Facing It Head-On

Though he said nothing, that silent pressure drenched the enraged Asgeir as if with a basin of icy water, instantly extinguishing most of his boiling fury and leaving only resentment and frustration.

He angrily shook off Svein's hand, glared viciously at Klaus, who lay limp and trembling on the floor, snorted heavily, and returned to his place. His chest still heaved violently.

After Svein forcibly suppressed the conflict between Asgeir and Klaus over the gap in their technical expertise, an even more oppressive and complicated atmosphere filled the great hall.

Harald's icy gaze swept over the silent, terrified crowd before settling once more on Hakon, who knelt on the floor like a startled bird. His voice still revealed no joy or anger, but it carried unquestionable authority as he broke the silence:

"Hakon, continue. Tell the esteemed lords everything you saw beneath Tyrol City—the Carnford Army's methods of warfare, their infantry, and their formations. Tell it clearly and in detail, without leaving anything out."

Hakon felt as if he had been granted an amnesty. Enduring the tremors wracking his body and the excruciating pain in his face, he took a deep breath and tried to recall the details of that nightmarish battle. Then he described it in more specific, yet even more chilling, words:

"Yes... yes, Great Chieftain. At the time, Regiment Commander Bragi saw that the city walls could not be held and decided to fight in the open, hoping to rely on our warriors' ferocity to close in quickly and decide the battle through close combat. We... we put the Heavy Armor Infantry under Battle Group Commander Acton at the front, forming a dense assault formation, and launched a desperate charge..."

His voice trembled with lingering fear. "But... before our men even reached effective bow range, the Carnford