Alliance Conference

In Dapes, Chris IX's good mood vanished ever since he received news of the troop reinforcements.

It was thought that the situation would turn around as reinforcements from various countries arrived one after another, but unexpectedly, the Beastfolk's reinforcements brought everything back to square one.

Let alone launching a counterattack against the Beastfolk, they were already struggling to defend themselves.

"Your Majesty, the military pressure at the front is immense. Marshal Hodge has issued two requests for reinforcements, and several fortresses at the front have been captured by the enemy."

Although the key passes are still in our hands, if the current situation continues, the garrison at the front will probably not be able to hold out for long.

According to reports of battle losses from the front lines, our troop losses have exceeded 20,000 in just the last two weeks.

Martins said with a bitter expression.

Other things might be exaggerated, but battle losses could never be overreported. Every missing soldier meant one less supply to be issued, and no one would dare to joke around with a soldier's stomach.

Losing 20,000 men in half a month may not seem like much. However, the problem lies in the fact that the Moxi Duchy is the defending side, and since the outbreak of the war, they have already lost 200,000 troops.

Most of these losses were caused by the fall of the Augsburg defenses, while the remainder accumulated over time during the subsequent battles.

For a country with a population of just over eight million, this is already one-fortieth of the population.

If the enemy hadn't been ferocious Beastfolk, dissenting voices would probably have emerged within the country long ago.

Where are our allies?

Chris IX asked with concern.

There's nothing anyone can do about the losses at the front. And the country's war potential has been pretty much exhausted.

Even if there are still young and strong men available, training still takes time!

The career leap from serf to soldier takes at least a year and a half to adapt to.

In reality, this transformation will only take longer, because the Moxi Duchy lacks enough qualified junior officers.

The fall of the Augsburg defenses resulted not only in the loss of troops for the Moxi Duchy, but also in the loss of a large number of officers with extensive combat experience.

Even the most elite legions of the duchy suffered heavy losses on the front lines and have yet to recover their strength.

"Your Majesty, the Alpha Kingdom's reinforcements are less than a hundred miles from Dapes and are currently resting and training."

Crown Prince Caesar promised that as soon as the remaining five legions of the expeditionary force were assembled, they would head to the front lines.

The reinforcements from the Duchy of Orton are currently 120 miles from Dapes. The Foreign Affairs Department has completed the necessary communication and expects them to be able to reach the front lines in ten days.

The reinforcements from the Duchy of Fick and the County of Ruilin entered our territory five days ago and are expected to reach the front lines by the end of the month.

The remaining countries have also completed their military conscription and training. They are expected to be able to go to the front lines next month.

The problem is that things went wrong on the Warhammer Kingdom's side. Using the pretext of containing the Beastfolk army, they kept all the promised reinforcements stationed on the border.

Renato answered calmly.

The Foreign Affairs Department's report card, while not perfect, was certainly adequate.

Allies, that thing. It's good enough if they come to help, but expecting them to be the main force is asking too much.

Even if reinforcements are sent, the proportion of the Standing Army is very low. Given the current situation, very few people are optimistic about the Moxi Duchy.

The fact that various countries are sending troops to provide reinforcements is not only to fulfill their obligations as allies, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to buy themselves time.

For the smaller nations, they were hoping that the Moxi Duchy could delay until the Human Alliance joined the war, thus preventing the flames of war from spreading to their own territory.

Judging from the Warhammer Kingdom's reaction, it's clear that while they seem to be doing something remarkable by using the pretext of containing the Beastfolk army, they are actually strengthening the defenses of their own border regions.

There's nothing to criticize; it's human nature to be driven by self-interest. Helping allies requires first ensuring your own safety.

"Three new legions under training will be transferred to reinforce the front lines, all rank-up mages from the Magic Academy will be recruited, and civilian forces such as domestic mercenary organizations and merchant guilds will be recruited into the army."

Tell Marshal Hodge that reinforcements will arrive soon. The Duchy has no way out; the Terence Defense Line must not be lost under any circumstances.

The Foreign Affairs Department has upgraded the mercenary mission previously issued in the Mercenary Kingdom to the highest level, inviting all mercenary groups on the continent to participate in the war against the Beastfolk.

Everything is based on the number of Beastfolk the Five Great Royal Families killed, with no upper limit on the bounty. Gold, silver, jewels, beautiful women, titles, cultivation resources, and even fiefdoms—we can provide them all.

You will discuss and formulate the specific standards.

We can't ignore those assassin organizations hiding in the shadows either. Put all the Beastfolk bigwigs on the list; kill them one by one if you can.

In short, our Moxi Duchy has reached a critical juncture of life and death. From this moment forward, we must be resolute and use all our strength to contend with the Beastfolk!

After saying that, Chris IX sighed deeply. He had done everything he could; the rest was up to fate.

If increasing mobilization intensity and recruiting mercenaries for combat are normal practices, then going to an assassin organization to take on missions is a sign of utterly lacking integrity.

If he hadn't been desperate, Chris IX wouldn't have resorted to such despicable means to ruin his reputation.

On July 17, Sacred Calendar Year 99988, the Seventeenth Human Alliance Conference commenced in Lutetia.

There were no flowers, no applause, only the solemn faces of the delegates.

The turbulent situation on the continent is escalating, seriously impacting the human race's dominant position on the continent.

The restless alien races, as if they had made a pact, have been constantly extending their tentacles to probe the area in recent days, as if it were the prelude to an impending storm.

As the initiator and host of this alliance meeting, Charles III naturally became the chairperson of this round of meetings.

"Welcome to Lutetia for the 17th Human Alliance Expansion Meeting."

As with previous meetings, the topic we are discussing now is how to maintain the status of our human race on the Aslant Continent.

The mainland has enjoyed decades of peace, but now it has entered an era of upheaval. As we all know, in recent years, friction between us and other ethnic groups has suddenly increased.

The relevant materials were given to everyone two days ago, and I'm sure you've all read them by now.

Based on past experience, the Aslant Continent is always engulfed in war during special years such as the centennial, millennial, and ten-thousand-year cycles of the Holy Calendar.

Moreover, these calamities are constantly occurring. From the Titans and Dragon Race of ancient times to the Elves of the Middle Ages, almost every change of the continent's dominant power is related to Ten Thousand Year Node.

Although they didn't fall immediately, they all made mistakes at these crucial junctures, damaging their own strength, and gradually declined before being replaced by newcomers.

Compared to the major events that occurred every ten thousand years in history, the current invasion of the northern Beastfolk and the frequent disturbances by various ethnic groups can only be considered the prelude to the arrival of a great era.

Especially now that we've entered the first 100,000 years, with alien races launching a full-scale invasion, Sea Tribe making a comeback, or perhaps Demons invading, no one knows what strange calamities will occur this time.

Today's meeting was convened to address the potentially complex situation that may arise.

Out of a sense of responsibility to humanity, I hope that all councilors and representatives can set aside past disputes and make fair and objective decisions in the upcoming meetings!

..."

Charles III's speech made the already somber atmosphere in the hall even more oppressive.

The fate of a race is a far too weighty topic. Even some representatives who are at odds with the Frankish Kingdom dare not make any rash moves on this issue.

History happening once might be a coincidence, but if it keeps repeating itself, then it's definitely not a coincidence.

Any carelessness could lead to unpredictable consequences.

In ancient times, the human race was just one of many small races. It was through repeated changes of continental hegemony and reshuffling of power that they gradually accumulated their strength.

Humanity's dominance over the continent has only lasted for a few hundred years, and compared to the ancient races that ruled the continent for many years, it has no advantage whatsoever.

The only difference is that the human race is fragmented, and the internal and external competition they face has never stopped, so everyone has a stronger sense of crisis.

Even though some countries have become corrupt and decadent, most human nations are still functioning normally and have not entered a period of decline.

Unlike the various overlords of ancient times, who had only one unified regime, once their internal systems began to degenerate, they embarked on a path of no return.

"His Majesty Charles is right. As we approach the 100,000th year of the Holy Calendar, we must unite to meet the challenges that may come our way."

I propose that we join forces to eliminate any potential threats to us, such as the Orc Empire that has invaded our Northern Frontier.

The representative of the Alpha Kingdom was the first to respond.

Everything is scripted; they're just acting out the pre-arranged script. In any case, everything presented is factual; the Beastfolk are indeed the biggest destabilizing factor.

Over the years, they have launched dozens of major wars in an attempt to reclaim their lost dominant position.

If the decision is made to clear the area ahead of schedule, the Orc Empire is the first obstacle to be removed. Even if they cannot be completely eradicated, the Beastfolk must be crippled first.

This proposal, which aligned with the interests of the northern states, instantly gained the support of their representatives. With the strong backing of the Frankish Kingdom, the vote ensued.

As expected, the proposal was passed by a large majority. However, when it came to the specifics of troop deployment, the situation changed completely.

Supporting the proposal was a matter of the greater good. In the past, beating up Beastfolk was also a routine activity for the human race.

Almost every few decades, the two sides would engage in a major battle. These repeated conflicts had driven all nations to extreme disgust with the Beastfolk.

When it came time to contribute and when everyone's vital interests were involved, the representatives returned from their enthusiasm to rationality.

At the Terence Defense Line, Hudson, who was staying in the military camp, finally received a heavyweight visitor: Count Sanford, the chief quartermaster of the front lines of the Moxi Duchy.

Unlike his indifferent attitude towards the unfortunate Viscount Gio, Hudson showed considerable respect to Count Sanford, a powerful bureaucrat.

They were received in a proper and respectful manner, following aristocratic etiquette. Amidst mutual flattery, the two chatted amiably, as if they were old friends meeting again.

"Your Excellency Count Hudson, we sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding that occurred in the previous logistics."

I'm here today on behalf of those clueless guys in the Logistics Department, to apologize to you.

To show my sincerity, I also brought along the Magic Crossbow that the Royal Capital had allocated to your legion ahead of schedule.

After listening to Count Sanford's words, Hudson knew that the real business of the day had begun. Since it involved conflicting interests, it couldn't be resolved with just a few polite words.

Obtaining the Magic Crossbow ahead of time is at best a favor, and it's far from enough to satisfy Hudson.

"Count Sanford, you are too kind. If it is just a matter of my personal face, it is indeed a small matter. We can simply clear up the misunderstanding."

The problem is that this matter involves the dignity of my Alpha Kingdom, so your country must show some respect for us.

Hudson said with a chuckle.

He used to hate making a big deal out of nothing, but when it came to him, he suddenly found that this thing was actually quite useful.

When a nation's dignity is involved, it cannot be resolved by mere personal connections. Regardless of who is sought as an intermediary, everyone must exercise caution on this issue.

"Count Hudson, you can rest assured that I have come with the utmost sincerity. Please tell me what you think we can do to make up for our previous mistakes."

As he spoke, Count Sanford's heart was bleeding. This was the first time since he became a quartermaster that someone had offered themselves up to be extorted.

Tomato Novels

In the past, no matter which general he encountered, they had to treat him with utmost respect. Every few days, they would also have to present him with a generous gift.

Even Marshal Hodge, the commander-in-chief at the front, had to give him some face. He had never experienced such humiliation before.

"I have already felt the sincerity of Count Sanford. Since your country is so sincere, then I will not hold back."

For the sake of the friendship between our two countries, I will refrain from making excessive demands. These are merely a few symbolic requests, all within your authority.

As they were talking, Hudson handed over a prepared parchment, leaving Count Sanford completely dumbfounded.

I thought that after all the effort he had put into building this relationship, things would be easy to handle, but I never expected the situation to turn out so quickly.

Looking at the list of supplies, Count Sanford's face turned green. Ordinary meat and Arrow Feathers; distributing a little more to the visiting troops wouldn't be a problem.

The problem lies with various magical equipment, such as Magic Crystal Cannon, magic ballistae, Magic Catapult, etc.

Everything belonging to the Moxi Duchy appeared on the list. With weapons and equipment exhausted, ammunition resupply was naturally indispensable.

Looking at the required number of Magic Core and Magic Crystal Stone, Count Sanford was very suspicious that they wanted to empty his Logistics Department.

"Count Hudson, there's just too much of this stuff. To be honest, even if we opened all the stockpiles at the front, I still couldn't gather enough."

Moreover, much of the equipment on this is heavy weaponry. While its power is considerable, it is extremely inconvenient to carry in the field.

"And then there are the craftsmen, laborers, and livestock—you have absolutely no use for any of them!"

Count Sanford lamented his poverty in despair.

As a quartermaster for so many years, this was the first time he felt like a penniless nobody. Looking at this list was like seeing a complete novice.

"Ha ha..."

"Count Sanford, you're being too stingy. Just because the front lines don't have them doesn't mean the duchy doesn't. If we're willing to put in the effort, we can definitely gather them."

It's simply a matter of reporting a bit more battle damage. With such intense fighting on the front lines, it's perfectly reasonable for magical equipment to suffer greater losses.

As for laborers, craftsmen, and livestock, once all these things are in place, won't we need them?

Since it's all for dealing with Beastfolk anyway, it doesn't matter which legion the equipment is given to.

If you're worried about trouble, we can simply announce that these weapons and equipment were brought from the Alpha Kingdom.

Anyone who objects, let them investigate in the Alpha Kingdom. If they find any evidence, the responsibility will be entirely mine!

Hudson said bluntly.