Emperor Alfred is now on the highest ground in the middle of Heimu Pass. This was the original city lord's mansion and also the command center when Shi Hao took over here. It has now been converted into the emperor's palace.
A large number of Black Guards protected this high ground, and the most elite guards were stationed below. The teleportation point set by Gandas and other mages was at this location. As the teleportation lights lit up one by one, they appeared in a hall of the City Lord's Mansion.
Gandas's arm was charred black. He used his mental power to cut off the pain in his arm as soon as he completed the teleportation. He wiped the sweat off his head, took out a bottle of very expensive healing potion from his ring, and drank the whole bottle. The healing mages who had been waiting in the hall also rushed up and cast healing magic on him in a hurry.
Edel also completed the teleportation, walked to Gandas and said, "The Chinese's methods are too weird. We were completely suppressed today. Those who have not teleported here are in a very dangerous situation. Unless they can get to the blessed land in time to cast magic, I'm afraid they will not be able to escape."
"Humph. It's more than dangerous. They're already finished." Gandas watched the charred skin on his arms crack one after another, revealing new skin. "Just wait and see. This group of people won't teleport again. Without our cover, is it possible that they can teleport right under the nose of the other master? We have to face this fact, Edel. We've already lost this battle of mages, and the same is true for the entire campaign.
Have you noticed the battlefield below? When we came back, the legions sent by His Majesty had all been routed. Those beasts may still have an advantage over the people of the kingdom, but under the guns of the Chinese, they are no different from those conscripted farmers. "
"I don't know what happened to Weber, Marcus, Stuart and others." Edel said.
"Do you think that if they had not been defeated, the army below would have retreated?" Gandas asked back.
"If the situation has come to this, then we should indeed prepare to retreat as Weber suggested," Edel said, "but according to your Majesty's temper..."
"His Majesty knows the situation very well. He taught Weber a lesson just to maintain morale. But now, what else is there to say? Unless..." Gandas suddenly stopped talking.
"Do you think there is any chance of turning this around?" Edel asked.
"If my teacher, Saint Morales of Silent Praise, could appear here, perhaps he could make the enemy retreat." Gandas said.
"Over the years, there have been very few precedents of saints participating in secular wars," Edel said. "After all, if a saint attacks an ordinary person, it would bring devastating consequences."
"That's because of the constraints of the Temple of Nature and the balance reached between the saints. However, in this war, the Temple of Nature has been quiet for a long time. There are no saints in either the kingdom or the Chinese now. Maybe the teacher will have other ideas... You know that there are many precedents in history where saints massacred cities and destroyed countries." Gandas' arm has been healed. Thanks to the precious magic potion he just drank, he can now move freely. "However, it is not appropriate for me to ask the teacher for help in the war. It is better to talk to His Majesty about this matter."
Gandas and Edel soon met Emperor Alfred in the council chamber. Franco, Gram, and Count Duan, who had the blood of the royal griffin, were all there.
Franco's two arms were also treated, but they were still in splints and bandages and could not fight at all. Gram was in good physical condition, but he was standing in the middle of the hall and was scolded by Emperor Alfred.
"… What I am concerned about now is whether you fought with all your strength! If your army also suffered casualties, or you were injured like your brother Franco, then I can accept your words, but what about now? Did you really try your best? I saw from the Mage's Eye that you and the opponent's master fought for a long time, but neither of you was injured, and their pursuit was just a show. Why is this so? Who is he? What did you say?"
Gram lowered his head and defended himself, "Your Majesty, that was just a scolding and taunting during the challenge. I was afraid that if I said it out loud, it would only pollute your ears. The opponent was a general with very good defensive skills. The battle between us was more about finding each other's flaws, but until the other several routes failed, I did not break through the opponent's defense.
Our battles don't look that intense. But all the battles were real. We lost a lot of people in the battles. The elite of my family also lost more than ten people, and the Beast Squad lost more than a hundred people. If the other squads hadn't been defeated and pursued, the casualties would probably have been at this level. It was only because the four masters in the middle suddenly disappeared that the troops in the middle suddenly collapsed and were pursued and killed by the enemy, resulting in heavy casualties. I was not seriously injured, and I stabilized the front line in the end, which reduced the casualties. "
"Haha, everyone says you're not good at speaking, but I see you're quite eloquent when you're defending yourself!" Emperor Alfred's tone was filled with anger, "I'm not blind, I can tell what kind of state a troop is in when it's fighting! Since you fought so weakly, you should bear the consequences. Come on! Seal Gram's bloodline and throw him into jail."
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment." Voices were heard from the hall and the door.
The person inside who pleaded for Gram was naturally his brother Franco, and the voice at the door was Gandas speaking.
Gandas walked quickly into the meeting room and said to Alfred, "Your Majesty, there is not much point in holding Gram responsible now. We have already lost several masters. If we lock Gram up at this time, it would be like stabbing ourselves with a knife."
"Gandas, are you a loser crying for another loser?" Emperor Alfred said coldly, "Look at what you are fighting for. You guys usually enjoy the empire's tribute and have a noble status, but how do you behave in a real battle? What have you brought me these days except failure, failure and failure?"
"Your Majesty, the Chinese are hiding their strength too deeply." Edel said on the side, "Perhaps our investment in the entire Western Front is not enough."
"Are you saying that my strategy is wrong?" Emperor Alfred said.
"No, Your Majesty! What we mean is that we need additional assistance." Gandas said. (To be continued)