Chapter 1173: Shocking Project Deal and Heart-Stopping Corruption (2)

No title?

So what!

The power he possesses is enough for a prominent senator of the Marle Castle city council to personally welcome him, to clear the city’s way for him, to make all the cumbersome rules yield to him! The identity of being a Pioneer Knight now seems more like a mockery, highlighting the privileges and honors he enjoys in Marle Castle, far exceeding those of an ordinary Count, and even approaching those of an envoy of an Elector. This “attention” is forged from the iron and blood of Hesse Territory, and is the loudest slap to those parasites in the noble examination committee.

Just like Su Li once personally told Helmut, if he couldn’t pass the noble examination, the one embarrassed wouldn’t be him, but the Imperial Elector Council.

Su Li’s gaze calmly swept over the tightly closed shops on both sides of the street and the towering Parliament Building, a faint arc formed at the corner of his mouth. He had merely stirred the waters of Marle Castle last year, but this time, he intended to stir up a tempestuous wave. And all of this was just beginning.

He slightly tilted his head and asked the senator riding alongside him, “Senator Smith, why haven’t I seen President Roger?”

Smith’s face changed, stammering and finding it hard to answer. Meanwhile, Zoe, hearing this, her beautiful eyes gleamed even more, her smile becoming more charming: “Lord Su Li, President Roger is in a bit of trouble lately, he’s gone to some Count’s Territory within the Empire. President Smith is trying to contact him, otherwise, his position as chairman of the Equipment Manufacturing and Production Committee might be in jeopardy.”

Su Li raised an eyebrow, immediately guessing the reason, and asked, “Has there been an issue with the equipment supply?”

Seeing this, Smith knew he couldn’t hide it any longer, so he replied honestly, “Indeed, there’s been a minor issue, mainly during the great expedition. The quality of our ‘Star Iron Armor’ is concerning. The Third Legion… suffered some losses during the expedition.”

“Are you sure it was only some losses?” Su Li immediately pressed further.

Senator Smith’s eager smile instantly froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his body trembling slightly imperceptibly.

“Uh… this… Lord Su Li…” Smith’s throat was dry, but he forced himself to be calm, his face showing a blend of sorrow and innocence, “Regarding the Third Legion in Oka Mountain… Alas, it was an incredibly unfortunate encounter! The heroic warriors were caught by a group… a group of cunning beyond belief of the Green Skins!”

He cleared his throat, narrating with a tone of fear and intentional emphasis on the enemy’s “inhuman” slyness:

“You know, deep in Oka Mountain, the terrain is incredibly complex! Everywhere are ravines, dense forests, and natural caves. The Third Legion was tasked with clearing the Green-skinned Tribe threatening the trade routes, progressing smoothly all the way until… that damned ‘Spine-breaking Pass’!”

Smith’s speech sped up, trying to emphasize the “treachery” of the Green Skins:

“Those Green Skins! They are nothing like the rumors of just charging with mindless cries! They are as cunning as goblins… no, even more cunning than goblins! They must be from the tribe of the god-chosen Maolge, cunning and ruthless (Gao Ge is ruthless and cunning). They deliberately showed weakness, abandoned some ragged camps and inferior weapons, luring our legion into the pass… where towering cliffs lined both sides and there was only a narrow pathway in between!”

He displayed a look of horror:

“As a result! Our brave soldiers had just half entered! The ambush came! Damn Green Skins! They had already stacked tons of boulders on both sides of the cliffs, ambushed hundreds and thousands of their archers and… those cursed, acid-strapped lunatic Squigs! They even had crossbow cannons! Crude but frighteningly numerous!”

Smith waved his arms, trying to pin the soldiers’ failure on the enemy’s tactics and terrain:

“Boulders rained down like a storm! Those lunatic Squigs had their wicks lit, hurled like fleas or directly tossed off the cliffs, exploding in our formation! Arrows and crude crossbow javelins covered the sky! Our brave soldiers were caught off guard, their formations instantly thrown into chaos! Many young men… alas, were crushed on the spot, blown to bits…”

He continued to “depict” the treachery of the Green Skins: “But that wasn’t the end! When we were getting pounded into confusion and suffering heavy losses, the thunderous ‘Waaagh!!!’ roars erupted front and back! The main Green Skin forces ambushed in the forests and caves at both ends, wielding all sorts of ragged but deadly machetes, clubs, and spiked flails, surged like two green tides! There were too many of them! And… and they even knew to split and surround! Specifically targeting our scattered and disordered squads! When did that band of savage beasts become so tactical?!”

Once again, he “emphasized” the soldiers’ bravery and helplessness: “Our soldiers! Those are the Empire’s elite! They fought blood and iron! Truly, Lord Su Li! In such an ambushed, split, absolutely superiorly surrounded situation, they showed incredible courage! The officers tried to regroup, the soldiers resisted back to back! Long lances pierced countless Green Skins, swords blunted and curled! Blood turned the pass’s earth into a swamp! The warriors, for survival, for their brothers beside them, fought like insane! The scene… was horrific!” he once again used the soldiers’ sacrifice to obscure the focus.

Then, he changed his tone, lowering his voice, with a sense of “heartache” and “discovering a major issue”: “But… alas, no amount of willpower can withstand an all-out attack. Especially… the armor the soldiers wore, took too many hits. The Green Skins’ junk, though crude, packed a tremendous force, and they especially liked to smash with heavy weapons, use spiked flails to entwine…”