If the People are Saved, the Land is Lost, then Both People and Land are Saved

The cold tent was dead silent.

“…”

Vivian silently scanned the many demons before her, her face not showing the slightest change in expression.

To be honest, she was a little disappointed.

Vivian already had a complete set of ideas in her mind.

In fact, the moment she heard the news, she had already constructed a mature response plan, relying on her Demon Lord’s constitution and her knowledge from a previous life.

But she still wanted to see what her subordinates were capable of, or rather, to what extent their subjective initiative had reached.

And judging by the chaotic argument just now, Vivian was clearly not satisfied.

‘…Is this pre-programmed?’

Vivian pondered, continuing to explore the possible game settings that might exist.

After all, this was not an unfamiliar world, but another world that existed within a game, and there were also transmigrators and players.

If that was the case, then were the lives outside of the players purely NPCs?

Or were they truly beings with self-awareness?

Or were they just tools set up by some unseen hand, with their own set of behavioral codes and logic that they couldn’t break, and that was it?

So, facing the matter of Garen leading the Rhine Holy Church’s expeditionary army to attack, Vivian decided to throw it out there and see everyone’s reaction.

In fact, it was much as she had expected.

Elia, with her loyal dog setting, didn’t express any of her own opinions.

Asi, the hunter in the shadows, was more pragmatic and cautious, unwilling to face the expeditionary army in such a state.

As for the reactions of the Black-Obsidian Troll named Stonehammer and the Shadow Demon captain Gangrel, they were also within Vivian’s expectations, but it was precisely because of this that she felt a little disappointed.

Elia was a perfect executor but lacked strategic counsel.

Asi was pragmatic enough to see the predicament, but his proposed withdrawal was too direct, without considering other consequences.

Gangrel’s bravery was commendable, but almost blind, bloodthirsty courage would only lead to destruction.

Old Stonehammer’s loyalty was beyond doubt, but he was too attached to the symbol of “homeland” itself.

Arguing, division, emotionalism… they were more like chess pieces pre-programmed with labels like “loyalty,” “bravery,” and “caution,” reacting instinctively to a crisis rather than being generals with independent thought and groundbreaking ideas.

But a single meeting couldn’t prove much, and time was tight, not allowing her to continue indulging in such philosophical speculation.

So Vivian quickly swept the distracting thoughts from her mind.

“Evernight City cannot be held. We must evacuate from here.”

Vivian spoke faintly.

The moment her words fell, a look of extreme disbelief appeared on Old Stonehammer’s face, while the Shadow Demon captain Gangrel was stunned, as if he couldn’t understand the Demon Lord’s words.

“L-Lady Demon Lord?”

“We must evacuate from here.”

Vivian’s voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

She clearly saw the light in Gangrel’s eyes quickly dim, as if his faith had collapsed, while Old Stonehammer painfully lowered his huge head.

“However, this does not mean that we will let the humans just waltz into our territory!

Our homeland!

We will make them pay a price.”

Vivian’s gaze swept across the faces of the demons, taking in all their expressions.

“Of course, I know that some of you are dissatisfied, believing that defending Evernight City is the only way to uphold your honor, courage, and faith.

And our reconstruction work has only just begun to show some progress.

No one wants to give up here.”

“However, I want you to understand one principle!

If the people are saved, the land is lost, then both people and land are saved.

If the land is saved, the people are lost, then both people and land are lost!”

As Vivian’s words fell, an unprecedented concept flooded into the minds of the demons.

If the people are saved, the land is lost, then both people and land are saved.

If the land is saved, the people are lost, then both people and land are lost!

These simple sixteen words contained an inexpressible wisdom!

These sixteen words, like a proverb containing the ultimate truth of the world, carried an unprecedented, subversive strategic wisdom that struck hard into the minds of all the demons present!

“Abandon the defense of Evernight City!

Immediately arrange for the transfer of the wounded soldiers.

Assign manpower to escort the wounded and corresponding resources to the villages and tribes that have been confirmed as safe for them to rest and recuperate!

When making contact with demons in other territories, be careful not to start conflicts.

It doesn’t matter if they don’t trust my return.

Do not harass the residents, and do not disrupt their lives.”

“Take out all the food from the warehouses, prepare for a long battle, and then seal the entrances to the underground warehouses again.

Make sure the traces are well-hidden!”

“In terms of farming, the cultivation of mushrooms will continue.

We will evacuate immediately after harvesting the first wave of mushrooms!

We still have enough time.

We will buy a few more days.

If there isn’t enough time, then forget about it.

Just flee and rendezvous with the others.”

“Ignore the cleared and sown wasteland for now.

Everyone, move out immediately and prepare for dispersal and maintaining contact.”

“Led by Asi’s Shadowmoon Direwolves, the faster demonic creatures will form a rapid reconnaissance force to scout and confirm the position and direction of the expeditionary army.

Prepare to evacuate the villages and towns along the way that may be attacked—”

“Elia, Gangrel!

Prepare your equipment again, prepare for a field battle.

We will set out tomorrow for the border area to meet the enemy.

I will lead the team personally!

But remember, our goal is not to fight to the death with the enemy.

The disparity in our forces is too great.

At that time, everything will be according to my arrangements.

I need absolute obedience!

If anyone has any doubts or hesitations about my orders at that time, do not join this operation.

Otherwise, you will be dealt with by military law.”

“Yes! Lady Demon Lord!”

Vivian calmly, and with extreme organization and priority, laid out the plan she had already conceived.

One by one, the matters were arranged by her in an orderly fashion.

The number of combatants was extremely limited right now.

Considering the manpower and the wounded, Vivian could at most spare a force of two thousand.

The rest would need to be stationed in other villages and towns on standby, to care for the wounded, and even to re-establish relations with her own people.

Moreover, the combat effectiveness of the remaining two thousand was also limited.

They were not good at pure frontal combat—this was related to the combat habits of the demons in the Territory of Evernight.

In the past, the demons under Vivian’s command would drive goblins, kobolds, and other lower-ranking demons to attack the humans during the day, and then launch another attack at night when the enemy was exhausted.

But now, they had no cannon fodder to fill the lines.

And the Rhine Holy Church’s expeditionary army, without being excessive, numbered at least ten thousand, and who knew if there were some otherworldly demons mixed in…

Although there was no definite intelligence, Vivian was still prepared for the worst.

“…This is our home turf. Don’t push us too far.”

After arranging everything, Vivian took a deep breath, looked at the map hanging on the side, and murmured to herself.

She had her own ideas and plans.

The intelligence Lorlu brought was very timely.

She still had enough time to prepare and mobilize.