Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1313 Should we prepare early?

After having a simple dinner with Medien, Sister Livia, Hino, and the Countess in a small room at the field hospital, Ling set off for the main camp. Thanks to a report from a sentry, he successfully met General Franzand, who was also having dinner. However, even while eating, the general did not neglect the war, frowning deeply as he mixed pickled cucumbers with his gruel and stared at the tactical map on the long table.

He was alone in the command tent, the dim light flickering and casting shifting shadows. The others were probably in the specially built officers' mess hall, enjoying a steaming feast: roast chicken, braised pork knuckle, white bread, and even wine and tobacco. These were special supplies donated by minor nobles and wealthy merchants from the occupied cities, transported via precious supply routes. If the soldiers could enjoy such a lavish meal during field operations, their morale would likely be even higher.

Unfortunately, the ordinary soldiers were unaware of the supplies' existence. When they arrived, they were sealed inside and out with "Do Not Open" tags. The general's adjutant even put aside his own duties to hand them over. Accompanying them were several cooks, stable boys, and even servants, providing the officers with every aspect of service, including daily meals, horse care, transportation, and official business. What pained Grayhill Eagle was that not only did the officers the general had brought from the North enjoy this treatment without a second thought, but even the rebel officers he had personally promoted seemed to be gradually assimilating into this system.

Once, they entrusted their lives to each other on the battlefield, and after the battle, they would laugh and chat around the same campfire, dreaming of a bright future. Now, it seems that an invisible chasm separates them. Some are still eating cold rations in the most dangerous places, always on guard against the enemy's every move, while another group has begun to indulge in the treatment they deserve after the war.

But the war is not over yet.

Grayhill Eagle thought pessimistically that perhaps human depravity was inevitable, and the longer this war dragged on, the deeper they would sink.

On the way to the camp, listening to Carson Borg recount his troubles, the young man realized more deeply that Hino's urgency was justified. This war truly should end sooner, not only to save the lives still to be lost, but also to salvage what could still be done.

So, at this moment, he stood before General Franz Sand and frankly told him his demands.

It was a very simple sentence, described as a request, but it was more like a notification. The young man's tone was very sincere, perhaps because he had never heard of polite formalities.

“If the attack on Suarez City makes no progress by tomorrow,” he paused slightly, then said, word by word, “please allow my Miss Hino Chin Gostaff to join the battle as a member of the rebels. She will bring you… victory.”

“Gostaff?” The general frowned at first, then relaxed. “Blood of the pioneers, a descendant of the White Knight?”

Lin Ge nodded slightly. He was not surprised that the reputation of the Gostaff family could reach this continent across the sea, because the Eastern Continent was originally a feudal, primitive, barbaric and backward old civilization. Ironically, in such an old civilization, many ancient things were well preserved, such as the chivalry that Xinuo had been pursuing.

The things that the White City Republic did not inherit, the things that the Knights of Lysenwell always claimed to have but never actually had, the things that the playwrights of the Great Britta Kingdom outwardly satirized but secretly envied… can be found in the Eastern Continent, for example, Mr. José Asher of the Pale Knights, who is a true knight.

"I see." The general nodded knowingly. "So she's your trump card, just like that whale in the sky?"

He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the tent to see the sky shrouded in night, and the giant whale roaming among the clouds and the darkness. It was not a colossus, yet it possessed power far greater than that. In General Franz Sand's knowledge, he had never seen any extraordinary sequence or any race's inherited magic possess such an ability—to bring inanimate objects to life—something even gods on the path of creation could not do.

“However,” the general withdrew his gaze, changing the subject, “even if she is very powerful, can she really dominate a battlefield and turn the tide of the current stalemate?”

Logically speaking, what should be able to do such a thing is an unprecedentedly large army, a meticulously planned scheme, or even a nation with a united will.

“Yes,” the young man replied without hesitation, his reasoning simple: “Because Xinuo’s power will far exceed your—or rather, exceed everyone’s imagination.”

General Franz Sander fell silent upon hearing this, seemingly lost in thought. He picked up the last pickled cucumber from the plate, mixed it with the last bit of batter, and chewed patiently. He didn't look like a commanding general; he resembled an ordinary old farmer by the roadside. He couldn't help but wonder, just how powerful could a force beyond everyone's imagination truly be? He had only heard similar descriptions from believers boasting of divine power, but throughout history, countless gods and heroes had perished in wars. Who dared to claim victory for themselves?
General Franz swallowed the last mouthful of pickled cucumber and gravy, his rough fingers unconsciously wiping the rim of the ceramic plate before he slowly raised his war-weary eyes, now filled with doubt, to look at Ling.

"So, what's the price?"

The general's voice was low and slow, as if he were savoring the weight of the words. "Young man, I have fought many battles. Some I won, but they were insignificant; some I lost, but the world knows about them. But win or lose, they have all made me realize that war never comes without a price, especially when you try to face it alone. I have witnessed the fall of gods more than once, all because of this kind of arrogance. What I find puzzling is that neither you nor Miss Xinuo seem to be that kind of person."

In that case, what price are you prepared to pay for this war?

Ling listened quietly to the general's questions, his face unwavering. Meeting the general's scrutinizing gaze, his tone remained steady, yet carried an undeniable certainty: "No price."

His voice was exceptionally clear in the flickering lamplight: "No one will pay the price, General."

This doesn't make sense.

General Franz Sander thought silently, "There's no such thing as a scale with gold on one side and nothing on the other that can still be balanced. So either Linger is lying, or the so-called 'price' is so heavy that others can't bear it. If they can't bear it, then they don't need to."

"What does she want?" the general suddenly asked. "The descendants of the White Knight came to this primitive and backward continent to help a group of strangers liberate their homeland and bring freedom and peace. She did so much, what did she ultimately want in return?"

General Franz Sand gazed at Ling for a long time. Although he asked, "What does she want?", he was actually asking, "What do you want?" because Hino's answer was already in his previous statement: As the strong, help the weak, uphold justice, and pursue peace. These are all the things the descendants of the White Knight need as a reward. As for other things, such as wealth, status, or even power, they are never within the scope of chivalry.

In contrast, what Linger pursued was far more intriguing. After the appearance of the Sky Whale, General Franzand had inquired with the Grayhill Eagles about this mysterious ally, but learned nothing beyond that they came from the Western Continent. Now, seizing this rare opportunity, the General attempted to use his years of experience in judging character to discern the true nature of the young man before him. A pure idealist? A well-hidden ambitious schemer? Or an undisputed saint?
neither.

“She just wants this war to end sooner,” Lin Ge said succinctly. “That way, fewer people will die.”

That's all?

That's it.

General Franzson paused for a moment, then replied, "Then, even if she doesn't participate in the battle, victory is already in the bag. The enemy won't last long; time is never on their side."

“No, you are mistaken, Your Excellency,” Linge reminded him humbly, “It is time that is never on our side.”

……

As he stepped out of the command tent, the moon was bright and the stars were few. A few dark clouds drifted by in the night, and the magnificent outline of a whale was faintly visible in the clouds. The whale's sharp eyes were watching over everything on the ground, making the city's garrison tremble with fear, not daring to cross the line even a step. Ling heard that when the soldiers talked in private, they always referred to the whale as the "guardian of the rebels," both curious about its origins and tight-lipped when asked, maintaining an air of mystery.

They could never have known that the one controlling such a magnificent creation was merely a determined country girl. Perhaps she hesitated, felt lost, and struggled at first, but as long as her companions were by her side, she was fearless.

Ling could almost picture everyone surrounding Ietta, accompanying and encouraging her.

It was as warm and cozy as if the war had never existed.

That's right, it never existed. In Ieta's mind, she had merely driven a group of unruly whales back to their free ocean. The word "war" was too heavy for her to bear for the time being.

"must……"

The young man gazed at the moon and murmured to himself, "It must be over soon, right?"

……

Inside the stable, Hino was wiping her beloved companion's body. They had just returned from a run, and Brandy's steps were as light as ever, reminding the girl of the joyful memories of riding her pony through the town of Regram in her childhood. With her slender fingers, she meticulously combed Brandy's soft mane, the moonlight outlining her delicate yet determined figure. The girl's movements were gentle and practiced, each wipe imbued with an almost reverent tenderness. Brandy stood obediently, occasionally snorting, the white breath dissipating in the cool night air. Sometimes, when Hino tickled a spot, it wouldn't struggle, but instead gently nuzzle its master's neck with its large head, as if playfully teasing her.

"Brandy the bad horse." Hino gently patted its head. "You're so big already, and you still like to act cute!"

"Neighing—"

Brandy cried out in grievance, but she knew that her owner was not actually angry; on the contrary, she was quite happy.

She wasn't happy because she was about to step onto the battlefield, but because she was about to leave it. Although leaving required first setting foot on the battlefield, the latter was an extremely brief process, so brief that it wouldn't leave any trace in the girl's memory. She would only remember the cheers after the victory, the tears of excitement, and that slightly melancholic hometown tune, telling of how the victorious knight mourned the lives lost at the tombstone.

Joy and sorrow are complex emotions that can coexist in this young girl.

……

"Did I hear that right?!" In Ovira's room at the Fairy Slumber Inn on Cloud Whale Sky Island, Princess Beman stared at the blonde girl in disbelief, as if she had witnessed the end of the world arrive early—or late: "What did you just say, Alice?"

“I said,” the genius player said solemnly, “I want to read a book.”

"Then you should go find Rorona."

"She only had books related to alchemy."

"Isn't that a good thing? Once you learn it, you can make your own potion to cure this sudden... uh, hysteria."

"I'm serious!" Alice exclaimed, clearly displeased. "How can you dampen a good student's thirst for knowledge?"

"Pfft!" Ovira blushed bright red. "I-cough cough! Sorry, I couldn't hold it in... haha..."

"Keep it to yourself!"

"Okay, okay."

Princess Beman struggled to suppress her laughter, trying to make her expression look serious: "Well then, tell me, what kind of book do you want to read? Just so you know, I don't have any game guides here, and you can't find any books from another world in the Great Library."

Alice crossed her arms and curled her lip: "Who said I wanted to read that kind of stuff? Find me some books about the Assyrian Kingdom of Paradise, the Cult of the Goddess of Creation, or the fairy races of the Eastern Continent."

"Huh, they're all serious books? Alice, are you serious?"

"nonsense!"

"It seems I misunderstood you. But why did you suddenly want to read this kind of book? Gathering intelligence in advance? Generally speaking, isn't that something only me, Lin Ge, or Sister Xia would do? You were playing games while we were doing these things."

There are no games to play.

Alice thought to herself, "She's even given the game console and cartridges to Ling."

He replied verbally, "Because I have a premonition."

"What premonition?"

"This war... will surely end soon."

Therefore, both she and everyone else need to prepare early.

Give me some cats