How are you doing?

　As I was checking the exercises under my handouts on my smartphone, Kanon called out to me.

'Not too bad,'

　The selection of deputies has been completed, and it has been a week since the unit officially became operational. The officers who were given subordinates were repeating exercises with the subordinates who were assigned to the unit, not seeming to be satisfied.

　I have only seven simple orders to give them: 'Assault,' 'Attack,' 'Defense,' 'Standby,' 'Move,' 'Rescue,' and 'Retreat.

　If the orders were this simple, even the brainiac Takahara could understand them.

''In other words........is it time to set up?
You will.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.

　You can play a trick on them as you did last time, but there is no guarantee that the second time will be just as successful as the last time.

"Oh, what kind of a plan are you going to play this time?
You're a hard pushover.
Huh?　No tricks?
What's the trick...?　Then let me ask you the other way around... as a self-styled chief of staff, do you have a plan?
　It's a total of two tigers competing for food!
Yeah? What's the deal?
'Yes!　It's the measure of the two-tiger race, you know, throwing food between two hungry tigers!　Then the two tigers - i.e., the Kanazawa Liberation Army and Demon King Kaoru - would fight each other for food!　One of them is down and the winner is wounded!　It will be easy to defeat them if you become one!

　Kanon's nose puffed out and a smug look appeared on his face.

'Ho..... Did you read something?''
'Yes!　A few history books!
'Great!　So what's the bait?
What?
No, that's why the two tigers - the Kanazawa Liberation Army and Demon King Kaoru - are competing for food.
That's not...

　No plan......... It's easy to find all sorts of ploys in the books of the past. But it's not easy to realize them. The reason why the military strategists of the past have left their mark on the history books is because of the best strategy they could devise based on the situation they were in at that moment and time. Even if they had knowledge, it would be meaningless if they didn't apply it to the situation.

''It would be great if we could get the Kanazawa Liberation Army and Demon King Kaoru to fight each other and exhaust each other. However, it won't be easy to make that happen.
'Well....'
'Then it becomes important to choose the best option out of the options available.
Is that the best option?
''That's right. Assuming I eventually unify Ishikawa Prefecture, in the process, the Kanazawa Liberation Army and Demon King Kaoru. Which force would you prefer to see grow in strength?
Kanazawa Liberation Army and Demon King Kaoru?
In other words, the liberation of the territory controlled by humanity (Lowe) and the rule of the Demon King (Chaos).
"--!　It's the rule of chaos!

　Once the dominion area is released, when he gets it back with the Ruling, the dominion area will be 28.26km2. If it was the dominion area that the Demon King had from the beginning, it would be 6km2. The difference is more than 4 times.

　Every time he added one more area of control, his maximum CP would increase by 100. In other words, liberating the dominant domain to humanity meant that the maximum CP gained in the future would decrease.

　Therefore, I will invade the Kanazawa Liberation Army - humanity's land - even if it means pushing hard.

　In the process, the Kanazawa Liberation Army might defend against my invasion with all their might. In the meantime, Demon King Kaoru might invade the short-handed Hakusan City.

　The one who would benefit the most from this forceful push is Demon King Kaoru.

　However, the worst outcome - the liberation of the territory controlled by the human race would be spared.

　Based on this conclusion, I've decided to begin the invasion by force against the Kanazawa Liberation Army.


　◆


And so, three days from 18:00 hours, the Kanazawa Liberation Army will begin to rule over mankind.

　I called my officers together and told them what we were going to do.

"How's each of you doing with your assigned units?
No problem!
"Okemaru Fisheries!
"Cursed as swine, we are proud to show you!

　As Takaharu, Sarah and Hibiki replied with confident smiles, the other executives replied in affirmation one after another.

''Kotetsu, can we go?''
I'll take care of it.

　When I finally checked with Kotetsu, the leader of the human race, he emphatically nodded his head.

　In the end, more than 10,000 of us volunteered for the human race. Due to the specifications that one had to become a subordinate in order to get out of the controlled territory, three humans were formed into Kotetsu's unit this time. The rest of the humans who volunteered to join the unit were placed under Yataro's command and given the responsibility to defend it.

'Then the officer leading the troops will be allowed to apply for a complete set of Orihalcon series and items up to CP 9000. Each of you will figure out how to use them according to your assigned troops.

　Rather than me thinking about all of the items to be deployed, it would be more conscious if I left it to the executives - the unit commander. Per Takahar, I thought he might say 'it's too much trouble', but it was obvious from the daily exercises that everyone felt attached to the unit they were given.

''Even if you say CP 9000, I don't know what CP it takes to smelt an item.
''Right......... Canon, email each executive with the CP needed to refine the items.
'Yes!　Yes, sir.

　The canon replies cheerfully.

'That will be all, does anyone have any comments?
'Yes!　Yes!

　Sarah raises her hand in an annoyingly energetic manner.

'What?'
''The item I'm giving to my subordinates.......can I ask you, Akira, to smith it for me?''
No problem.
Can't we just go out and hunt for the materials we need?
You may refrain from hunting now. You have permission to use the materials you have stored. Akira, is everything alright?
No.

　When Akira nodded his head in agreement with Sarah's suggestion, Takaharu raised his hand next.

''Then it's okay to go out hunting with your men?
'No problem but that doesn't apply if you're invading the territory you control at my command.
What do you mean?
The invasion members of the dominion will remain the same, with Lina's and Chloe's units. You will not be permitted to object to this decision.
Yeah.

　It's good to see independence growing, but we must tighten up where we can.

'Master Theon, may I begin?

　Kotetsu calls out to me.

'What?'
''The Murasame, given to you by Master Theon may I lend it to my second-in-command?

　Murasame - a unique sword item for which 9000 CP was spent to forge it.

　Kotetsu stubbornly uses the divine weapon "Sayama" instead of Murasame. Indeed, in its current state, Murasame is the equivalent of warehouse manure. If that's the case, it would make more sense to give it to a lieutenant, but Murasame is one of the highest-ranked weapons that I can refine. It's a bit of a shame to give it to a second-in-command.

"Don't you have any intention of using Murasame, Kotetsu?
I have a copy of Sayama, a gift from Master Theon.
''Sayama'' and Murasame.......Murasame's performance is better, right?
Of course. But Sayama is where I put my heart and soul.

　Since becoming a subordinate, Kotetsu has been obedient. He is much more ruthless than his grandson, Lina, in his dismissal of the enemy, humanity, and is a dependable follower. However, when it comes to this divine artifact, Sayama, he shows a stubborn side.

I understand, I'll give you permission. However, I won't allow the enemy to make the mistake of taking Murasame away from me no matter what. If we come to that point in time where we're about to fall into such a situation, I'll give orders to protect Murasame in preference to Kotetsu's second-in-command. Is that still okay with you?
Yes, sir.

　Kotetsu frowned, but bowed deeply.

'Does anyone else have an opinion?'

　He looked around at the faces of the officers, but no one spoke up.

'Then we are dismissed. All of you, prepare yourselves for the next three days.

　The officers had dispersed and left the room in a scattered manner.