Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1314 Should I say thank you before the battle?
The following day, General Franz Sand changed his previous lukewarm approach and mobilized all available forces, including the Liberators' Front led by the Grayhill Eagle, the unified forces led by Countess Neville, the Iron Guards who were not suitable for siege warfare, the Mountain Falcon Knights who had suffered heavy losses in the previous days' battles, and even the Ice Curtain and Wind Howl mage groups that had been kept as secret weapons until now, to launch a massive all-out attack on Suarez City.

Caught completely off guard, the city's defenders hastily engaged in battle but suffered a crushing defeat. Under the cover of the Cloud Whale Sky Island, two mage legions, defying the interference of magical energy fields, forcibly cast spells. An ice storm, a mixture of frost and hurricane, carried unparalleled power, breaching the enemy's flank walls. Fully armed Iron Guards occupied the corridors and passes, engaging in bloody and brutal hand-to-hand combat with the swarming defenders on the walls. The vanguard of the rebel army even broke through to the streets, and the city's residents huddled in their homes, trembling as they listened to the sounds of battle and cries of agony coming from just beyond the walls…

Victory seemed within reach, but the enemy's resilience far exceeded everyone's expectations. Major General Andrei, who had been ridiculed as a "conservative" by the insurgents since the outbreak of the war, seemed to have his past memories stirred by the sense of crisis of life and death. He recalled how ambitious he had been when he first joined the army. This time, he was no longer conservative. He no longer hid in his tall, sturdy, and luxurious governor's mansion like a coward. Instead, he braved arrows and stones and personally went to the front line to supervise the battle. He not only killed several enemies with his own hands, but also did not spare his own men. An "honorary officer" who had been appointed by paying commission fees to the corps headquarters could not bear the cruelty of the battlefield and had a mental breakdown. He abandoned his soldiers and fled. Major General Andrei executed him on the spot. His reaction was even faster than the bullets of the military police.

"Hold on, reinforcements will arrive soon!!!"

The major general's cold, furious roar echoed amidst the deafening gunfire, yet remained remarkably clear: "The moment you donned this uniform, you were bound by the great and inviolable Military Regulations of the Sigris Axis Allied Forces: If a soldier deserts and the defenses collapse, the entire unit will be held accountable; if an officer deserts before the soldiers have collapsed, the officer will be executed, stripped of rank and military status, and stripped of all military privileges! Do not even think of surrendering! We are invaders, colonizers, devils who have come to steal their land, people, and gold! Devils surrendering to mortals only lead to death! If you do not wish to die, then defend this city, defend your last escape route!!!"

Faced with a life-or-death crisis, Major General Andrei took the initiative to peel back the veil of pretense and openly acknowledged the 17th Legion's identity as an aggressor and colonizer, instead of defining it as "a military protection group recognized by both the Empire and the Kingdom and possessing legitimate autonomy in the Ansers region" as before, whether in the treaty signed with the Kingdom of Noah or in the official documents issued by the Legion to the people of Gray Hill. As for His Majesty the Emperor's desire to seize Gray Hill, this overseas jewel, to enhance his own crown, he had long since forgotten about it.

Because he had to make his soldiers realize that this was a war of life and death, and that they should not harbor any illusions. In the eyes of the colonists of Grayhill, the Seventeenth Legion was the devil, an unforgivable sinner! Mortals feared the devil, but they also hated them. Given the chance, they would show no mercy, skinning them alive, breaking their bones, drinking their blood, and devouring their flesh to vent their hatred. This was the only end and fate for them!
Only after realizing they were devils could the soldiers cast aside their worries and hesitations, abandoning the last vestiges of their humanity, and fight like true devils. Whether with bullets, cannons, swords, or even biting with their teeth or scratching with their nails, brutality and ruthlessness were permitted, and indifference and numbness were not considered against their nature. Any method or means was merely Andrei's way of igniting their will to resist for survival.

With their commander leading the charge, the officers, from their adjutant Krisius down, were as if injected with a powerful stimulant. No longer dodging orders from behind cover, they charged into this bloodiest meat grinder with bloodshot eyes. Andrei's declaration was like a key, unlocking the legendary Pandora's box and unleashing the primal instincts long suppressed by discipline and fear.

"Did you hear me? We are devils!" Cresius roared through gritted teeth, his hands on the shoulders of a young soldier cowering in a corner, his voice dripping with rage. Faced with mortal danger, even this young officer of noble birth could no longer maintain his composure: "Devils don't need cowards! Pick up your guns, or your swords, use whatever means necessary, just bite, tear, and destroy these natives of the Eastern Continent! Drive them to purgatory, and only then will we survive!!!"

The fear hadn't vanished, but it had transformed. Major General Andrei had successfully transformed the trembling in the soldiers' eyes, born of the fear of death, into a deeper despair and madness about their fate. Madness can drive people mad, that's undeniable, but it also brings power. As a result, the insurgent's siege forces faced an unprecedented counterattack. The brutal fighting raged from day to dusk, the bloodshed enough to make even the most hardened heart close their eyes, unable to bear the sight.

General Franz Sander sighed silently as the last rebel force withdrew through the breach in the city wall.

Relying on the city's strong defenses, the overpowered operation of the four force field devices, and the soldiers' relentless counterattack regardless of casualties, Major General Andrei won this battle with great difficulty. But could he enjoy the victory? No, it was just a brief respite.

As a symbol of Suarez's unyielding spirit, the city walls now resembled those gnawed by a colossal beast, the most horrifying sight being at the gaping wound torn open by the icy storm. Corpses piled upon each other, forming a small, mangled mountain of flesh. The remains of rebel soldiers, garrison soldiers, the heavy black iron armor of the Divine Iron Guards, the tattered feathers of the Mountain Falcon Knights… all sorts of identities and attire were intertwined, covered in solidified dark red ice crystals, and then crushed into indistinguishable pulp by subsequent artillery fire and trampling. A few bold crows had already begun to descend, greedily pecking at exposed eyeballs and entrails, emitting chilling cawing.

Groans were the most common sound in the city at this moment. The wounded huddled in the corners of the ruins, leaned against broken walls, or lay on the cold, dirty streets. Some were howling in pain, their voices hoarse and desperate; others were only emitting unconscious, intermittent sobs or whimpers. The soldiers, as if all their strength had been drained, slumped down beside pools of blood and corpses, their backs against the broken walls. Their faces no longer held the bloodlust and fanaticism of battle, but rather an extreme numbness and emptiness.

Major General Andrei unleashed the demons within them, transforming fear and despair into fighting spirit. But once the blazing flames cooled, only charred embers remained. The demons within would not return once released. What words would he use next to encourage—or rather, force—they to continue fighting?
The soldiers fought to avoid going to purgatory, unaware that they were already in purgatory.

"Clean up the battlefield, take stock of casualties... gather up usable weapons and ammunition..." His voice was hoarse and dry, unusually clear in the deathly silence of the ruins, yet utterly devoid of warmth. "Reinforce the breaches... especially at night, beware of night attacks..."

But he could rest assured, because there would be no night raid tonight.

After the siege, a military conference was held within the rebel army, ostensibly to "unify opinions," but in reality, everyone disagreed. A group of officers from the North, represented by the lieutenant, secretly criticized their commander for being too reckless, arguing that the precious Northern army shouldn't be wasted on such a pointless assault. Local officers, represented by the Eagle of Grayhill, argued that although the siege had failed, the results were undeniable, and that if the assault continued, the enemy would eventually collapse. A merchant representative humbly suggested that perhaps a siege without attack was a better strategy, freeing up troops to clear trade routes already occupied by bandits, greatly benefiting the entire Grayhill region. A church representative then began to subtly hint that if the Eagle of Grayhill were willing to consider their previous proposals, the church could secretly contact the bishop of the Grayhill Cathedral in Suarez, coordinating an inside-outside attack to capture the fortified city…

Everyone has their own ideas, and each faction has its own demands. There are endless meetings, never-ending debates, and opinions that can never be agreed upon... General Franz Sander remained expressionless, but his thoughts had already drifted outside the command tent, recalling the scene from last night.

After the meeting, he found Hino Jyn Gostaff, who was helping out at the field hospital, and said only one sentence to this descendant of the White Knight: "Thank you for your help."

After washing the blood off her hands in a basin of water, the girl with snow-white hair and wine-red eyes smiled politely and replied, "Leave it to me." Thus, on the third day, the knights of the Gostaff family donned their armor and went into battle.

……

The first light of dawn couldn't penetrate the heavy gloom hanging over the rebel camp outside Suarez. Yesterday's disastrous defeat in the final assault weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a cold anvil; even the air seemed to thicken with the bitter mingled scent of blood and gunpowder. The camp resonated with the lingering echoes of weary, frustrated, and repressed arguments, mirroring the distant, scarred, and lifeless city.

Hino Gynt Gestaf stood still.

She had shed the simple clothes stained with blood from her time helping at the field hospital yesterday, and donned the Ice Heart armor, a heirloom of the Gostaff family. The clean, flowing lines of the holy white armor, gleaming with a restrained silver sheen, each curve seemingly imbued with the weight of time and vows. The armor plates clung tightly to her slender yet powerful body, like a second skin. Her snow-white hair was carefully tied back into a ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and long neck. A few unruly silver strands fell behind her temples, making her wine-red eyes appear even deeper, like solidified crimson wine, reflecting the dappled sunlight outside the tent, and also reflecting thoughts unseen by anyone.

The tent was quiet, save for the soft clanging of metal parts and her almost silent, steady breathing. Countess Neville was meticulously performing a final check, adjusting the straps of her arm armor to ensure every joint moved freely. While marveling at the magnificence and exquisite craftsmanship of the armor, a creation of elven artisans, she spoke of yesterday's battle with a nonchalant tone: "The enemy's defenses in the Eastern District are very tight. I estimate the control center for the force field devices is in that area, or at least one of them. If you want to end this war with minimal casualties, destroying the control center first would be a good option. After all, the enemy has only been able to hold out this long because of the force field devices; destroying even one of them would completely demoralize them and force them to surrender..."

“Thank you, Miss Neville.” Hino gently stretched her arms and legs, making sure she could be ready for battle as soon as she stepped out of the tent. “Good suggestion, I’ll keep it in mind.”

"Just don't take it as old people's nagging," Neville said casually. "Leticia can't stand hearing that."

After saying that, she let go of his hand and took a step back: "Okay."

Hino nodded slightly and slowly stepped out of the tent. Ling led Brandy to her; the latter, also clad in holy white armor, looked as majestic and sacred as if she had just descended from the snow-capped mountains to the mortal realm. Hino mounted her horse, her gaze sweeping across the distant battlefield. The rebel army's formation was complete, awaiting their attack. They would advance alongside the young knight, serving both as cover and as a vital fighting force. After all, even if Hino managed to break through the enemy's defenses alone, she wouldn't be able to capture important strategic targets along the way, such as bastions, walls, towers, and city blocks.

For this war, simply defeating them is not enough; complete occupation and conquest are essential.

General Franz Sander stood a distance away in front of the command tent, his gaze calmly fixed on her. He said nothing, only giving a slight nod. Some officers stood behind him, watching the young knight's serene yet imposing figure. Quiet murmurs arose, filled with astonishment, curiosity, and deep disbelief. Even now, they couldn't believe that this young woman was the core of today's tactics. What abilities did she possess that made the general value her so highly?
Hino couldn't explain, and Linge had no intention of explaining; he believed that after this battle, all doubts would disappear.

"..." After hesitating for a moment, Ling Ge walked up to Xinuo's horse and said softly, not as encouragement, but as, "Thank you."

Xinuo paused for a moment, then smiled, revealing her white teeth.

“You’re really strange,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve ever met someone who thanks her just as she’s about to go to war. But perhaps that’s just your style, Linger.”

Before the young man could react, she urged her horse forward and set off alone towards Suarez City, her steps steady and firm. The morning light stretched the shadow of the Holy Lance White Thorn long, like a sliver of cold moonlight piercing through the darkness.

Although it was still early morning.

Give me some cats