Ximengsi Continent’s southern region, in the vicinity of Adelaide Kingdom’ strategic border town, Atad City.
In Samuel Village where Steinbeck Fief’s army was temporarily stationed, while Clyde had not yet figured out how to deal with the Undead calamity, Earl Hamm and Viscount Peter sent special envoys to contact and discuss the matter of a joint retreat. Because her status was that she had already been killed in battle, it was inconvenient for Princess Natalie who originally had originally been the highest commanding officer to meet with these special envoys. She was worried that the other party might recognize her true identity, so she could only request Clyde to meet them on her behalf.
“Hello, I am Earl Hamm’s younger brother, Baron Hake. I have especially come here to discuss the matter of cooperation. This person is Viscount Peter’s cousin, Knight Peer, may I ask how we should address Sire?”
“Clyde, administrative officer of Steinbeck Fief. Appointed by the lord to command this army.”
“You are truly a promising young man, the younger generation will surpass us in time. When I was Sire’s age, I could only command troops numbering in the several hundred.”
Earl Hamm and Viscount Peter placed quite a lot of importance on these secret talks. Both had secretly dispatched their trusted aides. After all, among the two parties, one belonged to Victor Alliance and the other belonged to Clark Alliance, which were hostile camps. If the matter of sending special envoys, wanting to secretly come into an agreement, was seen by too many people and spread, it wouldn’t be good for either side.
Baron Hake and Knight Peer were both shrewd and capable middle-aged men. When coming over, they had especially changed their aristocratic ceremony outfits and wore the armor of ordinary soldiers. They even took off their army badges. Looking from the distance, it was very difficult to discern their true identities. Others would think that they two were unidentified deserters, nothing more.
“Since time is pressing, I will make a long story short. The father-in-law of my big brother Earl Hamm is Stockris Empire’s Grand Duke Philip who is quite well-informed. Not long ago, Norton City, a border town of Stockris Empire, already had an outbreak of a large-scale Undead calamity. Light Church and Stockris Empire have tightly sealed off this news, I hope you will also maintain the secrecy of this matter.”
According to Baron Hake, before Atad, Norton City, the border town of Stockris Empire, the empire that was commonly known as Ximengsi Continent’s granary and one of the important empires belonging to the Neutral Treaty Organization, had suffered the outbreak of an Undead calamity. Nevertheless, the outbreak had escalated very quickly. Over 200,000 undeads had already appeared, and according to the rumors, even a Skeleton King, this kind of high-leveled undead demonic creature, had appeared.
In order to not cause panic across Ximengsi Continent, Light Church and Stockris Empire had tightly sealed the information. Allegedly, the first batch of Light Church’s troops had suffered a great defeat. Archbishop Trevelyan, one of Light Church’s archbishops, had also suffered serious injuries from a high-level undead demonic creature, and even now, he was still in a coma. Bishop Cocker under him had also been killed in action; Bishop Bruno and the holy knight regiment under him had also suffered a disastrous loss. The divine judgment regiment had also lost more than half of its members. It could be said that the first batch of Light Church’s troops had suffered a crushing defeat.
Light Church now had to urgently transfer manpower to deal with the Undead calamity that had broken out in Norton City. Stockris Empire, however, was the granary of Ximengsi Continent, once an Undead calamity spread over this empire, it would be a serious disaster for the people of the entire Ximengsi Continent. Therefore, Light Pope had transferred all the archbishops that could be transferred to the Norton front. Thus, there were no remaining archbishops to take care of Atad’s affairs; after all, even Light Church didn’t have sufficient manpower.
Compared to Norton City, Atad located in Adelaide Kingdom was dispensable to the entire Ximengsi Continent since it was far less important than Stockris Empire. At least for the short term, Light Church wouldn’t dispatch troops here. Everything would be left in the hands of local aristocratic Suzerains to deal with. The so-called dispatching of a troop was just a lie to console the local Suzerains, nothing more. The troops originally on the way had already been transferred to Norton City.
“Eh, could it be that Light Church wants to abandon this place and watch the spread of the Undead calamity?”
“Sire Clyde, you are still too young. This is to be expected. The offerings Adelaide Kingdom gives every year to Light Church is not even a fraction of that of Stockris Empire’s. Which one to protect, Light Pope had already decided in his heart. Even if you or I were in Light Pope’s position, it would be impossible to abandon Stockris Empire.”
“Then, how will the Undead calamity of Atad be dealt with?”
“I have come for this matter. My cousin Viscount Peter has traded with Kobold Race and obtained some special items, which can be used to deal with the current straits.”
With a mysterious expression on his face, Knight Peer stated their purpose in coming to Clyde in a low voice. As it turned out, when Viscount Peter had traded with Kobold Race in the past, he had bought a large number of explosive chemical barrels. He had never used them but kept them hidden. At this time, they just happened to come in handy. The plan of Earl Hamm and Viscount Peter was too insane; they actually planned to use the explosive chemical barrels to blow up the big dam of nearby Casper River and let the raging torrents flood the entirety of Atad.
If they truly went according to their plans, then the Undeads infesting Atad would be directly swept towards the border city of Adrian Empire, Eric City. In addition, there was also a certain probability of them flooding towards Augusta Empire’s border town, Oller City. In any case, there would be no Undead in Adelaide Kingdom. This method was too malicious, even their allies would be entrapped. Augusta Empire was one of the big empires of Clark Alliance and in the same camp as Adelaide. Entrapping Adrian Empire was fine, after all, they were from hostile camps, but trapping the people on their own side was a bit too much.
“Is that okay? Did King Halid the Second agree? Augusta Empire, however, is one of you.”
“The king naturally doesn’t know anything. We are just local Suzerains. We just need to maintain our own territories. As for Augusta Empire, this matter of the big dam collapsing is just an accident. Who would ever think that we blew it up? Even if someone truly had to be held accountable, they would go to look for His Majesty the King Halid the Second. It has nothing to do with us local Suzerains.”
“You all don’t need to worry, my cousin Viscount Peter has already looked for quite a few scapegoats. If by chance the matter of blowing up the big dam were truly found out by someone, we can just behead them and pin the blame on them. It will not implicate us.”
“That’s good. Let’s talk about your detailed plan.”
Clyde turned back with an indifferent expression. Baron Hake and Knight Peer had come prepared and shared a detailed plan with Clyde. As a matter of fact the plan was not so complicated. As long as they could withstand the attacking Undead in Atad for one day and one night, they could arrange people to find suitable places to place explosive barrels and blow up the big dam at the upper reaches of Casper River.
As Steinbeck Fief’s army in the rear might not have enough time to evacuate and might have many lives flushed away, in order to compensate the losses of Steinbeck Fief, Earl Hamm and Viscount Peter promised to compensate Clyde the loss of every soldier with ten gold coins. Of course, only those soldiers that were flushed away would be counted. All those who had died in action wouldn’t be counted. In order to express their sincerity, they would give Clyde a deposit of 50,000 gold coins. If this deposit were insufficient, they would make up the deficit in the future. However, if there were a surplus, then Clyde wouldn’t need to return anything. Clyde could directly take it.
“Since you agree, when the moment comes, we will rely on Sire Clyde to defend us from attack!”
“Okay, with this money, there is no problem. Then, I will not see you off.”
After the secret meeting, Clyde accepted the anonymous magic debit card from Baron Hake and Knight Peer which contained over 50,000 gold coins. These two aristocrats were very proficient in bribery. Clearly, they were veterans who had done it many times. They privately gave Clyde another anonymous magic debit card containing over 10,000 gold coins. It was for him individually. After all, Clyde’s public status was as an administrative officer; he might have to turn over those over 50,000 gold coins to higher authorities, therefore, these over 10,000 gold coins were a bribe for him alone.
“Master, sometimes, the Human Race truly is worse than devils. Actually wanting to scheme against their own race. How do you plan to deal with this?”
“That is not an issue; however, I don’t want to follow their plan. The private treasure collection of that old fox Earl Harrison wasn’t taken away, it should still be in Atad. If there were a flood, wouldn’t everything disappear?”
After seeing Baron Hake and Knight Peer off, Ancient Demon King Andrisno’s petite figure appeared behind Clyde. She had a playful smile as if she already knew the infighting of Human Race like the palm of her hand. Clyde took out a well-concealed sound recording crystal ball he had prepared in advance and handed it over to Ancient Demon King Andrisno. It recorded the contents of the secret conversation; however, his own voice was not recorded because of the special properties of this crystal ball. So, there was no need to worry about other people noticing him.
“Master, this is?”
“Andrisno, isn’t your flying speed fast enough?”
“Of course, even the fastest flying dragon is no match for me.”
“That’s good, help me deliver this to someone. I will be discussing countermeasures with Princess Natalie and others.”
“No problem, I can guarantee to complete the task in an hour.”
After half an hour, in the lady’s chamber of “Extreme Night Princess” Ophelia in the inner part of Augusta Empire’s palace, this princess had originally been preparing to rest. But now, wearing a sexy black lace pajama, she wield a one-handed knight sword. Clear, icy sweat could be seen on her beautiful but cold face, cautiously looking at a mysterious Lolita who had invaded her chambers.
That little girl in black gothic Lolita outfit was obviously Ancient Demon King Andirsno who had flown in. The beautiful personal bodyguards of Princess Ophelia had already been dealt with in advance by her dark magic. They were in absent-minded states, unaware of everything that was happening.
“Big Sister Ophelia, no need to be so nervous. If I wanted to harm you, do you think you would still have had the chance to draw your sword?”
“You… who are you? It’s impossible for you to be of the Human Race… could it be that you are…”
“Don’t ask so many questions. Here, take this crystal ball. I am giving it to you as a present. Listen to it immediately, and pay attention! You are not allowed to muddle through!”
“This… fine!”
Under the pressure of Ancient Demon King Andrisno, Ophelia had to take that sound-recording crystal ball and activate the playback function. She knew very well that she was not the opponent of this loli demoness in front of her. Therefore, she could only heed her demands.
“So obedient! Then I take my leave. Oh, that’s right, Big Sister Ophelia, are you engaged to be married to anyone?”
“No, why?”
“That’s good. You are not allowed to have one later too. My family’s Master has set his eyes on you, remember!”
“Please… please wait. Who exactly is your family’s master?”
Ancient Demon King Andrisno had a mischievous smile as if she had succeeded in making a prank. She then flew away without answering Princess Ophelia. At this moment, the attention of Ophelia was attracted to the conversation content coming from the crystal ball. She had no time to take care of the flying away Ancient Demon King Andrisno.
“Your Excellency the Princess, assassin…”
“No, no need to care about the matters of that assassin. Have the commander of Olide Lion Eagle Knight Regiment come to see me. There is not enough time. I want to see her as quickly as possible…”
“Your Excellency the Princess, tomorrow, His Majesty the Emperor seemed to have arranged for you to meet Prince Brunos’s…”
“I… I don’t remember having such an arrangement. Don’t worry about it. You all go and tell that old man. If we are late, then Oller City will be in trouble.”
