Not everyone agreed with Warlord Sazaka's decision to split up the main fleet. His highly paid human technical consultant, for instance, had raised an objection.
"Wasn't our goal to do everything we can to destroy the main force of the Earthlings' New World Fleet, along with every military facility at New Lushun Naval Base? That's what you said. If we split up now, could we end up sacrificing the greater goal for a lesser one?"
The troll officers on the bridge of the Bloodbath held their breath, regarding the only human aboard with profound respect.
Sazaka claimed to be a rare intellectual among the Maishanda warlords, a cultured man who always appeared gentle and refined. He'd even had a pair of custom glasses made to complete the image. In front of the great khan of the Eros, he would often put on the airs of a "brilliant general." But at heart, he was still a typical troll—or, more accurately, even crueler than the average troll, and more exacting in his control over the various minor warlords under his command.
That was easy enough to understand. A boss with a violent temper who occasionally resorted to violence only seemed frightening. Once you figured out how such a person ticked, he could actually be quite easy to get along with. If you were especially good at socializing, you could even find ways to benefit from it.
The truly terrifying bosses were the ones who smiled gently as they casually cut you down.
As a result, almost none of the raiders aboard the Bloodsworn dared to challenge Sazaka's decision. The sole exception was this human, who had only been aboard for a little over a month.
Perhaps it was because they were both "intellectuals." Sazaka remained exceedingly courteous to the technical expert. "Dr.