Dirac Corps had retreated, and the order had indeed come from Chris.
The reason for the retreat was simple... Chris saw no reason or value in having Marquis Dirac continue fighting.
This had occurred to Chris the day after he dispatched Polka as a magic advisor.
Why should I keep fighting the Minicia Kingdom?!
The players' Expeditionary Army had already achieved its strategic objective and was heading home with the bonus gifts from Guano Island-Elena and the members of the Tia Family. They would return to Tavitsky in less than ten days.
Marquis Dirac's job was to launch a supporting attack. With the main force's mission complete, his work should be over too. Why should I send people to reinforce him and keep him in Suvano, fighting the Minisians and all the monsters they've let through their gates?
There's no need. Absolutely no need!
Chris felt he must have lost his mind lately, always trying to solve problems through bloodshed.
So, the day after sending out the advisory team, Chris immediately dispatched another messenger with orders to retreat, sending him after them.
Once those arrangements were made, Chris stopped worrying about Dirac's side of things.
Charles might have brought in some heretics and sinister creatures from some Dark Swamp to cause trouble, but this was the Greek Continent, where there was no mana. Even if an army of ten thousand could not take Suvano, retreating should not pose much of a problem.
If Marquis Dirac really could not withdraw, Chris would simply cheat and send the players over. Or he could lead an elite escort straight there himself, establish a respawn point, and unleash both old and new players.
There were now twenty thousand players in the game, packing Chris's current territory to the brim. They were everywhere. To preserve