"...So the number of people entering the city is simply not enough!"

"What do you mean the number is not enough? Do we need more slaughter to be satisfied?" Carl, red-eyed, grabbed Petier's collar and shouted angrily.

A few Kush Black Riders hurried forward and pulled Carl's arms to separate him.

Petier, covered in sweat and gasping, struggling for breath, said, "I mean, given the number of troops outside the city, there should have been more entering.

They currently only have an under-strength Imperial Company, a few hundred Foot Knights, and over a thousand Guards, which is clearly unreasonable.

If I were Arman, I would let the under-strength Imperial Company guard outside, while I lead a full-strength Imperial Company into the city. Why let Company Commander Ailard take the credit?

Moreover, they have over ten thousand Guards, Rapids City is so large, they should deploy more forces to quickly capture the city gates.

Why are they only attacking the South and West City Gates?

They have over thirty thousand troops, why send so few? Where are the rest? Why aren't they entering the city?"

In fact, at this moment in the city, only the Guards and Foot Knights were diligently clearing the castle turrets and capturing the gates.

They had only seized the South and West City Gates so far, with the front line advancing to the East City Gate, leaving only the North City Gate defended by Catherine.

Contrarily, dozens of Imperial Knights within the Imperial Company, along with over two hundred Extraordinary Knights, were slaughtering and plundering house by house, filling sacks taller than a person with loot.

The city had been breached for a long time, yet the Knights' raiding speed was fast, but they had only occupied half of the city, even Carl felt something was amiss.

"You mean there's a problem with the Church's army inside?" Carl's eyes lit up, "We can drive them out of the city?"

"I mean there's a problem with the troops outside!" Petier, regaining his breath, blushed unnaturally, "There is an Imperial Company inside, our casualties are heavy, how can we push back?"

"What do you mean then?" Carl asked discontentedly.

"If I'm not mistaken, those troops outside should just be a few ordinary Guards and some staying Farmer Soldiers!" Petier excitedly rubbed his hands, "Have some Kush Black Riders probe from the North City Gate, there's surely a reason they aren't entering."

"Alright." Carl immediately called a trustworthy squad of Kush Black Riders to head out, "They'll be back in no later than half an hour."

"Where is Lady Catherine, I need to report something."

"The president was attacked by Demon Hunters at the East City Gate and is injured, getting bandaged in a tower." Carl pointed to the red-brick tower ahead, "I'm not sure which room she's in, you need to ask."

Before his racing heart could fully calm down, Petier pushed past the Guards ahead and rushed into the tower.

His steps were urgent, ascending two or three stairs at a time, and guided by a maid, hurriedly entered the conference room.

The once exquisite wool carpet was crowded with crying elderly, women, and children; some wounded soldiers were applying medicine to their injuries, grimacing in pain from the beads of sweat on their foreheads.

These were the most core and loyal members of the Meigedi Commerce Association, as well as elderly, women, and children from nearby blocks, estimated to be over a thousand inside and outside the tower.

Carefully threading through the limbs and gaps among the wounded, Petier reached the terrace outside the conference room.

On the terrace outside the conference room, Catherine had shed her armor, wore her usual long dress, and was standing, holding the railing, gazing into the distance.

Flames and black smoke alternated rising, Knights galloped wildly down the wide streets, cutting down fleeing civilians.

Workshops, shops, restaurants, warehouses, carts that were carefully preserved by various Commerce Associations and Guilds, piles of ledgers and books, all trembled under the swords and flames.

On various streets, the City Guard and Wizards still fiercely defended street by street, most Mercenaries either surrendered or disappeared.

Catherine, slashed by a Demon Hunter, stood on the terrace; due to poison, a chunk of flesh had been gouged from the wound on her arm.

Catherine watched the city she had built, piece by piece, collapsing under the galloping Knights' swords.

"Lady Catherine, do you remember yesterday you asked why the Church's army's offensive weakened?" Approaching Catherine from behind, Petier didn't wait for her inquiry and spoke directly, "I know why!"

"Why?" Catherine did not turn, her voice weary like an old person.

Petier, excitedly shared his findings with Catherine, and then said, "If this is the case, I suspect it must be the Salvation Army that has arrived, with the Saint's Grandson as the big fish, which made Arman abandon Rapids City."

Catherine abruptly turned, her eyes suddenly bright and frightening, "You mean the citizens can escape through the North City Gate."

Petier looked over the railing at the lamenting Rapids City, and firmly said, "Yes, the North City Gate has Farmer Soldiers, we can have Kush Black Riders break the camp, our people can withdraw, dispersing to escape, hiding in the forest.

I strongly advise you to head north along the Lai Xi River; the Saint Auntie's Army has a base there, our people can scatter and connect with other Rebel Armies in Hotam County."

"Our people? Only our people?"

Petier smiled bitterly, "If we act fast, we can also evacuate civilians from this nearby block, you must realize, the Knights move too fast, we can't take civilians with us.

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