Elden: Ring of Calamity

Chapter 374 King's Order
"I don't want you to go..." In the small conference room, Michaela's usually gentle face rarely showed a trace of anger, "The situation in the capital is unclear, especially my father's attitude is unclear. Going to the North at this time is risking your life and property!"

"That's why I can't wait any longer," Lucia explained seriously. "The Fire Giant's southward movement is too strange. I'm sure there must be someone inside the capital who is helping them. If we move north immediately, we might catch them off guard. The longer we delay, the more time we give the enemy to prepare."

"so what?"

Mikaela slammed her delicate fist on the conference table. "Rebels are rebels after all. There are still garrisons, the Flame Temple, the Sixteen Clans of Samir, and the ice dragon Borelios in the North! Such a short time is not enough for those fire giants to swallow up the entire ice field safely! At best, they have only cut off all the main roads from north to south. We can definitely wait!"

"Wait until the dust settles in the capital and the crisis of epilepsy is over. Let Priest For and Raccard go talk to my father and come up with a precise plan. It will be easier to sweep the North with the strength of the three dynasties than the Battle of Shattered Star. It is better than you leading tens of thousands of troops alone to fight for your lives in a deadly place we know nothing about!"

Marlenya sat across the conference table holding a prosthetic knife, her clear eyes full of tension and worry. She looked at her brother and then at Lucia. She wanted to interrupt several times, but found that she really didn't know what to say. She could only pout and sit down aggrievedly.

She was also extremely reluctant to let Lucia go to the North. He had just fought a terrible war that nearly killed him, and now he was going alone to a place that sounded even more dangerous. Even if he only took herself with him, it would be fine.

"I know, I know you're right, Michaela—"

Lucia let out a long breath, as if to relieve the anxiety in his chest. He stood up and walked to the French window, gently pressed his slightly painful brow under his silver hair, and said: "But as you said, it is not a wild land."

"There are 500,000 Samirs, 800,000 Storm Survivors, and many more innocent and defenseless people. Waiting is the safest option for us, but every second we wait, we push them one step closer to the abyss, and our duties as gods and kings will be tarnished with another mark of shame."

"Do you remember when we raided Duoris's underground secret vault?" He tilted his head, the cold moonlight reflected in his eyes, as sharp as the edge of a sword.

"I was late once, and I promised the child who was almost sacrificed in the dragon feast that I would never be late again, no matter what."

Michaela stared at him blankly for a long time, then let out a sullen breath, and in annoyance swept away the many intelligence documents on the table, saying, "I can't argue with you. What's the point of reading these anymore? If you want to go, just go!"

Marenia glanced quickly to the left and right, then raised her hands cautiously.

"You are not allowed to go!" Firm voices of stopping came from both sides at the same time.

"Oh." The little girl responded softly, slowly moved her legs onto the chair, hugged her knees and curled up like a lost little rabbit.

Marennia felt a sour nose, and the corners of her eyes began to feel hot and sore. The feeling of grievance in her heart became stronger, and suddenly she felt a warm touch on her head.

Looking up, although there was a hint of fatigue and heaviness between Lucia's brows, the pair of ice-blue eyes in front of her were still as doting as in the past.

"Just wait at home and take good care of yourself and your brother. I will be back soon, okay?" He ruffled her rosy hair. "Next time you come back, I will test your swordsmanship."

Marenia quickly lowered her head, rubbed it on her trouser legs, and said muffledly through the fabric: "Hmm."

"but."

"Ok?"

"You have to come back soon. My sister Lani is waiting for you."

The girl's body trembled slightly in her palm, and Lucia felt as if her heart was gently stabbed by the prosthetic knife. After a long time, she gently responded: "I understand, I won't let you wait too long."

The clock struck four o'clock. Lucia reluctantly withdrew her hand, walked to the table, took another sealed document, handed it to Michaela, and said, "Time is tight, so I didn't let Latan come back this time. After I leave, you can discuss the plan with him."

Michaela took a quick look and found that the content included detailed response plans for hundreds of problems in the military, political, and livelihood aspects of the Eastern Territory, and even included the Ancient Dragon Temple and the Ancient Dragon Dynasty Chamber of Commerce in Rodel to deal with the New Party's attack, as well as multiple strategies for the Far Eastern Islands and Fam Azra's homeland to defend against external attacks. He was a little surprised and said, "You have prepared so many things in such a short time?"

"Many things have been prepared long before the Star Shattering War. I noticed something strange in the North a long time ago, but I didn't expect the opponent to move so quickly. Because of this, we can't delay any longer."

Michaela carefully put away the documents and nodded, "Don't worry about the things at home. Even if we take a step back, we still have an outside trump card."

Lucia glanced at him and smiled, "It's a pair of aces."

At this point, the worry on Michaela's face finally eased a little. He took out the message from the Burning Sun Legion from his arms, pushed it across the table toward Lucia, and said, "Take this and go."

Lucia took the token engraved with the sun pattern, took one last look at Michaela and Malenia, then turned around and strode out of the meeting room.

Passing through a simple and solemn corridor, there is a spacious auditorium in front. Twelve-meter-high stone pillars support the magnificent dome. The light of the stars and the moon shines through the colored glaze, casting a layer of clear light on the battle robes of dozens of generals below.

The moment they saw Lucia appear on the altar, twenty-seven generals and officers above the rank of legion commander from the Ancient Dragon Dynasty Army and the Blazing Sun Legion all knocked on their breastplates in salute.

Lucia raised her hand to show the Sun Token and Godwin's handwritten letter, then put them down and said, "An hour ago, I believe you have read the military situation in the North on the way here."

"To put it simply, at the request of Prince Godwin and in response to the wishes of millions of people in the North, I intend to personally lead 30,000 elite cavalry to cross the Storm Sea to conquer the rebellion and suppress the rebellion."

"Half of the Northern Expedition Army will be used to attack the Ancient Dragon Dynasty Army, and the other half will be used to attack the Blazing Sun Legion. Now listen to my orders, the ninth, twelfth, and thirteenth legion commanders of the Storm Knights, step out!"

Amid the sound of clanging footsteps, three Ancient Dragon Dynasty legion commanders wearing heavy mithril armor stepped forward.

"You three will each gather 5,000 elite soldiers, four horses each, and keep your baggage simple. Be ready within an hour."

"Yes!"

"The rest of the Ancient Dragon Dynasty Army members must follow the orders of Priest Lance Sanx during the Northern Expedition. If Priest Lance is not present, follow the orders of Prince Michaela and strictly guard the Eastern Border without any mistakes!"

"Yes!"

As the fifteen Ancient Dragon officers took orders and left, only twelve officers of the Blazing Sun Legion were left in the auditorium. Lucia looked down at the twelve proudly standing generals from a high position and said in a deep voice: "As Prince Godwin said in the letter, if I send troops to the northern border, all 70,000 troops of the Blazing Sun Legion in the eastern border will be under my command. Now I also only have three places left for you. Those who are willing to follow me into battle, step forward!"

Clang—the twelve generals took a step forward in unison, like a row of swords drawn from their sheaths.

"In that case, the Blazing Sun Legion, listen to my orders. The commanders of the Fifth and Seventh Legions will each select 6,000 men to stand by. Commander of the Tenth Legion, order all 3,000 Great Tree Guards under your command to be ready to go. The rest of the generals will also follow the orders of Priest Lance and Prince Michaela and garrison the Eastern Border. Do you have any questions?"

"We obey your command!" the twelve generals of the Blazing Sun Legion responded in unison.

Before the Battle of Shattered Star, apart from Godwin, there was absolutely no other person in the world who could command this most powerful army so easily.

However, after the Battle of Shattered Star, the soldiers who had witnessed the dragon quasi-king slashing stars with one sword and who had survived under the Star of Destruction under his protection had already offered their highest loyalty to Lucia in their hearts.

Once the king's order is issued, all the troops will follow!
(End of this chapter)