Heading South! (2)
Palace of Shining Lights, Mercurias, Council Chamber
"Your Majesty, we have just received an urgent report that the Fourth Division of the Erus Legion is advancing to the western border, and at the same time, the Thirteenth Heavenly King Guard are also heading to the northern and southern borders respectively. (Darton)"
Upon hearing the Minister of Defense's report, Toma rose from his throne, gazed eastward, and said, "It seems our neighbor is about to make his move again. I just wonder if this time it will be south or north?"
"Your Majesty, whether they head south or north, we must be on guard and not let them find an opening." (Arcadius)
"Your Majesty, I feel we can no longer continue this passive defense, otherwise sooner or later we will become their target as well." (Darton)
"Minister of Defense, do you want His Majesty to change his stance and become one of the belligerent nations?" (Arcadius)
"Cherry Blossom Knight Commander, abandoning neutrality is better than having your country destroyed and becoming a prisoner, isn't it?" (Darton)
"Maintaining neutrality is a decision our nation has made since its founding. If we rashly change our stance now and something goes wrong, how will His Majesty explain himself to the people? How will he face the previous kings? (Arcadius)"
"Arcadius, if we don't make changes now and allow the Erus Kingdom to run rampant, then one day in the near future, our Kingdom of Fiore will become part of the Erus Kingdom, just like other kingdoms. How will His Majesty face the people then, and how will he face the past kings?" (Darton)
"Minister of Defense, please do not forget that our country is a permanently neutral nation, posing no threat to the Erus Kingdom. Moreover, our country has no enmity with the Erus Kingdom, and they have no reason to attack our country. (Arcadius)"
"My Knight Commander, do you think that ambitious King Erus would abandon this fertile land just because we remain neutral?" (Darton)
"Minister of Defense, you've never even met King Erus, how do you know he's an ambitious fellow?" (Arcadius)
"Ha! He seized power through bloodshed, started a war without cause, annexed the Milantes Kingdom, and now he's preparing to attack other countries. Isn't that ambitious enough? (Darton)"
"These are all just rumors. Neither you nor I know the truth. Perhaps things aren't as we imagine. Perhaps he has some unavoidable difficulties? (Arcadius)" (Sordil: ┭┮┭┮... What a kindred spirit!)
"That's just your subjective conjecture!" (Darton)
"Aren't you one too? (Arcadius)"
"You..."
Facing the argumentative person in front of him, the Minister of Defense was so angry that he was panting heavily, but he couldn't refute the other party, so he had no choice but to bypass this obstacle and get straight to the point.
"Your Majesty, if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold!" (Darton)
"Your Majesty, this concerns the very foundation of the nation; you must not act rashly!" (Arcadius)
Looking at his right and left arms kneeling before him, Toma was at a loss for what to do. Just then, a report came from outside the hall, drawing the attention of the three of them.
"Your Majesty, Ogg of the Magic Council requests an audience!"
After frowning and pondering for a while, Toma cleared his throat and said, "Please come in!"
A moment later, the palace doors opened, and a servant led in an elderly man with a white beard dressed in a blue-gray robe.
"Ogg greets His Majesty Toma!"
"Lord Ogg, please rise!"
After Ogg stood up, Toma asked, "May I ask what brings Lord Ogg here today?"
"Hehe! I've come here today to deliver a message for a friend. (Ogg)"
"Oh? Which of Lord Ogg's friends needs a letter delivered? And where is it to be delivered to? (Toma)"
"Since I've come to see His Majesty today, this letter is naturally for you. As for the friend who delivered it... hehe! I think His Majesty has already heard of him, because he is none other than the recent hot favorite— King Erus! (Ogg)"
At the same time that the Kingdom of Fiore received the news, Auriel and Kushen also obtained the intelligence. However, unlike the Kingdom of Fiore's hesitation, these two countries immediately took action after receiving the intelligence.
At this time, the most elite legions of both countries had already broken camp and rushed to the front line. Presumably, battle reports would arrive soon.
Erus Kingdom, Central Province, Southern Border City, Cold Wind City
"You naughty boy, you've deployed all your troops to the northern and southern borders. What if the Kingdom of Fiore in the west suddenly attacks?" (Sage Dragon)
"Hehe! Belserion, don't worry, I've already made preparations, nothing will go wrong! (Old Suo)"
Looking at the confident Sordil, Sage Dragon breathed a sigh of relief and said, "In that case, I'm relieved!"
No sooner had Sage Dragon finished speaking than a shout came from outside the tent.
"Report!"
As the last notes of the song still lingered in the air, a soldier in a black uniform rushed into the tent at lightning speed.
"Your Majesty, the Jia Guang Heavy Cavalry Regiment of the Kingdom of Cushen has departed from its garrison and is heading here. They will arrive at the border in about three hours."
"I understand, you can go now!" (Old Suo)
"Yes!"
After the soldiers left, Heradi, who was standing under the tent, exclaimed, "These guys are really fast!"
"Heh! Old He, you're wrong. They weren't quick; they were just waiting for us to make our move!" (Old Suo)
"You naughty boy, are you saying they knew we were coming and made preparations in advance? (Sage Dragon)"
"Heh! What's so strange about that? It's normal for a bad guy like him to be targeted because he acts so arrogantly!" (Mevajena)
After Mevajena finished speaking, Sage Dragon and the others nodded silently, then said in unison, "That's true!"
"I didn't want to be so arrogant, but there's no way around it, there's no time left!" (Sordil's inner monologue, his face full of exasperation)
After composing himself, Sordil broke the awkward atmosphere of complaining.
"Alright! That's not important now. Let's quickly discuss what to do next!"
"Boss, what's there to discuss? Let's just charge in and take these guys down!" (Heradi)
"Yes! Your Majesty, we currently have the military advantage, so why don't we just charge in and launch a decisive battle?" (Yesveta)
"That's right! (Hyun, Mei)"
"Alright! In that case, let's have a head-on battle with them! (Sordil)" (Sigh! It's not easy, that old sly Sordil has finally decided to have a fair fight with someone!)
Milantes Province, southeastern border town, Snow Dragon City
"Your Majesty, we have just learned from reconnaissance that the enemy's main force, the Snow Leopard Heavy Armor Regiment, is approaching Snow Dragon City at an extremely rapid pace and will arrive here in about two hours."
"Hehe! You came pretty fast! (Diphiya)"
"Miss Diphiya, what should we do next?" (Murellia)
"What else can we do? Of course, we'll crush them with absolute power and show them who truly rules this continent!" (Lindel)
Seeing Lindel rubbing his hands together in anticipation, Divine Constable Di shook his head and said, "No! We can't do that!"
Upon hearing Diphiya's answer, all three of Kaldiz stared at the beautiful young woman in front of them with astonishment.
"Hey! Murellia, is she really Miss Diphiya? She hasn't been switched with someone else? (Lindel)"
"No way! I've been with her the whole time lately. If she'd been switched with someone else, how could I not know? (Murellia)"
"What on earth is going on? How did Miss Diphiya become so rational?" (Lindel)
"Hey! Do you guys think this guy might be a bad boy in disguise? (Kaldiz)"
"Yes! Very likely, otherwise, how could she be so calm and rational!" (Murellia)
Hearing her three teammates' discussion, Diphiya felt like her chest was about to explode. But for the sake of the bigger picture, the Divine Constable suppressed the smug look and the black lines on his forehead, and then smiled and said, "If you three have any opinions about me, you can say them openly. There's no need to whisper in my ear!"
"Gulp"
After swallowing the saliva in their throats, the three-person gaming group realized that the people they were discussing were no ordinary people, and their words would not escape the ears of others.
The three immediately turned off the radio and turned their heads away, their heads covered in three huge water droplets.
(At this moment, a huge crow flew over the heads of the crowd, leaving behind many black dots.)
After a few minutes of eerily silent air, the magnanimous Commander Diphiya broke the silence. (Hmph! If it weren't for the agreement between me and His Majesty, I wouldn't have let you off so easily!)
"Alright! Since none of you have any objections to me, let's begin discussing the battle plan!"
Upon hearing Marshal Di's words, the three exchanged glances, and then the representative of the people, Kaldiz, said, "Presumably the Commander already has a plan in mind, so we will not add anything unnecessary. Please give the order, Commander!"
Looking at the three respectful figures, Divine Constable Di... ptooey! Marshal Di gave them a 'you know what's good for you' look, and then said, "Since that's the case, then I won't stand on ceremony!"
"Kaldiz, I order you to set a trap three miles east of the city and await the arrival of the enemy!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Lindel, I order you to lead your troops outside the city to act as bait and lure the enemy into an ambush."
"Yes!"
"Murellia, order your troops to lie in ambush on the left flank of the trap. Once the enemy enters the ambush zone, launch an attack immediately."
"Understood!"
"As for the right wing, I will personally lead the troops to guard it, so you all need not worry."
"Yes! (Murellia, Kaldiz, Lindel)"
"Gentlemen, this is my first time commanding troops, so I hope you will not make any mistakes. Otherwise, I may recognize you, but my military law will not!" (Diphiya's inner thoughts: Hehe! You'd better hurry up and make a mistake, I can't wait to spank you!)
"Please rest assured, Commander, we will do our utmost to ensure the plan succeeds flawlessly!" (Murellia, Kaldiz, Lindel) (The three think to themselves: Hmph! Do you think we can't see through your plan?)
"Alright! In that case, let's go and prepare!"
"Yes!"