Spies and Rotations

"May the blessings of the gods be with you, great Empress! Most powerful and beautiful monarch of the Twilight Moon! Your charm makes all flowers pale in comparison, your power makes the world submit!"

Inside the trench safe house, designed and built by a master dwarf craftsman, the handsome and imposing elf wrinkled his nose, put down his pen, raised his hand, and silently cast an air purification spell.

A gentle breeze arose, the valves reversed, and the spell model triggered an elemental reaction, filtering the air in the safe house. Odors were stripped away and solidified, absorbed by the earth element, and condensed into a small black sphere.

The elf slammed the small ball into the ground, took a deep breath of fresh air, and continued writing furiously.

"Once again, I salute you, Your Majesty Dairila, your most loyal subject continues to fulfill his duties and remains unharmed amidst the fierce battle."

As the elf finished writing, he sighed silently. Even the brave and fearless Twilight Moon Warriors couldn't help but show lingering fear when they recalled the battles of the past few days.

Even with Deceleration Field deployed and a dense magical interception system used to withstand the incoming artillery fire, the alchemical weapons of the Dragon of Cathay still exerted immense pressure and intimidation on the elven warrior.

"This is thanks to the protection of the moon goddess and the glorious watchfulness of the empress."

"Please allow me to omit lengthy eulogies and praises, but please believe me, this is not because my loyalty and respect for you have faded in the slightest, but because this was not your intention in sending me here. I will devote more time and effort to describing and reporting in detail the battle situation of these days for Your Majesty's reference. Furthermore, please allow me to humbly indicate that my loyalty to you remains as unwavering as ever."

The elf picked up his pen, pondered for a moment, and continued writing, "Three days have passed since the official battle between the Dragon of Cathay and the Northern Council. Both sides, without prior agreement, have launched a massive long-range attack from their respective positions. As wise as you are, you will surely remember the history of war. From ancient times to the present, such large-scale mid-to-long-range magical battles are not uncommon, but I am certain that this time is different."

"In the many fierce battles between magical legions of the past, even if the spellcasting powers of both sides were locked in a stalemate and unable to determine a victor, it did not mean that the battlefield had come to a standstill. While the spellcasting powers of both sides were restraining each other in offense and defense, the conventional troops would decisively strike, fighting like armies of the old days."

"The army advances, arrows provide cover, scouts provide harassment, heavy cavalry charge in waves... Even without the support of mage corps, the soldiers will pursue the glory of victory. In fact, many legendary battles in the history of Twilight Moon were fought by fearless elven warriors who decisively attacked in the absence of spellcasting support, forging legendary epics with fearless sacrifice and courage. Their deeds still inspire us to forge ahead."

The military observer from the Dusk Moon Dynasty exhaled and shook his head slightly.

"The stalemate between the Distant Harbor and Northern Council has lasted for three days."

"The soldiers on both sides hid in the trenches, letting their ranged attack and defensive interception forces fight each other, like spectators sitting in dangerous stands. Neither Kang De nor Grand Speaker Griffin organized a single ground offensive; they were simply taking the beating."

"This situation is unprecedented, and even the military observers were astonished. However, without a doubt, it is probably the wisest choice... wise, but absurd."

"I must emphasize again the surprise that the Distant Harbor military gave me."

"I initially thought that the newly formed army, with its cobbled-together spellcasting capabilities, would have a fatal weakness in arcane magic, making it completely unable to withstand the Council's elite troops. But to my surprise, they seem to have done very well. Their spellcasting channels and elemental capacity are extremely limited, far fewer in number than the Council's, yet they have almost accurately and effectively utilized all their strength."

"I even have to say, with a sense of dismay, that Dragon Banner Warband of similar size couldn't have done any better... The vast majority of high-threat spell attacks were intercepted very well, and the Arcane prowess displayed by the Distant Harbor Mage Legion left a deep impression on me."

"In contrast... the Council's army also performed very well."

The intense exchange of fire between the two sides over the past few days has unsettled the proud elves.

He witnessed the scene firsthand: the river of Flame rushed from the Distant Harbor Army's ranks to this point, pouring down on the vanguard positions like a shower of meteors. It was especially terrifying at night, with the sky filled with flashing lightning, shrill howls, and terrifying roars, as if the end of the world had come.

This even reminded the elf of the several crushing defeats suffered by the expeditionary force during the Goth-Moon War. Now, experiencing it firsthand, he realized that it wasn't the expeditionary force that was incompetent, but rather that the Cathayan were too terrifying.

But Griffin's army managed to hold them off.

Under the effect of the Deceleration Field, Kang De's lightning-fast alchemical cannon fire was indeed greatly slowed down, to the point that even the Elven Archers could detect and intercept it.

Thus, the point defense magic device unleashed a massive barrage of missile-type spells, Chain Lightning pulling and circling, atmospheric condensation deflection, and extreme freezing jets... The raging rivers of Flame were all blasted apart, and the arcane forces responsible for interception and defense displayed extremely high skill, acting swiftly and precisely.

Deal with the big ones first, then intercept the small ones; it's always the right approach.

"Almost all of the large alchemical projectiles were blocked. Although some were not successfully intercepted, their power and threat were greatly limited. In particular, the soldiers' use of trenches and safe houses as shields was extremely effective. The safe houses built by the dwarven craftsmen were extremely sturdy; they were very good at making them."

The elf paused for a moment, seemingly hesitant.

Then he sighed and continued writing.

"In other words, Kang De's alchemical weapons, which allowed him to overcome stronger opponents and crush the enemy, were indeed completely countered by Griffin Williams's magical artifacts and tactics. The overwhelming and invincible glory of the Goth-Moon War is no more... After all, for Kang De, who has a shallow foundation and poor interpersonal relationships, a stalemate is tantamount to defeat."

"Because observers from all nations are here, and the eyes of the entire continent are focused here, Kang De has made no breakthroughs on the front lines. The longer this goes on, the more restless those with ulterior motives will become."

"While the alchemical weapons from the Distant Harbor have yet to prove effective, the Northern Council forces are growing stronger. They continuously learn from each attack and defense, improving their tactics and formulating and refining relevant defensive regulations, with remarkable results. Each time they are attacked, they perform better than the last."

"It is said that a new defense system was deployed yesterday, designed to counteract the elemental shockwaves generated by the explosion of alchemical weapons. The effectiveness of this system remains to be seen. After all, I am an elf, and although the Northern Council be completely open and transparent, they are still secretly wary of me, with my pointed ears."

When the elf wrote the word "pointed ears," he scoffed, revealing a look of disdain.

Short-lived varieties are just so indecisive, hesitant, indecisive, and stingy.

They either refuse to let me participate in battlefield observation outright, or they kill me by underhanded means. Now they neither dare to kill me nor kick me out, but just secretly spy on me. They're really spineless.

--This spy job is really frustrating.

Upon thinking of this, the elf exhaled, his breath sounding somewhat like he was gritting his teeth.

That damn Kang... Ugh, you can't say that, you can't say that.

After much deliberation, the loyal, pointy-eared creature finally devised a fitting curse.

That wretched Kang De, may you soon realize His Majesty's perfection and charm, be captivated by his unparalleled beauty, and thus fall deeply in love, regarding His Majesty as the only love of your life.

--And then you'll be hacked to pieces for abandoning your ex-lovers!

--And then, as a trivial footnote in his long life, he was slowly forgotten by His Majesty!

The elf spat on the ground with a ferocious expression.

He knew why His Majesty had sent him as a Council officer to serve under Griffin as a military observer— the Phoenix King needed intelligence Council the battle situation from the Council's perspective.

The pointy-eared creature sighed heavily, hesitated intensely for a moment, and then continued.

"Given that observers from various nations have been continuously sending back detailed reports on the battle, and that Kang De's alchemical weapons have been completely countered, these nations will inevitably take action. In the foreseeable future, Kang De will gradually fall into a disadvantageous position, and the situation will worsen. I humbly offer this insignificant suggestion, and urge Your Majesty to consider it carefully..."

He gritted his teeth, his face contorting in an increasingly grotesque manner, and his pen moved with the force of a thousand pounds.

"... If Twilight Moon intends to win over the Dragon of Cathay and bind it to the Elven chariot, the near future will be the best time to lend a helping hand. Your Majesty, please prioritize the affairs of the state."

Oh shit.

Dog shit, Cathayan.

Get killed by Griffin before that happens, you bastard!

The fierce-looking elf spat on the ground again.

The force was so great that it even smashed a small hole in the ground.

He continued, looking displeased. "In short, the battle is at a stalemate, but the scales of victory Northern Council. Under the constraints of the Deceleration Field, Kang De's alchemical weapon has not achieved the expected results, failing to live up to its legendary reputation. Perhaps the Deceleration Field's effect is unexpected, but there is also a slight possibility that Kang De is deliberately controlling the weapon's output..."

"--That being said, it is highly unlikely. I have pondered this for a long time but have not been able to deduce the meaning and purpose behind Kang De's actions. After all, given the current political situation, Kang De's actions are too drastic, making him an enemy on all sides. The Deceleration Field is shaking people's morale, and only a swift victory can maintain deterrence."

"Otherwise, if this drags on until the people in the Distant Harbor are unsettled, the Goth nobles rebel, and the Empire intervenes with troops... the situation will be worse than it is now, which is neither logical nor in our best interest."

The loyal minister, once again subtly reminding the queen in a clever and emotionally intelligent way, felt increasingly frustrated, shaking his head and continuing in a sorrowful manner.

"I'm afraid I must remind you again that Kang De is losing ground."

"This is not an exaggeration, nor does it stem from any hostility from your subjects towards Kang De. Although the current strategic situation remains stalemate, the Council is constantly replenishing its reinforcements and supplies. With the support of the entire North and the continuous deployment of new equipment of unknown origin, the Northern Council growing stronger every day."

"After all, as you know, the Northern Council's population, area, and resources far surpass those of a mere city like Distant Harbor. Griffin has been preparing for this war for months, and supplies are constantly being delivered. In the face of the same stalemate, a day in Griffin's life is completely different from a day in Kang De's."

"Furthermore, if my prediction is correct, the stalemate will soon be broken."

The elf glanced at the tactical sketches he had pasted on the wall and shook his head slightly.

"Your Majesty believes that the current awkward stalemate, with only long-range forces engaging in combat while conventional troops remain holed up in fortifications, is likely a result of a desperate measure."

"For example, the Council's forces intercepted Kang De's incredibly powerful alchemical weapon, but this mainly relied on the miraculous effect of the Deceleration Field and the protection of the trenches. Once Griffin's army breaks out of the trenches, leaves the protective range of the Deceleration Field, and attacks Kang De, there is no doubt that the alchemical weapon, with its unlimited power and speed, will repeat the outcome of the Battle of Song Moon, easily destroying the Council's army."

The elf, who had subtly and casually reminded the Queen that "Kang De has a grudge against us," still had to suppress his unease and praise Kang De fairly because of his duty, which made him feel extremely awkward.

Similarly, while the fact that Kang De's army was able to withstand the Council's arcane attacks was due to the outstanding performance of its magic troops, it also relied heavily on the advantages of static defense.

"In other words, once the Distant Harbor Army leaves its position and begins its attack on the Council, I think its magic-based forces will be unable to provide cover for its regular troops during a dynamic offensive. In particular, the Griffin position is protected by Deceleration Field; once Kang De's army enters the Deceleration Field, its combat capability will be greatly weakened, and the consequences are predictable."

"Therefore, the current awkward stalemate between the two armies stems from the change in the war situation. The powerful defensive capabilities and terrifying firepower of both sides determine that the advantage of defense far outweighs that of offense at this moment. Therefore, Griffin and Kang De have both chosen the same strategy and have not launched any probing attacks, because these two excellent commanders have foreseen that the consequences of launching an attack would be disastrous."

Even if a skilled person had been around for a long time, they would never have seen such a situation.

Such intensity of attack and suppressive capability is beyond what conventional troops can compensate for with courage and tactics... Who could have imagined that this war would turn out like this?

The valiant elf sighed inwardly and made a judgment based on his military experience.

--This war will not produce any legendary epics.

Brave soldiers could only hide behind Bulwark of heavy firepower, fighting a stale and cautious battle.

"But this stalemate cannot last much longer."

"Because..."

The military observer from Twilight Moon wrote slowly, "Because Griffin can advance his position, the new Deceleration Field mechanisms have arrived, and his army, escorting the mobile Deceleration Field mechanisms, is slowly advancing and constantly closing in. Soon, they will bring Kang De's position into the range of the Deceleration Field, weakening all the weapons in the position... If Kang De has no countermeasures, he will obviously be repelled."

"Each forced retreat weakens his prestige and deterrent power, stirring up the restless hearts of other nations. This is my judgment, Your Majesty, I must remind you..."

As the elf observer was writing furiously, he was unaware that two cold gazes pierced through the thick layers of earth and protective barriers, landing on him.

"There's something wrong with those pointy ears."

"I know, he said he was a young officer sent by the Dusk Moon Parliament, but I suspect he's the Queen's dog. He came here as a spy to send intelligence to the Queen, and Kang De knew it the moment he turned around... after all, she's Kang De's lover."

Upon hearing this, Phaethon said coldly, "Then I'll kill him."

Griffin frowned and said, "No! You can't touch him. I'm warning you again, I'm not joking, don't lay a hand on him."

"Why?"

"Do you really think the elves are easy to deal with? Do you really think the Queen doesn't care about anything and just sends a assassin to gather information? He probably has some kind of life-saving item or secret technique on him. If we try to kill him and fail, or if he sends something back to Twilight Moon before he dies, the elves will definitely use that as an excuse to accuse us of killing members of the investigation team. The Queen might even use this as a reason to directly intervene in the war."

"But isn't he a spy?"

"We can't find anything wrong with him—I bet his report is spot-on, with no faults whatsoever."

Griffin sneered, "That pointy-eared fellow is quite clever. I've tried several times to have Kang De's artillery fire kill him, but I didn't expect him to be so wary... you bastard."

"Then let's just..."

"Have you forgotten what I said? Don't give the Queen any leverage." At this point, the Grand Chancellor looked at the God of the Star Palace, "Do you intend to push the elves to Kang De's side?"

Upon hearing this, Phaethon angrily shut his mouth.

The Fire Thief was his only weakness, and also the magic bullet that Griffin used to persuade him.

He said with dissatisfaction, "I have already inquired about the situation in the Mortal World. Among these elves, is there anyone who is dissatisfied with the Queen's position? Although it is certainly an honor for a mere Mudblood king to serve the Fire Thief, it is only natural that you Mudbloods are so ignorant, foolish, and narrow-minded, that you are not happy?"

... What the hell is this Dior talk?

Griffin frowned and said, "What do you mean?"

"Let those discontented elves rise up against the Queen and overthrow her! Since the elves might join the Fire Thief, we should let them split up and fight amongst themselves to eliminate this threat."

Phaethon pondered, "How about we capture this elven spy, interrogate him, and then send him to that Silver Moon Council to overthrow the Queen?"

"... no."

"What's wrong now?"

"... You don't understand politics," Griffin sighed. "I know about the Queen and Kang De, and that elf knows too. Go ask around; even the lowest-ranking soldier knows. The Silver Moon Council knows, the elven commoners know, but... the Dusk Moon Dynasty doesn't."

Phaethon blinked.

The Star Palace's social structure is practically nonexistent, so where do all these twists and turns come from?

Griffin patiently explained, "Let me put it this way: if we present what we call evidence to accuse their queen of having an affair with Kang De, the elves will not only vehemently deny it, but they will also be furious because we are insulting their queen and tarnishing the honor of the Dusk Moon Dynasty. Even the parliamentarians, who are at odds with the royalists, will publicly declare that this accusation is a disgrace to the nation and that war will be used to wash it away..."

Phaethon paused for a moment, then exclaimed, "The Mudbloods are so strange!"

"Forget about all the scheming and plotting," Griffin said, then realized his lack of emotional intelligence and added, "After all, you can destroy everything with your overwhelming power."

The God of the Star Palace nodded and said, "That makes sense. Elves are unworthy."

"After three days of replenishment and adaptation, the new deceleration mechanism is in place. I think we can try launching an offensive. The stalemate these past few days has somewhat dampened the soldiers' morale, and we need a major victory to boost it... In addition, the other nations can see Kang De's weakness from these days of stalemate, and Goth's friends should have made up their minds as well."

Griffin's gaze drifted into the distance, towards the direction of the enemy.

"The troops in the Distant Harbor have been under attack for several days, and their morale must be quite low. After all, witnessing the invincible Kang De being thwarted here firsthand must have been a truly disheartening experience... Ha."

The Grand Speaker said coldly, "It's time to shatter their beliefs."

At this very moment, at the Distant Harbor position, Kang De scratched his head.

"Griffin's about to make a move, isn't he?" He looked at the map for a while, then looked up and asked, "Horus, has the regular troops completed one round of pressure-resistance rotation warfare?"

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PS1: Update... The specialist I booked is tomorrow. I need to confirm the surgery plan. It probably won't be done on the same day, so I can probably update again before the surgery. I'll give you more details tomorrow.