Plan

After a brief moment of thought, he proposed a compromise, trying to find a balance between "using outside support" and "maintaining independence":

"My lord, perhaps... we could adjust our deployment?" Brendan's fingers traced across the map. "We could station all our main forces, including the newly formed Third Regiment, in Tyrol!"

"This is a strategically vital region we've only just captured. It must be defended by our own army to demonstrate our sovereignty, and it will also make it easier for us to expand toward the Southwest Peninsula in the future. As for the defenses of Carnford Castle... they could temporarily be entrusted to the Fran City forces coming to support us."

He tried to make his reasoning sound more convincing. "Carnford is our foundation. The people's loyalty to you runs deep, and we built the castle's defensive system ourselves. We know it inside out."

"Even if Fran City's forces were temporarily stationed there, Earl Rochefort would have no chance of easily taking control. That way, we could resolve Tyrol's urgent shortage of defensive forces while keeping our most vital foundation firmly in our own hands, avoiding any dispute over Tyrol's sovereignty."

After hearing Brendan's proposal, Karl did not agree immediately. Instead, he gave a meaningful smile, shook his head lightly, and looked sharply at Brendan.

"Brendan, your idea is ingenious. You're trying to have the best of both worlds, but..." His tone suddenly turned serious. "If we can think of these problems, how could Earl Rochefort, a brilliant and experienced statesman, fail to see them?"

He stepped in front of Brendan. His voice was not loud, but every word struck the other man's heart. "Think about it. At this critical moment, with the enemy's forces massing at our borders and our own troops stretched thin, Carnford would pull all