Chapter 772  : Alliance Battlefront and Resupplying

imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu

After a battle began, oftentimes it would be a competition between who made more preparations. Those who immediately fought without preparations would almost always die rather pitifully.

This alliance battle was obviously no rushed battle.

Several countries were working together, and had established a unified command center. The command center also oversaw two major battles in east and west that simultaneously kept the enemy forces busy. Auland’s fleet then acted as protection to allow the Mage Country’s main forces to land here.

The humans’ most desired final combat situation was basically a pincer attack that gradually forced back the enemy and broke through Asolivis to eliminate those damned Dimensional Doors.

Such a major undertaking involving several countries and species wouldn’t possibly be decided over a few teatime chats at Bardi. Even one month’s worth of preparation would be insufficient. I figured that they had been preparing for over a year.

Asolivis was like a cancerous tumor growing in Bardi. This place would always remain as a major threat unless it was completely eliminated.

And now, Bardi was prepared to pay any cost to completely eliminate this constantly bleeding tumor.

The beginning of the preparations for this actually started back with the previous Bardi emperor.

Back in the day, Orloss Milan had furiously expanded without regards to cost. Everyone thought that he had lost his sense of reason due to ambition, or that he had gone completely crazy.

Normally, expanding a large country should have been about conquering a new territory and absorbing it slowly, integrating the territory through immigration, cultural teachings, and religious teachings to completely eliminate traces of the old conquered country. The conquered territory would then completely become a part of the empire after just one or two generations.

However, during Orloss’s rule, he conquered other small countries every single year. After 30 years of his rule, he multiplied Bardi’s territory several times over.

Maybe this seemed incredible, but those who truly understood politics and history were all waiting for him to get into a disaster. They all knew that biting off more than one could chew was disastrous.

Actually, Orloss was already being called the “Foolish King” even back then.

But now, looking back on things, the truly foolish ones were the “wise individuals” who were the first to give him such a nickname.

“Orloss was doing it for the sake of saving Bardi rather than expansion.”

Back then, the undead had already started infesting the gigantic Bardi Empire. The undead leader was Undead Emperor Aso, who was incredibly difficult to deal with. Orloss had no power at all to directly overturn the situation, especially since Aso also had control over Orloss’s life.

Thus, Orloss secretly supported the Southern Sect, which was an enemy of the undead. Orloss also secretly obtained the Crown of Thorns, which was the Mist Kingdom’s God Equipment which bestowed immortality upon him for as long as he wore it. This helped to break him free from Aso’s threat of being able to kill him at any time. Orloss also “unwisely” expanded his border expansion warfare all the way to the Mage Country’s border.

Only by looking back now would one realize just how much thought he had put into things.

He knew that only the Truth Symposium mages would be able to directly fight against the undead and Undead Emperors. However, the mages were famed for not caring about others’ affairs.

“Okay, you all love not to get involved in others’ mundane matters? I’ll toss the trouble right at your doorstep and see if you care or not.”

Orloss’s influence was also responsible for the undead choosing Port Victoria as their home base originally. The sly old scorpion emperor pretended to be a loyal undead follower who idolized Undead Emperor Aso. He did everything that Aso told him to and acted as a “loyal” human traitor for 30 years, yet he had always been waiting for the perfect opportNew problems would easily arise since the captains were relying on old experience.

The Auland fleet now had approximately 40% of its ammunition remaining. They could still fight a normal battle, but if they needed to provide a large amount of covering fire for the mages to land, that would likely cause the Auland fleet to use up all their remaining ammunition after just half a day and be reduced to nothing but spectators.

Luckily, this problem didn’t occur in the midst of battle, so there wasn’t a heavy price to pay. This problem could still be fixed.

“…The prerequisite is that resupplying happens fast enough.”

If Auland sent supplies via the sea route, that would take more than a month. However, flying here directly on an airship would only take about two and a half days.

However, the shortest air route here would pass right next to Asolivis, which would be suicide.

While it was possible to take a slightly longer air route, that would miss the planned date three days later when the Mage Country’s forces would make their major landing, and set back the entire combat plan.

The eastern battlefront had already began their attack in order to occupy the undead’s forces on both sides. If the western battlefront failed to live up to their promise, the pincer attack would become suicide, which was an unacceptable result.

The command center thus decided that the ammunition resupplying had to be forcibly completed, no matter the cost.

Unfortunately, this unlucky mission was given right to me.

“You want me to go with the supply airship and protect it? Are you certain?”

“…I think that you guys should reconsider. Having this jinxing man of misfortune go with any airship will probably cause that airship to go straight to Hell.”

Although Harloys’ words were rather unnecessary, I didn’t say anything at all, which was a tacit admittance of my own luck.

Yet, the command center kept insisting, while I kept refusing since I was the Mist Alliance’s highest-ranking leader in name. Finally, the command center’s messenger told me the truth.

“Actually, there’s two airships that are rushing over. One’s taking a really direct route, but has very few personnel and supplies. Meanwhile, the other airship will arrive slightly later as it goes around the mountains…”

“Paha, you’re basically just bait!”

I really missed Harloys’ cat form right now. It would have been quite fun to pick her up by the neck and viciously shake her before throwing her away.

Anyways, everyone knew what this plan really was. I was going to be bait by going to receive the airship on the direct route, which would attract the enemies’ firepower and attention, so that the real supply airship could come through unimpeded.

“Who came up with such a strategy? This is really making the best of what we have. A jinxer can even be used in such a way? What a great idea!”

I really wanted even more to throw away Harloys, who was giving a big thumbs up. Still, I also wanted to hear the answer. Yep, I definitely wasn’t going to record that person on my list of grudges. I was simply curious who understood me so well. I also wanted to toss that person into the ocean so that they could practice some swimming. As for revenge? Would I really be so petty?

[Yes.]

I ignored my System who was doing her best to make her presence known. I then heard the answer that I wanted.

“…Actually, the person who came up with this strategy is Her Highness Reyne from your Mist Alliance.”

Fine, that little brat was making trouble for her father again… or maybe I should say grandfather?