"Someone got there first? Who?"
Gongxi Chou had to admit, he was somewhat gleeful at their misfortune.
The staff envoy seemed not to notice Gongxi Chou's little expression. He merely replied coldly, "We don't know yet. We only know that whoever took the National Seal is no simple person. Either they possess a special ability to hide the National Seal, or they have a special item. Two days ago, we could still vaguely sense its aura, but afterward it grew fainter and fainter, until no trace remained."
This elite force had originally come for the National Seal.
Since the National Seal was already beyond their reach, staying behind would only mean laboring in vain. They might as well withdraw their troops to reinforce the rear and consolidate their military strength, preventing Zheng Qiao from sending troops to press against their borders. Therefore, retreating was extremely likely. Staying behind to entangle themselves with the Alliance Army would instead be a foolish move.
At first, Gongxi Chou listened with great interest.
But when he heard the final sentence, his expression twisted, and he ground out through clenched teeth, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
The staff envoy asked with his eyes what he meant.
Then he asked, "Wasn't I early enough?"
"You said that two days ago you could still vaguely sense it, but there's been no trace for the past two days—" Gongxi Chou ground his back teeth in hatred, the molars itching with fury. "If you'd said so two or three days earlier, the soldiers who fought today wouldn't have thrown their lives away for nothing! Why didn't you say so earlier?"
The staff envoy not only didn't get angry; instead, a strange, sinister smile flashed across his face. "You're quite good at feeling sorry for others."
Gongxi Chou said,