Chapter 544: 544:The Defectors
Just then an old Beastman stepped out from the group.
His presence was calm, yet heavy, and the moment he appeared, the tension in the air shifted slightly.
"Let’s stop this farce," the old man said, and his tone was steady while his gaze moved between both sides.
"Since they escaped, the plan has already gone awry."
His words were simple, but they carried weight, and even Lucien paused for a moment as he listened.
The old Beastman continued.
"So now, you need to act first and spread the rumours."
Lucien clenched his teeth tightly, and frustration flashed across his face.
This was not how things were supposed to go.
His original plan had been clean and simple, and he could have shifted the blame easily, but now everything had changed because Hale had escaped.
If Hale returned and exposed everything, then all of this would turn against him.He would not just lose his position.
He would be finished.
Lucien’s expression darkened further as these thoughts ran through his mind.
Unlike before, he could no longer act freely, and every step now carried risk.
The old Beastman watched him closely, and as if he could see through his thoughts, he gave a slight nod.
"Do it quickly," he said calmly.
"Send a message."
"Control the narrative before they return."
Lucien’s fists tightened for a moment, and then he slowly exhaled.
"Fine," he muttered.
His voice was low, but it carried unwilling acceptance.He turned slightly and looked toward his subordinates, and his expression turned cold again.
"Send out the message," he ordered.
"Spread the news that Hale and Han betrayed the army and fled during the ambush."
"Make it clear that they caused the collapse."
His subordinates hesitated for a brief moment, but under his gaze, they immediately moved to carry out the order.
Lucien then looked back toward the Beastmen, and his eyes hardened.
"And that man..." he said slowly.
"Find him."
"Search every possible route."
"Track him down and eliminate him at all costs."
The old Beastman gave a faint nod, and his expression did not change.
"It will be done," he replied.
Around them, the battlefield still reeked of blood and destruction, and the remains of the human army lay scattered across the ground.
But instead of ending the conflict had only grown deeper.
And now, it was no longer just a war of strength.
It had become a war of deception.
....
A few days later, the news spread across the entire Arcadia Empire like a violent storm, and it shook everyone to their core before they could even react properly.
The Human Vanguard force, which had been advancing continuously and winning battle after battle against the Demon forces, had suddenly collapsed.
Not just defeated.
They were annihilated.
The report described it clearly, and the words felt heavy as they passed from one hand to another.
The forward army had suffered a devastating ambush, and the entire formation had broken apart under coordinated attacks from multiple sides, while the surviving troops were either scattered or killed during retreat.
It was not just a loss.It was a complete disaster.
Cities that had celebrated victory just weeks ago now fell silent, and the streets that once echoed with pride turned tense as whispers spread among the people.
"How could this happen?"
"They were winning..."
"Didn’t they already secure the borders?"
Questions rose everywhere, but no one had answers.
Along with the report came another document.
A list.
A list of failures.
It detailed how the commanders had failed to assess the situation properly, and how they ignored signs of enemy movement while pushing forward aggressively, and how preventive measures were not taken despite multiple warnings.
Each line pointed fingers at them.All words carried the blame and failure of the higher ups who failed to oversee the situation.
Names were written clearly, and responsibility was placed heavily on those who led the vanguard.
Some were declared dead.Some were missing.And some were marked as responsible.
The Empire trembled under the weight of that report.
At the same time far from the battlefield, in the Blank household, life had remained relatively peaceful.
Ethan’s conscription into the army had placed a subtle pressure on the family, but they had not fallen into disorder, because the structure he built continued to hold everything together.
Rathlos stood at the center of it.
He managed the estate calmly, and he delegated tasks with precision while ensuring nothing fell out of place.
Amber and Julia had taken control of the troop command, and they oversaw the defense and training while maintaining strict discipline among the guards.
Riya and Sophia handled administration, and although Sophia had been unwilling at first, she eventually stepped forward and took responsibility seriously, because she wanted Ethan to focus on the battlefield without worry.
The estate remained stable.
Calm.
Orderly.
But that calm did not last.
Inside one of the rooms, Rathlos sat at a long table, and his sharp eyes moved across a document in his hand while his fingers tapped lightly against the surface.
A black long-haired man wearing glasses stood nearby, quietly observing.
Then—
The air shifted.
A dark mass appeared in the corner of the room, and it twisted slowly before taking form.
Hall stepped out.
His appearance was slightly unstable, and there was a heaviness in his expression that immediately caught Rathlos’s attention.
Rathlos frowned slightly and leaned back.
"What happened, Hall? Why do you look off?" he asked, and his voice carried a calm tone, but there was alertness behind it.
Hall did not answer.
Instead, he stepped forward silently and placed a document on the table.
Rathlos looked at it for a second before picking it up.
The moment his eyes scanned the contents his expression changed.
A dense aura surged out from him, and the air in the room turned heavy instantly as pressure spread outward.
"...Is this a joke?" he said slowly.
His voice was low, but it carried clear anger.
The paper trembled slightly in his hand.
...
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