"Launching a war at a time like this? Has the Imperial Court gone mad?"
Looking at the official document in his hand, Chieftain Aedo could not help crying out in alarm.
Under the current circumstances, merely guarding the border was already dangerous enough. If war broke out between the two countries, the Minotaur race, situated on the border, would immediately face a test of life and death.
Half of that danger came from the enemy, and half from their allies.
Whether the enemy struck first or someone within the empire held them back, either could cost the Minotaur race its life.
All the tribal chieftains present understood that, caught in the cracks between greater powers, the Minotaur race had no ability to determine its own fate.
"Whether the Imperial Court has gone mad or not, the war mobilization order has already been issued. We have no right to refuse.
"No one knows what will happen after war breaks out. What we can do now is find a way to hold out until the empire's main army arrives.
"Unlike past wars, our neighbor this time is Hudson!
"Since he first emerged, this man has never known defeat. Countless races throughout the empire have suffered greatly at his hands.
"On the surface, the Alpha Kingdom has only 120,000 troops stationed in the Near East Region. But with the private armies of nobles from various territories included, that number can at least double.
"According to figures released by the Alpha Kingdom itself, the Near East Region had a total population of around 3.5 million last year. It may now have exceeded four million.
"They employ universal reserve service. If they carry out full-scale war mobilization, their total strength could very likely exceed 500,000.
"According to the intelligence we have gathered, Hudson, the frontline