Chapter 1417 - 1329: Set Out, Set Out

Chapter 1417: Chapter 1329: Set Out, Set Out

Just as Horn’s actions in heading toward Black Snake Bay came to an end, the weather gradually cooled down.

Yet Skull Throne City, as well as the territory ruled by vampire nobility, remained bustling.

Attendants and vampire nobility flocked about Serafe’s royal court, handing over lists for Serafe to select from and account books for her to review.

Seated on the throne, Serafe seemed not to feel any fatigue, continuously approving and examining.

"Deploy the Fifth Legion from Black Tower Port, using the fleet in the harbor, and notify the governor over there."

"Send this budget to the rear; have the governors each claim a portion. We can’t be fighting at the front while they contribute nothing."

"These two supervisors have a rift; don’t let them manage the same issue together."

"Reorder this list; it involves too many people. Have the two individuals circled in red make amends through service."

Having set the plan for the next step, preparation naturally began, not only for Konyaz but also for Serafe herself.

Konyaz focused chiefly on the military aspect, while Serafe concentrated on the political aspect.

This was not because Serafe lacked knowledge of military affairs; in this millennium of wars, she has accumulated substantial military experience and is open and innovative.

But the issue is that she is too burdened by past military experience.

If it were the old Imperial Era, Serafe would definitely be a very formidable general, similar to Lakunio and Konyaz.

But her success also led to failure; the rapidly advancing military technology and tactical and strategic systems over the past ten years were something she and the Royal Court could not adapt to.

Additionally, there is the larger issue of technological levels.

So far, because blood-contract guns need sealing, rear-loading blood-contract guns have never been equipped.

Without rear-loading blood-contract guns, they cannot employ the point-blank shooting tactics of the Holy Alliance.

What Serafe can do is forcibly concentrate the steel resources of both the Royal Court and occupied territories and forge a batch of bayonets to emulate the Holy Alliance’s tactics.

Since Mithril was monopolized by the Holy Alliance and Fat Cow Castle’s capture severed the dwarf trade routes, the Royal Court could not obtain large amounts of Mithril.

This results in bayonets from the Royal Court being heavy if they are to match the length and toughness of the Holy Alliance’s.

This demands high physical strength from soldiers, so only the elite palace troops can carry it out.

All these problems, Serafe actually sees clearly.

But conducting research sometimes is like solving math problems. If you know how to do it, you do it; if you don’t, you don’t.

Although she can see the problems, she can’t solve them and can only make do for now.

On how the clan system actually resembles guilds, she cannot delve into the foundations and has to hand over political contracts.

The church reform she previously completed penetrated to the grassroots but was dismantled by blasphemous princes.

With a sigh, Serafe quickly continued to handle state affairs.

Many times, her constraints stem from the dismantling of her Main Church of Longevity by previous princes.

This is akin to a rollback in versions.

Fortunately, Serafe herself is a veteran player under the old clan system, and upon return, she is just as adept at politics under this clan system.

After determining the tone for the final battle, she swiftly consolidated domestic power.

Setting personnel, managing finances; granting personnel rights plus financial rights largely equates to administration.

Regarding Serafe and Konyaz’s insistence, there are quite a few people among the vampire nobility remaining at the Royal Court or stationed on the eastern continent who don’t understand.

Upon the news spreading, at a banquet, a large group of vampires challenged Konyaz, causing unrest.

Serafe, however, knew it was time for a purge.

Following the banquet incident, she first took advantage of the blank ledger case to clean out disobedient governors and governors being marginalized.

She then promoted newcomers from various clans and carried out mass killings and land-clearing campaigns in various places to ensure food production and transport.

As Marshal, Konyaz was similarly compelled to make improvements, merging and reorganizing the palace guard and clan military.

Below the throne, an attendant bowed forward and presented a neatly folded letter on the steps: "Your Majesty, Marshal Konyaz has delivered news that the military integration is nearing completion."

Serafe slightly lifted her gaze, her pen gliding across the paper, her voice calm: "How is the progress?"

"Report to His Majesty, the Marshal encountered some obstacles, but they were all resolved one by one." The attendant lowered his head, reporting evenly, "The Silvaticus clan and the Nethsalieus clan, who previously had disagreements, were directly divided into the eastern and western battle zones by the Marshal, to avoid interference;

while the Raveno clan and the Sangino clan, who have always been on good terms, were formed into a joint legion, co-commanded by the elders of both clans."

He paused, then continued, "To unify mobilization, the Marshal abolished the original training regulations of each clan, replacing them with newly compiled directives.

He also specifically selected veteran soldiers from the royal palace guards to serve as instructors, forcing the clan soldiers to adapt to new tactics."

"What about communication mechanisms?" Serafe inquired further.

"The Marshal modeled after the Holy Alliance and established special supervisory officers," the attendant replied, "Each legion is assigned three special officers who report directly to the Marshal, specifically to coordinate clan cooperation and prevent intentional lagging during operations."

Serafe slightly nodded; although this would not raise the royal court’s army command efficiency to the level of the Holy Alliance, for now, it would have to suffice.

Standing up, Serafe paced a couple of circles before sitting down again, his expression unreadable: "If anyone dares to cause trouble, have Konyaz give me the list directly, and I will personally deal with it."

"Do you need evidence?"

"No, the list will be enough."

Time flew by, entering early October.

Under the city gate of Skull Throne City, the cold wind swirled with dead leaves, and the clanging of iron armor echoed through the streets.

Many vampires stepped out of their homes, bidding farewell under the sunset, as this was the first batch of troops setting out for the Holy Alliance.

Whenever they thought of the royal court being compelled to face off in a life-and-death struggle against a once remote small state on the Eastern Continent, many clan elders were moved to tears.

The royal court, how did it come to this?

Dressed in a scarlet Marshal uniform of the royal palace guards, Konyaz stood at the forefront of the army.

Behind him, the clan soldiers and royal palace guards neatly arranged, marching forward with rhythmic steps, the black-and-red flags waving in the wind.

Several governors responsible for rear affairs came to bid farewell, their faces, however, unconcealing their worry.

One balding governor stepped forward, lowering his voice, "Marshal, there is something I must tell you—the royal court has erupted in a large-scale uprising, led by a vampire claiming to be Saint Danjiles, under the banner of recreating the just world of Saint Danji, and they have already captured three cities."

Konyaz raised his eyebrows slightly, "Rebel army? With the main force deployed, it’s normal for some scoundrels to jump out."

"But they are not ordinary scoundrels," another governor urgently said, "This group of vampire rebels is gaining momentum, reportedly gathering nearly a hundred thousand troops."

"Even if they have nearly a hundred thousand, it’s not enough to cause such worry, is it?" Konyaz was perplexed.

"They are not the unarmed clanless or low clan vampires; they seem to be using clockwork guns and cannons!"

Konyaz fell silent, the cold wind lifting his cloak, revealing the tense muscles beneath his armor.

He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning slightly white, and it was a while before he squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth: "Damn Holy Alliance!"

The voice was not loud, yet it instantly plunged the scene into silence, the governors looking at each other, none daring to speak.

They all knew that nothing said now would matter.

The army was already assembled, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired, and they couldn’t just abandon the long-prepared final battle because of a rebellion in the rear.

The balding governor sighed, "His Majesty is mobilizing the forces at the rear to suppress it, but the insurrection is spreading too fast, probably too quickly for you to catch before your advance."

Konyaz took a deep breath, looked at the governors, and with a steady tone, said: "Even if His Majesty can’t catch up, for the early stages of this war, His Majesty does not need to step in personally."

This departure was a do-or-die struggle.

If they win, the royal court could continue its eastward expansion and firmly establish its foothold.

If they lose, with defeat at the front and rebellion at the back, the royal court would likely face utter ruin.

One governor wanted to say more, but Konyaz raised a hand to stop him.

The Marshal mounted his horse, the warhorse restlessly pawing, snorting steam.

He reined in the horse, glancing back at the Gothic spires of Skull Throne City, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, then turned his head, the longsword pointing eastward: "Set off!"

"Set off! Set off! Set off!"

The soldiers’ shouts thundered to the skies, the formation like a black torrent, slowly moving out the city gate, heading towards the Eastern Continent.

The cold wind carried their shouts across the withered fields, startling a flock of carrion-feeding crows.

Watching the army’s departing backs, the governors under the city gate did not move for a long time.