Gutterland Province.
"Governor, bad news! The enemy did not continue their fierce assault on the city. Instead, they chose to take a detour and drive straight into our rear!"
Viscount Pauletti, the military affairs officer, reported anxiously.
Militarily speaking, abandoning one's rear and advancing deep alone was simply courting death.
But the situation was different now!
The Giant Centipedes' retreat route had already been cut off by Hudson. Even if they remained in Gutterland Province and fought to the bitter end, they would receive neither reinforcements nor logistical supplies.
Since they were doomed to fight alone without support, it made no difference where they fought. Continuing to grind themselves against cities and fortresses would be sheer stupidity.
If the rear had completed scorched-earth defenses, Viscount Pauletti would not have been so panicked. Without supplies, the enemy's collapse would only be a matter of time.
The reality, however, was that aside from several counties near the front that had made preparations, every other region was busy preparing for spring planting.
In an agricultural age, no matter how chaotic the situation became, the fields still had to be planted!
Letting the Centipede Army through now would wreak unimaginable destruction on rear-area production. Even though it was not his own territory, Governor Simoni was deeply troubled.
Gutterland Province had already been reduced to ruins and was waiting for rear-area support to rebuild after the war. If everyone else was wrecked too, who would still have the energy to care about them?
In troubled times, one had to learn to huddle together for warmth. Governor Simoni possessed at least that much strategic perspective.
"Immediately notify every province, and send an urgent warning to the Royal Capital. The enemy may join up with other Underworld Races!"
That was all they could do.
They had been