Kelor Highlands, within the castle fortress.
The flickering candlelight in the lamps reflected on the sandbox used for military simulations.
Black Sail representative, Lostra commissioner, Freemasonry Alliance Front volunteer representative, and the local lord, the Resistance Army’s second leader.
"Aran is solely focused on the railway lines. The fortresses where troops are stationed and the outposts for enemy searches are all built nearby, leaving no room for strategic maneuvers. If we split our forces and attack from the north, wouldn’t they be caught between the front and rear?"
Unlike Fen’s belief in total warfare, Aran, surrounded by enemies, was stretched thin and did not invest heavily in Mulong’s military effort.
"That’s why the Seventh Amendment has to join the fray. They guard the strategic points in the small countries around Aran, which, though nominally part of Mulong, are effectively under their control. We are doing the same now. The Seventh Amendment disrupts and sabotages the railway from the north. Before the railway advances, Crocodile Island must also capture forward strongholds. Uborio is holding out to the death..."
The second leader, having conducted too many explosions, suffered from silicosis, with dry, cracked skin, incessant coughing, and an emaciated frame. The face under his hooded turban looked exceedingly haggard.
There was no need for him to finish; the situation was bleak. True, they had significantly delayed railway construction progress, but the cost was...
Chuan Che looked at a short, thin soldier with a sallow face in the room. This kid hadn’t even finished losing his baby teeth.
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Kelor Highlands, as the rearguard, was full of the disabled and wounded from the front lines. The growing despair made the second leader want to end this tragedy.
Uborio would not succeed.
The Freemasonry Front couldn’t be relied on either.
So he never commented on the prolonged stay of the Black Sail troops outside the city; pirates were straightforward. Without immediate tangible benefits, they wouldn’t act.
Even if the people from the East Sea left for home now, the second leader wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Idealism alone couldn’t run the world.
Wolman looked at the sandbox map.
Despite his deep-seated hatred for Aran, he understood the difference between killing hundreds of Aran people and killing millions.
Liszt’s current stance was to drag things out until the end of the year, with no need to risk lives. Just do business.
Engaging in a war of attrition with Aran was unaffordable for anyone. That’s why Army General at Crocodile Island did what he did: using Black Rock City as the rear base, amassing a large force, and quickly mobilizing soldiers along the railway for steadfast defense of a single front. Aran’s consistent supply of resources solidified this frontline.
The Resistance Army, with their flesh and blood, could only delay the advancement. Success was impossible for them.
The Resistance Army’s last hope was to unite all external support in Kelor Highlands for a long-range maneuver.
No matter how carefully such a large force utilized geographic advantages, they would inevitably be discovered by scouts. If they could withstand all the small-scale assaults along the way, they could launch a full-scale attack on Black Rock City and completely cut off Aran’s transportation to the front line. Located at Mulong’s midpoint, Crocodile Island would find itself surrounded by the entire country.
The puppet government was no more than a comprador facade, not worth worrying about.
But the defenses of Black Rock City, Aran’s strongest fortress in Mulong, even with a death wish, its capture was another story—almost impossible.
If Black Sail took such a loss, it was likely a losing deal, with themselves ruined in the process.
So Wolman kept silent.
Fen observed the map for a while. Crocodile Island was about to reach the midpoint of Mulong and would attack the next city soon.
"Drifting City... interesting. What’s the current stance of the lord of Drifting City?"
The reason Fen sighed this way.
In the last days of the slave era, Drifting City was the world’s second-largest slave market and the hub of slave trading east of the Narrow Sea.
At that time, the largest slave market was west of the Narrow Sea, in the lands of Gureg, known as Free Port, symbolizing liberation from captivity upon gaining a master. Nowadays, it had been renamed Iron Melting City.
With the rise of the magic energy industry, various ideologies surged, nationalism flourished, and slavery was gradually abolished by nations. Free Port transformed into a commercial port while Drifting City fell into decline.
The fact that Drifting City retained its original name surprised Fen a bit. The Mulong people clearly didn’t mind their dark history. They had guts.
Of course, Aran’s railway construction wasn’t a straight line. After penetrating Kelor Highlands, it would surely extend towards Golden Palm Port, radiating out like a web to all resource points, frantically supplying the Empire.
Fortunately, the railway was currently only in the mid-front section, without reaching any port cities yet. Should the Aran Navy invade, the Rebellious Marquis of Golden Palm Port would no longer remain passive but fight back desperately.
The situation was still clear. Lasting till the end of the year would be challenging but not overly so.
"Already killed by Uborio; now it’s Resistance Army territory."
The second leader responded.
"Good, we’ll head to Drifting City to rendezvous with Uborio and start pushing Aran’s front lines back from there."
Fen grabbed a portable map, made his marks, and placed it into his briefcase.
Wolman’s concerns were known to Fen as well.
Under Lostra’s direction, Black Sail played the role of Black Gloves, fully responsible for logistics and materials. The first installment of three thousand Golden Dragon in deposit had already been received.
Just need to hold out till the end of the year; the remaining payment from Lostra would be enough to sustain Black Sail.
As for splitting railway interests with the Seventh Amendment and eroding Mulong’s sovereignty, that was a huge piece of meat. But given its associated risks, it was pending further consideration.
The four from Black Sail were preparing to leave.
Chuan Che didn’t quite like such gatherings, detested troublesome matters, preferring to fight it out. He had already walked to the door and was waiting there.
Fen also packed up his things.
"Anything we can help you with? What do you want?"
The second leader posed a somewhat heavy question, clearly with additional implications.
How could Fen not get it? He didn’t beat around the bush.
Simply replied, "It’s too early to say." Seeing the second leader’s persistence, he had to add a few more words: "Rewards based on merit."
Saying this, Fen pushed the door open and left.
Wolman noticed the gloomy look in the second leader’s eyes—okay, let Glasses be the bad guy. As for me, uncle, I’m the righteous warrior.
The four returned to Black Sail’s temporary camp outside the city but didn’t see any trace of Liszt. It was getting dark, so they’d better set off early the next morning and wait for his decision.
"How did the talks go?"
Shadi, detained by Chiyoda, was quite displeased, but there was no choice. This woman had helped him; the old ailments in his veins and meridians had healed, making him even stronger than at his peak.
"I can only say, the Battle of the Twin Cities."
Wolman replied, which was about right. With the railway almost reaching Kelor Highlands, it was indeed urgent, with both sides having clear objectives—our side aiming for Drifting City, the enemy for Black Rock City.
"Don’t force it! Hey!"
Chuan Che was speechless.
"Then Twin Towers Strike."
"Say another one! Must be battle-related."
Chuan Che refused to be outdone,
Even Shadi was impressed. Sub-dragon’s rebirth of solo leveling in the Great Wetland.
"About the remaining payment, have you talked to Liszt yet?"
Fen wanted to confirm with Celeste about the remaining payment, which was actually Fafna’s child support. If it was less than the Great Train Robbery, that wouldn’t do. It would be best if he could reinvest the money.
"Weren’t you acting all high and mighty just now?"
Celeste was somewhat overawed by his earlier assertiveness and replied in kind, "Rewards based on merit."
Fen didn’t mind, as long as Fafna was held hostage at Heaven Port. With communication issues resolved, any force attempting to meddle in the East Sea could be immediately countered.