Lilith continued, "Third, the Empire thinks something may go wrong in Middle Earth."
"Then... what does the intelligence from Commercial Street say?"
"Same as before. Just a few Chaos Cult lackeys stirring up trouble."
"The Ratfolk and Demons probably can't pull off any elaborate scheme. They don't have it in them. The Empire didn't say so outright, which means they have no evidence either... But we should watch for them slipping into Middle Earth to cause chaos. Tell every Commercial Street to increase patrols for now."
"Fourth, the Empire will be making a move soon. They want us to strengthen our defenses."
Annan thought that was quite possible. "What's the situation in Old Val Town?"
The Strategic Room.
Annan stood before the War Map with Olmedo and Reynaldo, the Minister of War. His brow was furrowed as though he were deep in thought.
"Stop pretending. If you can't read it, just say so," Olmedo said irritably.
Annan's composure broke. Relaxing, he asked, "What's the situation at the border now?"
Olmedo picked up a pointer and aimed it at the area west of Free City. "There are scattered Rat Swarms north of the Montablinlock Duchy. No clans are leading them. They're mostly lowly Slave Rats, with only a tiny number of Elite Rats."
"Outpost Island is watching the Demons. Philos and the Rat King are watching the McKennen Ratfolk. We'll know before any of them get within seven hundred li of the front line."
Her pointer slid toward the Dimon Kingdom in eastern Middle Earth. "The Kingdom suffered Ratfolk incursions for months. It wasn't until the Empire issued the Extermination Edict and drew the Ratfolk's attention away that they went on the offensive. They have plenty of experience fighting both Ratfolk and Demons."
"The forces of Chaos couldn't destroy them