Late at night, Xiaolan wasn't the only one awake.
In Velin's office, a candle flame flickered.
He stood alone before a massive strategy sand table, his gaze icy.
A wooden block representing Ola lay toppled over in the area marked "Giant Crocodile's Lair."
Velin reached out a finger and set it upright.
He gave it another gentle push, and the block fell over again.
What looked like a glorious victory was, in reality, a walk on a tightrope.
Ola's recklessness was the only variable, but also the key to their breakthrough.
If the giant crocodile leader had targeted Ryo or any of the other Knights, that fragile defensive line would have been utterly torn apart in under three seconds.
The victory he had built with a mountain of Golden Sun and an informational advantage had still only been secured by the impulse of a reckless Dwarf.
Velin's gaze shifted to another sheet of parchment on his desk, which listed the material costs of the battle.
