Formicea Chapter 195

I'm super anxious.

In hindsight, this might've been a foolish errand of mine.

At least, it was stupidly expensive.

This shield costs several tis what our farm was worth.

I'm sure there are many who would even argue if the life of a ssenger wouldn't have been a more cost-effective trade.

A sentint I will never get behind, as I value the lives of those who support .

Though, I contemplated if I should rather send Miru, for her greater abilities to protect herself and therefore greater chances to make it back here alive, but ultimately opted against this, as her general attitude and obvious distaste for the enemy could lead to, for the purpose of peace, counterproductive results.

Bloodbaths are not the best way to go about a negotiation.

So all I can do now is to wait.

Probably still a better position than being at the rcy of an enemy I provoked just before.

Unfortunately, I had a laying session right after we sent this team, so I couldn't watch over them from a safe distance.

Also, as I ntioned before, those leave lately a little restless.

So I gladly receive the ssage that our representatives are returning and get ready to head out to the main plaza.

Yet my heart sinks when I see they don't have that shield with them anymore.

No shield, so I was told, ans that the enemy takes it instead of the ssenger's life if they don't see a reason to stop fighting.

Sothing I can't quite understand.

After all, we are in the far stronger position.

Can they truly still underestimate this severely what the swarm is capable of?

Could it even be because we didn't fight them actively yet, which they took as a sign of weakness?

I don't have an answer to these questions and therefore can only move to the main gate where the two are going to return.

There I already find Liseti and Lord Stormheart, looking at the two returnees.

The mont they're in range, the Marshall already starts questioning them, this Dilion guy's shaking head already proving that I was right with my assumption.

I step closer.

(L)

Now Liseti joins in too.

Seems like the whole war council is assembled.

"I fear they built the whole thing over a specially fortified plateau. Getting through that won't easily be possible." (St)

(C)

"They would notice and be warned if you crush through the hard surface." (St)

So the only way to stop this thing from obliterating us would be to go into a very ssy fight.

One they certainly are expecting and have prepared for.

Not to forget that we would need to destroy this thing so thoroughly that they can't just put it together again and continue.

Also, who says they don't have the materials for more of those?

This is a very problematic situation.