Chapter 166: Chapter 35: Conquering Two Villages in One Night

In the southernmost part of the Demon King Territory, in the mixed-race territory near the sea… it seemed evident that there had been negotiations with the Half-demon Territory and decided to jointly pressurize the Demon King Territory.

After all, when everyone had managed to resolve the issues with the Half-demon Territory and the Blood Clan Territory to some extent, and returned to the Demon King Territory for a brief rest, the mixed-race territory had already signaled that they would make up for the previously owed tributes as soon as possible.

This news came from a little bat that flew to us on our way back, so, as intelligence agents, the Blood Clan was exceedingly useful.

The mixed-race territory, though it didn’t mention paying extra tributes, had at least reaccepted the rule of the Demon King Territory… this loyalty was rather fragile, so the cement roads needed to be paved swiftly.

We had the materials now, and the production capacity was sufficient, so there should be no issues on that front.

“Have there been any recent events?”

Satan Ye asked Youyou, who stayed behind in the Demon King Territory. She comfortably sat in her seat, feeling relaxed for the first time after a long military campaign, having only slept in tents recently.

It indeed looked very comfortable, as her wings were limply draped over the throne behind her… this was the first morning meeting after everyone’s return to the Demon King Territory.

Except for Senata, who was receiving an intelligence report from her Vampire subordinates, all the other leaders were present, including Wolf, who represented the Blacksmith… but she didn’t have anything to report at the moment.

“No, everything is normal.”

Youyou replied, looking at Xiaogang, who also remained in the Demon King Territory, “Recently, the cement roads have covered all the major roads in the Demon King Territory. The little demons seem quite happy.”

Yes, although the main purpose of the cement roads was not to facilitate the movement of little demons, it was natural for them to be pleased with smooth, debris-free paths.

“Next, for other important roads, Xiaogang, you and your team should assess and pave them with cement… After that, consider paving the main road of the Demon King Territory and extending it to the Lizardman Territory.”

Yila said, and it seemed that the morning meeting should conclude there, as no one else had anything to add… Next would be the matters concerning the Witch Demon Territory.

Defying Satan Ye and unwilling to pay tributes… what exactly was the situation?

As Yila pondered this, Senata arrived late in the hall, greeted by everyone’s gaze, and urgently reported the intelligence, “Yesterday afternoon, a war broke out between the Duchy and the Empire.”

This battle was anticipated by everyone, so it didn’t cause much of a stir; everyone’s expressions remained calm.

However, Senata looked very serious, unfolding the parchment she used to record information, and said, “From yesterday afternoon to early this morning, the Empire captured two towns.”

Two towns in one night?

If efficiency like this continued, they might capture a city in a few days, and the Duchy could be unified within a few years… Of course, one couldn’t logically calculate it this way.

However, capturing two towns in one night seemed too outrageous.

“How did they accomplish this?”

Yila asked, being very familiar with the Empire’s strength. Although he didn’t think the Duchy would have any advantage, it shouldn’t have been so easily overrun.

The surrounding leaders were also shocked… Was the Empire getting stronger without their knowledge?

“In the Empire’s forces, the eighth-ranked Shara Elkaras and the tenth-ranked Heidlin Miriam Wals led the charge; the Duchy’s forces retreated continuously and are now holding the first city, where a stalemate has formed.”

In Senata’s report, Vera clearly seemed to remember something, and looked toward Yila with some concern, asking, “Has Isabella torn up her contract with you? Can the Governor now humanize soldiers into winged ones?”

If that were the case, the Duchy was doomed, perhaps even faster than the demonic forces would fall.

“Impossible, Isabella might have that ambition, but she can’t accomplish it.”

Yila, who knew Isabella very well, said this, frowning while contemplating the causes of the situation, “Besides, if the Governor could achieve that, it wouldn’t just be those two appearing on the battlefield.”

In response, Senata looked at her previously recorded data on the parchment and said, “But in the first half of the night, the battle losses between the Empire’s and Duchy’s forces were nearly equal, with only a slight advantage to the Empire… the traded units were simply more cost-effective.”

“So… there wasn’t a ‘decisive’ factor at play?”

Yila said, as he realized something, relaxing from the tension that had built up in his throat, “It seems it’s the effect of having iconic figures… such effects are common on the battlefield, usually short-lived, and not very substantial.”

From Yila’s words, everyone realized what was happening… In essence, the presence of the Governor uplifted the Empire’s troops’ morale, which made sense to everyone.

But if it was the first half of the night… what happened in the second half?

Reflecting everyone’s perplexity, Senata continued her report, “However, in the second half of the night, Imperial General Ulrichla Jem Goodwin joined the battle… and the Duchy’s two villages fell as a result.”

In other words, in the first half of the night, the Empire’s troops reached the outskirts of the first village, and after Ulrichla arrived, they made rapid advances?

Ulrichla Jem Goodwin was one of the most outstanding young generals of the Empire, but because he was part of the Yila Faction, he only commanded Yila Faction forces.

This was a common practice, with each noble managing their own troops, Yila Faction nobles managing Yila Faction forces… What? You ask about the Empress’s own forces?

Well, that’s something Yila had always wanted to reform… The troops that directly obeyed Isabella were very few, almost none; such was the state of the Empire’s structure.

“If it’s Ulrichla, then it makes sense… but the nobles shouldn’t have let him reach the battlefield so swiftly given how they would manage military achievements…”

Yila muttered, puzzled, then seemed to realize something, suddenly raising his head and locking eyes with Vera, who had the same realization.

…

Yes, because Yila had left.