"So, apart from the City Burners, all the reconnaissance units we deployed have been wiped out by the enemy's proactive attacks?"
Five in the afternoon, on the surface of the Gloom Corridor, inside the Allied Forces' command tent.
After receiving the latest intelligence from the front lines, Roxy raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, though she was not overly shocked.
After all, she had anticipated this situation when she gave the order to advance.
It had merely happened a little earlier than she had expected.
"Just as troublesome as expected..."
Roxy murmured instinctively, her azure eyes slowly narrowing.
She knew this was John Maslow's open scheme against her.
If she gave up on sending more troops deeper in, then he would infer that her true objective was not this battlefield and decisively abandon his original arrangements to withdraw.
He could either march south at full speed toward the Cocobia Rainforest, or use some method she could not comprehend to lead his troops to the Tarzan Wetlands battlefield and join the Empire's Second Division, turning the situation into one most favorable to him.
But if she continued increasing the forces committed to the underground battlefield, then as her troop numbers steadily dwindled and her defenses weakened, Roxy judged that he would certainly deploy that elite assassination unit to launch a surprise attack on their headquarters. Once he killed her, he could directly seize victory in this war.
Advance, and the headquarters would be threatened.
Retreat, and John Maslow might escape with his army, placing the defenders at Blue Lake City at risk of being overrun.
Neither decision benefited them.
"But the problem is, John Maslow. Having sent your entire army underground, you have completely lost your ability to gather intelligence and can only rely on spies for isolated information. Can you