Nurture Internal Strength, Stabilize External Relations with Elves

Before reinforcements arrived, the mobilization order was issued and an overwhelming tide of beasts erupted.

The half-finished Blood Moon Defense Line was utterly ineffective. For the safety of the laborers, Hudson had no choice but to order a retreat to key strategic points.

In fact, at this point, "strategy" is completely irrelevant. Once the herd has crossed the defensive line, they enter a free-roaming mode.

High-ranking magical beasts are qualified high-level commanders, but unfortunately, the low-ranking magical beasts below them are not qualified junior officers. It is too much of a burden for them to command wild beasts in battle.

In their eyes, the beasts under their command were simply food. When they were hungry, they would grab a few to fill their stomachs, scaring the wild animals away at the sight of them.

If it weren't for the restraint of the three high-level magical beasts, the magical beasts might have been fighting each other freely. Low-level magical beasts, with an average intelligence level less than a seven-year-old child, have no concept of the bigger picture.

Having witnessed the horde's tactics, Hudson suddenly realized he had been worrying unnecessarily. Even without reinforcements, this rabble would be easily defeated by the nobles from various regions.

Even though Blood Moon County was under siege by a monster army, Hudson no longer took it seriously.

Everyone who needed to be notified has been notified. This isn't the first time they've encountered a beast tide, and the nobles of Blood Moon County all have their own coping strategies.

The three high-level magical beasts that initiated the beast tide are all stuck outside the city. The magical beasts that invade other places are just small fry and can't pose any real threat.

"Count Hudson, something's not right. A typical beast tide wouldn't have such a well-organized structure, much less a clear objective."

The herd of beasts gathering outside was growing larger and larger, and the three high-level magical beasts had been staying there, as if something inside the city was attracting them.

Governor Pierce said with concern.

Clearly, he wasn't as optimistic as Hudson. A beast tide arriving with a specific purpose is rare in history.

"Governor Excellency, I have naturally noticed this problem. However, if we want to find out the cause, I'm afraid we can only ask the three-headed monster."

Our mounts didn't react, proving that the monsters outside the city weren't attracted by rare and precious treasures.

Perhaps it was caused by a mercenary group, or perhaps a nobleman did something big in the Black Stone Mountain Range, or it could be that someone did it on purpose.

If the Blacksemites wanted to launch an invasion from here, it was entirely possible that they could create a beast tide in advance to lure the monsters from the Black Stone Mountain Range.

The gathering of beasts outside the city is a good thing. We only need to defend the city and wait for reinforcements to arrive.

Hudson calmly bluffed.

It all comes down to profit. Ever since he reached an agreement with Maxim, the silly dragon has been constantly going out to hunt magical beasts.

Perhaps because he'd spent so much time with Beldens, this guy had also learned to ambush people from behind, always shrinking down and sneaking out whenever he made a move.

When they made a catch, they didn't bring it back immediately. Instead, they chose to bring it back quietly at night under the cover of darkness, unlike normal Giant Dragon are very high-profile.

If it weren't for the increasing number of monster prisoners in Hudson's private army camp, no one would know what this guy does every day.

Monsters have a very keen sense of smell, and if you capture too many monsters, it's inevitable that your own kind will notice.

Although there is no conclusive evidence, judging from the current reaction of the herd, it is highly likely that the trouble was caused by their own dragon.

He knew it, but Hudson would never admit it. If word got out, it wouldn't do him any good.

The Black Forest Kingdom is currently seen as the biggest threat by the provincial nobles, who view things with prejudice. It's safe to blame them.

A bloody battle has begun, another brutal day. Hudson surveys the battlefield from afar, sighing inwardly.

In his eyes, both the soldiers defending the city and the magical beasts attacking it were valuable assets. Unfortunately, now he could only watch them be wasted here.

Unsurprisingly, none of the nobles' mid-to-high-level Magical Beast Mount appeared on the battlefield, and even those that did show up refused to participate in the battle.

In normal times, they could fight each other freely, but in times like these, they all chose neutrality.

No one knows the reason behind it; the only explanation is: a unique Warcraft mindset. Hudson doesn't understand it, nor does he have the time to delve into it.

It was clear that the beast horde's attacks were far more haphazard than those of organized humans. Coordination was nonexistent; despite the constant roars of the three high-level magical beasts, their capriciousness remained unchanged.

"If someone can control the beast horde and launch an organized magical attack, our city defenses won't last three hours!"

Hudson exclaimed sincerely.

It must be admitted that Warcraft's innate talent is unparalleled; each and every one of them is a natural-born master of both magic and martial arts. They can attack with ranged magic and engage in close combat.

"Count Hudson, you jest."

If different races of magical beasts could cooperate with each other, they would have become the overlords of the continent long ago, and there would be no place for us humans.

The creator god is fair; he endowed them with extraordinary talents but also deprived them of their wisdom.

If all magical beasts possessed intelligence, even low-level magical beasts could break through bloodline limitations through cultivation and grow into high-level magical beasts.

With its long lifespan and remarkable talent, it could be said that any low-level magical beast race possessed intelligence, and it was also an Elves.

Even more terrifying than the Elves, who lack their reproductive abilities!

Governor Pierce laughed heartily.

There are no higher-tier magical beasts because the only limitation of these monstrous creatures is their low fertility.

If a high-level magical beast race were to break through its own reproductive limitations and reproduce in large numbers, it could quickly replace the human race as the new overlord of the continent.

The brief conversation eased the tension in the command center.

"Pass down the order: have the Magic Crossbow, Magic Crystal Cannon, and catapults in the city aim at the beast horde and fire freely."

Hudson then gave the order.

There's no need to keep hiding it anymore. The enemy is Warcraft; they won't understand any military tactics or strategies.

You either kill your opponent or get killed by them. That's how simple and straightforward the world of Warcraft is.

The roar of cannons filled the air, instantly easing the pressure on the city's defenses. Faced with the defenders' ranged attacks, the magical beasts launched a magical counterattack.

These fools clearly don't know how to coordinate. Often, their own beasts' magic will collide in mid-air and explode before even reaching the city.

The consequence was that the launched magical counterattacks inflicted indiscriminate damage on both sides. Some hot-tempered monsters, after being accidentally injured, even retaliated by delivering a critical hit to their teammates.

The chaos of the scene left Hudson speechless. He strongly suspected that if it weren't for the three high-level magical beasts constantly maintaining order, the beast horde outside would have started fighting on their own.

Theoretically speaking, if a counterattack is launched now and those three high-level magical beasts are held back, the beast horde, which has no one to command, will soon collapse.

Unfortunately, Lord Hudson, the Dragon Knight, was too afraid of death and had no intention of taking the risk. The others were willing but unable to do so.

The nobility of the Southeast Province still lacked high-level power.

According to the intelligence Hudson possesses, there are quite a few Magister and Earth Knight in the province, but there is a significant shortage of higher-level Great Sorcerer and Sky Knight.

Whether it's a genuine power gap or the Dalton Family has simply hidden its high-level capabilities remains unknown, but no expert of that caliber has shown themselves yet.

In terms of power levels, Magister and Earth Knight correspond to seventh-tier magical beasts. There's only one eighth-tier magical beast and two seventh-tier magical beasts outside. Gathering a dozen or so experts to besiege them would achieve the same goal.

Unfortunately, like Hudson, these important figures also valued their lives. If they were caught in a horde of beasts, they wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.

Hudson did not issue such an offensive order, and the others tacitly kept quiet, all waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

News of the beast tide breaking out in the Southeast Province Emerald Palace had already reached the Royal Capital. However, the nobles, including Caesar IV, were too preoccupied to pay attention to these "minor matters."

The fact that no nobles in the Southeast Province have requested assistance is enough to show that the situation is still under control, and there is no need to expend too much energy paying attention to it.

Looking at the intelligence gathered from all over the continent, Caesar IV couldn't help but ask, "Is Continental War about to break out so soon?"

"Your Majesty, based on the information we have gathered so far, all countries are preparing for war."

In particular, the Franks had already issued a war ultimatum to the Half-Orc Kingdom regarding the assassination of the mission. Armies in various regions had also begun mobilization, and the outbreak of war was only a matter of time.

The Opulus Kingdom has also clashed with the Dwarves. In recent days, more than one hundred dwarves have been involved in accidents in the border region between the two countries, and seven Oprus nobles have also been killed.

Judging from the traces left at the scene, the conflict points to the other side. Currently, the two countries are busy arguing, and it's said that they have even had two armed clashes in the border region.

If the situation does not improve, the Opulus Kingdom, which has gained the support of the Church, is very likely to launch a war against the Dwarf Kingdom.

The Ilibia Kingdom has recently clashed with Ogre Tribes. Based on intelligence gathered, they are highly likely to launch another attack on the Ogre Kingdom.

The central part of the continent is also not peaceful. Armed conflict broke out South Bank Kingdom and the Three-Eyed Race; the conflict between the Dante Kingdom and the Troll Race escalated; and the Black Forest Kingdom also clashed with the Stone People Race.

The conflicts mentioned above are between humans and a few powerful alien races. There are many more conflicts between smaller alien races and various human nations.

All signs indicate that a new Continental War is imminent; now it's just a matter of who will ignite it first.

"Count Francis said wearily."

The Foreign Affairs Department has been extremely busy lately. This complex international situation, where war seems imminent but not quite breaking out, is incredibly frustrating.

A series of international conflicts have erupted, forcing the Foreign Affairs Department to constantly adjust the Kingdom's current foreign policy in response to the changing situation.

Working overtime is one thing, but the real problem is that it doesn't produce results. And if you're not careful, it can even cause trouble.

The conflict between humans and other races might seem like simply siding with humans is the answer. However, the reality is far more complex. Choosing sides now requires more than just empty words of support; it demands concrete actions.

Once Continental War, no one can remain unaffected.

While the Alpha Kingdom appears to be free of alien races in the vicinity, the Northern Continent is where alien forces are most powerful. If a war were to break out, the Alpha Kingdom would face even greater pressure than these involved nations.

After all, they were well-prepared and took the initiative to launch wars against other countries. If they won, they would gain a lot of land and wealth.

The situation is different for the Alpha Kingdom. Surrounded by human nations, even if they win the war and destroy the alien races, they can only acquire a few enclaves.

This is still the most ideal scenario. More likely, the human nations in the south and central parts of the continent will wipe out the alien races, while the alien races in the Northern Continent will still be alive and well, and the Alpha Kingdom will have done all its work in vain.

It can't be said that all the work was in vain; it simply meant that the gap between the north and south of the mainland widened further. The mainland gradually declined from a powerful nation to an ordinary kingdom, finding itself in an increasingly disadvantageous position in international competition.

"The outbreak of Continental War is now very disadvantageous to the kingdom. Even if the human race wins a great victory, we will not be able to divide the spoils of war."

If possible, the kingdom should try to avoid this war. At the very least, it should delay the outbreak of war to ensure that we are not drawn into the battlefield at the outset.

The kingdom's current finances remain precarious. Perhaps the Foreign Affairs Department could use this opportunity to request debt relief from other governments.

We don't expect to eliminate private lending altogether, but if government lending were eliminated, our pressure would be greatly reduced.

From the moment Marquis Delgado opened his mouth, he displayed the qualities expected of Finance Minister, constantly thinking about the kingdom's financial problems.

"Your Excellency, this may be difficult. We owe the governments of various countries a total of more than ten million gold coins, which is no small sum."

Making such a request at this time might only be agreed to by a few small kingdoms in the Northern Continent that border the Elves, but even then, the agreement would be conditional.

If the kingdom doesn't want to intervene in the war immediately, then the best option is to find an excuse to remain inactive. After all, with so many countries blocking our way, the flames of war won't reach our homeland for the time being.

If we can hold out for three to five years, allowing the kingdom to recover, then re-entering the war will present a completely different situation.

The Prime Minister Grand Duke Newfoundland, vetoed it.

The Foreign Affairs Department is already under enough pressure; making unrealistic demands is simply putting people in a difficult position.

Putting myself in their shoes, if anyone owed the Alpha Kingdom a large sum of money and suddenly came to ask for debt relief, he wouldn't agree.

Even if you truly lack funds, debt can be deferred. No nation on the Aslant Continent has ever defaulted on its debts before its demise.

As for choosing to wait and see, that's even less surprising. They were able to adopt a policy of appeasement towards the Black Forest Kingdom before, and they can certainly remain inactive now.

In any case, this kind of thing isn't unique to the Alpha Kingdom. When the Beastfolk invaded earlier, most of the countries in the Northern Continent didn't send troops in time.

"The Prime Minister is right. The most important thing now is to buy time. All other issues must take a backseat."

"Duke Affierro, if Continental War were to suddenly break out, how much military pressure would the kingdom face, and are we capable of dealing with it?"

Duke Affierro, who was singled out by Caesar IV, looked embarrassed. Before he could even answer, his facial expression betrayed his true feelings.

"Your Majesty, the international situation is unpredictable, and we don't even know who the enemy is yet, so it's difficult for the Military Affairs Department to give a clear answer."

If you wish to anticipate an outcome, I suggest summoning the Count Hudson to the Royal Capital for a briefing. He has more authority on military matters.

Duke Affierro promptly shifted the blame.

As Minister of Military Affairs, he was certainly not lacking in professional competence. However, he held a pessimistic view on this issue and dared not give Caesar IV the assurances he desired.

"The Southeast Province is facing a beast tide, Count Hudson is in charge of the overall situation and will definitely not be able to leave for the time being."

The Military Affairs Department should first formulate a reasonable response plan based on the current situation, in order to avoid being caught off guard by a sudden outbreak of Continental War.

Don't be so pessimistic. At least the threat to our south has been temporarily eliminated. The Central Three Kingdoms are unlikely to risk universal condemnation and start a civil war among humans during the Continental War.

The threat from other races was met with resistance from other countries.

The Foreign Affairs Department can strengthen communication with the Elves, ideally by signing a binding non-aggression pact. If we can keep them in check, we've won most of the war.

Caesar IV stated bluntly.

These strategies were all left behind by Caesar III during his lifetime. After predicting the impending Continental War, he made plans for the future of the Alpha Kingdom in advance.

Initially, Caesar IV didn't take it seriously, but the development of the situation turned out to be almost exactly as Caesar III had predicted.

The only difference was the timing of the outbreak of the Continental War, which was slightly earlier, but the overall development of the situation was not significantly different.

Unable to find a better solution, Caesar IV could only rely on the national policy left by his father. "Internally recuperate and strengthen, externally stabilize the people."