Underling Overlord

After many twists and turns, Maxim finally found a Shrimpmen tribe in the vast ocean. He roughly woke the unconscious Elder Eagleman and began to introduce himself.

Looking at the group of trembling Shrimpmen, the Elder Eagleman was speechless. He had completely given up hope on Maxim's unique "connection method."

It was indeed trying to improve relations, but the result was somewhat contrary to what was desired—not the harmonious neighborly relations, but rather creating enmity and seeking thrills.

Fortunately, he was only bullying a small, insignificant Shrimpmen. If he had run into a powerful Sea Tribe, Maxim could have made a run for it, while the Elder Eagleman would have been fish food.

"My esteemed Lord Maxim, please leave the rest of the negotiations to me!"

The Elder Eagleman said tremblingly.

He was genuinely afraid of the Red Dragon before him, fearing that if Maxim continued to cause trouble, he would be dragged down with him and become a wanted criminal of the Sea Tribe.

After all, there are few warriors who dare to slay dragons, but countless who dare to kill eagles.

Even as an envoy of the Orc Empire, he had no standing in this vast ocean.

"You can negotiate at your leisure. My mission is complete. For similar business in the future, you can still come to me for cooperation!"

After saying that, Maxim flicked his dragon tail, leaving the Elder Eagleman behind, and flew into the distance.

This time, he really embarrassed himself. Having made such a huge blunder, Maxim was incredibly awkward and too embarrassed to stay put any longer.

This was a real hardship for the Elder Eagleman. Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough, otherwise he would have fallen directly into the sea.

The Eagle People soar through the heavens and earth, but not across the four seas.

As the saying goes: A fallen eagle is no better than a chicken!

Seeing the Red Dragon leave, the Shrimpmen opposite gradually regained his courage and glared angrily at the Elder Eagleman.

Although they didn't know what the Elder Eagleman had just said to Maxim, the fact that he was brought there by that wretched Red Dragon was enough to make the shrimp hate him.

After calming down, the Elder Eagleman regained his usual imposing manner and, facing the group of Shrimpmen before him, cast a beast-language spell, saying:

"I am an envoy of the Orc Empire, invited by the Dragon King Maxim, and have come here specifically to visit your king."

"Humble Shrimpmen, tell me quickly, what race rules this sea?"

A classic example of an eagle soaring above a dragon!

With Maxim's appearance, he could easily impersonate the Dragon King.

Not understanding the relationship between the two, the Shrimpmen, who had just mustered the courage to confront them, instantly lost his temper.

As the lowest-ranking race among the Sea Tribe, the most important factor in their survival is their ability to assess situations and act accordingly.

Being bullied by a dragon isn't anything shameful. They were only startled and not swallowed by the dragon; they were already lucky.

"My lord, this sea area is the territory of the Merman Kingdom. If you fly east for a thousand miles from here, you will find the Merman Royal Court."

The leader of the Shrimpmen hurriedly replied.

Survival experience has taught them that it's best to stay out of the business of important people.

Lutetia, Human Alliance Council.

Since the joint proposal from the frontline generals was announced, the meeting hall has once again become noisy. Using mercenaries in warfare is commonplace on the Aslant Continent.

Especially for many small and medium-sized countries that experience fewer wars, maintaining a large Standing Army is far too costly. It is much more economical to temporarily recruit mercenaries during wartime.

However, mercenaries aren't stupid. They fight for others, but the prices they charge vary depending on the battlefield.

In the previous war against the Beastfolk, mercenary groups were rarely seen. It wasn't that the three northern kingdoms were unwilling to spend money, but rather that they simply couldn't hire anyone.

Those who become mercenaries do so for money, not to risk their lives.

People will automatically retreat from a war in which there is no hope.

The situation has changed; the balance of power has shifted, and the human alliance has a clear advantage.

Battles where things are going smoothly are always a mercenary's favorite. As long as the price is right, there's no shortage of participants.

All the conditions for recruiting mercenaries are met; the only problem now is money.

Alpha Kingdom is out of the question. Its messy debts, if added together, would probably be close to a hundred million, if not quite.

If we ask them to spend more money, they'll go bankrupt in no time.

At that point, the debts that have been lent out will truly become dead debts.

Nobles are all family, they should at least have some self-respect. After all, it's money owed for the sake of human dominance; they can't just resort to force to collect it, can they?

When it comes to paying out of their own pockets, everyone inevitably thinks twice before acting. A heated discussion ensued regarding the amount of money involved.

Proposals ranged from several million to hundreds of millions. The less money an organization had, the larger the figures they proposed.

For example, three unfortunate guys in the north, heavily indebted, made an outrageous demand: the Human Alliance would provide 300 million gold coins, displaying an attitude of overwhelming the Beastfolk with gold.

The Five Great Royal Families Beastfolk, including men, women, and children, number only a little over ten million. That's an average of twenty gold coins per person, enough to drive all the participants in the war mad.

If they really had that much money, they might not even need reinforcements; the allied forces on the front lines alone could completely annihilate the Beastfolk.

Unsurprisingly, this extravagant spending spree was collectively rejected by all parties who needed to pay.

A heated argument ensued throughout the meeting.

Three hundred million gold coins, two hundred and eighty million gold coins, two hundred and five hundred million gold coins... one hundred and five hundred million gold coins, one hundred million gold coins, ninety-eight million gold coins...

Three penniless northerners, unable to pay, were responsible for proposing a price, while everyone else negotiated. The scene was as chaotic as a vegetable market.

As the process progresses, the expectations of all parties become increasingly similar, and the disputed figures become more sensitive. The specific rate of decrease is also decreasing, and no one can say for sure when an agreement will be reached.

The Alliance Council was slow to make a decision, but Hudson on the front lines was getting impatient.

If things continue like this, the war might not end this year, and it might even drag on until next year.

We cannot waste our precious youth on the battlefield. After nearly twenty months of continuous fighting, even Hudson's nerves were stretched to the limit, let alone the officers and soldiers below him.

The Illyria army camp.

"My lord, Count Hudson has come to visit!"

Upon hearing this news, the Marquis Olavell frowned slightly. Experience told him that Hudson's visit was never good news.

It's wartime now, and no nobleman would be foolish enough to wander around visiting others at this time. If they were unlucky enough to encounter Beastfolk on the way, it would be a tragedy.

Since entering the mountains, the casualty rate of the allied nobles and soldiers has risen sharply. Even with Beastfolk fodder clearing the way, some inevitably slip through the net.

The enemy was extremely cunning, deliberately choosing the foothills of the Ula Mountains as the battlefield. Not just one mountain, but one after another, with magical beasts constantly emerging to attack the allied forces.

"Please!"

"The Marquis Olavell said calmly."

Guests are always welcome. As partners on the battlefield, and with no core conflicts of interest, while we may not have a deep friendship, our relationship is generally acceptable.

Looking at the menacing Raptor Legion from afar, Hudson felt a pang of envy. Don't underestimate these extraordinary units just because they are few in number; their combat power is formidable.

Even the kingdom's Knight Order are no match for these extraordinary soldiers.

If used properly, it can have a greater impact on the battlefield than a thousand troops.

Hudson calculated that if the Coslo Family invested heavily after the war, they could barely assemble a partially-strength Knight Order.

But creating a super-powerful unit is out of the question. Not all magical beasts are suited for group combat.

Currently, the mainstream superhuman units on the mainland are mostly Sub-Dragon Beast. The core reason is that these races inherited the characteristic of Dragon Race —lust.

They created beasts whenever they had free time, ensuring that these Sub-Dragon Beast races maintained a consistently high birth rate.

Although the gestation period and growth cycle are a little longer, for a powerful and ancient force, they can still afford to wait.

Moreover, after countless years of research, humanity has also mastered methods to accelerate the maturation of magical beasts. Although it requires paying a certain price, it is all worthwhile compared to the formidable strength brought by extraordinary troops.

Hudson alone possesses two methods to accelerate the growth rate of magical beasts. The specific effects haven't been tested yet, but both are theoretically sound.

There is no unified standard in this regard, and all major factions have their own research findings. The methods and specific effects of accelerating the growth of magical beasts are also varied.

However, the current large-scale forced maturation is mainly targeting low-level magical beasts. These magical beasts have relatively low intelligence and are easier to fool.

If you did that to a high-level magical beast, it would immediately notice the side effects and might even turn on you on the spot.

"Count Hudson, this way please!"

Perhaps it was Hudson's envious gaze that made him feel so proud, for the Marquis Olavell was exceptionally enthusiastic and directly pulled Hudson aside to tour the military camp.

The more Hudson saw, the more shocked he became. He had originally thought that once the Alpha Kingdom recovered its strength, it would be able to catch up with these top powers thanks to its well-developed mobilization mechanism.

As it turns out, he was overthinking it. The generally accepted ranking of powerful nations on the mainland is based on sound scientific principles.

Perhaps the Iberian Kingdom's mobilization capacity cannot match that of the Alpha Kingdom, but its strength is undeniable!

As the saying goes, brute force can overcome any skill; in the face of absolute power, mobilization ability simply cannot reverse the situation.

No wonder the allied forces were wreaking havoc on the front lines, yet the Beastfolk force remained conspicuously absent from the battle. It wasn't that the Beastfolk royal family was cowardly; it was simply that the allied forces were far too powerful.

Looking around the camp, not a single ordinary person could be found. Even the weakest soldier had cultivated Battle Qi for several years.

The ability to train so many cultivator soldiers naturally stems from the fact that these countries are in a relatively peaceful environment and have sufficient financial resources to invest in it.

Unlike the Alpha Kingdom, where each generation was ravaged by Beastfolk, the Orcs did not suffer such a fate. They would begin paying off their debts as soon as the war ended, and once the debts were cleared, the Beastfolk army would soon return.

"Your Excellency Marquis Olavell, the overall quality displayed by your army has truly broadened my horizons!"

Hudson said, feigning a sigh.

Flattery is out of the question; he's a man of status with his own pride. But a few words of praise are perfectly acceptable.

While Hudson doesn't yet have the resources to build a similar army, learning from some of their experiences is still feasible.

For example, training extraordinary units. The Raptor Legion of the Iberian Kingdom is a very useful example.

Hudson even considered sending people deep into the Ula Mountains to capture magical beasts. However, reason ultimately prevailed; if wild magical beasts were so easy to capture, superhuman troops would be everywhere by now.

Just look at the Orc Empire; even though they have the Ula Mountains, which are inhabited by a large number of magical beasts, they haven't created many extraordinary units.

The lack of financial investment is one factor, but the difficulty of domestication is also a major reason. These areas of knowledge are tightly controlled by various powerful forces, and there is simply no reliable experience circulating outside.

The well-known stories are all mythical tales of epic heroes entering the mountains and monsters coming to surrender.

Hudson was also one of the lucky ones in the story; if he hadn't known how he had fooled Beldens, he might have believed it.

In fact, even if a contract is signed, it doesn't mean that the monster will obey commands. If it's in a bad mood, it can still quit.

"Ha ha..."

"The soldiers would be delighted if they knew His Excellency the Earl's assessment!"

Marquis Olavell readily accepted all the flattery directed at Hudson. Humility was nonexistent; in the Aslant Continent, confident acknowledgment was the mark of true magnanimity.

After a brief exchange, Hudson promptly shifted the topic to the main theme of his visit.

"Your Excellency, the Alliance Council is dragging its feet on making a decision; this can't go on forever!"

With their chance to make a fortune gone, only a very small minority of nobles remained, still clinging to the battlefield. Most of the nobles in the allied forces now wanted to return home in glory and enjoy life.

He chose to visit the Marquis Olavell because he, too, was eager to return home. Even before the war was over, the military camp was already teeming with women; clearly, he was a general who enjoyed life.

"Your Excellency, what do you mean?"

"I can't help but ask, "Marquis Olavell asked with concern.

In the military camp, many things were inconvenient. Concerned that his officers might follow suit, even though he had captured many beautiful foreign girls, he dared not indulge himself too much.

"Your Excellency, the gentlemen in the council are dragging their feet on making a decision. I think it's necessary to give them a push."

We can't decide how much the Alliance Council is willing to pay. But issuing bounties in the name of the Allied Forces to attract mercenaries from all over the continent is still within our authority.

Hudson said without changing his expression.

It was just skirting the rules; it didn't violate any fundamental principles, so it wasn't a big deal for the nobility.

"Your Excellency, this is a matter of great importance. I'm afraid it's not something you or I can decide on our own. Without the approval of the Alliance Council, if we make a decision on our own, there could be considerable hidden dangers!"

Marquis Olavell said with a slight hesitation.

He could bear some responsibility, but leaving this loophole would inevitably make him a target of political enemies after returning to China.

Whether or not to return home in order to end the war early is a difficult question.

"Your Excellency, you can rest assured about these issues. We can adopt an anonymous vote and have the Allied Command make the decision."

Even if there are criticisms from the outside world, we made our decisions within our authority. After the war, everyone is a hero of humanity; who would dare to deliberately make things difficult for us over such a small matter?

Although he spoke lightly, Hudson was very aware of the far-reaching impact this matter could have.

On the surface, it seemed like just skirting the edge of legality, but in reality, it opened Pandora's Box.

Issuing a bounty in the name of the Allied Command may seem to have no impact on the Alliance Council's discussions, but in reality, it creates a fait accompli, forcing the Human Alliance to accept it.

With the bounty per unit already set, does the total price discussed by the council still matter? In any case, the decision made by the Allied Command will ultimately be paid for by the Alliance Council.

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To put it more politely: This means that when a general is in the field, he must have the authority to make decisions on the spot.

To put it another way, it's a classic example of "the Underling Overlord".

In a feudal dynasty with unprecedented centralized power, Hudson would never have dared to do such a thing. Even if the law didn't punish everyone, he, the one who started it all, wouldn't have fared well.

The current situation is unique; the Human Alliance is merely a loosely organized group. What appears to be a group of councilors arguing is actually a power struggle among the major forces on the continent.

As a general of the Alpha Kingdom, it is perfectly politically correct to promote decisions that benefit the kingdom.

"Has Your Excellency, the Earl, now gained the support of all sides?"

Marquis Olavell asked in surprise.

"My lord, no one will refuse a proposal that benefits them. Once the bounty is issued, not only will the mercenaries benefit, but the entire allied forces will also reap huge profits!"

Everyone here is intelligent; no specific explanation is needed. They understood Hudson's meaning simply through eye contact.

Mercenaries can exchange Beastfolk heads for bounties, and the allied forces on the front lines can also participate. It's simply a matter of taking off their military uniforms and putting on mercenary vests.

As for the increased military expenditure, that's a problem for the entire Human Alliance, but the benefits go to the officers and soldiers on the front lines.

The coalition forces are all vested interests, so there's a problem if such a proposal fails to pass once it reaches the voting stage.