The Sovereign System.

Luke couldn't quite pinpoint why he felt such an urgent need to breach the gate now. With their current plan of alternating attacks, and more than a day remaining on the system mission, there should have been no reason to deviate from the status quo.

After all, the plan was his idea. So why did he feel so anxious?

'Is it my conscience wanting the siege to end with fewer casualties?' he wondered, his thoughts turning introspective before he shook his head.

While he held onto deeply rooted morals from his upbringing on Earth, he knew he wasn't without flaws. Much like many others from his world, he had moments of selfishness, often caring more about how others perceived him than true altruism.

'At least I'm self-aware,' Luke thought, letting out a hollow chuckle.

But self-awareness didn't bring him any closer to an answer. He sank into silence, lost in his own thoughts, tuning out Sebastian and the hulking figure of Hilda.

The five thousand enemy soldiers who had met them on the battlefield to delay their approach had been almost completely wiped out. That left no more than a few thousand to man the walls. Yet even with reduced numbers, the fortress's defenses would more than compensate.

Between the destruction of the granaries, the perpetual attacks, and the loss of their field troops, the defenders' morale should have been at an all-time low. By the time the catapults were operational, their fate would be sealed.

So why was he still anxious?

His foot began tapping rhythmically against the ground as he considered ways the plan might fail. If he disregarded the system's time limit, there shouldn't have been any way they'd fail to breach the walls.

'Unless reinforcements arrive from Pu Dong City...' he thought, the possibility tightening his chest.

But this theory seemingly conflicted with his earlier reasoning. If the Qin Empire had nothing to do with the assassinations, and thus had no reason to supply or fortify Xiu Fortress in time, then it would take weeks for them to rally their armies and march south.

Even so, the pit in his stomach deepened, an ominous feeling gnawing at him. It was as if he'd missed something crucial. His mind spun with possibilities and scenarios, but no matter how hard he wracked his brain, the answer eluded him.

With a frustrated sigh, he leaned back against the log and turned his attention to Sebastian and Hilda. The two seemed wholly unconcerned, eating their breakfast as if the siege weren't happening. The stark difference in size between them—Hilda's massive frame dwarfing Sebastian's lean build—was almost comical, but Luke wasn't in the mood to laugh.

'If only the system could give me some hints, I might be able to figure out what I'm missing,' he thought, pulling up the quest window once more.

The quest details were the same sanctimonious rhetoric about the Sovereign System's demand for perfection, yet they gave away nothing new. The only thing different was the punishment for failure.

Every other quest had warned that his subordinates would turn on him. Yet, for some reason, this quest no longer carried such a punishment. Why?

Luke's gaze shifted from the translucent window to Sebastian, who was calmly eating his breakfast.

'If Sebastian turned on me, there's no way I'd survive,' Luke thought grimly, recalling the man's status window. Just his agility and combat ability alone would be enough to overwhelm him, no matter what he'd learned at the Academy.

The change in the punishment felt significant. The system wouldn't make such an adjustment without reason. From his interactions with it so far, it was clear the Sovereign System was prideful, relentless, and unwilling to tolerate failure.

In previous quests, failure meant losing the system and dying in a cruel, punishing way—betrayed by those he trusted. So why was this quest different?

Luke reread the quest carefully, his eyes scanning the text for any hidden context or subtle clue.

'Successfully reclaim Xiu Fortress within 5 days…' he muttered inwardly, the words echoing in his mind.

He mulled over the phrasing, letting the words swirl in his thoughts until something clicked. Luke's eyes widened as he unraveled the meaning behind the time limit.

'Why does it specifically say 5 days?' he thought. The phrasing seemed out of place. Other quests had focused on dominance or overwhelming victory—broad, subjective goals. But this one was rigid and exact.

The King's only concern was reclaiming the fortress; it didn't matter whether it took 10 or 15 days in the grand scheme of things. Even if Luke succeeded, the time frame wouldn't affect the credit he'd receive.

So why the strict 5-day limit?

Luke could feel he was onto something, but the answer eluded him—just out of reach. It was as if the final piece of the puzzle was dangling on the tip of his tongue.

"Luke, you look pale," Sebastian said, his voice tinged with concern.

"Hah, he's probably just nervous about the siege, Sebby," Hilda chimed in. "I remember my first campaign at Cogden Field. We were in the middle of a melee when ten thousand reinforcements came to bolster the enemy. If it weren't for me in the rearguard, we'd all be dead," she said, nudging Sebastian with her elbow.

"Reinforcements…" The word struck Luke like a lightning bolt. His body trembled as realization dawned.

'That's why the system gave me a time limit… That's why there's no death as a punishment for failure—because I will die if I fail it,' he thought, his mind spinning as the revelation sank in.

He shot to his feet, wobbling slightly. "There's no time…" he muttered, his gaze fixed on the northern horizon.

Without another word, Luke turned and strode out of the mercenary camp. His earlier plan of using a small group of mercenaries to breach the wall was no longer viable. They couldn't afford caution or half-measures.

They needed to launch a full-scale assault—now.

It took Luke almost ten minutes to return to the General's camp. As he approached the large tent, flanked by two soldiers with spears, they immediately lowered their weapons, blocking his entry.

"I need to speak with General Hart right away," Luke said evenly.

"Is that you, Commander Drakon? Let him in," a voice called from within the tent, tinged with amusement.

At the directive, the soldiers raised their spears, allowing him entry. Luke stepped through the opening, pausing briefly to let his eyes adjust to the dim interior. When his vision cleared, he flinched.

A barely dressed woman stood before him, her hair tied in a high bun, her jade-like skin glowing in the soft light. She expertly massaged Hayden's shoulders in slow, rhythmic movements.

"Please, take a seat, young Luke," Hayden said with a smile, gesturing to a nearby chair.

Luke swallowed hard but complied, lowering himself into the chair. He made an effort to ignore the woman and was about to speak when Hayden interrupted.

"You look tense. How about when Naomi here is done, she works on you?" Hayden asked, winking playfully.

"T-Thank you for the offer, General, but I come with important news," Luke replied, keeping his tone respectful. Hayden might regard him highly now, but Luke had seen what happened to those who tested the General's patience.

"Oh? Have we captured the fortress already?" Hayden joked, his grin widening.

"Not yet, General," Luke said firmly. "But I have reason to believe that reinforcements from the Qin Empire are on their way to the fortress."

"Of course they are," Hayden replied nonchalantly, barely reacting. "By my estimation, it will take them at least another two weeks to arrive. By then, we'll have retaken Xiu Fortress and fortified it."

"General… I believe we don't have that much time. I think we may see them within two days," Luke said, keeping his eyes locked on Hayden's face, hoping to gauge his reaction.

Hayden's expression faltered momentarily, a flash of displeasure crossing his features before his composure returned. "Two days? That's quite a bold claim, young Luke. Care to share your reasoning?"

Luke took a deep breath. He understood the risk of challenging Hayden's judgment. Provoking the man, especially now, could have dire consequences. But the potential consequences of remaining silent were far worse.

"Would you mind if we had some privacy while speaking, General?" Luke asked, casting a glance at the woman, still engrossed in her task.

Hayden paused, appearing to contemplate the request before nodding. "Leave us. I'll call on you later tonight," he said, waving her off dismissively.

"Yes, my lord," she replied, fixing her robe and gathering her belongings. Within moments, she had left the tent, leaving Luke alone with Hayden.

The atmosphere immediately shifted. With the woman gone, Hayden sat forward in his chair, closing his fan and placing it on the table. His playful demeanor evaporated, replaced by an intense seriousness. For the first time, Luke felt he was seeing the true Hayden—the descendant of the infamous Blood General.

"Speak," Hayden commanded, his voice lower and more commanding than usual.

Luke resisted the urge to squirm or fidget, swallowing his anxiety. Now was not the time to back down—not when so many lives were at stake.

"General, what are your thoughts on the Kingdom declaring war on the Empire? More specifically, the assassinations that led up to it?" Luke asked cautiously.

"This is what you wanted to talk to me about?" Hayden replied, his frown deepening. His sharp gaze bore into Luke, making him feel like prey before a predator poised to strike.

At that moment, Luke wondered if he had made a grave mistake by coming here.

"M-Maybe I'll put it another way, General," Luke stammered. "Do you not find it strange that the Qin Empire would orchestrate these assassinations, yet fail to fortify Xiu Fortress with supplies and manpower?"

Without waiting for a response, he pressed on. "Isn't it also odd that we were able to rally over twenty thousand soldiers and march them to Clayton City within a week of the assassinations?"

Hayden's expression shifted slightly, his dissatisfaction giving way to a flicker of intrigue. "These are indeed oddities. But what are you getting at?"

Seeing the General's predatory aura waver, Luke took another deep breath, steadying his nerves. "I don't believe the Qin Empire sent the assassins."

Hayden's expression flashed with surprise, but a wide smile spread across his face in the next moment. "And who, pray tell, do you think sent these assassins?"

Luke hesitated briefly but pushed forward with his theory. He had wanted privacy for this conversation because these words could land him in serious trouble if they were overheard.

"I believe it was someone within the Marxx Kingdom," he said warily. "Someone with power—someone who has the authority to mobilize our soldiers."

For a moment, silence filled the tent. Then, Hayden burst into loud, almost immature laughter, his body rocking as he clutched his sides.

Luke's expression darkened. He hadn't known what to expect when he came here, but this reaction wasn't it. If Hayden didn't take him seriously, Luke would have to figure out how to breach the fortress on his own—and risk being tried for insubordination.

After what felt like an eternity, Hayden's laughter subsided. He straightened, still wearing a smile that made Luke deeply uncomfortable.

"I must say, Luke, you've impressed me today," Hayden said, his tone warm but laced with an unsettling undertone. "Not only are your thoughts logical, but your deductions are both believable and… concerning. While I may not completely agree with your conclusions, the consequences of disregarding these possibilities are not ones that either of us can bear."

He picked up his fan from the table and began waving it lightly, his eyes gleaming with newfound interest.

'Huh? He believes me?' Luke thought, his disbelief etched across his face.