Heroes and Cowards

"Recently, the Orks have launched large-scale attacks on our positions along more than two hundred kilometers of the Sikasen River. The scale is unprecedented in recent years!"

Amid a crackling chorus of shutters, Ben Lier, dressed in full regalia, stood surrounded by spotlights and flashbulbs. Countless newspaper offices and reporters packed the steps, while behind Ben Lier stood the parliament gates of Dunwich City, a vital military stronghold.

Besides his internal guards, several important generals attended the press conference with Ben Lier. Mountbatten also happened to be among them.

"However, thanks to the valiant fighting of our soldiers, the Ork offensive has been repeatedly crushed since the 14th. Their attacks then escalated further, until on the 19th, the main Ork force launched an all-out assault. More than a million Beasts attempted to force a river crossing, only to be dealt another crushing blow by our forces. Their corpses floated for hundreds of miles!"

Ben Lier paused and leaned slightly to the right, making himself look more like he was inspecting a battlefield than giving an interview.

"According to incomplete statistics, over five days of fighting, our forces have killed a total of 2.39 million enemy troops and seized more than 600,000 tons of equipment and supplies of all kinds. Our own casualties... six hundred!"

For a moment, every sound vanished, and the scene fell utterly silent.

More than ten seconds later, a male reporter in a hat cautiously asked:

"General, did I... hear that correctly?"

"Though I never went to college, I often ranked first in my class in mathematics when I was in school."

A moment later, Ben Lier's witty reply earned wave after wave of applause.

"Victory was because we had no choice but to win."

After pressing both hands downward to signal for silence, Ben Lier's expression