Chapter 157
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Chapter 157: Declaration of War
At the same time, in the Mayor’s Office of the City of Freedom.
Marquis Frank Einsri, father of Whyte, was frantically receiving communication through the Magic Stone.
"Frank, are you crazy? This is the City of Freedom! Quickly withdraw the troops, otherwise don’t blame me for being impolite!"
Frank’s immediate superior, Grand Duke Luxembourg, looked angrily at Frank.
Even though it was just a video, his anger seemed ready to explode.
"Grand Duke, that’s the equipment of a division." Frank looked apathetically at the Grand Duke in the video.
"To hell with a division’s equipment! Do you know how many powerful people are trapped in the City of Freedom? Even Princess Teresa of the Presea Empire is here, which is one of the world’s top military powers! If you cause trouble, they might directly intervene and the kingdom won’t be able to handle it!" Grand Duke Luxembourg roared, "Immediately withdraw the troops and apologize!"
"I only sealed off an area, I didn’t offend them." Frank said.
"Then quickly release them and restore communication! Damn it, this is the City of Freedom. The longer you block communications, the more money we lose. If you don’t give up, I’ll personally bring troops to come after you!"
"Yes!" Frank hung up the Magic Stone.
He took a deep breath and said with a slight headache, "I can hardly bear it anymore."
"Don’t worry, the first step of the Lord’s arrival ceremony is about to be completed soon."
The mayor, dressed in a proper suit, looked devout and said, "They all think we are capturing a arms dealer’s daughter, not knowing what we are really up to. As long as the dungeon raid fails, countless followers of the Lord will come through history. When they all come out, our Lord can descend and bring us eternal life."
"As long as that door opens, we’ll have as many soldiers as we need."
"What is Grand Duke Luxembourg? In the eyes of the Lord, he isn’t even worth a single bug."
Just then, the Magic Stone lighted up again.
This Magic Stone wasn’t Frank’s personal one, but the City of Freedom’s city Magic Stone, made with a magic array, used as a communication device for remote communication.
This kind of Magic Stone is rare in number, not as convenient as a telephone, only for public use, not for private use.
Frank took a deep breath and pressed the Magic Stone.
Suddenly, Karoso’s father, Grand Duke Osiris, appeared solemnly in the Magic Stone.
"Respected Grand Duke Osiris," Frank bowed.
"I don’t care what you are doing, make Karoso leave the City of Freedom and return to Canglang Province," Grand Duke Osiris ordered sternly, "Otherwise, I will destroy the City of Freedom."
"Yes, respected Grand Duke Osiris…" Frank nodded.
"Hmm?" The mayor’s face lit up with joy, "Early! We did it!"
Frank couldn’t hide his excitement upon hearing this news.
"However, you better not do that," Frank straightened up and faced Grand Duke Osiris, "Karoso is in my hands now. Give me two shipments of weapons within a day, or else he will be in danger."
Grand Duke Osiris remained silent for a moment and calmly asked, "Are you serious?"
"Of course," smiled Frank. "Dealing arms with one hand, dealing with people with the other."
"Hmph," Grand Duke Osiris chuckled coldly and hung up the communication.
Frank casually dialed the communication of the Presea Empire’s royal family.
This time, due to the distance, it took a longer time.
Slowly, the communication was established.
Teresa’s father, Augustus Alexeyevna, also known as the netizen Emperor Augustus, answered the communication.
If not for Teresa, Emperor Augustus wouldn’t have personally answered this communication.
Emperor Augustus appeared a few years older than Grand Duke Osiris, resembling an aging gray bear, but no one dared to underestimate this old man.
"What’s the matter?" Emperor Augustus asked casually.
"I have met the Emperor…" Frank smiled and said, "You have three days to bring six ships of weapons, or else I will kill Teresa."
Emperor Augustus stared at Frank with a deadly gaze, "Whom do you represent in declaring war on the Presea Empire?"
"I represent myself," Frank whispered, "I have betrayed."
"Understood."
Emperor Augustus ended the communication.
Frank, as if addicted, replied to his superior’s message.
"Releasing the person so quickly?"
Grand Duke Luxembourg looked relieved.
Evidently, he had not yet received the declaration of war from Grand Duke Osiris and Emperor Augustus.
"No, I’m telling you that I have betrayed you," Marquis Frank smiled and said, "Teresa, Karoso, and many other royal families from other countries are under my control. If you dare to send troops, I will kill them."
Grand Duke Luxembourg was stunned, looking unbelieving, obviously not knowing what had gotten into this Frank.
"I have joined someone else, in His eyes, you are just a lowly worm," Marquis Frank said with satisfaction.
"Curse your ancestors!"
Before Grand Duke Luxembourg could respond, Marquis Frank hung up the call.
No wonder those two enjoyed hanging up calls, turns out it’s such a cool thing to do.
"Joining our master is the best choice I’ve ever made in my life!" Frank said with satisfaction.
"The eternal ritual requires blood sacrifices, let this City of Freedom pave the way for our master’s great army!" The mayor stood up, arms outstretched.
……
After deciding on their plan, a few people split up. Karoso took Neymar and Kirmin to an underground warehouse in District 7.
In Canglang Province, there are many industries in the City of Freedom, and this underground warehouse is one of them.
Since Karoso knew a lot about the plot development, he arranged his people here.
As they arrived at the huge underground warehouse and saw busy workers even though the area was sealed off, Kirmin felt emotional.
These people, like her, never stop working as long as it’s not the end of the world.
The warehouse is filled with various goods for storage. It deals with storing items that are not very valuable, so there aren’t any experts stationed here. The storage prices are not high either, just enough to break even. All they want is this base.
The City of Freedom is different from the capital city, with so many opportunities here. People with power want to secure a foothold.
When Karoso appeared, a well-dressed young man had already approached him.
The young man saluted Karoso and said respectfully, "Lieutenant Luca from the 17th Division of the Sixth Army, Guard Battalion, reporting to the officer!"
"Gather," Karoso nodded.
"Guard battalion, gather!"
Some people in worker clothes quickly gathered towards this side. They all stood tall and moved very fast.
Without exception, these people had many scars on their bodies. Some had arms and legs replaced by metal.
These people all shared a common trait – they looked fierce and tough, like experienced soldiers.
In less than five minutes, the guard battalion soldiers had all assembled.
"Reporting to the officer, guard battalion should have four hundred and sixty-seven soldiers, and we have exactly that number present!" Luca saluted Karoso again.
"Everyone, change into military uniforms and grab your weapons," Karoso ordered.
"Change into military uniforms and grab your weapons!" Luca ordered.
The soldiers scattered again and ran towards various parts of the warehouse.
"This…" Kirmin said in surprise, "this army is really powerful…"
"Luca, are all the warriors of the Seventeenth Division like this?" Karoso’s gaze shifted to Luca.
"I don’t know," Luca lowered his head slightly.
[Ah… the army of Canglang Province is really not good now. It only improved after Master Karoso replaced those old soldiers and veteran leaders with a new batch.]
[The atmosphere of the grassroots is too strong.]
[Fortunately, the guard battalion is the most elite force in the division.]
[Master Karoso’s army changed a lot after he took office. It is indeed strong, and those who survived are all capable of fighting tough battles.]
[Speaking of which, isn’t our Ideal Homeland an organization that is free, loose, and not involved in politics? Our daily task is to defeat one company of Master Karoso’s troops…]
After about ten minutes, all the soldiers had changed into German military uniforms, armed themselves, and gathered together.
"Luca, report on the setup," Karoso said to Luca.
"Reporting! The guard battalion consists of four companies: a reconnaissance company, a mechanized armored company, an infantry company, and a machine gun platoon."
"The mechanized armored company currently has no tanks or machinery to use, their equipment is equivalent to the infantry company."
"The infantry company is equipped with twenty light machine guns, two flamethrowers, and currently no usable cannons."
"The machine gun platoon is equipped with three heavy machine guns and three anti-aircraft machine guns."
"That’s enough," Karoso nodded. "No need to worry about the weapons, I’ll take you to get them later."
"Yes," Luca saluted again.
Although Luca didn’t know where the enemy was, who they were, or how many there were, he wasn’t afraid.
Karoso’s guard battalion is made up of the best soldiers selected from a 300,000-strong army. Each one is like a top professional, with strong individual skills and excellent teamwork abilities – they can be considered as elite special forces.
City warfare is different from battles in the wilderness, where having strong individual soldiers can give a greater advantage.
"My friends, some of you may know me, some may not, and some may not even know why you are here in the City of Freedom." Karoso took a step forward, looking at the soldiers in front of him.
The young ones are only around fourteen or fifteen years old, while the older ones are around thirty years old.
The biggest feature of this team is that there is not a single older soldier among them.
"But, none of these matters. You don’t need to know these things. Just know that I am your highest commander. Your military expenses and equipment are all provided by me, only to serve under my command, Karoso Colloa."
"You may think of me as a pampered child, even a kid who hasn’t grown up yet. None of that matters. War is the best way to get to know a person."
"Perhaps you wonder, in times of peace, where does war come from?"
"I will tell you, war has already arrived, right outside our doors! After this war, some of you may die, but I promise, I will do my best to ensure that you survive."
The soldiers looked serious and didn’t reply, which was perhaps the best response.
Karoso stood up straight and said, "Kirmin."
"Yes!" Feeling the tense atmosphere, Kirmin couldn’t help but stand up straight.
"You’re joining the armored battalion," Karoso said.
"Is… huh?" Kirmin was confused.
Her legs were shaking as she said, "M-Master, I’m a housekeeper, not a warrior."
"Tonight, there’s no housekeepers or noble masters, everyone is a warrior," Karoso patted Kirmin’s shoulder. "If what I say is true, do you think it’s safer to follow the army or stay here?"
"Well…" Kirmin hesitated.
I am really unlucky, why did I follow them to the City of Freedom? Couldn’t I have just pretended to be sick at home?
"Neymar," Karoso called out.
"Here!" Neymar replied quickly.
Not even facing Kirmin, she felt nervous in such situations.
Karoso had real military training and spent a long time in the barracks, but Neymar was different – she was just a regular noble lady who had experienced adventurous noble life.
War was too far from her thoughts.
"You will join the machine gun platoon and work with the machine guns," Karoso said.
"Yes… brother…"
"In the army, call me ‘commander’."
"Yes, commander!"
Three kids were talking seriously, but it sounded kind of funny.
Karoso couldn’t do anything but wait for the fight to start to gain everyone’s approval.
After dealing with things here, Karoso brought his soldiers to the ground where Teresa and Will were already waiting.
Teresa looked at the troops behind Karoso and said, "Your troops are really good, all skilled soldiers, huh?"
"The soldiers from Canglang Province are all skilled," Karoso said calmly.
"Oh, that’s great," Teresa laughed. "Having soldiers with us makes things easier. If we go out like this, I doubt anyone would dare stop us!"
"With a battalion at our disposal, they won’t be able to stop us if we charge through."
Just then, some mist started to fill the air.
Teresa wrinkled her nose and said, "What’s that smell, it’s the unique scent of the dungeon."
"Oh no!"
Karoso’s face changed slightly as he glanced at his watch.
Wait, there should still be an hour left!
[Darn, why is this happening early?]
[Oh, we planned according to the normal time, this could cause a problem.]
Karoso understood that this was not the netizen’s fault and similar to what he had initially thought, this event was definitely not something a marquis could lead, especially in the City of Freedom.
Behind him, there must be some powerful guys.
Has the dungeon been liberated already?
Normally, it would be a failed attempt to conquer a sixth-tier dungeon, but Karoso didn’t see it that way.
"Everyone, keep in formation for the march," Karoso commanded, "All of you are soldiers from Canglang Province. You should all be aware of the great upheaval that happened in Canglang Province. Today, we will treat this battle as if it were that great upheaval!"
"Yes!"