Chapter 1889 Mad Ambition

• Seeing Maconne's expression, Stellan swallowed his protest. "All right. What reasons?"
• "There are three," Maconne declared, raising three blunt fingers. "First, some cursed enemy struck us hard this time. Our losses are brutal. Our growth stalls if we don't claw back resources. Second, the Poison Widow Group is already standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us. Leave them unchecked, and they'll turn that poison on us. Better to yank the weed now."
• He paused before continuing, "Third—and this is the beauty of it—Cyclone and Blood Moon are still here. After the hell we just survived, no one will imagine us striking first. Surprise will be our sharpest knife."