The One-Day War

Upon hearing this, all the dwarves' hair stood on end.

Go to jail?

"No, no, no, we believe you!" they said hastily.

Beianqi sighed inwardly.

Those arrested so far are actually double agents planted by Star Pickaxe in intelligence organizations around the world.

The dwarves who were directly involved in the Red Ridge Mine evacuated immediately after the incident.

They didn't catch a single one.

But that in itself is irrefutable proof!

This is different from the logic of going to court.

There are no legal provisions to apply, and there's no need to discuss the "three elements" of evidence (relevance, admissibility, and veracity).

You dare to be so impulsive.

I've caught you by the tail.

And then you still can't beat me.

This is the "three-nature" principle between forces.

The security personnel approached with smiles.

"There's a magical communication node here at the port that provides external services, so you don't need to go through that trouble; just send your messages here."

The dwarves swallowed hard as they looked at the staffs in their hands.

****

Before long, news of King Star Pickaxe's failed assassination attempt on Bone King, which led to Ainz's revenge, spread rapidly throughout the dwarven realm.

In the afternoon, messengers arrived in droves, delivering messages and requesting negotiations with Su Ming.

Su Ming ignored them all.

One comes, one gets tied up.

Arrive in a batch, hang them in a string.

The package was hung at the feet of the giant dragon, swaying in the air with the wind.

There were even a few unicorns and elves mixed in with them.

Su Ming led the dragon army to continue sweeping through cities along the way, driving away the entire dwarf army.

They also grabbed some dwarf officials and nobles who couldn't escape in time.

As the sun began to set, he led thousands of dragons, pressing all the way to the vicinity of Black Anvil City.

The dragons found another spot to drink, and then dispersed to rest.

"The scenery is quite nice," a giant dragon remarked comfortably.

"Yes, this trip today was really great, with plenty of food and drinks," another dragon chimed in.

Su Ming raised his binoculars and quietly surveyed the Black Anvil City ahead.

Unlike the smaller cities that had long since abandoned their defenses, Black Anvil was the third largest city among the dwarves, with a population of over 400,000. The city was dotted with smelting workshops, making it a true industrial powerhouse.

In the telescope's field of view, the city's chimneys stood tall.

The billowing black smoke that used to rise had all stopped.

Clearly, they have entered a state of combat readiness.

On the city wall, various anti-aircraft weapons were already erected high, and short, stocky figures moved about densely.

"Black Anvil City's defenses are not weak," commented Magelaili, who was also observing.

The dwarves thought so too.

Although Black Anvil City ultimately couldn't withstand such a massive horde of dragons -

However, if Su Ming insists on launching a strong attack, he will inevitably suffer considerable casualties!

As is well known, the dragon race highly values the individual.

Therefore, I would never engage in such a disadvantageous exchange.

This is the source of the dwarves' confidence in their defense.

However, in the setting sun, a sizable fleet of steam barges, protected by a caravan of escorting dragons along the coast, spewed white steam as they sailed against the current toward this place.

Su Ming glanced down at the watch on his wrist.

The timing was perfect.

As the barge convoy drew closer, all the dragons on the shore could see what was on the deck.

It was piled high with various sizes of aerial bombs, lanyards, and all kinds of combat equipment.

"Dragon Squad, all present."

Su Ming's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the riverbank.

The next moment, the dragons, who had been lazily lying down drinking water, preening their wings, and swishing their tails, all raised their heads and focused their gazes on them.

"Combat gear!"

At the sound of the command, the atmosphere changed abruptly.

Just moments ago it was like a leisurely outing, but in the blink of an eye, murderous intent surged forth.

One by one, the giant dragons stood up with a roar, their wings spread, and their scales gleamed with a cold, metallic luster in the setting sun.

The steam barge docked, and a large group of giant dragons rushed aboard to unload cargo and load weapons.

The chains and buckles clanged together, making the rack rattle.

The entire banks of the White River were instantly engulfed by a busy atmosphere of impending battle.

****

"Bone King--!"

On Black Anvil City, Star Pickaxe watched this scene from afar, his teeth grinding together.

He finally understood why Su Ming had been advancing along the White River, driving away the dwarf garrison.

He was clearing obstacles.

This will allow equipment and combat supplies to travel upstream and reach the walls of Black Anvil City!

"Bone King, do you really have to take things this far?!"

Beside Star Pickaxe, the dwarf investigation minister was both shocked and furious, his voice trembling.

Marshal Molten Heart, who had just been urgently transferred, was also intently observing the dragon troops preparing for battle on the White River.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Barely enough to hold on."

The Molten Heart provides the judgment.

"We have already assembled 50,000 troops here, and reinforcements are continuously arriving from the rear."

"By engaging in a war of attrition, exploiting the Dragon's weaknesses of high air combat consumption and insufficient endurance, and dragging the battle out, we can withstand this wave."

The problem is --

Molten Heart paused for a moment, then turned to look at the Star Pickaxe.

What happens after we block this wave?

It seemed to be asking a question, or perhaps interrogating someone.

"The other side ran out of bombs, but couldn't take down Black Anvil City, so they simply left."

"You can come again anytime."

"And this is just the Dragon Bomb—there's also the Vermilion Bow, and those fierce, densely packed rocket weapons."

"If Su Ming gets serious, there's nothing we can do."

"Molten Heart!"

The investigation minister immediately became agitated and shouted angrily.

"Is this something a marshal should say?!"

"I was just reporting the facts."

Molten Heart glanced at him coldly, her tone completely unwavering.

"Soldiers should have an indomitable spirit!" the investigation minister said sternly.

A cold, sarcastic smile curled at the corner of Molten Heart's lips.

"When Bone King launches his attack, I will hold the line and command, never retreating an inch, until I die in battle."

And what about you?

She stared at the investigation minister and asked, word by word, "Do you have the same unwavering determination to stand here with me?"

"You"

The investigation minister's face flushed red, but he was speechless.

That's enough.

Star Pickaxe spoke, letting out a long sigh.

"Let's go, come with me to see Su Ming."

"Ah?" The Minister of Investigation was startled, his face turning pale. "I—Your Majesty, your identity is crucial; you absolutely must not risk your life!"

Star Pickaxe didn't even bother to glance at him.

"You were the one who tirelessly pushed this plan forward from the start."

"Now that this has happened, you're too scared to clean up this mess together?"

"I----"

"Let's go." Star Pickaxe's face darkened, and his tone hardened completely. "If you dawdle, don't blame me for not giving you any face!"

The investigation minister fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

The Saint Rank warrior, Giant Hammer, was about to step forward and follow.

Star Pickaxe raised his hand to stop him.

He also prevented several high-ranking officials who were supposed to accompany him from doing so.

Apart from the Minister of Investigation, Star Pickaxe only brought one secretary and one senior diplomatic official with him.

"You can all stay."

He looked at the crowd, his voice lowering slightly.

"From now on, the Dwarf Kingdom will still depend on you all."

****

Five minutes later, Star Pickaxe arrived at the White River.

Su Ming was unfolding his tablet, wearing headphones, and giving tactical instructions to the squad leaders.

Fully armed dragons, guided by observers, entered the attack preparation area one after another and lined up to await orders.

The entire area was busy, yet perfectly orderly.

It's obvious at a glance that they've undergone a lot of training.

This isn't the first time they've done something like this.

Upon seeing this, the officers on the walls of Star Pickaxe and Black Anvil City grew even more grim.

Su Ming didn't deliberately act coy; she simply glanced at him.

"Yo, King Star Pickaxe, you've finally decided to come out."

"Lord Su Ming," Star Pickaxe said, his face ashen, cutting to the chase, "I have abdicated and will be judged by the Council of Elders."

Su Ming had no interest in the dwarves' "Council of Elders" or "trials".

You stepped down because you could no longer stay in that position.

"You made a mistake, so you should take responsibility."

What does it have to do with me?

Star Pickaxe's breath hitched, as if something was blocking his throat.

He really wanted to say that all of this was because you led the invasion.

But I didn't dare.

Su Ming's action was a counterattack based on reason.

If he continues arguing like this, he'll only become more embarrassed.

Around them, the dragons were extremely efficient, with more and more dragons completing the loading and preparation of aerial bombs.

The metal buckles clattered, making the dwarf's heart tighten.

Some of the stronger dragons volunteered to hang an extra pair.

"No rush. This is such a big city, with hordes of dwarf soldiers. We'll have to bomb it at least twice," the experienced observer patiently reassured him.

Star Pickaxe's face paled even more, a deep sense of powerlessness gripping his heart.

The pain is dull and aching.

He suddenly drew his weapon from Star Pickaxe and held it to his neck.

"President Su, I'll pay for this with my life!"

Su Ming gave him a mocking look.

"Worth it?"

"You think you can handle it?"

"You want to kill me."

"You almost killed me!"

Su Ming grew angrier as he spoke, and his voice gradually deepened.

"You stabbed me in the back, and now you expect me to stab you back—and that's it?"

"You dwarves have such a beautiful dream!"

The more he talked, the more resentful he became.

"I'm already incredibly busy, I don't even have time to pamper my girlfriend, and now I have to go through all this trouble to come and deal with you guys."

"I'm going to get all of these debts back!"

"You dwarves, the one who strikes first is despicable."

Although this would put him in a more passive position, Star Pickaxe still had to ask, "Lord Su Ming, what do you think should be done about this?"

The dragon had finished its preparations and was circling around with great interest, craning its neck.

They chattered and whispered among themselves.

How much longer will they have to negotiate?

"Yes, carrying a bomb is really heavy."

"This is a minor matter. If it drags on any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to meet the dungeon cooldowns this week."

Su Ming stared at Star Pickaxe, his tone icy.

"Star Pickaxe, you forced me to do something I didn't like today."

He raised his hand, extended his finger, and pointed it slightly to the side.

"Including Black Anvil City--"

"I want these eleven cities you've traveled through today!"

Even though Star Pickaxe came to try to "Cease Arms," upon hearing this, he almost lunged at Su Ming with his knife in hand.

Eleven cities!

How is this any different from forcing them to fight to the death?

Mo Yuan and Gelie's massive bodies leaned forward simultaneously, their dragon eyes coldly locking onto the Star Pickaxe.

Magelaili also quickly stepped forward, her aura concentrated, blocking Su Ming's path.

The initial surge of passion that Star Pickaxe had just generated was instantly extinguished.

****

At the dwarven war preparedness meeting half an hour ago, all the dwarves reached the same conclusion regarding the consequences of a full-scale war.

"We dwarves have a huge population of 120 million, a vast area of 13 million square kilometers, and thousands of cities."

"We can utilize our strategic depth to wage a protracted tug-of-war, and even gain the upper hand in certain areas to launch a counterattack."

Marshal Molten Heart stood at the end of the long table and delivered a concluding speech.

"We can also continue guerrilla warfare in enemy-occupied areas, preventing the Final Bone Mad Machines from obtaining the spoils of war and dragging them into a quagmire."

She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

But what's the point?

She asked in return.

The conference room was silent.

"Su Ming, what if you simply refuse to play along?"

"We painstakingly organize a counterattack, but the dragon can simply flap its wings and fly away."

"They can come back anytime they're in a good mood, or we can just find another place to fight."

"Easily slaughtered a whole area!"

Her voice grew colder and colder.

"What Su Ming and his team consumed was nothing more than some explosives, equivalent to a few days' worth of production capacity from a mere chemical plant."

"But we..."

Molten Heart's tone suddenly softened, like a sigh carried on the wind.

"Those who are even considered are merely materials for necromancers."

"A dwarf's life is worth less than a bag of fertilizer."

****

The standoff at the White River.

An elegant figure descended from mid-air.

It was a unicorn that came flying through the air, its silver mane flowing, and a faint light seemed to shimmer beneath its hooves.

Silver Moon Forest, Queen Ghostly Flower!

A squadron of elven guards rode forest eagles and landed behind her, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Upon seeing this, the dwarves' tense mood eased slightly.

"President Su Ming, how about you grant me this favor?" Queen Ghostly Flower said with a smile and a gentle tone, "How about you two turn your hostility into friendship?"

"Isn't that what I'm doing?"

Su Ming gave a forced smile.

"The dwarves started the conflict; it was the things I delivered."

He glanced behind him at the row of barges, still quite deep in the water.

Is it not more precious than jade and silk?

Queen Ghostly Flower did not respond immediately, but instead turned her gaze to the dwarf Star Pickaxe.

Star Pickaxe felt a lump in his throat and almost cursed out loud.

No, are you here, Queen, to mediate or to exert pressure?

He felt as if he was about to choke on his own blood.

"Lord Su Ming."

A group of dwarfs, who were not young, stepped into the scene.

A dozen or so high-ranking officials from the Dwarf Kingdom arrived.

The one who spoke was Iron Mountain, the president of the Dwarven Council of Elders.

He is also one of the most senior elders in the country.

"With no new dwarven king yet established, all those who can make decisions on both sides are here now."

Although Tieshan was old, his voice was still as strong as a hammer striking an iron felt.

"President Su, let's not say any more angry words."

"Why don't we all talk things out and make things clear?"

****

About an hour later, after some negotiation, Magelaili brought out the draft contract.

The Dwarf Kingdom acknowledges:

The Red Ridge Mine incident was caused by the dwarven administrators' lax management and the former king Star Pickaxe's oversight, resulting in losses for the Republic of the Rising Sun.

Therefore, our clan expresses its deepest apologies and hereby makes the following commitment:

1. Compensation: The Dwarf Kingdom agrees to compensate the Republic of Chuxu with ten million gold coins in the form of cash and other valuables to cover its losses.

The compensation will be paid in full within ten days of the agreement taking effect.

2. The Dwarves agree to lease ten cities along the White River, including Thorngard, to the Republic of the Dawn.

The term is thirty years.

3. This matter is merely a matter of compensation and arrangements, and it is hoped that it will not damage the friendly relations between the two countries.

The dwarves still hold the Republic of Chuxu in high esteem, and pray that the two races will work together for peace and prosperity in the future.

Iron Mountain, representing the dwarves, and Queen Ghostly Flower, as a witness, both signed the document on behalf of their respective nations.

Su Ming raised his hand and signed his name on the contract.

It was expected that they failed to capture Black Anvil City.

After all, it's the third largest city among the dwarves; they can't just give it up easily.

However, by taking this step, he also managed to extort ten million gold coins, so it wasn't a loss.

As for the ten cities of Thorngard, they were ultimately acquired under the guise of a lease.

"There's no other way; we still want to do business with the dwarves," Su Ming said. "Besides, we still have the Plundering Clock and Eden to deal with."

It would be unsightly if the real enemy gained an opening because of the rivalry between the snipe and the clam.

The two stood on the riverbank of the White River.

While it may seem like we're disregarding the bigger picture, ultimately, we must consider the overall situation.

Su Ming began to understand Xialike's seemingly contradictory choices in many matters.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted across the water, casting golden light onto the damp sand and stones, turning the entire riverbank a warm amber hue.

The river flowed past them, its color a deeper than in the area a little downstream.

The acidic igneous rocks in the nearby mountains have been weathered and eroded over millions of years, eventually mixing into the river water.

This continues to this day.

As the river continues its journey, it gathers more tributaries and rainfall in the Silver Moon Forest, gradually settling along its course until it turns into the whitish color seen downstream.

Su Ming bent down and put his hand into the river water, feeling the cool water and fine particles washing through his fingers.

Magelaili left and returned shortly afterward, carrying two carefully sealed contracts.

Not far away, Tieshan bowed to Su Ming and led his team back.

Queen Ghostly Flower greeted Su Ming and then accepted the dwarf's invitation to visit Black Anvil City briefly.

Today's prisoners were also untied and released.

"I'm sorry, President, I still don't quite understand your purpose today."

Magelaili voiced her doubts.

"These ten 'leased' cities are distributed along the White River, forming a narrow line."

"It borders a large area to the dwarves on one side, and is also adjacent to the Silver Moon Forest on the other."

Strategically speaking, we are in a very passive position.

"President, why don't we choose a cluster of cities near the border that can support each other?"

"That would be more beneficial for subsequent operations."

Not only did Magelaili not understand, but the dwarves were equally baffled.

From their perspective, the most reasonable explanation is that Su Ming has truly been angered.

That's why I didn't think things through completely.

Su Ming looked around to make sure there were no outsiders nearby before kicking the riverbank beneath his feet.

"Why don't you try digging?"

Magelaili's arm deformed, covered with thick skin, and her five fingers transformed into sharp claws.

With a casual scoop, she stirred up the sand and revealed several thumb-sized crystals.

These crystals are translucent and covered with a layer of mud.

Even so, it still shimmered under the dim, almost fading sunlight.

Su Ming bent down, picked up one, and gently washed it in the river water.

The mud was washed away, revealing the true form of the crystals.