"Hohoho! Oh, to see the day when brats like you think they can fight better than old wolves like me!" he teased, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. Then, he straightened, his face hardening once more.
"But jokes aside," this time his voice was deep and serious, "this enemy isn't like anything we've faced before. This isn't just pirates or smugglers. We're standing against a real army, backed by machines mightier than any enemy you've ever heard of."
The room grew quiet, the weight of his words sinking in.
"This time... we may not walk away," he said quietly. "But if spending these old bodies buys even one more year of peace for the young ones, for the farmers, the students, and the children, then I say it's a bargain well worth making."
The South General grinned fiercely.
"Hell yeah! Let's show these invaders what it means to mess with old monsters like us!"
The East General tapped his blade against the table and smiled coldly.
