For high-ranking decision-makers, there could be dozens or even hundreds of possible outcomes to a war.
But to ordinary people, war was black and white. There were only two possible outcomes: victory or defeat.
Yet when news of the victory reached the territory, it was not the eagerly awaiting residents who stirred first, but the administrators of Qinggang City.
"That terrifying monster—my god, they actually beat it? Could they have tricked us, gone out for a stroll, and then come right back?"
"Tricked us? I heard several thousand prisoners are being escorted back!"
"You can't fake prisoners. They must have really won. That's incredible."
"What about Qinggang? Hasn't there been any response from Qinggang?"
The group still met at the same old place. The moment they saw each other, they openly expressed their shock.
Aldrich's figure rarely appeared in the middle of the crowd.
In the past, thanks to his ability to maintain good relations on both sides, he had only barely avoided being ostracized by the city's administrators because of his West Suburbs background. But now the situation had changed, and he had unmistakably become the focus of the crowd.
If Aldrich had not maintained his aloof, unapproachable expression, the administrators from the South Suburbs would probably have crowded around him long ago, eager to curry favor.
That said, this was still the influence brought by the Alliance, not his personal influence.
Aldrich was very good at gauging the proper balance. Seeing that he had achieved his goal, he immediately dropped his disguise and adopted an enthusiastic manner.
"We did indeed win a great victory, and soon, Alliance Leader Su will return in triumph with the Expeditionary Force!"
The confirmation coming from Aldrich's mouth was clearly more convincing than what the scouts had heard.
The crowd erupted, and cries