Chapter 465 - 213: Gnoll

Chapter 465: Chapter 213: Gnoll

They filed into the command tent and sat on either side, their curious gazes fixed on the Centaur Warrior.

"Trilman, what’s going on with this Centaur?"

A burly Beastman asked, looking at Prince Trilman in confusion.

This burly Beastman was General Wilson, one of the Beastman Generals and Commander-in-Chief of the Madar Mountain garrison.

Prince Trilman sighed and turned to the Centaur Warrior.

"Go on, tell them what happened in the Centaur King City."

The Centaur looked around, his expression dazed.

"My lords, I am a servant of His Highness the Prince of the Centaur Clan..."

The Centaur went on to describe in detail the tragic events he witnessed while following Prince Feiseli. Afterward, Prince Feiseli had fled to parts unknown, leaving him behind.

After the Centaur Warrior finished his story, the assembled Tiger Race and other Beast Race generals all exchanged glances.

In each other’s eyes, they all saw a single word: Baffled.

’What in the world was all this?’

’Gnolls? Earth goblins? The Bloodthirsty Royal City?’

’Do you hear what you’re saying? A pack of Gnolls razed the Centaur King City to the ground?’

Although the Tiger Race was a cut above the Centaur Clan in terms of strength, few would dare claim their own Royal City was more fortified than the Centaurs’.

That was a stronghold the Centaurs had spent hundreds of years fortifying!

Moreover, the Centaur King City had plains and forests to its east; the Tiger Race’s territory had nothing comparable.

"This... Trilman, is it true or not?"

General Wilson eyed Prince Trilman with suspicion. He was beginning to wonder if Trilman had deliberately found a Centaur to put on this act as an excuse to pull out.

Of course, Prince Trilman knew what General Wilson was thinking, and his expression soured.

"Wilson, we’ve already tested him with Magic...

Besides, don’t you find it strange? We’ve been in the territory of the Centaur Clan for this long and haven’t seen any of the lesser races.

Even now, our army is still just comprised of Tiger Race Warriors and other Beastman Warriors," Prince Trilman said.

"He’s not the only one. There are many other Centaur Warriors who can verify this.

Now, those lesser races have colluded with the Human Race, plotting to overthrow the Empire’s rule!"

"Hiss..."

Hearing this, Wilson sucked in a sharp breath.

Wilson’s position, after all, was General of the Madar Mountain Defense Army, a role roughly equivalent to Capital Military District Commander.

It wasn’t a post one could attain through military achievements alone; it required significant political skill.

’If the humans are really behind this, then their methods are truly vicious.’

Almost instantly, Wilson pictured the scene: an uprising of the lesser races, led by humans, charging toward them.

It was a scene more terrifying than Hell.

"So, what do we do now?" Wilson asked.

Prince Trilman stepped down from his seat.

"Now that the Centaur King City has fallen, the Centaur King on the central front will certainly lead his army back to relieve the situation. That much is obvious."

"My plan is to withdraw our forces for now. We’ll regroup and then decide our next move," Prince Trilman stated.

General Wilson nodded.

A retreat was dishonorable, but it was the best option they had right now.

"Urgent report! Urgent report!"

Just as the two were about to discuss the details of the retreat, a messenger’s cry came from outside the tent.

Prince Trilman’s heart jolted, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.

The messenger soon burst into the tent.

"Your Highness, there’s unusual activity in the Human Race’s camp! We suspect they’re mounting an attack!"

"An attack? What’s their progress?"

"They’re only eight miles from the camp!"

"What!"

Prince Trilman’s face fell.

’How is that possible?’

Prince Trilman had the Human Race’s camp scouted every half hour. Just thirty minutes ago, there had been no sign of movement. How had they managed to get within eight miles of them so quickly?

As a veteran commander, Prince Trilman knew full well that a unit’s mobilization speed was a direct reflection of its combat prowess.

And without a doubt, the combat prowess of this human army was formidable.

It was no wonder, then, that the Centaur Clan, who had once dominated the battlefields, had been beaten so badly by a few thousand humans that they dared not even leave their own gates.

General Wilson, however, failed to grasp this. Instead, he simply looked at Prince Trilman.

"Your Highness, I was wondering, have you prepared a rearguard unit?" General Wilson asked.

’Me? I’m supposed to prepare it?’

Prince Trilman was taken aback.

Once the implication sank in, the Prince sneered inwardly.

’These Beastman officials... their brains have been completely pickled by power.’

’What time did he think this was? A time to be squabbling over responsibilities?’

"Oles, your unit will form the rearguard. After the main army has pulled out, you are to resume the advance. Understood?"

Prince Trilman looked toward an aging Tiger Race Warrior.

Oles was the former First Warrior of the Tiger Race and currently a Golden Eighth Tier. The troops under his command were the Royal Family’s elite. He was the most suitable choice for the rearguard.

Oles said nothing more. He simply stepped forward and bowed to Prince Trilman.

"As you command!"

"All other units: gather your arms, prepare three days of rations, and withdraw at once!"

"I will have the specific orders delivered to you in due course," Prince Trilman said.

Prince Trilman didn’t even have to think about it.

’The human army would only dare to attack now because they knew the Centaur King City had been breached.’

’A human army to the front, and a Jackal Wolfman Legion that could appear at any moment...’

’At a critical time like this, Prince Trilman had no patience to stand here and squabble with General Wilson.’

"As you command!"

The other generals present accepted their orders and quickly departed.

General Wilson noticed several of them shooting him disdainful glances as they left.

He merely smiled in response. The troops from Madar Mountain were supposedly there to help them.

But everyone knew that when a force like the Capital Defense Army was deployed away from the capital, its presence on the battlefield was more symbolic than practical.

After all, if the army that guarded the capital itself was being sent out, what excuse could the regional armies possibly have for holding back?

For Wilson, his most important mission was to bring his troops back home without a single scratch.

This was the Madar Mountain Defense Army, after all, and its ranks contained more than a few nobles’ sons. If too many of them died, he, General Wilson, would not be able to withstand the pressure from the Purple Blood Nobles back on Madar Mountain.

At Prince Trilman’s command, the entire Beastman Camp sprang into action.

While not as swift as the Soldiers under Robson’s command, their speed was by no means slow.

Far from the Beastman Camp, a human army was rapidly bearing down on them.

At the same time, an elite force of some five thousand Beastmen, led by Oles, charged out from within the Beastman Camp.