"This is our shared war. At this life-or-death... moment, we must stand together and maintain close connec—contact—what was the word again?"
Annan opened his eyes on the lounge chair and glanced at the Parchment in his hand.
"Oh, 'stay connected'... Who wrote this tongue-twister?"
He practiced it morning and night, yet he still stumbled over it. Annan had complaints.
"Do you have a problem with my speech?" Lilith appeared without warning.
"No. I was just, uh... thinking that everyone on the Holy Council is an old fox. Whatever I say will be wasted on them."
Lilith gave him a questioning look.
"You're wondering why we're preparing a speech, then?"
"Mm."
"Because it's meant for the rest of the world."
Annan sat up with a stretch and set the Parchment aside. "We know what we intend to do. The world doesn't, so we have to tell them where we're headed."
"If we want to develop, we announce diplomatic ties and trade. If we want to hold back, we announce higher taxes and close the Yard docks. If we want to warn an enemy, we tighten foreign policy and mobilize troops more often."
Aside from its length, Lilith's speech covered Free City's future direction well. He had no issue with it.
"Where's the Imperial Army?"
Lilith used Magic Power to form a lifelike map before Annan. Gold marked the Imperial Army, mired in the black tide of Chaos forces. It was still roughly a thousand miles from the Ratfolk Royal City.
Barring any surprises, the Imperial Army would reach the Ratfolk Royal City within a week at most.
Would the McKennan Ratfolk flee, or would they fight the Empire?
At the Dimon Kingdom, the standoff outside Old Val Town continued. It could do little to the Ratfolk in the short term, and