That evening, the Nine Provinces Union's army arrived.
They had clearly received the battle report on the road. They came at their ease, without a trace of killing intent—the Slavic officers were all dead, leaving only prisoners. There was no need to make trouble for them.
They brought three things of significance.
The first was a formal diplomatic note from the Nine Provinces Union to Zion. It recognized Zion as a friendly ally and pledged that, while Zion was within the Nine Provinces Union's territory, the Union would guarantee its safety. If Zion faced an emergency like this one, it could also undertake necessary military action independently after notifying the Union.
This was an alliance of the highest order—the kind sealed by cutting off a chicken's head, drinking yellow Wine, and swearing brotherhood.
The pact came as no surprise to Doctor and the others. Zion had grown too powerful to ignore. No one in their right mind would deliberately make an enemy of it.
The second was a plan for war against the Slavic Empire. It was remarkably detailed, involving five major cities and dozens of smaller mobile cities from the Nine Provinces Union, with a total force of over a million troops.
Judging by the plan, the Nine Provinces Union was so furious its hair might have lifted its hat. It meant to crush the Slavic Empire.
A dragon had a reverse scale: touch it, and it killed. The Slavic Empire had viciously raked that scale, so it would be no surprise if it was crushed.
The last was a commendation issued to Nine Provinces Construction and the other Nine Provinces Union companies working in Zion. Naturally, it praised them for taking the right stand at the crucial moment and acting decisively, fully demonstrating the fine qualities of the