"Oh, you've misunderstood." Theus ignored Nora, who was currently locked in a staring contest with Monica.
"Not this half of Nora—the other half of Nora."
"Huh?"
This time, not only Monica but everyone in the room was stunned.
Theus helplessly explained that Nora was still fighting.
"So even though Nora is dead, it doesn't affect her ability to keep fighting?"
"She might even be stronger," Monica interjected. "After all, she's lost a weakness."
As she spoke, she shot a glance at the weakness sitting on the table, staring her down.
"Ahem, let's set Nora's matter aside for now. She is indeed an important combat asset, but she won't affect the overall situation." Theus gestured for everyone to look at the map.
"The Northern Territory is mostly plains, which is one of the reasons we chose railways as our core strategy. Construction is less difficult overall, and maintenance is easier as well."
Though the Empire's Northern Territory was cold, it was not so frigid that permafrost formed. Quite a few refugees in the Mystic Society had come all the way from the Northern Territory and knew the conditions along the route in great detail.
"While this terrain makes it easier for us to advance step by step, it also causes trouble for the Resistance Army. It'll be hard for them to find a way to contend with cavalry—Alexei, you're more familiar with this. Explain it to us."
"All right." Alexei picked up a charcoal pencil from the table. "The Northern Territory isn't without mountains and forests, but they're relatively concentrated. Take the Canary Mountains, for example. Though they stretch over a vast area and are covered in forest, they're some distance from the surrounding towns. In other words, the Resistance Army might be able to find a stronghold to hide in,