Vaerik’s sharing of credit with Earl Foss had his own considerations.
Before coming to Snow Eagle City, he had pieced together Earl Foss’ character from intelligence obtained through the Daily Intelligence System.
Cowardly, vain, severely self-centered, and liked claiming credit without any contribution.
A typical narcissistic personality disorder.
Such people most craved others’ praise and feared isolation most.
So rather than letting him sche behind the scenes, it was better to actively share so military rit while gaining favor and convenience.
Anyway, discerning people could see who really did the work.
More importantly, according to the Northern Province Governor’s military assembly order, Snow Peak Prefecture’s various forces fell under Fifth Legion coordination.
The Fifth Legion’s nominal commander was Earl Foss.
This ant without Duke Edmund’s orders, no matter how much rit Vaerik achieved, he’d ultimately fight under this waste’s command.
Though unreasonable, this was reality.
Vaerik wasn’t ignorant of noble rules—he’d been born in one of the empire’s eight great noble houses.
From childhood he’d heard banquet confrontations and seen hypocritical flattery.
Noble flattery techniques were already familiar to him.
If a few smiles and words could earn more command authority, he didn’t mind doing so.
Music resud as servants carefully cleaned blood from the floor, though the air’s murderous atmosphere remained.
Those southern nobles who’d previously mocked Vaerik now wore smiling faces, approaching with wine cups.
"Lord Vaerik shows promise at such a young age."
"This White Feather Canyon battle sounds thrilling."
Their words carried flattery while their eyes hid wariness.
No one had taken this young man seriously before, yet now he’d thrown out a bag of heads, catching everyone off-guard.
They had to be cautious yet ingratiating.
After all, Vaerik currently seed the strongest among southern nobles—rallying around him was a good choice.
Unlike southern nobles’ fawning, northern nobles were more straightforward.
A plainly dressed gray-haired old knight raised his cup: "I once lost an entire scout team to Haskell."
He looked deeply at Vaerik: "Thank you, Lord Tudor."
Another middle-aged noble nodded: "He deserved death—you’ve eliminated a great threat for us."
They didn’t say much, but their tones carried sincerity.
Unknowingly night had deepened as drunken nobles departed.
Vaerik stood by the window, watching distant mountains gradually swallowed by darkness.
Tonight was just an appetizer; tomorrow morning was the main course.
Because tomorrow was the designated formal assembly day.
The Empire’s Fifth Legion would complete military preparations at dawn tomorrow, with Earl Foss presiding over comprehensive combat plans against Snow Swearers, troop allocations.
And the military rit reward system that most concerned Vaerik.
...
At dawn, soldiers’ quiet conversations and knights’ clashing armor sounds ca from outside tents.
The entire camp had begun preparing for a new day.
Vaerik opened his eyes and sat up. Having only sipped lightly last night, his mind was clear without headaches.
He donned his coat, yawned, and habitually summoned the Daily Intelligence System.
Faint blue light filled the air as lines of intelligence slowly appeared:
[Daily Intelligence Update Complete]
[1: Snow Swearers are assembling forces, expected to deploy 2,600 Boiling Blood Berserkers in seven days for large-scale surprise attack on Snow Eagle City, leaving their rear vulnerable.]
[2: In ten days, Snow Eagle City falls, Earl Foss captured alive, then sacrificed as an offering.]
[3: A canyon secret passage exists at Clear Feather Mountain Road’s edge, allowing circumvention of front lines to strike Snow Swearers’ rear camp directly.]
[4: Viscount Fischer secretly provides intelligence to Snow Swearers, intending to preserve his own territory.]
[5: Seven governor’s agents are secretly observing noble performance in the Fifth Legion, including Bond, Curan, Etzel...]
Today updated five items at once, all war-related and imdiately useful.
"Tsk, worthy of an intelligence system—quite helpful at tis like this."
Vaerik’s gaze swept through the information.
But seeing the first intelligence made him frown sharply.
Seven days? Twenty-six hundred Snow Swearers?!
This wasn’t harassnt-level small-scale action—this was large-scale combat aid at swallowing the entire city.
Before he could think further, the second intelligence was like a final verdict.
The city fell on the third day of assault!
This confird his judgnt from last night: this city was thoroughly rotten.
Upper command chaos, nobles constraining each other, unfinished walls, supply ss—even gods couldn’t save it.
However, lasting only three days exceeded Vaerik’s expectations.
Once the city fell, forget military rit—he might lose his life.
"Defending will only an dying with these incompetents—need to find escape routes."
He clearly wasn’t a saint. Even if Snow Eagle City’s people cried for rescue, he wouldn’t throw his limited forces into martyrdom.
While rapidly considering escape routes, his gaze moved to the third intelligence.
"A canyon secret passage exists at Clear Feather Mountain Road’s edge, allowing circumvention of front line defenses to strike Snow Swearers’ rear camp in Snow Peak Prefecture directly."
His eyes brightened as he leaned forward.
A way out! And an opportunity!
This secret passage ant he could quietly circle to enemy headquarters while they attacked Snow Eagle City, conducting a surprise raid to undermine their foundation!
"Rear vulnerability... so this is the answer."
In his mind, future battle scenarios began unfolding:
Enemy attack in seven days, city fall in ten days.
If he advanced early via secret passage to strike their rear, he’d hit when enemies were most vulnerable.
Delay a bit more, pretend slow travel—Snow Eagle City’s fall wouldn’t concern him.
He’d beco a hero who sacrificed himself for rear assault—though unable to rescue in ti, he’d achieve rit in one battle!
As for Earl Foss’ sacrifice ntioned in the second intelligence...
"How truly regrettable." He shrugged without a trace of pity.
"I ca to lead troops, not save the world. My current strength can’t save an entire city.
If Snow Eagle City falls, responsibility naturally falls on that pig.
Instead, I can withdraw intact with ’tily counterattack, full retreat’ posture."
He glanced at the fourth item—Fischer, whom he vaguely rembered as an honest-looking young noble, unexpectedly well-hidden.
Though if opportunities arose, perhaps he could fish him out for use.
Finally the fifth item—seven governor’s agents. His eyes moved slightly.
"Inspectors? Good." Vaerik chuckled, snapping his fingers.
"I’ll perform a good show for you—show what a tide-turning young hero looks like."
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