Don’t raise unruly people in extreme cold weather

Chapter 858

"What's the local food supply situation?" Perfect asked briefly, his eyes scanning the two officers sharply.

Radcliffe immediately straightened his back, pointed his finger at the notebook and continued, "90.7% rely on compressed biscuits produced by alchemy factories. There are currently three alchemy factories in the local area, responsible for providing basic rations for all tribes."

He paused, then added: “Only seven tribes occupying geothermal springs can still maintain a small amount of traditional food production.”

Valken suddenly sneered, and his right hand unconsciously pressed on the saber at his waist: "Those kings hiding by the hot springs have now slaughtered and eaten their last few camels. My scouts intercepted their messenger for help yesterday."

He deliberately emphasized the word "help", and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

"Ask for help?" Perfecto narrowed his eyes slightly, and his voice suddenly turned cold. "Are they still resisting the Empire?"

Radcliffe immediately stopped Valken from speaking with a stern look.

He took a deep breath, lightly touched the heels of his boots, and reported: "Report to the Regent, according to the latest intelligence assessment, these tribes have signed the documents of surrender on the surface, but..." His Adam's apple rolled, and his voice tightened slightly, "but there is indeed a situation of lip service."

The Governor's knuckles were slightly whitening at the edge of his notepad.

He had originally prepared a perfect rhetoric, intending to package this issue as "the last struggle of the remaining forces."

After all, these chieftains don't even have decent weapons now, and can only do some small actions behind the scenes. He and Valken have already formulated a thorough plan to eliminate them, and they just need to wait for the plan to take effect...

But Valken's talkativeness exposed all of this to Perfectcot.

Radcliffe could feel the cold sweat oozing from the back of his neck and running down the collar of his military uniform. He knew too well the style of this imperial regent known as the Bloody Earl.

Having once served in the North, he knew exactly how Perfectcott treated those who rebelled against her.

"Tell me more specifically." Perfect's fingers tapped the armrests of the chair, and each tap seemed to hit the Governor's heart. "I want to know what these 'bugs' are planning."

Radcliffe pointed to the map hanging in his office with a wooden stick and explained to Perfecto: "Regent, please look, this is the only volcanic belt in the Desert Kingdom, which is called Black Stone Mountain by the locals. The fertile soil accumulated by volcanic ash and the hot springs that never freeze all year round around the mountain formed by volcanic lava make it the most fertile land in this deadly desert. Even now, it still maintains the last green in the desert."

Valken's knuckles turned white from rubbing his sword. "Those foxes hiding at the foot of the volcano have been secretly supporting various rebel forces, relying on the natural barrier and abundant resources. My scouts have discovered them transporting food and weapons to the rebel camps more than once."

"The most troublesome thing is those ancient beliefs..." Radcliffe took off his monocle and said with a headache: "Before launching an attack, the rebel leaders would go to the hot springs in the crater for a so-called 'holy bath'. Those bewitched thugs firmly believed that the hot spring water could make them invulnerable to swords and guns."

Perfect's eyes swept across the settlements marked with red circles on the map. Each circle precisely encircled a hot spring.

Radcliffe's voice became increasingly low: "Among the seven kings who surrendered on the surface, more than half of them had participated in the rebellion. They used volcanic sulfur to create smoke and lit it at night, making the fools think that it was the gods' work." Valken suddenly sneered, and his military boots heavily rolled over a grain of sand on the ground: "What god's favor? It's just a group of rats hiding in the hot springs."

"It sounds like a group of flies hiding in a cesspool." Perfecto narrowed his eyes, leaned on his cane with both hands and asked slowly: "Why didn't Her Majesty eradicate them completely?

Even if they surrender, their lair should be turned upside down, or at least those hot springs should be kept in the Empire's hands.

Radcliffe's Adam's apple rolled, and his back straightened under his military uniform: "Your Majesty... be merciful! After these kings and chiefs voluntarily offered their letters of surrender, Your Majesty forgave their sins."

"After all." His eyes drooped slightly, avoiding Perfecto's sharp gaze, and he swallowed the words back. As the governor, he knew too well what to say and what not to say.

Perfect sneered and slammed the map shut. “Oh, chivalry.”

There was a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"Sometimes, paying too much attention to these empty things may give bedbugs the opportunity to exploit." She turned and looked at the raging snow outside the window. She didn't say much, but her clenched fists revealed her inner displeasure.

"My Lord Regent, how do you think we should deal with these kings and their tribes?" Radcliffe bowed slightly, his voice low but maintaining the clear tone unique to a soldier.

His fingers unconsciously stroked the sword at his waist, and he was obviously ready to carry out any order.

Perfect waved his hand nonchalantly, his eyes still fixed on the snow outside the window. "Just follow your original plan. If you need reinforcements, write a report and I'll sign it."

Her tone was as calm as if she was discussing tomorrow's weather. After she finished speaking, she sneered softly, as if she was mocking those kings and chiefs for not being worthy of her personal concern.

"As you command, Regent." Radcliffe's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little, and the heels of his military boots touched lightly, making a crisp sound.

Perfect turned around and adjusted the collar of her cloak. "I came to the Desert Kingdom mainly to investigate an ancient ruin." The corners of her mouth raised a meaningful arc. "You guys just do what you need to do. You don't have to take care of me."

This was said lightly, but the two officers understood that the Regent's itinerary was not their business.

However, Valken still asked, "My Lord Regent, do you need me to send a guide to help you find the ruins?"

"I wonder what kind of ruins the Regent is looking for? I know a guide. Her journey in finding the way in the desert is tortuous and bizarre. She is a rare and qualified guide for you, the Regent." Radcliffe tried to recommend the guide he knew to Perfectcot. She was really an expert at navigating the desert. There was no place she couldn't find, and no commission she couldn't complete.

"A temple that depicts the advent of the God of Ice and Snow, preferably the oldest one." Perfectoct informed Radcliffe of his goal.

(End of this chapter)