was the third strongest general in the Alliance. They could only watch her storm off in annoyance and rejoice that she didn't release her killing intent.

As Mari reached the entrance of the tent, she froze, and looked up.

"V– Varlen?" She choked out.

Varlen's lips curled up with a grin that she didn't understand. He placed his two hands on her shoulders and held them tightly.

He pushed her calmly back into the tent.

His ribs were bandaged, and he only wore black pants, and his signature blue cape over his shoulders.

Every single general in the tent froze as they saw Varlen.

"I heard you guys were having a meeting without me, so I decided to drop by and check on you all.." As he spoke, he took little steps. Still holding Mari's shoulder firmly.

His smile widened as he looked at their faces, one by one. They couldn't meet his eyes. None of them.

"But it turns out you were all plotting my death. Including you Mari." He turned to look down at Mari who he still held.

Her forehead wrinkled. "I, I ne–"

"Shh." He placed his index finger on his lips, and freed his grip from her shoulder.

Varlen walked over to the seat where Mari had been sitting, and he sat down on it, facing directly opposite the leader.

"So, Ayan. Tell me, are we carrying out the mission tomorrow or not?" He spoke gently, but his killing intent flared and choked down on everyone present in the room.

They felt as if they were drowning in the ocean.

The leader who was barely enduring it, with sweat dripping down his face uttered one single word, his eyes darting around. "Yes."