The atmosphere turned cold.
The Warrior Battle.
Three swordsmen representing the clan would face off, and the side that secured two victories would claim all the glory.
At first glance, it seemed like a very reasonable choice to minimize damage.
However, those who knew the truth of the Warrior Battle could not carelessly entrust the fate of the clan to it.
Lawrence's vassal spoke.
"The Warrior Battle. Very well. If we are confident in our victory, there is no simpler method. The problem is that we need enough skilled fighters to secure at least two victories out of three matches. Our opponent is Barco. They have connections with the central government and have borrowed a large sum from the Golden Bank. With their network and wealth, who knows what masters they might have invited? The Warrior Battle is ultimately a battle of connections, and their intention to lead the situation into a Warrior Battle from the start clearly indicates they have some confidence."
There was no rule that a clan member had to participate in the Warrior Battle.
Often, they would invite external masters, and Lawrence could not help but worry about such variables.
From the outset, there was a significant difference in strength between the clans.
Barco had a three-star knight, just like Dmitri, while Lawrence had only one two-star knight.
The disparity in visible strength made it impossible to accept the Warrior Battle.
And then, "Roman, thanks to your help, Barco's siege weapon has been destroyed. Barco will inevitably struggle to breach Lawrence's walls, and the longer we delay, the more favorable the situation becomes for us. This is a matter of time. If we choose to defend, Lawrence may survive, but the moment we open the gates and accept the Warrior Battle, we cannot predict how the situation will turn. The Warrior Battle is a disaster. If Barco wins and demands Lawrence's land as compensation, we will have no choice but to hand it over without a word."
The other vassals nodded in agreement.
Their concern was the variables.
They had finally secured a favorable position and did not want to ruin it by carelessly accepting the Warrior Battle.
Lawrence's judgment was within common sense.
That was why they were herbivores, and despite possessing fertile land, they had never lived as predators.
Roman spoke.
"I understand what you mean. But as you just said, if we are confident in our victory, there is no better method than the Warrior Battle. From now on, I will give you that confidence."
Three matches.
Three victories or defeats.
Though the fight emphasized the presence of three individuals, the Warrior Battle ultimately depended on two skilled fighters to decide everything.
"Consider the possibilities we can choose against Barco and Lawrence. Barco likely sees a three-star swordsman and an external master as their trump cards. Given that Barco is heavily spending on renting Flare, they may not have the resources to prepare all three perfectly. So, who do we have as options?"
In the minds of the people, one person came to mind.
Roman Dmitri.
"I will step forward as the first representative of Lawrence. Whether the opponent is Barco's knight or an external master, I am confident I can secure one victory. Then the opponent will be under pressure, and they will have no choice but to send out a skilled fighter for the second match.
The Warrior Battle is a game of wits. No matter how great a master they have, if they win the first match and lose the second, it means nothing. For the third match, my ally Chris will finish it.
Even if the opponent sends out a three-star aura swordsman last, Chris is skilled enough to secure a victory."
Roman's words held enough weight.
Yet, it was not a perfect plan.
If Roman were to lose to an unknown master, the match would end right there without any further discussion.
"Do you think I will lose?" Roman's words left no room for rebuttal.
The image of him attacking Barco's rear and beheading Berge displayed an overwhelming presence.
Victory was assured.
Roman's skill was certain.
"Then we have secured one victory. With this, it is quite a winnable fight, isn't it? If we consider the possibilities and match the brackets appropriately, we can restore the honor of Lawrence, which has fallen to the ground, by winning the Warrior Battle. I will no longer persuade you. This is all I can assist with; from now on, you must make the decision."
At that moment, everyone's gaze turned to one person.
Flora.
Due to this incident, her voice in the meeting room had gained strength.
Roman was a skilled orator.
He always grasped the situation logically and rationally, boldly pointed out the reality, and drew the agreement of others.
It was the same now.
As he silenced Lawrence's vassals, Flora suddenly recalled the conversation she had in magical communication.
"It's simple. Please make a sacrifice for the plan. If the Lawrence clan expresses their willingness to shed blood first and lay the groundwork, I promise in the name of Roman Dmitri to do my utmost to assist you. For our conversation to proceed smoothly, you must first promise that."
The words spoken then echoed in her mind.
Roman wanted the 'sacrifice of Lawrence.' He hoped that Lawrence would shed blood and create the groundwork for his personal revenge.
It was no different now.
On the surface, it seemed he was working for Lawrence, but once again, Roman was forcing Lawrence's sacrifice.
'He is a dangerous person.' There were flaws in Roman's plan.
If Barco hired a master strong enough to defeat Roman or invited all three external masters, it would mean certain defeat for Lawrence.
That was the worst-case scenario among the possibilities, and at that point, Lawrence would have no way to resolve the issue.
Of course, the probability of such an event occurring was slim.
The fact that Barco had not used Flare from the beginning indicated that the financial burden was significant, and they were also squeezing their resources for this matter.
Just two.
Preparing two trump cards was the best option for Barco.
If that were the case, as Roman said, it would be possible to defeat Barco without significant damage through appropriate matchups.
The problem was, 'Roman is now sweet-talking us.
He will send out a master like himself, who has defeated Berge, and leave Lawrence to handle any unforeseen variables.
What should we do? If we choose to defend, we may survive in the long run, but that choice will undoubtedly lead to a regression for Lawrence.
Both Barco and Lawrence will end up unhappy.
However, if we accept Roman's proposal and win, even if the damage is minimized, the glory of victory will not belong to Lawrence but will all return to Roman.'
Her mouth felt bitter.
Roman was a fox.
He knew Lawrence was not in a position to choose and had created a favorable situation for himself.
In any circumstance, he aimed to gain the maximum benefit with the least sacrifice.
Roman did not bother to hide his dark intentions. 'Ironically, the fact that his dark intentions are visible makes him trustworthy.
Truly, Roman Dmitri is a despicable man.'
Was there gratitude for the help he provided? It was only for a moment.
As Roman said, this was a transaction.
For Roman's benefit, for Lawrence's benefit.
They were merely compromising with each other.
Flora spoke.
"I support the Warrior Battle. If there is a way to end the war quickly, I believe we need to make a decision, even if it is a gamble."
She averted her gaze from Roman.
Even knowing his intentions, she chose to follow him.
That was the only price Flora could pay to Roman.
At that moment, the Barco clan was in chaos.
"Why is that bastard Roman Dmitri here! What justification does he have to interfere with our affairs! Aaaah!"
Smash! Bang! The face of the furious Barco viscount turned red as he smashed everything in the barracks.
He overturned tables and kicked chairs, revealing his inner violence for a while, but the viscount's anger did not easily subside.
"Huff, huff."
He exhaled roughly.
Sitting down in a chair and staring at the gray ceiling of the barracks, he finally saw the reality of Barco. 'How on earth do we resolve this situation? By destroying Flare, we have lost the means to end the war quickly.
The Berge mercenaries have lost their will to fight after their leader's death, and the risk of renting Flare again is too great.
The remaining money borrowed from the Golden Bank is for contingencies.
If we use that and the plan fails, then everything will truly be over.'
It was bleak.
Roman Dmitri.
The moment he beheaded Berge flashed in his mind.
It was overwhelming.
At first, he thought it was a shabby plan as he approached from afar, but when Roman's sword flashed, dozens of soldiers were slaughtered without even a scream.
And the sight of Berge, who had charged in bravely, was a futile hope.
The viscount of Barco witnessed an A-class mercenary recognized by the Kingdom of Cairo fall in less than ten seconds.
Why did this happen? He could not comprehend Roman's strength in his mind. 'To turn this unfavorable situation around, there is only one way.
The Warrior Battle.
But Lawrence has no reason to accept the Warrior Battle.
In a situation where they have already secured the upper hand, there is no reason for them to take a risky gamble.'
His mouth felt dry.
His head felt blocked.
He had no idea how to proceed.
Just then, the door of the barracks burst open, and a soldier rushed in with a frantic expression.
"My lord! Lawrence has sent a messenger!"
The viscount of Barco thought.
We are already at the edge.
In this desperate situation, he would send the messenger's head back to Lawrence.
Normally, it was an unspoken rule to spare messengers, but the viscount was blinded by rage.
However, upon hearing the messenger's words, his mind snapped back to attention.
"Lawrence is proposing a Warrior Battle to Barco."
The Warrior Battle.
For a moment, he almost laughed.
The viscount of Barco barely suppressed a smile.
Just a moment ago, he had been pondering how to lead them into a Warrior Battle, but he never expected them to propose it first. 'Lawrence is digging his own grave.'
The opponent was unaware of Barco's schemes.
The Golden Bank had lent more money than expected, and the remaining funds were set aside for situations like this.
If Lawrence had chosen to defend instead of accepting the Warrior Battle, the viscount would have considered using that money to rent Flare again.
However, there was no need for that now.
The opponent had taken the bait.
He did not worry about Roman's presence.
Although the power Roman displayed was undoubtedly overwhelming, the viscount's plan was an infallible strategy that defied common sense.
Therefore, he decided to think it over and sent the messenger back, immediately calling his subordinates to give orders.
"Contact 'him' right now! I will send the contract fee, so have him step forward as our warrior!"
His mind became calm.
The end was in sight.
Without a doubt, the Warrior Battle would be decided within two matches.