The guy has a point, but it doesn't make all of this particularly good, either.

Slurping up another mouthful of noodles, Hellboy chews thoughtfully.

Evandau had known Malicant was coming. He'd told Hellboy point blank that there was nothing they could do about it, either. That they had to wait. But so much good that's done.

"No," he says after a while. "Evandau and the Emperor knew that thing was coming. It's why they've been bringing people here for years. They had the whole thing planned."

Except Eshai somehow got herself killed, and the entire palace is under siege. He doubts that was part of their plan.

"If you ask me, our problem's a hell of a lot worse than it should be."