The stru of the city rogressing at an expoial rate with the addition of Chibari and her family, who introduced more effit building teiques.

  In the heart of the city, they had even structed a massive mansion, whiow served as the headquarters for Kaede and her inner circle. At this moment, they were gathered within its graing hall.

  "It looks like they're finally making their move," Crimara reported with a grin. "The Bovoids o lnore our existence. Soon, the Equinoids will have no choice but to make tact."

  As usual, a projector sat at the ter of the regur table, dispying a floating hologram above it. The image showcased two distinct regions, highlightirategic locations.

  Crimara leaned forward, her tone fident. "Based on my estimates, the Bovoids number close to ten thousand. They're a powerful race that values strength above all else, which should make them retively easy to deal with. Their territory sists of seven major settlements and eleven vilges. Aurina will take and of five hundred of our forces..."

  Kaede abruptly raised a hand, cutting her off. "Hold on. Five hundred?" she questioned, arg an eyebrow. "You just said the Bovoids number over ten thousand."

  Crimara's grin didn't falter as she met Kaede's skeptical gaze. Leaning bato her chair, she tapped a fihoughtfully against the table. "You're right, their numbers are impressive," she admitted. "But numbers game are our specialty not theirs."

  She gestured toward the hologram, zooming in otlements scattered across the Bovoids’ territory. "They may have ten thousand warriors, but they 't afford to mobilize them all at once. Every settlement, every vilge, relies on a portion of their forces for prote. If they pull too many into a full-scale assault, they leave their homes vulnerable."

  Kaede studied the map, her brow furrowing. "They risk spreading themselves too thin."

  Crimara nodded. "Exactly. They have strength, but it’s not tralized. Each settlement is self-reliant, which means they 't bring their full might to bear without exposing themselves to other threats." She smirked. "And that’s where we hold the advantage."

  Kaede g Aurina, who sat quietly, listening ily. "Even so, five hundred seems like a small force to send against them," she pressed. "Are you sure it’s enough?"

  Aurina, a calm and posed presence as always, responded in a steady voice. "We don't o match them in numbers, Lady Kaede. Our forces are faster, stronger, aer coordinated. Every Antari soldier is worth at least a dozen Bovoids in bat."

  Crimara nodded in agreement, her expression fident. "Our warriors operate with coordination and discipli's in our nature. The past few months have also bee on hellish training courtesy of Shifu. The Bovoids rely on brute force. We've observed their fighting patterns, they charge headfirst, relying on raw strength to overwhelm their oppos. Against a force like ours, that kind of strategy is doomed to fail."

  Kaede frowned, her expression troubled. "This whole thing still feels unnecessary. Why ’t I just go there and force them to submit? I'd rather not put any of you at risk."

  Crimara shook her head, her gaze steady. "You're right, my dy. You could easily force them to submit," she aowledged. "However, this is our ce to prove our strength hand our worth-to you."

  Surprisingly, it was Hachi who spoke , his voice calm but resolute. "My dy, if we ot hahis on our own, then we have failed you."

  Despite their words, Kaede still wasn’t vinced. She gnced around the room, searg for any sign of hesitation among her inner circle. Yet, all she saw was unwaveriermination reflected in their eyes.

  Kaede turo the elven elder, Eryn. "What are your thoughts, Eryn?"

  Eryn, momentarily taken aback that she had sought his opinion, straightened in his seat, carefully sidering the situation. After a brief pause, he spoke. "The Bovoids and Equinoids have caused the elves no small amount of trouble ever siheir senseless war began. I believe my people would wele the opportunity to settle the score. If they were to simply submit without resistahere might be lingeriment."

  Kaede rested her on her hands, deep in thought. "I just wish we could have resolved this through diplomacy," she murmured. "But the Bovoids attacked my people unprovoked." Her gaze shifted back to Crimara, her tone firm. "I want no casualties. Is that clear?"

  Crimara immediately stood, pg a hand over her chest in a salute. "Yes, my dy. This will be a fwless victory. I won’t fail you."

  Kaede studied her for a moment before nodding. "If you succeed, I will appoint you as head of our military, a general."

  Crimara's eyes widened briefly at Kaede's words before a fident smile settled on her lips. "I won't disappoint you, my dy," she said with unwaveriermination.

  Kaede sighed, leaning ba her chair. "Alright, then. I'll leave it in your hands."

  Hachi crossed her arms, a serious expression on her face. "We’ll ha effitly, my dy. The Antari know their roles, and we've prepared for all tingehe Bovoids will e to uand their pce without us having to annihite them."

  Kaede studied them all for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Good. The’s proceed carefully. Crimara, tih your briefing."

  Crimara pressed a button on the projector, and the hologram shifted to dispy a detailed map of the Bovoids’ territory. "As I mentioned earlier, their numbers may seem overwhelming, but their forces are spread thin across their settlements and vilges. They ot afford to deploy their entire army without leaving their homes vulnerable."

  She poio key locations on the map. "Our scouts have firmed that their rgest stronghold houses around four thousand warriors, with the rest scattered across smaller outposts. If we strike decisively, they'll be forced to solidate, and that’s when we egotiate from a position of undeniable strength."

  Ari, who had been silently until now, spoke up. "And what of the Equinoids? They’ve been watg us closely. If they see us eh the Bovoids, they might take advantage of the situation."

  Crimara's grin wideurning almost feral. "We're ting on it. This won't even be a fight. With Aurina leading five hundred of our forces in a precise strike, we'll still have ht thousand troops ready to stage a massive dispy of power. Ohey see our true numbers, they'll realize they have no choice but to surrender."

  She gestured toward the holographic map, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Our intelligence suggests that the Equinoids number close to thirteen thousand. Uhe Bovoids, they’re far more tactical than they let on. I suspect they'll seize this opportunity to eliminate our ‘queen’ while we're preoccupied with the Bovoids."

  Crimara's gaze met Kaede's, her expression dark with resolve. "That’s why our approaeeds to be twofold. Not only will we crush their forces with overwhelming might, but we’ll also move to elimiheir so-called ‘king’ before they even think of making a move against you."

  Kaede folded her arms, sidering the pn. "You're certain this will work?"

  Crimara nodded fidently. "Ohe Bovoids fall in lihe Equinoids will be forced to rethink their position. For as tactical as they may seem, they're not oo rely oion and misdire, and against our overwhelming force, those tactics won't save them. We’ll strike fast and hard, leaving them no time to react."

  Kaede's lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine. But remember, this isn't about wiping them out. I want a victory that leaves them willing to work with us, not ohat breeds more rese."

  Crimara bowed slightly. "Uood, my dy. We'll make sure they uand their pce, without unnecessary destru."

  Kaede sighed, gng at the faces around the room. "Then proceed with the operation. But stay vigint. If the Equinoids try anything, I expect you to ter it swiftly."

  Crimara smirked. "Leave it to us. This will be over before they know it."