The report arrived four days before the outbreak of war. Captain Lorenzo, hurrying back from the command room, informed Heisen.

“A large army led by General Gizar is marching toward this fortress.”

“…They’re late.”

“The information was deliberately withheld. Damn it!”

Captain Lorenzo slammed his fist on the desk. For someone usually known for his gentleness, his harsh words conveyed the severity of the situation.

“What’s our army’s response?”

“Divided. Some want to retreat, others want to fight.”

“I thought we’d be discussing how to defend the fortress.”

Heisen frowned, frustrated by the indecisiveness of their allies. Sometimes, internal politics and allies could be more troublesome than enemies. In this case, it was Colonel Zilba’s opposing faction, led by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck, who was pushing for a retreat.

“If the debate remains unresolved, Kenneck’s faction might withdraw.”

“No, it’s already leaning that way, regardless of persuasion.”

Kenneck’s goal was to see Zilba fall. If the leadership changed, a new faction leader would take over. It was likely Kenneck’s faction was already preparing to retreat.

But Captain Lorenzo sighed deeply.

“Colonel Zilba won’t retreat. He won’t accept their view and change his judgment.”

“In that case, we should quickly disregard Kenneck’s forces and prepare for battle.”

“Doing so would mean losing more than half our troops, making it impossible to defend the fortress.”

“We can defend it.”

“With General Gizar on their side, it won’t be easy.”

“I’m not saying it’ll be easy. But we can defend it.”

“You have a plan?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll head to the command room now. Come with me.”

“Understood.”

Captain Lorenzo, along with Heisen, headed to the command room.

After knocking, they entered the room where Colonel Zilba and his faction members, including Major Simant, Captains Makazaru, Bweeze, Bakunata, and Gozarassel, were present. They appeared despondent, resigned to their fate. Colonel Zilba muttered in a near-desperate tone.

“Kenneck’s faction plans to withdraw entirely.”

“Colonel Zilba and Ensign Heisen have a plan.”

Captain Lorenzo answered cautiously, not wanting to provoke the already despondent Zilba.

“Speak.”

“It’s fortunate that Kenneck’s faction is leaving. Relying on their forces would get us nowhere.”

“…”

“My plan is simple. If we defeat General Gizar, their front will collapse.”

Colonel Zilba scoffed in disbelief.

“What nonsense is this? Take your childish fantasies elsewhere. With Kenneck’s faction gone, we lack the strength to defeat Gizar. No one can even approach him.”

“I can.”

“Are you mocking me?”

Colonel Zilba’s face showed displeasure, but Heisen remained unfazed.

“I will defeat General Gizar.”

“Hah! What can a mere lieutenant do?”

“I’m only a lieutenant because I recently joined the army. Rank and the quality of the gems we receive may correlate, but combat ability does not.”

“Enough nonsense! Captain Lorenzo, why did you bring this fool here?”

“I believe we should trust him. Ensign Heisen successfully negotiated a ceasefire with the Cumon tribe.”

“That was just a successful negotiation.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“No. The Cumon tribe respects strength. He demonstrated his magical prowess to secure the ceasefire.”

“But can a mere lieutenant defeat a general? Do you expect us to believe such a tale?”

Still unconvinced, Zilba sighed heavily. Heisen disliked indecisive superiors, and Kenneck probably hated this trait in Zilba too.

“What does a mage mean to you, Colonel?”

“A magic-wielding person.”

“To me, a mage is someone who makes the impossible possible. For instance, they can eliminate tens of thousands of soldiers by themselves, vanquish a monster the size of a castle, or heal an incurable illness.”

Heisen explained.

“Talking about such fantasies is pointless. I won’t entertain such absurdity.”

“Results speak louder than words. You have no other options, do you? Retreat will lead to disgrace, possibly demoting you to a minor military administrator in some desolate area, and you’ll never return to the central command.”

“…”

Heisen argued that a soldier earns merit through accomplishments. Facing and overcoming formidable foes is essential. Strategic retreats might be a consideration, but cowardly withdrawals were not acceptable.

“Then it’s better to bet on me, even if it’s a long shot. You can either endure scorn for the rest of your days or find a solution to this crisis and achieve a significant victory. You have only two choices.”

“…Hmm. But still…”

Seeing Zilba’s continued hesitation, Heisen moved closer, locking eyes with him intensely.

“I’m saying I’ll make your wishes come true.”

“Ensign Heisen, you are rude!”

Major Shimanto, sitting nearby, shouted angrily, but Heisen didn’t stop.

“Rude? Stating facts isn’t rude. If we’d taken offensive action earlier, at least we wouldn’t be on the defensive now.”

“You… If only you hadn’t negotiated that ceasefire with the Cumon tribe.”

Zilba spat, trying to blame Heisen for the situation. But Heisen remained unmoved. It was clear that Zilba was simply a leader who shifted blame to preserve his own self-worth in crises.

“I only proposed the idea. There were ways to make use of it, but you squandered it. Your leadership made poor decisions, leading to this moment.”

"..."

"But you're fortunate. Leave this battle to me, and I’ll show you a reversal of fortune beyond anyone’s imagination."

Heisen smiled confidently.

After Lieutenant Heisen exited, Colonel Zilba slammed his fist on the desk.

“What is with him? What is with that guy?!”

“…”

“Silence won’t help, Captain Lorenzo! What’s with that attitude?! A mere lieutenant strategizing for the survival of the fortress?! Impossible!”

His rage was understandable. These were his faction members—his loyal subordinates. In front of them, a lowly lieutenant had dared to issue threats. Major Shimanto and the other captains were stunned by Heisen’s audacity.

But Captain Lorenzo, who had observed Heisen longer than any other officer, answered quietly.

“That’s Heisen Heim. Whether enemy or ally, superior officer or the entire higher command, even before the Emperor, he would uphold his will. That’s the kind of man he is.”

“That’s insubordination! That’s not willpower; that’s sheer arrogance!”

“…”

Captain Lorenzo calmly observed the furious Colonel Zilba, pondering how to pacify him. No beneficial idea came to mind. But convincing Colonel Zilba to understand Ensign Heisen was the only way to win this battle. He was certain about that.

“What do you think is the difference between willpower and arrogance, Colonel?”

“What?”

“The former is the ambition of the strong. The latter is the resentment of the weak. That’s what I thought when I saw him.”

“… Are you telling me to follow that arrogant man’s orders?”

“We have no other choice.”

Maybe he had hoped for this outcome all along, Captain Lorenzo thought privately. If they continued to debate whether to retreat or defend, the fortress would quickly come under attack. They had to forcefully shift towards preparing for combat.

It was a bitter irony, and he couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly.

“I understand Lieutenant Mospizza’s feelings.”

“Are you comparing us to that incompetent fool?! We are high-ranking officers of the Empire!”

Major Shimanto, the second-in-command of the faction, was furious. Lorenzo felt Shimanto’s incompetence contributed to the growth of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck’s faction.

“Perhaps Heisen Heim saw us the same way. We were engrossed in trivial disagreements rather than concentrating on the imperial task of safeguarding the stronghold.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! We are not the same! They are dragging the Empire down!”

“…”

This wasn’t even a debate. Captain Lorenzo decided to say no more. But he still believed they were the same. Ultimately, Colonel Zilba failed to unite the faction toward a common goal. Zilba aimed to strengthen his faction, always opposing Kenneck. This was a grave mistake for any organization.

Colonel Zilba lacked the capacity to lead the fortress. His defensive strategies were fine, but in offensive situations, his shortcomings became evident. He exposed his incompetence before a formidable foe. At least Heisen stirred the winds. His fierce, wild storm divided the factions and forcefully directed one side towards action.

It was a cruel storm that highlighted their powerlessness.

“Colonel Zilba, I will temporarily step down as captain and transfer my authority to Ensign Heisen.”

“… Do you think that’s allowed?”

“It’s the only way.”

To win this battle, they needed a man. Everyone knew it, yet they all tried to avoid facing the truth. Only Captain Lorenzo, who had witnessed Lieutenant Mospizza’s disgrace, could make this decision. He preferred to yield his position to someone as young as his son rather than become like Mospizza. With over ten thousand soldiers behind him, he was the only one who could bear this truth.

“Please, Colonel Zilba. Grant Ensign Heisen the captain’s authority.”

“I can’t allow it! He lacks experience in leading large forces! We can’t entrust this to an inexperienced officer!”

“There’s no problem. Ensign Heisen has earned strong trust from his subordinates.”

The rogue 8th Company had become the fortress’s most elite fighting unit. The 4th Platoon had quickly gained respect from other units. Why? Heisen evaluated his subordinates solely on their abilities and achievements. He showed no favoritism or concessions. He gave clear and convincing orders. This clarity and fairness were invaluable to his men. It seemed easy, but it was something no one else could replicate.

“…”

Eventually, Colonel Zilba sighed in resignation. Delegating decisions to others was the only thing this superior officer could do. Compared to Heisen, Zilba’s capabilities seemed negligible. Lorenzo even wondered why they had ever supported Zilba.

“Failure is not an option. If you lose, you will face severe punishment.”

“Yes.”

"We will reassign you once this battle is over. Never set foot in this place again.”

“Understood.”

As he answered, Captain Lorenzo thought about the future. The next time they met Heisen, they'd all be bowing before his back. In that future scene, he imagined them wailing and crying.

"Captain Lorenzo, I request that you transfer your captain's authority to Lieutenant Heisen."

“Yes, sir.”

Captain Lorenzo saluted and left the room.

Walking down the corridor, he recalled Heisen’s words.

“Top-down command… haha… ha…”

Captain Lorenzo couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.