Rathlos’s grip on the document tightened slightly, and the faint crackle of energy around him did not fade as he continued reading. The paper was not just a simple report, because it carried the seal of the Imperial Court, and every word written on it held authority.

The declaration was formal and absolute.

At the very top, the imperial insignia was stamped in deep crimson, and below it, bold lines of text stretched across the page.

[Imperial War Declaration Report Vanguard Collapse Incident]

The first lines summarized the event without emotion, and the tone remained cold and detached.

The Human Vanguard Force, which had been leading the advance into Demon territory, suffered a catastrophic defeat during a coordinated enemy ambush. The loss included multiple high-ranking officers, elite troops, and support divisions. Estimated casualties exceeded hundreds of thousands, and surviving forces were scattered and in disarray.

Rathlos’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read further, and the faint tapping of his fingers on the table stopped.

The next section was worse. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

[Preliminary Investigation Findings]

The failure of the vanguard force has been attributed to severe misjudgment, lack of reconnaissance discipline, and failure to anticipate enemy coalition movements.

Multiple warnings regarding unusual enemy activity were either ignored or not properly evaluated.

Forward advance was conducted without securing retreat routes and without sufficient coordination with rear support forces.

Preventive defensive measures were not implemented despite signs of an impending large-scale counterattack.

Rathlos’s fingers tightened around the edge of the document, and the paper made a faint crumpling sound under the pressure.

"...They are already shifting the blame," he muttered quietly, and his brows furrowed slightly.

The next section listed names, and each name was followed by a short note that felt more like judgment than information.

[List of Responsible Command Personnel]

[General Aaron – Divine Rank]

Failure to understand the enemy forces resulted in a disastrous defeat.

Status: Dead

Commander Han – Mythic Rank Officer

Failed to stabilize retreat and maintain formation integrity.

Status: Presumed deceased.

Commander Hale – Mythic Rank Officer

Abandoned command position during critical engagement.

Status: Missing, suspected desertion.

The moment Rathlos read that line, his expression darkened completely, and his gaze turned cold.

"...Desertion?" he said slowly, and there was a sharp edge in his voice as he lifted his head slightly.

The room seemed to grow heavier.

The document did not stop there and continued further down.

Marquise Ethan Blank – Mythic Rank Officer

Participated in vanguard operations.

Status: Unconfirmed. Under observation pending further reports.

Rathlos’s eyes paused on that line for a moment, and his fingers loosened slightly before tightening again.

The wording was careful, because it did not accuse Ethan directly, but it did not clear him either, and that uncertain position made it even more dangerous.

He continued reading.

[Imperial Directive]

All surviving forces are to regroup immediately and reinforce defensive positions.

Any individuals found responsible for dereliction of duty or treason will be subject to immediate arrest and execution upon confirmation.

Efforts must be made to restore morale and stabilize remaining fronts.

Further investigation into possible internal betrayal is ongoing.

The final line was stamped heavily at the bottom.

[By Order of His Majesty, Emperor of Arcadia]

Rathlos slowly lowered the document, and the faint sound of paper brushing against the table echoed in the silent room.

No one spoke.

The tension in the air had grown thick, and even the man with glasses stood still without making a sound.

"...They are rewriting the entire event," Rathlos said quietly, and his voice was calm but heavy.

His gaze turned colder as he stared at the table.

"Ethan..."

He paused slightly, and his fingers tapped once against the surface.

"They are keeping him in the grey."

The man with glasses adjusted his frame slightly, and his voice came out cautious and low.

"This is dangerous."

Rathlos let out a slow breath, and he leaned back slightly in his chair.

"...No," he said, and his tone turned firmer.

"This is deliberate."

His fingers tapped lightly again, and the aura around him had not faded, while a faint pressure lingered in the room.

"They are controlling the narrative before the truth comes out."

Hall, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, and his expression remained serious.

"...There’s more."

Rathlos glanced at him, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"What else?"

Hall hesitated for a brief moment, and then he spoke.

"...Rumors have already started spreading."

Rathlos’s gaze sharpened immediately.

"What kind of rumors?"

Hall lowered his eyes slightly before answering.

"...That the collapse was caused due to the sudden withdrawal..."

He paused for a second and then continued.

"...And that Lord led it."

The room fell into complete silence.

Even the faint movements in the air seemed to stop.

Rathlos did not speak immediately, but the aura around him grew heavier, and the table beneath his hand creaked faintly under the pressure.

"...I see," he said at last, and his voice was calm as he shook his head slowly.

The calmness did not ease the tension. It made it worse.

He then looked at Hall again.

"Any news about the Lord?"

Hall shook his head slightly.

"Currently no, but seeing no talk one about Lord and Sir Maverick, it is safe to assume that they had escaped quietly."

Rathlos remained still for a moment, and then he took a deep, heavy breath.

"Good," he murmured.

As long as he was alive,everything else could still be turned around.

The news did not stay confined to Rathlos’s room for long, and it spread quietly through the manor until it finally reached the inner chambers where Ethan’s wives were gathered.

The atmosphere there had been calm just moments ago, and soft conversations filled the room while attendants moved silently in the background, but the moment the document was placed on the table, that calm shattered completely.

Sophia was the first to react.

She stepped forward quickly, grabbed the paper from the table, and scanned through it in one go, and with every line she read, her expression darkened further while her brows tightened.

"What the hell is this?" she snapped, and her voice rose sharply as she slammed the document back onto the table.

The sound echoed in the room, and the attendants nearby froze in place.

Her eyes burned with anger, and her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady herself.

"Desertion?" she repeated, and then let out a cold, sharp laugh. "They dare to write this shit?"

Her hand clenched tightly against the edge of the table, and her knuckles turned pale.

"That man held the line till the end, and now they call it desertion?"

Amber stood beside her, and although she remained calmer on the surface, her brows were tightly furrowed while she picked up the document again and read it carefully from the beginning, as if she wanted to confirm every single word.

"They are pushing the blame," she said slowly, and her tone was steady but heavy, while her fingers tightened slightly on the paper.

Julia crossed her arms and leaned slightly against the table, and her gaze stayed fixed on the document with a cold, sharp look.

"Not just pushing," she added. "They are shaping the entire story."