On the second day after Louis' return, the clouds hung heavily over the Red Tide Castle, as if the entire Northern Territory held its breath.

Louis donned his military cloak and bid farewell to his two wives in the room.

Emily gently straightened his lapels, but the worry in her eyes was indescribable.

Sif said nothing, only held his hand for a moment before letting go.

But time was pressing; the pleasures of home could not hold a person back.

Louis walked out of the room with firm steps.

Every second of delay meant more territories falling, more insect carcasses emerging.

Meeting hall of the Red Tide Territory castle.

It was the place they had held meetings months ago, but the atmosphere now was vastly different.

Nobility from all over sat along the long table in the hall, some looking haggard, some with shifting gazes, and most heads bowed in silent despair.

Among them were those personally rescued by Louis from the sea of insects, others who fled to Red Tide before their fortress fell.

No one in the hall spoke, only the wind blew through the window gaps, bringing the late winter chill of the Red Tide Territory.

Louis stood at the head of the table, without formalities or small talk, merely scanned the crowd with calm and piercing gaze.

The nobles lowered their heads or stole glances at his expression, each with a heavy heart, as if they had foreseen that this would not be a gentle discussion.

Louis was silent for a moment, then raised his hand, pointing to the large map of the Northern Territory in the center of the table.

"You all should know the current situation in the Northern Territory."

His voice was not loud, but every word seemed to sink into their hearts.

"The entire western line has fallen. The Gwen Family, the Heiler Family… many of you once called them the 'pillar of the north', and now?"

His gaze swept across, causing some to instinctively avert their eyes.

"Their territories have been occupied by the Doomsday Nest, becoming breeding grounds for insect carcasses. Family members, either dead or turned into insect carcasses."

Louis' voice was steady yet chillingly cold, like a chisel cutting stone.

"And Frost Halberd City is also surrounded."

He stretched out his hand, dropping a scarlet stone piece heavily onto the position of Frost Halberd City on the map.

The piece was surrounded by countless black marked lines, dense as a spider web, like a tightening noose.

"I know you have very few remaining forces, incapable of waging war against the insect carcasses… so if Red Tide falls," he paused gently, "none of us will survive."

"No shelter, no supply, no rear. Your families will flee like the Nott Family, unable to escape; your heirs will cry in the woods, dissected by insect carcasses, your crests nailed to the resin walls of the Nest, becoming nests for the next wave of insects."

His tone was devoid of exaggeration, but it was this calmness that made one feel the undeniable truth.

"You know this, the insect carcasses are not bandits, nor are they rebels. They will not negotiate, nor will they demand ransom, and they won't recognize whose descendant you are.

If Snow Peak County is obliterated, you won't even get the dignified death of a noble."

A young viscount shook at this, nearly knocking over the water cup beside him.

An elderly noble gripped his cane tightly, his face pale as paper, yet he forced composure and sat up straight.

A few patriarchs exchanged glances filled with complexity and fear.

There was resentment, regret, and some wanted to speak, but upon seeing the row of silent Red Tide Knights behind the head seat, swallowed their words.

The air seemed to freeze.

"I know your remaining forces are few, but I also know that whether you admit it or not, these forces cannot hold your ground."

He said this, his tone suddenly sank:

"But relying solely on the Knights of the Red Tide to assist? We only have one direction to rescue, only one supply system, and only limited strength and stamina.

We cannot save everyone simultaneously, unless…"

He slowly walked to the table, his hand resting on the map.

"From today, your troops will be under my unified command."

This statement, like a blade, broke the stifling atmosphere, everyone sat up in shock, with varied expressions.

"From this moment, the knights under your command will no longer be 'troops of a certain house', but the defense line of Snow Peak County. I want your troops to guard the passes, occupy strategic positions, participate in mobile support, becoming part of the Red Tide defense system.

Only this way we may have a chance to hold out, awaiting the Empire's reinforcements."

Louis' words concluded, the hall fell into suffocating silence.

Faces at the Red Tide's long table appeared even paler under the red flag's projection.

Some slightly clenched their fists, some instinctively glanced around, seeking allied gazes, but no one spoke.

They were not ignorant of what Louis meant. They just didn't want to face this reality:

They had no place to retreat.

"If you still want to preserve some 'Lordly dignity', then return to your ruined territories." Louis' voice carried no emotion, "I won't stop you, but I won't send a single soldier to rescue you a second time."

He said, stepping slowly back half a step, making room for the map.

"Choose now. Whether to lend me your forces to rebuild a true defense line, or… keep it, bury it with your surname, into the sea of insects."

This sentence, like a sledgehammer, struck all of their hearts.

The first to stand up was Yorn Harvey.

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