"How are this batch of newcomers performing?"

In the western command center of the Maginot Line, Murphy, stationed there, asked with interest as he sat in his chair. Adel, who was standing by his side, fully armed and ready to deploy at any time, glanced at the records of the Calculating Pearl and said softly:

"Just five minutes ago, the last newbie team deployed to the frontline was wiped out. Five hundred newbie warriors lasted only one morning in the frontline trenches, and currently, fewer than twenty have survived. Although intense combat played a role, their performance is indeed not as strong as the outworlders we carefully selected before.

In terms of adaptation and inherent talents, they are rather common."

"Well, perhaps this is the normal scenario."

Murphy shrugged, looking a bit regretful but not sorrowful, and said:

"There’s always a difference between one in a million and one in a hundred, but this performance has already far exceeded that of new recruits going into battle for the first time. This fully proves that our heroic spirits still have a lot of potential to be tapped. Besides them, how are the casualties of the soldiers on the position?"

"Currently, it’s still within acceptable range."

Adel reached out and nodded on the spiritual energy sand table shaped by the Goatman Spellcaster in front of her, saying:

"Since the Wolf People’s forces haven’t yet unfolded, the defense line attacked this morning was only at the ’Nark Mine’ area in the central-east. However, based on the current large-scale movements of Wolf People through the Polluted Swamp, the frequency of battles occurring will significantly increase this afternoon. However, there are actually only a few terrains on this front line that are most prone to large-scale attacks and possibly the fastest to be breached. Key areas have been garrisoned with heavy troops.

According to the predictions made by General Kuder’s command center, the trend of the war, including at your ’Lord’s position,’ will enter a white-hot phase within the next two days, and then the truly brutal casualties will present themselves before you.

However, the commanders of each defense zone have already made comprehensive preparations..."

"In a war of this scale, there’s no such thing as a foolproof preparation, Adel. The number of Wolf People is more than five times that of the defensive troops, not to mention they also have Gnolls that are nearly impossible to wipe out aiding them."

Murphy shook his head and said:

"Even though it’s not the first time dealing with the Wolf People, it’s only when I actually sit here that I can feel the pressure that each Black Disaster in the past brought to the civilized camp. The almost defenseless terrain within Transylvania is deadly, perhaps we need to prepare in advance.

Send an order to Milian for me, have her gather the militia from various places to the towns behind the Maginot Line, and incorporate these warriors into the reserve forces system under Kuder’s command.

This might be the last advantage the Transia People have.

The quality of the militia in this godforsaken place is comparable to the second-line regular army elsewhere, so we need not worry about them collapsing due to lack of training when sent to the frontline..."

"Bang"

Murphy hadn’t finished speaking yet when the door of the command room was pushed open. Miss Doris, the leader of the Blood Rat Gang, ran in with a distraught face holding a battle report. She said in a hoarse voice:

"Governor, there’s an unexpected situation on the central battlefield. Just now, a group of Gnolls tunneled through temporary tunnels near the trenches. They used a large amount of explosives to destroy a trench, where two hundred of our garrison troops were..."

"Where did they get these explosives?"

Murphy’s face changed suddenly, and he got up to question:

"When did the Wolf People adopt this new tactic? Weren’t those guys always averse to explosions and fire?"

"The explosives are from Brass Fortress, Governor."

Miss Doris said seriously:

"The Silver Dwarf Priest risked going to the explosion site and brought back definitive news; those were the explosives used by the Brass Dwarves for mining, with remnants bearing the stamp of a mining company from the Brass Fortress.

We cannot assess exactly how many explosives the Wolf People have in hand, but the cunning Huggesen must have obtained this batch of materials during their swamp advance, only to use it now.

Moreover, according to the Dwarf Priest, all major mining companies on the Brass Dwarves’ side have the habit of stockpiling large quantities of explosives at low prices to prevent market fluctuations. Coupled with the astronomical number of explosives the Brass Dwarves have stored near the fortress to prepare for war.

If the Wolf People really found a dwarf’s buried ammunition depot somewhere in the ruins, we are in big trouble."

"Immediately dispatch the Thorn Night Walkers to scout out the storage locations of the Wolf People’s explosives at the fastest pace."

Murphy’s brows furrowed deeply at this moment, and he said:

"This very disadvantageous variable for our side must be quickly eliminated, Adel, notify Kuder to change the tactics... ah, forget it, I’m not good at commanding, the more complex the situation, the more micro-managing can’t work.

Let him make the decisions.

But send a warning to Klim Fortress, with explosives in the hands of the Wolf People, the Invincible Wall also becomes a direction they can choose to breach. All preparations on this defense line are inclined to protect Transylvania; if Klim Fortress is unexpectedly breached, I can hardly imagine what a chaotic situation Kavkhoka will become."

Murphy had never realized he might also have a talent for bad omens.

Just less than an hour after his warning message was sent out, trouble occurred at Klim Fortress.