Compared to the Royal Capital's fury and utter unpreparedness, Luo Yao, at the heart of the storm, displayed a clarity and efficiency almost cold-blooded, utterly different from before.
The brief revelry and intoxicating wealth brought by the sack of Mario Fortress had not made him lose himself completely.
On the contrary, having committed the three monstrous acts of massacring a city, slaughtering nobles, and plundering wealth, he had no way back.
The court's thunderous wrath and the encirclement of every faction could descend at any moment.
More clearly than anyone, he understood that his army, which had only just gotten its first taste of blood, appeared fierce but in truth had shallow foundations, like duckweed without roots.
Once the court came to its senses and gathered heavy forces to crush them, their little band would vanish into ashes in an instant.
"Speed is the essence of war!" This was the only creed in Luo Yao's mind right now.
Before the main armies could complete their encirclement, they had to break out of the noose, wage mobile warfare across a broader region, keep plundering to sustain themselves through battle, and at the same time seek potential allies or a place to establish themselves.
Holding a single city was simply waiting to die.
Thus, utterly unlike the sluggish, demoralized "beggar army" they had been on the way here, Luo Yao's force had gained vast quantities of food and military supplies after sacking Mario Fortress—especially the swords, bows, crossbows, and small number of firearms seized from the Armory, as well as gold, silver, and valuables. Though most of it had been hidden away and divided among the soldiers, Luo Yao forcibly confiscated nearly thirty percent in the name of "military funds."
After stuffing themselves with a battle meal and venting their beastly urges,