Chapter 1369

In an open battle, retreat was always a possibility. A strategic retreat to a more advantageous position could easily turn the tide. Therefore, Thomas needed to cut off the enemy's escape route, trapping them until defeat or surrender.

Inside Valken, Wayne was imprisoned alongside Yuvan and the others. Seeing him, Harvey exclaimed, "Mr. Wayne, how were you captured? Did Mr. Murphy lose?"

Wayne, disheveled, his clothes torn, his body wounded, and blood dried on his lip, looked utterly defeated. Yuvan, still unaware of his betrayal, had spent the night worrying about the lack of rescue. He suspected Clifford's forces had failed, yet clung to hope that Saul would arrive. Wayne's capture shattered this hope.

Yuvan had prepared for failure, anticipating his plan to lure the enemy into the city might not succeed. Harvey, however, remained confident that Clifford and Saul's armies would obliterate the Capital Army. Wayne's appearance triggered Harvey's panic. He demanded, "Tell me, what happened? Did Mr. Murphy lose, or did they not even arrive?"

Wayne, defiance flickering in his eyes, remained silent for a moment. He had attempted escape via Asterpeak Mountain, seeing the situation as irredeemable. He aimed for the capital and Nicholas's protection, but the Capital Army had sealed off the mountain, leading to his capture.

Harvey's fury erupted. "Why aren't you saying anything? Didn't Mr. Murphy arrive? His forces couldn't have lost in a single night! They've lied to us! Wayne, it was you! You urged us to side with Prince Nicholas, to betray my brother! You and Prince Nicholas used us to reach my brother's forces!"

Yuvan's eyes widened. "What? You betrayed me? You all betrayed me?"

Harvey, pale and collapsing to the ground, confessed, "Yuvan, we've served Prince Nicholas, but I was tricked! We were both sent to Thomas as prisoners, intended as sacrifices."

Yuvan, trembling, slapped Harvey. "How dare you betray me? You're my brother!"

"You're useless!" Harvey cried, face buried in his hands, resentment evident. "I've worked with Eleanor for years, planning for you. But you're nothing! A wise person aligns with those who offer success. Naturally, I chose someone more capable!"

"You…" Yuvan raged. "If I'm useless, isn't it because of your incompetence?"

Wayne, coldly disdainful, snapped, "Our incompetence? If you hadn't ignored my advice, we wouldn't be here! I warned you against provoking Ms. Violet, yet you insisted, sacrificing countless soldiers. You provoked the Hell Monarch's household and offended the Spencer family, failing to secure their support. Prince Nicholas succeeded where you failed."

Yuvan, heartbroken by Wayne's betrayal, could scarcely believe it. Harvey's treachery angered him, but Wayne's was a devastating blow.

"There's too much to say," Wayne said, helplessness evident. He should have joined Nicholas sooner; the world might now be his. "You only cared about your reputation. Those who achieve greatness disregard such trivialities. Had you listened during the initial battle, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Didn't you agree to everything?" Yuvan countered, disappointment chilling his anger. He never expected Wayne's betrayal.

"Could I disagree? Did you ever give me authority?" Wayne leaned against the bars, disgust etched on his face. "Your weakness is that so many have betrayed you, and you didn't notice. Lady Fiona betrayed you, and you were oblivious. How could you ever succeed?"

Yuvan's fury peaked. "That wretched woman! She betrayed me too? I'll kill her!"

Wayne's eyes glinted. "She's fled. You're too late. You have no power left."