# Translation
Turning back time to two days ago, when Ivan was briefing the state councilors on the "Strike East, Attack West" operation at the command post.
"..."
From the moment the operational overview ended, everyone in the command post stared blankly at Ivan's face.
Although Ivan wasn't particularly skilled at reading dwarf expressions, it was difficult to call their reactions favorable. Their faces clearly said, "Are you in your right mind?"
"I have many questions, though."
A muscular dwarf with the title of Military Affairs Director raised his hand. When Ivan nodded, the dwarf looked at him with a skeptical expression.
"Is the first phase even possible?"
"Of course."
"You're saying you'll reach the opposite side of the mountain range within two days?"
"I've done it before."
Ivan stared down at the dwarf's face.
Andgrund is located beneath the massive Sky Mountains that stretch across the northern front.
The Sky Mountains themselves serve as a natural barrier. To reach the demon territory, one must pass through the lower ravines of the mountain range.
Part of the mountain range connects to the Great Gate built by the Krasilov military, but that location is too far from their current position. It means they can't utilize it for this operation.
And this operation is "Strike East, Attack West." Rear infiltration and strikes are essential. In other words, they needed to move to the exact opposite ridge of the mountain range to begin the operation.
Going underground, it's not impossible to reach there on foot within two days. Except for the fact that they'd have to pass through enemy territory.
For the operation, they needed to infiltrate the rear while avoiding the eyes of the hostile dwarf faction, so Ivan's plan was simple.
He would exit to the surface, climb the mountain range, and strike the enemy from behind.
Though not the highest peak of the Sky Mountains, looking at the route on his operational map, they would need to traverse a snow-covered cliff with no established climbing path, taking a direct route to reach the location known as the Northern Fifth Gate.
Typically, even the most skilled dwarf scouts would find this terrain daunting, and planning to traverse it within two days was enough to question the feasibility of the operation.
"You said you've done it before...?"
"How do you think we infiltrated Aviditas's fortress?"
Day 1 of the Andgrund "Strike East, Attack West" operation.
-Whoooosh—!!
The day was clear because the clouds were below them. Except for the fact that it was bitterly cold.
Since Lucia had never looked down at clouds in her life, she mumbled while struggling to move her frozen jaw.
"I'm seriously going to die!!"
Ivan didn't bother to answer. He knew that someone truly about to die wouldn't have the energy to speak.
Instead of answering, he pulled Lucia, who was on his back, closer.
"Can't you hear me?! Let's rest for a moment!!"
"That's not possible."
"Why not?!"
Instead of answering, Ivan raised his hand and waved it in front of Lucia's eyes. In his leather-gloved hand was a ticking pocket watch.
"Are you really, really going to cross this in two days? We still have to go down a long way after crossing. You know? Humans get altitude sickness..."
"Surround your lungs with mana to increase oxygen absorption capacity."
"What does that...?"
"Altitude sickness occurs when blood oxygen levels drop due to activity in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. As soon as you get a headache, apply mana reinforcement to your lungs and force yourself to breathe deeply."
"This is insane! I never learned that, you know!"
"If you can't do it, you'll die."
Oxygen deficiency symptoms during rapid ascent. Normally, an adaptation period or training period would be necessary, but not in Lucia's case.
She can use mana reinforcement, and she learned blood magic directly from Enrique. This means she has expertise in spell systems based on blood.
It's something she can definitely do. Ivan chose this route because he believed in Enrique's teaching methods, not Lucia. He silently continued climbing, striking the cliff with his axe.
-Whoooosh—!!
At a height where falling would cause death by heart attack before impact, where the sound of dislodged stones couldn't even be heard as they fell, Ivan silently struck the cliff with his axe and continued climbing.
After chattering for a while, Lucia soon shut her mouth and desperately began channeling her mana. She must have gotten scared when she felt the headache.
Excellent.
Ivan threw an axe with a rope attached over the cliff, embedded it, and pulled himself up to increase his speed.
This was among his most recent experiences. Climbing the Sky Mountains to approach the Seven Dragon General in the demon territory.
It was the last mission he received just before the Annihilation Squad was disbanded, just before he decided to retire.
So fortunately, it was still familiar to his hands.
"Then my second question. I may not know how human operation plans proceed, but do you know this saying? The first casualty in war is the operation plan. That..."
"I know it."
"And yet someone like you creates a plan like this?"
The dwarf tapped Ivan's outline irritably.
While even hourly plans would be laughable fantasies, this plan had minute-by-minute timetables densely written.
The tactical symbols, movement routes, and expected engagement paths densely marked on the operation map. Not even a first-year tactical school student would play such a prank. It was the work of dreamers who had never even conducted basic war games.
Ivan nodded.
"Is it too much?"
"Too much?! Are you saying this actually makes sense?!"
"Enrique and I can do it. The only variables are you all."
"Whether it's confidence or arrogance, let me tell you this. This map was created before the civil war! The actual terrain could be completely different!"
"This is an underground passage. There might be additional tunnel expansions, but tunnels marked on the map aren't easily demolished. Especially dwarf structures."
"...That's true. Since you destroyed the Earth Network Excavator, that is... true."
"Then your tactical map is the easiest to predict among field maps. It corresponds to artificial structures with extremely minimal errors."
Day 2 of the Andgrund "Strike East, Attack West" operation.
Lucia frowned as she turned the map around repeatedly. She bit her lips hard while looking at the spinning compass.
"Sir, did we take a wrong turn? There shouldn't be a fork in the road here...?"
"That's right."
"But..."
"Look."
Ivan struck one branch of the fork with his axe. With a crack, one of the tunnel's support beams split significantly.
Running his finger along the gap, Ivan quietly said:
"This side's construction method is different from that tunnel."
"...I don't have expertise in dwarf civil engineering..."
"This is good to know. A tunnel with support beams means it was made by hand. Do you see that the other tunnel has no support beams?"
"What? Ah, yes. But why?"
"That means it's a tunnel dug during the time of the Earth Network Excavator. The Earth Network Excavator uses a compression excavation method. It doesn't install support beams. It won't collapse unless there's an earthquake."
At Ivan's words, Lucia's mouth fell open.
"Then this tunnel..."
"It means it's a recently excavated tunnel. It wouldn't be recorded on the map. Any other questions?"
"If I keep learning from my teacher, will I think like you, sir?"
"You don't necessarily need a teacher like Enrique to do that."
Ivan nodded firmly.
It was a deduction method that any properly trained agent could perform. It was simply a matter of experience.
Ivan cannot be as good a teacher as Enrique. That was, unfortunately, an area difficult to emulate even for Ivan, who had learned 21st century advanced educational systems. He doesn't have a special talent for teaching others.
However, even so, if there's something Ivan can offer, it's "experience." Like he taught the other Hero Party members, he was skilled not in transferring special techniques and knowledge but in injecting "near-combat experience."
Therefore, he looked quite satisfactorily at Lucia, who was nodding her head, and moved on.
After this mission, Lucia will be a good competitor for the new Hero Party. One that provokes competitive spirit.
The dwarf, who had been staring at Ivan's face, asked cautiously with a noticeably diminished demeanor:
"But all this operation ultimately... means using you as bait, doesn't it?"
"That's right."
"Will you be able to return alive?"
"Is that an important question for you?"
"...I apologize. I asked the wrong question. If there's even a small error in your plan, if the operation doesn't go as you expect... should we still adhere to this timetable?"
If Ivan were to sustain injuries during the rear infiltration that would make the operation impossible, should they still adhere to this plan?
To the dwarf's question, Ivan firmly nodded.
"Even if not only my operation but also Enrique's operation fails, this plan must be adhered to."
"Why is that?"
"Because once the operation begins, Enrique and I will have no way to communicate with you."
Improvisation and tactical maneuvers must ultimately be carried out under a thoroughly prepared grand strategy.
Even if the direction of the operation changes at the field commander's discretion, the command must maintain the existing operational framework to maintain the overall structure. That way, they can respond in time on the field.
At Ivan's words, the dwarf nodded briefly.
"In two days, we'll march according to schedule."
"See you again in this place in a week."
"May you return alive."
Ivan left without answering.
Andgrund "Strike East, Attack West," Day 2, 19:30.
-Click.
The dwarf at the very front silently drew his rifle and loaded it. Like the opening of a march.
-Click, click, click.
The response follows. Behind him, the loading sounds of heavily armed infantry, densely packed across the wide plaza, echoed throughout the entire square.
Boom, the massive gate opens. The northern gate of Andgrund, which had never been fully opened since the civil war began, was now opening.
The loud sound of cranks engaging reverberated throughout the vast underground cavern. Bold enough for anyone to hear.
It's difficult to avoid dwarf attention underground. And now their enemies are also dwarves.
Similar events were occurring simultaneously across the wide front. Dwarves preparing for all-out war began marching, drawing guns, axes, hammers, and pulling artillery.
Toward the north, toward the main rebel force. Throughout the vast domain of the mountain caverns of Andgrund.
"To become bait..."
Military Affairs Director Legri Groeldi looked down at their marching legion from the main road and smiled bitterly.
The Spider's plan was simple. An idea anyone could come up with. Dangle bait and attack from another direction.
What made his operation "special" was a step beyond the "Strike East, Attack West" concept.
Enrique rescuing the scribe's son.
Ivan assassinating Aviditas's lieutenants.
The dwarf main force feigning a frontal advance.
The fact that all three were bait for each other, and simultaneously core operational objectives.
Underground, one cannot deceive dwarf eyes. Whether Enrique or Ivan, from the moment their operations reached an irreversible point, their positions and objectives would inevitably be exposed.
Perfect ambush and retreat was an impossible operation from the start. Therefore, they move assuming they will be discovered.
The target doesn't matter. Whoever is discovered becomes bait to support operations in other directions.
The enemy will fall into deep contemplation. Wondering what the true objective is. Ivan in the rear? Enrique infiltrating from the flank? The legion advancing from the front?
They're wrong. All are core objectives, and simultaneously, operations in all areas serve as bait for each other. Individual operations exist at the tactical level, but at the strategic level, they are intricately interlocked under a precise timetable.
No matter which way the enemy command chooses, operations in other directions will continue. It doesn't matter who fails. Conversely, if the confused command makes a misjudgment, all operational objectives could be fully achieved.
However.
'Enrique, infiltrating from the east, has a withdrawal route close to our formation, but...'
Ivan, infiltrating from the north, will be isolated in demon territory even if he withdraws. This means he's in the most perilous position.
The Military Affairs Director thought with a bitter expression.
With such men swarming on the human side, did the demons ever have a chance in those days?
So that's why even the great Demon King and the Seven Dragon Generals who called themselves gods lost the war. Perhaps they were on the wrong side. Thinking thus.
-Boom—!!
Andgrund was shaking. The rebels had also begun responding to this sudden advance. The two armies would begin confronting each other throughout the underground caverns.
Anyway, we just need to hold out.
For the next five days, they just need to continuously remind the enemies of the tension of war and adhere to the timetable.
The Director looked at the timetable Ivan had written and thought.
"By now, he should have entered the road directly below the Fifth Gate."
If all this operation finally succeeds, and if he even returns alive at the end.
How should the Spider be recorded in the national chronicles?
Will he remain as an outside hero who ended the long civil war and restored the domain beneath the mountains?
Or will he remain as a nightmare who killed, and could kill, the most dwarves among the living?
The Director found it difficult to gauge whether he himself hoped Ivan would succeed and return alive, or rather fail and perish.
Like all the dwarves who remained at the operations command at that time.
-Boom—!!
In the tunnel that was shaking as if an earthquake had occurred, Enrique looked at her pocket watch and smiled slyly.
"Cunning bastard. I wonder who taught him."
From the beginning, two versions of the operation plan had been prepared. One for the dwarves and one for Enrique and Ivan, that is, for the "outside world."
She released a pigeon carrying bundled letters into the sky outside the tunnel and dusted off her hands.
Strike East, Attack West. Ivan said it meant shouting from the east and striking the west. This tactical concept is already well-known. It's a traditional decoy operation.
But Ivan announced that his operational overview would involve dangling bait from three directions simultaneously. That's not wrong. Operations "inside the underground" proceed that way.
And the operation name for "outside the underground," that is, "our world" is.
"Hammer and Anvil."
Such an extreme traditionalist.
The skill of conducting double operations with tactical outlines that could be found in basic tactical school curriculum is characteristic of the stuffy Annihilation Squad.
Enrique giggled and snapped her pocket watch shut.
In a week, when the iron on the anvil is sufficiently heated, the hammer comes.
The minute-by-minute timetable was prepared for that moment.
What was that guy's habitual saying?
"A good agent doesn't plan an operation with just one objective... was that it?"
What kind of field agent thinks like this? Enrique thought, laughing heartily as she moved into the shadows of the tunnel.