The sun is high

An unpleasant pungent smell is filling the air.

This smell is so strong that it can even overpower the bad smell inside the trenches and fortifications.

The most serious problem was the artillery station. Due to the large-scale storage and use of crystallized artillery shells, the smell here was so strong that the artillery had to wear protective gear. In order to solve this problem, Walter's army mages A large-scale magic ceremony was even set up in the station to use artificial strong winds to clean and dredge the station.

Naturally, it is impossible for ordinary crystallized artillery shells to produce this kind of smell. Its production is attributed to the two crystallized cannons recently put into use by the Kingdom of Walter Kingdom's army and the shells that match them.

The condition of the rugged terrain deteriorated faster than anyone expected.

Initially, the Fifth Chasseur Regiment stationed in the town of Brown Hill was able to fight against these threats with the quality of its soldiers, the weapons they were equipped with, and its solid defense lines. Even at certain times, these heroic soldiers were able to rely on large numbers of troops to fight against these threats. After the large-scale shelling, fortifications and outposts were built in the buffer zone. However, as the number of battles continued to increase, the pressure faced by the 5th Chasseur Regiment began to rise rapidly.

One evening, a reconnaissance team of the Fifth Chasseur Regiment conducted routine vigilance and inspection of the bombardment buffer zone. In the process, they were attacked by a considerable number of enemies. The team suffered heavy losses as a result, but with the help of With abundant firepower, the team finally successfully evacuated from this area. However, just as they merged with the response team and prepared to return to their position, the twisted monsters that had been repelled before reappeared and launched a larger-scale attack. of raids.

During this attack, the Fifth Chasseur Regiment also witnessed a huge individual that was as big as a house for the first time.

This giant "living crystal" looks like a dark crystal mine the size of a house. However, there are always countless twisted figures emerging from the inside of this translucent ore, and chaotic lines are also formed in the process. It continues to appear, and at the bottom of this "ore", there are countless irregular protrusions derived from it.

These protrusions are actually some kind of sharp limbs made of dense fog. They swing at an extremely high frequency, and the huge crystal above the support moves forward. When it successfully locks on the target, it will start to move in various ways. Attacks are launched in various unimaginable ways. Sometimes they are dark spikes separated from the ore body, sometimes they are tentacles swinging like shadows, and sometimes they are simply erupted from the inside of the crystal. Debris and fog.

Either way, it is fatal to the soldiers.

This attack that exceeded the expectations of the 5th Chasseur Regiment caused a major impact on the defense line set up on the edge of the rugged hilly land. Although in the end, the council mages in the position died together with the moving giant ore by directly detonating crystal shells, but This incident, after all, had a serious impact on the morale of the Chasseur Regiment.

It was against this background that Votel's military system began to actively seek some "more efficient" response methods.

While more artillery regiments were mobilized to the rugged hills, the reform measures in the workshop that had been in a stalemate due to various reasons were finally completed.

As some die-hard nobles "disappeared" in the kingdom, a number of large-scale workshops that had been in competition and confrontation before were integrated. The Ernst family, which had previously given up a considerable part of its noble rights, At this moment, he transformed and became the spokesperson of the Walter royal family in the fields of military industry and alchemy. Under the strong leadership of the Ernst family, a large-scale joint factory named after the royal family officially appeared on the plateau.

The first set of important products launched after the birth of the "Votel Royal Alchemy Factory" were new artillery shells developed and produced under the new system.

More violent explosions, higher output, lower production costs, and magic disrupting properties specifically designed to target magic creations... This series of advantages immediately made it an ideal choice for the army stationed in the rugged hills under the current situation. First choice!

Of course, behind these advantages, there are also a considerable number of hidden dangers and disadvantages. The pungent smell that permeates the air is one of them. This is the result of the failure of the unstable crystallized mineral to fully react. .

Yes, in order to make up for the shortage of domestic crystallized mines and further increase production, the Plateau Mage Council broke the standards for the use of magic ores set by Merlin Lehe in the past. While increasing the mining intensity of domestic mines, the Royal Alchemy Factory Those "substandard" ores are also included in the scope of use.

Looking at the vehicles carrying new artillery shells, Alfred, who was at the artillery station, was silent for two seconds, and then walked into a simple tent nearby.

A steam aromatherapy furnace inlaid with magic crystals was operating in the tent. Alfred took off the mask on his face, and then took two deep breaths.

"This is not an option. The accident rate of crystal cannons has been increasing these days. If this continues, more artillerymen may be sent to the hospital than commandos."

Alfred threw his mask on the table and looked sadly at his old partner who was checking the defensive line ceremony drawings.

Master Krauts' movements paused for a moment, then he straightened up and turned his head.

If Shuge, Wei Lin and others were here, they would definitely be surprised by Master Krautz's current appearance - his face has been ruined, as if lava or acid had rolled over half of his face. Likewise, his skin has become rotten, twisted scars are tangled together, and he has lost one of his eyes, and now he can only wear an alchemical mask or an eyepatch.

Beneath these scars and flesh, there are faint magical lights and shadows floating out. These remaining magical powers are difficult to completely eliminate. They are deeply entangled with Krauts' flesh and blood, and these chaotic and chaotic forces are seriously The ground interfered with the effectiveness of the healing magic, which allowed this hideous scar to be perfectly preserved on Krautz's face.

The one who caused these injuries was the enemy the Fifth Chasseur Regiment was facing right now.

The intensity of the battle was so astonishing, and the opponents were so special that even experienced senior military mages like Krauts could not completely avoid danger and losses.

"Alfred, you have to understand that this is absolute 'preferential treatment'."

Krauts looked at his comrades calmly. Although the damaged half of his face was distorted and horrifying, it was full of indifference and calmness: "Just to increase the production of artillery shells and maintain the supply, the domestic pressure is already very high. Terrible."

As he said that, he raised his hand and pointed upward: "The influence of the black sun on the crystallized mines is too great. The Council has reached the theoretical limit to achieve this step. Do you know? Mining is already a dangerous industry now. , even if these crystal mines do not explode, they will slowly kill those who are close to them... A lot of miners and workers in the alchemy factories have developed new diseases, and if this continues, they will not be able to suppress it. "

After hearing these words, Alfred reluctantly turned his head and avoided Krautz's eyes.

Of course he knew this information. After all, his family was an important arms dealer in the Kingdom of Walter. His family was also included in the previous integration.

"I have heard what you said, but you should also know that our field hospitals are almost full...and most of these wounded people will not be able to return to the battlefield!"

"They were lucky to be sent back to the rear at this time."

Krauts looked at the drawings in front of him again: "At least they don't have to lie in a pile of shells waiting to die like my unlucky students."

The corner of Alfred's mouth twitched. The mage who detonated the alchemy bomb before was brought out by Krauts himself. This incident was very harmful to this unsmiling mage.

The two people in the tent fell into silence at the same time. After a few seconds, Krautz seemed to have made up his mind. He sighed softly, then reached out to open the drawing, took out a letter from underneath, and handed it to Alfred.

"This is?"

"The letter from the Dawn Society...Miss Wei Lin and the Van En Magic Society gave us some suggestions, which may be helpful. You can also take a look."

After hearing this, Alfred no longer cared about pursuing Krautz's private correspondence. He quickly opened the letter and began to read it carefully.

After a while, he put down the letter in his hand with a solemn expression. Seeing this, Krautz fiddled with the magic crystals on the table, and the soundproofing ceremony quickly enveloped the tent.

"What they mean is that there might be someone behind these monsters?"

"To be precise, it's Miss Wei Lin's point of view."

Krauts corrected: "This point of view is very interesting and valuable... After all, before the destruction of Salem City, Miss Weilin also spent some time in the rugged hills. She must know more about those cracks than We are more detailed."

Alfred frowned and thought for two seconds, then said: "We can already confirm that those monsters are not simple beasts, they are intelligent, similar to the helpers summoned by the Black Sun Society on the northern front... But Their source is the cracks in the hills, and their power is even more amazing. Can anyone really command them?"

Master Krauts responded in a low voice: "Well, I don't think ordinary members of the Black Sun Society are capable of doing this."

"Wait, you said 'average'?"

"Yes, we have captured many mages from the Black Sun Society before, but in my opinion, these guys are not much smarter than the plateau ogres... They are completely excluded from the inner circle of the society, and their abilities Naturally, it’s not much higher.”

Krauts said: "But if it is those spellcasters who are on the wanted list, we can't tell. We don't know much about the ancient rituals mastered by the Black Sun Society. Maybe there are people within them who can make it happen."

"..."

Alfred held the letter in his hand, re-read the contents, and then asked in an uncertain tone: "Mr. Krauts, do you think I can do this...well, I am Say, tell the royal family a little bit, Master Fenn is in Brown Hill Town now.”

Before he finished speaking, a hand suddenly opened the curtain of the tent. In this way, he easily passed through the magic barrier set by Krauts and came to the front of the two people.

As in the past, the mountain elf Finn, who is the spokesperson of the Walter royal family and the princess, is wearing a straight black suit, but now, there is a conspicuous plateau giant eagle emblem on his chest. This emblem means that he actually owns temporary command authority.

"I'm not in Brown Hills, I'm here."

The lifespan of mountain elves is as long as that of their relatives. Finn's appearance is not much different from the past, but it looks a little dusty due to fatigue.

The royal family's butler brought over a chair and sat down upright.

Without seeing any movement from Finn, the letter in Alfred's hand was pulled out of thin air by a force. Finn pinched it, glanced at it quickly, and then smiled: "Mr. Krauts "Private communications during wartime are clearly against the regulations...but it is obvious that you are loyal to the kingdom, so I will not deal with this matter."

After saying that, Finn looked at Alfred: "Alfred, you have not brought shame on your family, but you have to pay attention, no matter how close your comrades are, you cannot completely rule out the possibility of betrayal. In these matters "You can be more cautious."

Alfred was originally a little uneasy about Finn's sudden visit, but after hearing these words, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What? You're not worried anymore?"

"Since you didn't come here to deal with us, you must have brought new orders."

Alfred suppressed the smile on his face. He performed a standard Walter military salute, and then reported seriously: "The officers of the Fifth Chasseur Regiment, the accompanying mage, and all subordinate members can accept transfer!"

Finn waved his hand: "I just came from your field hospital. There are many wounded people there. There is no need to say these words to me."

He paused and added: "However, I did bring new instructions, and they are related to what is mentioned in this letter... After many judgments, we guessed that there is likely to be something hidden inside the rugged hills. An important 'high-value target', he may be very high on the list of the Black Sun Society, and his status should not be lower than that of the deep sea mage Yetvich and the dead Kzlov."

"what do you mean?"

Finn's expression was quite solemn: "The actual leader of the Black Sun Society completely disappeared from our sight a month ago. His last appearance was in the northern port of St. Steele..."

"One month is probably not enough time to travel such a long distance..."

Finn raised his hand and interrupted Alfred's speculation: "For spellcasters like Novi, distance is by no means an effective shackle."