"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare… Well, I certainly agree!"
Sitting inside a library, Riley quite literally took notes. Sitting beside him was an overwhelmingly beautiful girl, and even at a glance, his heart fluttered.
But now's not the time for lovey-dovey crap. I gotta seriously take some notes.
"So," Nina said, "if we apply that to you—then this can refer to both the battlefield—if it's a city, or yourself. Let's face it, up against that many people, you're not going to last long if you go all-out continuously. Try to end it quickly. But, I'd also say not to be too headstrong, as that can lead to mistakes."
"Got it."
Writing that down, they continued to skim through the book.
"All warfare is based on deception. Remember that. Don't rely only on your strength or your skill. You've got a lot of abilities, from what you've shown me.—Use them to deceive your opponents."
"Mhm."
"Victorious warriors seek victory first, and then head into battle. The defeated go to war first, and then seek victory. Hm. What does that mean?" Nina asked, thinking to herself for a moment.
—Well, I'd assume it's about trying to win without fighting. But, as far as Riley's told me, he can't avoid the battle. Then, if the battle's unavoidable, he needs to ensure victory before the battle even begins. If he can set his victory in stone even before he's forced to fight, that's what matters most.
"It mentioned earlier that you need to know your enemy. What do you know about them?" Nina questioned, and Riley gathered his knowledge.
"They're cowards. They've lived the past few years killing people who can't fight back. I have unique circumstances that allow me to train and get better at combat; they don't. Even if they prepare, the truth of the matter is that it's been ingrained into their psyche to not struggle."
"Then, if they're cowards, you should rely on their emotions. Take advantage of the situation, take advantage of their expectations—either subvert them, or lull them into thinking they'll have it easy. Then, strike with overwhelming destruction, and play on their fear."
Granite was put to paper.
"Got it," Riley admitted. "Psychological collapse is of utmost importance against so many people, no? From what I'm able to decipher, division is of utmost importance. If I can gather the many, and force them to rely on their individuality, I can crush them."
"Avoid the strong, and target the weak. Unless it's particularly beneficial to kill the strong."
Well, Ghira's servants are cowards, after all. They've seen countless corpses, but if they see the corpses of a dear ally, then their fear will overcome them. It's in their nature.
A devilish smirk resting upon his face, Riley's nasty thoughts were easily guessed by Nina, who admittedly found comfort in the fact that he was actually listening.
And so, the two continued on their small study-date.