Chapter 1: The Beginning of War
In a land far away, within the Kingdom of Sultans, a fierce war was raging. After a series of clashes with the enemy, the kingdom had lost a considerable portion of its territory. Defeat seemed inevitable.
In desperation, the ruler, Sultan, summoned a military strategist renowned for his expertise in prolonged warfare, hoping to turn the tide at any cost.
The strategist, Anwar, entered the hall with sharp, fox-like eyes fixed on the ruler. He offered a respectful greeting before taking a seat on the right side, while Sultan sat on the left.
Sultan spoke warmly, "Welcome, esteemed military advisor. I trust your journey was safe."
Anwar replied calmly, "Your Majesty need not concern himself with a mere servant of your court. Traveling alone during wartime is but a test of skill. Dying on such a journey would only reflect my own incompetence. However, I assume Your Majesty did not summon me merely to inquire about my safety… am I correct?"
Sultan exclaimed, "No! Of course not! I called for you to help me win this war. Will you accept?"
Anwar hesitated for a moment, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes. "That depends on how much I stand to gain. I have a special offer for Your Majesty—a war strategy I have long wished to implement. I am willing to sell it… for one billion *Grains."
Sultan continued, "Thank you for your offer, but I would prefer to hire you to remain by my side until the war ends."
Anwar responded with calculated politeness, "It would be a great honor, Your Majesty. However, I fear such an arrangement would be quite costly. That is why I proposed a deal more suited to the current circumstances."
Sultan leaned forward eagerly. "That is fine. I will pay. What is your price?"
Anwar answered in a tone so sincere it was almost convincing, "I would normally ask for three hundred million, but in respect for Your Majesty's insistence, I will reduce it to two hundred million per month."
Sultan was startled. "That is more than I pay all my soldiers combined! What about cutting it in half?"
Feigning innocence, Anwar replied, "Very well. How about this? One hundred and fifty million monthly, in service to Your Majesty… and I will share the spoils of war with the army."
Sultan narrowed his eyes. "And how much of the spoils will you take?"
Anwar sighed as if stating the obvious. "One-fifth. That is the share typically granted to a commander."
Sultan laughed, "How greedy! But fine… I would have doubted you if you asked for less."
Seizing the moment, Anwar added smoothly, "Then we have a deal. I will require four hundred and fifty million in advance, covering the first three months."
Sultan nodded. "Agreed. But I have one condition—you must inform me of all your future plans."
Soon after, the two sat before a vast map of the continent. Anwar pointed toward a distant region and began outlining his strategy.
"This war will take two years before we achieve victory. The final battle will take place here… at the Mountain of Spirits. However, I cannot disclose the details before the time comes—it would be too dangerous."
He ended his explanation briefly, pretending regret.
Sultan frowned. "What? Do you not trust me?"
Anwar shook his head. "It is not a matter of trust. It is simply not in Your Majesty's best interest to know beforehand. Nevertheless, you may rely on your spies to keep you informed."
Sultan's expression brightened. "That will suffice!"
Anwar's tone turned firm. "However, you must understand—your personal safety is your own responsibility. You have hired me for one purpose only: victory in this war. Ensuring your safety would require an entirely separate strategy."
Sultan blinked in confusion. "Will your plan be that dangerous?"
"Not exactly," Anwar replied. "But war itself is dangerous."
Sultan asked again, "Then what should I do during this time?"
Anwar shrugged indifferently. "Travel across your lands. Hide in a secret location. Do as you please."
Sultan sighed in frustration. "Fine… but two years is a long time."