Lure

Seeing that the topic was about to veer off course again, Svein, who had been calmly observing from the side, spoke at the right moment and steered the discussion back toward the most urgent strategic issue at hand. His voice was steady, tinged with pragmatic concern:

"Big Brother, everyone, since Karl's background is so complicated, his relationship with Fran City is probably more delicate than we imagined. But now is not the time to investigate it in depth. Our most urgent concerns are Tyrol and the coming autumn raids!"

He said solemnly, "Tyrol now has five thousand elite troops from Fran City stationed there, and Laurent is a skilled defensive commander. A frontal assault would cost us too much, and could easily draw Rochfort's main forces fully into the conflict."

"Once we become locked in a prolonged war of attrition against the Fran City–Kahnford allied forces in that barren land around Kahnford, our supply lines will be stretched, the terrain will work against us, and even victory will inevitably be a costly one that severely weakens us. It simply won't be worth it."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, then raised an even more far-reaching question: "More importantly, autumn is almost here! In previous years, this was the crucial time when our tribes gathered their armies and marched south to raid the wealthy heartlands of the Goldflower Kingdom, obtaining supplies and wealth to survive the winter! But this year, everything has changed!"

Svein's finger traced a line across the area between Fran City and Kahnford on the map, his voice carrying a hint of chill: "According to reliable intelligence, Rochfort is pushing ahead with the 'Fran City–Kahnford Fortress Cluster' plan with all his might!"

"Once this defensive line, composed of a series of sturdy fortresses and garrison posts, is