86: Military City, Seven Kingdoms (4000 words)

The next day, an envoy from Military City arrived, bringing an agreement.

The envoy's attitude was much more respectful, even carrying a hint of awe.

Agreement content:

Brian's robot legion officially takes over the fortress defense;

Military City retains its forces but must obey Brian's command;

The 100,000-strong army in the rear will withdraw but remain on standby to respond to a possible Orc counterattack.

"Now, we are allies," the envoy said as he handed over the agreement, his tone no longer carrying the previous disdain.

Brian signed, and Spirit Eye chuckled to the side: "Master, next time, let's play something more exciting? Like directly blowing up the Orcs' homeland with a million small magic missiles?"

Upon hearing this, the envoy broke out in a cold sweat!

It was like someone asking you, 'Are you moved?'

'I dare not move! I dare not move!'

After signing the agreement, the envoy from Military City quickly fled Brian's outpost city as if his life depended on it.

Brian and Spirit Eye also returned to the Mage Tower's war room.

"Spirit Eye, execute the next step of the plan!"

"Master, do you want to personally demonstrate a spell? Or directly provide aid for healing and defensive fortifications?"

Brian pondered for a moment:

"I won't show myself; there's no need. The strategic objectives have been achieved. You just need to arrange for the intelligent robots to drive the city builders to assist them in constructing defensive fortifications."

"No problem, Master!"

Brian gently tapped Spirit Eye's small head: "Speak properly, don't imitate Vera's initial way of speaking!"

At this moment, Vera, standing nearby, indignantly said: "That's right! Spirit Eye, you're bad! I don't speak like that anymore!" As she spoke, she flew to Brian's side and tugged on his sleeve.

"Master, Spirit Eye is bullying me!" She flew to Brian's shoulder, pouting and looking pitiful, accusing Spirit Eye.

"Spirit Eye, don't bully Vera anymore! Be good!" Both were dear to him, so he could only coax Spirit Eye in a tone used for children.

"Alright, alright! I was just joking!" Spirit Eye said with a hint of grievance.

"Hey, Spirit Eye, it's not your fault! Come on, smile!" What could Brian do? Coax her!

"That's right, Sister Spirit Eye, I don't blame you!" Vera also chimed in, indicating that everything was fine.

"Really? That's good! Hehe!"

Spirit Eye's emotions came and went quickly, and she soon returned to her cheerful expression.

"Spirit Eye, go make the arrangements. Tomorrow, let them see what 'efficiency' means."

Seeing that it was getting late, Brian returned to the lounge.

The next morning.

When the intelligent robots arrived at Blizzard Fortress with the city builders.

This steel behemoth, 12 meters long and 8 meters wide, stood at the fortress construction site.

Runes on its surface glowed with an ethereal blue light under the stimulation of magic, and the four corner thrusters were surrounded by flowing magical halos, granting it powerful flight capabilities.

Inside the Mage Tower, Brian looked at the city builder on the projection and gave the command: "Begin construction!"

...After 2 days of construction, the fortress's transformation left everyone dumbfounded.

A new moat was added: 20 meters wide and 10 meters deep, with an anti-freezing barrier injected into the water to ensure it wouldn't freeze in extreme cold.

City walls: increased from 30 meters high and 5 meters wide to 100 meters high and 30 meters wide; wall hardness could resist level 4 attacks; a level 4 defensive barrier; built-in arrow towers and magic cannon towers were neatly arranged, with intervals of 20 meters for arrow towers and 100 meters for cannon towers.

Magic cannon platforms: Level 4, allowing them to accurately strike targets up to 5 kilometers away.

Inner fortress:

Dragon Crystal Cannon platform: 1 position, elevated to 200 meters, allowing it to accurately strike targets up to 20 kilometers away. A level 4 energy shield generator formed a transparent protective cover around the platform.

Command Center: Located at the core of the fortress, below the Dragon Crystal Cannon platform, with transparent observation windows to view the internal structure in real time, ensuring accurate command decisions.

"This... this is simply a miracle!" the general of Military City murmured, his eyes filled with awe.

With the completion of the fortress construction, Brian also began his journey to gain prestige.

He no longer planned to help build Military City; there was no need.

He walked through various hospitals in Military City, using healing spells to treat injured soldiers in batches.

In the First Hospital of Military City, the wounded lay on beds, their faces pale.

Their wounds were either torn by Orc claws or burned by magic, and their painful expressions evoked pity.

Brian walked into the hospital, his mage robe gently fluttering in the wind.

With a thought, a warm light surged from his palm, like a golden stream, slowly flowing towards the wounds of the injured.

"Light of Healing!" Brian whispered.

Wherever the light touched, the wounds of the injured healed at a visible speed, and the pain disappeared with it.

A soldier's leg was bitten by an Orc; the originally bloody wound, under the light's illumination, gradually grew new skin, and the muscles reconnected.

"Is this... is this magic?" a nurse exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Yes, this is a healing spell," Brian replied with a smile, "I hope you all recover soon."

The wounded sat up from their beds, their eyes filled with gratitude.

They knew that this mage had not only built the fortress but also healed them with his magic.

Brian then proceeded to the central hospital, where seriously wounded soldiers were concentrated.

Most of the injured here were veterans from long-term combat; their wounds were infected and required more complex treatment.

Brian walked into the hospital, and his healing spells became even more refined.

He no longer simply healed wounds but delved into the cellular level, repairing damaged tissues.

"Cellular Regeneration!" Brian whispered.

A softer light surged from his palm, like a spring breeze sweeping across the land, bringing new vitality to the wounds of the injured.

An old soldier's arm was corroded by Orc venom; the originally necrotic tissue gradually regained vitality under the light's illumination.

"This... this is simply a miracle!" a doctor exclaimed excitedly.

Brian smiled and shook his head: "It's not a miracle, it's magic!"

As Brian treated patients in Military City's hospitals, his reputation rapidly soared.

Soldiers from both cities expressed their gratitude to him, and some even proposed erecting a statue in his honor.

"Archmage Brian, you are our great benefactor!" The general of Military City personally came to the fortress to thank him.

"You're welcome, I merely did what I should," Brian replied with a smile.

At this point, Brian had essentially completed the first phase of his plan.

Brian was in the Mage Tower's war room, looking at the detailed information of the second phase plan on the projection.

Phase Two: Key Node Control (Days 31-60)

Fortress Occupation Strategy

Adopt a "gradual takeover" model, first controlling outer defensive fortifications, gradually replacing garrisons, and avoiding sudden conflicts.

The robot legion will be divided into multiple small teams, each responsible for controlling defensive fortifications in one area, ensuring that no large-scale battles are triggered during the takeover process.

This part will be commanded by Spirit Eye.

Military City Management

Retain the original command system, only replacing key personnel, to maintain basic operations without interruption.

The robot legion will dispatch a small number of personnel to serve as guards and logistics support in Military City, ensuring its normal operation.

Brian will serve in an 'advisor' role for Military City, providing tactical advice and magical support to the Human Allied Forces, while avoiding direct involvement in decision-making.

---

Due to Brian's sudden actions, the fortress part of the second phase was also completed, while the Military City part had not yet begun.

However, as Brian's reputation grew, signs of this part were already appearing.

Moreover, only a little over 30 days had passed, so there was no rush.

Their suggestion was the best choice; if Brian proposed it himself, it would seem too deliberate.

Subsequently, Brian frequently moved around Military City, solving minor problems for soldiers, earning gratitude and admiration.

Spirit Eye, on the other hand, commanded the robot legion to maintain the outer defensive fortifications, and their efficient and precise work amazed the soldiers and earned the robots recognition.

Military City Command Center conference room.

Around the oval conference table sat 7 people, each representing one of the 7 Great Kingdoms of the Dawn Continent.

Seated at the head was Adrian, the Joint Army Commander, a general from the strongest kingdom on the Dawn Continent, the Tivala Kingdom, who oversaw Military City and Blizzard Fortress.

To his left sat Ores, a general from the Houston Kingdom, Deputy Commander of the legion and Commander of Military City.

Second from the left: Franco, a general from the Taji Kingdom, Deputy Commander of the legion and Commander of Blizzard Fortress.

Third from the left: Clemence, a general from the Aurora Kingdom, a legion general, and Chief of Logistics.

To his right sat Desai, a general from the Feiori Kingdom, a legion general, and Chief of Intelligence.

Second from the right: Medivh, a general from the Valen Kingdom, a legion general, and Deputy Chief of Intelligence.

Third from the right: Charlet, a general from the Cody Kingdom, a legion general, and Deputy Chief of Logistics.

This meeting was held to discuss matters related to Brian.

"Everyone, let's discuss! How should we handle this Mage Brian?" Adrian spoke first, introducing the topic.

"Our Cody Kingdom always follows the commander's decisions," Charlet clearly stated his stance, then clasped his hands and said with sharp eyes,

"However, I have doubts about Mage Brian's sudden appearance and his powerful abilities. After all, his rapid display of powerful magic and military capabilities inevitably raises suspicions."

The Cody Kingdom was right next to the Tivala Kingdom; since its inception, this nation had always relied on the Tivala Kingdom for its livelihood.

This person had no independent stance, but his words indirectly showed that his friendliness towards Brian was not high.

Ores nodded: "His contributions are undeniable, but his origins are unknown. However, the sturdy walls of the fortress and the rapid recovery of the wounded prove that he is indeed a key force in our fight against the Orcs."

He was a general from the Houston Kingdom and was relatively supportive of Brian.

Perhaps because his kingdom was located in the northern part of the Dawn Continent.

However, he also maintained a certain degree of vigilance towards Brian.

This was a pragmatic general.

Franco slammed his hand on the table: "I guarantee it in the name of the Taji Kingdom! The fortress he built is as solid as a rock, and his healing spells have given countless dying soldiers a new lease on life. If he hadn't appeared in time during the last battle, we would have lost at least thirty percent of our forces!"

This person fully supported Brian, even going so far as to vouch for him in the name of his own kingdom.

Perhaps because his country was also a northern kingdom, and he harbored extreme hatred for the Orcs.

Brian's appearance made him see the dawn of the Orcs' demise.

His favorability towards Brian was extremely high.

"We need to balance trust and vigilance. Brian's performance is commendable, but we also need to have contingency plans. General Desai, do you have any new intelligence on him?"

Adrian's gaze swept over everyone as he spoke calmly.

Desai pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses: "His background is mysterious, and his strength is powerful; he doesn't seem to be manipulated by any hidden power. We are currently investigating, just in case he uses us to achieve ulterior motives."

His Feiori Kingdom was located in the central-western part of the Dawn Continent.

Due to the rigorous nature of the intelligence department, in the absence of conclusive evidence, they maintained vigilance and relied solely on intelligence.

His attitude towards Brian was neutral and suspicious.

"I feel like he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, friendly on the surface but potentially harboring sinister intentions. We must find conclusive evidence, otherwise, there will be endless troubles," Medivh said, his brows furrowed.

The Valen Kingdom was located in the southern part of the Dawn Continent.

Due to the professional nature of intelligence work, Brian's sudden appearance made him feel very dangerous.

His attitude towards Brian was extremely suspicious.

Clemence stroked his chin: "From a logistics perspective, he saved resources and manpower. But we must be wary of him making unreasonable demands, as logistics is the lifeline of the army."

His Aurora Kingdom was located in the northern part of the Dawn Continent.

He indicated that he could trust him to a certain extent, but unreasonable demands must be refused.

His favorability towards Brian was relatively high.

"Continue cooperation, but strengthen observation. Ensure that interests are not harmed, and always be prepared to respond to emergencies," Adrian concluded.

Franco suddenly interjected: "Commander, Mage Brian's prestige in the city is growing day by day. If left unaddressed, problems are likely to arise."

"Then what do you suggest?" Ores asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Grant him an honorary title, but limit his real power. Let him serve as a military advisor, with core decisions still controlled by us," Franco said firmly.

"I think this suggestion is good," Charlet nodded in agreement, "We must neither discourage him nor give him too much power. After all, if they are not of our race, their hearts must be different."

"But wouldn't excessive restrictions make him feel that we don't trust him, thereby affecting his willingness to continue working for us?" Clemence worried.

"That depends on how we talk to him," Adrian, who had been listening quietly to everyone's discussion, finally spoke.

"We can affirm his contributions, show him respect and reward, and at the same time explain the decision-making mechanism of Military City, letting him understand our concerns. After all, our goals are consistent; we are all fighting against the Orcs."

"The commander is right," Medivh, though still having doubts, no longer objected, "Then let the commander talk to him."

"Good, I will speak with him personally," Adrian stood up and said, "If anyone else has other ideas, feel free to bring them up at any time."

...All of this,

Brian was unaware of it.

Even if he knew, he wouldn't care!

It was only reasonable for some to be suspicious!