An Zhu’s army is more difficult to deal with than Judith expected.
This may be because, apart from the vehicle crew she brought, the infantry responsible for advancing together are all rookies. Additionally, the terrain in the southwest is more complex, which means the tanks can only advance along fixed routes.
Moreover, An Zhu’s army is clearly more flexible compared to the Demon Clan, which can only rely on bloodline magic and the power of Demon God Offspring.
However, it is merely a bit tougher than Judith anticipated; the mobility of the armored units far exceeds that of all armies in this era. Furthermore, the units are equipped with specialized military communication devices, allowing Judith to coordinate with the armored forces effortlessly. She almost conducted a blitzkrieg-style recovery of the territory that An Zhu had occupied during the royal capital’s defense war.
Looking at the battle reports coming in through the communication device, it was Judith’s first time feeling that war was so simple. It’s no wonder the Northern Border Governor, the current temporary Prime Minister, could be so at ease using this war to train the rookies.
Of course, a major reason is also that Lind is worried the Northern Border’s soldiers would not adapt to the Southern Border, as nearly all of them are rookies except for the officers.
As for why Judith could so casually appear on the battlefield in the Southern Border, it is naturally because the so-called rule that dukes cannot leave the royal capital has become merely nominal. Although this rule was originally established to consolidate royal power and restrict the great nobles, it has now lost its necessity.
With the emergence of communication devices, information exchange has become increasingly convenient; the reach of the royal capital can extend to every corner. During the central authority’s strong period, such regulations can appear cumbersome.
On the other side, due to Lind’s strong attitude and Judith’s continual offensives, Alberto has also returned to the negotiating table.
Lind is also very sincere, with Lucanus representing Lind to negotiate with An Zhu and Alberto.
Lind’s demands are simple; there are no rigid territorial requirements. An Zhu only needs to sever ties with the Demon Clan and repatriate related personnel from the Avar Kingdom, discontinue the research on Supremacy Magic, and share the intelligence and technology unearthed from the Old Empire. They must also allow Lind’s personnel to enter the Old Empire ruins on An Zhu’s territory, and both sides can cease hostilities and share brotherly ties.
However, this is akin to chronic suicide for An Zhu. Leaving aside the sharing of Old Empire technology, severing ties with the Demon Clan and the Avar Kingdom essentially means An Zhu is voluntarily abandoning all allies. With Cape’s military equipment leading the way, An Zhu would effectively lose all bargaining chips.
If they cannot beat them with brute force, and allies are lacking, then isn’t it up to Cape to manipulate them at will?
Even though many of these conditions were actually proposed by the Tower and not Lind’s original intention, there has still been no substantial progress in the negotiations.
Lucanus is not in a hurry; instead, he takes the opportunity of the negotiations to wander leisurely through the streets of An Zhu’s royal city.
Cassius closely follows Lucanus, as no one understands Lucanus’s actions better than Cassius. If he isn’t careful, Lucanus might steal important information from An Zhu.
Although the two sides are not eternal enemies, they have been at odds for a century and are very aware of each other’s intentions.
“Indeed, it’s far more prosperous than I imagined,” Lucanus nods frequently while walking through An Zhu’s royal city streets.
“It even appears grander than Cape’s royal capital; no wonder you were so dedicated in assisting your prince back then.”
Although this is a compliment, Cassius does not take it to heart. Lucanus’s attitude makes Cassius feel worse than direct confrontation, as Lucanus’s tone seems to suggest he no longer considers Cassius a rival, instead evaluating him from a neutral standpoint.
To the silent Cassius, Lucanus says:
“Those relics from your homeland, you must be helping out, right? Aren’t you breaking the rules like this?”
Lucanus turns back, smiling, directly addressing Cassius, as if questioning, yet not too concerned.
“The world is about to plunge into chaos; adhering to the old rules is useless now.”
When he says this, Cassius’s gaze drifts elsewhere, revealing that he is not very comfortable with his position as a record-keeper yet still breaking the rules.
“Oh? Will you record these events accurately too?”
“Of course! Don’t confuse us with you lot who treat history like a game!”
Cassius does not appreciate Lucanus’s constant playful demeanor either; although his face is expressionless at times, once angered, all his emotions are clearly written on his face.
“Still, you guys wouldn’t really intend to adhere to those Tower rules, would you? Are you forgetting that the Tower ignored the Empire’s collapse? You actually want to believe those who huddle in the tower and only come out during the last moments to seize the Empire’s research achievements?”
“Lucanus, you should remember the ultimate goal of our creation: as long as we can restore the glory of the Old Empire, any Supremacy Magic, Demon Clan, or Tower, none of it matters. Everything will ultimately grovel beneath the glory of the Old Empire!”
Cassius clenches his fist with one hand, his expression excited, as if this is the most important thing to him.
“However, Cassius, you record-keepers know better than we do what crude technological transplantation will bring, right? That’s why we have tried to avoid letting our respective kings directly utilize technologies from the Old Empire era.”
Lucanus rarely shows a playful expression; instead, he speaks quite seriously to this former colleague:
“My king once told me that many technologies are opaque in their operating mechanisms and foundational logic, like a machine existing within a black box. People only know that what they put inside will come out, yet they do not understand the subtle mechanisms involved; such technologies must be used with caution.”
“Cassius, my former colleague, our birth and existence are already intertwined with technological black boxes, and you should know that the rebellion related to us utilized the same kind of technology, sparking a conflict with our kindred. My king is right; we must be cautious with such technologies. The revival of the Empire leaves no room for error; every step must be cautious.”
When Lucanus mentions the rebellion that led to the Empire’s fall, Cassius’s expression is not very pleasant. But in the end, he still snorts and simply says, “I understand this naturally; I have my own measure. The Empire fell because of our kind; thus, we have the obligation to bring the Empire back to life.”
