Editing Tytania:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

=== III ===
Ever since Mr&nbsp;Fan Hyulick, that cosmos-wandering ill-fated hero, had been seized by Zarlisch Tytania, plans to rescue him had been drawn up at a pace that could well be described as subsonic. Within an hour of Miranda having escaped from the horde in grey suits and reaching the ''Honest Old Man'', Doctor Lee’s plan had taken shape.

By any measure, Doctor Lee must surely be a more astute strategist than Zarlisch. He decided to follow the orthodox path of stratagems. First and foremost, he would create an enemy within the enemy’s ranks. However much Tytania prided herself on her unity, she could never be a completely monolithic entity. Otherwise, she would not be a normal human collective. There must inevitably be weak molecular bonds amongst the elements comprising the group.

Thus, the figure Doctor Lee chose was Idris; yet this selection had already been foreseen in Uraniborg, separated by thousands of light-years. Nevertheless, as this insight had not yet translated into action, Doctor Lee was able to proceed with confidence. He did not unduly underestimate the central nervous system of Tytania, but he knew that dinosaurs had perished precisely because of their immense size.

While those opposed to Tytania were forced to endure hardship and struggle, for ordinary citizens, matters of cosmic hegemony or the survival of national sovereignty were of no concern. The feuds and conflicts between Tytania and the Vardana Imperial House were nothing more than distant, ethereal disputes; as long as they lived in peace and had enough to eat, that was sufficient. It would be harsh to call that trivial. Was it really the case that, before Tytania’s system of rule was established, all of them were happier and more content? Was it not rather an era of inequality and disorder masquerading as freedom?

And it was precisely this passive conservatism that was a major factor in ensuring the stability of Tytania’s rule. Since ancient times, there had been a rule of governance known as “bread and circuses”. “Bread” signified stability of livelihood, while “circuses” signified entertainment. As long as the people were provided with bread and circuses, they remained content and would lose the will to criticise those in power or seek political reform. Since they were satisfied with the status quo, it was only natural that they should think, “What if things were to become worse than they are now?”, and wish to protect their present modest happiness.

When such a mindset became the unconscious current of thought within society, a somewhat peculiar situation arose. The pattern was that royalty and nobility of various nations harboured a deep hatred for Tytania because of the power and privileges they had lost, while the common folk who never possessed such things to begin with, were, for the time being, content with the order established under Tytania’s rule. Of course, Tytania’s hegemony had demanded enormous sacrifices. Yet the human imagination tends not to grapple with such sacrifices unless it is one’s own turn to suffer.

However grand the vision, however self-serving the motives, those aboard the ''Honest Old Man'' had no choice but to rescue Fan Hyulick. That tall carrot-coloured hair and a neckerchief young man was the very embodiment of their future. They were open enemies of Tytania, thus a minority in the current cosmos.

Even as a minority, they could not simply resign themselves to remaining so; they had to increase their numbers. The first step was to arrange a meeting between Fan Hyulick and Admiral Salam Amzekar. However, since the victor of the Battle of the Cerberus Sector had been captured by Tytania, the summit of the century was postponed indefinitely.

The news of Fan Hyulick’s capture etched a line of disappointment across Amzekar’s stern brow, though it did not last long. With no country to return to, and unable to turn back the hands of time at this late stage, all he could do was make the following proposal:

“If there’s a plan to rescue Fan Hyulick, count me in. I’d like to make those Tytanian foam at the mouth. However small the bubbles may be.”

“Very well, we’d certainly appreciate your help. It will be a somewhat awkward first meeting for Fan Hyulick, but that’s precisely why it’s bound to leave a lasting impression.”

Doctor Lee replied in this manner and welcomed Amzekar into their group. He was not as detached as he appeared; deep down, he felt that matters needed to be dealt with urgently.

There was no chance that Zarlisch Tytania would release Fan Hyulick alive; if that magnificent, bearded giant were to achieve his objective, a great possibility for history would be lost. Consequently, Doctor Lee would lose valuable material for academic research forever. This was a source of deep distress, and it would mean he, too, would lose his future. To prevent this, he had to exercise his omniscience and omnipotence. What he explained to his comrades was not the full picture of the plan, but a part of it was to issue a warning to Zarlisch Tytania in the name of the Blaze Flag Army.

“But if Zarlisch Tytania receives a warning from the Blaze Flag Army, won’t he be extremely wary? He might change his original plans, and even if he doesn’t go that far, his vigilance will be heightened and our opportunities may diminish.”

Amzekar put forward this opinion.

“Do you think Zarlisch fears the Blaze Flag Army in its current state? Absolutely not. Why should a lion fear lice?”

Doctor Lee employed a scathing metaphor.

“Duke Zarlisch would never change his original plans. To do so would be to deny his very character and ''raison d’être''. Should he be informed of an attack by the Blaze Flag Army, he would simply stroke his massive arm and lie in wait. And that, precisely, is where a weaker foe can find an opening.”

If it were possible to set up a bold, head-on formation and crush Tytania’s army through skilful tactics, Doctor Lee would, of course, do so. However, as the physical conditions for doing so are not in place, he has no choice but to resort to stratagems.

Consequently, Doctor Lee decided to resort to stratagems, though, in his case, it could not be ruled out that he might employ such stratagems only after having prepared for a head-on battle. Yet, whatever the future might hold, it was certain that, at this very moment, there was no means of rescue other than stratagems.

“If humankind had fought honourably from the very beginning of its existence, it would have perished long ago,” said Doctor Lee.

These hairless apes, possessing neither the massive frame of an elephant, nor the claws of a tiger, nor the fangs of a wolf, had no choice but to fight the wild beasts with a single weapon. That single weapon was their cunning.