Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 724 - 623 Retreat and Advance
The New Hilus Vice-Kingdom, located in the inland capital of Huarez on the west coast of the Golden Sea.
"General Anqilo, a whole week, and this is the answer you give me?! Is this how the invincible Hilus Imperial Army accounts to His Majesty the Emperor?!"
Vice King Flavio, who ruled New Hilus, the largest colony in the world, read through the data compiled by the colonial army's intelligence department in his hand. Unable to contain his fury any longer, he smashed the exquisite mahogany desk in front of him with one slap.
Bang—!
The brawny Vice Admiral on the other side of the table did not dodge at all, standing still as the flying wood pieces hit his body and face.
The sense of honor as a soldier left him with no face to dodge, especially since the battle fought over the past week, even with the help of the "Curse School" and "Tinder Sect," was embarrassingly poor.
The distance from the East to the West Coast of the Northern New Continent is about 4,400 kilometers, with the Itasca River, the continent's largest river, as the median line. The entire vast western region was practically occupied by Hilus.
However, a massive spirit tide outbreak on the Itasca River a week ago led to severe losses and a complete rout of the Hilus pioneers and soldiers.
The Hilus people, the earliest pioneers of the New Continent, were not fools. With limited manpower, they chose the richest and most prosperous lands on this continent.
But their standards of "good" were specific.
Given the lack of consumption capacity and market in the New Continent itself, these early colonialists came for plundering wealth. Compared to the hard work of earning, robbery was evidently faster.
For instance, their initial targets: the Azik Empire and the Gashna Empire, both of which were at least in the early stages of a slave society. The Gashna Empire was also known as the Golden Empire, with a tradition of golden sacrifices.
Meanwhile, most northern areas of the New Continent were still primitive tribes engaged in hunting.
Therefore, the colonies controlled by Hilus were either gold and silver production sites or subtropical and tropical areas where economic crops could be mass-planted, the essence of the entire New Continent.
As with the western region occupied by the New Hilus Vice-Kingdom, it was the main mineral resource concentration area of the Northern New Continent, rich in precious metal deposits like copper, gold, silver, vanadium, lead, and zinc.
But in just one week, two-thirds of the resource points near the central area have already been lost, more than the total loss since the "spirit tide" began erupting last year.
The Vice King, with the power of a Great Knight representing Emperor Philip II, was still enraged, glaring at the highest military officer under his jurisdiction with blue eyes:
"The motherland of Empress Teresa, even a mere Frisia region, contributes more wealth to the Empire than the entire New Continent. At this rate, as the security environment on the New Continent steadily deteriorates, the Empire might not refrain from making significant reductions in colonial territories.
If it comes to that, can you and I still wield great power and leisurely enjoy this land filled with gold, General Anqilo? You have a double-digit number of mistresses, how do you plan to maintain them?"
Despite not being in a low position within the colony, the Vice Admiral, speaking softly due to being at fault, clearly did not fully agree with Vice King Flavio's viewpoint:
"Sir, gold and silver mines are lifeless, incapable of resisting the Empire's demands.
But from a few hundred years ago, the Frisia Kingdom has been a nation of commerce, where many do not engage in production, focusing instead on trade and finance.
Yet, I believe their nature is no different from those Ilya merchants who resist [Royal Authority]; they are peas in the same pod.
Ultimately, His Majesty the Emperor can only fully rely on our army and navy! Along with the vast territories we have conquered for the Empire!"
The world no longer comprised isolated nations, and following Ilya Kingdom's asset holders' rebellion, many eyes were on it. Hilus, just a sea apart, couldn't possibly be an exception.
Internally, only the "Tinder Sect" and the Holy Rosar Empire's "Primordial God" Tirentius are allowed, with people being executed in the dramatic religious reforms.
Yet, the Empire's high echelons are still "perfectly clear" about the causes and consequences of the Ilya rebellion.
The root lies in this emerging class of "asset holders."
Before the union, Hilus, which practiced an authoritarian regime, had not even systematized handicrafts, let alone having "asset holders."
But now the Frisians inside the Empire first organically unified banks, credit, insurance, and limited liability companies into a nascent financial and commercial system!
They have established the first publicly traded joint-stock company, the first organized stock exchange, the earliest techniques for stock market manipulation, the first international settlement bank, and so on.
Including the world's leading Netherlands Bank Group, which originated in the infertile Lowlands, Frisia.
A few hundred years ago, it was also the Frisians who invented the "Flute Ship," which could be used to evade port taxes based on the area of the ship's top deck.
There are many such examples, with the big factory owners who emerged due to the steam industry being mere juniors compared to them.
The Vice King, however, did not want to hear his views on the asset holders' uprising and waved his hand:
"Enough! Our intelligence department has thoroughly researched the events. The Ilya Kingdom is because the Kingdom Guardian is old and feeble, the Hilus Empire will never repeat the same mistake!"
But despite the reprimand, under the current pressure of struggling to keep resource points alive, a drastic decision had to be made.
Flavio was forced to give a painful order:
"Abandon certain precious metal mining areas and retreat 1,000 kilometers westward to the coast."
Then coldly snorted, "The New Continent is our defense area, General, I suggest you come up with a plan on how to maintain the existing defensive line."
The General's expression was uncertain, involuntarily turning his gaze towards the East Coast of the continent, which also performed best amidst the spirit tide.
...
Upstream Valley of the Hartson River.
Thousands of George's soldiers have already set up camp and will launch the final attack at dawn tomorrow.
On the wide river, the "Quasi-Legendary Battleship: Venus" serves as their mobile command center.
"Miss Angie, three Wizards, I didn't expect the reinforcements from the rear to be you, not Billiver... cough, I mean it's really wonderful. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Up ahead is our final battle as we move upstream along the river, located at Saratoga Springs, where a suspected Tier 3 Totem God might be present."
William was introducing the current progression of the battlefield to the unexpectedly powerful reinforcements.
As initially predicted, in the latter stages, the "Ghouls" had long since fled, and most of what needed dealing with were the "Ghosts" and Natural Spirits that had begun to take root on this land.
The army moved upstream along the river, pushing all the way to Saratoga City.
The area is rich in geothermal resources, dotted with numerous hot springs, so much so that even winter seems to arrive later than elsewhere; it's undoubtedly a treasure land.
With a moonlit silver hair tied high into a ponytail with a blue hair tie, and dressed in a pure white long gown, Angie seemed to be slightly glowing as she smiled warmly:
"Bess informed us that a suspected Tier 3 Totem God has been spotted in Buffalo, and a large number of Ghosts have gathered upstream, worrying about your possibly inadequate strength.
Just in time, our teacher had sent us to survey the terrain of the twelve colonies, and we've arrived here. With three Peak Wizards of the 'Mechanical Immortality School' at the helm, you should be capable of handling a Totem God."
However, another commander, Robert, still wore a serious expression:
"What we are really worried about is the 'Lady Crow' just across the river, and even more uncertain is whether the suspected Tier 3 Totem God mentioned in the intelligence has any connection to that powerful High-Rank Totem God.
If it is a trap set by the other side, even if we can drive it away or kill it, bigger troubles will still lie ahead, and this is what we need to consider..."
While they plotted their strategy.
Long accustomed to facing Spirit Demons that were almost devoid of intelligence, they had overlooked that the fully restored Tier 3 Totem God with a human body was an existence far more intelligent than humans.
It would indeed be strange if it remained at home, waiting for them to gather allies and attack.
"Is it them?"
In the dense forest by the riverbank, the 'Wild Bull God' Bello, bare-chested with towering horns, asked in a deep voice as he looked at the river valley camp dotted with campfires.
"Yes, my lord, it's them. These people once destroyed the grand plan of 'Lady Crow', a large-scale plague that was supposed to sweep across the continent to fuel her power failed thanks to the people behind them.
In the past, the Goddess didn't have the energy to deal with these small insect-like figures, but now they dare approach the vicinity of the Manchac Swamp boastingly, clearly not taking the Goddess seriously."
Behind him bowed the 'Mushroom People' and 'Insectoids'.
They were aware of their limitations, having been no match for Aiven and his group back then, and certainly not now, so it was most prudent to let someone else do the dirty work.
Pretending to avenge the Goddess, they instigated the powerful 'Wild Bull God' to take action for them.
The 'Wild Bull God' Bello, of course, had his own considerations.
'Lady Crow''s core authority is [Plague], but she controls the three domains of [Unclean], [Plague], and [Death].
After the native Primordial God 'Death God' Wuhao fell into silence and his [Death] authority could no longer manifest, large-scale killings and death nearby were undoubtedly beneficial for the expansion of 'Lady Crow''s power.
Just as a century ago,
The diseases brought by the first Hilus People to land on the New Continent led to a massive death of the Atrean People. In the early colonial days, many Native Tribes perished before even meeting those colonizers.
It was exactly during that large-scale plague that 'Lady Crow''s power got a significant boost, successfully breaking away from the shackles of faith and ascending to become a High-Rank Totem God.
Originally, he just intended to gather the 'Ghosts' drifting here to expand his influence, but if he could eliminate these colonizers who once offended the Lady, it would certainly be a great deal.
However, the newly aligned 'Wild Bull God' under 'Lady Crow' Ye He'er's command, though eager to solidify his status with a pledge, as a Totem God who had lived for centuries or millennia, could hardly be easily manipulated into reckless actions against unknown foes.
He raised high the obsidian saw sword in his hand.
Buzz——
The golden ripples spread out like water, as countless Spirit Bodies behind him formed a greenish torrent, pouring down towards the valley camp of the soldiers.
Rumble!
He was utilizing the inherent personality advantage of a Tier 3 Totem God to drive the 'Ghosts' and Natural Spirits to clear the path for him.
Ring! Ring! Ring!...
The camp was instantly ablaze with alarms.
"Enemy attack——!"
