The Great Bluff

The noble lords were training hard, not to mention the ordinary soldiers.

The elite private armies of each branch have now assembled. Each one is clad in heavy armor, diligently practicing their formations.

Hudson had high hopes for this heavy infantry unit. In case they faced the elite orcs, these elite Beastfolk would be their only option.

In fact, the Mountain Territory's heavy infantry numbered far more than two thousand. A number of strong and capable soldiers were also selected for the ranks.

However, the physical reaction speed of these soldiers could not compare to that of these warriors who had cultivated Battle Qi.

They can easily defeat ordinary Beastfolk soldiers, but they'll be in trouble when facing elite Beastfolk.

For the team primarily on the defensive, building a defensive shell isn't necessarily a bad thing.

As for mobility, Hudson didn't have time to consider it for the time being. Based on past experience, the main task of these Southern Aristocrats sent to the front lines was defense.

Taking the initiative is the job of the kingdom's Standing Army.

This arrangement clearly takes into full account the fact that the fighting capabilities of the noble private armies are uneven and they are not suitable for open field battles with the Beastfolk.

For simple city defense, Heavy Infantry are of little use. But once a section of the city wall is breached, these elite troops are the only ones left to plug the gap.

Moreover, the battlefield is unpredictable. No one can guarantee that they won't encounter a Beastfolk army in the wild.

Without a Heavy Infantry unit to hold the line, the enemy's elite troops could easily break through the formation with a single charge.

As for Heavy Cavalry, they were naturally necessary as well. Warhorses with the bloodline of magical beasts could fully withstand the force of the armor, and their movement speed was not greatly affected.

The only problem is that it's too expensive. The armor is manageable; the Mountain Territory can produce it themselves, so the cost is barely bearable. But the warhorses cannot be produced domestically and must be purchased from abroad.

Due to the war, high-quality warhorses were completely sold out. Many noble lords, including Hudson, were anxiously waiting for warhorses.

To resolve this issue, the kingdom's leadership is busy communicating with the neighbors. It's estimated that a large influx of warhorses will arrive soon.

As for the price, we'll have to wait and see.

If they are sold by official national governments, and are needed to fight the Beastfolk, they might be able to get a discount; but if they are transported by private organizations, then they can only go with the market.

This is easy to calculate: if the three kingdoms in the north cannot hold out, it means that they themselves will have to lead their troops to the battlefield.

And the speed must be fast; if it is even slightly slow, the flames of war will spread to your own home.

If Hudson were in power, he would also provide material support in this situation, letting his neighbors take the fall for him.

If the economy allows, the Heavy Cavalry with a certain degree of mobility, the better.

To maintain high mobility, it would be best to increase the number of warhorses. A sudden inspiration flashed in Hudson's mind.

It seems that when I was playing alchemy before, I accidentally created a super "cow" and it was sent to be used as a breeding cow.

Due to the influence of strong genes, newborn calves far surpass other calves in strength and endurance.

Even a one-year-old calf can keep up with an average adult ox when plowing the fields. These oxen have made a significant contribution to the rapid increase in land reclamation in the Mountain Territory.

If this could be replicated on warhorses, his Heavy Cavalry might be even faster than his light cavalry.

Based on the idea that science requires a spirit of experimentation, Hudson plunged into the laboratory and resumed the alchemical endeavors he had previously abandoned.

Unlike before, he has recently been cramming on a lot of basic knowledge in the field of alchemy. The contributor to this knowledge, of course, is his fiancée.

Unfortunately, according to an unspoken rule in the Alpha Kingdom, during times of war, nobles must focus all their efforts on preparing for war, and everyone tacitly chooses to stop all marriage activities.

Not only were these activities canceled, but even regular banquets were postponed indefinitely.

They called it full-scale preparation for war, but the truth was they were short of money. No one knew how long the war would last, and the entire kingdom was tightening its belts and living a hard life.

Even when entertaining guests, everyone now tacitly agrees to lower the standard of service. They're saving wherever possible, so the conserved resources can be used to support the front lines.

Even though they couldn't get married, many things were still inconvenient. Even though this knowledge was a dowry agreed upon by both parties, they had to keep a low profile.

In return, Hudson provided the Hollisir Family with a considerable amount of good iron. Although neither party explicitly stated it, the basic principle of equivalent exchange was clearly evident in their dealings.

Of course, these are all minor issues. What truly brought the two families together through marriage was the war.

Despite the many interests involved, among the various alliances, marriage remains the lowest-cost and most effective.

The Coslo Family needs to purchase supplies, as well as some war-related technologies, such as various armor manufacturing techniques and war machine forging techniques...

On the surface, the Hollisir Family only acquired some good iron, but in reality, they bought insurance for the personal safety of Viscount Oran.

Both camps were in the same Southeast Province, so their camps could operate side-by-side. In the event of unforeseen circumstances and a forced retreat, Hudson's value would become apparent.

The Hollisir Family is not lacking in powerful individuals, and Viscount Oran is also protected. The problem is, their luck wasn't so good; they acquired a turtle-type Magical Beast Mount.

When fighting each other, having a turtle shell is an advantage. However, when running away, these turtle-like magical beasts are slower than strong human warriors.

It's not difficult for a strong person to slip away, but to escape with someone is a matter of luck. If a strong enemy intercepts them, they're doomed.

In terms of speed, Beldens are off the charts; even the Griffon Cavalry flying in the sky can't catch up with a bear. Even with more people on board, their speed remains unaffected.

If there's an opportunity to take people out for a drive, there's no reason not to bring along your father-in-law. These things don't need to be said explicitly; everyone understands.

As for joining forces against the Dalton Family, that's a matter for the post-war period. As long as the balance isn't broken, everyone can live in peace.

If one party suffers significant losses, then it is only natural to negotiate within the rules of the game, conceding some benefits in exchange for a more relaxed space for development.

Despite the significant conflict between the first and second families in the province, they were actually related, having intermarried multiple times.

Everything stems from self-interest. Internally, everyone is a competitor; externally, they become allies.

In essence, matters within aristocratic circles boil down to infighting among relatives. This applies to the upper echelons, the middle echelons, and even the lowest echelons.

"Sir, Miss Isabelle has arrived. This time she's brought a mysterious old man with her, and he looks quite formidable!"

Hudson rolled his eyes at the old butler's winking and subtle hints; it seemed the misunderstanding was beyond clarification.

If it weren't for the fact that this old man's ancestors had followed his family for generations and that he had raised him from childhood, with his loyalty at its peak, Hudson would have replaced him long ago.

The main problem is the lack of talent. The younger generation is still developing and their temperaments haven't been fully tempered, so they are not suitable for important positions like housekeepers.

Hudson could only console himself: a butler doesn't actually need to be too smart; the key is to be loyal and able to handle the affairs of the household properly.

"Bring them over!"

Hudson said casually.

The smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed his thoughts. The opportunity to extort money had arrived; he couldn't let it slip away easily.

As he spoke, Hudson picked up the sleeping Young Bear, rubbed the miniature bear's head, and said, "Dear Mr. Beldens, please help me ascertain the strength of the person who has come."

He said he would "respect" people, but in practice, Hudson never showed any respect.

To get Bear Beldens to work harder, Hudson didn't mind giving him a few compliments.

Bear opened his eyes, yawned, Beldens said casually, "They're just a few unfamiliar guys. No need to look at them. They're all trash!"

Of course, if they were dealing with someone like you, they could probably kill them with a single slap.

Don't be angry!

One should not argue with a bear.

It's just a matter of disturbing Xiong Qingmeng, is it really necessary to retaliate like this? They even dared to mock the great Lord Hudson, saying he's not even as good as trash.

Hudson suddenly sensed something was amiss. The person sent by the Mysterious Organization to make the deal could never be weak.

A single palm strike could kill him; the Silver Knight certainly couldn't do that, but Hudson could at least withstand a few blows.

This means that the person who comes is at least Golden Knight, and might even be Earth Knight.

By calling such people trash, Hudson vaguely grasped the initial extent of Beldens' strength.

To get to the bottom of this, Hudson feigned anger and asked, "Since they're all trash, wouldn't our Mr. Beldens be able to swat them all dead with a single paw?"

The Young Bear, having broken free from Hudson's grasp, patted its paws and stammered, "Apart from that old man approaching, everyone else can be dealt with in one slap."

But that guy can only use three claws at most!

Oh, at most five claws..."

Seeing Beldens's discomfiture, Hudson smiled slightly. If they could handle it, it meant there wasn't much of a problem.

Hudson didn't care about the exact number of claws. This was Mountain Territory; as long as his safety was guaranteed, no matter how powerful the intruders were, they would have to stay put.

"Beautiful Isabelle, it's been so long, you look so haggard. Perhaps you've been missing me so much you can't sleep at night?"

After teasing Isabelle, without giving her a chance to answer, Hudson suddenly changed the subject. "May I ask your name, sir?"

The statement, clearly inconsistent with their established personas, instantly disrupted their train of thought. After regaining her composure, Isabelle glared fiercely, but still consciously gave the opportunity to speak first to the old man.

"This old man, Kevin, greets Hudson!"

He spoke politely, but his actions betrayed his words. He remained seated without moving, let alone bowing.

Hudson's intuition told him that the person before him must be someone of high status. No matter how well he tried to conceal his identity, the imposing aura emanating from his body was undeniable.

"Mr. Kevin, now that you've come in person, let's get down to business. This is a list my friend requested; just complete it according to the requirements."

Behind it was a magical contract, outlining the obligations of each party. Once the transaction was completed, the matter was settled. From then on, everyone went their separate ways.

Hudson said expressionlessly.

Haggling is such a low-class thing; how could the Lord Hudson do such a thing?

Do you really think he's a lecherous man who has time to flirt with women when he's busy with important matters?

He wouldn't have bothered with this if it weren't for the need to establish the image of a "quirky" Undead and lead future generations astray.

With a magical contract in place, theoretically, the other party can be guaranteed not to leak secrets. But theory is still theory. Hudson himself can use the Mysterious Compass to sever the bondage of the contract; who can guarantee that the other party cannot?

In case things are exposed in the future, the extra title of "Undead" will be the best way for him to clear his name.

A fake is still a fake; no matter how much authentication you do, it can never become real.

Let alone Undead, Hudson could even test the talent of a magical idiot if he wanted to.

If any one of the things involved is proven to be a lie, then the others can also be proven to be lies.

To distort the truth about a powerful nobleman, one must first obtain the kingdom's permission. When the core interests of the noble class are involved, there's no shortage of support.

Regardless of whose guise the Mysterious Organization is, Hudson's scapegoat is readily available.

In the Southeast Province, everyone knew that Lord Hudson's first fortune came from killing Holy See Cavalry.

One sentence, "The Church is retaliating against him, deliberately spreading rumors to smear his image Lord Hudson," instantly garnered him a lot of sympathy.

That's the rule in aristocratic circles: it doesn't matter what you say, it's all about what you do.

If someone kills a member of the Church, everyone will assume that they are an enemy of the Church.

Even if it were a ruse, the inexperienced and uncertain Hudson back then wouldn't have been worth sacrificing hundreds of cavalrymen.

The kingdom's nobles, in particular, were convinced that the Church had killed the King's envoy and seized the "Blood Moon Horn," thus completing the narrative.

If everyone agrees on something, then it must be true. Even if it was false before, it will become true.

The old man glanced at the list, his expression subtly changing. He was prepared for Hudson's outrageous demands, but the problem was that Hudson's requests were far too varied.

You're an Undead Mage, so it's understandable that you'd ask for a large amount of Magic Crystal Stone, a complete set of magic spells, Magic Array, alchemy knowledge, etc.

But what on earth are those nautical charts, shipbuilding technology, Magic Crystal Cannon forging technology, etc.?

Perhaps dealing with the Undead every day has corrupted his mind, making him want to experience being a lord. Kevin could understand that.

What left him speechless was that Hudson not only required him to sign the contract, but also required at least five Earth Knights or Magister to sign it to ensure the authenticity of the information.

That's far too cautious. While the items on the list are valuable, most of them can be replicated; they're not unique to the Church.

For the Church, whether there is one more or one less power that possesses this knowledge is of no great importance.

What really hurts is the loss of those 200,000 Magic Crystal Stone and 5,000 Magic Core of different sizes.

They've given up the most precious resources. Is it really worth sacrificing him, the Earth Knight, just to fabricate false information?

Do you really think that the strong are like cabbages, easily discarded? For any power, the strong are the most precious asset.

The same Undead Mage with a screw loose, haggling over prices?

Kevin felt he wasn't crazy enough to do something so insane.

Based on past experience, Undead Mage are no different from ordinary people when they are in a normal state. But once they go berserk, no one knows what they will do next.

Especially those who go overboard with their research and end up making themselves stupid are like ticking time bombs.

Moreover, the "Blood Moon Horn" alone justifies its price.

Anyway, these expenses don't need to be paid by him, so there's no need to risk his life to save money for Saint-Germain.

Having risked coming all this way to do business with the Undead, Kevin couldn't let his efforts be in vain. Deep down, he was already secretly calculating how many personal items he should add to the list.

Whether the Hudson in front of him was the real deal or an Undead in disguise was not important to Kevin.

In short, from the moment he saw the price list, Hudson had to be Magister "Undead.

No, it should be "Undead Great Sorcerer"!

The stronger you are, the more power you have. Asking for more supplies is perfectly reasonable.

--Perfect.

The Dawn Holy See is a large and powerful organization; wouldn't it be better for everyone to make money together? Why delve into this further?

If something else is discovered, how can this deal continue? The Church has its principles; it's not willing to pay a high price for just anyone.

If they can't offer a high price, it means that those involved in the transaction won't be able to make a huge profit.

Perhaps some treasures used in Undead should also be added. Although he himself cannot use them, it doesn't mean they can't be sold.

As an intelligence organization under the Church, the "Sacred Hand" is always able to complete its missions well, thanks to its flexibility and adaptability.

The Order of Judgment Knights are a bad example. They started off with a crude approach, and ended up failing to find the Blood Moon Horn and making a fool of themselves.

"Hudson, I am unfamiliar with the Blood Moon Horn. May I have a look at it?"

The deal is contingent on the "Blood Moon Horn" being in the Mountain Territory. Otherwise, this get-rich-quick scheme can't proceed.

"Beldens, lend this old gentleman your toy horn."

Hudson said, trying to sound casual.

In reality, it was an implication that Beldens was keeping a close eye on the person, and if there was any unusual activity, they would be killed immediately.

The unremarkable horn fell into Kevin's hands. Its appearance was indeed very similar to the "Blood Moon Horn," but its aura was completely different.

The eerie and terrifying resentment was gone, replaced by a rich milky smell, with a hint of honey.

"Hudson, isn't that a bit of a joke?"

Kevin angrily questioned.

A plan to make money is important, but the prerequisite is that you can actually get away with it. This imposter in front of me is practically a baby bottle shaped like a horn.

"Mr. Kevin, don't be so quick to anger. I just used a little trick to seal away the horn's aura."

As he spoke, Hudson waved his hand. The Blood Moon Horn, which had been unremarkable, instantly became menacing and menacing, and even holding it in one's hand was enough to send chills down one's spine.

"Yes, that's exactly the feeling!"

Kevin, who had been worried, instantly smiled. If the item was genuine, then everything was negotiable. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately said:

"The product is fine, it's a pleasure doing business with you!"

"But I have a personal question. You seem to lack substantial funds for developing your territory. Why not request gold coins?"

Hearing this answer, Hudson secretly rolled his eyes. If he could ask for money, wouldn't he have asked for it?

The financial situation of the Mountain Territory is no secret to the major powers. A sudden influx of large sums of money is obviously suspicious.

In contrast, Hudson could directly charge the Mysterious Compass with things like Magic Crystal Stone and Magic Core without leaving any trace.

The information within the realm of knowledge is even easier to handle. The data is directly copied into the "Projection Stone," and what's being traded are just a few insignificant stones that won't attract any attention.

They can use them after the war is over. Hudson could shamelessly announce that these are spoils of war stolen from the Beastfolk.

As for how the Beastfolk obtained these items, we'll have to investigate in the Orc Empire. Given the conflict between the two races, anyone who went there would most likely end up as barbecue.

"Mr. Kevin, you misunderstand. For those of us who pursue the true meaning of magic, the development of territory is irrelevant."

Life is short. Instead of wasting our limited lives on these external things, we should use them to improve ourselves.

Striving to break through to the Holy Domain as soon as possible is the right path!