The relaxed atmosphere in the room was gone. After hearing Camilla's report, Roddy frowned harder and harder. Not only was he angry, but he also had an indescribable sense of crisis.
As he had said to Merlinsera in his drunken stupor, it was only a matter of time before he found the revenants. These days, he had not only been researching spells. All the research projects in the Magic Tower were not just for the benefit of the people, such as "artificial rain". Large-scale research and development for war was the main theme of Elsen City. However, although Roddy had put research and development for the revenants on the agenda, it did not mean that he had the power to attack them at any time. If he had another three years, Roddy was confident that the revenants would not be able to return.
However, when the Orcs were obviously ready to attack, if the revenants joined the battle at the same time, Roddy would be at an absolute disadvantage.
Thinking of this, Roddy asked carefully, "Take the cavalry and investigate carefully. Don't let go of any clues. It would be best if we can find the enemy's troops and test them. I want to know their intentions."
Although the revenants and the Kingdom of Karen had always minded their own business, local small-scale wars were one of the best ways to test the intentions of the higher-ups. It was the same for the Orcs and the revenants.
Camilla knew that this was probably the alarm bell that the war was about to begin. She quickly wrote down Roddy's order and was ready to carry it out. However, she had only taken two steps when Roddy stopped her. "Did you just get this news?"
"Yes, the information has not been passed through anyone else."
This was the special feature of Elsen City. The "guardian" had absolute control over the city and eliminated most redundant programs that could lead to leakage.
"Well …" Roddy frowned and thought for a few seconds. He added, "Block all information and carry out the order in secret. Remember not to let the mages in Lessiman see anything wrong."
Camilla thought for a while and understood the reason. She turned around and left. Merlinsera, who was still wearing high heels, said, "I am also a mage who is going to Lessiman. Are you not afraid that I will tell others? Do you want to imprison me? "
She was very confident in Roddy after her experience on the glacial plains. She didn't think that he would encounter any problems at all, so her tone was completely joking. However, Roddy didn't have the time to joke around. He waved his hand and sighed, "This matter is a little troublesome. I have to think of a countermeasure first."
He wasn't worried that Merinsela would leak the news. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction at his trust. Then, she leaned back on the wooden chair in a seemingly casual manner and cast Magician's Hand. She took a book titled "Monsters and Where They Grow" from the bookshelf beside her and flipped through it. "Then take your time to think about it. I'll just wait for dinner."
The dress that she had just transformed disappeared, revealing her original red robe. However, because she was lying on her back so casually, Roddy suddenly felt a little dazzled. There were no such things as stockings or safety pants these days. He looked up and realized that it was Merlinsera's long legs that she had unintentionally revealed.
With her tall figure and high heels, Merlinsera could even be considered a supermodel … However, she didn't seem to think that there was anything wrong with her posture. She flipped through the book with great interest and raised her hand to lift her long hair behind her back. Then, she changed to a more "relaxed" posture and leaned against the chair.
For some reason, Roddy felt a little thirsty. However, Camilla's report was like a mountain pressing down on his chest. He was not in the mood to appreciate the "beautiful scenery" in front of him. He coughed lightly and turned his head to the desk beside him.
But he definitely didn't know that behind him, Merlinsera's ears were red. She had been staring at the table of contents for two minutes, but she still couldn't read a single word.
Sometimes, people would do things that even they themselves found inconceivable. Although Merlinsera was a Dragons, she was also experiencing an inexplicable dilemma at this moment. She didn't know why she did it, but she couldn't help but feel embarrassed and regretful after doing it. However, she just couldn't take her legs back now … However, when she saw Roddy turn to leave, she couldn't help but curse Roddy in her heart. She was angry that he didn't dare to look at her for a while and express his gratitude.
In any case, it was Roddy's fault!
But Roddy couldn't care less about her emotions at this moment because the current situation made him a little anxious.
He looked at the series of preliminary agreements that Houdini had written on the desk before he left, and his brows were completely furrowed. This pile of agreements didn't just include magic scrolls, magic circles, and other magical technologies. There were also plans to build a brand new deep water port southwest of Aefta, and a number of joint development projects.
In other words, the value of these letters of intent was equivalent to hundreds of thousands, or even millions of gold coins.
Although Elsen City had advanced magical technologies, the most important problem at the moment was that it didn't have a strong population and a strong foundation of wealth. It was like a village in a poor mountainous area discovering a gold mine. A simple mine alone couldn't make the village rich immediately. A series of investments, infrastructure construction, and electricity supply were needed to increase the per capita wealth of the village.
In other words, the joint development of the Lacheman Kingdom would largely determine whether Elsen City could gain a foothold and develop rapidly in the next few years. And the key to the cooperation between the two sides was the cobalt mine!
"If it were any other place, I might have given up strategically. But here … I really can't take a step back."
Roddy stared at the marked mine on the outskirts of the Gondola Mountain Range. He silently opened the "City Construction Column" and began to search for the research results of the various "R&D Departments". He needed to count the cards he had up his sleeves to see if they could fight against the army of the undead that might appear.
In the afternoon, Natha arrived at Elsen City riding on a Kelda Duck.
Roddy was worried about not being able to confirm the specific movements of the undead. Natha's arrival couldn't have been more timely. However, when the travel-worn Nata stated the news that she had observed, the little bit of hope that he still had in his heart was gone …
"The undead are preparing for war. Although I can see some obstacles and obstacles, the signs of gathering here, here, and here are very obvious …"
"I also saw these on my way back. There are also undead troops patrolling here. They have begun to extend their tentacles outwards. It seems that they are preparing to build outposts outside the Gondola Mountain Range."
Natha didn't know about the attack on the cobalt mine. She simply told Roddy what she had seen and heard. She took out a hand-drawn map and explained it in detail. This was also one of the compulsory lessons for a "Ranger". Detecting and locating the enemy's movements and determining the enemy's intentions were all based on evidence. Roddy had carefully taught this knowledge to Natha, and now her judgment was very much in line with this experience and common sense.
"It seems that Augustine is prepared to be tough to the end this time."
Roddy originally thought that Augustine would be delayed by the council for a while because of the setback in his plan. He didn't expect Augustine to push for war so forcefully. No matter how much Augustine suffered in the deal with the council, Roddy now had to face a fact: if the undead army headed straight for Eiffta, as the "Cabinet Prime Minister", what should he do?
"The situation isn't optimistic." He wrote down the key information on the parchment and asked, "What about the orcs?"
"I'm afraid it's even worse."
Natha glanced at Merinsera who had already sat up straight. She nodded and continued, "More than 20,000 vanguards have gathered and set off. More than 30,000 people are following behind."
"They are heading … towards Eiffta."
*****
"Sound the alarm! Hurry! Light the beacon! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! "
A group of scouts who had just returned from the edge of the grassland broke the tranquility of the village. Although there were only five of them, the horses they rode were all tall and sturdy. One could tell at a glance that they were excellent warhorses of considerable value. The sound of hooves echoed in the village, startling a flock of birds.
Clang! Clang!
The metal alarm bell that had been transported from Hollier City three months ago wasn't big, but the sound of the bell traveled with the wind for a long time. In less than two minutes, the "beacon" that had been specially set up in the middle of the village was lit. The blazing flames caused a trail of black smoke to rise slowly, as if a heavy stroke had been smeared on the clear blue sky.
Very soon, black smoke was ignited one after another. Not long after, similar beacons were lit in all the villages across the entire border.
After the initial panic, the villagers quickly began to evacuate under the orders of the officers on duty. They moved quickly, and it was obvious that most of them were mentally prepared for what would happen today. Be it the elderly, women, or children, they all tried their best to keep quiet. There was no chaos that often occurred when fleeing.
The standard scout team in the village had increased from eight to twenty-five people in half a year. More than half of them were veterans that had been specially pulled over from the nearby fortresses. And in the process of the villagers slowly retreating towards the fortress, all twenty-five scouts and the leading officers had already finished equipping their leather armor and blades. One by one, they checked the standard crossbows in their hands and mounted their horses.
Be it the alarm bell, the beacon, the war horses, or the excellent equipment they were wearing, everything had only gradually changed after the Dukes Of Angmar realized the threat of the Orcs. When all the nobles had mocked Angmar for spending money recklessly, the Duke had withstood the immense pressure and suppressed the objections of the nobles in his territory. He had carried out a series of resource transfers to the villages at the border.
This transfer had continued even after the Dukes Of Angmar had sacrificed themselves and Sally had inherited the dukedom. More and more farmers had become professional soldiers receiving military pay, and more veteran soldiers had been promoted from the bottom, replacing the parasites that had occupied the positions. All of these efforts had finally begun to bear fruit today …
Apart from a scout who had rushed towards the fortress on horseback, the rest of the scouts did not hesitate to gallop towards the direction of the grassland. Another village seven kilometers away had also sent out a team of twenty scouts after receiving the warning. They gathered at the designated location and advanced.
Twenty minutes later, on the vast grassland, the advance team of fifteen Orcs had encountered a team of forty-five scouts. The Orc Wolf Riders howled and charged excitedly. They had always accepted the concept of "humans are very weak" and did not think that these human riders could threaten them.
So, the wave of arrows that were shot at them made them experience the terror of "equipment suppression".
Four unlucky Orcs were shot through on the spot and fell to their deaths under the bodies of their warwolves.
The rest of the Orcs, whose momentum had stagnated, began to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Although the scout team could not form a neat charging formation, with the impact of the tall war horses and the fine iron blades in their hands, they shouted loudly and tore the Orc team in front of them into pieces amidst their roars …
"For our homeland!"
"Defend Eiferta!"
As blood splashed, the Orcs' invasion of Eiferta and even the entire Kingdom of Karen had begun.
*****
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