He "accidentally" placed these documents in conspicuous spots where they would be easily seen.
Not long afterward.
The force that had endured countless hardships and lost more than half its men finally staggered their way to the outskirts of Okhma City.
They did not enter the city immediately. Instead, they joined up with the main force of the allied army, which had been stationed here for days and was itching for action.
When the survivors of the grain-seeking expedition, especially the man with the slicked-back hair, saw the allied army's fluttering banners and endless rows of tents outside the city, their hearts first lifted, then sank.
They were relieved because it seemed the various city-states had indeed kept reserves in hand. Their strength could not be underestimated.
But they were troubled because, judging by the situation, the attack on Okhema seemed imminent.
They were immediately ushered into the allied army's main tent.
Elder Ladon, the scar-faced commander, and the other major leaders had all gathered, impatient to hear news from the front—especially news about Caesar and those damned Titans.
"Why are you back? What's the situation at the front? Where's Caesar?" Elder Ladon fired off questions in rapid succession.
The slick-haired man and the others had finally found an outlet for the terror, exhaustion, and resentment toward Kryudera they had accumulated along the way.
They embellished their account of the horrifying scenes in Styxia and the savagery of the Black Tide monsters.
They especially emphasized Kryudera's brutality in forcing them to eat the flesh and blood of contaminated monsters, as well as the allied army's current desperate state of lacking food and supplies and standing on the verge of collapse.
"That woman is insane! She doesn't care whether we live or die!"
"She said either we eat monsters or fight