In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 111 An Inevitable War? Kjerag's Last Trump Card?
This was an answer that no one had expected.

Chen Qi's cold and domineering response, which seemed somewhat out of character for him, plunged the atmosphere into an eerie silence.

Unexpectedly, Chen Qi was so assertive when facing a formidable opponent. Fiona's eyes gleamed with admiration.

Enshiodis and Enya cast surprised and proud glances at their brother.

Although Yela smiled without saying a word, she clenched her little fist behind her back, feeling quite relieved.

After all, Glaufeld's arrogant words were a great insult to her, the guardian deity of Sherag.

Although Yera is a benevolent deity, that does not mean she is without her own temper.

This does not mean that she felt no anger whatsoever towards these two greedy men who made no attempt to conceal their greed and try to seize Sherag for themselves.

However, Yela was also well aware that although Sherag had broken free from its constraints and embarked on the road to prosperity under Chen Qi's leadership within three years.

But that annoying Glaufeld was right about one thing.

The current Sherag is far too weak.

Three years is still too short a time. Shelag has only recently entered a period of rapid development and does not yet have much capacity to develop its military.

Furthermore, Letania and Victoria are the two most powerful empires on the continent of Terra.

Sherag was absolutely no match for either of the armies of the two great empires.

...Even if I joined this war, I probably wouldn't be able to withstand the artillery fire and tanks of Letania.

It seems that the best option is to go all out and use bluffing to make the people of both countries back down.
However, just as he was about to make a long-awaited appearance and reveal his power as a "god", he was about to...

Yera's hand was pressed back by Chen Qi, who was standing to the side, without anyone noticing, forcing Yera to break free from the process of circulating her power.

The next second, before Yela could turn her head in surprise, she felt Chen Qi grip her hand even tighter.

Yela understood that Chen Qi was reminding her not to do anything unnecessary.

But doesn't that mean... he knows who he is?

But how would Qi know?

When was I exposed?

"...King Kalan, you really are a man of few words."

Before Yela could recover from the chaos, Glaufeld, who had fully understood Chen Qi's words, also revealed a dangerous smile.

"It's a pity that I thought you, who led Sherag out of its isolation, would be a wise king."

"But I never expected you to be so incredibly foolish, unable to even see the situation clearly."

As he spoke, Glaufel gave a bloodthirsty smile, his tone tentative but his expression full of provocation and fearlessness as he said:

"Your Majesty, do you truly believe that Khelag can withstand the iron torrent of our great empire?"

"……Ah."

However, to the surprise of the esteemed Glaufeld, the king of this small country, who was far inferior to him as an envoy from a great power, showed him a familiar look of disdain.

It was as confident and composed as the emperor he genuinely respected.

This strange feeling made Glaufeld subconsciously feel a certain respect for the King of Kalan before him.

Soon, he received a response from Chen Qi.

“Your Grace, I have already made myself very clear.”

"Sherag has never had any intention of getting involved in the conflicts on Terra. We are just a small country trying to survive in the cracks."

"Perhaps, in the eyes of you Leitanian soldiers, Sherag is nothing more than a small country that you can easily destroy on your conquests."

"But if you think that Kherag is a land you can bully at will, you are sorely mistaken."

"You have an iron torrent, and we have an iron will."

“I am not a king to be slaughtered at your mercy, and Shelag is not a land to be enslaved at your mercy.”

Chen Qi's posture grew increasingly solemn, and he spoke with unwavering decisiveness and clarity:

"We Shelag people may be poor, but we are absolutely not afraid to die in battle."

"We welcome friends with fine wine, and we also have weapons when wild beasts come!"

Having said that, Chen Qi suddenly stood up from his throne, showing no fear of the envoy from a great power despite being the ruler of a small country.

Chen Qi would not be afraid of a former subordinate.

They would never grovel before the bullying of a great power comes, simply because they are the king of a small country!
"Now, tell me, Duke Glaufeld."

"Leytania, friend or beast?"

"..."

An eerie silence lasted for quite some time; for a moment, the palace was so quiet that one could hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.

Under Chen Qi's icy gaze, he witnessed Glaufel's expression gradually shift from a slight fear to composure, and finally, a solemn reply:

"...Your Majesty, King Kalan."

"I have to say, what just happened has changed my opinion of you somewhat."

“I was very confident about this negotiation. I thought that a ruler of a small country like yours had no other choice but to rely on us.”

"I even thought that as long as I used the Empire's military power to threaten and intimidate you, you would be so scared that you would kneel down and beg for mercy."

"Just like those self-proclaimed noble knights in Kazimierz."

"But I was wrong."

As he spoke, a look of both ferocity and admiration appeared on Glaufeld's serious face.

"You are undoubtedly a worthy king."

“If you were the emperor of a great nation, then I have no doubt that you would be the most formidable opponent the Leitanian army has ever faced.”

"Unfortunately, you are only the king of a small country. Your wise decisions still cannot change the fate of your country's destruction."

"And as a worthy opponent, Letania will spare no effort to annihilate you!"

Having said that, Glaufeld said no more. After giving Chen Qi a solemn and familiar salute, the duke turned and left without hesitation.

Watching Graufeld's departing figure, everyone present understood.

The smoke of war is about to descend upon this land.

"...I never expected that the King of Kalan would be such a charismatic ruler."

"It seems that Victoria may need to reconsider her collaboration with Sherag."

On the other hand, although they were also impressed by Chen Qi's imposing presence, the Duke of Caesar did not show Chen Qi the same respect as Glaufeld.

"Of course, you can change your mind at any time. We're always ready to assist you if you ask Victoria for help."

"Then, please excuse me."

She considered herself a noblewoman and looked down on Sherag's defense forces even more than the people of Letania. After a few perfunctory bows, she left without looking back.

After the Duke of Caesar left, the two guards quickly followed her. One of them hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice:

"Your Grace, are you no longer planning to proceed with the poisoning operation?"

"What poison? Can't you see? The Leitanian army is about to arrive."

The Duke of Caesar, who had never expected things to turn out this way, beamed with unexpected elation and smiled faintly:
"What we need to compete on now is speed. We need to quickly assemble our army and get there before the Leitanian army arrives in Sherag!"

"As long as our army reaches the foot of Shelag first and tears Shelag's army apart, then we can seize this important stronghold!"

"If we were a step too slow..."

A malicious smile appeared on the Duke of Caesar's face as he said softly:
"Then let His Majesty the King of Kalan, who is 'wise and mighty' in the eyes of the Leitanians, fight the Leitanian army to the death."

"We just need to stand by and wait for the snipe and the clam to fight, so that the fisherman can benefit."

"We could even take advantage of the situation while the Kjerag and the Letanian armies are locked in battle to launch a surprise attack!"

"——Your Excellency is wise!"

After listening to the Duke of Caesar's strategy, the two men disguised as guards, known as "Grey Hats," exchanged bewildered glances and were deeply impressed by the Duke's wisdom.

However, the Duke of Caesar had two other plans.

After leaving the palace, she did not rush to leave with her guards, but waited until the Colombian ambassador appeared.

"Ambassador, please wait a moment."

"Your Majesty the Duke?"

The Colombian ambassador, seeing that Kaster was waiting for him, quickly realized that the other party must have something to ask, and inquired in a humble yet assertive manner:
"May I ask what important matter brings Your Grace to wait here?"

"Of course."

Although she also looked down on the Colombians who had broken away from Victoria, the Duke of Caesar was indeed the one among the eight dukes who had the clearest understanding of the situation. She knew very well that with a major war imminent, she should try her best to create as many allies as possible for Victoria and reduce as many enemies as possible.

As long as the rewards she receives are commensurate with her efforts, she can temporarily set aside her pride.

"I would also like to trouble the Colombian ambassador to convey a message to your president."

Kast approached the Colombian ambassador with a smile, but behind that sweet smile lay a meticulously planned conspiracy.

“Victoria very much hopes that the President will reconsider the alliance with Letania in light of the current situation.”

“Victoria is well aware that Colombia and Letania are trying to carve up our territory.”

"But if Letania really does destroy Victoria, how can Colombia compete with a powerful nation that occupies the western continent?"

"Shelag is now the best strategic location for our two countries to wear down the war machine of Letania."

"I believe that as long as our two countries join hands and take Shelag together first."

"Therefore, Letania's offensive will inevitably be delayed, and even if he wants to conquer our Victoria, it will take more time and sacrifice."

"In this situation where both sides are utterly exhausted... I think this is the most favorable situation for Colombia, isn't it?"

The Duke of Caesar's reasoned explanation left the Colombian ambassador silent for a long time.

And soon, Kester received the answer he wanted.

"I will certainly report the Duke's remarks to the President truthfully."

"—Then I hope your president can react quickly."

The Duke of Cactus, his smile widening with satisfaction, chuckled and replied:

"Leytania won't give us much time to think."

……

"Qi, what do you plan to do?"

After all the outsiders left, an anxious Fiona turned her gaze to Chen Qi.

Judging from Chen Qi's speech, Fiona knew that her friend would never surrender to either country.

However, Sherag has only recently risen to power and has not even had time to develop its own military strength. How can they fight against a powerful nation like Letania?
However, Chen Qi, who had been preparing for this day for the past three years, was unusually calm.

After taking a few deep breaths, he gave his instructions.

"Gentlemen, listen to my command."

"Notify all factories, troops, and reserves in Shelag to be ready to enter a state of first-level combat readiness at any time, taking the repatriation of the Letanian tourists as a signal."

"All Shelag factories began expedited production of weapons and equipment, intensified mining operations, and were prepared to cut off the outer rails and relocate the surrounding residents."

After explaining everything, Chen Qi turned his gaze to Ensiodes, a hint of determination in his eyes.

"Prime Minister, take me to our military factory. I need to inspect our preparations."

"Yes!"

Ensiodis nodded heavily. Similarly, from the moment the war actually broke out, he never questioned any of his brother's predictions again.

In his eyes, his elder brother was the most far-sighted and greatest monarch on this land, perhaps without equal.

Although he is the prime minister and the successor designated by his elder brother, he still needs to hone his skills for a very long time.

After Chen Qi and Ensiodes left, only Enya, Yera, and Fiona remained in the palace, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Fiona: "...Qi, it seems you forgot to tell the people of Sherag about the impending war."

"Is that so? I think His Majesty might be deliberately not wanting to say."

However, as the head maid who served Chen Qi at all times, Yera understood Chen Qi's thoughts better than Fiona, and smiled:

"Since the three years of his 'tyrannical rule,' His Majesty has no expectation that the people of Sherag will support him."

"He had been preparing for the upcoming war, storing enough grain to support the war effort well in advance."

"I think he must have believed that even if the people of Shelag didn't support him, he could still drive the invaders away with the army and his own arrangements, right?"

"...That's just how my brother is. He likes to shoulder everything alone and doesn't want to explain himself to anyone."

Hearing Yera's words, Enya, deeply moved, nodded, her expression wistful yet tinged with self-reproach as she murmured:

"But to be honest, how can we really help my brother?"

“My brother always sees further than we do. We can’t even keep up with his way of thinking, so how can we help him?”

For a moment, Enya's soft voice plunged the scene into silence.

But just then, Yela seemed to have come up with a solution after a moment, and smiled as she suggested to Enya:
"If our dear His Majesty feels that the people of Shelag do not believe him because of his past actions."

"Then, our beloved Saintess, our righteous Governor, and General Fiona, who is beloved by the peasants."

"In this critical moment, could we unite the people of Shelag and stand together under His Majesty's command to resist the invaders?"

"...Can we...?"

However, Yera's words seemed to open up a new perspective for Enya and Fiona.

While Fiona was still doubting her own appeal, Enya, as a saintess, immediately realized that this was her area of ​​expertise.

And rallying the people's hearts and uniting the will of the Sherag people was the last thing this saint could do for her brother and for Sherag, which was in imminent danger.

"—Yela, go and tell Miss Chen that I have an urgent matter that I need her help with!"

"Yes~"

Seeing the strong conviction shining in Enya's eyes, Yela felt as if she were witnessing her own child grow up, and offered her support with a loving smile.

Meanwhile, on the other side, beneath the enormous statue of Jeragund.

Everyone assumed that this wonder of Kjerag was created simply to attract tourists.

But no one could have imagined that the statue was just an illusion.

The true purpose of this statue is to serve as the only entrance to the underground weapons factory in Shelag!

Chen Qi and Ensiodes took the underground elevator to the most mysterious factory in Sherag.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, the sound of metal clashing filled their ears.

Beneath the vast, dark underground factory, countless hardworking workers and scientists in white robes busily moved about.

Every now and then, people would nod to each other, exchange brief messages, check each other's data, and then hurriedly part ways.

The two encountered no obstacles and arrived directly at the heart of the factory.

Here, Nohis had been waiting for them for a long time.

How are our secret weapons coming along?

"--very good."

When Chen Qi asked him a question, Nosis, engrossed in his work, didn't even look up. Although he looked tired, he had an excited smile on his lips.

"We obtained blueprints for many war machines through the black market, many of which have already been put into production."

"And this treasure... is the blueprints we got from Colombia."

"Although the model is outdated, I believe that as long as we can successfully build this weapon of war, we will have a weapon to compete with major powers."

"That's good."

Hearing Nosis's incredibly confident words, Chen Qi felt a sense of comfort and looked down at the steel behemoth in the center of the factory.

He had ridden this behemoth more than once when he was the emperor of Letania.

Docked in the center of the factory was a huge, high-speed warship!
"...Brother, is war truly unavoidable?"

Listening to his brother's murmurs, even with the high-speed warship right in front of him, Enciodes still felt a strong sense of unease.

He realized that this would be a battle for the survival of Sherag, and the greatest challenge Sherag had ever faced.

If they fail, they will be doomed.

Even if they succeed, they will pay a huge price.

"I know that war is imminent, and we must do everything in our power."

"But if we fail, Sherag will also fall into the abyss. With such a huge disparity in strength, do we really have a chance of victory?"

Chen Qi naturally understood his younger brother's concerns.

In fact, Chen Qi himself was also filled with such worries.
But he is the king of Shelag, the faith of the Shelag people, and he cannot show the slightest weakness or compromise.

"A single punch can ward off a hundred more!"

"We will not follow the example of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; we must win this war to establish our nation!"

(End of this chapter)