Night settled over the eastern plains.
Thousands of campfires burned across the Beast Kingdom's encampment.
Across the valley...
The walls of Base 305 glowed beneath countless mana lamps.
Neither side slept.
Both prepared.
Inside the command hall...
A massive battlefield map covered the central table.
Commander Elena stood at its head.
Commander Sam stood opposite her.
Around them gathered the leaders of both kingdoms.
Ben.
Zora.
Leon.
Runa.
Kael.
The Goblin Warlord King.
The Goblin Mage.
Captain Roland.
Captain Lysette.
The Dragon Knight captains.
Every face was serious.
Elena broke the silence.
"Our scouts have completed their latest report."
A Dragon Knight captain stepped forward.
"The Beast Kingdom has established three defensive camps."
"They've positioned their siege engines beyond long-range ballista distance."
"They're preparing for a prolonged siege."
Ben folded his arms.
"They're disciplined."
Leon spoke next.
"Their Shadow Fang scouts rotate every thirty minutes."
"They never use the same observation point twice."
Runa looked at him.
"You've been watching them?"
Leon nodded.
"They've also been watching me."
Kael laughed.
"So it's become a game."
Leon answered calmly.
"No."
"It's reconnaissance."
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
New battlefield analysis complete.
Enemy Commander Bjorn has made no attempt to conceal his main force.
Probability of deception...
Low.
Probability of confidence...
Extremely High.
Sam looked toward the map.
"He wants us to know exactly where he is."
Elena nodded.
"A king who hides behind tricks doesn't inspire twenty thousand warriors."
A sudden knock echoed through the hall.
"Commander."
"Enter."
The doors opened.
A Dragon Knight guard stepped inside.
He saluted.
"A messenger has arrived from the Beast Kingdom."
The room fell silent.
Ben instinctively reached for his sword.
Kael's grip tightened around his Frost Spear.
Even the Goblin Warlord King's blue soul flames flickered.
Elena spoke.
"Bring him in."
Moments later...
A lone Beastman entered the command hall.
He wore no armor.
No weapon.
Only a dark cloak bearing the crest of the Beast Kingdom.
He stopped in the center of the room.
Then bowed respectfully.
"I bring the words of my king."
No one interrupted.
The messenger reached into his cloak.
Several soldiers tensed.
Instead of a weapon...
He withdrew a sealed scroll.
The wax seal bore the mark of a roaring black beast.
He handed it directly to Elena.
"For Commander Elena."
She broke the seal.
Her blue eyes scanned the contents.
Without a word...
She handed it to Sam.
He read.
The hall remained silent.
To Commander Elena of Base 305,
To Commander Sam of Base 101,
I did not march here seeking the destruction of worthy warriors.
I came because the eastern frontier contains lands my people need to survive.
If Base 305 abandons its claim to the frontier and withdraws beyond the Silver River, there will be no battle.
If you refuse...
Meet me tomorrow at sunrise between our armies.
One conversation.
Then let fate decide whether peace or war follows.
—Bjorn, Beast King
Sam lowered the scroll.
Ben frowned.
"He wants to negotiate?"
Kael looked unconvinced.
"Or size us up."
Zora nodded.
"Perhaps both."
Elena remained thoughtful.
"The Silver River protects three farming villages."
"If I abandon them..."
"Thousands of my people lose their homes."
Sam looked at the map.
"And once that line moves..."
"It rarely moves back."
Elena met his gaze.
"You understand."
"I do."
The Beast messenger bowed once more.
"My duty is complete."
He turned to leave.
Sam stopped him.
"One question."
The messenger paused.
"What kind of king is Bjorn?"
The Beastman smiled with quiet pride.
"The kind who always marches in the front."
"He eats after his soldiers."
"He buries every warrior by name."
"And..."
The messenger's smile widened.
"He has never asked another Beastman to fight a battle he would not fight himself."
Without another word...
He departed.
The heavy doors closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Finally...
Elena spoke.
"I'll meet him."
Sam looked at her.
"So will I."
Ben stepped forward immediately.
"Commander—"
Sam raised a hand.
"If Bjorn wanted us dead..."
"He would have attacked tonight."
Leon nodded.
"I agree."
"This meeting is genuine."
Runa crossed her arms.
"But genuine doesn't mean safe."
Sam smiled.
"That's why you'll all be watching."
A faint grin appeared on Leon's face.
"Already planned."
Far across the plains...
Bjorn stood outside his command tent.
He looked toward the distant lights of Base 305.
Prince Ragnar approached.
"Father..."
"Do you think they'll come?"
Bjorn smiled.
"If they don't..."
"They aren't the leaders I believe them to be."
He rested his greataxe across his shoulder.
"But I think they will."
Above both armies...
The first rays of dawn began to chase away the darkness.
Tomorrow...
Three rulers would meet between two armies.
Whether history remembered it as the Conference of Three Kings...
Or the beginning of the War of the Eastern Frontier...
Would depend on what happened when the sun finally rose.