Riches and Bitches: I have a gate to an isekai and leveling-up system!

Chapter 457 On the other side of the walls (part 2)

It didn't take all that long for all the officers gathered in the general's tent to read through it, regardless of what angle they were looking at this torn piece of paper at.

Reading through the tone didn't mean figuring out how they were to comment on it, especially when even the commanding general himself didn't bother to utter a single word about it.

"You are here to advise," Yrven, the man boasting the highest military rank below the emperor himself within the entirety of the empire, addressed his officers. "So what do you think you are all doing, staying silent?!"

Yrven's voice lacked the usual edge, the underlying fury that all of the present has long since gotten used to. And once again, just like when the man suddenly calmed down, this difference was the very source of their fear.

Fear, that soon turned into realization that things weren't going anywhere near to what they had all expected to have reported by the end of today.

"We should punish all the traitors who dared to blemish the imperial honor with their shameful retreat!" One of the nobles, eager to gain the generals' recognition, came forth with a suggestion.

A suggestion only someone appointed to the job through his connection rather than his merits could propose.

'It's one thing to bully your own troops while in the times of peace, but to keep doing that when all the facts are pointing out to us losing?' Hugo thought, shaking his head in silence.

He was the lowest-ranking officer within the tent. The youngest of the few strategists present and mere errand-guy to the generals.

In the eyes of all the others, he was merely a tactician who managed to somehow clutch his way through all the steps leading up to his promotion to a strategist rank.

Or, in simpler terms, he was the last person who should be speaking out right now, save for if he wanted to become a scapegoat for not only the general, but all of his officers to express their dissatisfaction on.

"All those who got their rank through any other means than merit, out."

Once again, the insides of the tent filled with nothing but silence. And then, one by one, people started to leave.

Starting with those who used their merits to get to the high positions so that they could show off their actual skills and serve the empire in the best way they knew, then with those who simply wanted a nice job and with those who simply wanted the bragging rights completing the parade.

By the time the forced, voluntary purge came to an end, the crowded tent proved to be extremely spacious, now that there were only eight people in total occupying its insides.

"Now, I ask you again," Yrven moved his eyes from one face to the other, giving himself a proper opportunity to look each and every last one of his remaining officers directly in the eyes. "You are here to advise, so, what is your advice?"

Huge looked to his left and then to his right, seeking inspiration from his more experienced colleagues.

'Even if I'm one of the few who remained...' he thought, gritting his teeth as he continued to pray that someone would finally speak up, 'it is not my place to utter a word.'

"Guys..." Yrven sighed while lowering and then shaking his head. "I'm not going to eat you, so if you have anything to say..."

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Hugo took a deep breath.

"Sir general, there's no use arguing about reality. We might dislike it, but things are what they are, regardless of our opinion on it."