It seemed Schmidt wasn't limited to just Shaping Power magic. After infiltrating the fortress, Richard planned to move toward the main gate. Though the gate was now sealed, fortified with sandbags, and guarded by artillery crews on both sides, it was still the fortress's weakest point.
However, Schmidt stopped Richard and shared his thoughts. "Don't you think something's off about today's battle?"
Richard thought it over but couldn't find anything unusual.
"The morale! Especially the commanding officer's sheer resolve!" Schmidt analyzed quickly. "In the past, the Holy Kingdom's officers were experts at retreating. This is the first time we've run into such a tough opponent. The enemy's tenacity probably caught even the general by surprise, creating the opening for us to slip in.
"Possibility one: the defending commander is a hard-liner with absolute confidence in the fortress's defenses.
