Chapter 875: Chapter 857: Irresistible Charm

Rocky’s thoughts and plans were not unique.

In fact, over the years, many had tried the same method to conquer the land, but all had failed. The reason for failure was always the inability to withstand the demons’ attacks. Occupying a firm base and taking a Backhill Village were not the same concept. Backhill Village was, at the end of the day, just a village–a tiny insignificant place–but a base operational enough to be developed was much more substantial.

So, every force that managed to carve out a foothold on the land had ultimately been defeated and wiped out by the demons. On what basis did Rocky believe he could succeed?

After posing this question, Karina looked at Rocky. She knew Rocky was not reckless, nor was he ignorant. He must have known that many had done the same thing before him. Yet, despite this, he still dared to proceed with the same plan, which meant he must have his reasons.

Indeed, Rocky did have his reasons.

As mentioned earlier, what he planned to do wasn’t something he came up with impulsively. It had been carefully considered and deliberated with almost everyone he trusted. These people included not just Athena but also figures like Aniye, who were practically living fossils. While they acknowledged the risks involved, without exception, they believed the plan was feasible.

The feasibility rested on three key reasons.

First, the times had changed. This was the most remarkable technological advancement humanity had seen in a century. With the maturation of both rune technology and elemental technology, humanity was set to gain a decisive advantage over the demons for the first time.

Admittedly, over the past century, demons had also been evolving, ultimately developing the Flying Demons capable of threatening the skies. However, their pace of evolution simply could not keep up with the speed of technological progress. The continuous, leapfrog advancement in science and technology had placed humanity in a position of significant advantage. Launching any war at this moment was advantageous for humanity. But if this window of advantage were missed and the demons caught up through evolution, who knew how many years–or even lifetimes–it would take for humanity to reclaim such an edge.

This was the first reason everyone deemed Rocky’s plan feasible: the technological advantage.

Second, the timing was right.

If he acted now, the Three Great Alliances–who originally ruled the skies–would be too preoccupied with the outbreak of the counteroffensive war to pay him much attention. The same applied to the demons. Regardless of whether the Allied Forces could truly reclaim lost territories, the pressure they placed on the demons was undeniably significant. This granted Rocky a rare window of opportunity to operate. During this window, neither humans nor demons would be focused enough to intervene. Such a golden opportunity might never come again if missed.

Third, and most critically, the current state of the world.

The entire world was in a period of turmoil. The outbreak of the Third Counteroffensive War had thrown everyone in Sky City into a frenzy. At the same time, the abnormal behavior of the demons made it clear that these creatures, who had ruled the land for centuries, were no longer content with the status quo. Now, the entire world was unsettled. As the saying goes, “Heroes rise in chaotic times.” This period of upheaval was the perfect moment for Rocky to seize the opportunity and achieve something great. Thus, even though his plan was risky–and indeed extremely dangerous–those around him supported his decision wholeheartedly after considering the above three points.

With such unwavering support and thorough planning already in place, Rocky was ready to take action.

Of course, he couldn’t explain all this to Karina in detail, but he did communicate the plan’s feasibility to her, especially emphasizing the critical factors of robust technological capability and favorable timing. On these two points, he spoke with absolute confidence, as they were the foundation of the entire plan.

“Are you certain that rune equipment can now be mass-produced?”

“If I want it, it can be done.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Nodding at Rocky, Karina made her decision without much hesitation. She directly agreed to his request, stating that she was ready to leave with him this time!

Such a decision wasn’t difficult for Karina. Of course, this wasn’t because she made it without thought but because it was rooted in trust.

As previously mentioned, the two of them had been through too much together. They had long since developed an unshakable bond of mutual trust. Coupled with Rocky’s own formidable strength, Karina naturally had no reason to refuse. Choosing between the Allied Forces and Rocky was, for Karina, not even a choice.

That said, Karina’s agreement alone wasn’t enough; she still needed to inform the Allied Forces. After all, she was currently a member of the Allied Forces. Fortunately, Lord Amuro and Marshal Mannstein–both key figures and close confidants of the Allied Forces–were present, so Karina quickly contacted Lord Amuro to report her intention to leave the Allied Forces. Upon hearing this, Lord Amuro immediately forwarded the matter to Marshal Mannstein without any delay.

“This Rocky… turns out he’s here to poach people.”

When Marshal Mannstein received this news, he had just concluded a military meeting. Hearing the report from his adjutant, the silver-haired marshal, who appeared to be in his sixties, chuckled, “It seems Rocky’s ambitions are quite substantial.”

“Your Excellency, what should we do about this?”

“Follow the rules.”

Glancing at his adjutant, Mannstein said, “According to the Allied Forces’ regulations, anyone who leaves without valid reason forfeits all military merits earned during the war. Furthermore, all agreements signed with the Allied Forces will be nullified. Just abide by these rules.”

“But… will Karina agree to that?”

After hearing Mannstein’s response, the adjutant sounded doubtful. “Karina performed exceptionally well in several major battles recently. The Allied Forces place great importance on her. If all her military merits are revoked…”

“Don’t worry. Compared to these merits, Karina will value Rocky more.”

The adjutant wasn’t wrong. As the City Lord of a smaller Sky City, Karina was indeed a prominent figure. The Allied Forces highly valued her. However, the Allied Forces’ appeal could never compare to Rocky’s. Thus, Mannstein was certain that since Karina decided to leave the Allied Forces after reuniting with Rocky, she wouldn’t be swayed by the loss of her merits.

“Then… should we inform Gihren about this?”

At this point, the adjutant raised another question. As soon as the words left his mouth, Mannstein’s brow furrowed deeply.

Gihren was the chief strategist of the warzone, and Karina was one of the key frontline commanders. Her sudden departure should indeed be reported to him. However, considering Gihren’s recent disputes with Mannstein regarding Rocky, Mannstein couldn’t help but feel a headache forming. Perhaps this matter would be far more complicated than it seemed…