Potential Opportunity

Canglan City, Emerald Palace.

The battle to break through the encirclement has begun, and the high-ranking officials of the Alpha Kingdom are anxiously awaiting the final outcome.

They chose this path themselves, and whatever the consequences, they must bear them themselves.

Not only are the family's elites on the front lines, but also their most valued younger generation.

Theoretically speaking, the worst-case scenario for breaking out now is that the enemy will be severely weakened. Soldiers might not be able to escape, but family members will most likely survive.

Even having weathered many storms, he couldn't help but worry when the time came. Compared to his ministers, Caesar III was much calmer.

Perhaps this composure is an act, but if one can maintain the act for a lifetime, then it's no different from the real thing.

"Your Majesty, good news!"

"The Human Alliance meeting has officially decided to escalate the war. The second expeditionary force has been finalized, with all parties contributing a total of one million troops."

Unlike the previous delay, this time the major powers promised to immediately begin organizing and mobilizing from the day the alliance resolution was made.

Troops will be deployed within half a month at the latest, and reinforcements from various sources are expected to arrive in our country within the next three months to a year!

Count Francis's words startled everyone, but they quickly regained their anxious expressions.

The Human Alliance's rare high efficiency is indeed good news, but unfortunately, this is not the good news everyone wanted.

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But thinking about it, it makes sense. If the news of the Northern Expeditionary Army's breakout hadn't been confirmed, the alliance probably wouldn't have been so efficient.

Regardless of the outcome of the breakout, the Alpha Kingdom will inevitably suffer heavy losses. The three most powerful kingdoms in the north have all been weakened, and if this drags on any longer, something terrible might happen.

As the dominant power on the continent, one can fail, but one must never show any signs of decline. Even the slightest hint of weakness is unacceptable.

The Alpha Kingdom has suffered heavy losses, and the only option left is to send the reinforcements that arrived earlier to take over.

The first batch of reinforcements was nominally 300,000, but because some human forces were too far away, many more reinforcements were still on their way.

The actual number of reinforcements that arrived was only 250,000.

If the Beastfolk decide to go all out and launch a full-scale attack regardless of the consequences, this small force won't be enough.

Even with the remnants of the Alpha Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy, it would be difficult to stop the Beastfolk's advance.

Once the defense line is breached by the enemy, the surrounding northern kingdoms will be completely unreliable. The foundation of humanity in the Northern Continent will be severely damaged.

How could a dominant power on the mainland not be hated?

If such a tragedy were to occur, the scenario of various races on the continent joining forces to invade the human race could be revived once again.

"You've done a good job, Count Francis. The Foreign Affairs Department has done a great job this time. With this good news, even if the situation on the front lines is not ideal, it can help to stabilize morale."

As he spoke, Caesar III deliberately glanced at his courtiers.

Even King his limits. Being forced to abdicate by the kingdom's powerful nobles will leave a lasting stain on his heart, no matter how magnanimous he may be.

Especially for a powerful ruler like Caesar III, he placed great importance on his authority.

He thought he had subdued all sides and firmly controlled the kingdom, but reality gave him a harsh slap in the face.

When all the nobles are united in their stance, he, the King, is nothing. No matter how skillful one's political maneuvering, it cannot withstand the collusion of his ministers.

On the surface, Caesar III chose to comply with the good advice, but deep down, a strong sense of crisis lingered in his heart.

The ministers have already tasted the benefits of joining forces; who can guarantee there won't be a next time?

Although they didn't know what Caesar III was thinking, everyone wisely chose to keep their heads down and remain silent.

Theoretically, it's entirely possible to join forces to undermine the King; in practice, we'll see who can actually pull it off.

The noble group was also rife with internal conflicts, especially when faced with Caesar III, a King skilled at digging pits and planting mines. The nobles of the Alpha Kingdom were further divided into several interest groups.

Putting aside other factors, the Coslo Family, represented by Hudson, would never reconcile with the Locknerd Family.

While such sworn feuds between families are rare in the kingdom's aristocratic circles, there are quite a few families that turn against each other because of interests.

Often, relationships can't be eased just because you want to.

Saving face is one issue, trust is an even bigger issue, and self-interest is an unsolvable problem.

"Report!"

"Report!"

The sound coming from outside the palace gates broke the tense atmosphere inside the hall, stirring up everyone's emotions once again.

"It's finally here!"

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what the final result was, it was better than enduring the torment all along.

"Urgent report from the front: After a day and a night of fierce fighting, the Northern Expeditionary Army has broken through the enemy's first blockade."

The losses were quite heavy; many troops were scattered, and the number of casualties is currently impossible to determine.

The losses among high-ranking officers were particularly severe, with several senior generals of the kingdom, including Marshal Campbell, killed in action...

Before he could finish speaking, the messenger fainted and left. Only then did everyone notice that an Arrow Feathers was stuck in his back.

"Tyron, hurry and save them!"

For the kingdom's archbishop to intervene and heal a soldier delivering intelligence is a record in itself.

However, at such a crucial moment, Caesar III could no longer care about so many rules.

Sending intelligence back under the Beastfolk's blockade is no easy task.

Even if they send out Griffon Cavalry, it's still a nine-out-of-ten chance of death.

After examining him and casting a holy light spell, Archbishop Tyron shook his head slightly and said, "His body is very weak right now and it is not suitable to force treatment, otherwise his lifespan will be severely shortened."

I've stabilized his injuries; let's take him downstairs to rest. He probably won't wake up for a few more hours.

Clearly, this was not the outcome everyone wanted. They were more interested in knowing more about the front lines than the life or death of a single Griffon Cavalry.

Archbishop Tyron seemed completely oblivious to the eager gazes of the crowd. Or perhaps he was aware of them but pretended not to.

He can't control what others do, but he stays true to himself.

It was this original aspiration that made him the archbishop of the kingdom.

If he were like the great nobles in the country, Caesar III would not dare to put him on the throne.

"Take him downstairs to rest!"

"I'm not very interested, "Caesar III said.

Now all he can think about is Marshal Campbell's death.

Putting aside personal feelings, as the head of the kingdom's military, Marshal Campbell was a key pillar in his ability to control the Kingdom Army.

Although a monarch would not place his hopes on one person, the backup was far inferior to Marshal Campbell in both ability and prestige.

In peacetime, the requirements for military command capabilities are not high, so this is not a big problem.

Unfortunately, we are currently at war, Caesar III dares not appoint a commander who is neither capable nor prestigious enough.

Unlike the kingdom's nobles, who mobilized almost their entire forces to seize the spoils of victory, Caesar III left some resources unused.

After all, three of the seven provinces that were reclaimed this time were formerly directly under the royal family's control. This pie is already more than enough for the royal family; there's no need to fight with others for it.

According to the plan, once the spoils of war are consumed, the royal family's power will directly multiply, and his control over the kingdom will be further strengthened.

Unfortunately, plans didn't go as expected. The death of Marshal Campbell greatly reduced the royal family's influence in the military.

In the battles to come, they will have to rely more on the powerful nobles within the country.

After all, military talent capable of commanding a million-strong army is not something that can be obtained simply by wanting to.

The King was in a dilemma, and Hudson, far away on the front lines, was equally troubled. Despite his decisive refusal, he was still preparing to receive the Kingdom Army that was breaking through the encirclement.

He couldn't run hundreds of miles away to provide assistance, but within a range of a hundred or two hundred miles, he would still lend a helping hand.

Ultimately, it's the kingdom's military force; every bit of saving is valuable. At this critical juncture, every soldier saved will lessen the military pressure going forward.

"Beldens, you said there's been a major upheaval within the Beastfolk army?"

Hudson asked in surprise.

The scouts sent out never returned, including two nobles who possessed flying magical beasts. Left with no other choice, they had to ask Beldens to go instead.

The heavy losses suffered by the Northern Expeditionary Army and the news of Marshal Campbell's death did not surprise him. What caught Hudson's attention was the internal turmoil within the Beastfolk army.

His intuition told him that this was likely an opportunity.

"What do you mean by that? Am I the kind of unreliable bear?"

Beldens said with a displeased look.

Hudson initially wanted to nod and say yes, but seeing the Young Bear's serious expression, he held back in the end.

"Tell me specifically what happened within the Beastfolk army?"

Hudson changed the subject.

Reason told him not to try arguing with the Bear Kid, or he would pester him endlessly.

"It's nothing serious, just a group of Beastfolk tribes quit and broke away from the Beastfolk army."

It's estimated to be about one-third of the total Beastfolk army!

Besides the Five Great Royal Families, there are all sorts of other miscellaneous races involved; it seems they've fallen out.

Hudson was taken aback by Beldens' reply.

Losing a third of its troops at once, even if they were all cannon fodder legions, greatly weakened the Beastfolk army's strength.

Even if the elite troops are not affected, the question is whether the Five Great Royal Families are willing to risk their own direct descendants.

"Didn't the Beastfolk send troops to intercept them?"

"Hudson asked expectantly."

Deep down, he already hoped the Beastfolk would start fighting. Regardless of who won or lost, such a civil war, once ignited, would be a devastating blow to the Orc Empire.

"I don't know what the situation is now, but when I left just now, the two sides hadn't started fighting yet."