Chapter 436
However, some people remained uneasy, especially about the shelling at 8:00 AM.
War has likely begun.
Clovicia took the lead in gathering everyone to prepare for a reassessment of the current situation in Londinium.
The participants in the meeting were divided into three factions.
The Londinium Self-Rescue Army led by Clovicia and Alda, the Glass Gang led by Vigna, and the Rhodes Island operator led by the Doctor.
Guided by Broca, Kal'tsit and the others have successfully reunited with Amiya.
Vigna and the others returned to the Glass Gang at six in the morning and brought out Belde, Cadore, and several ordinary citizens they had taken in.
Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Clovicia looked around, silently checking the important people in her mind. She quickly noticed someone missing and asked the Doctor:
"The Doctor, where is Doctor Zhongli?"
The Doctor and Shi Lei were not in a superior-subordinate relationship, and the doctor did not know where Shi Lei had gone. He looked around and cast a pleading glance at Shi Lei's girlfriend, Texas.
She was about to respond on behalf of the Doctor when she saw her lover appear in the distance, and she consciously shut her mouth.
Shi Lei is a very punctual person and rarely arrives late. The reason he was late was because he wasn't present when Clovicia gathered everyone.
Upon noticing that the Norbert District had detached, he immediately went to the bottom of the block. Using Rock Constructs to connect the various parts of the chassis, he forcibly pulled the block back into place.
What outsiders would consider absolutely impossible is a piece of cake for Shi Lei.
He did not create a miracle.
He is the miracle itself!
If the land is allowed to detach, who knows what kind of trouble the Sarkaz and the various Duke will cause.
Shi Lei learned from the Writing Tablet on the Rock Constructs that a meeting was being held there, which is why he rushed back from underground.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's alright, Doctor Zhongli, please sit down."
Seeing that he hadn't received any notification from the Self-Rescue Army, yet still took the initiative to apologize, taking responsibility for a mistake that wasn't his, and giving the other party a suitable way to save face.
This tolerance for all things in the world and the lack of concern for trivial matters are very rare qualities.
Xi stood behind the Mudrock, stealing glances at Shi Lei's profile, a faint smile spreading across her face. She liked him even more now.
He clearly possessed the ability to break the rules, yet he insisted on abiding by them and refrained from overstepping them. This kind of self-control and emotional stability truly captivated her.
In fact, Shi Lei could easily have Superman on the first day, Homelander on the second, and then "I Don't Eat Beef" on the third.
But the increase in power did not lead to an expansion of desires; he had his own principles and bottom line.
Upon seeing Doctor Zhongli arrive, and confirming that all other important personnel were present, Clovicia announced the start of the meeting:
"I have gathered you all here today to discuss our future operations within Londinium. As you can see, the Self-Rescue Army's current strength is not very high."
Due to the Sarkaz's long-term blockade policy, our logistical supplies have always been a problem. In the past, we relied entirely on Commander Alda to pay for it herself, but now that she has even lost the Duke Cumberland's Mansion, she simply cannot provide any supplies.
In last night's breakout battle, the Self-Rescue Army suffered heavy losses. We had thought that as long as we stopped the Sarkaz's operation, there was still a chance to salvage the situation. However, their speed was clearly much faster than expected.
Just now, the Sarkaz deployed their latest airships and, using their onboard long-range weapons, severely damaged Duke Windermere's high-speed warships outside the city.
Previously, they could comfort themselves by saying there was no war, but the illusion of peace is gone. Moreover, this military operation was initiated by the Sarkaz, which means they are prepared for war.
I've gathered you all here today hoping to get your help. Londinium is now at a critical juncture; any assistance could potentially turn the tide of the battle. So... I'm begging you!"
Although Clovicia said she needed everyone's help, her eyes were secretly glancing at Shi Lei. It seemed she had only come to this meeting for him.
Shi Lei remained calm, showing no intention of expressing his opinion. This was a matter he didn't need to consider; it was a headache for his employer the Doctor.
Even before entering Londinium, Shi Lei had made it very clear to him and Amiya.
Stopping the Sarkaz or the Duke is not difficult.
The key point is that even after doing this, the people of Londinium and even Victoria are still suffering terribly.
What's the point of stopping one side?
The Doctor has yet to give Shi Lei a clear answer. Because behind every choice lies the pronouncement of countless lives lost.
This kind of dilemma is not easy to decide.
The Doctor looked to Amiya for help, but she couldn't offer a solution that satisfied both sides.
After a moment's thought, Aslanka suggested:
"After the outbreak of war, the regent will likely not have many guards around him. The Lord of the Royal Court will need to command their subordinates to fight against the various Duke."
From what I understand, the lich hasn't yet expressed support for Theresis. With Doctor Kal'tsit's extensive network, if we find them in the city, we might be able to persuade the lich to retreat. Afterwards, we could infiltrate the Central City District and see if we can carry out a 'Decapitation Operation' against Theresis."
Upon hearing that last word, Kal'tsit and W's eyelids twitched. Empress Theresia had died years ago in Theresis's Decapitation Operation.
Meanwhile, outside the Temporary Camp.
Upon seeing a mysterious man wearing a grey top hat at the door, Dagda immediately went on high alert.
"Grey Hat? Why are you here?"
The other party seemed to know Dagda, addressing him by his first name:
"Miss Isabelle Montague, don't be so nervous. If you have the chance, please give my regards to your mother, the Earl of Manchester."
"What do you want? To threaten me?"
"Relax, Miss Montague. I'm here today on other business, and I have no intention of being your enemy."
Misery, who was patrolling nearby, instantly appeared beside Dagda.
The man in the Grey Hat wasn't surprised, as if he already knew about the Space-Time Ability:
"Rhodes Island's This Ship has now retreated to Duke Godot's controlled area, approximately 631 kilometers from the Norbert District of Londinium."
Upon hearing this, Misery immediately frowned:
"What do you mean?"
The Grey Hat seemed smug and grinned:
"Nothing, I just wanted to go in and chat."
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Chapter 513 Deceptively Real (4K)
Misery was extremely disgusted by the Grey Hat' use of the This Ship as a threat and took a very tough stance:
What if I say no?
"Misery, one of Rhodes Island's top Originium Arts masters, specializes in spatial attack methods."
The person in the Grey Hat has a lot of information about the Operator; they must have done a lot of research before coming here.
"But I'm not here to see you today. Go and call someone in charge. Rhodes Island's This Ship is very cautious, having chosen a very secretive route. But in Duke Godot's eyes, any unreported smuggling activity will be considered an enemy, won't it?"
Misery clicked his tongue, knowing he couldn't make a decision on this matter, and turned to go inside to find someone.
A short while later, Amiya emerged. Accompanying her was Vigna, the leader of the Glass Gang.
The man in the Grey Hat sized up the blond Aslan and immediately recognized his true identity:
"Your His Highness, put down your hammer. As one of the heirs to the throne, you are too hasty. In my opinion, your retreat plan is riddled with flaws."
Vigna frowned upon hearing this, because the evacuation plan had been finalized before entering Londinium:
"Are you listening to me?"
The man in the Grey Hat smiled calmly, without directly answering the question:
"Your His Highness, the evacuation plan will be successfully completed. This is not a blessing, but a promise. This is our first formal meeting, and I hope I will not leave a bad impression."
Seeing Vigna's dark expression and silence, Amiya took the initiative to speak and introduced herself:
"Hello, I am Amiya, the leader of Rhodes Island. Misery just spoke about our This Ship, and I hope to receive a reasonable explanation from you."
"Wow, such a young leader, so full of energy, his future is limitless."
After exchanging these polite words, the man in the Grey Hat gradually became serious:
"We just happened to discover the location of This Ship, and we also happened to have a way to contact Duke Godot. You can think of it as an insurance policy I used to protect myself from being killed on the spot."
"..."
Amiya paused for a moment, then looked up and asked:
"So, what brings you here?"
"Good question."
The Grey Hat snapped his fingers, then looked respectfully at Vigna beside him and began to explain:
"Your His Highness, you have retrieved a very important item from the Place Where the Kings Sleep. The powerful figure behind the scenes and I both desire it."
From the moment she recognized the Grey Hat, Vigna guessed the other person's purpose and calmly replied:
"The Breath of the Kings, is that it? I've already lost it."
"Your His Highness, this is not funny at all. I searched the icy river many times; if I had found it, I wouldn't have bothered you."
The man in the Grey Hat spoke with a hint of resentment. Judging from the strong scent of shampoo on him, he must have taken many baths before coming.
This sentence has two meanings.
First, the person in the Grey Hat was present when the sword was lost. Second, they believe that Vigna did not lose the Breath of the Kings.
Just as the Duke Kester immediately concluded upon receiving the news, they all agreed that Vigna had not lost the Breath of the Kings.
After all, it was nighttime, and the surroundings were pitch black. Even if you threw a heavy object, it would still make a thud.
The genuine Breath of the Kings is currently being kept by Shi Lei. Vigna felt that giving it to him directly would easily arouse suspicion, so she pursed her lips and remained silent.
Eager to break the deadlock, the man in the Grey Hat began to persuade:
"Your His Highness, there's no need for us to make things difficult for each other. To put it bluntly, this sword is nothing more than a cumbersome weapon in your hands, utterly useless. Do you expect to use it to cleave away Catastrophe? Legends are legends precisely because they contain too much fabrication."
Seeing that the other party had taken the bait, Vigna went along with it and said:
"Hmph, that sounds nice. What exactly does the Duke Kester intend to do with the Breath of the Kings?"
"Fulfill your promise."
"Promise?"
Upon hearing Vigna reveal the Duke's identity, the Grey Hat no longer concealed it and readily admitted it:
"We possess some technology that can make this sword truly useful. It can also bring safety and peace to you and to Victoria. His Lord Duke hopes this sword can serve as a bond for future cooperation."
Vigna never intended to give them the genuine article; she wanted to make these greedy Duke bleed a little as revenge.
"I don't believe in empty promises; I hope you can offer something that will sway me."
"Your His Highness's request is perfectly reasonable."
The fact that the other party didn't explicitly refuse made Grey Hat feel that the deal could still continue. It would be best to resolve things without violence; only resorting to force if absolutely necessary.
"There's no need for us to guess. Let's be frank and see what kind of bargaining chip Your His Highness desires."
"First, you must not cause trouble for This Ship and all its Operator. We need to confirm that they have reached a safe area; this is the foundation of our cooperation. If you don't agree to this, there's no point in further discussion."
Without hesitation, the Grey Hat agreed immediately.
Whether or not Duke Godot sends men to arrest Rhodes Island's Operator is entirely up to them.
"Your His Highness, it's alright."
"Secondly, you are not allowed to interfere with our subsequent retreat plan. If any unforeseen circumstances arise En route, I will hold you all responsible."
"That's fine too."
"Third... um..."
Vigna hadn't decided what she wanted yet, and spoke somewhat hesitantly. After a pause, she forced a smile and said, looking slightly embarrassed:
"I haven't thought of the third one yet. I'll go find someone to discuss it with first. You wait here."
Based on the intelligence gathered, Grey Hat confirmed that Vigna and Dagda were the closest. Yet, even though she was present, His Highness still went inside to look for someone. This suggests that the person he was questioning was likely the traitor, Alda.