"I needed enough time to ensure that we would still retain a sufficient advantage after this tacit understanding was broken. But before breaking it, you might not have the strength to maintain it. And once the other side realized the commander had changed, saw signs of the situation turning around, or learned that I was no longer in Area 19, they would seize the opportunity to break this understanding."
"I should have told you before that enemy intelligence personnel were likely hidden among us. So don't imagine that my departure could remain hidden from them for long. If you wanted to change the current situation, then you had to be prepared for greater sacrifices and for the entire situation to be completely reversed."
As Xiao Ran spoke, he looked calmly at Cornelia. "So, are you prepared for that?"
Cornelia fell silent for a moment, then looked at Xiao Ran and said quietly, "Area 19 isn't important to you at all, is it? Nor is it your final bottom line. Even if Area 19 were occupied by the EU, it would be of no consequence to you. Once the EU took Area 19, they would need time to digest the gains from this continent, which would instead give you more time to focus your energy elsewhere. Because of Father Emperor, this inexplicably launched total war had long since become a burden to you, hadn't it?"
"You supported withdrawing completely from Area 19 and abandoning this place from the very beginning. So you never cared about Area 19's success or failure. That was why you could sit there so steadily without the slightest urgency, because you could leave at any time."
"But... but I'm different. Area 19 is proof of my worth. Without Area 19, I would become a failure in everyone's