378: Altria kneels down

Upon receiving the news, Yang Dian didn't rush to answer Artoria's call. Instead, he first had Ya Zi organize intelligence from England, then pondered the Cultivate method of the Blind Nuns.

"Interfering with one's own will, feeling that one needs to be strong, and thus becoming strong?"

"While it's somewhat idealistic, it's not entirely unacceptable."

"Reality proves that the power of the mind is truly effective."

"But what's the meaning of covering one's eyes?"

After searching the database and confirming that he couldn't find the Cultivate method of the Blind Sisters Order, Yang Dian tapped his wristband:

"Ya Zi, deploy nano-electronic insects to monitor the Blind Sisters Order and find their Cultivate method."

As he finished speaking, Yang Dian thought of something else:

"Not just the Blind Sisters Order."

"Monitor all transcendent organizations and transcendent life forms on Earth, and acquire all their transcendent data."

As Yang Dian's voice faded, Ya Zi's projection appeared beside him:

"Commander, as early as when the nano-electronic insects were mass-produced, the Think Tank had already issued this mission."

"The reason the mission is incomplete is that the nano-electronic insects cannot approach within 30 meters of the Blind Nuns while in monitoring mode."

"Once the monitoring System is activated within 30 meters of a Blind Nun, the Blind Sisters Order will immediately sense the presence of the nano-electronic insects and then destroy them through some transcendent means."

"The nano-electronic insects we dispatched are unable to approach the core areas of the Blind Sisters Order to obtain their Cultivate method."

Yang Dian frowned.

"How many other transcendent Cultivate groups possess the same ability as the Blind Nuns, making them immune to nano-electronic insect monitoring?"

"There are six Cultivate groups that can sense the presence of nano-electronic insects."

"They are the Blind Nuns of France who Cultivate self-will, the Witches of England who research mysticism, the Psychics headquartered in Russia who claim to communicate with spirits, the Hermits of Egypt who Cultivate Gnostic meditation, the Knights of the Papacy, and the Martial Artists of our country."

"What about India?" Yang Dian asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Don't they also have Ancient Cultivator? Can their Ancient Cultivator not sense the nano-electronic insects?"

"No, they cannot," Ya Zi replied truthfully:

"The Ascetics of India improve their strength through self-mutilation. While their strength increases, it also makes them relatively dull to external sensations, commonly known as being slow to react, thus preventing them from sensing the nano-electronic insects."

India was still the same as before, with grand boasts but a 0-5 record in actual combat.

Not only could they not fight, but their theories couldn't keep up either.

After a moment of thought, Yang Dian temporarily gave up on obtaining the Cultivate method of the Blind Sisters Order.

Whether he got the Cultivate method of the Blind Sisters Order or not, it didn't matter; it was just a minor detail.

A Cultivate method that involved hypnotizing oneself with will to improve strength wasn't something he couldn't research if he put his mind to it.

"Then let's ignore the Blind Sisters Order for now. Has the intelligence from England been organized yet?"

"It has been organized."

Ya Zi answered, then projected the intelligence from England in front of Yang Dian.

After reviewing the relevant intelligence from England, Yang Dian had a guess as to why Artoria was looking for him.

One could only say that she was truly worthy of being a protagonist in a female-oriented novel.

After the Machina crisis erupted, Artoria did not hide in a bunker like most of the English nobility. Instead, she led a group of people willing to follow her in a desperate struggle against the Machina.

During this time, she destroyed countless Machina and saved countless people.

The problem was saving countless people.

She established a massive resistance base centered in London, with approximately 6 million survivors.

The daily material needs of so many people were enormous.

Now, with communication channels to the outside world cut off by the Machina, supplies could not enter London, and the resistance base's resources were becoming critical.

Artoria also had a benevolent mindset, wanting everyone to be well-fed.

According to the supercomputer's projection, if food wasn't rationed properly, fresh food in the resistance center would be depleted in an estimated 3 days, and all food would be exhausted in 27 days.

At that point, to avoid death, people would resort to cannibalism.

So, she had come to ask for help?

After a moment of reflection, Yang Dian turned to Ya Zi:

"Connect me to Artoria."

Ya Zi nodded.

A moment later, Artoria, with slightly disheveled hair and smoke-stained armor, appeared before Yang Dian.

Their eyes met, and they stood in silence.

After observing Artoria, whose chest was heaving and breathing quickening, and hearing the faint sounds of gunfire and explosions from her side, Yang Dian was the first to speak:

"What, you called me just to see me?"

"Aren't you going to say something?"

"Or are you planning to fulfill the harsh words you spoke when you left last time, that upon seeing me again, you would make me kneel before so-and-so's grave and apologize?"

At this point, Yang Dian found it somewhat amusing:

"Speaking of which."

"Now that the Machina have rebelled, some cities have already been wiped out by their artillery."

"I wonder if so-and-so's grave was bombed."

Artoria's chest heaved rapidly once, then she suddenly lowered her head, propped her sword with her right hand, bent one knee, and half-knelt before Yang Dian:

"The people of England are under the threat of Machina artillery, and the Machina could launch their final assault at any moment."

"I implore you to send troops to support us."

Seeing her like this, Yang Dian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Undoubtedly, as the Princess of England and an Awakened of light power, Artoria was proud.

Yet, proud as she was, she could kneel before him for the sake of her people.

Even Yang Dian, who held some animosity towards her, had to admit that she was indeed a good princess.

However, admiration aside, Yang Dian could not disrupt the Expeditionary Force's plan for her kneeling:

"From a personal standpoint, I am willing to go to England to support you."

"But unfortunately, we are short-handed. If we send people to support you, then the people in other places will die under the Machina's artillery."

"Or are you suggesting we abandon the lives of others to save the lives of your English people?"

"Is your kindness merely hypocrisy, only showing goodwill towards those you care about?"

Artoria said nothing.

Instead, amidst the sounds of gunfire, Yang Dian heard the sound of water drops hitting the ground.

"Why are you crying?"

Artoria, her eyes red, looked up:

"We have truly reached a desperate situation."

"Seventy percent of the warriors who fought with me have died, the soldiers' ammunition is almost exhausted, and the food in the warehouses is empty."

"On Earth, only your Huaxia still possesses the strength to resist the Machina and can send troops to support other countries."

"Besides you, I truly have no other choice."

"If you are willing, you can certainly continue to send a large number of soldiers to help us."