Angry shouts erupted left, right, front, and rear as nobles, lords, and commanders rushed toward the fiery scene.

"We are under attack, milord! The enemy targeted our food supplies! Even our mana stone reserve got caught in the fire!"

"Then what the fuck are you still waiting for? Hurry up and fetch some water to put them out before the fire spreads even further!"

After being scolded by the higher-ups, the holy soldiers clad in white armor immediately scurried to their water sources with buckets.

However, the wizards within the camp proved to be the most useful in putting out the fire with their magic. With a few simple spellcasting, the spreading fires were quickly snuffed out.

Afterward, holy soldiers rushed into the scorched land to salvage what was left and tally up the damages for their report.

While that was happening at the sites of the explosions, other holy soldiers found badly burned bodies further away. The holy soldiers blown away by the shock wave sustained the least damage, but the one directly caught within the blast suffered critical injuries.

Not only were they thrown much further away, but they also suffered burns on various parts of their body unprotected by their armor. Some lost their faces, limbs, and even their lives.

"Medics! Where is the medical team? We need their healing potions! No – Low-rank healing potions won't be enough to treat them. Do we have healing specialists among the wizards? Please send them over!"

A burly blonde lord filled with facial scars strongly requested while supporting a critically injured soldier in his arms.

Nevertheless, medics and wizards rushed forward to help where they could. Some were saved, and some were too late to be saved. The ones that survived critical conditions were transferred to the sick bay while the medics and wizards focused on those in life-threatening states.

"Where is Duke Chalfont?"

Emperor Renardier barged into the sick bay with a heavy heart as he scanned the hundreds of occupied beds for his sworn brother and friend.

The first white explosion, which was also the most devastating explosion, occurred at Duke Chalfont's location. Thus, Emperor Renardier didn't doubt the person got caught in it.

He only hoped the person survived.

Nevertheless, after scanning every occupied bed, his gaze fell on a single body whose face had been reduced to an unrecognizable state.

Being the closest to the epicenter of the white explosion, Duke Chalfont undoubtedly suffered the worse injuries among those that survived.

He lost all his limbs, his sturdy armor was indented, and his face was wholly comprised of melted flesh; he didn't have a single hair left. He couldn't see or hear. Talking was exhausting, and simply breathing was a chore.

However, Emperor Renardier recognized Duke Chalfont's armor. Thus, his heart trembled at his sworn brother's state.

"Chalfont, my brother. Please tell me, how did this happen to you?"

"Wuwuwu.."

Duke Chalfont uttered incoherent noises due to his fused flesh and missing parts of his mouth and tongue. Tears dripped from the corners of his eyes. Emperor Renardier immediately understood it had something to do with Dorothy, and his heart quickly turned cold.

The enemy had planted a magic bomb inside Duke Chalfont's daughter. Thus, there was no need to look for her. There was probably nothing left of her untrained body.

He felt cold sweats when he thought of the possible consequences. If the enemy had set off the explosion during the war meeting, even if he could escape unscathed, the rest of the war council would have been crippled or killed.

However, there was no way the enemy would have overlooked such an opportunity.

"What a devious trap.. Is this a strategist's mercy? I don't know who planned this, but rest assured, my brother. I will definitely make them pay for what happened. I will let them know how terrible a mistake it was to show kindness to their enemy in war. Such an opportunity doesn't come twice!"

Emperor Renardier vowed to avenge Duke Chalfont and every victim as his eyes burned with silent rage. After instructing some Peak-stage Second-Circle Wizards to take special care of Duke Chalfont, he left the sick bay, giving the person some time alone to grieve.

If Duke Chalfont knew such a situation would happen, he would have picked a different choice. But, unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret.

He could only live with the fact that he had lost his only miracle child. He had toiled for most of his life before he could produce a single child, yet she was gone just like that.historical

"I regret it so much.. I swear I will kill you all..!"

After drowning in his regret, Duke Chalfont transformed all his regret into hatred for the Kingdom of Black Rose.

..

Meanwhile, after leaving the sick bay, Emperor Renardier returned to the explosion site with a grim and serious look.

"Give me a damage report," Emperor Renardier demanded, causing the nearby soldiers to sweat nervously as they sensed his silent rage and growing hatred.

Even though they knew his anger and hatred weren't directed at them, the intimidating pressure of a Late-stage Aura King wasn't something they could ignore just because they wanted to.

"Right at once, Your Imperial Majesty!"

A young-looking count with dashing, long blonde hair acknowledged the order before grabbing a clipboard from a nearby holy soldier to peruse the information recorded on it.

"The explosions cost us four-fifths of our food supplies, mana stones reserves, and one-tenth of our magic grenades, bombs, and other explosives. For casualties, we have 1,457 critically injured or crippled, 389 lightly injured, 5,433 deaths, and roughly over 4,000 soldiers still unaccounted for since we couldn't locate their bodies."

"Fortunately, our men were swift in taking out the fire. Otherwise, the explosive chain reaction might have continued. We can also restock food and mana stones, but it will take time to transport them from other regions."

"However, that also means we won't be able to use much of our magitech siege weapons for the time being. We won't be able to use our fleet of magic airships for extended periods either."

After the young-looking count finished the report, Emperor Renardier's expression turned grave with narrowed eyes.

Although the enemy didn't blow up their war council, the damage to their supplies wasn't any worse either. The loss of resources was hard to recover.

"They got us good. This first exchange of moves.. was our loss."

Although he was unwilling, Emperor Renardier had to admit the Kingdom of Black Rose had bested them during the first exchange of moves.