"Master Qin! The knights and attendants of the Holy Light Church have already set out. We just received word that Miss Biji is leading them to East Prussia! They left four hours earlier than scheduled! Should we bring them back, or have General Maxim, who's currently stationed at the border, stop them?"
In the command center of the Maginot Line, a dashing, all-business aide from the Domestic 013 staff strode into the room and reported the bad news to Old Qin, who was making final prewar checks with the various military units.
The unexpected news made Old Qin raise an eyebrow. He paused the integrated communications device before him, which had twelve calculating orbs, then stood and asked,
"How many of them went?"
"Other than the apprentices who haven't completed their knight training and were left at the camp in Rapids Fortress, nearly all the rest went—hundreds of knights and an equal number of attendants!"
The aide answered at once.
"The players in the Rapids Knights are still resting at the Maginot Line, waiting for their companions to respawn, so they couldn't join in. In other words, everyone who went is a local.
"This is an extremely dangerous mission!
"Based on our assessment of the current intensity of the fighting in East Prussia, they'll have a hard time reaching the main battlefield at Banks on their own. They'll also have to pass through Marlowe. The undead problem that broke out there was only suppressed, not eliminated. With the power of the Light-Eater strengthening them, even the empowered undead there are likely to stop the knights in their tracks.
"Under these circumstances, such a sacrifice would be pointless."
"It wouldn't be entirely pointless."
Master Qin shook his head.
He glanced at the map to confirm the Rapids Knights' position, then rubbed