There was silence on the long table, and Tails exhaled.

No war is isolated.

Suril's atrocities twenty years ago led to the resistance Exeter faced twenty years later.

Twenty years ago, victory, leads to defeat twenty years later.

The second prince remembered the old raven's words again:

[Before you make up your mind to go to war, I wonder if you should think clearly: whether this will really achieve your goals, how many unexpected things will happen from this, what additional consequences will there be, what will be the future in the longer term, and how should the impact on both of you be calculated?]

Sodot snorted, breaking the silence:

"In this way, the supply is not smooth, and the progress of the troops collecting food is slow. ”

"The siege was unfavorable, and the efficiency of the siege was repeatedly delayed. ”

And the female archduke of Longxiao City is even more uncertain, with the dragon spear banner back, there are still only remnants of the defeated generals, and rumors are full of rumors. ”

Life and death unknown.

Tails struggled to tune in to his breathing.

After listening to Prince Suril's blood feud with the Freedom Alliance, he suddenly realizes that once Selma falls into the hands of the Freedom Alliance......

No.

Tails forced himself not to think about the worst-case scenario.

Sordor paused for a moment and motioned for the secret man standing aside to continue.

The latter nodded:

"After that, we inquired and speculated that there should have been a quarrel at the top of the Northlanders. ”

The imperial ministers looked at each other.

The nobles who defended the city were reluctant to retreat, but the arrogant Kurikun Ronnie, the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City, took a tough stance and threatened his allies not to retreat, claiming that he would once again mobilize troops from within the country to help the front. ”

"The generals are not in harmony, and the two sides are ugly. ”

Tails' mind moved, and another line of poetry emerged from the fragments of long-ago memory:

[Snobbery makes people fight, and heirs fight each other. 】

Sodot sighed and interjected:

And this is their third mistake. ”

Maybe I sighed before, but the ministers present heard Exeter's stupid move, and they no longer fluctuated.

The scar-faced man of the secret department said calmly:

"Until one day, the flag of the Comas Alliance was raised at the head of the Freedom League. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was skeptical.

"Commas?"

Gilbert opened his mouth in surprise, and then shook his head decisively:

"Impossible!"

"Well, it seems impossible now. ”

Sodot frowned:

But the news served its purpose: from then on, rumors of Commas's involvement in the war had spread in the Northland barracks, and it was useless for the boss to suppress it. ”

On the other side, the soldiers and civilians of Fort Liberty, who were struggling to support, were encouraged and confident when they heard that help was imminent. ”

"One eliminates the other, and the enemy will shake my ......"

Sodot slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing:

"The complete defeat of the Northlanders. ”

"That's when it started. ”

Tails looked at the stalemate on the map and felt something.

In the next second, Soduo's words became urgent!

"Amid the rumors, a nobleman who was unwilling to take risks abandoned the camp in the early morning and retreated first. ”

"Maybe he was just angry and wanted to change the defense area, or change the land to collect food, of course, it can't be ruled out that it was a spy trick......"

One by one, the white pieces moved under the military advisor's hands, leaving the original area.

However, following his example, and thanks to the previous discord with Qiyuan City, a considerable number of the lords of the Guarding City retreated with him without notifying the friendly forces, and the entire battle line was deformed. ”

Tails frowned tightly: with Fort Liberty as the center, the white pieces that were connected together gradually spread out, revealing a larger and larger gap.

It's like the armor of a hundred battles that has been chopped and finally can't stand it anymore and cracks.

Sodot Rader slapped his palm on the long table, his face pale:

As a result, ten miles away, on the front line of the siege, the exhausted but self-reliant army of Qiyuan City lost the vigilance and support of the flanks unconsciously. ”

"Expose the belly and back to the enemy's reach!"

As the battle progressed, the ministers who listened to the military situation were equally serious and nervous.

"Maybe it's only two hours of miscommunication, maybe it's only sixty minutes for the Northlanders' broken window, but remember that trump card of the Freedom League?"

Soudor reached out and retrieved the black knight from the outside of the field, and when he let go, it was already in front of the white line, as if it were haunted.

"After the victory over Longxiao City, they reappeared after disappearing for a long time and seized this window. ”

The military adviser gritted his teeth, as if he were going through this big war:

"Before the morning fog cleared, they cooperated with the remnants of the army inside and outside the Fort of Liberty to successfully raid. ”

Sodot's language was succinct, but Tails could only imagine the fierceness and brutality of that day.

"When the retreating guards received orders from above, reacted, and forced the whole army to stop retreating," Soduo sighed, and slowly stretched out his hand, disrupting the originally unstoppable white chess formation:

"The demoralized Qiyuan City suffered from the enemy on its back, fought in a hurry, and finally weakened, and the defeat was irretrievable. ”

The voice fell, and there was silence.

"It's ridiculous!"

Viscount Connie couldn't help but complain:

"How can the Northlanders be so stupid!"

Tails listened to these words with mixed feelings.

"Because we're standing here, looking at them. Duke Cullen said slowly, but there was a rare sense of solemnity in his tone.

Viscount Connie was dumbfounded for a moment.

"And then?"

Treasurer, Juke Man pondered and asked:

"The army guarding the city is still in good condition, although the combat power is not as good as Qiyuan City, but it should not be underestimated, the rout is only a corner of the battlefield, it should be ......"

But Sordor interrupted him with what he said next.

"The leaders of the garrison city knew that they had made a big mistake, and they were eager to remedy it, and they made a decision. ”

"It's not about retreating and fortifying, stabilizing the front. ”

The military adviser was no longer distressed, he recounted the military situation with a blank face, and pushed forward the white chess pieces on behalf of the city one by one:

"Instead, he returned to the battlefield and rescued his colleagues. ”

As soon as these words came out, some of the gentlemen present frowned and pondered, and some suddenly realized.

"It's about righteousness. Viscount Connie muttered.

Sodor Rader suddenly looked up!

His gaze swept over everyone:

"That was their fourth mistake. ”

Viscount Connie frowned.

Sodot lowered his head and brought together the black pieces in Fort Liberty and the knights outside the fort:

"The strategy of the Liberal Alliance is diametrically opposed to that of the Twenty Years: after winning the battle, they do not seek to decapitate the enemy army, but only to be mobile and flexible, driving most of the troops and attacking the elite. ”

"So, when the banner of the garrison city arrives on the battlefield......"

The next moment, Tails watched as the fallen white pieces were plucked together and swept towards the white pieces that were still standing.

An ominous premonition came over me.

"Most of the tens of thousands of defeated soldiers in Qiyuan City remained, but they all lost their armor and retreated or fled all the way. ”

"They are like a flood after a rainstorm, which irresistibly breaks the position of the garrison city. ”

Soudot's hand no longer moves with precision, but opens and closes, sweeping the chaotic white pieces towards the east.

"What is even more terrible is that under hunger and fatigue, the despair and fear of defeat are like a plague, as the defeated army spreads to the garrison of the city, causing blind obedience and camp roars, and many people die in stampede and internal strife before they see the enemy. ”

Soduo's voice dimmed:

"In the midst of the chaos, the Guarded City, the last hope of the Northlanders, was defeated without even a few decent battles. ”

"The casualties of the people in the north were incalculable, and the whole army retreated in a hurry, running day and night, and even retreating hundreds of miles failed to stabilize the battle line. ”

"On the way, there are also unyielding Exeter nobles, trying to gather the generals and make a last stand, but Xiao Yong is defeated by the general trend and does not help. ”

Tails was silent, as if he had returned to the night of the dragon's blood, watching the white-bladed guards who knew they were going to die raise their swords one last time, launching a counter-charge against the Black Sand Collar's formation, breaking the back of his and the little slippery heads.

For some reason, it was clear that Exeter was a very high-threat enemy country, but seeing them defeated in such a nest, he felt an indescribable tightness and discomfort in his chest.

It's as if I saw the hero's shortness of breath and the hero's death.

And he realized that he was not the only one present who felt this way.

"How so?"

Gilbert spoke faintly, as if immersed in the past, and sighed sadly:

"The invincible Northlanders, this is actually the ...... Failed?"

But a deep voice quickly interrupted him, and made everyone's hearts tense.

"Nope. ”

"They are far from 'invincible'. ”

At the end of the long table, the Iron Fist King showed a pair of cold eyes in the backlight:

"Just ......"

"Invincible. ”

The king spoke, not angry and arrogant, and the ministers in front of the emperor were speechless for a while.

Incapacitated.

Thinking of the truth behind the "dragon's blood", Tails felt gloomy.

If yesterday's news is still confusing and cannot be confirmed, there is still a glimmer of hope.

Today, now, the detailed battle report in Ballard's room tells him plainly:

The Northlanders were defeated.

Defeated.

There is no room for circumference.

"Starlight. ”

Duke Cullen's eyes flashed, and he thought about breaking the silence:

"I remember, their strategy for dealing with the Yankees, including avoiding the edge and striking at logistics and supplies, is the Duke of Xinghu...... Ahem, sorry, 'former' Duke Starlake's Starlight Legion. ”

Starlight Legion.

Everyone frowned, even the king.

Thudor turned his head and nodded to the secret spies.

The scar-faced man stepped forward again, bowed, and reported his news:

"According to the latest information, the general who led the elite team around the Freedom Alliance and captured the commander of Longxiao City, named Ivan Bolado, is a young guest general who is not yet twenty years old this year. ”

Gilbert raised an eyebrow:

"Guest, so young?"

The scar-faced man bowed his head and said:

His father died in a political struggle in the North Sea Kingdom, and he had to flee to Fort Liberty for refuge. ”

"At a time when the Exeter army was overwhelmed, everyone in Fort Liberty fled in panic, and no one dared to lead the army, Ivan Bolado took the initiative to ask for help and was given his current position. ”

Hearing this, Tails remembered the message that Duke Iris had given him last night:

[In a desperate situation, the Freedom Alliance did everything possible to survive, regardless of dignity and cost, regardless of origin, regardless of the past, and urgently begged people with lofty ideals from all sides to join the righteous struggle. 】

"...... of the North Sea Kingdom"

The king muttered:

"Is that barren country north of Commas, with internal turmoil, tyrannical kings, and only an idiot son as heir?"

The secret spies bowed again:

"Exactly, Your Majesty. ”

The king nodded, pondering something.

"Kingdom of the North Sea, Ivan Bolado. ”

"Although the kingdom is small, it can also produce talents. ”

Juke Man sighed:

"His defeat of Exeter in this battle is bound to shake the Western Continent and become famous in a battle. ”

Gilbert restrained his emotions, he smiled lightly, and looked at Tails intentionally or unintentionally:

"It can be said that the times create heroes, and heroes produce teenagers. ”

On the other hand, military adviser Soduo spoke out again to attract everyone's attention.

"But in my opinion, the most important part of this battle is not in Bolado and his troops behind him. ”

Sodot's palm swept over the countless fallen or standing pieces, lightly covering the city on the map.

"And in Fort Liberty. ”

"It was the empty Liberty Fort inside, with the old and weak remnants of the elite after being drained, that blocked Exter's siege army to the death, and finally led the troops out of the city, forming a siege and repelling the Northlanders. ”

"In a few months, they dragged the strongest edge, carried the most fierce attack, and attracted the attention of the vast majority of the enemy, so as to achieve this classic war in which the weak defeated the strong. ”

I didn't think it at first, but as soon as Soduo said this, everyone in the imperial council felt something unusual.

Soudor looked at the scar-faced man from Myco, who pulled out a few pages of information again:

"In Fort Liberty, the general who commanded the defense of the city was over forty years old and was a star man. ”

Everyone was stunned.

Star people?

The scar-faced man looked up and announced a name:

"'Anvil' Josh Kenya. ”

The Imperial Council was silent for a moment, and everyone was puzzled.

Until the king suddenly spoke.

"Anvil?"

King Kessel raised his gaze:

"The nickname...... It sounds familiar. ”

The spies of the secret department were not in a hurry, and admitted:

"Yes, Kenya was born into the private soldier of the Bright Star Family, and was once one of the combat officers of the Starlight Legion, and the former deputy of Lord Sonia Suthore, the Flower of the Fortress. ”

"It was Duke John's ...... Personal guard. ”

"And fugitives from the kingdom. ”

As soon as these words came out, there was a small commotion in Ballard's room.

The second lieutenant of the Stronghold Flower......

Tails was shocked, remembering Gerald, a veteran who had served him.

"I see, so the commander of the Freedom Alliance is the general of the former Starlight Legion. ”

Prime Minister Cullen's question was solved, and his face suddenly changed:

"No wonder this war has a familiar flavor from beginning to end. ”

But King Kessel frowned, his focus was obviously different:

"Fugitive, what crime did he commit?"

The scar-faced man picked up the information, glanced at it, and then stopped.

Until Gilbert coughed and lowered his voice:

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"

"After you were crowned on the throne, Josh Kenya rebelled, not only disobeying orders, but also blatantly falsely claiming that the real murderer of Duke John was ......"

He didn't go on.

All the ministers also bowed their heads and were silent.

The king thoughtfully:

"Oh. ”

The scar-faced man of the secret department coughed and took this embarrassment as soon as possible:

"In short, we are investigating what Kenya has been doing in recent years and why it suddenly appeared in this war. ”

Kessel nodded.

"So, that's what the battlefield is?"

Sodot exhaled heavily, as if to drain all the depression that this war had brought him.

"That's right. ”

The military adviser snorted lightly, and he casually threw away the last white piece in his hand, as if sarcastic and unwise, and as if angry:

"Qiyuan City was betrayed and defeated in disgrace. ”

"The tactical mistake of defending the city is difficult to save the situation. ”

"Longxiao City lost its backbone early, and the army's morale was weak and unusable. ”

Tails lowered his head, pretending to massage his forehead, closing his eyes at an angle that no one was seeing.

Small slippery head.

Selma.

The Grand Duke of Longxiao City.

The Lost Rebellion.

Life and death unknown.

Before his eyes appeared the girl who had walked cautiously to the throne, but could not even lean on the armrest of the seat.

The boy's heart ached.

He sent her to this position.

But the situation is so erosive, the reality is so broken, and the fate is so cruel......

Tails' fists clenched imperceptibly, whimpering at the same time as his heart.

Who can save her?

Can anyone help her?

Who can ......

Protect her?

"Then, on the battlefield," the king's voice sounded faintly, cold as ever, and cooled Tails's already unbearable mood again:

"The general trend has gone, and the Northlanders who are retreating are ......"

Tails rubbed his forehead, demonstrating his sadness, but only wanted this pre-imperial meeting to end quickly.

It's hard to believe that while he's here worrying about such a ridiculous thing as a banquet glass, his friend is in trouble and suffering a terrible fate.

When he thought of this, he couldn't help the guilt and pain in his heart.

But the king's voice continued to be heard, irritating:

"How they ...... later"

"What about the one who turned defeat into victory?"

Tails opened his eyes!

At that moment, his mind even froze.

What, what?

Northland people, turn defeat into victory?

How......

Prince Tails gently lowered his fingers rubbing his forehead.

He looked up with a dignified demeanor, his face expressionless.

I saw that at the imperial meeting, none of the monarchs present were surprised, but they were also puzzled by this question.

They weren't surprised.

That is to say......

That is, the outcome of the war......

Tails controlled his breathing, his left hand pressed to his knee, and he didn't look at Gilbert's worried expression.

"Of course. ”

Sodot Rader nodded solemnly, and he reached out and moved towards the pile of upside-down and messy white pieces.

Tails' gaze was fixed on his hand.

It's as if there is the truth of the world.

The military adviser gently picked up a white chess piece.

Put it back on the chaotic map, the most prominent location.

At that moment, Tails suddenly recognized:

That's a ......

The White Queen.

"The female archduke of Longxiao City who was separated in the chaos and whose whereabouts are unknown. ”

Tails' breath faltered.

"Thelma Alex Walton. ”

At the Imperial Council, everyone present listened carefully to the words of the military adviser, listening to the latter's tone of surprise and emotion.

"We don't know what happened in between. ”

Soudor gritted his teeth, as if he could not understand what he was about to say:

"But when she reappeared and miraculously turned the tide of battle......"

"Whether it is the army or the people, whether it is the enemy or their own people......"

"Everybody, they call her—"

In the Ballard room of the Fuxing Palace, the royal military adviser Sodor Rader looked at the white queen standing proudly on the map, with unspeakable jealousy and solemnity in his words:

"Blood-Burning True Dragon. ”

The voice fell.

At that moment, under the puzzled eyes of everyone, time seemed to stand still.

Bloodthirsty ...... A real dragon?

Tails stared at the white piece in a daze, unable to recover for a long time.

No, Tails, you ridiculous fool.

You are mistaken.

This white ......

A small voice sounded in the heart of Duke Xinghu, as if to mock his stupidity and self-righteousness:

She is not a queen.

No.

She's white—

Queen.