Chapter 358: The Situation in the Northern Region Deteriorates!

"My Lord Cabinet Minister!"

"What is going on?"

In the eastern district of Eagle City, inside a luxurious manor, Weilade was shocked as he watched Randal being carried down from the carriage by guards.

"My Lord Cabinet Minister, your subordinate... your subordinate encountered a demon beast..."

"Encountered a demon god? How could this happen?"

"My Lord Cabinet Minister, the matter is like this..." Hearing this, Randal immediately began to recount the details of the ambush he suffered that day, tears streaming down his face.

Listening to the tearful complaint, Weilade's originally gloomy face finally softened slightly.

He had thought it was that damn brat who did this, but it turned out to be an accident.

"Randal, your injury this time counts as one sustained in the line of duty; I will have the Civil Affairs Hall issue you compensation! You just need to rest and recover well!"

"By the way, did you accept that brat's conscription order?"

"My Lord Cabinet Minister, I have accepted it, but he said he would definitely file an appeal, and... and he even threatened that upon his return, he would have you wash your neck and wait for him..."

Weilade's face became grotesque. "Does he think he still has a chance to return?"

"Alright, Randal, go rest and recover well; I am setting off to head to the Northern Region right now!"

After hypocritically comforting Randal, Weilade made no substantive compensation.

Since Randal had lost both legs, he was considered ruined and could never serve in the Civil Affairs Hall again.

He naturally would not continue to waste money on a cripple.

At most, he would have the Civil Affairs Hall provide some compensation, just as a gesture for others to see.

Time passed, and ten days later, it was Black Longcheng in the Northern Region.

As the location of the Griffin Empire's Northern Region Governor's Office, heavy troops were now gathered here.

Inside Black Dragon Castle on the mountain peak behind Black Longcheng, three heavyweight figures of the Griffin Kingdom had gathered: the Northern Region President, Duke Hernand, and Duke Lieshi.

In the center of the conference hall lay a map of the entire Northern Region.

At this moment, at least one-third of the border lines on this map were marked with red dots.

And these red dots all represented the presence of the Beast Race.

Among them, in the central position of the Northern Region map, a cluster of red dots like a sharp arrow had deeply pierced into the hinterland.

It looked as if they were about to drill straight through the Northern Region and advance directly on Black Longcheng.

"Have the rangers still not discovered the main force of the Beast Race?"

"Yes, my lords. The main force of the Beast Race, after launching consecutive surprise attacks on three cities more than ten days ago, simply vanished from our sight!"

"However, there is reason to believe they have not withdrawn from the Northern Region, but are waiting for the right moment to act!"

"In addition, small groups of orcs have begun to disperse and raid."

"Whenever they encounter a village or town, they carry out burning, killing, and looting!"

Hearing the ranger commander's answer, the Northern Region Army President and the two dukes' faces grew even gloomier.

"We can wait no longer! The orcs can play hide-and-seek with us, but we cannot sit idly by while the situation in the Northern Region deteriorates."

"Otherwise, by the time the small groups of orcs have finished looting all the towns, even if we truly find the main force of the orcs and drive them away, the losses to the Northern Region will be irreparable!"

"Duke Hernand is right. In that case, our main force will advance directly toward Red Shicheng, regardless of what schemes the Beast Race has in mind."

"But as long as they want to continue advancing deeper, they must take Red Shicheng. We will go there and wait for them; they will definitely appear!"

Duke Lieshi and Duke Hernand spoke up one after another.

As the nominal commander of this campaign, the Northern Region Army President immediately nodded in approval.

He dared not put on airs in front of these two.

They claimed to have come to assist him.

In reality, they were more like representatives sent by the Wangdou Sect to hold the fort.

Although the final orders would be issued in his name, the decision-making power required the simultaneous approval of all three.

"What the two of you say is correct. By the way, has the count of the conscripted armies arrived been tallied?" The Northern Region Army President nodded in approval while looking at his subordinate.

"My Lord Commander, according to the latest statistics, ninety percent of the nobles have arrived outside the city to register, with a total of around 180,000 people. The remaining conscripted units are expected to arrive tomorrow!"

"Excellent. Then, according to the original plan, let the main army begin advancing toward Red Shicheng the day after tomorrow!"

"Gervas, you have finally arrived!"

"Yes, Gervas! We were really worried about you! Fortunately, you finally made it!"

The next day at dusk, outside Black Longcheng.

As soon as Gervas had settled his camp, several familiar figures found their way to his campsite.

The arrivals were none other than Mil and his group.

"Everyone, I apologize for making you worry! You must have arrived quite a few days ago, right?"

"No, Gervas. We actually only arrived yesterday noon. However, when we learned last time that you would be delayed by at least two or three days, we were all worried you wouldn't make it in time."

"Yes! Gervas, it is already dusk now. If you hadn't arrived by tomorrow morning, it would have exceeded the conscription deadline, and you would have been punished for defying the conscription order."

"As for the consequences, we only learned after arriving here that the conscription order in the Northern Region is stricter than elsewhere. Regardless of the reason, your title would first be stripped, and after the war ends, the Kingdom's Noble Council would conduct a trial to determine your guilt."

"In short, even if you were delayed due to some matter, even if you were just late, you would face severe punishment!"

"Because what we are dealing with here is the Beast Race; if it weren't strict, many nobles would entertain ulterior motives!"

"Is that so? Then it is a good thing I made it in time!" Gervas also felt a slight sense of post-event fear.

"By the way, since you arrived early, how is the situation in the Northern Region recently?"

Although Gervas had also obtained some intelligence from the daily intelligence system.

But currently, this information cannot give him a concrete understanding of the situation.

For example, Karl Town was sacked by orcs last night.

Likewise, Kaya City also suffered an orc attack.

To be honest, these reports are as incomprehensible as ancient scripture to Gervas, who cannot even determine his own location.

Of course, there is useful intelligence too: besides the Northern Theater Commander, the King has sent Duke Hernald and Duke Lieshi to oversee command.

Overall, the intelligence system provides information, but it is insufficient.

"Gervas, the recent reports are messy and scattered—come with us to that tavern over there, we'll drink and talk!"

"No problem!"

Every time the Kingdom's army marches out, the accompanying merchant caravans are always indispensable.

So, Gervas and his group soon reached the cluster of taverns outside the city.

Still bustling with noise, drunk on luxury—there was no sense at all of being on the front line.

They found a tavern with empty seats and drank while talking.

Through these men, Gervas learned some details about the Northern Theater situation.

The current situation in the Northern Theater has deteriorated badly; one-third of the territory has already fallen.

"Gervas, you probably don't realize that this one-third of land is equivalent to the size of two duchies."

"And to lose so much territory in just one month—I've heard the Northern nobles and legion soldiers are already terrified!"

"After encountering the orc tribes, they dare not resist at all; as soon as they see orcs, they flee—they abandon every fortress and stronghold!"

Gervas was secretly shocked, "Has the Northern Theater really deteriorated to this extent? Weren't the Northern Legion always said to be the Kingdom's strongest border force?"

"Who knows? All the nobles summoned here now look down on those cowards! If they weren't so useless, why would we have to travel thousands of miles to risk our lives?"

"By the way, I heard the King has sent Duke Hernald and Duke Lieshi, and several Hou Jue families have also been summoned—clearly, they fear the Northern Theater is in dire straits!"