The atmosphere in the council chamber was heavy. All the ministers knew that Oerstein was telling the plain truth. The strength of the Hesse Territory lay in its vast strategic depth and abundant manpower, but that also meant that, when faced with a sudden and precisely targeted threat, its greatest weakness was the speed at which it could assemble its forces.
Su Li leaned back in the Lord's chair, his fingers gently tapping the cold armrest as his deep gaze slowly moved across the map. His promotion as a Divine Chosen had brought him not only Power, but a sharper intuition and a broader field of vision. He was not intimidated by the difficulties before him; instead, in Oerstein's account he had found a possible point of breakthrough.
"You're right, Oerstein." Su Li's voice broke the silence, steady and powerful. "A full mobilization and a frontal clash—there truly isn't enough time, and it's not the best plan."
