Thistle Square, outside the Royal Palace in Fog City, the Empire.
The normally quiet square was now boiling like a pot of water. Crowds packed the vast space, holding placards and banners high as they shouted slogans.
"We want peace! Not war!"
"Don't send our men to die!"
"The Empire is bleeding-the blood of its own people!"
But on the other side, another group traded insults with them, carrying banners of their own.
"The Empire shall rise to glory!"
"Crush Cront! Restore the Empire's glory!"
"Avenge our fallen soldiers!"
Her Majesty the Queen stood at the window, watching the distant square. The people there were packed shoulder to shoulder, shouting slogans and hurling insults at one another. Although the police had formed a human wall to separate the two sides, they continued yelling, and quite a few clashes had even broken out in the streets.
"The situation isn't looking good, Mother."
Princess Louise stood behind the Queen and spoke softly. Although Delai Port had ultimately held, details of the battle had somehow been leaked to the major newspapers. Their assessments of the Empire's heavy casualties in the war differed widely.
Some called for Cront to be taught a lesson, to show them the Empire's might.
Others believed the Empire's initial strategy had clearly been a mistake, and that it should never have provoked Cront by occupying Delai Port.
They began advocating the Empire's withdrawal from this meaningless war to prevent further bloodshed and sacrifice.
Fortunately, thanks to Li Wei's cleanup before he left, the Empire's senior officials and nobles remained relatively cautious in their statements. After all, those who had been manipulated had either returned to normal or were still recuperating in hospital. Things had not yet spiraled out of control, but disputes over the matter had gradually begun to