The familiar scent of 'Veil of Night' floated in the elegantly decorated hall. The Wendell Family's emblem of the 'Wolf of Iron' hung on the light gold pillar. The sun that was close to noon shone into the hall through the colored crystal window on the south side, illuminating the portrait of Tirian Wendell hanging on the wall. The eternally dignified and powerful grandfather in her memory was standing quietly in front of the portrait of the family's ancestor with his back facing the door. He seemed to be lost in thought.
A servant at the side wanted to report, but Andesha stopped him. She walked into the hall alone and stopped a few meters behind Duke Ferdinand. The gentle Oldenheim sunlight shone on the air between them. Fine dust danced in the sunlight like fairies in the atmosphere.
"Grandfather, I'm back."
"Seven hundred years ago, Tirian Wendell Wendell?" Wendell was the same age as you when he completely defeated the Aberration Army on the Western Front, "Ferdinand said slowly." It was winter, and the knights were fighting on the snowy plains. They were as united as wolves, brave and fierce. They fought for three days and nights and annihilated an enemy five times their size. After they won, the founding emperor named the wolf and conferred the title of Tyrian. Tirian Wendell was named the first Wolf Duke. "
This was a history that every descendant of Wendell was familiar with. Andesha lowered her head. "I have always remembered the glory of my ancestors."
"Our ancestors are indeed honorable." Ferdinand finally turned around. That dignified face of his was a little older than what Andesha remembered. "Or rather, every Pioneer is equally honorable, and this honor needs to be matched with the ability to match it. Including Tyrian Andesha, who is a Pioneer? Including Tirian Wendell and Gwen, naturally? Cecil.
"Cecil's Magician Army was led by Gwen? Cecil had personally established and trained them. Furthermore, compared to the other 'Glory Legions', the strongest aspect of this legion lies in the fact that they are the 'first generation'. As a young commander, you are qualified to contend against such an enemy and not be defeated. "" That's right.
Andesha met her grandfather's gaze calmly. She knew that there was more to come from those eyes.
Duke Ferdinand continued as expected. "However, as the highest commander of the Winterwolf Army and the first commander of the empire's defense line, you were already unqualified the moment you went to Palamel Highlands."
Andesha took a deep breath and straightened her back in front of her grandfather.
Ferdinand looked into Andesha's eyes. "What is the order that His Majesty gave you regarding the Long Wind Fortress?"
Andesha immediately replied, "Maintain continuous monitoring and confirm the actual strength and deployment of the Changfeng defensive line. If there are no loopholes, do not take the initiative to attack. If you find an opportunity, choose the opportunity and attack immediately."
"That's right." Ferdinand nodded. "Therefore, from the perspective of an order, there's nothing wrong with what you did, and His Majesty won't punish you for your failure. However, when you carried out this order, did you really only carry out the order?"
Andesha's face was tense. It was only a few seconds later that she nodded under Ferdinand's gaze. "Yes."
"When you're nervous, your eyes always look at the bottom left corner out of habit." Duke Ferdinand shook his head and turned around to look at the rainbow-colored crystal window where sunlight was spilling in. "You didn't send out scouts to disguise themselves and investigate. Instead, you chose to lead the Knight Regiment directly to Palamel Highlands. After discovering that Cecil's position was fake, you sent out the signal without further investigation of the surroundings of the battlefield. Furthermore, all of this happened when there was rain, which obstructed your vision and reduced your investigation efficiency … This shouldn't have happened to you."
"… I have nothing to say."
"Hatred made you temporarily lose your judgment. You've been waiting for this opportunity for many years. I understand your urgency back then, but you're not a Knight fighting alone. You're a commander. More importantly, as His Majesty's general, your personal feelings must be placed behind the Emperor's orders and the interests of the country. You must firmly remember that even if Cecil's people kill me in front of you today, as long as His Majesty orders you to establish a peaceful relationship with Cecil, you must live peacefully with them at the border. This is the responsibility you must carry out the moment you picked up that Knight's sword."
Andesha was silent for a moment before she finally took a deep breath. Her gaze became determined again. "Yes, I understand."
"You will do it, because your surname is Wendell." Ferdinand nodded slowly. "What I'm most gratified about is that at least some of your decisions were timely and accurate. These choices allowed you to successfully bring the Knight's group back to Winterwolf Fort. Not being left behind on the Palamel Highlands is your greatest success. This prevented the Empire from falling into a passive position when it comes to righteousness, and also prevented you from becoming a sacrifice in the negotiations, bearing all the infamy in your name."
Her grandfather's preaching was as merciless as she remembered. Andesha also realized that she was unable to refute him. She lowered her head and accepted everything until her grandfather's tone suddenly changed. "The time for preaching is over. I should also give you some praise. You've successfully brought back direct information about Cecil's Magician Legion. This is more valuable than anything else."
The old duke paused for a moment before asking, "What does that thing look like? What weapons does it have? How does it fight? "
Andesha immediately organized her words and revealed a serious expression.
"It was built with a large amount of steel. Its shape and size were similar to the 'train' you described in your letter. It was equipped with extremely powerful magical weapons …
"It was hidden behind the trees and rocks at that time. However, due to its large scale, and the eye-catching rune markings and large protruding structures on its tracks, it was easy to see from the air. I believe that it is a weapon that is not suitable for hiding. Its main purpose should be to attack and act as a mobile fortress …
"It should be able to hold a large number of soldiers and supplies. It should be able to fight for a long time away from the stronghold …
"… Although we haven't fought against it, I can be sure that it has some kind of shield …
"If there is a need to engage in battle, destroying its tracks in advance should be of utmost importance. Furthermore, its long-range attacks are fierce and concentrated. When fighting against it, it should be treated as a group of mages protected within the city walls, who can move at any time …
"Its main weapon is huge, and it was pointed at the Plains of Longwind. Judging from its deployment position, its range is at least ten kilometers. This is far beyond the range of traditional spells …"
Andesha said one thing after another, and Duke Ferdinand nodded from time to time. When Andesha finally finished, the old duke thought for a moment and broke the silence with a sigh. "… You are very lucky. The Cecil people are not familiar with it yet. Just like when we first formed the Iron River Knight Regiment a few years ago, those Cecil people were not familiar with the supporting tactics of the new weapons."
"Not familiar?" Andesha was a little surprised.
"If they were, you wouldn't be able to come back." Ferdinand glanced at her. "Do you think that the rain was the only thing that allowed your Knight Regiment to escape alive?"
Seeing Andesha's thoughtful expression, Duke Ferdinand nodded slightly and walked to the exit of the hall. "His Majesty is in the Obsidian Palace. Come with me to meet him."
Andesha snapped out of her thoughts and immediately caught up with the old duke. "Yes, Grandfather."
Duke Ferdinand nodded, but just as they were about to enter the corridor, he suddenly stopped and looked at Andesha, who also stopped in her tracks with a puzzled expression. The old man nodded slightly. "I forgot to say just now — welcome home."
After being stunned for a moment, Andesha finally reacted, and a smile finally appeared on her face.
Andesha did not see the carriage she was familiar with in front of the porch of the Duke's Mansion. Instead, she saw a strange-looking car with four wheels and an iron shell parked under the stairs.
"This is the magic car I mentioned to you in the previous letter." Before Andesha could ask, Duke Ferdinand took the initiative to explain. "It's the third one. More than half of the parts inside were handmade by the craftsmen. Your uncle built a factory on Kimshell Street, and is trying to use machines to make the framework and shell of the magic car. If you have time this time, you can go and take a look.
"You've been away from the Imperial Capital for too long. A lot of changes have happened here, and some new things can't be described clearly in a letter. You have to see more. This knowledge will be useful to you."
"Cecil's people have something similar," Andesha said. "It appeared recently near Changfeng Fortress. They use a larger magic car to transport supplies."
"The magic car was first created in Cecil. Our craftsmen and scholars have imitated it. Just like what you've seen, Cecil's people were the first to create the magic car, and they're already very far ahead in this technology. We're now catching up, and many of the Imperial nobles who are used to being arrogant are not used to it. But that's the truth, "Ferdinand said as he walked towards the magic car." The 'war machine' you mentioned is obviously also a creation of magic technology. We've created a powerful Extraordinary army, but Cecil's people are using magic technology to close the gap in this aspect. If we don't want to be at a disadvantage, we have to abandon our meaningless arrogance and start to catch up. "
Andesha sat in the car, and observed everything in her sight with irrepressible curiosity and joy. She ran her fingers across the inner wall of the car door. After seeing the war machine of Cecil's people with her own eyes, it was inevitable that this thing would look simple and crude. But when the vibration of the machine came from below her, she couldn't help but sigh softly, "… This is what we made …"
"Yes, this is what we made. We should thank every scholar, mage, and craftsmen in the Imperial Craftsmen's Association, especially the leader of this project, Master Daniel. Although I don't like that great mage's overly gloomy temperament, his wisdom and talent are admirable," Duke Ferdinand said. "Don't be envious of the tools that Cecil's people use to transport supplies. Winterwolf Fort will use them soon. Your uncle has already received guidance from Master Daniel. When his factory officially starts operating, we won't have to rely on the craftsmen's hammers to make the shell of the magic car anymore."
Along with the vibration of the machine, the magic car started moving. This unbelievable machine drove out of the Duke's Mansion and headed toward Obsidian Palace. Along the way, they encountered some pedestrians who all stopped to watch. However, Andesha's attention was not on the street outside at all. "If we can make this thing, then the train …"
"Train … Train is another concept." Duke Ferdinand shook his head with a bitter smile. "I know what you're thinking. I'm thinking about it too, His Majesty is thinking about it too. Our scholars, craftsmen, and mages are all thinking about it too. But we have to admit that we can't make it yet … At least, we can't make something on the same level as Cecil's magic train right now. From what I know, there's a group of craftsmen who are trying to build simple, small rail cars. I hope they can succeed. "
Hearing her grandfather's words, Andesha slowly calmed down. She raised her head and looked at the receding road outside the car window. She looked at the afternoon sun dispelling the thin fog on Oldenheim's streets. She looked at the pedestrians who were much fewer than in her memory walking hurriedly on the streets. Her heart that was tied to Winterwolf Fort and the frontline finally returned to this place.
The car drove past a junction and passed by a mother and daughter who were taking a stroll. Through the open car window, Andesha heard a vague voice in the wind.
"Mom, there are so few people on the road … Where did everyone go?"
"They're in the factory …"
Times were changing, and this city was really a little unfamiliar.
But this was still her home after all.
…
Obsidian Palace. A servant walked into Rosetta's Augustus Palace. In Augustus's room, he bowed. "Your Majesty, Ferdinand? Archduke Wendell and Andesha? General Wendell is here. "
Rosetta, who was reviewing a document, looked up from his work. "Let them in."
The Wendell family's patriarch and heir walked into the room and greeted them according to etiquette. After Rosetta returned the greeting, his gaze fell on Andesha.
The young Wolf General stood upright and calmly welcomed the emperor's gaze. After that deep gaze finally retracted slightly, she heard a question.
"Andesha, what does our army lack now?"
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