Max tried to plead his case, feeling deeply wronged.

"We didn’t neglect the mission on purpose. Ordinarily, in cases like this, it’s common practice to consider the mission complete if the client’s goal is achieved.”

They hadn’t dragged their feet. On the contrary, they had pushed hard to be prepared for any potential mishaps along the way.

Besides, it was a siege, so they expected to have plenty of time.

Yet, when they arrived, the battle had ended far sooner than anticipated. The battlefield was already being cleared.

In this situation, there wasn’t much left for them to do but …