Mobilization Order
Lutetia.
"Your Majesty, all preparations are complete. All that's missing is an excuse to attack the Beastfolk."
Marquis Sunil said menacingly.
With the autumn harvest just completed, it was the perfect time to launch a war. However, as the leading kingdom on the continent, the Frankish Kingdom still needed to maintain its prestige.
Even if it's a war against a foreign race, it must be "legitimate".
Without giving a direct answer, but with just a knowing glance, the Marquis Hesius, the Foreign Minister, immediately took over the conversation.
"Three days ago, our diplomatic envoys were attacked in the border region. Based on the assassin's body left at the scene, it was determined that it was the work of Beastfolk."
The Foreign Affairs Department has sent a note to the Half-Orc Kingdom demanding that they hand over the murderer, but has yet to receive a satisfactory response.
The deadline has now passed, and all diplomatic efforts by the Kingdom to bring peace to the continent have ended in failure.
The only option left is to resort to drastic measures to let the evil Beastfolk know that the Frankish Kingdom cannot be humiliated!
It was clear from the strange expressions on everyone's faces that they were unaware that the "assassination of the envoy" was a hastily planned scheme by the Foreign Affairs Department to create a pretext for war.
If they didn't know, then the Beastfolk were completely confused. Receiving a diplomatic note in such a muddled state, it's no wonder they wouldn't hand over the murderer.
Beastfolk were confused or not was irrelevant; since the charge had been leveled against them, whether they admitted it or not would not affect the final outcome.
Since it's targeting a different race anyway, an excuse is enough; there's no need to take it so seriously.
According to the plan, after this war ends, the Half-Orc Kingdom will be erased from the map, and the dead cannot come out to overturn the verdict.
"Those despicable Beastfolk! How dare they attack the kingdom's delegation! Your Majesty, please order troops to severely punish this evil race that has challenged the kingdom's dignity!"
After Chancellor Duke Bergson finished speaking, the courtiers echoed his sentiments. In the blink of an eye, the Beastfolk had become the most evil race on the continent, deserving of physical annihilation.
"If we were to wage war against the Half-Orc Kingdom now, how would the other countries on the continent react?"
Charles III inquired with concern.
Before war even broke out, the Half-Orc Kingdom was already condemned to death in Charles III's mind, and the dead enemies could naturally be ignored. Such arrogance naturally stemmed from strength.
After years of suppression and bloodshed, the Half-Orc Kingdom has been severely weakened. In particular, a large-scale locust plague recently struck the Half-Orc Kingdom, resulting in near-total crop failure this year.
The struggle for survival space between races allows no room for sentimentality. Taking advantage of someone's weakness to kill them is just standard practice.
The human race was able to rise from a marginalized tribe to the pinnacle of the continent because of its ability to seize opportunities.
Through victory in war after war, humanity has achieved its current glory, but this is still not enough!
A continental hegemon can never compare to someone who dominates the continent; having other races around will always be a threat.
Over the years, the hatred between humans and other races has been deeply ingrained in the bones through repeated wars, with no possibility of easing.
It's not that no one tried to fight for peace; unfortunately, when the last unified human empire collapsed, the alien races formed an alliance and launched a major counter-offensive.
All of humanity's allies and allies at the time chose to betray the alliance and join the Alien Race Alliance, completely burying the last vestiges of trust between the two sides.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured! Everything is going according to plan. We have reached an agreement with the Ilibia Kingdom, the Dante Kingdom, the Church, the Black Forest Kingdom... and we will all launch wars against the alien races at the same time."
Apart from the nations of the Northern Continent, the entire human world will be involved in this war, and we have already gained an absolute advantage.
Unless the Elves, the Ancient Remnants, and the severely weakened Beastfolk fight desperately to fight alongside the other races in the early stages of the war, the defeat of the Alien Race Alliance is only a matter of time.
After so many years of effort, the Alien Race Alliance has long been internally divided and disintegrated by us. They will never truly set aside their suspicions and cooperate sincerely unless it comes to a final life-or-death situation.
Our recent leniency towards the Beastfolk misled many people.
It is estimated that many races in the Alien Race Alliance still believe that the upcoming Continental War will be similar to the past, and will only be used to consume excess population.
Once they've managed to get through the initial stages of the war and wiped out a few alien races, even if they realize the danger, it will be too late for them to band together for survival.
However, it's not entirely without risk. If Continental War, the Beastfolk, who have retreated into hiding, could very well make a comeback, and the newly established Seven Grassland Nations might not be able to hold onto their territory.
The Warhammer Kingdom, embroiled in civil war, is also in a precarious situation, facing imminent destruction by the Ancient Remnants and Elves.
Currently, only one and a half major powers remain in the Northern Continent. The Alpha Kingdom and the Moxi Duchy can barely protect themselves and it will be difficult to stop the three major alien forces!
What's more troublesome is that the Alpha Kingdom is unaware of the threat from the alien races, and is instead focusing its efforts on preventing the Blacksens from taking advantage of the situation.
Marquis Hesius analyzed rationally.
Humanity was the weakest race in the Northern Continent, yet it encountered the strongest alien race. Had the Elves not lacked the will to fight, the Northern Continent would have long since fallen to the aliens.
"After the war breaks out, we will send someone to remind Caesar IV, but the effect should not be significant."
When the Beastfolk invaded, the countries of the Northern Continent did not provide them with full assistance. Now that the tables have turned, they may find it difficult to make the decision to send all their troops to reinforce them immediately.
Besides the desire for revenge, there's also the issue of strength. The Alpha Kingdom was severely weakened in the previous war and has only just begun to recover.
Sending them on a long and arduous expedition at this moment is truly putting them in a difficult position. We cannot have too high expectations for the situation in the Northern Continent.
Inform the Fralant Wheel Kingdom that if they cannot withstand the Beastfolk advance, they should hold the port and await reinforcements.
He made no mention of the Moxi Duchy. Clearly, that half-powerful state was completely ignored by Charles III.
Even during the Beastfolk invasion, the Moxi Duchy performed well, but that was only because they had allies to help them.
In the early stages of the war, the Moxi people performed poorly. They possessed considerable military strength but failed to utilize it effectively.
If it weren't for the Warhammer Kingdom setting them apart and highlighting their excellence, the Moxi Duchy might have become a laughingstock during the war.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about the situation in the Northern Continent. No matter how incompetent the Seven Grassland Nations are, with such a large territory, they can hold off the Beastfolk for a year or two."
Those art-obsessed geniuses are all indecisive; it will probably take them a year and a half to make up their minds to launch a full-scale attack.
Those small countries in the Northern Continent should be able to hold out for several months. That's a long buffer period, enough time for the Alpha Kingdom to prepare.
A counterattack is out of the question. With the strength of the Alpha Kingdom, it can hold out for a year or two.
For at least three years, these alien races will be tied up in the Northern Continent and unable to truly interfere in the Continental War.
In such a long period of time, even if we didn't destroy the Half-Orc Kingdom, we crippled them. The other kingdoms are probably in a similar state.
By then, the outcome will be decided, and no matter how hard the Alien Race Alliance tries, it will be too late to reverse the situation.
For the eternal hegemony of humanity, even the smallest sacrifices by the nations of the Northern Continent are entirely worthwhile!
"Duke Bergson said coldly."
"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand," let alone the rule of an entire continent. It is simply impossible without sacrifice.
History teaches us that the decline of all the continental hegemons was caused by the overthrow of their vassal races.
When a force is powerful, everyone is subservient and tries to please it. But once a weakness is revealed, they immediately attack it en masse.
Drawing on the experience of their predecessors, the human race formulated a racial strategy to suppress other races from the moment they ascended to the position of hegemon.
Regardless of the nature of the relationship, anyone with superior strength is targeted for suppression. This oppressive policy has alienated humanity from its friends, but it has also made humanity increasingly powerful.
Under the pressure of being surrounded by enemies, humanity forged its glorious past. Now, there is even hope of unifying the continent.
"Um.
Since the tide has turned in our favor, let's go for it!
This battle must be fought swiftly. There's no need to hold back any longer; let everyone show their true abilities. This battle must demonstrate the might of the Frankish Kingdom!
Charles III said domineeringly.
In the Black Stone Mountain Range, Lord Hudson, unaware of the impending Continental War, was still gazing down at the beast horde from the clouds.
He had heard of the "beast tide" countless times, but this was the first time he had personally experienced it.
Upon receiving the message, they rushed over to check immediately, partly out of concern for the Blood Moon Defense Line, and partly out of curiosity.
Frankly, Hudson didn't want to deal with these magical beasts. Even when he was dealing with the magical beast army, he didn't go into the Black Stone Mountain Range to hunt them.
It's not that it's impossible, but these magical beasts also act as a "barrier." With some of them around, the Black Forest Kingdom can't easily invade.
If all the monsters are wiped out, a single forest won't be enough to stop the Black Forest people's army.
Even without war, given humanity's nature, they can't resist expanding outwards. Today they extend their territory hundreds of meters into the forest, tomorrow they'll claim another piece.
As long as the land beneath their feet is suitable for cultivation, this spontaneous expansion is inevitable. The forest barrier, less than a hundred kilometers long, cannot withstand the meddling of nobles on both sides.
Perhaps after the monsters in this area are cleared out, monsters from other places will come to replenish the area, but this will eventually take time.
The ever-increasing distance also means a growing probability of conflict. The struggle for unclaimed lands, in particular, is a common trigger for civil wars among humans.
Seeing the Young Bear return, Hudson hurriedly asked, "Beldens, how many high-level magical beasts are down there?"
There are many types of beast tides, but the most powerful ones are commanded by high-level magical beasts. The more high-level magical beasts appearing in a beast tide, the greater the destructive power it can cause.
These high-level magical beasts are all ancient relics that have lived for countless years. Their wisdom is in no way inferior to that of humans, and their experience is incredibly rich.
Fighting against a horde of beasts commanded by a high-level magical beast is a war.
"There aren't many. There are only three high-level magical beasts in total, and the rest are just ordinary ones."
Hudson, let's get this straight up. I won't get involved in the war between humans and monsters, and don't even think about gathering intelligence on me.
You'd better be careful not to rush to the front lines. If you encounter danger, my only responsibility is to carry you back to safety. If it affects command or operations, I, the bear, will not be held responsible!
He immediately backed down and refused to take responsibility. Hudson was about to get angry, but he quickly suppressed it.
The Earth Bear is also a magical beast. Although it is not of the same race as the magical beasts below, it ultimately belongs to the magical beast family.
It's currently a war between Warcraft and humans, and Beldens, caught in the middle, is already showing them considerable respect by remaining neutral. To demand that they betray their own race is going too far.
Apart from low-level magical beasts that lack intelligence, other magical beasts that have made contracts with humans will not participate in such wars.
"No problem. During the war, you only need to protect my safety. You can leave the fighting to Maxim."
Hudson waved his hand dismissively.
Even if he loses a bear as a henchman, he still has a dragon. Besides, this war isn't just his own; he has allies to share the burden.
Perhaps seeing Beldens's success, Maxim chimed in, "Hudson, me too..."
"Mr. Maxim, are you also a magical beast? Are you not going to uphold the dignity of the Giant Dragon race?"
Hudson exclaimed in feigned surprise.
Whether Giant Dragon qualify as magical beasts is a matter of debate on the Aslant Continent. Some include them in the broader family of magical beasts, while others consider them separate entities.
However, the proud Giant Dragon never acknowledged themselves as lowly magical beasts. Anyone who dared to call them magical beasts to their face would be met with an immediate and fierce retaliation!
"Of course, I, the dragon, am not a magical beast!"
"Hudson, that's not what I wanted to say. I'm fine with fighting, but we need to discuss the cost first."
"As long as you have gold coins the same size as this dragon, I'll stop those three high-level magical beasts for you!"
As he spoke, saliva dripped from his mouth. That greedy expression reassured Hudson that his mount was indeed a pureblood Giant Dragon.
No wonder the other three Dragon Knight haven't been very active. They're probably all scared off by the price their Giant Dragon are asking for.
Maxim is considered good; due to the additional terms of the contract, at least he won't be charged for daily operations. Other dragons might not be so fortunate.
"Roll!"
One word summed up Hudson's feelings.
By daring to demand gold coins equal in size to himself, Maxim's demands were not just outrageous; they were outright robbery.
Hudson didn't have time to calculate the exact figure; he simply couldn't afford it, nor could he accept such extortion.
"Hudson, don't be angry. The price is negotiable. Given our relationship, you can easily pay me on credit."
Besides, you don't necessarily have to pay for this. With a little maneuvering, someone else will come up with the money, and you'll get a hundred gold coins in return, how about that?"
Maxim's greedy words left Hudson speechless. Reason told him that if he argued with this fool, he would only be able to come out at noon.
"Don't dream, Maxim. Do you think I can be bought off with a hundred gold coins?"
After saying that, Hudson wanted to slap himself. He was clearly so angry that he didn't think before he spoke.
"Enough with the nonsense. If you want gold coins, go capture prisoners. I only accept living monsters."
Tier 1 monsters cost 100 gold coins, Tier 2 monsters cost 200 gold coins, Tier 3 monsters cost 500 gold coins, Tier 4 monsters cost 2,000 gold coins, Tier 5 monsters cost 4,000 gold coins, Tier 6 monsters cost 8,000 gold coins, Tier 7 monsters cost 30,000 gold coins, Tier 8 monsters cost 100,000 gold coins, and Tier 9 monsters cost 500,000 gold coins.
Female animals in their reproductive years will fetch double the price mentioned above.
The bounty is definitely lower than the market price for a Warcraft beast. However, the captured beasts are all wild, making them difficult to tame.
If you add a zero to the price of a tamed monster, everyone will rush to pay for it.
"Warcraft is forever, and one will live on forever."
Unlike wild magical beasts, which leave once their master dies even after a contract is signed, tamed magical beasts can be passed down as family heirlooms.
This is also why monster cubs are so popular. Only cubs can be tamed; once a high-level monster reaches adulthood, it becomes impossible to tame it.
The great nobles possess many magical beasts, but rarely high-level ones, mainly because these intelligent races are difficult to raise.
Even cubs raised from a young age hold grudges. Anyone who dares to feed them growth-enhancing drugs will inevitably suffer the consequences in the future.
Raising them at a normal pace involves a long growth cycle, which is not only extremely expensive, but more importantly, it ensures that one's own power can remain strong for hundreds of years.
If the game fails to thrive and your own business declines first, all the previous investments will be wasted.
If it were just these things, it wouldn't be unbearable. For a noble family, the expense of raising a few more magical beasts is still manageable.
The worst part is that these magical beasts are easily ruined during their long growth cycle. There are just too many magical beasts that, even after being raised for hundreds of years, remain at the fifth or sixth tier.
For example, Governor Pierce's Flame Lion was originally a high-level magical beast, but it reached adulthood prematurely at the fifth level.
Despite trying every possible method, he ultimately stopped at the sixth rank, unable to cross the threshold of the seventh rank, let alone continue to grow.
Spending hundreds of years to raise a mid-level magical beast is undoubtedly a huge loss.
Even with a high probability of failure, there are also success stories. These success stories are what motivate everyone to keep investing in this field.
Hudson's promises to Maxim were primarily aimed at lower-level magical beasts. These low-intelligence races were relatively easier to contract with.
Especially the female beasts here, whether they can be contracted or not is not important. They can be captured and bred with Maxim, and before long, they will have another litter of cubs.
"No way! What do you take me for? How can I do what slave traders do? We need more money!"
Hearing Maxim's words, Hudson nearly fell off the dragon's back. One moment he was talking about principles, the next he was just after money.
Gold coins have no real meaning to Giant Dragon; I really don't understand where Giant Dragon money-grubbing nature comes from.
Back at the camp, after briefly explaining the situation to Governor Pierce, the atmosphere inside suddenly became heavy.
"Count Hudson, are you sure the beast tide is coming for us?"
Governor Pierce asked with concern.
If the beast tide breaks out, the construction progress of the Blood Moon Defense Line will definitely be affected. Even the basic infrastructure that has already been completed may be destroyed.
Even if they survive the beast tide, it will be a lose-lose situation for both the magical beasts and the nobles of the Southeast Province. Only the Black Forest Kingdom will benefit from it.
"Judging from the current direction of the beast horde's movement, the beast tide is indeed heading towards us."
Perhaps our construction of defenses provoked them; or perhaps the Black Forest Mountain Range have an overabundance of magical beasts, and the resources in the mountains cannot support so many of them, so high-level magical beasts control the number of magical beasts by reducing their numbers through beast tides.
It's also possible that a mercenary group caused trouble, provoking a high-level magical beast in the mountains, and they wanted to retaliate through this method.
There are many possibilities, but none of that matters right now. The key question is, how should we deal with this beast tide?
Hudson said calmly.
The beast horde was indeed quite large, but this was Blood Moon County, a long distance from the Mountain Territory, and it wouldn't be able to harm them for the time being.
With so many nobles along the way, the herd of beasts was almost completely wiped out after being blocked at every turn.
"The border between the Southeast Province and the Black Forest Mountain Range is too long, allowing the beast herds to choose any point of breach, making it difficult to stop them."
With a high-level magical beast in command, it's unlikely they'll be able to set a trap to ambush them.
The nobles of Blood Moon County are doomed, and the neighboring counties will likely suffer as well.
"Count Hudson, issue the military mobilization order! To quell the beast tide in a short time, we must mobilize the entire province's military force."
Governor Pierce's words surprised Hudson slightly. He had been a figurehead military commander of the province from beginning to end, and he hadn't expected to have any time to give orders.
He immediately understood. It seemed that Governor Pierce had relinquished control, but in reality, it was another hot potato.
No matter how they defend themselves, some noble territories will inevitably suffer. Whoever commands the battle will bear the brunt of these unfortunate souls' resentment.
Since the Southeast Province had no Standing Army, Hudson's apparent acquisition of military power actually meant he only had the temporary authority to command the private armies of nobles.
No matter what they do, a nobleman's private army is still just a private army. The lord's orders carry far more weight than the words of a provincial military officer.