Imperial officials followed a strict code. There was only one reason this one would reveal a secret: he had permission.
The official went on to the second matter:
The Ratfolk were driving a group of humans before them—or rather, a group of humans was fleeing the Ratfolk—from the North toward the Northern Great Wall. On the surface, the Empire meant to rouse the Allied Forces with fire and blood. In truth, it wanted them to head north and receive these refugees...
But as one of the top three in the Hunt, Annan's forces had been granted special treatment by the Empire: they did not have to join the advance.
Annan felt a little relieved. It seemed this had little to do with Free City. But when he brought this "good news" to Hellfire, the ever-loyal Femi turned him down.
"Lord Annan, we're people of the Northern Frontier. So are the people on the other side of the mountains," he said.
Yes... they were people of the Northern Frontier.
And Hellfire had recruited children who had lost loved ones in the Great Migration and the great extinction. Their compatriots were over there, along with the Ratfolk they hated to the bone. How could they walk away...
Annan could not bear to sacrifice the people of Free City, but he could bear even less to deny those consumed by hatred their revenge...
"I agree. But I need to warn you: you won't have time to build fortifications or prepare your formations. Face the gap between us and the Ratfolk. We've never been able to fight them head-on. A Rat Tide mixed with Elite Rats and Brute Rats is the most we can withstand."
"I know... Thank you, Lord Annan. I'll apologize to you after the war... if I'm still alive."
"I hope