Chapter 272: I Object

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: I Object

The reason she hadn’t told Long Ming and the others was because she’d been ordered by the higher-ups to keep it confidential for the time being.

But since Mountain City Mountain had already made a public announcement, there was no longer any need for secrecy.

"How did they lose?"

Long Ming was completely baffled.

Based on the photos uploaded at the time, Long Ming was certain that after Qian Yun and his men slew that King-level Blood Breath Beast, their forces should have still had considerable combat strength, even with their injuries.

Even if something unexpected had happened, they shouldn’t have lost.

"Sigh... there were two King-level monsters in the Royal City. What’s more, they were incubating a creature even more terrifying than a King-level. Lord Qian Yun and my father fought with all their might, but they only managed to inflict a minor wound on that still-developing monster."

Luoxue said, letting out a sigh.

Hearing Luoxue’s words, Long Ming and the others were shocked to their very core.

"This... this is just completely unfair! We’re not even in the same league as them in terms of power. How are we supposed to win?!"

Jing Chuan said, his voice thick with frustration.

"Yeah, it feels completely hopeless."

The expressions on Zhihan and the others all turned grim.

Luoxue also fell silent, not knowing what to say.

Just then, Jiang Huai walked over from a distance and spoke respectfully to Luoxue.

"Commander Luoxue."

"What is it?"

Luoxue pulled herself together and looked at Jiang Huai, asking.

"City Lord Qian Luo has issued an order. All high-ranking military officers are to proceed to the City Lord’s Mansion to attend a full war council."

Jiang Huai informed Luoxue.

"I understand."

Luoxue nodded slightly and replied in a heavy voice.

Jiang Huai gave a salute and then turned to leave.

Luoxue took a deep breath, then spoke.

"Jing Chuan, Fu Fuqing, Long Ming, Jiang Heng, Zhihan, you’re all coming with me to the meeting!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

Long Ming and the others replied, their expressions grave.

Luoxue then left with Long Ming and the others.

...

A short while later.

Luoxue and the others arrived at the entrance to the City Lord’s Mansion.

Long Ming lifted his head for a look.

The entire City Lord’s Mansion was built in a classical style—a magnificent, imposing structure of courtyards and pavilions, its outer walls engraved with all manner of intricate patterns.

This was the first time in his life he had ever been here.

By now, all the high-ranking members of Mountain City Mountain had arrived. However, no one greeted each other; everyone walked into the City Lord’s Mansion with heavy hearts.

Luoxue led Long Ming and the others inside, following the crowd.

They passed through a garden, walked along a covered corridor, and finally arrived at the entrance to the main hall.

Upon entering the main hall, Long Ming immediately saw the haggard-looking City Lord Qian Luo sitting on the main mahogany throne.

Vice City Lord Xiao Ning, Qian Ying, Qian Wu, and the others stood on either side below the throne.

Luoxue walked over to stand beside Qian Luobing, while Long Ming and the others stood behind Luoxue.

The entire meeting hall was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of City Lord Qian Luo’s occasional coughing.

Once everyone had arrived, the large doors to the meeting hall slowly closed.

City Lord Qian Luo spoke, his voice hoarse.

"I assume you all know the situation."

"Yes!"

Everyone nodded.

"I’ve gathered you all here today to discuss the final battle plan..."

City Lord Qian Luo had barely gotten halfway through his sentence when two notifications suddenly popped up on the meeting hall’s projection system.

"Incoming remote communication request from Sinful City."

"Incoming remote communication request from Star Tower City."

Qian Ying immediately looked toward City Lord Qian Luo.

City Lord Qian Luo didn’t seem surprised by the communication requests from the two cities and gave a slow nod.

The connection was instantly established.

The images of the Abyss Lord, Romage, Elder Fakam, and the others immediately materialized.

Without waiting for City Lord Qian Luo to speak, they immediately began questioning him.

"City Lord Qian Luo, you’d better tell us the truth. Did the decapitation strike on the Royal City succeed or not?"

"It failed."

City Lord Qian Luo replied frankly.

Hearing this, the last bit of hope Romage and the others had been clinging to was finally extinguished.

Although Mountain City Mountain had already issued a public notice, they had still harbored a sliver of wishful thinking.

Elder Fakam sneered, furious.

"Hmph, all you people from Mountain City Mountain think about is hogging the glory for yourselves! You didn’t consult us about anything, and look what happened. Not only did you fail to get your prize, but you’ve also dragged us all down to die with you!"

"Fakam, watch your words. There are some things we’ve simply chosen not to expose to save you some face!"

Qian Ying said coldly to Fakam.

"Expose what?"

Fakam demanded, glaring at Qian Ying.

"Anyone can be a Monday-morning quarterback. If we had actually come to you, would you have cooperated so obediently? If you’re so unhappy and think you can do better, then by all means, send your troops to circle around and launch a sneak attack on the Royal City right now!"

Qian Ying retorted without ceremony.

Hearing Qian Ying’s words, Fakam’s face flushed red with anger, but he didn’t know how to retort.

"Enough. We’re not here to argue today, but to discuss countermeasures!"

the Abyss Lord said in a low voice.

"Hmph!"

Hearing the Abyss Lord speak, Fakam gave a cold snort and didn’t retort further.

Elder Romage then spoke up.

"The Abyss Lord is right. There’s no point in saying anything else now. The urgent task at hand is to discuss how to deal with the tide of Blood Breath Beasts. Our situation is far from optimistic."

Hearing this, City Lord Qian Luo asked in his hoarse voice.

"How much in the way of weapons and ammunition do you have left?"

Upon hearing City Lord Qian Luo’s question, the Abyss Lord and Elder Romage replied, their expressions turning ugly.

"Not much."

"And the Nuclear Bombs?"

"They’re gone."

"It’s the same for Mountain City."

City Lord Qian Luo replied in a heavy voice.

"Then what do we do? Just wait here to die?"

Elder Romage asked, his face dark.

As the saying goes, you can’t make bricks without straw. Without weapons and ammunition, what were they supposed to use to fight the Blood Breath Beasts?

"Of course we can’t just wait to die. Does anyone have a better idea? Feel free to speak up."

City Lord Qian Luo asked with a sigh.

Everyone fell silent at City Lord Qian Luo’s words. The meeting hall was deathly silent.

City Lord Qian Luo’s gaze swept over everyone as he said in a solemn voice.

"Since none of you have a solution, I’ll offer one!"

"Speak!"

the Abyss Lord said in a low voice.

"Our only option now is to gather all our forces and launch a full-frontal assault on the besieging Blood Breath Beasts to draw their attention. Then, we dispatch a commando unit to circle around and strike the Royal City directly. Only by doing this do we have a sliver of a chance of winning."

Qian Luo said to the assembly.

In fact, the reason he had convened this full war council was to convince everyone to take one last gamble!

Hearing this, no one objected. There was no better alternative at present; this non-solution was the only solution they had.

Seeing that no one was opposed, City Lord Qian Luo spoke.

"Since none of you have any objections, then it’s settled."

Long Ming’s brow furrowed tightly. ’City Lord Qian Luo is clearly desperate, planning to go all-in against the Blood Breath Beasts.’ He took a step forward and said in a steady voice,

"Lord City Lord, I object!"

SWISH!

In an instant, the gazes of everyone present focused on Long Ming.

When Luoxue saw this, a hint of surprise also appeared on her face.

Qian Luobing gazed at Long Ming, her icy eyes flickering slightly.

Jing Chuan, Rein, and the others were stunned. How dare Long Ming stand up and object at a critical juncture like this.