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The strategist was Kirk, so he immediately led two scouts to protect the thief disguised as Dandeni, who followed from a distance. They first searched around the Slytherin dormitory area for any Strategist Cards they could use, while Sherlock led one scout and one doctor slowly outward.

The two archers headed first for the top of the tower where Slytherin House was located. They tried to seize the highest point in Hogwarts before the archers from the other Houses, while ensuring that at least one archer could keep their commander in sight to protect him.

That meant Sherlock could not remain in the Slytherin common room, because archers did not have X-ray vision. Thus, the most sensible way for him to command was to move slowly while staying within the archers' line of sight, choosing locations that would not expose him too much.

For example, the corridors along Hogwarts's outer walls were an excellent choice.

The vanguard scouting team consisted of five scouts and one doctor. Sherlock had repeatedly told them sternly that the vanguard scouting team was absolutely one of the core forces of the group. Sending them out meant deploying a full third of their forces.

Therefore, even if they encountered an enemy they could not defeat, they had to ensure the doctor's safety first. Only if the sole healer in the team was protected could the rest slowly retreat and wait for reinforcements.

"Young Master Sherlock, we've captured the high ground!"

"Very good. Even from a high position, the archers must be careful to stay hidden. At crucial moments, you can fire sneak shots. At the same time, do everything possible to locate the thieves from the other three Houses. If necessary, use your arrows to eliminate the thieves first. Doctors come second."

"Uh... I think I've already found a thief! He's from Gryffindor."

Sherlock froze for a moment. Sure enough, on the map in his hand, a red thief marker had appeared in the plaza outside the school. The four Houses each used a different colored magical marker.

A green snake, a red lion, a blue badger, and a cyan eagle.

The red thief marker clearly belonged to Gryffindor's thief. And the other side was actually strolling about outside the school so openly, where Slytherin's archers could see him. If they did not kill him, then who would they kill?

"That idiot is from Gryffindor. Watch me shoot him down. He's probably relying on being the only invisible unit on his team, which is why he dares to wander around outside so brazenly."

One of Slytherin's archers fired a magical arrow. His own aim was not particularly good, but the magical arrow greatly enhanced its accuracy. The shot struck the thief below dead-on.

Yet, as expected, the Gryffindor thief should have died immediately after being hit. Instead, a red protective barrier lit up around him. He was completely unharmed, and the instant he was attacked, he turned and ran.

He ran so far away that the archers atop the tower did not even have time to react.

Sherlock cursed inwardly. "Damn it, that's the Strategist Card's protection effect. It grants one minute of damage immunity. I didn't expect them to find a Strategist Card so quickly—and use it on their thief."

Sherlock continued, "The archer who attacked just now, leave that position immediately. You've been exposed."

On the tower outside, several red magical arrows came flying one after another toward the Slytherin archer's former position. Fortunately, there was a tall chimney where he stood, or he would likely have been killed by those arrows.

"No, I'm pinned down. I don't even dare show my head! Damn it, Hufflepuff's archers found me too."

Sherlock sighed. He had not expected the opening clash to be between archers. And although these people were playing Mofilo for the first time, their comprehension, execution, and command ability all seemed quite good.

"Jump down through the chimney! It should lead straight into some professor's office!" Sherlock said.

The Slytherin archer did as instructed. The chimney led into the fireplace in Professor Snape's office.

At that moment, Snape, who was sitting in the hall with the students and watching their battle through the enormous map there, wore a rather strange expression. He had not expected his House's archer to be tricked by Gryffindor, then attacked by Hufflepuff as well!

He had actually been forced to escape through a chimney!

"We've encountered two Hufflepuff scouts. They may be out exploring too! Should we attack?"

The vanguard scouting team had also encountered two Hufflepuff scouts inside Hogwarts Castle.

"Attack! Retreat immediately after attacking! Watch out for their reinforcements!"

Slytherin's little snakes immediately surrounded the two Hufflepuff scouts who had come out. But they soon discovered that the enemy did not have two scouts, but a full five—just like Slytherin's side, except Slytherin had brought along a doctor.

"It's the effect of another Strategist Card! It has a concealment function!"

Hufflepuff had likely intended to use two scouts as bait, then have the other three scouts reinforce them and defeat the enemy once they attacked.

But they had not expected Slytherin to send the same number of scouts, with an extra Slytherin doctor as well.

"Mr. Sherlock, I found another Strategist Card too. It's Trap Slow! It can set a trap for units in a certain location. As long as an enemy passes through it, the trap will activate and greatly slow their movement."

"Kirk! Activate that Strategist Card and give it to Dandeni. Have him set it up outside the corridor of the school hall!"

"Mr. Sherlock, I don't know why, but I have a strange feeling. It seems Hufflepuff and Gryffindor have formed an alliance and want to eliminate us first!"

Kirk analyzed the situation calmly.

"To be honest, I have the same feeling!"

"Mr. Sherlock, I saw it! Ravenclaw is fighting Hufflepuff and Gryffindor alone! Damn it! Ravenclaw's commander was assassinated by Hufflepuff's thief! They're out! What the hell were Ravenclaw's archers doing?"

Another archer hidden high up happened to witness Ravenclaw's commander being ambushed by Hufflepuff's thief.

He was furious about it. He could not understand what the usually clever Ravenclaw had been doing this time, losing so quickly. They had been eliminated in less than an hour.

In the hall, Flitwick looked extremely embarrassed. He had not expected his House's team to be the first one eliminated!