The sun is high

After Shuge looked away from the magic letter, Zeke Ernst said: "I can tell you clearly that most of the information here has been verified... these things did happen."

"The 2nd and 4th Artillery Regiments located in the rugged hilly areas have suffered very serious damage. According to the latest instructions, they have begun to retreat and prepare to replenish their troops."

The old man raised the wine glass slightly, and while sniffing the alluring smell of wine, he said: "Other regiments and the teams of our allies also suffered certain losses, but everything is still within the tolerance range. within, so those predetermined plans will not be changed easily.”

Xiuge accurately captured the key point of this sentence, so he frowned and asked: "Predetermined plan?"

"Um."

The old man turned slightly and released a finger from the palm holding the wine glass, pointing at a huge map hanging on the wall of the exhibition hall.

"The climate on the plains is different from ours. Their soil is more fertile and wetter...so when winter comes and there is heavy snowfall, the roads and ground on the plains will start to become muddy. In that case , whether it is the mobilization of troops or the transportation of materials and weapons, it will be greatly affected."

Speaking of which, if Xiuge still didn't understand what the other party meant, he was just pretending to be stupid.

So he asked: "You mean, we are going to attack?"

"Yeah...going to attack."

After nightfall, the temperature outside the house dropped further, but the huge mansion was filled with warmth amid the operation of the magic ritual.

Xiuge felt a little uncomfortable, so he tugged on his collar, then took off the blood-stained windbreaker and put it on the back of the chair.

As if he didn't see Xiuge's demeanor and movements, Lao Zeke kept speaking at the same speed as before and said: "This is no secret anymore. Go take a look at the map. I made some adjustments before you came... …It should be easy to understand.”

So Shuge walked towards the map.

This map is not a pure decoration, it is actually an alchemical product of Walter Academy of Magic.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it the Magic Sandbox.

A large number of magic illustrations, logos, texts and lines were suspended above this huge map in the form of translucent shadows. Xiuge saw the dark curve that symbolized the boundary between Luowei Plateau and Goddess Plain at first glance.

This curve is generally referred to as the "Earth Step".

On this "step" that traverses almost the entire continent, there are several obvious gaps and passages. Among them, the southern gap closest to the Kingdom of Delan is close to the current garrison and joint "exercise" location of the plateau countries. There is The land is rugged and hilly, and on top of this important passage stands the city of Salem.

This poor city was planted with a striking crimson flag by Old Zeke.

Xiuge's eyes moved upward along the dark curve of the "Earth Steps", and he saw that there were already blue or purple signs in the middle of the curve and near the top.

In two positions, dark blue lines symbolizing the defense line have even been drawn.

"The east side of the Black Nest Mountains, the upper reaches of the Isa River..."

"Yes, this is the direction of the focus of the attack, especially the Isa River, which is an area disputed by many parties... The St. Steele people in the north, the Delan people, and of course us... everyone wants that area .”

"Saint Steele is our ally."

"Yes, so next, these northerners will bear the main offensive pressure in the Isa River Basin."

Shuge narrowed his eyes: "It is winter now, and the Isa River will freeze soon. Are they preparing to launch a large-scale attack when the river freezes? But it is not far from Merlinlehe, and the frozen ice is It is not an insurmountable problem for the mages. As long as the Law Committee is willing to invest, they can make the river thaw in advance... In this case, the St. Steele people in the Isa River Basin are destined to have no way to survive in Delan. People have set up a defense line and are the first to attack with the intervention of mages. Their pace should be slightly delayed. After the battle breaks out east of the Black Nest Mountains, they will make the next move based on the situation."

"Hmm...not a bad perspective, keep talking."

Lao Zeke shook the wine glass and motioned for Shuge to continue.

So Xiuge turned his attention to the area east of the Black Nest Mountains. There was a very conspicuous gap here. It looked like the "Earth Steps" had been hit hard by something and cracked. Same.

This gap is equally famous.

Because this area is rich in silver mines, it is called the "Silver Corridor", and in front of this "Silver Corridor", there are also dark blue lines symbolizing the defense lines of the plains.

At this moment, General Bernhardt, who shared Shuge's vision and was also observing the map in front of him, suddenly said: "This is wrong, there are problems with the grand strategy... Although the Silver Corridor is very suitable for the troops on the plateau to move down March, however, once out of this gap, they are destined to face pressure from multiple directions. Even if they can penetrate the defense line head-on, the logistics line will be very easy to be cut off. By then, the parts that have left the 'Silver Corridor' will be completely isolated. "

But soon, Bernhardt himself reacted.

He found that he was instinctively using his past habits and viewpoints to look at the map in front of him. After thinking of the new weapons that he had never seen before, he said in an uncertain tone: "Unless... the breakthrough speed is enough." Fast? Not only can it penetrate the defense line head-on, but it can also expand the control area to the surrounding area and forcibly create a stable protrusion in a short time... But is this possible? "

After listening to Bernhardt's words, Shuge instinctively turned his head and looked at the new weapons placed in the exhibition hall that combined the characteristics of steam machinery and magic crystallization.

This action was seen by Old Zeke. He nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "The form of war has changed. The quality of the soldiers is important, but this time, we not only need to consider their courage, At the same time, there are many new inventions that need to be verified, and I have a hunch that they will change our understanding of the concept of war."

Hearing this, Xiuge was silent for two seconds.

Then he raised his hand and pointed at another fluttering magic flag near Salem City.

It is dark black and does not have any logo on it, but it gives people an unpredictable and weird feeling.

"This should be the source of the magic flow?"

"Yes."

"It's very close to Salem City. What's the situation in that city now?"

Old Zeke drove the wheelchair to the small round table. He took a small sip of the wine in the glass and then put the glass down.

Probably because of drinking, his face turned rosy. After taking a very soothing breath, he said: "It's terrible. According to the latest agreement signed by the three parties, the entire city of Salem is now... It is under the control of the mage of Merlin Lehe... When the turbulent magic flow swept through Salem City, it destroyed the ceremony set by the Legal Committee, but soon, the people of the Legal Committee restored the ceremony. It is said that in During that brief interval, someone escaped from the city."

"So, even under these circumstances, this war is still going to be fought?"

Shuge turned to look at the old man sitting in the wheelchair. He said seriously: "In the last conversation, you mentioned the black sun prophecy. In this case, wouldn't people regard this as the prophecy?" Is this abnormal phenomenon related to the Black Sun prophecy?"

He shook the letter in his hand: "I think, not only us, but also the Kingdom of Delan, the Legal Committee... everyone should know that it is not an earthquake that is understood by common sense at all, but a kind of earthquake that humans do not understand yet and is difficult to understand. New disasters to predict and respond to…”

"I know what you're going to say, kid."

Old Zeke interrupted Shuge: "But the pace of war will not stop."

"The Kingdom of St. Steele is having a very difficult time now. Merlinle and his control and monopoly on the crystal mines have almost overwhelmed them. If this continues, sooner or later the rule of the northern royal family will be defeated by external forces, or they will be defeated by them. Overthrown by their own people, it is extremely important for them to regain the ownership of the northern crystal mines from the Legal Committee. The land in the Isa River Basin and the ice-free northern port are equally astonishing to them. They will not stop. Down."

"As for the Kingdom of Hain, their maritime disputes with the countries south of the Goddess Plain have completely erupted. The profits from colonies, shipping routes, and the transportation and sale of goods to the Eastern world have made Merlin Lehe and Merlin greedy. , so the Kingdom of Hain will not be willing to withdraw... Their overseas colonies have already taken action, and maybe the news will come back in a few days."

Xiuge had heard of these cases mentioned by Lao Zeke before.

So he asked: "However, the magic flow and disturbance are an uncertain factor for everyone, and people can't just let it go."

"Of course it's impossible to let go."

Old Zeke grinned: "But now, no one can tell exactly what the situation is... Especially now, Merlin Lehe has no way to take the lead on this issue, even if everyone will send their own scholars and The team went to investigate, but it is completely impossible to share the results of the research like in the past."

"Is it a pure hidden danger, or a new opportunity...who can say for sure?"

After hearing these words, Xiuge couldn't help but sigh.

The old man and the young man interrupted the military topic in a tacit understanding. At Old Zeke's signal, Shuge pushed up the wheelchair and walked towards the study accompanied by Ellen and other personal guards.

The window in the study was open. Xiuge wanted to go over and close the window, but Zeke stopped him. The old man seemed to have some quirks. He seemed to enjoy the cold winter wind.

At Old Zeke's signal, Ellen and others exited the room and closed the door.

"Your father is dead."

He said such a sentence very calmly. There was not much emotion in his words, and it sounded as cold and indifferent as the cold wind blowing in.

Xiuge was slightly startled.

His knowledge of Yerevan Ernst was too limited, and the original owner of this body's emotions towards Yerevan were more towards fear and disgust. Under such circumstances, he suddenly heard these words, He actually didn't have too many emotions.

"I killed him."

However, the old man's next words really surprised Xiuge.

He didn't even know what kind of expression he should "pretend" to show now, shocked? sad? sad?

Or something else...

Xiuge was really unsure, so he had to remain silent with a straight face.

Seeing that Xiuge didn't speak, Old Zeke gently moved the magic crystal on the wheelchair and drove the wheelchair to the huge desk in the innermost part of the study. He pressed his fingers to the corner of the desk, and with his touch, Fine magic lines spread out on the surface of the desk, and then, a hidden drawer that was obviously reinforced by magic rituals jumped out from the mezzanine of the desk.

"Your father, his hand stretched too far... just like most of the nobles in Borden, he never knew how to stop or measure his hand."

As he spoke, he took out a small velvet bag from the drawer with his skinny palm and placed it on the table: "Child, tell me, what do you think of the Black Sun Society? "

Xiuge looked at the old man behind the desk for two seconds, and then he answered: "A bunch of lunatics."

"Haha, madman... tell me, what kind of 'crazy method' is this?"

At this moment, Shuge expressed his truest judgment: "They are not the same as the 'madness' that ordinary people understand...Their madness comes from their cognition and beliefs. It is very likely that the members of the Black Sun Society They have fundamentally denied their human identity. They believe in those lost ancient gods and long to become the dependents of these gods. On this basis, all their actions will lead to an unpredictable chaotic ending. And this kind of chaos is not beneficial to any human individual or collective."

After hearing these words, Zeke Ernst thought for a long time. It wasn't until another cold wind blew into the room that he came back to his senses and asked: "Child, your judgment...their basis" What is it?"

"The basis is based on my personal experience and what I saw with my own eyes."

Xiuge raised his finger and pointed at his feet: "As long as the underground of the manor does not collapse, then you can go and see the scene there for yourself, it will be enough to explain a lot of things."

Hearing these words, the old man seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief. He gently pushed the velvet bag forward: "Take it. With this certificate, you can mobilize and use the family's resources to a certain extent. It will also be helpful.”

"Sounds like I can leave now?"

"That's it."

Old Zeke watched Xiuge pick up the velvet bag, and finally there was a smile on his face: "I will seriously consider the suggestions you made... When the soldiers have taken care of the ruins under the Manor Hotel, I will Go and see for yourself.”

Xiuge nodded, and based on the principle of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, he asked: "It's very cold in the room. Do I need to close the window for you?"

"No, there are still guests coming."