NOVPUB"Cerryti Empire’s aggressive tactics are so brazen, it clearly shows they don’t care at all whether we counterattack or not. They seem hell-bent on telling us—if you dare come, they dare to change headquarters."
"But to fight with the mentality of risking everything, the battle will soon be over, and if we get flanked from both sides, we could end up in the worst situation."
The Cerryti Empire’s all-out offensive strategy blatantly shows their lack of concern for civilians, and correspondingly, they believe the Kingdom Joint Council cares about civilians.
"Moreover, given our current situation, even if we really decide to take a gamble, can we convince all the countries to cooperate and join this plan?"
It wasn’t until this question was raised that the supreme council fell silent once again.
With trust already broken, it was impossible for all the countries to agree to such a risky bet, and if not all the kingdoms united, such a gamble would be meaningless.
After a long discussion,
In the end,
The Kingdom Joint Council could only make a bitter decision.
For the sake of prudence,
Each country would actively shrink their front lines; no longer could forces be spread out to defend.
Only by giving up land could they increase the density of their troops and defensive power, while ensuring the safety of Eighth-tier Heroic Units and allowing multiple Eighth-order heroes to work together in combat.
To relinquish land to save people, if both land and people are lost, that’s a total defeat. To save people and lose land, however, means both could be preserved.
Nevertheless,
This decision destined the Kingdom Joint Council to gradually give up territory in the coming times, and tens of millions of square kilometers of civilians began the largest-scale evacuation in history...
...
A few days later,
In the Poseen Kingdom,
Floral City Pariel, District 1 of the Pariu South Bank.
Lusen Park by the Selena River at four o’clock in the afternoon, the autumn sun sprinkled on the river, shimmering with glistening ripples, as though cloaked in a golden veil, the gentle breeze dispersing wistful mists.
Regardless of the ongoing war, the capital located in the heart of Poseen remained a comparatively safe place.
A slender youth sat silently on a bench by the riverbank.
He seemed lost in thought, motionless.
After an indeterminate amount of time, another person finally sat next to him and started reading a newspaper nonchalantly.
"Meeting by the Selena River, quite the mood you’re setting." no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
Nigel muttered to himself as he scanned the newspaper.
He had found Lanci, who had now dressed in civilian clothes, looking just like any ordinary resident of Floral City Pariel.
Since the day it was confirmed that he would help Lanci infiltrate into Cerryti Empire, he never again interacted with Lanci as General Nigel.
"It’s rare to have a sunny day."
Lanci shifted his gaze from the river to Nigel and smiled wryly.
"It’s been nothing but rain and fog lately; I feel like my spirit is getting rusty."
Nigel sighed too, his eyes betraying fatigue.
The sound of the Salina River’s waves continued incessantly.
"It won’t always be like this."
Lanci looked back at the river and murmured.
"I’ve taken care of everything for you. Tomorrow, you’ll go to the Cerryti Empire alone."
Nigel, flipping through the newspaper, said.
Lanci’s shadow quivered, and a little cat curiously hopped onto his lap.
"This sudden, meow?"
It asked Nigel in surprise.
Nigel had promised to arrange everything for Lanci within a month.
"Not sudden, I requested to speed up the journey to Cerryti. There’s an urgent matter I need to handle."
Lanci petted the cat’s head and replied.
His cover identity might be more of a stretch, perhaps a larger discrepancy in age and occupation than expected, but it would get him to Cerryti sooner.
Even one day earlier could save many lives.
"If you need to return, you can publish a copy of your portrait in the ’Cerryti Central Daily.’ Someone will contact you and try to arrange your return to the Kingdom Alliance."
Nigel handed the newspaper to Lanci.
Though it was just a regular newspaper, it contained the method for Lanci to initiate contact with Poseen and Cerryti Empire intelligence officers.
He believed Lanci would remember it after reading it once.
"I understand."
Lanci took the newspaper.
"I look forward to the day we can once again call each other comrades."
Nigel stood up, put on his hat again, and said to Lanci.
"Take care."
With that parting advice, he walked away without looking back.
In this war, each meeting might be the last.
In their line of work, life might not be their own when the time came; against aggressors, death wasn’t scary, but a meaningless death was.
"Take care."
Lanci muttered to himself.
His attention gradually returned to the newspaper in his hand as he flipped through it.
Looking at a photo of Loren’s countenance on the paper, Lanci suddenly felt a surge of emotion.
Eventually, Lanci stood up, stepping to the edge of the riverbank beside a chained stone pillar.
He silently recited the code, casually tearing the key page from the newspaper into pieces, and threw them into the river.
Closing his eyes, he heard the sound of a ship’s whistle.
The voice on the boat’s broadcast became gradually clearer—
"September 17, 1798, 4:30 pm Poseen time, emergency broadcast from the Free Broadcast of Southern Aquidan Territory."
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received a battle report from the front. The Second Kris Magic-guided Armored Division encountered an attack by the enemy’s 11th Heavy Cavalry Corps near Southeast Harrison Fort. After a day and night of fierce fighting, our forces suffered heavy casualties, losing about 60% of the warriors and magic-guided weaponry. Currently, our front line has been forced to retreat to 30 kilometers west of the Iseth River. At the same time, on the Brunte Highlands, our 55th Infantry Division is also facing the enemy’s encirclement by the 7th Mountain Division and the 1st Airstrike Special Forces, in danger of being completely wiped out."
