Encounter
I don't know if it's because they're rushing to get married, but there are an unusually large number of people getting married in October of the year 99987 in the Holy Calendar.
Hudson sent out hundreds of wedding gifts alone; such a dense wedding schedule is terrifying to even think about.
Hudson's two older brothers also got married in October, not wanting to be left behind.
The original plan was to set aside time for Hudson to prepare for his wedding, but something went wrong with the Hollisir Family.
After the two families decided on the marriage alliance, they remembered that the other protagonist was still at the Royal Capital Magic Academy. By the time the news reached them, Melissa had already entered the Monster Mountain Range with the academy's training team.
With the couple absent, the wedding could not take place. The unexpected postponement left both families in an awkward position.
Fortunately, everyone was cautious enough to only announce the marriage and not the wedding date, otherwise it would have been a huge embarrassment.
In compensation, the Hollisir Family agreed to sell 150 doses of Life Essence at 80% of the market price. This generous offer instantly appeased all the discontent of the Coslo Family.
One hundred and fifty Life Essence represent one hundred and fifty chances of creating a knight. Even with a 50% success rate, that would result in the creation of seventy-five knights.
For the large and prosperous Coslo Family, this resource came at the perfect time.
Everyone was satisfied, including Hudson himself. The body was only 19 years old, so a wedding postponement was no big deal.
While getting married early may appease people, its actual effect is ultimately very limited.
If something were to happen to him, leaving behind a young heir, it would be difficult to preserve his legacy.
Since others will benefit anyway, instead of thinking too much, it's better to strengthen your ability to survive.
Recently, Hudson has been going in and out of the laboratory every day, not just to study the Life Essence, but more so to enhance Beldens' capabilities.
The bear's strength is its only strength. If trouble arises on the battlefield, at least it can carry him away.
As for the others, if they really reach the point of complete defeat, they can only pray for their own good fortune!
In terms of survival, Beldens certainly didn't disappoint Hudson. Its running speed was faster than many Flying Eagle Beasts.
After two years of continuous efforts, the philosophy of "survival first" has finally been ingrained in Beldens' very core.
This is the biggest advantage of raising cubs from a young age. If it were an adult Earth Bear, even if Hudson talked himself hoarse, it wouldn't make any difference.
Habits formed over hundreds or even thousands of years cannot be changed in just one or two years.
The atmosphere of war was not diminished by the weddings; on the contrary, it grew stronger over time.
The rainy season did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm for preparation. As the kingdom's inspection team patrolled the area, noble lords left their homes one after another, braving the rain to organize the young and strong for training.
Regardless of the outcome, everyone got moving. It's clear that everyone has a very strong will to survive, fearing they'll become the example of someone who isn't actively participating in training.
The Mountain Territory was no exception; the only difference was that, in order to ensure the production of the mines, not all personnel participated in the training.
There is no need to worry about this. No matter how exaggerated the mobilization intensity is, military production is always a top priority industry.
Unlike previous basic training sessions, this time Hudson even brought out military formations.
Square formation, circular formation, cone formation... he copied out all the simplest military formations from memory.
As for some famous formations, unfortunately, Hudson is just a military enthusiast, not a military researcher, and doesn't know how to operate them.
Most importantly, the situations in the two worlds are different, and none of the formations that are combined with firearms are worth replicating.
On the contrary, the simplest basic military formations can be used in general warfare.
Looking at the chaotic ranks, Hudson knew he had made the right choice. You can't expect too much from serf soldiers; even in the simplest formation, some soldiers will get their positions wrong.
It took almost half a month of effort to teach everyone how to recognize command flags and get rid of the embarrassing situation of having to shout for communication.
This was the performance of the elite troops; the performance of the reserve serf soldiers was even worse, often looking blank and not knowing what they were supposed to do.
From this perspective, it's clear that Hudson wasn't deliberately holding back when he organized the last training session.
The time was simply too short; even completing basic training was difficult. To expect serfs who couldn't even distinguish east from west to north to learn such advanced military formations was far too much to ask.
Even if you manage to learn it by a lot, you'll only grasp the form, not the essence.
Ultimately, the protagonists of war are people. No matter what formations or tactics are used, they must ultimately be implemented by people.
The greatest truths are the simplest; often, the simplest and easiest-to-learn things are the most suitable for war.
Drills, drills... nothing but drills.
Unlike typical armies, Hudson's forces included catapults and ballistae. Their only advantage was their long range, which increased the unit's long-range attack capabilities.
As for the lethality, that depends on whether the enemy is willing to cooperate. If they all rush in at once, the damage will certainly be considerable.
If they were to act separately, it would be very awkward. The accuracy of catapults and ballistae has always been a matter of luck.
An error of a dozen meters is standard operating procedure. Missing the target by tens of meters is also not impossible.
High-precision long-range attack weapons do exist, such as the Magic Crystal Cannon, but the problem is that Hudson doesn't have that.
It's not just a matter of money; it's that they're genuinely impossible to buy. It's said that every single Magic Crystal Cannon is crafted by a master alchemist.
Only noble families with deep-rooted traditions possess such a powerful weapon.
Hudson had never seen the actual object. But according to historical records, this thing was clearly the Aslant Continent version of a cannon.
There is no uniform standard for the power of a magic crystal cannon. Generally speaking, the larger the caliber, the greater the power, but this is not absolute and depends mainly on the skill of the Magic Crystal Cannon maker.
The only similarity is the ammunition; almost all Magic Crystal Cannon are powered by Magic Crystal Stone or Magic Core. What's peculiar is that while they are purely energy attacks, their destructive power is manifested in a physical manner.
Unable to be mass-produced, and with its power, range, accuracy, and stability all depending on the alchemist's skill level, the Magic Crystal Cannon was designed specifically for wealthy players from the moment it was created.
Every attack was practically tainted with the smell of gold coins. Even if a penniless wretch like Hudson managed to acquire Magic Crystal Cannon, he couldn't afford to maintain it.
Generally speaking, people only bring out their most powerful weapons when facing elite Beastfolk troops.
In routine matters like suppressing rebellions, no noble family would be so extravagant as to use Magic Crystal Cannon.
The Orc Empire was severely damaged by a sudden locust plague.
Beastfolk already had very primitive agricultural technology, and for most races, going hungry was the norm. This disaster plunged even more races into a food crisis.
Not only agriculture was affected, but livestock farming was also devastated. Faced with the overwhelming swarms of locusts, grasslands suffered equally catastrophic damage.
The reduction in fodder has forced many tribes to slaughter their livestock.
The heavy losses fueled an unprecedented surge in the voices of those advocating war. The consensus among the Beastfolk, formed over countless years, was to plunder from humans when food was scarce.
The reason for not launching a war immediately was that the Orc Empire was too vast, and more troops needed to be gathered from various places.
Behemoth Imperial Court.
As the head of the Five Great Royal Families, this is still a scene of filial piety between father and son, with the son recklessly courting death.
"Alex, you will be in charge of this southern expedition!"
Behemoth Emperor seemed oblivious to the somber expressions on everyone's faces, and directly entrusted the heavy responsibility of the southern expedition to Crown Prince Alex.
An unexpected and important task pulled Crown Prince Alex out of his slacking-off state.
He's now playing the role of a lecherous playboy, so appointing him to lead the southern campaign is completely irresponsible.
Judging from Behemoth Emperor's expression, it didn't seem like he was acting; it was as if he genuinely wanted to take on this important task.
"Father, this southern expedition is too complex, and I'm afraid I'm not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility."
Prince Butzwig, having served as border Governor for a long time, is most knowledgeable about human affairs. It would be best to have him lead the southern expedition, with me serving as his assistant.
Alex immediately declined.
Something unusual must be going on.
Although no one knows what Behemoth Emperor is up to, his plan has reached a critical moment, and it is absolutely impossible for him to leave the royal court.
"No need to worry, Prince Butzwig will assist you in completing the mission. As the heir of my Behemoth Clan, how can I not show my bravery?"
"That's settled then. Alex, go and prepare; you will be the commander-in-chief for this southern expedition!"
Behemoth Emperor, Alex couldn't help but shiver, as if all his secrets had been seen through.
Fortunately, reason prevailed in time, preventing Alex from losing his composure. However, deep down, he was silently reminding himself to be careful and vigilant.
Should we take action in advance?
The idea was barely formed in his mind before Alex dismissed it. Compared to the highly respected Behemoth Emperor, he, the novice crown prince, was truly unpopular within the country.
Even if a coup d'état is successfully launched without cause, it is difficult to gain widespread support.
They might even face obstruction from the other major royal families. What everyone needs is a timid Behemoth Emperor, but no one wants to see a cunning and shrewd Behemoth Emperor.
Before we knew it, the dead of winter had arrived, and the date for Caesar III to Investiture of Nobles was drawing ever closer.
The Investiture Ceremony nobles takes place only once every few years, and once missed, it is unknown when the next opportunity will come.
In order not to miss the investiture date, all the nobles who were to be investiture set off early. Hudson was no exception.
Braving the biting wind, I galloped northward on horseback. It felt like a dull knife was cutting my flesh, constantly rubbing and tearing at my cheeks.
The other nobles traveling with them were all gritting their teeth and persevering. It was as if they were secretly competing, none of them willing to admit defeat.
Hudson was too embarrassed to ride in a carriage in front of everyone, but he could still put a magical shield on himself.
Watching everyone bicker like children was one of Hudson's few hobbies along the way.
Fortunately, everyone's warhorses were top-tier mounts with the bloodline of magical beasts, boasting excellent stamina and explosive power; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to withstand such devastation.
Hudson led the way at the very front of the procession not because he wanted to show off, but because he was chosen by everyone to be the representative of the nobility of the Southeast Province.
No one, including the Northern Nobles, raised any objections. This was the treatment due to the strong; if one wanted to fight for it, one had to see if their fists were strong enough.
"Fighting ahead! Everyone be on high alert!"
Hudson warned.
Although I don't think anyone would be so foolish as to rob a group that has been granted a title by the King, we still need to be on guard.
If it weren't for the fact that it would be too undignified for Hudson to take a detour in front of his gang, he would have simply gone around it.
It's not a matter of being a coward or not, but rather that when you're out and about, it's always better to avoid trouble.
Those who love to join in the fun will inevitably get themselves involved sooner or later. For example, right now, seeing two groups fighting each other in the distance, before Hudson could even decide whether to intervene, a nobleman preemptively spoke up:
"That's the Rainbow Moon's flag! Someone's robbing the songstress troupe!"
Upon hearing this news, the group of nobles who had initially just been watching the spectacle instantly perked up.
Opportunities to be a hero and save a damsel in distress are rare, and now that one has finally come along, how can one let it slip by?
With just a glance, Hudson knew that the crowd was about to burst into tears and all that was missing was someone to take the lead.
There was no obstruction; the group was simply formed temporarily because they were going the same way, and there were no constraints between them.
"Help!"
"Help!"
One after another, delicate voices rang out, and the nobles, who had been unable to restrain themselves any longer, were overcome with lust and rushed over with their guards.
In order to demonstrate his "cohesion," Hudson was no exception. However, he did not rush to make a name for himself. He simply shot a few soldiers to show that he was rescuing people.
There were quite a few nobles who made similar choices. Apart from the first group who rushed out because they were driven by their lower bodies and wanted to be heroes, the rest were just trying to gain a reputation for "helping those in distress".
It's not that we're afraid of trouble, it's just that a group of songstresses aren't worth risking our lives for. If it were a princess's convoy being besieged, I reckon everyone would rush in.
Realizing they had found a dangerous opportunity, the robbers scattered and fled. Only the corpses and remains left on the ground continued to tell the story of the brutal battle.
" On Isabelle of all the sisters of the Rainbow Moon Songstress Group, I thank you, sir, for your assistance!"
The voice was so sweet and delicate, it was almost enough to make one's bones go numb. Looking in the direction of the voice, one was greeted by a stunningly beautiful woman.
Even the well-traveled Hudson was stunned by the beauty before him. It was a natural beauty, as if every part of her body was perfectly proportioned.
After a brief moment of distraction, Hudson quickly recovered. No matter how beautiful the woman was, it had nothing to do with him.
The Rainbow Moon Songstress Group is renowned throughout the Aslant Continent not only for their artistic performances but also for their endless scandals.
In Hudson's view, they were nothing more than a group of packaged high-class people...
The more beautiful the songstress, the more trouble she attracts. Minor nobles want to throw themselves at her, and the major nobles are no exception, with no shortage of lecherous men.
Judging from the reactions of the accompanying nobles, they all looked like lecherous men. If it weren't for the presence of others, they probably would have already rushed forward and embraced Isabelle ...
At times like these, if Hudson dared to do anything out of line, he would definitely be the subject of a scandalous affair.
As a newly engaged man, he must avoid such matters. Otherwise, if the news reaches the Hollisir Family, it will cause another uproar.
Silently shifting her gaze from Isabelle, she watched the group of noble youths step forward to show off. She thought the matter was about to end, but unexpectedly, trouble found her.
"Lord Hudson, could that adorable Bear on your shoulder be the legendary Earth Bear?"
With a sweet, delicate voice, and eyes wide open, looking like a curious child, Isabelle appeared exceptionally charming.
I recognized the look in their eyes; they were going for the bear. When did my own bear become so charming?
The Earth Bear is indeed cute, but its powerful fighting ability is so deeply ingrained in people's minds that its image has always been one of strength, and few people care about its appearance.
"Miss Isabelle, you have a good eye! Indeed, this is the great Mr. Beldens."
However, it has quite a temper, so it's best to address it as Lord Beldens. If you call it "Bear" when it's in a bad mood, you might get a slap!
Hudson teased deliberately.
In front of outsiders, they give each other face; even the biggest issues are settled privately. This is the agreement between Hudson and the Young Bear.
As if startled, Isabelle narrowed her beautiful eyes, revealing a frightened expression, which made everyone feel even more sorry for her.
He hesitated for a moment before patting his chest and saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Hudson. I'm afraid only a knight as powerful as you is worthy of the great Mr. Beldens."
It's blatant flattery.
Hudson with bears is indeed very powerful, but without monsters, Hudson is just an ordinary genius boy.
Among her peers, she is considered outstanding, but far from being considered powerful.
The same compliment, but when it comes from a delicate and beautiful woman, it gives a completely different feeling.
For some reason, Hudson felt that the woman in front of him was deliberately trying to attract his attention.
Before Hudson could figure it out, Isabelle quickly turned around and bowed slightly to the group of nobles. "Thank you all, knights, for saving our lives."
I have no way to repay you. I can only promise that from now on, all of you gentlemen who come to our venue to watch song and dance performances will be exempt from admission fees..."
She is a smart woman.
While trying to attract Hudson's attention, he didn't neglect the others, as if he had simply been curious about the Earth Bear.
Wherever there are many men, beautiful women always receive preferential treatment.
Even though Isabelle's cover-up wasn't perfect, everyone was still willing to fill in the gaps in her memory and cover up the lie for her.
We'll see this through to the end and ferry the person to the shore.
The important task of escorting the Rainbow Moon Songstress Group to the Royal Capital naturally fell on everyone's shoulders.
The fact that their destinations were exactly the same was too much of a coincidence. Hudson's previously suppressed vigilance rose again.
With a group of delicate young ladies joining them on the journey, the joy along the way increased considerably.
Women who have worked in the entertainment industry are not as reserved as aristocratic ladies; when they joke, they are quite unrestrained and often...