Foreign Legion / The Light of Terra

The surrounding countries were no better. Kazimierz, the only one with some real strength, had just suffered a major setback in Kazdel and was still busy struggling with Ursus. Laterano was a neutral country that refused to get involved, while Siracusa was not even considered part of the war zone.

The situation immediately gave Leithanien's nobles the feeling that they were at a territorial buffet.

Territory was essentially equivalent to power, and the desire to expand their lands quickly seeped into everyone's minds. The Witch King did not show any opposition. Taking advantage of the nobles' desires, he harassed Victoria's borders, created friction at the border with Kazimierz, and displayed his deterrent power to Siracusa.

This string of actions left the Elector Counts somewhat frightened. They were not afraid of going to war with one of the surrounding countries, but provoking so many people at once was simply insane.

"You've actually grown timid. That surprises me."

The Witch King, who had been leafing through a book, rested one hand on his staff. The Elector Counts immediately shrank back. He said casually, "I can tell the difference. Our current actions are merely a disguise."

"Then what is your target?"

"Siracusa. That land originally belonged to Leithanien more than a century ago. We can quickly reclaim it and add it back to Leithanien's territory."

"Then why did you send our Infected to the deserts around Kazdel, bribe the refugees, and incite hostility against the Sarkaz? This will cause unnecessary conflict."

Leithanien had once allied with Kazdel for a time, so the Elector Counts knew very well that Kazdel possessed all kinds of strange methods. Even if they did not directly clash with the Sarkaz, it would not take long for the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes to be exposed.

"The Sarkaz... You gentlemen surely know how close those filthy people have recently grown to Siracusa. They trade with Siracusa, provide weapons, and help them establish schools. Siracusa even went out of its way to obtain Oripathy suppression medication from Columbia for the Sarkaz."

The Witch King's expression twisted further as he spoke, as though something had been defiled. "Do you know that just the day before yesterday, my spy noticed Sarkaz soldiers entering Siracusa?"

Without giving the Elector Counts a chance to interrupt, the Witch King continued, "This may interfere with our recovery of Siracusa. Since the Sarkaz have offended so many people by acting as dogs for Ursus and Yan, let them taste the bitter fruit of what they have sown. Also, have every labor slave counted immediately."

"May we ask what you intend to do?" the Elector Counts ventured.

"Containing the Sarkaz will consume a batch of Infected ahead of time. After that, we must prepare to fight Siracusa, so we need to make up the shortfall. Otherwise, our spell strength will be affected."

The Witch King casually decided the fate of a group of people. This made the Elector Counts, who prided themselves on their noble bloodlines, rather uncomfortable.

"Great Witch King, turning so many labor slaves into the Infected may..."

The Elector Count had not finished speaking when he saw Originium Arts flare from the Witch King's staff. Visible Originium energy flowed around his body.

"You. Do you wish to defy me?"

"No, no, no..."

He was so terrified that he barely dared to breathe, and all the Elector Counts hurriedly withdrew.

Foreign Legion

"Your Majesty, one of the Leithanien Infected infiltrated the desert refugees. We deliberately left him alone. He knew how to use Originium Arts to escape."

The Confessors were highly efficient. They had already identified the culprit who attacked the airship. "The Leithanien military gave him a crystal containing sealed Originium Arts and ordered him to shoot down a Kazdel airship here."

"Mm, I know."

Theresica nodded, but merely finding the culprit was useless. Leithanien would never claim him, and they had not openly declared war on Kazdel either.

How should they handle this? Leithanien had not sent over an army. They had hidden an Infected among the desert refugees and attacked Kazdel's weak point. It was almost a replica of the tactics Kazdel had used against Kazimierz.

Carry out a purge? The wasteland refugees were practically indistinguishable from bandits. Once fighting began, no one could tell them apart. Besides, striking this powder keg would only ignite the whole region. They had already created a tangled mess of debts and grievances. If they did this again, Kazdel would truly find it difficult to conduct trade in the future.

Use the same methods to disgust the other side? Leithanien was far larger than Kazdel. A few desert bandits could not really affect it.

Leave them alone? If Ursus and Yan were affected, Kazdel was the closest target! Who knew which of these two hooligans they would choose to make trouble for?

Ah! This was so annoying!

Theresica covered his face in anguish. Was I having too much fun for the past decade or so? Am I being punished now?

"Manfred, how are Kazdel's forces doing?"

"Your Majesty... please take a look."

Something seemed off about Manfred's expression. Theresica quickly took the document and glanced at it, then immediately went dumbstruck.

The losses Kazdel's soldiers had suffered in the previous war with Kazimierz had happened quite some time ago, yet not a single person had been added to their ranks?!

"What is going on?"

"Your Majesty, we truly have no way to replenish them."

Manfred wore a bitter expression. Aside from active-duty soldiers and the elderly, weak, women, and children who lacked the strength to work, everyone in Kazdel had been put into production. There was not a single idle person. If the army wanted to recruit people, they would have to pull them from production units. Yet every production department had heavy workloads, and no one was willing to let the people under them leave their posts.

Theresica looked around at everyone and more or less guessed the situation. Years of external wars had caused the Sarkaz population to decline, and then a civil war had followed, dealing the Sarkaz population an even heavier blow.

He pondered briefly. "Can the airships fly higher?"

"No problem, but it may affect transport efficiency."

"Never mind that. Safety comes first."

Theresica waved at Zeppelin. Avoiding any impact on Ursus and Yan was the most important thing.

"Have the cavalry put in some extra effort and run alongside the airships more often. If they see anyone suspicious, try to drive them away first. Don't cause too much conflict."

He did not particularly want to commit troops to this sort of matter. It was essentially a counterinsurgency operation. If it dragged on too long, it would ruin the troops. There were examples of that back on Earth.

But would this work? At most, it would only make things a little more difficult for Leithanien.

Theresica rose from his seat and paced back and forth in thought...

"Banshee, immediately send a message outward through Ursus. Say that Kazdel is forming a Foreign Legion. Anyone with combat experience may join, whether Infected or not! Kazdel will provide these warriors and their immediate families with Oripathy suppression medication free of charge!"

Kazdel could not spare anyone to fight this security war, so they would get people from other countries to do it!

"Your Majesty, foreigners cannot be trusted."

Banshee frowned. She still had lingering fear over Theresa's affairs. "Including other races in the Sarkaz military forces may..."

"It is fine. We will recruit only five thousand people. They must not display any Sarkaz symbols, so the bandits won't only target us for revenge."

Theresica looked at everyone before him. "In addition to recruiting the Foreign Legion, from today onward, we will also provide some help to the refugees on the wasteland. Real, tangible help. Send them urgently needed salt and clothing. We can also organize doctors to treat them and provide medicines they genuinely need. We can even give them some Oripathy suppression medication."

"Your Majesty, what are you trying to do?"

Manfred was puzzled. Hadn't they just been recruiting a Foreign Legion? Why were they now sending things to those people? Even suppression medication!

"This place is far from Leithanien. The desert refugees around us are, in a sense, our neighbors. If we build a good relationship with them, perhaps they will help us identify Leithanien people. We may even see fewer bandits."

The clan chiefs of the Royal Court exchanged glances. The Bloodfiend Grand Duke, who loved fighting above all else, had not come today. He had no interest whatsoever in things like bandits.

"The idea is a little naive, but we can give it a try. If we do this and the people on the wasteland remain ungrateful, we can always carry out a thorough cleanup. No one will have anything to criticize us for then."

Hearing Theresica say this, everyone expressed their obedience.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The news that Kazdel was recruiting a Foreign Legion was released through Ursus, but it caused little reaction. That was only in the world of ordinary people. Among the Infected of the various countries, this brief message had already stirred up enormous waves.

As soon as they heard that the soldiers would receive Oripathy suppression medication, and that their immediate families would receive an additional dose, large numbers of retired soldiers from Ursus and Columbia immediately came. They had contracted Oripathy during the war, but had no money for treatment and were discriminated against everywhere.

While preparing the Foreign Legion, Kazdel did not stop its aid efforts either.

Led by Warfarin, Kazdel's doctors entered the desert refugee settlements. They merely accepted a few symbolic items as travel expenses before beginning to treat the people living there.

The Sarkaz doctors bandaged those with external injuries and prescribed medicine for the sick. Anti-inflammatory drugs, deworming medicine, and all kinds of other pharmaceuticals were available. In particular, when they took out Oripathy suppression medication for the Infected children in the settlement, the entire settlement erupted.

"You... you're really willing to give this to us..."

The parents of the Infected children stared at the medicine bottles with longing in their eyes, but they did not dare approach, clearly frightened. Although the people sent by the Sarkaz were doctors, many of them were even more muscular than the warriors in the refugee settlement.

To completely dispel their doubts, Warfarin opened a bottle in front of them and swallowed one pill herself.

"This medicine is safe. Bring all the Infected children here."

The children stared blankly at the small white pills placed in their hands by a group of people in white coats. Their parents were thanking them profusely nearby, and some even fell to their knees.

By the end of the morning, the scene before them had changed drastically. The Sarkaz doctors were somewhat at a loss in the settlement because the refugees had surrounded them. Yet every face was smiling, as though the people here had forgotten that they were Fiends. Even the children dared to play around them.

The Light of Terra

Ursus mobile city, Chernobog.

Kal'tsit emerged calmly from a research institute. Although she was not wearing the uniform used there, she could still smile and greet the people she passed.

She looked like an ordinary woman getting off work as she walked to the roadside and opened the front passenger door of a private car.

"How did it go, Miss Kal'tsit?" Scout asked from the driver's seat.

"The sarcophagus is functioning normally. You don't need to worry. Drive. We're going back to the Rhodes Island office."

After saying that, Kal'tsit fastened her seat belt, lay back in the seat, and closed her eyes.

She was truly exhausted lately. Rhodes Island was transforming into a pharmaceutical company covering all of Terra and providing targeted treatment for Oripathy. She had to collect information on the differences among the various countries and races, categorize and summarize it, and then design pharmaceutical treatment plans.

Countless matters revolved around Kal'tsit. Traveling was one of the few chances she had to rest.

"Oh, Kal'tsit is back."

The car had barely stopped in front of the Rhodes Island office when Outcast's voice came from inside.

"Kal'tsit, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Come have something first."

"No. I still need to organize some medical records. I'll come later..."

Kal'tsit was about to refuse, but Outcast cut her off before she could finish.

"Something you're concerned about has arrived. It was just delivered, and wouldn't it save time to look at it while eating?"

"...All right."

When she heard Kal'tsit's answer, Outcast smiled. She knew Kal'tsit's habits.

Kal'tsit entered the office, where dinner had already been laid out. Steam rose from it as though it had just been taken from the pot. Beside the dishes and utensils were several newspapers.

They were Ursus international newspapers specializing in foreign events. Outcast had already read them and specifically selected the reports on Kazdel and Leithanien that Kal'tsit would want to see. Beside them, she had placed slips of paper covered in writing.

Rhodes Island had offices in both Kazdel and Leithanien. The day after Leithanien began making its little moves, Kal'tsit had learned about it as well.

She had ordered the offices to keep a close eye on the clashes between Kazdel and Leithanien and report to her constantly.

Screech—

The harsh sound of a chair scraping across the floor rang out. Scout and the other staff all turned toward it, only to find that Kal'tsit had abruptly stood up, an expression of shock on her face. Everyone was curious, but Outcast remained calm, as though she had anticipated Kal'tsit's reaction.

What is going on?

Kal'tsit considered herself the most knowledgeable person in Terra, yet nothing like this had ever happened on this land!

Kazdel recruiting a Foreign Legion and promising to provide participating soldiers with Oripathy suppression medication free of charge was understandable. It was nothing more than paying a high price for some mercenaries to do Kazdel's dirty work.

But what happened next was completely out of character.

Theresica had ordered Kazdel to provide extensive aid to the wasteland refugees, offering cold-weather clothing, scarce salt and medicine, and doctors to treat them. They had even given them Oripathy suppression medication!

Were they really Sarkaz? Theresa had not even had time to do something like this!

The information published in the newspaper was somewhat delayed. After reading it, Kal'tsit began going through the slips of paper attached to it. They contained information collected by the Rhodes Island offices.

After Kazdel had provided genuine, extensive assistance to the desert refugees, Leithanien's Infected ambush tactics suddenly stopped working.

Even refugees had their own areas of activity and limits. Once the desert refugees near Leithanien were sent near Kazdel, they became complete strangers. After the Sarkaz gave them instructions, the refugees around Kazdel began watching out for these newcomers.

Quite a few Leithanien Infected disguised as refugees were captured by the local refugees and tied up before they could even approach the airship's operating area. They were then delivered to Kazdel and exchanged for supplies.

This left the Witch King dumbfounded. Even more infuriatingly, while some Leithanien Infected were captured by refugees, others directly revealed their identities and surrendered to the Sarkaz.

Their demands were simple: let them join the refugee settlements around Kazdel and work for the Sarkaz in exchange for some Oripathy suppression medication.

Leithanien Infected: It's much more comfortable here than in Leithanien! To hell with you, Witch King! Go to hell, Leithanien!

If this had merely surprised Kal'tsit, then what happened next was completely beyond her imagination.

Because the Witch King did not want to provoke Ursus and Yan, and because he only wanted to trap Kazdel in the mire, he had never formally declared war on Kazdel.

Without tearing off the mask in public, he could not send regular troops. He could only continue dispatching Infected to harass Kazdel. To keep his plan running normally, the Witch King of Leithanien announced that—

From this moment onward, Leithanien would improve its system for managing the Infected, making numerous adjustments, raising the minimum income, and providing a certain degree of social welfare.

Although the changes were extremely minor, they were genuine changes.

Kazdel also made new moves under Theresica's direction. Foreign Legion soldiers who performed meritorious deeds would receive financial rewards. The medical expenses of the wounded would be fully covered. Those who suffered permanent disabilities would receive financial compensation according to the standards for Kazdel soldiers, and the soldiers themselves would receive Oripathy suppression medication for life. Those killed in battle would have their immediate families receive financial compensation according to the standards for Kazdel soldiers, while their immediate family members would receive Oripathy suppression medication free of charge for life.

At the same time, Kazdel increased its efforts to treat the refugee settlements in the desert.

Kazdel's doctors no longer merely performed routine examinations on the refugees. They now brought professional examination equipment and discovered many hidden serious illnesses, such as deformities, improperly set bones, internal organ problems, and a host of other conditions.

The Sarkaz doctors brought them back to hospitals in Kazdel, where they performed professional surgeries and cured many desert refugees.