Setting aside whatever flights of fancy the Earth command staff at Chenxiao Fortress might be indulging in, the prisoner handover was proceeding in orderly fashion. Meanwhile, King Vellent aboard the Abyssal Dragon had received good news from the front.
"The transport ships have entered the fortress, and the soldiers are boarding. They weren't mistreated, and they were even allowed to take their personal belongings with them," General Parsong said. "Those soldiers have been saved. We owe it all to your forceful argument."
"I was merely lucky. Our enemy happened to be a hero of noble martial virtue. He's already a legend, so he has no need to pay us any mind."
By this point, the antiwar idealist's compassion and the would-be martyr's fervor had long since faded from King Vellent's face. In their place was once again a refined, perfectly composed mask.
He calmly waved a hand and issued his orders. "All ships, withdraw to the T119 star sector according to plan and stand by. Maintain radio silence. Do not contact the enemy fleet unless necessary."
He then glanced at General Yelik. "It'll take half a day to get a million people aboard. Tell the transports not to rendezvous with us at T119. Have them proceed directly to the South Star Camp at Fentern and wait there."
The two generals exchanged a glance.
They both knew that South Star Camp was one of the few places the Imperial fleet had managed to hold onto after the border war erupted in the Shengyuan system. Its equipment and orbital stations were still mostly intact, and its armory held enough weapons to rearm a million soldiers.
General Parsong continued, "Also, Duke Borolles hopes to meet with you. He has important business to discuss."
"Just him?"
"No. Marquis Sehrah, Count Daigo, and Count Bakenti