Diplomatic agreements were written in ink.
Power was written in steel.
Three days after the Blackthorn envoy departed, Liang Chen received his first real proof that treaties meant very little beyond the walls of a council chamber.
[Alert: Unauthorized Movement Detected.]
Eastern Border Activity: Confirmed
Blackthorn Scout Presence: 4 Units
Distance from Trade Route: 2.3 Kilometers
Liang stared at the system's projection hovering above the war table.
Four mounted scouts.
Lightly armed.
Moving in a staggered sweep formation along the eastern ridge.
They weren't patrolling.
They were mapping.
Captain Wei folded his arms beside him.
"They're testing our response time."
Liang nodded.
"They want to see how fast we react… and how far they can push before we notice."
Or before they were stopped.
Shattered County's eastern trade road had only recently been secured. New watchtowers were still under construction, and militia rotations had not yet reached optimal efficiency.
Which meant—
Now was the perfect time to probe for weakness.
[New Mission Available: Assert Border Authority.]
Objectives:
Intercept unauthorized scouts
Avoid direct engagement
Establish territorial control
Reward:
Tactical Awareness Level 2
Border Stability +12%
Penalty for Failure:
Trade Route Vulnerability +18%
Diplomatic Leverage Loss
Accepted.
"Deploy two shadow squads," Liang ordered. "Intercept at the western fork near Watchtower Three."
Wei raised an eyebrow.
"Non-lethal?"
Liang didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Killing them would escalate matters too quickly.
Letting them go would signal weakness.
But intercepting—
That was a message.
Two hours later, the squads were in position.
Liang observed through the system's live tactical overlay as the Blackthorn scouts advanced down the narrow pass between the forested hills. Their formation was tight—efficient—but predictable.
They didn't expect resistance.
Not this soon.
"Now," Liang said quietly.
The ambush unfolded with silent precision.
Militia units blocked the rear path while shadow squads emerged from the treeline ahead. No arrows loosed. No blades drawn.
Just presence.
And authority.
The lead Blackthorn rider reined in his horse sharply.
"This road falls under Blackthorn trade authority," he said loudly. "We are within—"
"You are beyond your jurisdiction," Captain Wei replied evenly, stepping forward.
The scout's hand drifted toward his sword.
Shadow squad members shifted.
[Combat Probability if Escalation Occurs: 72% Victory.]
Projected Diplomatic Fallout: Severe
Liang clenched his jaw.
No blood.
Not yet.
"You've seen the road," Wei continued. "Now turn back."
A long pause followed.
Then—
The scout spat onto the dirt.
"We will report this."
Wei didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Minutes later, the Blackthorn riders withdrew.
[Mission Complete: Border Authority Asserted.]
Border Stability: +12%
Militia Confidence: +9%
Skill Unlocked: Tactical Awareness Level 2
Back in the war room, Liang reviewed the updated projections.
Trade Route Security: 81%
Militia Response Efficiency: 68%
Diplomatic Tension with Blackthorn: +11%
Higher tension—
But greater respect.
"They won't stop," Wei said quietly.
"No," Liang agreed. "They won't."
Because this had never been about trade.
It had been about influence.
And influence began with territory.
That evening, another notification arrived.
[New Event Detected: Military Mobilization Within Blackthorn Territory.]
Estimated Force Size: 300–400 Units
Movement Direction: Undetermined
Threat Level: Rising
Liang's expression hardened.
This was no longer a test.
It was preparation.
"They're assembling troops," he said.
Wei nodded grimly.
"For what purpose?"
Liang turned back toward the map.
Raiders were opportunistic.
Councils were political.
But warlords—
Warlords were patient.
"Prepare the eastern garrisons," Liang ordered.
"Rotate elite units along the ridge."
"And double patrol frequency on all trade roads."
Wei bowed.
"At once."
As night fell across Shattered County, the torches along the eastern wall burned brighter than usual.
Militia moved with urgency.
Messengers rode between villages.
Watchtowers reported every flicker of movement beyond the forested hills.
And somewhere—
Beyond the border—
Blackthorn was watching.
[Strategic Forecast: Probability of Armed Conflict within 7 Days – 41%.]
Liang Chen allowed himself a slow breath.
Diplomacy had bought him time.
But time—
Was running out.
Because when kingdoms began moving troops—
Treaties stopped mattering.