Chapter 317: An Approaching Great War (1/2)
“Exactly what I said.”
“Pardon?”
“Look at the map.” Milenius pointed at something. “Here.”
“Styx?”
“Yes, the port city Styx. We’ll give up Esmeralda and meet Kang Chul-In here.”
“But… will Kang Chul-In’s military come here?”
“It definitely will.” Milenius guaranteed her. “Look.”
“Alright…”
“This waterway is the heart of our Gullveig Alliance and the strategic point that stretches out to the Bifrost territory. And that’s only half of it. From Kang Chul-In’s perspective, if this waterway is taken over, he’ll be able to decrease 40% of his losses.”
“Ah…!”
“Actually, the reason why the Esmeralda territory is Pangaea’s heart is not only because of its land routes, but also because it dominates Styx, and can rule over the Hartum river.”
“T-Then that means… Kang Chul-In…”
“Indeed, Mei Ling.” Milenius nodded. “Kang Chul-In will most definitely come to port city Styx. Because of that, our Alliance troops don’t have to try to protect Esmeralda. It’s already too late, and if we try to reclaim Esmeralda, we might suffer from great losses. We will meet Kang Chul-In at the port city Styx.”
“Then we need to give orders…!”
“There’s no need to do that.”
“Pardon?”
“Tactician Kwak is probably already moving as I just told you.”
“No way…”
“It’s something that’s already been spoken about beforehand.”
“...!”
“Plan B.”
“You already…!”
“Actually, even before the war began, it was impossible to defend Esmeralda.”
“I-Is that so?” Mei Ling was taken aback. She hadn’t been able to read the battlefield.
“Nothing could’ve been done.”
“How come?”
“The method of ruling the land.”
“...!”
“Our Alliance has been in a state of confusion since Lord Vilhelm and Lord Ao Xin’s death. We announced war first, but it’s true that it took longer for us to solve our internal problems. Didn’t it take you 3 days until you came into power?”
“That’s correct…”
“On the other hand, how was Kang Chul-In? Disgustingly, after he committed that atrocity, he said that he was innocent when we declared war and he raised an army like he had been waiting. In only a day. What about us? It took us a week.”
“That’s correct, we did.”
“First off, unlike the Valhalla soldiers, who are ready to move as soon as their king’s orders fall, it takes us quite a long time to gather our troops.”
“So that’s why you prepared Plan B…” Mei Ling was able to understand what Milenius was saying now. They had a fundamental limit. Gullveig was late to react because they were an “alliance,” not a “kingdom”; Mei Ling realized this fact too late.
“What are you talking about, Andrei?”
“The white knight Brynhildr is definitely strong.”
“Yes.”
“But the chance that Brynhildr will win in a direct fight with Kang Chul-In… is extremely low.”
“But…!”
“Yes, I know that Brynhildr has mastered the sword, as you said. But look at Kang Chul-In, Mei Ling. He is a monster who destroyed Neptune Spear’s iron fleet in a short amount of time.”
“...”
“Even though Brynhildr has become stronger, Tactician Kwak Jun and I think that Kang Chul-In cannot be defeated.”
“Then…”
“Yes, Mei Ling.”
Tap, tap! Milenius moved the black king and the white knight on top of Styx.
“Our plan… in this port city Styx…”
“...!”
Milenius’s plan that came after was quite aggressive. 10 minutes later...
“H-How…!?”
Mei Ling was extremely surprised after hearing Milenius’s strategy.
“Andrei… what you said right now…! I-It’s so…!”
“This is the only way, Mei Ling.”
“B-But… this is really…!”
“Mei Ling!”
“...!”
“You have to have a strong mind! You didn’t already forget about how your brother, Overlord Ao Xin, died, right?”
“...!”
“Why don’t you know that you can’t kill Kang Chul-In with that weak personality!?” He scolded her.
“A-Andrei…!”
“Blood of iron! Kang Chul-In is a demon who’ll do anything to get what he wants! Fighting ethically against such a man means that you’re going to lose!”
“...!”
“Mei Ling, you are the queen who rules over our great northern alliance! Also, you are also a little sister who lost her brother! How can you think about fighting with ethics in this situation?
“Andrei…” Mei Ling trailed off.
I-I…!
At the same time, a change occurred within her.
I am the queen of the north… I… I am the leader of the northern alliance…! Andrei is right… I have to change… I have to become stronger… and crueler…!
Then, Mei Ling opened her mouth.
“Fine, Andrei.”
“Have you come to a decision?”
“Yes. I will accept your plan.” Mei Ling spoke with a stiff face. “Since we can’t expect loyalty from the white knight Brynhildr… it’s a card we can throw away…”
“Yes, Mei Ling. That’s correct.”
“Good, then now... I’ll…”
“We need to raise our allies’ morale.”
“Right we need to.”
With Neptune Spear, the one who bragged about being peerless, dead, the fighting spirit of the Alliance was bent.
“Mei Ling.”
“Yes, Andrei.”
“Please go to the frontlines.”
“Sorry?”
“We need your abilities of motivation. Isn’t Agitator the best ability to raise the fighting spirit of our allied forces?”
“Right!”
“Also, it’ll be a great strength to the soldiers that you yourself are stepping up. No matter what anyone says, the leader of the great alliance is you, Mei Ling.”
“Sounds good.” Mei Ling nodded. “I’ll head to the frontlines and lead our troops.”
“You’ve thought well, Mei Ling.”
“Then please handle the commanding of the Pentagon, Andrei. I’ll give you all authority.”
“Don’t worry, Mei Ling.”
Heh.
Milenius spoke with a smile.
Nice… what a stupid thing…
It was a smile of satisfaction. Mei Ling was going to leave the Pentagon, leaving all her power behind?
That meant that Milenuius’s plot was progressing little by little…
***
In the Gullveig Alliance’s troop’s camp of the port city Styx...
“How should I do this…” In the middle of the night, Kwak Jun contemplated to himself. “Now I really have to stick to one side…”
He sensed that it wasn’t time to push back his decision. The power of the Gullveig Alliance was greater, so it wouldn’t topple right away, but it would be extremely disadvantageous if they lost the defense of Styx. In the case of the Valhalla kingdom, the instant they lost, their entire kingdom would shake.