Reef Rock Fortress, City Lord's residence, Command Room.
Just after God of War Soren finished with a soft laugh, another staff officer hurried in from outside and reported, "General, the latest intelligence."
The staff officer who had initially read the intelligence to Soren gave the newcomer a puzzled look. He frowned, stepped back to make room, and listened as the other began speaking.
The new staff officer cleared his throat. "General, about an hour ago, the garrisons from multiple territories and Special Garrison Areas successfully formed the first encirclement around Shalin. They advanced to within thirty miles of Shalin's border and continued tightening the noose. But after advancing for roughly ten minutes, they encountered Shalin's forces launching an offensive. They suffered heavy losses and large numbers fled backward.
Shalin's forces took the opportunity to pursue them, causing the entire first encirclement to collapse across the board. The follow-up forces attempting to establish a second encirclement were also attacked. The Nast Territory garrison suffered fifty percent casualties, the Bam Special Garrison Area garrison suffered nearly sixty percent casualties, and there is currently no news from the Grey Rock Territory garrison. But it is expected that... their outcome will not be much better..."
The staff officer who had stepped aside looked somewhat changed after hearing this.
The new staff officer looked at Soren and asked seriously, "General, it is expected that quite a few routed troops will flee toward Reef Rock Fortress while being pursued by Shalin's forces. If we respond, we will inevitably come into direct conflict with Shalin. If we do not, the multiple defensive lines we have established may be thrown into disarray. Moreover, although those routed forces are not directly under our command, they are nominally our allies. It would be hard to justify completely ignoring them. What