374: Chapter 362 Lake is making preparations in full swing; the commander of the elven army

After Brando hurriedly left the Allied camp, he did not immediately rush back to Lagu to handle urgent matters as he had claimed. Instead, he hid in a forest just outside the eastern border of Lake.

As a Magister, he no longer relied on food to sustain his life. He stood silently in the woods for a long time without eating or drinking, finally waiting for the Allied forces to retreat in a pathetic state.

The remaining defeated army of over three hundred thousand fled across the border in panic, disappearing behind the distant mountains and forests without daring to slow their pace for a moment.

Brando sighed softly.

Although he had foreseen this scene, witnessing it with his own eyes was a different kind of shock.

"Ice and Snow..." Brando murmured, gazing at the horizon.

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and flew back to the Lagu Royal Capital to meet the King, recounting everything he had seen and heard after entering Lake territory.

The King asked him, "What do you think my choice should be?"

"The King's will is the direction of my path."

The King lowered his head in silence for a very long time.

The sunlight falling on the floor through the door was replaced by moonlight. The magic lamps on both sides of the desk lit up with a dim yellow glow, reflecting on the King's forehead and eyes, making the lower half of his face appear even more gloomy.

Finally, the King slowly raised his head, his face fully exposed in the lamplight.

His brown pupils seemed like a stirred water surface, rippling with waves. For a moment, a trace of icy blue vaguely emerged.

"Go and do it."

Brando's clenched fists relaxed, and a look of unprecedented relief appeared on his face: "By your command, Your Majesty."

Straightening his back, he walked out of the palace, briefly oriented himself, and then soared into the sky.

...

By a wide river, the Elf Army was resting and regrouping.

Aside from the Elf warriors on sentry duty, the other Elves were scattered; some went to the river to replenish their water supply, while others sat down to rest on the spot.

Logically, as Professionals, merely traveling shouldn't have made them so weary, but the legion commander had pushed them so hard that they had been sprinting with all their might the entire way.

On the outskirts of the army, Frederica, with her emerald-green hair, stood on the grass, slightly tilting her head to gaze at the horizon in the direction of Lake.

"Princess Frederica, what are you looking at?" An elderly Elf elder with an elegant gait approached.

"It's nothing," she shook her head and turned around with a smile.

The Elf elder clearly didn't believe her: "Since returning from your travels across the continent, you seem to have many more things on your mind, and your personality has changed a lot."

"Elves always change; didn't Mother say so?"

"Now you choose to believe your mother's teachings." The Elf elder held his hands behind his back, his expression somewhat helpless. "Perhaps I should... hmm?"

Mid-sentence, he suddenly looked toward the distant sky where only clouds were visible.

Frederica grew tense: "What is it, Teacher?"

"Someone is coming."

Someone who could catch her teacher's attention...

Her expression turned solemn: "Saint-level?"

"No, just a Magister."

"Just passing by?"

"The target should be us."

Frederica didn't ask why the mysteriously appearing Magister was looking for them, because he had already arrived.

A figure burst out from the clouds and quickly landed in front of the two.

Looking at the man who landed, the Elf elder's kind attitude toward Frederica vanished, replaced by a cold expression: "I will give you only one sentence's worth of time."

"I am Brando." He first bowed, showing respect to a Saint-level, and then said, "The Lagu Kingdom requests that you all return to the Forest of Spirits."

"Lagu?" The Elf elder's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You think you can stop the Elves' footsteps?"

"The Lagu Kingdom is naturally powerless to make an enemy of the entire Elf Clan, but we can still manage to pay a sufficient price to eliminate an Elf Army with only one Saint-level."

The Elf elder looked at Brando calmly, his mage robes fluttering despite the lack of wind.

"Wait, Teacher." Frederica stopped the Elf elder who was about to lose his temper.

She suspected that Brando's purpose was not what she had thought.

Lagu and Lake were mortal enemies; Frederica, who had traveled through both countries, knew this very well.

Therefore, Lagu had a motive to prevent her from rescuing Lake.

But the problem was...

Frederica felt doubtful; she had never publicized that she was going to rescue Lake.

In fact, based on surface analysis, after the deity handed down the divine oracle, the Elf Army immediately set out aggressively. To any observer, it would seem they were going to destroy Lake to show their loyalty to the deity.

Unless... Lagu somehow knew about her relationship with Zhang Mu.

Frederica pondered for a moment and chose to test him first: "To ensure you defeat us, Lagu would need to send at least three Saint-levels. As far as I know, your country only has three Saint-levels in total. If you send them all out... aren't you worried about a sneak attack from Lake?"

In all Kingdoms and empires on the Saul Continent, they would ensure that at least one top-tier Professional stayed in the capital, otherwise there was a risk of their home being taken at any time.

Even if two countries had no old grudges, a neighbor might act out of greed for territory, let alone the fact that Lagu and Lake were mortal enemies.

Lake was currently being besieged by neighboring countries and seemed unable to launch a long-distance raid, but that was only on the surface.

A Lake that was already at its end, if it learned that all of Lagu's Saint-levels had left the country, might decisively abandon its domestic defenses. All its Saint-levels would set out to attack Lagu, seeking to take their enemy down with them before they died.

Brando bowed again to Frederica, who was an Elf Princess: "Lagu has its own considerations. In any case, please do not underestimate Lagu's determination."

The Elf elder was puzzled. What madness had gripped Lagu?

If all the Saint-levels came out, weren't they afraid of returning to find their royal family had been completely uprooted?

Frederica, however, had figured something out and asked, "What is the status of the battle in Lake?"

Brando spoke candidly: "The Allied forces besieging Lake have been utterly defeated, and all their Saint-levels have fled. As for Lake's losses... I believe they are zero."

In his view, with all Saint-levels surviving and not even one seriously injured, what else could it be but zero losses?

Internal strife in Lake had resulted in the death of several Saint-levels, including the King, and their strength was severely depleted. Although their princess had inherited Ice and Snow, it would take a long time for potential to be converted into power.

Given Lake's current overall situation, they should have been retreating step by step, eventually losing all territory with the royal family fleeing into exile.

But now the result was completely the opposite. The only variable that could cause this was...

Frederica's beautiful eyes lit up with spirit: "It's Zhang Mu, isn't it?"

Brando was not surprised that she knew this name; at this moment, there was no one on the Saul Continent who didn't know it.

He nodded slightly: "One can only say he truly lives up to being... Distinguished Elves, perhaps you think I am exaggerating, but please believe me: if you insist on going to war with Lake, your final end will be no better than that of the Allied forces."

When he said this, the Elf elder also caught the drift.

So Lagu was doing this to help Lake deal with a "formidable enemy" like the Elves?

But aren't you mortal enemies?

He wanted to ask, but was stopped by Frederica's look.

Brando caught the exchange but didn't know what they were planning. Frederica didn't explain either, instead asking out of the blue: "I heard... that Zhang Mu and the princess of Lake who inherited Ice and Snow are... lovers?"

Brando's eyes were a bit blank. Why was this Elf Princess... interested in someone else's privacy?

Are these things important?

He actually wanted to answer, but this question touched upon a blind spot in his knowledge. Thinking it wouldn't be good to just make something up, he pondered carefully and said slowly: "Rumor has it that when the deity descended upon the Lake Royal Capital, Zhang Mu and Princess Avril walked out of the Magic Tower hand in hand. As for the specific relationship between the two, uh, I'm sorry, I can't say for sure."

Avril... what a lovely name.

A smile appeared on Frederica's face as she turned to walk toward the river where the warriors were resting: "Teacher, let's go home."

Confusion rose in Brando's heart. Why so suddenly... forget it, as long as the goal is achieved, nothing else matters.

After all, he was facing a Saint-level, an existence that could crush him with a single finger. Since he had gotten his wish, he shouldn't run his mouth.

Originally, he had prepared himself for death. Now that he didn't have to die, it was naturally for the best.

Brando did not leave immediately. He stood there watching the Elf Army set out, moving further and further away along the path they came, until they completely disappeared from his sight before he started his journey home.

On the Elf Army's side, the elder and Frederica rode horses side by side at the front.

"Princess, do you... really not need to go?"

"Knowing he is still alive is enough." Frederica pulled the reins, gazing at the beautiful scenery ahead. "I believe if he truly couldn't hold on, he would run away."

The Elf elder was silent for a moment, then said: "After you go back, you will... you should at least see him once to express your..."

Frederica turned to look at him and asked with a smile: "Teacher, he never promised me anything. As for my feelings... that is my own business and has nothing to do with him. Hmm... haha, although the person in question is indeed him."

The Elf elder sighed: "You are an adult now and have your own choices. I am just reminding you that if you miss this time, you may never see each other again. That guy... won't even know there was a girl who loved him and sacrificed so much for him."

"Teacher," Frederica's tone was slightly displeased.

"What is it?"

"Don't call him 'that guy'!"

"Fine, fine, Zhang Mu, Mr. Zhang Mu, is that better?"

"Yes."

...

Lake Royal Capital.

The Royal Palace.

"What? They went back the way they came?!"

Zhang Mu pushed aside the documents piled higher than himself on the desk and looked in astonishment at Domit, who had rushed to the palace: "Why?"

"Why... I'm not sure either," Domit looked very innocent.

Zhang Mu almost scratched his scalp raw.

After the Allied forces retreated, he had been busy with affairs like building factories. In his busy schedule, he hadn't forgotten the Elf Army that was raiding from a long distance and had instructed Domit to send out several Griffin Knights to search for their location.

As soon as it was confirmed, Zhang Mu would immediately set out and drop a few nuclear bombs on the Elf Army's heads.

Now that the location was found, the nuclear bombs didn't need to be dropped.

"It really is strange." Zhang Mu picked up a porcelain cup and gulped down the contents. "The resources spent by an elite army to travel all the way to Lake—even Elves couldn't say they could easily bear that, right? They're almost here, and they suddenly turn around and go home? Are they playing a joke?"

"Not having to deal with a formidable enemy is a good thing regardless." Domit didn't dwell on the reason.

"A good thing is indeed a good thing... No, I always feel something isn't right." Zhang Mu suddenly stood up. "I'll take over the matter of the Elf Army. You go to Keton City to oversee the construction. Oh, and hurry up with the recruitment too."

"Yes!" Once the factory was completed and operational, it would be time to counterattack the Allied countries. Domit knew the importance and immediately set off for Keton City.

As soon as he turned left out the door and disappeared, Zhang Mu instructed the little maid to tell Avril that he had some business to attend to and then left the palace, flying through the air toward the Elf Army.

"Seventeen has started construction. This afternoon I plan to go back to the Blue Planet to resolve the Russian assessment. Hmm... I'll go see what the Elves are up to first, then return."

After muttering to himself, Zhang Mu accelerated.

...

As the site for Lake's first batch of schools and its first industrialized city, Keton City bore a heavy responsibility and was the focus of Lake's high-level officials.

For the sake of convenience, Farmer recruitment was also being piloted here.

The City Lord of Keton City was personally scouted and appointed by Zhang Mu; his work ability went without saying.

The moment the document was issued, the City Lord, who was busy settling the citizens who had migrated from elsewhere, immediately cleared the furniture from the assembly hall and replaced it with rows of neat benches. He then sent his personal guards to nearby villages to promote the "Meeting for Free Eggs."

Of course, eggs were just a figure of speech. It was unknown if there were chickens on the Saul Continent, but chickens had certainly not been seen as poultry in Lake, so the notice read "a bag of wheat."

In war, generally no one targeted Farmers. The Farmers in the nearby villages were basically unaffected by the war and remained in their villages to a man.

However, many of their fields had been trampled by the passing armies. They were worrying about where to find food for the second half of the year when Soldiers with notices entered the village saying "you can get wheat by attending a meeting at the Keton City assembly hall." How could they refuse?

They didn't actually understand what a "meeting" was; the Soldiers told them it was just listening to someone speak.

What's so hard about that? Let's go, let's go!

The Farmers spread the news and brought their families to Keton City.

The wheat distribution was calculated by head count—one bag per person. For this reason, the village chief took charge and even had the elderly who were too frail to walk pulled there in carts.

With multiple factors overlapping, the promotion effect was surprisingly good.

Although the villages were some distance from Keton City, on the afternoon the news spread, Farmers began entering the city in village units.

They had no stored grain at home and could only pluck wild grass along the way to satisfy their hunger. When they hurriedly arrived at Keton City, they were pale and their legs were shaking. Once they found a wall to lean against and sit down, they couldn't stand up again.

Until the City Lord sent people to announce that free bread was being distributed outside the assembly hall, power was reinjected into their bodies. They climbed up one after another, supporting each other to get the bread.

Time passed slowly but irresistibly, and more and more Farmers entered the city.

The City Lord heard from them that some Farmers from far away had starved to death halfway, so he immediately mobilized the garrison to pick people up.

Under such efforts, in just three days, the area outside the assembly hall was crowded with emaciated Farmers.

The City Lord didn't plan to let them into the assembly hall to rest, but there were too many people to fit inside, so he had to set up rain shelters in the street in front of the door.

The Farmers had no complaints about sleeping on the streets; instead, they were very satisfied.

Because there was free bread and vegetable soup every day, and it was three meals a day!

You should know that in recent months they only ate one meal a day, and even then, they didn't know where their next meal was coming from.

As for the quality of the food, it could only barely be guaranteed not to kill anyone.

Another five days passed. The legion searching outside returned to Keton City to report that no more Farmers could be seen in the wild. The City Lord then ordered the recruitment speech to begin.