Volume 4 Chapter 167
by Need_More_SleepChapter 167: A Special Order
“Your Highness the Princess, is it enough for us to simply wait here?”
In the standby area of the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit, the captain asked Xia Yi with curiosity.
In fact, since early morning, the captain had been leading the dragon soldiers on standby in this region. By the time afternoon arrived, there had still been no movement at all.
According to Kennedy’s plan, at daybreak the Elven army should already have launched an assault on the Vampire Clan checkpoint, engaging the Vampire Clan in a decisive battle and tearing open the defenses of the Sacred Crimson Empire for the sake of the Anti–Vampire Clan Alliance.
Now that it was already afternoon, the Elves and the Vampire Clan should have been locked in fierce combat. The battle might even have been approaching its conclusion.
However, because the battlefield was quite far from here, the Dragon Clan had no way of knowing the exact situation.
“About that…”
In truth, Xia Yi herself was also pondering certain matters.
To be honest, she felt that Kennedy was acting rather strangely.
Judging from the attitudes of the Elven officers, the Elves did not seem particularly welcoming toward the Dragon Clan was the only exception.
For example, Eve’s opinions clearly differed from those of the Elven officers.
And from the fact that Eve was later excluded from participating in important meetings, it was evident that Eve and Kennedy were not on the same side at all.
That being the case, Kennedy’s attitude toward the Dragon Clan would inevitably influence his subordinates through subtle indoctrination. One could say that the stance of the Elven officers largely represented the attitude of the Elven military toward the Dragon Clan.
Kennedy himself merely maintained basic courtesy in social settings.
And that was precisely what felt strange.
If Kennedy truly harbored dissatisfaction toward the Dragon Clan, then why did he keep placating her, treating the Dragon Clan almost like honored guests, inviting them all the way here just to stand by and watch?
“Captain, let me explain the situation to you!”
Elly stepped forward, her face full of confidence. Since her current status was also that of a soldier in the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit, she prepared to explain things to her captain.
“You see, the Elven general has a hundred percent confidence in taking the Vampire Clan checkpoint. But he doesn’t want to risk things going wrong, after all, this could affect the course of history. So he invited us, Dragon Clan over as the final line of insurance!”
“Soldier Elly, you know quite a lot,” the captain said, somewhat surprised.
“Of course I do!!”
Elly puffed out her chest proudly.
In reality, most of this was information she had learned by listening to Xia Yi’s explanations.
“The Anti–Vampire Clan Alliance isn’t completely united either. What’s needed right now is a catalyst, something that can let other nations see hope of victory! That’s why this assault on the checkpoint is so crucial. If they win, other countries’ armies won’t just sit and watch anymore; they’ll choose to act as well. But if they fail, the Vampire Clan can continue holding out, and might even wait for reinforcements sent to the Beastman Alliance to return. At that point, there’ll be no chance at all!”
“So the Elves are acting for the greater good?” the captain sighed. “It really does fit their international image, every time they go to war, they always have a just cause.”
“Captain, let’s just stay here and wait for the battle to end,” Elly said. “The Elves already told us that unless something completely unexpected happens, we won’t need to fight.”
No.
Listening to the exchange between Elly and the captain, the young princess gradually realized something.
Xia Lulu had taught her this before.
In the education of the Dragon Clan’s royal family, Xia Lulu had told Xia Yi that if those in power wanted others to help them, or even to risk their lives for them, they must never rely solely on lofty, intangible ideals like ‘the greater good.’ They had to offer tangible benefits.
Thinking carefully, from the moment the Elven envoys approached the Fox Clan up until now, all of the Elves’ negotiations had revolved around how the outcome of this battle would affect the future of the continent. Certain matters, however, seemed to be deliberately avoided.
Even if Kennedy disliked the Dragon Clan, he still went out of his way to placate her politely. Could it be that…
“Your Highness the Princess, bad news! We have enemies!!”
A Dragon Clan soldier responsible for reconnaissance rushed over to report.
“Vampire Clan forces are heading this way!”
“Are you sure?!” the captain asked urgently. “This is the rear of the battlefield, why would Vampire Clan troops appear here?!”
“I’m absolutely sure, Captain. I definitely didn’t see wrong, it’s the Vampire Clan army!” the reconnaissance soldier replied firmly.
Everyone was confused by this development. According to the Elves’ plan, there should have been no enemies in the rear. The Dragon Clan only needed to wait here. At most, the situation on the front lines might change, requiring Dragon Clan support.
“Your Highness the Princess, what should we do now?” Elly asked nervously. “This is completely different from what the Elven general said!! Could something have gone wrong?”
“…I can’t give a definite conclusion right now,” Xia Yi said. “Approximately how many Vampire Clan troops are there?”
“Your Highness, only a small detachment has been sighted so far, not very many. Our forces can handle them easily,” the reconnaissance soldier replied.
“Then let’s drive back those Vampire Clan troops first. Captain, prepare to enter combat.”
“Understood, Your Highness!” the captain saluted.
The captain assembled the Dragon Clan unit and led all the soldiers into battle.
Just as reported, Xia Yi saw a Vampire Clan force whose numbers were not particularly large.
The Dragon Clan engaged the Vampire Clan in an encounter battle.
There was little worth elaborating on in this fight. Unless the Vampire Clan’s numbers were overwhelming and composed entirely of elite troops, the Dragon Clan’s strength made fighting one against many a trivial matter.
In the end, the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit won an unquestionable victory.
“Did that Elven general mess something up? Vampire Clan troops are actually sneaking around from the rear… seriously, can that guy be trusted or not?”
Having won with ease, Elly complained as she looked at the chaotic battlefield.
The sinking sun gradually approached the horizon, casting a dim, yellow glow across the land.
The Dragon Clan troops began cleaning up the battlefield.
“What’s going on, what’s happening over there?!”
Elly pointed in one direction and shouted in shock.
The Dragon Clan soldiers all turned to look, nearly thinking their eyes were deceiving them.
On the horizon was a vast, black mass of Vampire Clan troops. Compared to the force they had just encountered, it was on an entirely different scale, making the earlier unit seem like nothing more than the fastest vanguard.
“This is bad! Large numbers of Vampire Clan troops are approaching from other directions as well!! Their numbers are enormous, they’re converging together!” the reconnaissance soldier rushed back to report. “We’re about to be surrounded!!”
“…So that’s how it is.”
Xia Yi now understood what was happening, and her gaze gradually changed.
“Kennedy… so this was your plan all along. You really are bold.”
The captain was about to ask for Xia Yi’s opinion, but when he saw the expression on the young princess’s face, he froze.
Because he had once witnessed the Silver Dragon Queen fighting an enemy. That chilling presence had left an unforgettable impression on him.
At this very moment, the icy silver eyes of Her Highness the Princess were exactly the same as those of Her Majesty back then.
For an instant, the captain even mistook Xia Yi for Xia Lulu herself.
“Captain,” Xia Yi said, “I now have a special order that must be conveyed to every Dragon Clan member in the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit.”
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