Chapter 789: Volume Twenty-four: Beacon Smoke Linking Camps, - Two: Conspiracy
"Fran, what do you think?" only Fran and Mihailovich beside Komer could offer him some honest advice. Newman was a pure magic practitioner, eloquent when it came to the art of magic, but utterly clueless about practical affairs. Without Ilot and Baoling by his side, in this room, only Fran could be called a true soldier.
"Lord, indeed, the situation is highly unfavorable for us. I am not fully aware of the Royal Court Magicians’ power, but if it indeed has the power to turn the tide of war, I fear our army, comprised of mountain people and Half-beast Army, will be unable to withstand the natural forces unleashed by these magicians. These races fear natural forces far more than we mortals do. Although the Half-Beasts have undergone specialized training against such forces, if pushed beyond their limits, they will collapse just the same. And the Barbarians, though they have been through wars in the South, where magic power is rarely used, will likely fare poorly against magic of such a magnitude that it alters the heavens and earth."
Fran’s words slowly sunk Komer’s heart into endless darkness. If even Fran said so, it undoubtedly signaled a complete failure of this expeditionary war. Moreover, Komer could also sense a more ominous foreboding in Fran’s words.
"But we can’t retreat now. As for the Homer People, let alone Galle, Poznan, and Silesia are all watching our actions. Once we retreat, they will pounce on us like starving wolves, tearing us to shreds. The vaguely worded authorization we received from the kingdom will be immediately interpreted in a different light, and we will be thrown into an abyss, never to rise again."
As expected, Fran’s subsequent words were unbearable for Komer. He couldn’t advance or retreat—were they only to sit here and wait for death?
"Therefore, we cannot retreat. We must push forward. We must crush the Homer Army before the armies of Poznan and Silesia get involved and firmly control all of Homer, cutting off any external powers from meddling in Homer’s affairs. This is our only way out! We have no other path to take!"
"But you are also aware that our Mage Corps cannot contend with the opposing magicians’ power. Continuing this war, our end will be the same," Komer said to Fran, his gaze steady.
"Just the difference in Mage Corps power, Lord, don’t you have any means to reverse this disadvantage?" Fran looked back at Komer, speaking earnestly.