Thales exhaled amidst the silence at the long table.
No war is an isolated one.
Soria's atrocities twenty years ago led to the resistance that Eckstedt faced twenty years later.
Victory twenty years ago led to defeat twenty years later.
The second prince recalled the Old Crow's words again.
"Before you make up your mind to go to war, I think you should first think clearly: Will this really achieve your goals? How many unexpected things will happen as a result? What additional consequences will there be? What will it signify in the longer term? How will the impact on both sides be calculated? "
Solder scoffed softly and broke the silence.
"Just like that, the supply is not smooth, the progress of the troops collecting rations is slow.
"The siege is not successful, the efficiency of the siege is repeatedly delayed.
"And the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City's fate is unknown. Those who return with the Dragon Spear flag are still only defeated soldiers, and rumors abound."
Fate is unknown.
Thales tried his best to regulate his breathing.
After hearing about the blood feud between Prince Soria and the Alliance of Freedom, he suddenly realized that once Saroma fell into the hands of the Alliance of Freedom …
'No.'
Thales forced himself not to think about the worst possibility.
Solder paused for a moment and motioned for the man from the Secret Intelligence Department to continue.
The latter nodded.
"After that, we made some inquiries and made some guesses: an argument broke out among the higher-ups of the Northlanders."
The ministers looked at each other in dismay.
"The nobles of Defense City wanted to retreat, but the Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers, the arrogant Kulgon Roknee, was unyielding. He threatened his allies not to retreat, and claimed that he would mobilize troops from the country again to reinforce the frontline. If he did not succeed, he would die trying.
"The generals and commanders were at odds, and the quarrel between the two sides was ugly."
Thales' mind jolted. Another line from a distant memory surfaced in his mind:
"Snobbery makes men fight, and their descendants kill each other."
Solder sighed and interjected.
"And that was their third mistake."
Perhaps because they had already lamented, the ministers were no longer stirred after hearing about Eckstedt's foolish move.
The scar-faced man from the Secret Intelligence Department said calmly,
"Until one day, the flag of the Camus Union was raised above the walls of the Alliance of Freedom."
As soon as he said that, everyone was puzzled again.
"Camus?"
Gilbert asked in surprise, then shook his head decisively.
"Impossible!"
"Well, it seems impossible now."
Solder nodded and frowned.
"But the news served its purpose. From then on, the rumor that Camus Union had intervened in the war spread throughout the Northern Military Camp. It was useless no matter how the Commander-in-Chief tried to suppress it."
"On the other side, the soldiers and civilians of Fort Liberté who were struggling to hold on were greatly encouraged when they heard that reinforcements were coming.
"While the enemy is silent, I am strong …"
Solder looked up slowly, his eyes gleaming.
"The Northlanders have completely failed."
"That was when it started."
Thales stared at the stalemate situation on the map, and he felt something in his heart.
The next second, Solder's words became urgent!
"Due to the spread of rumors, a noble of Defense City who was unwilling to take the risk abandoned his camp and retreated early in the morning."
"Maybe he's just indignant and wants to change the defensive zone or change the land to collect food. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that it's a spy's plot …"
One by one, the white chess pieces moved under the hands of the military advisor, leaving the original area.
"However, with him as an example, and thanks to the fact that they did not get along well with the City of Faraway Prayers, a large number of suzerains of Defense City retreated with him without notifying their allies. This caused the entire battle line to change."
Thales frowned deeply. With Fort Liberté as the center, the white chess pieces gradually spread out, revealing an increasingly large gap.
It was as if an armor that had gone through hundreds of battles finally could not take it anymore and cracked open.
Solder Ryder slammed his palm on the long table, his face ashen.
"As a result, the exhausted but stubborn army of the City of Faraway Prayers, ten miles away on the frontline of the siege, has unwittingly lost the vigilance and protection of their flanks."
"They have completely exposed their weak spots in the abdomen and back to the enemy!"
As the battle progressed, the officials listening to the military intelligence were equally solemn and nervous.
"Perhaps the communication breakdown only lasted for two hours, or perhaps the Northlanders' window of vulnerability only lasted for sixty minutes, but remember the trump card of the Alliance of Freedom?"
Solder reached out and fished the Black Knight out of the field. When he let go, it was already in front of the white chess pieces' battle line, like a haunting ghost.
"After defeating Dragon Clouds City, they reappeared after disappearing for a long time and seized this window."
The military advisor gritted his teeth, as if he was experiencing the battle.
"Before the morning fog dispersed, they coordinated with the remnants of the army in Fort Liberté and successfully launched a surprise attack."
Solder's words were concise, but Thales could only imagine the intensity and cruelty of that day.
"When the retreating Defense City received orders from the higher-ups, reacted and ordered the entire army to stop retreating," Solder sighed and slowly stretched out his hand to disrupt the initially unstoppable white chess formation.
"With low morale, the City of Faraway Prayers was attacked from the back and fought hastily. In the end, it was like a sun setting in the west, and their defeat was inevitable."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence.
"This is ridiculous!"
Viscount Kenney could not help but complain.
"How can the Northlanders be so stupid!"
Thales listened to these words with mixed feelings.
"Because we are standing here, watching them," Duke Cullen said slowly, but there was a rare sense of solemnity in his tone.
Viscount Kenney was momentarily speechless.
"And then?"
The Chief of Finance, Kirkirk Mann, pondered and asked, "The army of Defense City is still in good shape.
Although they are not as powerful as the City of Faraway Prayers, they are not to be underestimated. The defeat was only in a corner of the battlefield, it should be … "
But Solder's next words interrupted him.
"The commanders of Defense City knew that they had made a huge mistake. Eager to remedy the situation, they made a decision.
"Not to retreat and fortify, but to stabilize the battle line."
The military advisor was no longer pained. He narrated the military situation with a blank expression, pushing the white chess pieces representing Defense City forward one by one.
"But to return to the battlefield and rescue their comrades."
As soon as he said this, some of the people present frowned in deep thought, while others came to a sudden realization.
"How loyal," Viscount Kenney muttered.
Solder Ryder suddenly looked up!
His gaze swept across everyone.
"That was their fourth mistake."
Viscount Kenney frowned.
Solder lowered his head and gathered the black chess pieces in Fort Liberté and the knights outside the fort together.
"The Alliance of Freedom's strategy is completely different from that of twenty years ago. After a victory, they do not seek to kill as many enemies as possible when pursuing the enemy. Instead, they seek to be flexible, drive away the majority, and attack the elites.
"So, when the flag of Defense City arrived on the battlefield …"
The next moment, Thales watched as the fallen white chess pieces were pushed together and swept towards the white chess pieces that were still standing.
An ominous feeling welled up in his heart.
"Most of the tens of thousands of defeated soldiers from the City of Faraway Prayers still survived, but all of them threw away their helmets and armor and retreated, or rather, fled in a grandiose manner, unable to stop orders.
"Like a flood after a storm, they unstoppably broke through the formation of Defense City."
Solder's hands no longer moved the chess pieces precisely, but swung them widely, sweeping the chaotic white chess pieces towards the east.
"What's more frightening is that under hunger and fatigue, the despair and fear of failure spread like a plague to the Defense City Army, triggering blind obedience and strife. Many of them died from trampling and internal strife before they could even see the enemy."
Solder's voice dimmed.
"Amidst the chaos, Defense City — the last hope of the Northlanders — was defeated without even fighting a few decent battles.
"The Northlanders suffered innumerable casualties. The entire army retreated in panic, fleeing day and night. Even after retreating hundreds of miles, they still could not stabilize the battle line.
"Along the way, there were also unyielding Eckstedt nobles who tried to gather their troops for one last fight. But small acts of bravery were no match for the bigger picture and were of no help."
Thales was silent. It was as if he had returned to the night of Dragon's Blood. He watched as the White Blade Guards, knowing that they were going to die, raised their swords for the last time and launched a counterattack against Black Sand Region's formation, covering his and Little Rascal's retreat.
For some reason, even though Eckstedt was an extremely threatening enemy country, watching them suffer such a pathetic defeat made him feel an indescribable sense of suffocation and discomfort.
It was as if he had seen a hero in distress.
And he sensed that he was not the only one who felt this way.
"How could this be?"
Gilbert spoke faintly, as if immersed in the past, feeling sorrowful.
"The invincible Northlanders actually … lost just like that?"
However, a deep voice quickly interrupted him, causing everyone's hearts to tighten.
"No.
"They are far from 'invincible'."
At the end of the long table, the Iron Hand King revealed a pair of cold eyes against the light.
"But …
"Can't win with force."
When the king spoke, he exuded authority without being angry. The ministers were momentarily speechless.
Can't win with force.
Thinking of the truth behind 'Dragon's Blood', Thales felt dejected.
If yesterday's news was still chaotic and unconfirmed, there would still be a glimmer of hope.
But today, right now, the detailed battle report in Ballard Room clearly told him:
The Northlanders were defeated.
Defeated.
There was no room for negotiation.
"Starlight."
Duke Cullen's eyes flashed as he broke the silence in thought.
"I remember now. Their strategy against the Northland barbarians, including avoiding the vanguard and attacking logistics and supplies, was modeled after the Duke of Star Lake … ahem, sorry, the 'former' Duke of Star Lake's Starlight Brigade."
Starlight Brigade.
Everyone frowned, including the king.
Solder turned his head and nodded at the spy from the Secret Intelligence Department.
The scar-faced man stepped forward again, bowed, and reported his findings.
"According to the latest intelligence, the general who led the Alliance of Freedom's elite force to capture Dragon Clouds City's commander-in-chief is Ivan Polado. He is a young guest general, not yet twenty years old."
Gilbert raised his eyebrows.
"Guest general? So young? "
The scar-faced man nodded.
"His father died in a political struggle in the Northern Sea Kingdom, and he had no choice but to flee to Fort Liberté.
"And when the Eckstedt army pressed on, and everyone in Fort Liberté fled in panic, and no one dared to lead the army, Ivan Polado volunteered and was given his current post."
Hearing this, Thales recalled the message the Duke of Iris Flowers had given him last night.
"The desperate Alliance of Freedom is doing everything in its power to survive, disregarding its dignity and the price it has to pay, regardless of origin or past, urgently begging for ambitious people to join the fight for justice."
"The Northern Sea Kingdom …"
The king mused.
"That barren country north of Camus, with internal strife, a tyrannical king, and only an idiot son as his heir?"
The spy from the Secret Intelligence Department bowed again.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The king nodded, contemplating something.
"Northern Sea Kingdom, Ivan Polado.
"The country may be small, but it can also nurture talents."
Kirkirk Mann sighed.
"His defeat of Eckstedt in this battle will surely shake the Western Peninsula, and he will become famous in one battle."
Gilbert put away his emotions. He smiled softly and looked at Thales in a seemingly unintentional manner.
"It is said that the times create heroes, and heroes come from the young."
On the other side, Military Advisor Solder spoke again to attract everyone's attention.
"But in my opinion, the most crucial part of this battle is not Polado and his detachment of troops."
Solder's palm swept past the countless fallen or standing chess pieces, and gently covered the city on the map.
"And in Fort Liberté.
"It was the empty Fort Liberté. Relying on the old and weak soldiers who had their elites removed, they stubbornly held off Eckstedt's siege army. In the end, they even led their troops out of the city, formed an encirclement, and repelled the Northlanders.
"Over the course of a few months, they held off the bravest attacks, withstood the fiercest attacks, and attracted most of the enemy's attention, resulting in this classic victory of the weak over the strong."
They had not noticed it at first, but after Solder's words, everyone in the Imperial Conference finally sensed that something was amiss.
Solder looked at the scar-faced man from the Secret Intelligence Department. The latter pulled out a few more pages of information.
"In Fort Liberté, the general commanding the defense of the city is over forty, a Constellatiate."
Everyone was stunned.
'Constellatiate?'
The scar-faced man looked up and reported a name.
"'Anvil' Josh Kenya."
The Imperial Conference fell silent for a moment. Everyone was puzzled.
Until the king suddenly spoke.
"Anvil?"
King Kessel looked up.
"This nickname … sounds very familiar."
The spy from the Secret Intelligence Department nodded calmly.
"Yes, Kenya was born in the private army of the Jadestar Family, and was once one of the combat officers of the Starlight Brigade. He was also the former deputy of the Fortress Flower, Lady Sonia Sasere.
"He was also Duke John's … personal guard.
"And a fugitive of the kingdom."
As soon as these words were said, there was a small commotion in Ballard Room.
'The deputy of the Fortress Flower …'
Thales was bewildered. He thought of the veteran Gerrard who had once served him.
"I see. So the commander of the Alliance of Freedom was the former general of the Starlight Brigade."
Prime Minister Cullen's doubts were answered.
"No wonder this war had a familiar smell from beginning to end."
But King Kessel furrowed his brows. His focus was clearly different.
"Fugitive? What crime did he commit? "
The scar-faced man picked up the information, glanced at it, and hesitated to speak.
Until Gilbert coughed and said in a low voice,
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"
"After you were crowned, Josh Kenya committed treason. Not only did he disobey orders, but he also publicly falsely claimed that the real culprit behind Duke John's death was …"
He did not continue.
All the ministers lowered their heads and fell silent.
The king looked thoughtful.
"Oh."
The scar-faced man from the Secret Intelligence Department coughed and tried to get over the awkwardness.
"In short, we are investigating Kenya's movements over the past few years, as well as the reason for his sudden appearance in this war."
Kessel nodded.
"So, this is what happened on the battlefield?"
Solder exhaled heavily, as if trying to expel all the gloom brought to him by the war.
"That's right."
The military advisor snorted. He casually threw away the last white chess piece in his hand, seemingly mocking their unwisdom, and angry at their lack of ambition.
"The City of Faraway Prayers was betrayed and humiliated in defeat.
"Defense City made a tactical mistake and could not turn the situation around.
"Dragon Clouds City lost its backbone long ago. The morale of the army is slack and useless."
Thales lowered his head and pretended to massage his forehead, closing his eyes at an angle where no one could see.
'Little Rascal.
'Saroma.
'The Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City.
'The Lost Army.
'Life and death unknown.'
Before his eyes, the girl who walked cautiously to the throne but could not even lean on the armrest of the seat appeared.
The youth's heart ached.
He sent her to this position.
But the situation was so rotten, reality was so broken, fate was so cruel …
Thales clenched his fists subconsciously, sobbing at the same time as his heart.
Who could save her?
Who could help her?
Who could …
Protect her?
"Then, on the battlefield," the king's voice rang faintly, cold as ever, causing Thales' already unbearable mood to cool down again.
"The Northlanders who have lost their momentum and are retreating step by step …"
Thales rubbed his forehead. As he demonstrated his sadness, all he wanted was for the Imperial Conference to end as soon as possible.
It was hard to believe that while he was worrying about something as ridiculous as wine glasses at a banquet, his friend was in trouble and suffering a terrible fate.
When he thought of this, he could not help but feel guilty and pained.
But the king's voice continued to ring out, irritating him.
"How did they …"
"How did they turn defeat into victory?"
Thales suddenly opened his eyes!
At that moment, his thoughts even froze.
'Wh-what?
The Northlanders turned defeat into victory?
How … '
Prince Thales gently put down the finger he was using to rub his forehead.
He raised his head in a dignified manner, his face expressionless.
At the Imperial Conference, none of the people present were surprised, but they were equally puzzled by the question.
They were not surprised.
'That means …
'That means the outcome of the war …'
Thales controlled his breathing and pressed his left hand against his knee, refusing to look at Gilbert's worried expression.
"Of course."
Solder Ryder nodded solemnly. He stretched out his hand and moved it to the pile of white chess pieces that had fallen into a mess.
Thales' gaze was fixed on his hand.
As if there was the truth of the world there.
The military advisor gently picked up a white chess piece.
He placed it back on the chaotic map, in the most conspicuous position.
At that moment, Thales suddenly recognized it.
That was a …
The White Queen.
"The Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City who was lost in the chaos and whose whereabouts are unknown."
Thales' breathing froze.
"Saroma Alex Walton."
At the Imperial Conference, everyone present listened attentively to the military advisor's words, listening to the latter's tone of surprise and emotion.
"We don't know what happened in between."
Solder gritted his teeth, seemingly unable to comprehend what he was about to say.
"But when she appeared again and miraculously turned the tide of the war …
"Whether it was the army or the people, whether it was the enemy or our own people …
"Everyone, called her —"
In the Ballard Room of Renaissance Palace, the royal family's military advisor, Solder Ryder, looked at the white queen standing proudly on the map. There was an indescribable fear and solemnity in his voice.
"The Blazing Blood True Dragon."
His voice faded away.
At that moment, under everyone's puzzled gazes, time seemed to stand still.
'The Blazing Blood … True Dragon?'
Thales stared blankly at the white chess piece, unable to recover for a long time.
'No, Thales, you ridiculous idiot.
'You're mistaken.
'This white chess piece …'
A small voice rang in the Duke of Star Lake's mind, as if mocking his stupidity and self-righteousness.
'She's not the queen.
'No.
'She's white —
'The queen.'
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