Her Graceful War Song

The very next day after Salvador coughed up blood, an urgent dispatch arrived from the Southern Frontier -the Hell Monarch had been ambushed and was missing.

The dispatch was sent urgently by a messenger from the military supply overseer at the Southern Frontier. They had finally received the grain supplies, but sent news that the Southern Frontier Army had been ambushed and the Hell Monarch was missing.

Jeremiah quickly convened a meeting with the six department heads, senior cabinet officials, military leaders, and Carissa to discuss the situation. Once the map was spread out, they saw that the Southern Frontier Army had been ambushed at Mount Whitemist, a part of the vast Atamore Mountain range. Having scattered after the ambush, the main force had now managed to regroup into six smaller units. However, with morale shattered, they could no longer hope to face Victor's massive army head-on. Despite his frailty, Salvador arrived at the meeting. His face was pale and anxiety was evident in his eyes. His heart felt like it was lodged in his throat as he surveyed the room. He instinctively glanced at Carissa, whose brow furrowed in concern as she studied the map. Though there was clear worry in her expression, she seemed calm and unshaken by the news.

Once the department heads had bowed and exchanged formal pleasantries, Salvador followed Jeremiah's finger to the spot indicated on the map.

The Atamore Mountain range stretched out like a great snake coiled across the land, splitting the terrain into two. The map showed only a thin line marking the mountains, but those lines represented wide, expansive regions.

The ambush took place at Mount Whitemist, which was known for its treacherous terrain. The elevation difference between the low and high points was about 165 meters, with a valley in between. It was indeed an ideal location for an ambush. However, precisely because it was such an easy place to set up an ambush, the Southern Frontier Army shouldn't have fallen for it.

Salvador's gaze shifted back to Carissa, noting that her expression was even more composed than before. It seemed she had already discerned something about the situation.

Salvador had always placed the highest trust in Rafael's military strategy. He now wanted to hear what the civilian and military officials had to say.noveldrama

In the midst of murmurs and concerns from the other officials, Tyler, Davis, and Thomas were firm in their belief that the terrain was too obvious for the Hell Monarch to have fallen into a trap. Unless Rafael entered it on purpose, pretending to be caught off guard, only to scatter his troops and switch to guerrilla warfare.

"This terrain calls for mountain warfare. The landscape is rugged and dense with forests, making large- scale battles impossible. Too many would die needlessly. The best option is guerrilla tactics-divide the forces, launch surprise attacks, and retreat quickly. That will sap the enemy's morale and make it easier to take Marshal Crow's head," said Thomas, his voice steady.

Tyler nodded in agreement. "General Farrell's words are wise. I also think the same."

Malcolm lifted his gaze, a suspicious frown crossing his face. "If the Hell Monarch was feigning defeat, he wouldn't truly be missing. In that case, the soldiers delivering the grain should know his whereabouts. Why, then, has this urgent report come back with such alarming news?"

His words brought the sense of calm that had been creeping into the room to a halt, reigniting the concern that had been momentarily quelled.

However, Thomas remained

composed and explained, "The grain was sent from Simonton City, and Sandoria has held the Southern Frontier for quite some time. There could be hidden spies or traitors within the ranks. If a strategy was planned, it wouldn't be widely disclosed. They would only share what was necessary with those not involved in the fight."

Thomas had handled intelligence work himself, so his words carried weight. It wasn't far-fetched to suspect the presence of spies, especially given Sandoria's long occupation of the Southern Frontier.

Patrick spoke up, adding, "Even if General Farrett's analysis is correct, it's only theoretical. There's no guarantee it reflects the current situation of the Southern Frontier Army What if the Hell Monarch is truly missing? What if their forces have been defeated and scattered? This would undoubtedly be a blow to our kingdom. Should we send reinforcements?"

He turned his gaze toward Carissa. "Commander Sinclair, you've fought at the Southern Frontier and faced Marshal Crow yourself. Also, you know Prince Rafael better than anyone. What do you think?"

Patrick was actually doing Carissa a favor. As the Hell Monarch's

princess consort, she had the most reason to worry about the war, especially with Rafael's disappearance. By suggesting reinforcements, no matter what Salvador ultimately decided, Patrick had at least spoken up on her behalf.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Carissa.

She looked up from the map and asked, "Did the urgent report mention the casualty numbers after the ambush?"

Davis shook his head. "No, it didn't."

"If the casualties had been severe, they would have reported it," Carissa said, her tone thoughtful. After a moment of quiet contemplation, she looked directly at Salvador. "Your Majesty, I trust General Thomas' analysis. I believe Marshal Sanford has feigned defeat. Even if he truly is missing as Mr. Lloyd mentioned, the army would not be leaderless.

"General Timothy and General Louis are seasoned warriors. They've fought countless battles, and I'm sure they've prepared multiple strategies. Even in adversity, they can still turn the tide in our favor." Carissa's confidence in Thomas' analysis stemmed from her own knowledge of the casualty situation. She believed that the lack of mention in the report meant that the casualties were not substantial. The true concern lay in the Hell Monarch's disappearance.