Five heads, crudely prepared and packed in rough wooden boxes, were rushed by fast horse to Prye City, the Royal Capital, along with Karl's oath, branded in blood and fire.
This move caused no small stir in the kingdom's heartland, especially among the nobles and generals who took a hard-line stance against Sauron. Combined with the public opinion deliberately steered through various channels by the Intelligence Bureau afterward, Karl was cast as "the Northern Border's most steadfast shield," while "the royal family's private divorce affairs cannot possibly be weighed against the hatred between nations," and "a true hero must prove himself through battle achievements and blood." The unfavorable public opinion Karl had faced over the divorce scandal was indeed reversed to a considerable extent.
At the very least, open accusations and criticism dwindled greatly, replaced by a complicated impression: this man might behave outrageously and disregard propriety, but when it came to Sauron, he was undeniably tough to the bone.
Under the shadow of the Sauron army pressing toward the border, such "hardness" itself possessed a certain legitimacy and appeal. Amid the facts of iron and blood and carefully manipulated rhetoric, Karl's reputation quietly began to recover.
Yet the superficial peace talks and internal purge did not affect the short-lived, unspoken "understanding" reached during that pre-dawn outpost meeting.
The raiding cavalry led by Lyon and Thorsten received orders to cease their deep strikes and withdraw to the border alert line.
The land mines and ambushes that had continually sown terror throughout Sauron-controlled territory also came to a temporary halt, and the Field Special Operations Unit under Richter was recalled in batches.
Along the border, the bloody slaughter that had lasted for months abruptly fell silent. All that remained were patrols from both sides warily watching one another across the desolate