How to Respond

After Victor received the detailed battle report, he began reading it at once. He needed to understand the situation on every front across the Grand Duchy before deciding what to do.

The Southern Marching Legion had recovered some of its fighting strength after receiving fresh supplies. Victor could now consider which front it should join.

In the conference room at the Duchy Army's headquarters in Sextus County City, Viscount Borey had gathered every Duchy Legion commander, along with several loyalist nobles serving as commanders in the Coalition of Nobles.

Everyone looked grim. Labia, commander of the Seventh Legion, suddenly slammed the table before him. With a loud bang, the whole room seemed to shake.

He snarled, "Ursus ruined the duchy's plans and lost an entire Duchy Legion. He must be held responsible!"

Kimberley, commander of the Fifth Legion, scoffed. "How? He's dead!"

"You!" Labia sprang to his feet and pointed at Kimberley, as though he could vent all his anger on him.

Tensions between the two had grown worse lately. Ever since their joint attack on White Earth City had failed, Kimberley had taken every chance to needle Labia.

Viscount Borey watched the two men glare at each other, furious. The duchy faced its greatest crisis since the Civil War began. If they mishandled it, they could truly lose.

If the enemy force that defeated the Fourth Legion suddenly appeared on the Sextus County front, would these two still have the nerve to bicker?

"Enough, both of you. Keep this up and you can get out. I'll ask His Grace the Grand Duke to replace the commanders of the Fifth and Seventh Legions."

Labia and Kimberley immediately backed down and sat quietly in their seats.

They knew Viscount Borey might actually do it, especially since Grand Duke Mora often