"Raymond, a bet is a bet." The Scarlet Grand Sage calmly consoled the Scarlet Prince, who was pacing back and forth in the temple hall with an expressionless face.
"Damn it! Even if I swallow this humiliation, what am I supposed to do from now on?" Raymond clenched his fists as he watched his panicked subordinates outside. "Luckily, since this was a troop transport operation, all the ships I sent were commanded by newly recruited officers. I haven't suffered any crippling losses yet.
But... even for me, this is about as many new recruits as I receive from the army every year!
A total wipeout!
How am I supposed to explain this to the armies they came from when I get back?
The last time we suffered losses this severe was during wartime!
Damn it...
They definitely won't give me a single one next year!"
"It was because you were too careless. Who else can you blame?" the Grand Sage said sternly. "You've seen too much of the Moon Clan, so you never took the Undead on the other side seriously!
"Otherwise, how could you have overlooked something so serious?
"It was clearly no simple matter for them to spend so much effort building embankments and planting vines before a major battle!
"And you saw the Sun God's Blessing yourself. You just thought that since the ships wouldn't come ashore, nothing serious would happen, didn't you?
"But... since when was one of the true purposes of war not to cripple the enemy's logistics?
"Weren't troop carriers and troop transports always the first targets?
"You didn't take the Undead seriously, so you simply dismissed them.
"How is it? Regret it now?
"You refused to listen to advice and brought this suffering upon yourself!"
Raymond lowered his head dejectedly after being scolded.