novelraw #206 - Section 206
#206 - Section 206
For portable anti-magic fields like that, the Empire actually has corresponding equipment to counter them. As long as pre-war reconnaissance is done well, the losses this time could definitely have been avoided.
Unfortunately, due to arrogance, the necessary preparations weren't made. They mentally treated the enemy as easily crushed weaklings, and now they can only swallow the bitter fruit of their own making.
The Orcs are also capable of progress. With the support of the great powers and stolen technology, they managed to win this battle.
The Imperials believe they definitely wouldn't lose a rematch, but the higher-ups' response is, "We can fight, but it's not necessary."
The retaliation against the Terra Kingdom will take the form of economic sanctions, and the Empire will continue to recuperate until it completes its overall military upgrade, then consider completely liberating the Eternal Night World.
In the past, people would have grudgingly complied, but not wholeheartedly.
But now, having experienced enough lessons, the Eternal Night Empress's commands carry greater weight, and everyone obediently returns to their posts.
This surprised the Empress, as she didn't expect her prestige to increase even more despite not participating in the war.
The Imperials' reasoning is actually quite simple:
If the Empress says we can fight, and the Empress goes in, we win.
If the Empress doesn't want to fight, and the Empress doesn't go, we lose.
Because the current probability of these two events happening is 100%, reason would say it's an invalid single case, but people's brains are often irrational, so everyone believes the Empress is a necessary condition for victory.
As long as Her Majesty talks about war, blind obedience is all that's needed, and it's guaranteed to be correct!
This is a rather comical scene: the Eternal Night Empress proves her strength by not participating in the war, proving that the Empire cannot do without her...
Those great powers waiting to see the Empire's embarrassment, their intelligence agencies discovered this outcome and were completely bewildered.
You Imperials, you even comfort yourselves like this?
Because the strongest weapon, the Eternal Night Empress, wasn't used, this loss is insignificant. Next time, as long as the Empress says fight, you will definitely win!
As long as you don't lose using your full strength, it doesn't count as a loss?
This logic is too cunning!
The great powers definitely hoped that after this battle, the internal situation of the Empire would be more chaotic, the Eternal Night Empress's prestige would plummet, various internal conflicts would become prominent, and even the nobles who were previously driven away would make a comeback, leading to internal strife and division into fifty states or something...
But the reality is that the various levels of the Azure Vine Empire are more united, the Eternal Night Empress's prestige has increased rather than decreased, the execution of all orders is higher than before, and the overall citizens and officials are more pragmatic.
Many kings can't help but think, if defeat has this kind of effect, should we also be defeated once?
Winning a battle is difficult, but deliberately losing one is still very simple, right?
Unfortunately, no country has the courage to copy the Empire's failure, fearing they'll blow themselves up.
Let's continue to focus on the Terra Kingdom's real estate market and see what new plots are worth investing in.jpg
The pace of life in this world is actually slow. Nobles and professionals have long lives, and they've already experienced everything there is to experience.
That's why the planning of the City of Freedom makes them so excited. It does propose many ideas that make their eyes light up.
The rapidly changing capitalist society that has developed for hundreds of years has too many tricks to make the rich comfortable.
What's more, Tassica, who has unlocked the attribute of a capital queen, has learned by analogy and mastered the wealth code of how to get money from these noble circles.
She even has the spare capacity to reverse-invest in the Empire's magic industry.
Of course, this can be explained as her repaying Lord Charles for his consistent help, with overseas hot money flowing back to the Empire.
In fact, it's mainly because Tassica sees very clearly that real estate is just a way to make money.
Commercial real estate and the entertainment industry support these nobles, but the real purchasing power, the future of the Eternal Night World, should belong to the lowest-level working people.
The Empire's industrial upgrades and technological advancements have already shown powerful productivity, surpassing the traditional powerhouses that are still immersed in the dream of the Elysian Fields.
New technologies can improve national strength, upgrade weapons, and also bring new enjoyment.
The Empire can't easily get money from its own people, but it can use the Terra Kingdom to erode the great powers.
Tassica doesn't mind letting the nobles bleed a little more.
All of the above steps are preparations for a smoother takeover of this world in the future.
And those great powers who consider themselves smart don't think there will be any problems giving money to Tassica.
She has a "blood feud" with the Azure Vine Empire, and with money, she will also find trouble for the Empire.
Investing money in the Terra Kingdom allows them to play even more, and the vanguard resisting the Empire is also strengthened. Isn't this a win-win?
Especially since the Azure Vine Empire doesn't even have any further military retaliation, appearing very weak, allowing the kings and dukes of these great powers to gradually relax.
The Empire is just a paper tiger, and the Eternal Night Empress also has times when she can't fight. Her era is over.
At this moment, let us all praise Queen Tassica!
While the battles on the ground are gradually calming down and the countries are entering a relatively stable phase, the battles between the Naga and the mermaids under the sea have been escalating.
With Tassica's aid, the Naga Empire originally had an absolute advantage and was about to breach the mermaid sea kingdom and seize the first landing point.
Just then, Prince Shark of the Sea Kingdom returned to the mermaid sea kingdom with the new equipment he had purchased, dragging the battle between the two sides into a stalemate.
Chapter 183: Conspiring with Margaret
After Xia Ti's final action against Roger, the Dark Night Guard moved to close the net on the entire Tianming Army. His Highness Prince Shark of the Sea Kingdom, who was bound by a gambling agreement and unable to leave Aodu, unfortunately became a prisoner of the Empire.
The ocean and the land are completely different environments, and the God of Knowledge ordered the Church to interfere in internal affairs, so the mermaid sea kingdom has always maintained trade relations with the Azure Vine Empire without any conflicts breaking out.
Therefore, Prince Shark has always received a considerable degree of courtesy, except that he is not allowed to return home.
The Arcane Society even built a swimming pool simulating seawater in the palace where he was being held, confirming their craftsmanship when they saw the prince swimming happily.
Prince Shark, tortured by Xia Ti, has deeply understood the well-behavedness of living under someone else's roof, so he didn't cause trouble in the Azure Vine Empire either.
He was just waiting for the Empire to resolve the Tianming Army issue and confirm that he had no hostility towards the Empire, then they would release him.
Then Margaret presented the proxy war plan to the Eternal Night Empress, and the strategic value of a certain sea kingdom prince rose sharply.
Unfortunately, although Shark is greedy for money and lustful, he also has his own bottom line. No matter how Margaret tries to persuade him, he refuses the aid provided by the Empire.
This prince is not smart enough, but after being fooled by Xia Ti several times, he has developed the conditioned reflex that humans are very cunning.
The Empire's Left Prime Minister took the initiative to approach him, saying that they could provide military assistance and various weapons and equipment. The first batch could even be purchased on credit (loan) without paying cash.
But this good thing that fell from the sky is very suspicious.
He can't figure out what conspiracy the Empire has, but being so attentive for no reason must be either treacherous or thieving. He just doesn't agree.
No matter how you demons use flowery words, I, Prince Shark, will remain as still as a mountain, and I will drag out the time with you through non-violent non-cooperation.
Even if the mermaid sea kingdom is being beaten violently by the Naga while he is delaying, but this has been going on for hundreds of years, Shark feels that a mediocre prince like him can't change this situation...
Faced with such a lying-flat good-for-nothing, Little Ceiling Fan wants to directly turn hostile and curse.
This prince has lost his previous vigor and now only wants to do less and make fewer mistakes, waiting for the Empire to lose patience and release him back to the sea.
Seeing that the desert warfare is over and the seabed is also very lively, the products sent to the Naga Empire via the Terra Kingdom have been improved, and new ones have been sent over. Her proxy war, which was arranged earlier, has no movement at all...
At several meetings, Little Ceiling Fan felt that the Eternal Night Empress looked at her with some dissatisfaction...
The Empress seemed to be questioning her, who was it that confidently said that they could stir up war all over the world, and then the Empire would become the largest arms dealer?
Actually, she misunderstood. The Eternal Night Empress's gaze at her was not abnormal at all.
With the System Child plan, the Empire has too many opportunities to test new equipment, and they have completely forgotten about her work here.
The Empress only thought that Little Ceiling Fan proposed this idea as an example using the Sea Kingdom. Later, using the same idea to complete her strategic layout, some credit could be given to the little demon...
Instead, Margaret herself got stuck in a dead end.
After really not being in the mood to continue wasting time with the mermaid prince, Margaret chose to come to Maotai Mountain Villa to ask Roger for help.
Who told Dio not to come back yet? She was forced to disturb her "sister-in-law". There's no other way, right?
Roger was quite surprised to see Margaret seeking a private meeting.
Although their relationship has eased and they have a lot of cooperation at work, this is the first time they have met privately.
"Shark refuses to cooperate? That's simple." Roger couldn't help but laugh, and immediately understood where Margaret was stuck.
He took out a locked box from his space ring, rummaged through a thick stack of printed materials, and finally took out a few pages of paper and magically copied them, handing them to Margaret.
"Pretend to be unintentional and drop these records for Shark to see, then lower the price of the weapons again, and act like you're leaving in a hurry. I think he will cooperate with you in less than three times."
"Is this a record of a certain meeting? Tassica is the queen of Terra, Nicole is the saintess of that sea race, this Joestar... he's not dead? Who are Copperbeard and Xia Na again?"
Margaret's little head was full of question marks as she read.
"This is not a meeting... never mind, just think of it as a meeting record." Roger braked in time, not saying more about the Anti-Azure Vine Alliance.
Because the super-dimensional drawing board built by Tebella has limited functions and no chat history saving function at all, he can only manually save the black history of the sand sculpture netizens every time he chats.
He didn't expect that it would come in handy first when fooling Prince Shark, becoming evidence of collusion between the Naga Empire and the Terra Kingdom.
Of course, Margaret understands that the result of letting Shark see these records is enough to make him believe that the Empire is supporting the Sea Kingdom in order to indirectly suppress the Terra Kingdom.
In addition, Margaret takes the initiative to offer more favorable conditions. As long as Prince Shark becomes greedy, he will try to further lower the price and eventually become Margaret's pawn.
It's just that Roger's hesitant attitude is really suspicious. Margaret narrowed her eyes and looked at him: "If you have something to say, just say it... Humph, so mysterious, I even suspect that you are impersonating this Joestar!"
"You have such a strange train of thought!"
"Of course I know it's impossible, you killed him with your own hands~ Anyway, thanks, if you need help in the future, just tell me!"
The little demon patted Roger on the shoulder on tiptoe, and prepared to go clean up that Shark with a 'don't mess with me' gait.
She didn't know that her casual joke hit the truth, shocking Roger.
This woman's intuition is really sharp!
"By the way, let me take a look at the weapon list you plan to sell to the Sea Kingdom." Roger stopped her.
Margaret didn't question Roger's overreach, but directly took out an equipment catalog from her space ring and handed it to Roger readily.
Then she casually sat on the chair opposite Roger's desk, staring at him with cute eyes, her red eyes blinking, looking full of expectation.
Anyway, she's her own "sister-in-law", and she doesn't like women, so it doesn't matter if she acts cute, right?
Since putting down her prejudice against the Charles family and reaching a consensus with Roger that day, she has quickly relaxed in front of Roger.
Demons, as chaotic creatures, always act on a whim and don't care about trivial matters.
Now that Roger is helping her with work, she will cheer him on as a reward.
Roger was a little uncomfortable being watched by this little demon. It was a rather presumptuous and curious look, with hot eyes and hidden unwillingness, making him a little confused.
However, a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, especially since this girl also has demon blood. If he could figure out their occasionally short-circuited nerves, he might not be far from a mental hospital.
He ignored the little demon who was deliberately acting cute and focused his attention on the equipment catalog that Margaret handed over.
Margaret was indeed very smart and immediately understood what he was going to do.
Roger is in charge of the Terra Kingdom line, and Roger must know very well what weapons and equipment the Empire has sent to the Naga. He asked this question to classify them and avoid redundant testing.
Well, the purpose of the proxy war is to earn money from arms while using other people's battles to test unstable weapons and equipment. Is there anything wrong with that?
It's just that on Earth, two superpowers are competing on other people's territory. Now, the Eternal Night World only has the Azure Vine Empire playing this mastermind...
So, we must also pay attention so that when the mermaids and Naga meet, they don't find that they are holding the same standard equipment. Then, whoever plays this clone mode poorly will be embarrassed.
Of course, Margaret can arrange for her subordinates to communicate with both parties to complete this screening work.
But now that someone is doing it for her, she is naturally happy to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Following the idol, Her Majesty loves to copy homework, and she, as her most loyal fan, must carry forward her fine tradition.
Roger has been communicating closely with the Arcane Society and knows their projects well. He crossed out most of the equipment provided by the Chapter of Imbalance, and in the end, there was basically only the equipment produced by Lydia's mage tower.
Margaret watched him drastically slash through page after page of the list, and, thinking about having to deal with a certain magical advisor, her tail twitched involuntarily. She was uncharacteristically unconfident: "I can't handle that witch... Roger, are you very interested in her equipment?"
After gradually becoming familiar, the little devil was too lazy to bother with formalities and addressed Roger directly by his name.
"It's very powerful, but also very uncontrollable, so it needs to be thoroughly tested," Roger said, handing the equipment catalog back to Margaret. "If you don't want to go, I can go talk to her."
"That would be too much trouble for you!" Margaret immediately agreed, appearing completely unreserved.
This guy stole her only friend, so she didn't need to be polite with him at all.
During the battle in the Kamburg Desert, Sophie used a potion made by Lydia, creating the "Night of the Green Worm Parasites" that shocked both sides of the battle. After that, Roger wanted to meet the 'Biochemical Witch' of the Arcane Society.
Now, with the war against the Sea Country, there was indeed a reason to visit her magic tower.
But he was unwilling to do such unprofitable business, working for Margaret for nothing, so he said, half seriously and half jokingly, "You're handing over the work of a dignified Left Prime Minister to me, so shouldn't the salary be transferred to me as well?"
"That won't do. This month's salary is still needed to print His Majesty's photo album and give it to the Knights!" Margaret immediately took a step back, carefully saying, "You can put it on Dio's tab. He always promised to help me, but he's never around. Have him pay you then!"