PS: I wanted to update twice today, but I stayed up late last night to watch Boss Dungeon. I'll update twice depending on the situation.
May, Year 2525 of the Empire.
The Nurgle dragon fleet led by the Grote brothers was approaching the Claw Sea at a slow and steady pace.
According to Eichahn's arrangement, the Nurgle vanguard would be divided into three groups. The Grote brothers would attack Marlinburg from the Claw Sea, Grote the Spitter would cross Nord and Drakwald to attack Karonburg, and the three brothers of the Maggot Knights would attack Tara Beheim along the Tara Bek River. In the end, the three armies would meet under Charlemagne's throne, Brunswick, the capital of the Empire.
The triplets would lead the three armies to invade the heart of the old world. Not only would the urns full of plague be entrusted to the Grote brothers, but they would also be entrusted to the War Lords who led the other two armies. All that was left was to gather the armies of the major tribes and set sail for war.
Fortunately for the old world, the Nurgle army marched very slowly. Even if the children of the loving father were to whip them, their speed would not be much.
Unfortunately, the slow marching of the Nurgle army, coupled with their relatively good concealment of their military objectives, caused the old world to be unclear about what the vanguard of Chaos was trying to do. At this moment of crisis, most people only had self-preservation in their minds. With only half of the Empire left, many wise people in the empire tried to unite, but the army they were proud of had been defeated in the north.
On the shore of the Claw Sea that was sprinkled with the light of the Evil Moon, Grote's brothers, Otto, laughed loudly. He especially liked his Chaos dragon ship. The loving father had given each of the three brothers a giant ship. These giant ships did not need to be produced. In fact, even the largest dragon ship in Northka, the Fjord, did not have the ability to produce such a hundred-meter-long giant ship. However, Chaos did not need it. All that was needed was a large-scale ceremony. The dragon ship that was built floated out of the Fjord with a whoosh. Everything was ready.
So when the barbarians shouted desperately, "Build the ship! Build the ship! " At that time, they didn't really want to build a ship, they just wanted a place to vent. As everyone knew, violent theories were easier to vent their emotions, while rational theories usually suppressed the irrational. Moreover, it was difficult to write about rational things, and it required strict arguments and self-consistent logic. Violent theories, on the other hand, didn't require these, and it was very easy for everyone to agree with them.
Unfortunately, this was an idealistic world. When the minds of all the Nosikas were filled with the thought of "building ships", when their will echoed in the subspace, and when their souls sang together in the domain of Nurgle, the loving father Nurgle instantly received a generous gift from the mortal world. Of course, Grandpa Fatty would not be stingy.
That was how the three Grote brothers' fleet came to be.
This was probably what they meant by, "No food, no clothes, the Southerners will deliver them to us. No ships, no cannons, the loving father will build them for us."
The Claw Sea had long been full of danger. There were mutated abyssal monsters everywhere. As long as they waved their tentacles, they could penetrate the wooden hull of the dragon ship.
What was even more dangerous was that in recent decades, Ossouin's High Elves fleet had also been attracted here.
Although the High Elves were full of arrogance and prejudice, the whole world had to recognize the High Elves' contribution to the war. The High Elves really believed that they had an obligation to protect the world's peace (regardless of the method). Therefore, ever since Tegris and the Savior formed an alliance, the High Elves' fleet began to protect the peace of the Claw Sea and the Great Ocean. Other than protecting the trade route, the High Elves did feel that they had an obligation to do something.
Whenever the Northern Wolf ships strayed into the open sea, the Ossouin fleet would spare no effort to encircle them, and the Nosika dragon ships were basically no match for the High Elves' fleet.
In fact, when the three Grote brothers were marching, the old Nosika raiders under their command humbly and kindly reminded the three brothers that the High Elves' fleet in the Claw Sea was not easy to deal with. Why don't we go along the Nord territory?
"The era of the Unsetting Sun Empire is over! The pointy-eared brats must die today! "Otto, the eldest of the three brothers, roared.
"I'm going to use the skin of those pointy-eared brats to make a new magic book." Ezrak, the second of the three brothers, laughed wildly.
"Me too." The third of the three brothers, Gurit, was a huge Nurgle war beast with no intelligence. It probably only knew this sentence.
The three brothers decided to just charge in and be done with it.
Sure enough, two weeks after the voyage began, the Chaos fleet of the three brothers broke into the depths of the Claw Sea. This filthy fleet of dragon ships would leave dark green ripples and a corrosive stench on the surface of the sea as they passed by. The stench could be smelled from miles away. Of course, this was not ignored by the High Elves' patrol fleet. As the symbolic phoenix flag was raised, the High Elves' eagle ships began to appear in the sight of the Chaos fleet.
Accompanied by the High Elves' singing of "Oak Heart" and "The Phoenix Flag Will Never Fall", a series of heavy crashing sounds blasted in the ears of the three brothers. A sailor covered in diseased sarcomas and a Northerner whose body was swollen like a balloon were nailed to the side of the dragon ship.
The eldest brother, Otto, did not react, while the second brother, Ezrak, laughed wildly.
Before the laughter stopped, the High Elves' claw cannons bombarded the surface of the dragon ship like raindrops. The watchtower at the front of the ship was blown to pieces, and the side deck of the ship was blasted into several large holes by the claw cannons. Splinters of wood flew everywhere, and the Northerners' bodies were torn apart by the overwhelming firepower of the High Elves.
The three brothers continued to laugh. The Northerners did not have any long-range weapons, so they just let the High Elves shoot.
After several rounds of bombardment from the elves' eagle ships, the Northerners still stood firm.
The North's body that was torn apart by the ballista was healing rapidly. Those that could not heal were split into two people. Any attack that could cause fatal damage to the North's body, unless it was a direct hit to the head, was like a toothpick smashing into a jelly and then passing through it. Other than the splashing sounds and the splashing of juice, there was almost no damage done to the North.
"Use more strength! Use more strength! Sharp-eared brats, did you not eat? "Otto, the eldest brother, held a giant war scythe and laughed wildly.
"That's it? That's it? Where's the scraping? "The second brother, Azrak, was not to be outdone.
"Me too!" The third brother, Gurrit, smacked his lips.
The various plagues and thick humus that covered the dragon ships seemed to have a life of their own. Under Azrak's incantation, the humus quickly began to smoke and churn as if it had a life of its own. Small lumps of flesh appeared on the edges of the humus. They trembled as if they had a life of their own, and covered all the damage caused by the eagle claw cannons.
In less than half an hour, a thick, sticky layer of maggots covered the surface of the dragon ships and continued to carry out their duties.
After the high-elite eagle ships bombarded the dragon ships, the dragon ships were safe and sound.
The High Elves seemed to have realized something. They began to try to approach the Northerners. If they could not defeat the barbarians with long-range attacks, then they would use the High Elves' proudest tactic to fight them!
Several eagle ships carrying High Elves quickly approached the dragon ships. They fired a rain of arrows at the Northerners, then picked up their weapons and prepared to jump.
In the next second, the faces of these elite sailors and crew members suddenly revealed expressions of extreme horror!
Tentacles, dozens of tentacles!
Dozens of tentacles suddenly emerged from the churning sea. These tentacles were all more than 50 centimeters in diameter and dozens of meters in length. As if by magic, they directly entangled the High Elves' ships. The ship's masts were cut in half, and the deck was covered with stinky tentacles. They entangled the High Elves' bodies and limbs. The surface of the tentacles quickly secreted an indescribable mucus. When the mucus came into contact with the High Elves' skin, it quickly corroded and smoked. Then, chicken pox and red moss appeared all over their bodies. As they screamed and screamed, dozens of High Elves melted.
From their skin, to their flesh, to their organs, to their bones, they literally melted.
But the High Elves were still alive! Screams could be heard from time to time in the mud.
After killing the High Elves, under Azrak's command, the tentacles violently lashed the deck surface, broke the masts, smashed the cabins, and whipped the eagle claw ballistae.
The three High Elite Eagle Ships that rushed up to fight did not last more than twenty minutes before they were smashed into pieces and eaten by the fishes. More than a hundred High Elite Warriors fell into the stinky and foamy ocean. Clearly, there was no hope for them to escape.
When the remaining High Elves saw this, the flagship immediately signaled for retreat. The other High Elves' ships quickly turned and retreated, disappearing into the distance.
"This battle is only the beginning of our revenge. We will sacrifice Brunswick to our loving father before Charlemagne's rotten throne!" Big Brother Otto felt the power of Nurgle.
"All things will eventually rot. No mortal can avoid it. The only ending is to join us, or perish in the rot!" Second Brother Azrak raised the staff in his hand. Hundreds of giant tentacles on the surface of the sea raised their hands in unison.
"Me too."
… I Am I Am Also has the same section divider …
In May, Fort Marlin began to enter the most prosperous period of the year. But the High Elves sent the worst news!
The enemy was coming! Chaos was really coming. It was coming all the way to Fort Marlin!
Thousands of dragon ships were slowly but steadily approaching. The three Nurgle brothers, the three Grote brothers, were approaching Fort Marlin with unstoppable momentum.
At this time, the population of Fort Marlin had been reduced by nearly one-third. The remaining High Elves and Upper Houses of Fort Marlin had actually made a lot of money after the first wave of retreat.
Only three members of the House of Lords chose to leave Marienburg. They were Grand Duke Schultz, Viscount Casanova, and Bernard Arnott. Due to the lack of time, these three members of the House of Lords and six members of the House of Commons could only sell their real estate at 30% to 50% of the market value.
In addition to some of the smaller merchants and citizens that had evacuated, the total number of ownerless businesses in Marlin Castle had risen to over 20%. These huge vacancies and markets caused the tycoons to act like sharks that had smelled blood. They began to madly merge!
Eat up the market share, seize the shops, control the supply channels, and complete the monopoly of the industry!
A good time had come!
What made these High Elves ecstatic was that the Church of the Goddess of the Lake had withdrawn from Fort Marlin. No one would uphold justice for the hired workers and civilians!
What twelve-hour workday, what minimum wage, what work-related injury compensation, what labor protection?
These are all decadent and backward remnants of feudalism. They must be swept into the garbage heap of history. Fort Marlin does not care about this!
Struggle is the main theme, praise the workers in the early hours of the morning!
This was a carnival of capital. For more than a month, all the High Elves in Fort Marlin focused their attention on the merger. It was not until Ambassador Gao Jing passed the news to the High Elves and High Elves that Duke Valverde and the rest realized that perhaps Chaos was serious!
In the luxurious hall of the High Elves, the new Duke of Marlin asked for the opinions of everyone. "The Chaos fleet is gradually approaching, everyone."
High Elves, High Elves, said, "We still have to defend. We have no reason not to protect our property. Everyone, please remember that private property is sacred and cannot be violated. This is the spirit of Fort Marlin!"
Everyone nodded. All the property of those who stayed was in Fort Marlin.
Another High Elves, Betancourt Mayes, asked tentatively, "Can we still do the same as last time?"
Last time? Duke Valverde recalled the incident with Sigwald last time. "You mean … we should try to negotiate with the barbarians?"
"There are only two reasons why the barbarians would come to plunder. One is people, and the other is resources." Deboer was very serious. "Ask clearly. What do the barbarians want? Just give it to them. Let us catch our breath. Our wealth will flow back again. What we need now is time to consolidate the results of more than a month! "
"How can this be?"
"What kind of messy decision is this?"
"Are we supposed to work for the barbarians? Give them whatever they want? "
The angry roars of many merchants could be heard in the meeting hall. No matter what, merchants were still humans. Last time, Sigwald's betrayal could be understood as revenge against the Sun King Leon. After all, Leon had once harmed the interests of Marlin Castle. But this time, the Chaos fleet was here again. What was the point of bowing to them?
Most people still wanted to stand up and earn their money.
Seeing that most people did not agree, Deboer frowned. He simply asked Francesco, the commander of Fort Marlin's city defense, "Then here's the question. General Francesco, can you tell us what your plan is if the Army of Chaos really attacks?"
"No plan." General Francesco shook his head.
"No plan? How did you become the commander of the city defense? We pay you 500 gold marks a year, and we pay the city defense army 10,000 gold marks a year in maintenance fees. Now, you're telling us that you don't have a plan? "Duke Valverde said unhappily." Haven't you thought about how to fight? "
"I've never fought with such a large Army of Chaos. In the entire Fort Marlin, probably only Blackbeard Teach faced such an enemy in the Battle of the Gate of Nur." General Francesco lowered his head. "But …"
"What are you trying to say? Say it! " Everyone in the hall was getting impatient. Alan Wertheimer, the president of the Old World's largest perfume and luxury goods company, said, "Otherwise, we can fire you right now."
"Why don't we do as Mister Deboer said and try to get in touch with the barbarians and ask what conditions they have?" Francesco agreed with Deboer's words, a little embarrassed.
"Hey! Do you know what you're saying? Francesco! "
"Isn't this the time to tell stories?"
"What a joke!"
Voices of dissatisfaction could be heard in the hall.
"Are you serious? My general? "Duke Valverde's expression changed, but he did not show any obvious likes or dislikes.
"I'm serious." The city defense commander nodded.
"How can that be? Do you think our sea wall isn't strong enough? Our cannons aren't powerful enough? Our six wizard towers aren't strong enough? Or do you think the three land ships in the warehouse aren't enough to make the barbarians retreat? Didn't Tarim Khan's powerful army in the past also lose to the four land ships of Nur? " Bettencourt Mayes was obviously very dissatisfied with Francesco's cowardly behavior. He immediately scolded, "If it doesn't work, then we'll have someone else!"
"But what if the land ships aren't enough?" Francesco emphasized. "If we don't give the Northerners any chance to state any conditions or explain and start a war right away, won't it be easy for Marlin Castle to fall into the flames of war? Will it hurt everyone's interests? Moreover, if a war really breaks out, what if the land ships aren't enough? What will happen to everyone then? "
The entire resplendent hall was as silent as a chicken.
"So, first, send someone to contact the Northerners and find out what they want. Everything can be discussed. There's nothing that can't be discussed. We'll give them whatever we can. Do you think they'll move the land, shops, and docks of Marlin Castle back to Northka?" General Francesco interlocked his fingers and placed them on the sandalwood table. "As long as they can go back, it'll be fine. If they can't, let them attack other places. If Marlin Castle is saved, everyone's wealth will be saved. Isn't that the logic?"
The hall was still silent.
Many people's faces were showing signs of being moved.
However, it was too embarrassing and politically incorrect. Everyone was too embarrassed to be the first to agree.
Until Duke Valverde took the initiative to speak. He smiled. "I think that although Francesco's method is a little … correct, it's still a way to solve the problem. Don't you all agree?"
Many rich merchants immediately nodded.
"No matter what, I'd rather pay a large sum of money to make the barbarians retreat than allow any Brittany or people from the Empire to stir up trouble in Marlin Castle!" President Deboer nodded. "Ivan extorted us once, and then the Sun King robbed us again. There's no end to it, is there? You must know that the barbarians only go south once every ten years or so. If we let Karl-franz or Laing Macado taste the sweetness, they'll come every day. That's the real disaster and doomsday! "
"Oh, oh, oh, well said!"
"That's true!"
"It's better to give it to the Northerners than to give it to the wolves!"
"Paying for the Northerners to retreat is a necessary expense. Paying for the defense of the city and hiring all the mercenaries, including those ogre mercenaries, is also a necessary expense," Deboer continued. He waved his fist. "But asking for help from the Empire? Arming the citizens on the battlefield? These are all extra and unnecessary expenses. Who knows what will happen after those people get our money and weapons? "
"And that … female Tsar Katarín? She's in Brittany now, right? How about we pay her to hold the fort? An employment contract, that's simple. Isn't she short of money? Why don't we just ask for a higher price? "
There were more voices of agreement. What should be spent should be spent, and what could be saved should be saved as much as possible.
"Maybe things aren't that bad. It's not that the barbarians haven't robbed Marlin Castle before, but it's very rare. We've also signed many armistice agreements. Didn't the most famous' Crimson Agreement 'guarantee nearly 400 years of peace?" Duke Valverde finally spoke. "I think we can temporarily follow Francesco's suggestion. Don't worry, everyone. Maybe the barbarians just want a small gift, or maybe it's a misunderstanding. Everything will be fine. Don't worry, let's see what happens next."
"But what if the barbarians are really here to destroy us?" a senator asked.
"Then the strong defense of Marlin Castle, our legendary mercenary team, our wizard tower, the three land ships, and the Northerners will accompany them to the end!" Francesco stood up. The commander of the city defense looked like a hero who had saved the city, shining brightly. "A man dying to protect his property is the most glorious thing in the world! We'll let them understand what it means to be an iron-blooded merchant, an iron-blooded Marlin Castle, and an iron-blooded capitalist! "
"Iron-Blooded capitalist! Iron-Blooded capitalist! "
"Francesco, my Superman!"
"You're the savior of Marlin Castle!"
There was already applause in the conference hall of the parliament! Everyone was impressed by General Francesco's wit, and the applause lasted for a long time.
Just like that, the meeting went on until evening, and Marlin Castle's response plan was finalized.
The plan was codenamed "Iron-Blooded Capitalist."
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