Saleen's words might be a bit disrespectful to the Emperor, but he was a grade-6 mage after all and he was also familiar with the Emperor's sister. It was difficult have any respect for the sickly Emperor.
Aini's fifty bodyguards had already left the city and were waiting about ten miles away. A large group of them could not possibly travel any other way in Holy Rock City other than to cut straight through the four towns. Other areas were mostly mountains or small castles that could seek help from the four towns anytime. If Holy Rock City wanted to shut itself from the rest of the mainland, there would be no way out across the entire one-hundred miles.
The only issue was that the Clyde clan's actions were of their own and not under the orders of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There was no way to coordinate with the army. Saleen and the rest passed through Northtown without any issues.
