The news that the entire army of alchemists had been wiped out.
Only when the orc vanguard appeared at the border did Tire City learn of it.
It was a defeat almost unheard of in the history of the Alpha Kingdom.
In an instant, a cloud of gloom descended over Tire City.
"Lord Cro!"
"When will reinforcements from the royal capital arrive?"
The governor of Tire City looked at the kingdom's Chief Alchemist.
At that moment, he still did not know that the Cro before him was an impostor.
Neither he nor even the king's envoy could see through him.
Cro let out a sigh.
"The losses this time were too great."
"The royal alchemists' forces won't be able to arrive in the short term."
Hearing this answer,
the governor's face immediately fell.
"Lord Cro, you're the only alchemist left in Tire City."
"If we defend Tire City to the death,"
"how long do you think we can hold out?"
Cro shook his head.
"I was ambushed by an orc alchemist earlier."
"All of my Alchemical Puppets were destroyed."
"Even if I started making them now, it would already be too late."
This answer made the governor grit his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
"Damn it."
"You shouldn't have—"
He was about to lose his temper
when the kingdom's envoy beside him rose to his feet.
"Governor,"
"it was clearly because you failed to protect Lord Cro."
"Your territory was breached by the orc alchemist first."
"That was what led to this outcome."
"And according to the information I obtained this time,"
"when the alchemists pursued the orc alchemist,"
"the most classified route map was leaked."
"Only then were our alchemists ambushed."
"And in Tire City, the only person who knew the alchemists' route was Lord Cro."
"Obviously, Lord