The Power of Industry

After that miraculous night in Dunwich, while reporters from every side were still scrambling for firsthand news, a group of released prisoners brought an even more unbelievable revelation.

A total of one thousand prisoners had been sent back from across the river. They were also the last surviving humans in Arkham. The Orks had even used human boats to ferry them away from the riverbank.

After more than a year of forced labor and torture, of the hundreds of thousands of former residents, only these thousand gaunt, skeletal wraiths remained. The rest had become piles of dry bones in factories and gladiatorial arenas.

And on the bodies of those thousand prisoners, the defenders on the riverbank discovered a line of words in shock.

One hundred days until the destruction of the New California Republic!

The words had been carved directly into the prisoners' skin with knives. By the time they reached the opposite bank, at least half had died from excessive blood loss.

Such naked intimidation enraged the entire New California Republic.

In response, Ben Lier used the Ork skulls gathered from previous battles to erect a massive platform in the center of Dunwich. A specially made quartz clock was placed atop it, engraved not only with hours, minutes, and seconds, but also with the most important number.

One hundred!

It was the most direct response to the threat.

Newspapers and media outlets everywhere also mocked Guk's arrogance, because everyone knew the flood season had arrived. For at least three months, crossing the Sikasen River would be nothing but a foolish act and an even more foolish idea.

Guk had declared that he would launch an attack in three days, but to everyone, it sounded more like empty bluster.

The public could remain relaxed, but the military tightened its vigilance.