Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

The next morning, Attila began issuing orders to his men early in the morning.

Following his instructions, a large number of people began to work busily.

"What exactly are they plotting...?"

Clearly, the residents did not intend to remain holed up inside the city walls and hold out to the death; they seemed to want to create an opportunity for a counterattack.

The first thing to be worked on was the tunnels dug by dozens of miners.

These people broke ground near the village, taking turns to dig forward at an astonishing speed.

The tunnel, consisting of 4x4 blocks measuring 1 meter square, began to extend wildly.

It passed through one screen, then another, and then another, digging westward relentlessly.

Dozens of people work in shifts, and they can dig out a block with a single pickaxe, even faster than modern construction sites that use heavy machinery.

"It's like they dug up a highway!"

Above the tunnel were hills, forests, and muddy paths, but they ignored them all.

This straight underground tunnel allowed cavalry to transport large numbers of troops to the other side at an astonishing speed.

As long as the enemy is in the same frame, even if I can't use the mouse and don't need to help, I can still send a large number of troops to the rear.

But Attila's orders went beyond digging tunnels for the attack.

He seemed to have no intention of fighting a defensive battle in the village, and instead completely expanded the outpost, which was originally built to accommodate refugees, into a fortress.

"There's no need to confront them head-on."

The opponent is Chief Luke, a powerful clan leader aspiring to become the ruler of the grasslands, leading an invincible cavalry force. Why insist on a direct, mounted battle with them?

Lin Miao, who was about to provide defensive towers for the outpost, stopped the mouse. He suddenly realized that Attila's purpose in building this outpost was to lure the enemy into a trap.

"Since we've decided to go to war, we must see it through to the end."

To prevent the enemy from abandoning their attack upon seeing the massive walls erected in the village, an easily accessible fortress was deliberately built—literally, a trap to lure the enemy into a trap.

Once we take over the enemy's turn, it's our turn to do whatever we want.

"A double agent?"

Attila, who was busy changing the terrain, released the spy he had captured the day before.

He couldn't release the person without a reason; in fact, the spy's stance had shifted from hostile to neutral.

The best interpretation is that Attila gave him some kind of instruction.

Once the spy returns with false intelligence to report to the enemy general Luke, Luke will believe it and lead his army to attack, falling right into our trap.

"While it takes time to travel back and forth, isn't sending them back within a day a bit too deliberate?"

Lin Miao scratched his head and sipped his freshly brewed coffee. That double agent would likely be the spark that ignited war within days at the latest.

"The package has arrived."

"Oh no, this is terrible."

Just then, someone placed a package at Lin Miao's doorstep.

Two more monitors that I ordered previously have arrived.

"I'm not some kind of streamer..."

Lin Miao unpacked the package and took out two new monitors. Actually, installing these would require completely clearing out the desk.

While the residents on the table were preparing for their respective tasks, he also tidied up the table and rearranged it.

"They're already back?"

Attila sent another spy.

"Although it's suspicious that he came back after only a few days, he said he had completed all the tasks you assigned him."

Luke, who was gradually taking over Theodore's territory, scoffed when he heard the news of the spy's return.

Even Luke and his men were skeptical of the speed, but then they thought that an agent whose family had been taken hostage shouldn't be so perfunctory.

It would be more believable if he had rushed back to report without regard for the consequences.

"If you're really worried, let me help this time too."

"The Crystal of True Knowledge is a very useful and valuable item."

The observing magician chuckled and handed over something. This magical item, which he had used many times, was the Crystal of Truth, capable of detecting lies.

Luke has used it to its fullest extent ever since.

If the spies lied on Attila's orders, he would immediately notice and prepare to disembowel the hostages' families as punishment.

"They did indeed build a castle. It was taller than a towering tree, and its walls were incredibly thick. Their population numbered in the thousands, comparable to a large tribe. The soldiers were well-trained and well-equipped, and their chieftain…"

"..."

However, the Crystal of Truth remained unresponsive until the spy recounted everything he had seen and heard. This meant that everything the spy said was true.

Luke's expression remained unchanged, while the people around him gradually widened their eyes in shock.

"You just need to go back and report what you saw and heard truthfully."

"W-Is this really okay?"

"If you report the truth, Lord Luke won't punish you, will he?"

This is to be expected, as Attila, who bribed the spy, never ordered him to lie in the first place.

Simply conveying the facts is enough.

What Aurora is welcoming and creating is an unbelievable reality, almost like a lie; they simply need to convey it as it is.

"Chief, it's hard to believe that all of this is true... I think I understand why Theodore dared not provoke them. They live in a remote corner, yet they are so powerful that they are difficult to conquer."

"It's only a few thousand, and at most two thousand soldiers. We can manage."

As Attila had predicted, those who learned the truth were thrown into chaos. Faced with the unimaginable, fantastical world of Calamity, the commanders disagreed on their strategy.

"Dialogue can be arranged if you wish, but what I seek is the unification of the grasslands."

Luke remained silent as he observed his subordinates' reactions. He knew clearly what he truly desired and was taking action to achieve it.

"Jill, it's your turn. Based on all the intelligence, they do indeed have a stockpile of resources that could rival a nation's wealth, making them worth conquering. I will give you command of the expeditionary force and full authority over this region. Go and take them down."

He entrusted the important task to his most trusted and capable subordinate, a colleague who had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and was now granted great authority.

The objective was to capture Cinta.

The soldiers, upon receiving the order, became excited; a new conquest meant new spoils.

Of course, their commotion was noticed by Zhen Dan, who was on high alert.

"Suppressing Theodore's forces has cost them a lot, but once they have rested, they will surely rush at us while they are still basking in the joy of victory and their blood is still hot."

War is imminent.

Having discerned the enemy's intentions, Attila prepared for battle in his makeshift fortress.

Attila deliberately letting spies bring back real intelligence was part of his plan.

Since the enemy launched an attack as expected, the Cintarians, led by Attila, prepared to defend first and then counterattack.

"We built this fortress in just a few days and dug tunnels to attack the enemy's rear. To be honest, if we had brought our compatriots from the north here, victory would have been a piece of cake."

"Don't forget our mission; the real enemy is someone else."

"This isn't even their full fighting strength."

Attila shook his head when a soldier mentioned the troops heading north.

More than half of the troops are currently leaving the village and heading north to join the defensive towers in blocking the Zerg.

Attila preferred to train refugees as soldiers rather than mobilize troops from the north.

It was precisely because of his unwavering belief in victory that he was able to remain so composed.

"If we win this battle, we can take over Theodore's territory. Then even more people will come to join us."

Luke, the central chieftain, was not the only one eager to expand his power. Attila also desired to establish a larger, more populous super-tribe.

However, their intentions were completely different. Luke harbored ambitions to establish a great empire on the steppes, while Attila was merely following divine pronouncements.

This is not wishful thinking.

They've come a long way from a small tribe of just a few dozen people. Now, with a strong and well-equipped army, they're naturally capable of achieving great things.

"Lord Attila, it is time to ascend to the position of Grand Patriarch."

"That's right, you are in no way inferior to the other clan leaders."

His soldiers urged him to declare himself king before the battle, both to demonstrate his strength and to boost morale.

It was precisely because Attila knew its effects that he hesitated for a moment.

After all, not long ago, this was something he wouldn't have dared to even think about.

"Since it's necessary, let's do it."

But Attila immediately nodded, judging that ascending to a higher position would be beneficial for everyone and for the future.

"I will prepare the sacrifice. If the guardian deity grants my request, I will gladly assume the position of chieftain."

Attila decided to hold a victory prayer ceremony before the war, hoping to unite everyone, including the immigrants, and gain divine approval to become the great patriarch.

I have no reason to object.

On the other side of the screen, Lin Miao, who witnessed all of this, naturally acknowledged Attila, bestowing blessings and imprinting the legitimacy of the ceremony on the many witnesses.

It is the unbelievers who appear abnormal when they receive sacred tokens that descend from heaven accompanied by holy light.