All the Federation Comprehensive Academy's frontline troops had gathered in the Binidia Mountains. Not long before, they had received transfer orders directly from Lord Tang Hanpei.
Eighty percent of the troops would return to the Capital, while the remaining twenty percent would stay to defend the Binidia Mountains. Only then did everyone realize that Tang Hanpei had ordered their retreat into the mountains to put them in a better defensive position. The Binidia Mountains' rugged terrain, combined with the various fortresses they had built, made the area easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Some commanders were deeply dissatisfied with Lord Tang Hanpei's decision. They believed this was an excellent opportunity to expand, yet Tang Hanpei had chosen to dig in and defend instead. He lacked ambition. Still, no one dared disobey his orders now. Dissatisfied or not, they dutifully assembled their troops and headed back to the Capital.
The vast majority of the Card Adepts were happy to return to the Capital. They had come from there and were accustomed to its prosperity. Life on the front lines had been grueling. Besides, they had earned merit this time, and the rewards awaiting them were sure to be substantial. If circumstances had not forced their hands, how many of them would have willingly come to this desolate, remote front?
Aside from the remaining twenty percent of the Card Adepts, who stayed under Tao Ning's command to hold the Binidia Mountains, all the others flew toward the Capital at full speed.
What could be more glorious than returning in triumph?
Yet none of them had expected Tang Hanpei himself to welcome them! Tang Hanpei was now the true ruler of the Capital, and no one in the entire Federation could rival his prestige. His personal appearance to greet them thrilled every