What exactly had happened?
Corps Commander Bickgu stood at the window with a grave expression, gazing at the sky outside. He had heard tremendous explosions and rumbling in the distance, and the observation posts had also reported seeing thick smoke.
Had the Empire's invasion begun?
What was the situation?
Why hadn't there been any reports?
Corps Commander Bickgu frowned, then turned toward his adjutant.
"Have we heard from the front?"
"No, sir."
"Then keep trying! Find out what's happening at the front!"
"Commander."
Just then, a young officer approached.
"Should we assemble the troops, put them on alert, and impose martial law throughout the city?"
"Hmm."
Corps Commander Bickgu frowned and remained silent. From his position, with the situation unclear, placing the entire city under martial law was the safest way to guard against unexpected trouble. But logically speaking, the Empire could not possibly have broken through the Cront Army's three defensive lines so quickly. The lack of contact from the front could very well have been due to poor communications or some sort of accident.
Declaring martial law across the city under these circumstances would seem rather alarmist. Besides, Deburg was Cront's second-largest financial city. Martial law alone would cause astronomical financial losses, never mind anything else. If something actually happened, he could justify it. If nothing happened, however, Corps Commander Bickgu might well be held responsible.
"Sound the alarm. Impose martial law throughout the city."
In the end, Corps Commander Bickgu gave the order.
"I'll take responsibility!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Wooo...
Wooo..."
The sirens sounded.
Pedestrians on the streets widened their eyes in shock at the piercing alarms blaring from the loudspeakers. Since Deburg's founding, its invasion alarms had never sounded even once!
"What's going on? Why are the alarms sounding?"
"Has the Empire attacked?"
"You've got to be