428: Chapter 56: The Missing Orc Army_3 428: Chapter 56: The Missing Orc Army_3 Restricted by the number of Gryphon Cavalry, the Moxi Duchy had always used them as scouts.
Nevertheless, the reality of the Gryphon Cavalry suffering heavy losses could not be changed.
With every blink, bad news arrived.
The number of fallen Gryphon Cavalry each time wasn’t much, often only one or two losses, the figure seemed negligible, but the issue lay in reinforcement.
It’s true the Moxi Duchy bred gryphons, but gryphons aren’t hens that lay eggs daily.
Their pathetic reproductive ability counted the laying of eggs in years.
Eggs are laid with great difficulty, and often only one or two gryphons can hatch from dozens of eggs.
This does not guarantee that all gryphon chicks will safely grow to adulthood.
Other methods to increase the hatching rate had been tried unsuccessfully due to restrictions from natural laws.
Gryphons bred in captivity have degraded in many aspects.
Those hatched from a second laying through magical means would continue to degrade.
Initially a low-level Magic Beast, after several degradation processes, it directly became a wild beast.
The fighting power of wild gryphons can be set aside for now, but their strength really wasn’t enough to carry a grown man in flight.
Even if there were attempts to artificially hatch, it could only be done with eggs of wild gryphons.
These colony-living Flying Magical Beasts generally nested on cliffs deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
To steal their eggs, one would have to ask the magical beasts along the way whether they’d let you pass.
Unless you were extremely lucky, you wouldn’t even see a shadow of a gryphon egg before becoming magic beast excrement.
The time-consuming breeding process and pitiful hatching rate restricted the growth of the Gryphon Cavalry.
Although the individual combat power of the Gryphon Cavalry was stronger than that of the hawkmen, they were always suppressed by the enemy.
The saying “a group of hawks could kill a gryphon” held true.
“Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, the present situation of our Duchy has deteriorated to the extreme.
No matter the target of the Orc Army, the impact on our situation won’t make any essential difference.
Turning back to besiege the Terence Defense Line, apart from wasting time, would have no real meaning, and the Orcs probably would not make such a fruitless effort.
Continuing south to occupy more of our territory wouldn’t be as impactful as besieging Dapes.
As long as they capture our capital, most of the remaining territories would fall.
Therefore, the only options left are our neighbors.
Whether the Orcs choose to attack the Warhammer Kingdom, or strike at the Alpha Kingdom, doesn’t make much difference for us.”
Martins said, with an air of indifference.
Heavy pressure made this Minister of Defense lose confidence, pushing him towards a path of surrender.
However, after shifting his perspective, the previously anxious Martins seemed calmer.
Unable to stop the Orc Army’s movements, he simply became too lazy to try, focusing solely on defending Dapes.
Even if the main force of the Orcs suddenly disappeared, he would not be moved.
Once his mindset calmed down, his problem analysis became incredibly pointed.
“His Excellency the Count, it’s not without impact.
If we discover the movements of the Orc Army, we should at least inform our allies.
If the war reaches their doorstep from ours without advance notice, it would make future meetings rather uncomfortable.” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Renato, said gloomily.
Passive coping was easy, but it posed bigger trouble for their Department of Foreign Affairs.
Compared to the two neighbors, the power of the Moxi Duchy was slightly weaker.
If they offended everyone, it would lead to future troubles.
Especially now when the two allies still had power, yet they were already crippled by the Orcs.
Under these circumstances, unless you could frame the team to death, it is better not to act rashly to avoid causing hidden troubles for yourself.