Combat Group / Evacuation

"Ah, sorry to keep everyone waiting. Discussing things with those old fossils took quite a while. I'll get straight to the point."

After spending an hour in the side hall, Theresica finally came out. However, everyone was there to ask her for help, so none of them dared complain.

After sitting down, he said, "Kazdel's dispatch of troops to intervene in the war has one essential condition."

"What condition?" Weirdleaf asked.

"Please provide a joint statement. The Sarkaz have no intention of bearing any maliciously fabricated stigma that may appear in the future."

"No problem."

Everyone nodded. It was a trivial matter.

Theresica continued, "Next is the timing of our intervention. The Sarkaz will officially attack after the Witch King is killed in Kazimierz."

"Why?" Russell asked. Lady Sicilia, who was sitting nearby, also grew tense.

"Once the Sarkaz begin intervening, if the situation starts developing in Siracusa's favor, might the Witch King head to Siracusa to provide support?"

Theresica continued, "I wouldn't dare gamble on whether Kazimierz could stop the Witch King and carry out the assassination we're discussing."

"..."

Two gazes immediately turned toward Russell—Lady Sicilia's and that of the Caprini. After a period of deadlock, she could only say:

"Agreed."

Although she was currently sitting with Vitt in Kazdel's council chamber, Kazimierz and Ursus were still engaged in a military standoff. Unless they dealt with this overly aggressive Leithanien quickly and freed up part of their forces, Kazimierz could face another Ursus invasion at any moment.

"Good. But Lady Sicilia, you needn't worry. It isn't that we're dragging our feet; mobilizing troops itself takes time."

Theresica explained to Lady Sicilia, "Kazdel won't remain idle while waiting for Kazimierz. We'll deploy all our airships to assist the war refugees affected by the fighting in Siracusa, evacuating them to safety and avoiding casualties... As long as the people are alive, there's always hope."

Next came Vitt. Noticing Theresica's gaze, he spoke first. "Your Majesty, please tell us directly if there's anything you need. Ursus is open to you."

"The last war claimed far too many lives. We can't make up the shortfall here, so..."

"The first batch of one hundred Wendigo is ready. They're all excellent young adults. They'll reach Kazdel within three days, then return to their homeland."

"Ah~ That's wonderful."

Vitt and Theresica smiled at the same time. Long live Ursus-Kazdel friendship! Russell, on the other hand, irritably turned her head away.

Finally, there was the Caprini. Theresica showed him no warmth at all.

"I recognize Lady Sicilia's credibility, but I don't trust you Leithaniens."

The old Caprini froze in place, looking around helplessly for assistance. At that moment, Weirdleaf stood up.

"Leithanien can sign an agreement. I'll personally serve as witness..."

"You were mediating the conflict between me and Kazimierz, too."

Theresica did not budge. "I need someone to guarantee Leithanien's word, so I won't be left unable to collect what I'm owed later."

"Laterano can do that."

Theresica glanced at Weirdleaf.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then the deal is concluded."

Theresica rose. "Within twenty-four hours, Kazdel will gather every usable airship and send them into Siracusa. When the time comes, Lady Sicilia, I'll ask you to coordinate all matters concerning personnel management."

Chapter 84: Combat Group

Early the next morning, on Theresica's orders, Zeppelin dispatched all thirteen airships belonging to Kazdel.

They crossed the border and flew toward Siracusa. Two landed in Volscian. Their mission was to temporarily evacuate all the teachers from Kazdel Polytechnic University and prevent unnecessary danger. The remaining eleven would carry a battalion to Palermo in Siracusa.

The Leithanien forces attacking Siracusa accounted for half their nation's strength, totaling two hundred thousand troops. They had two main directions of attack. One route had been blocked by the Papal Knights of Laterano, but the other half was still advancing triumphantly, heading straight for Palermo.

The battalion Theresica had dispatched was going to take over Palermo's already-collapsed administration and help its people begin evacuating as quickly as possible.

Near Kazdel's border, the national Planning Committee had already begun constructing temporary camps to receive war refugees from Siracusa. They had previously handled a similar coastal disaster-relief operation, so this was familiar work for them.

The civil work proceeded smoothly, but directly intervening in the war was another matter entirely.

"Your Majesty, Siracusa is filled with prosperous civilian facilities and highly developed cities. If our troops enter the cities to fight, there's a very high chance they'll end up in close combat with the Leithaniens."

"We'll definitely win at first. Our equipment and physical qualities are superior in both respects. But once corpses begin appearing, the outcome will reverse. In streets or buildings—in confined terrain—the Leithanien Arts Users only need to detonate a single Infected person to deal us a devastating blow."

The members of the Military Committee had collected combat reports from the Foreign Legion and the Leithanien armed Infected and run a simulation. The results revealed this troubling issue.

Yet if they avoided urban combat, they would have to face Leithanien's superior forces in the open.

Theresica looked toward the army's logistics minister. For a long time, the Sarkaz army had had no logistics department. Although he had reestablished one, its members had no actual experience.

Previously, supplying the army with materials for the conflict against Kazimierz had merely been practice at their doorstep. Later, Theresica had put them in charge of construction materials for Lungmen and essential supplies for the workers' lives. Only then had the logistics department gradually begun to take shape. Now, an even harsher test had arrived.

"Logistics Minister."

"Your Majesty."

"We're sending troops into Siracusa to fight a long-distance campaign. How many troops can you guarantee a stable supply of materials for?"

Theresica looked at him. War was, in truth, a contest of logistics.

"Your Majesty... approximately six thousand!"

Theresica sighed inwardly. Six thousand men could not possibly handle the Leithanien Arts User groups in the wilderness. They would still have to fight in the cities.

But how could they deal with the Leithaniens' unreasonable Infected bombs in an urban setting? The moment the Sarkaz cut down an Infected person, those heartless bastards from Leithanien would detonate them directly!

The Wendigo could endure such explosions, but after enough repeated blasts, they would still be injured and infected. Besides, sending them straight into such an environment right after they had returned would certainly breed resentment.

Ah, what am I supposed to do?

Theresica could not help scratching his head. After a fierce battle, how could the corpses possibly not end up right in front of them? Unless they kept fighting while retreating—but that would simply be defeat...

Wait. Why do we have to fight them at close quarters?

An idea suddenly surfaced in Theresica's mind.

"We'll fight the Leithaniens in the cities."

"Then, Your Majesty, which unit should we send?" a member of the Military Committee asked.

"None of the current units are suitable. They're all unsuited to fighting the Leithaniens in urban areas."

Seeing the committee members' puzzled expressions, Theresica said, "I want to establish a new formation—a combat group. It won't be a fixed organizational unit, but a temporary tactical unit whose functions are specialized according to the mission."

"Since we can't engage the Leithaniens at close quarters, we simply won't approach them. Select archers, mages, and artillerymen to form the Siracusa Expeditionary Combat Group."

The committee members were stunned. Terra had never had a military formation with no melee soldiers whatsoever!

"Your Majesty! That's far too dangerous!"

"The semi-automatic crossbows are made of fairly hard material, aren't they?"

Instead of answering, Theresica looked toward Carter, who was currently in charge of managing the arsenal. Carter thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Excellent. Then add mounting sockets for bayonets to the semi-automatic crossbows."

"Your Majesty, that's still too radical."

"If we don't do this, what solution do you have?"

The surrounding officials fell silent again. Theresica spoke directly. "Palette Squad, plus fifteen hundred archers, twenty-five hundred Arts Users, and two hundred mortars with their operators drawn from the First and Second Divisions."

Now that the formal order had been issued, the Military Committee could only nod and accept it. The arsenal began urgently modifying the individual crossbows and fitting them with bayonets.

The personnel Theresica requested were transferred from their original units one after another and joined the temporary combat group. Since this was a purely ranged combat unit, he summoned the officers at every level and forcibly drilled them in the combat methods of modern forces on Earth, hoping they would make full use of their advantages.

In Leithanien itself, an uneasy atmosphere spread throughout the country. Everyone was quietly and bitterly cursing the Witch King. He had indirectly caused their family members to become Infected, then sent them to the front lines!

This increasingly distinct undercurrent of discontent gave even the tower nobles, who usually paid no attention to the outside world, a vague sense that something major was about to happen.

In Kazimierz, Russell paid a late-night visit to the Nearl Family. The contents of their conversation were kept under strict confidentiality.

In the deserts of southern Ursus, an extraordinarily tall group was marching through the sand. They wore armor with the Ursus insignia removed, and the long halberds in their hands flashed beneath the sunlight. When the desert bandits nearby came over for a look, they immediately fled in terror.

This was a Wendigo unit! How had these terrifying things come here? Hadn't they always stayed on the ice fields?!

In places beyond the Witch King's sight, all sorts of small changes were taking place across Terra. They were gathering their strength. Once they converged, they would pry open an enormous surprise and give the Witch King a shock he would never forget.

Chapter 85: Evacuation

Leithanien's Arts User group was closing in!

The residents of Palermo had endured another fearful night. They huddled inside their homes, torn by indecision. They wanted to stay, but they were ordinary people—how could they fight Leithanien's mages? Yet if they left, where could they go? They were not wealthy people with families to shelter them. Those people had fled long ago. All they had was a single house here.

No matter how dangerous things became, the Leithaniens had yet to appear. But their stomachs were already growling.

Some elderly people and women gradually appeared on the deserted streets, walking sparsely along the roads. There was hardly any sound. No one had the energy for their usual idle chatter anymore.

But just then, the orderly stamping of military boots approached from afar. The residents of Palermo hurriedly stood along both sides of the road and stared at the marching Sarkaz troops with bewilderment.

"Why are the Fiends here?"

"They shouldn't be here to attack us. Look, they can't even be bothered with us, and they aren't taking anything."

"I remember Lady Sicilia said she had a cooperative relationship with the Sarkaz, didn't she? Maybe they came to help us fight the Leithaniens!"

"Don't be ridiculous. How could there be anything that good..."

The unit transferred here to take over the city was First Battalion, Third Regiment, Second Division. After carefully checking the names on the map against the signs by the roadside, Woken let out a long breath of relief.

This was his first time marching on foreign soil. They had flown over by airship and landed nearby, and the sudden change of environment left him extremely uncomfortable.

"Battalion Commander, we've contacted Kazdel. His Majesty is on the line."

Thanks to Siracusa's excellent civilian communications infrastructure, the Sarkaz troops in Palermo had unexpectedly maintained contact with Kazdel. Upon hearing the communications soldier, Woken hurriedly stood at attention before taking the receiver.

"Your Majesty, I've entered Palermo... I'll complete the mission as quickly as possible... Yes, Your Majesty!"

The call ended after a brief transmission. Woken handed the receiver back to the communications soldier and said, "Order every squad to take Lady Sicilia's authorization documents and assume control of each area according to plan."

"Yes, sir!"

Soon, a voice rang out from the broadcasting station. In stiff Siracusan, it said, "We have arrived under Lady Sicilia's instructions to take over municipal administration. Please follow our arrangements. We will assist everyone in leaving this place and heading to safety in the rear."

The citizens looked at one another. The owners of this city had already fled. Could these foreigners really help them?

Could they?

The Sarkaz who had come here did not know either. They were simply following the evacuation handbook distributed by the national Planning Committee and carrying out each directive step by step.

Armed Sarkaz soldiers stormed Palermo's sealed municipal center and dragged out more than twenty municipal officials who had been unable to escape. None of them were locals, and they had no personal land vehicles. Their plan in hiding there was probably quite simple.

The Sarkaz had no patience for such details. Once blades were placed against their necks, the paralyzed municipal system began operating again. The process then extended downward level by level. Three hours later, every administrative position in Palermo had someone online.

Through the municipal system, Woken learned that Palermo had a population of more than seventy thousand. The figure was quickly reported up the chain.

To build trust and clear obstacles for the evacuation, Woken ordered the troops to open Palermo's family-owned grain warehouses. They moved out all the remaining provisions and distributed them among the citizens so they would willingly follow orders.

Because they were unfamiliar with the area, they had to let some of the original municipal officials assist them. What Woken had not expected was for one official to secretly hide an entire cartload of the transported grain.

Someone was embezzling supplies even at a time like this!

"There's no time to deal with this. The Leithaniens will arrive in about four days."

Woken casually cut the man down, and the distribution continued. This method quickly won the trust of Palermo's residents. The Sarkaz then divided the entire city into zones and prohibited people from moving about freely.

At the same time, a new broadcast played throughout the city.

"Residents of Zone A1, please prepare winter clothing and get ready to evacuate within thirty minutes. You may carry only essential identification documents. Children may bring one lightweight toy."

The enormous airship landed in a selected open area. It was not only the residents of Zone A1 who ran out to watch; people from the neighboring zones came as well. They were astonished to discover that the Sarkaz were genuinely helping them evacuate.

This immediately awakened many people's desire to survive, and large numbers tried to force their way into Zone A1. As a result, more than half of Zone A1's residents had yet to board while the airship was already full.

"Do not enter other zones without permission! We will guarantee that every one of you is evacuated!"

The Sarkaz shouted repeatedly, but to no avail. The residents of Palermo charged against the human wall formed by the Sarkaz troops, their eyes fixed solely on the airship. The Zone A1 residents who had failed to board watched the slowly rising airship and cursed incessantly.

Bang—

Seeing the situation grow increasingly chaotic and threatening to collapse at any moment, Woken fired a burst of Originium Arts into the sky. The piercing explosion finally brought the disorderly crowd to a halt.