Hughes lowered his head, feeling only humiliation!
Unable to defeat the enemy on the battlefield, he had needed South Seraph's only Saint Rank to defect to the enemy in order to secure him a chance at survival. If it had only been himself, Hughes would rather have died. But his life was already bound to Jonah's last wishes and the future of the South Seraph people. He could not die. His life belonged to the South Seraph Restoration Army; it had long since ceased to be his own.
Vigo stared at Charlotte, equally tense, his feelings deeply complicated.
Vigo had never expected that Charlotte, who had been an insignificant nobody not long ago, would now have two Saint Ranks loyal to him. Moreover, when they arrived in Asahburg, they had already heard of Charlotte's reputation. To the South Seraph Restoration Army, Charlotte had become a major figure.
As a Saint Rank, the South Seraph people's sole Saint Rank, he had run everywhere for the great cause of restoring their nation. He had even willingly allowed Jonah and Hughes to command him, never uttering a complaint. But Vigo had truly had enough of such a life. He wanted to be like the other Saint Ranks—respected wherever he went, wielding immense power, living an easy and carefree life...
Thus, Vigo decided to gamble once. If he lost, he would die alongside Madame Nansera's final hope. If he won, he would save Hughes and preserve the South Seraph Restoration Army's last remaining spark.
Charlotte pondered for a long time before asking, "How many people does the South Seraph Restoration Army still have?"
Hughes had not expected Charlotte to ask such a question. He answered quietly, "Less than a thousand!"
Charlotte said flatly, "South Seraph's population is now fewer than a hundred thousand."
"If