The Banshee pondered for a moment before speaking. "The new emperor announced two of the old emperor's final wishes at the funeral. First, he would disband the Wendigo forces in northern Ursus, claiming that the loyal Sixth Army Group of Ursus would take over that portion of the demon defense line. Second, Crown Prince Feodor would take over the reorganization of the Fifth Army Group."
"He really disbanded them?"
Theresica asked incredulously. Demons were a vicious species that lived beyond the range of Terra's civilization. If Ursus had any benefit to the nations of Terra beyond keeping them awake at night, it was that the country held back those terrifying creatures.
"They've already been disbanded, and the Sixth Army Group has already set out for the Northern Plains."
The Banshee nodded. "I could tell that army group's commander was very unwilling, but the signatories of those two final wishes were indeed the old emperor. The Imperial Council of Ursus examined them as well and confirmed that the handwriting belonged to the old emperor."
"..."
Theresica found it difficult to understand. During the final period of his life, the old emperor had practically been playing around recklessly. He had hurriedly ordered the army to attack the Eastern Kingdom. He still did not know which unit had suffered the initial setback, but afterward, he had forcibly ordered the Fifth Army Group to continue its assault, reducing a fully equipped force to a hollow shell.
After doing all that, he had even adjusted the defenses of the Northern Plains. Replacing the Wendigo so they could rest and rotate with the Sixth Army Group would have made sense, but the old emperor had directly disbanded them instead. Now the Sixth Army Group could only remain pinned down on the snowy wasteland. Did he no longer want it?
No, that's not right...
These events had happened too close together, as though the old emperor had known the final deadline was approaching and was rushing to turn in his assignment. If he had truly grown old and senile, he could not possibly have had the energy to do so many things in the little time he had left.
"Although I don't know what exactly happened, Ursus will probably be stuck in the mire for some time... Have the shapeshifter keep a close eye on the Fifth Army Group of Ursus. The changes there should reveal something."
After calling in the shapeshifter and issuing his orders, Theresica sat alone in the room. A huge map of Terra lay before him, while newspapers from various countries were scattered beside him. They were messy, but they recorded a great deal.
Ursus and Victoria were now both occupied with internal affairs. Nearly a quarter of the Terra continent had lost its anchor, and everyone's thoughts had begun to stir.
Columbia had invaded Sargon. This was the Federal Army's first campaign since its war of independence, but perhaps they had enjoyed peace for too long—the fighting did not look very impressive.
After the war ended, Kazimierz had not reduced its military spending. Instead, it had doubled it on top of the wartime standard. It seemed to be preparing for revenge. But were its citizens perpetual-motion machines? Didn't they need to eat? Where did they get all that money?¹
Kazdel was currently relying on the huge profits brought by the Originium price gap between Ursus and Victoria. It did not pay wages, only guaranteeing everyone enough food and the necessities of daily life. Even using that method to divert funds toward national development, it was still somewhat short of money. Was Kazimierz really that wealthy?
Still, if Kazimierz and Ursus went to war, Kazdel definitely would not lose out.
Victoria was the same. Leithanien was locked in a stalemate with the regular Victorian army sent there by the late Duke of Cumberland. The archdukes involved in the civil war still had to import Originium from Kazdel, and the prices were even higher than before.
Leithanien was not idle either. It was harassing the borders of Siracusa and Victoria at the same time, while making constant minor moves against Kazimierz as well. It was being particularly aggressive.
With chaos apparently about to erupt, Laterano's World Messenger was mediating in Leithanien and Leithanien at the same time, striving to prevent all of Terra from descending into turmoil.
As for Yan... there had been no news of it. It was like a stabilizing pillar, quietly remaining in one corner of Terra.⁴
"Your Majesty, yesterday's newspapers have arrived."
Shining entered carrying a new batch of newspapers, with Yelena following behind her with the rest.
"Thanks for the effort. And you? How are you feeling?"
Theresica took the newspapers and examined the Catus before him. She had been in Kazdel for some time now. After receiving ample food and rest, the color had returned to her face.
"Doctor Warfarin prescribed some medicine for me. I'm feeling much better."
"Is that so? Good."
He did not expose the truth: they were merely painkillers. Kazdel did not have many genuine Oripathy-suppressing drugs. For now, they were all imported from Siracusa and distributed exclusively to miners and refinery workers.
Theresica first found the reports on Columbia. At present, it was fighting the most fiercely. More than a hundred thousand Federal Army soldiers had plunged into the rainforests of eastern Sargon, where the vegetation was dense and the waterways plentiful.
The new recruits who had just enlisted were assigned there by their officers. Then, the Adaklis people, familiar with the terrain, beat them so badly that few survived.
The lucky wounded who returned wept before Columbian reporters, describing how the Adaklis people used the terrain to conceal themselves, then released bait to deceive their attacks. Once their firepower reached a lull while reloading, the Adaklis people would suddenly rush out from beside them and slaughter them. Alternatively, they used javelins to pin retreating soldiers one by one to the road of escape.³
The Columbian Federal Army was now issuing tenders to every enterprise within the country, seeking a personal crossbow capable of sustained fire to solve the gaps in the Federal Army's firepower.
Should I call Zeppelin over?
Theresica felt this was a good opportunity. Wasn't there a "Rhine Metal" around already...?
Hmm?
The fountain pen on the table slowly rolled before finally dropping to the floor.
Theresica instinctively picked it up. He took it as a coincidence and felt a slight pang at the pen's damage, but the next second, the water glass also toppled onto the floor.
A word that had been etched into his memory appeared in his mind.
*Earthquake!*²
PS: As usual, please vote!!!
The Things That Should Be Done
His muscles reacted a step faster than his brain. Theresica ran in panic toward an open area, with Shining and Yelena following behind him.
The whole of Kazdel was trembling slightly. Many people sensed something wrong and ran outside as well. What left them with complicated feelings, however, was that Kazdel had built no high-rises because of its backwardness. And since the earthquake was not very strong, the urban area could be said to be completely unharmed.
"Has Kazdel ever had an earthquake before?"
Theresica hurriedly asked Shining, but the King of the Scavengers appeared there the next second.
"Kazdel has never had an earthquake. This is a tsunami."
Theresica's eyes widened. He remembered that the Sarkaz had settlements by the sea as well!
"Send drones over to take a look! Hurry!"
Theresica paced back and forth anxiously in the council chamber. He could not remain as calm as the other clan leaders. Kazdel's greatest shortage was population. How many people would die this time?
He had originally thought he could simply watch Terra's chaos from the sidelines, quietly develop, and enjoy the spectacle. Yet now he had encountered a disaster!
"It's here! We've brought the data!"
After waiting for some time, Mel hurried in. She placed the monitor in the center of the council chamber so that everyone could see it.
The black screen lit up, displaying images of the coastal regions. The ground had become a vast sea. Even the higher terrain had lost its original shape, everything washed into a complete mess. Looking down from the sky, it resembled a palette smeared with wild graffiti. On the dirt road leading to Kazdel, groups of homeless Sarkaz were walking aimlessly toward the city.
"Order Experiment Division One to mobilize immediately and head to the coastal regions for disaster relief. Have all medical and logistics personnel from Experiment Division Two assemble and go with them. Mobilize every medical worker Kazdel can spare. Together with the soldiers of Experiment Division Two, set up shelters outside the city. Pay attention to disease prevention. Have the Planning Committee arrange the supplies. Don't worry about stockpiles—save the people first!"
Warfarin immediately ran out after hearing this. A Goliath Sarkaz named Cole, who was in charge of the Planning Committee, saluted and ran out as well. But after standing there in a daze for a moment, Theresica turned a doubtful gaze toward the Military Committee.
"What are you standing around for? Move!"
"...Your Majesty, the troops are at a critical point in their training. Halting their training will affect national defense..."
"Affect my ass! Do exactly as I said!"
Theresica roared, but the members of the Military Committee glanced at the surrounding clan leaders and remained where they were.
"Your Majesty, a second wave is highly likely to occur. The soldiers of the experiment divisions were carefully selected from among the army's best. If we send them there and they encounter a second wave, everything will be over."
Scalebeasts could be caught from the sea, making it somewhat easier to obtain food along the coast. Thus, the coastal residents were all Sarkaz clans without Royal Court Guard forces and with little combat strength. In the eyes of the Military Committee, sending elite soldiers into such a place, risking a second tsunami that could occur at any moment to rescue coastal residents who had little practical value, was an extremely poor bargain.
Bang—
A cup smashed directly into the face of the Sarkaz who had spoken. Theresica had thrown it.¹
"Sin-bearer!"
"Present."
"If someone refuses to obey my orders, what can I do?"
"Whatever Your Majesty wills."
The Sin-bearer bent deeply at the waist. This was the first time he had seen the young king so furious.
"Guard! I don't want to see him again!"
He turned and left immediately. The Royal Court Guard that rushed in drew their weapons. Hearing a scream behind him, Theresica said without looking back,
"Deal with the rest when I return!"
Theresica went directly to the military camp. Manfred happened to be assembling the troops and addressing them. When he saw Theresia approaching, he hurried forward to greet her.³
"Your Majesty, what brings you here so suddenly?"
"What are you doing?"
"Your Majesty, there was a lapse in my management. A deserter appeared among the troops just now."
"Where did he desert to?"
"The soldiers transporting supplies today chatted with someone, and news of the tsunami in the coastal regions spread."
Noticing that Theresica's expression was not good, Manfred cautiously continued, "Some soldiers' homes are very close to the coast. They were worried about their families."
"I understand. Since you've assembled the soldiers, I'm taking command of all the troops now."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Manfred saluted in acknowledgment.
Theresica walked directly before the soldiers and stood on a stone. He shouted with all his strength,
"Everyone! Sit down!"
The Sarkaz soldiers who had been standing sat down together.
Theresica did not know how many people stood before him, but the sight of that mass of people performing a synchronized movement at his single command was still shocking.
"I am the King of Kazdel! Theresica! The coastal regions have been struck by a tsunami! Those of you whose homes are nearby, raise your hands!"
Several hands rose. Not many, but enough.
"I, in my capacity as king, order you! Put down your training equipment!"
The Sarkaz soldiers began removing the various pieces of training armor from their bodies.
"Experiment Division One! Head to the coastal regions immediately for disaster relief! Experiment Division Two! Coordinate with the medical personnel outside Kazdel and build shelters!"
Theresica shouted with all his strength. "I know that some of you in Experiment Division Two have homes in the coastal regions! I only want to tell you this! Please trust me! Trust your comrades and brothers-in-arms!"
The displaced refugees suddenly found several people standing along the road at regular intervals. They handed out food and dry clothing.
"Follow this road! There are shelters ahead with temporary housing and food! This is His Majesty's order! He ordered you to go there and accept shelter!"
Warfarin shouted at the people before her. To keep them from wandering off, she had even added Theresica's name to those few sentences.
At that moment, Theresica himself was advancing deep into the tsunami-stricken region with the army, clearing ruins alongside ordinary soldiers.
Arts casters searched for signs of life buried beneath buildings, then worked with ordinary soldiers to clear the rubble. The army's logistics teams set up on-site, while medical stations and kitchens began operating at the same time.²
The trapped and stranded refugees watched the Sarkaz soldiers' actions in disbelief. They had never seen anything like this, but Theresica had! It was an indelible impression, and what he believed had to be done.¹³
PS: As usual, please vote!!!!²
Life That Does Not Belong on Land
Within the safe zone near the sea, the army had set up vast temporary shelter tents for the rescued and stranded refugees. Inside one of the larger command tents, Theresica, covered in mud, stared intently at the eleven equally filthy soldiers before him.
They were the deserters who had left the military camp without permission earlier. The tent was so quiet that their breathing could be heard, but Theresica broke the rigid silence.
"Your families... have you confirmed that they're safe?"
"Yes. Just a few bumps and bruises..."
"My younger siblings are fine..."
"Nothing serious..."
The burly soldiers spoke softly. Their heads were lowered, and their occasional trembling limbs revealed the fear in their hearts.
"You actually disregarded military discipline!"
After hearing their answers, Theresica suddenly shouted. He picked up the disaster casualty register, rolled it into a tube, and swung it at the soldiers lined up before him like a whack-a-mole game. Each of them received a solid blow to the head.
"If I let you set this bad precedent, how will the Sarkaz army be managed in the future?! I have to punish you severely!"
The eleven men's hearts leaped into their throats.
"I order you... to join the disaster relief immediately. However, as punishment, from today until the relief effort ends, none of you will receive additional meal allowances."
"Huh?"
"Didn't you hear my order?"
"Yes!"
The soldiers ran out. Theresica immediately sat on the ground without bothering about his image. His whole body ached. Disaster relief was truly no simple task. He had only helped clear two two-story buildings, yet he was already exhausted. His stern speech just now had all been an act.
At that moment, the King of the Scavengers suddenly drifted in. His feet did not touch the ground, and he made not the slightest sound. Theresica froze for a moment, then could only smile helplessly.
"Sorry. I can only let you see me like this."
Before you continue