To be honest, Robson was somewhat disappointed that the Beastmen hadn't chosen to attack the city directly.
If the Beastmen had dared to attack the city directly, Robson could have easily dragged the war out, slowly turning the entire defensive battle into a war of attrition.
Once it became a war of attrition, the enemy would have no way to achieve a swift victory. And without a swift victory, they couldn't win at all.
...
Not everyone was as composed as Robson about the Beastmen's arrival. Prince Noah, for instance, who had been recuperating in the Ivory Tower, immediately convened a council of Thermopylae's nobles upon hearing the news.
Those in attendance were mostly familiar faces, as there had been very few nobles originally stationed to defend Thermopylae.
"The Beastmen are now on our doorstep. Have we made preparations against a night raid...?"
"So, Sir Robson, what are your thoughts?" Prince Noah asked, looking directly at Robson after a brief opening statement.
