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

Chapter 20 Blood, whiteness, and symbols of invincibility!

"Hmm... so this is Lord Qi's territory."

"Hmph, he's done a pretty good job managing it. I thought it was a garbage dump, but I didn't expect that in his hands, it would actually look like a place where a person would live."

On this day, Chen Qi's beer hall was unusually closed for a day, and its interior was redecorated to serve as the venue for this aristocratic banquet.

To this end, Gertrude specially brought a lot of materials from her own residence to decorate the beer hall like a noble gathering should be.

The four counts who were specially invited by Gertrude were all lords from several nearby mobile cities.

Moreover, they all have one thing in common. They all obtained their noble status through military achievements in recent generations or through their ancestors.

This is not surprising, after all, their territories are located on the border between Letania and Kazimir.

Although during the reign of the Witch King, Qazimir and Letania, whose military strength was slightly weaker than that of their neighboring Victoria and distant Ursus, had relatively friendly relations.

But this does not hinder the constant minor skirmishes between the two countries at the border. For example, the four counts who were invited all rose from minor nobles with no territory to counts by fighting against Kazimir.

"Count Gertrude, why hasn't your Count arrived yet?"

"What exactly is the purpose of his banquet for us? Tell us quickly, as I still have matters to attend to in my territory."

Faced with the impatient question from Count Glaufeld, who was dressed in military uniform and had a scar on his face, Gertrude, dressed in formal attire and leisurely sipping red wine, simply replied patiently:

"Please be patient, Earl Glaufeld. Qi is preparing some small gifts for everyone."

"Besides... why are you asking me? Qi and I are just business partners, and it's not appropriate for me to pry into his plans."

"Hmph, don't pretend here, Count Gertrude."

However, Gertrude's explanation had no effect whatsoever on Glaufeld and his party.

"Everyone knows that you were the first to invest in Earl Qi. Without your support, Earl Qi might not be where he is today."

"Even the people in my territory are spreading rumors that there might be some kind of illicit affair between you two counts."

“You two are completely in cahoots. Now that Earl Qi isn’t here, of course we have to ask you.”

Gertrude: "...Is that so?"

After a brief silence, Count Glaufeld accepted Gertrude's words with an elegant smile.

"Please rest assured, I believe he will arrive soon, and what he wants to discuss with you earls will certainly make your trip worthwhile."

"...Hmph, that's for the best."

Looking at the now calmed-down Glaufeld, Gertrude remained outwardly calm, but she gleaned the information she wanted from the other's words.

Sure enough, from the outside perspective, he and Qi were now completely in the same boat.

Moreover, to outsiders, he was not only Qi's right-hand man, but also the second person who could represent the organization!

Gertrude was very clear about her position. Qi was a powerful and ruthless man. In the past, she may have harbored the idea of ​​taking over his entire organization for her own use, but after working with Qi for so long, she had completely given up on that idea.

This guy is a monster with extremely strong initiative and a mind so active that it's impossible for anyone to keep up. I absolutely cannot defeat him.

But at the very least, Gertrude had to ensure that her position within the party was unshakeable.

Especially after the woman who was the only one who might threaten his position went to Kazimierz, Gertrude felt even more certain that his position was secure.

Nowadays, he is responsible for all matters, big and small, within the party, and even the party's core force, the stormtroopers, are trained by him.

Especially after the first stormtrooper unit was trained, Qi entrusted more people to him, and "holding military power" made Gertrude increasingly confident in himself.

However, Gertrude's "rumors" gave her some food for thought.

If this method can solidify my position... why not give it a try?

"Da da da."

"I'm so sorry, sirs, I'm late because of some trivial matters."

Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, Chen Qi, also dressed in military uniform, wearing the Iron Cross First Class on his chest and holding a rolled-up painting in his hand, finally came down from the room on the second floor of the tavern to the gathering place below.

With his smiling face, and the added prestige of his military uniform and medals, the several illustrious counts who had initially harbored some resentment towards Chen Qi unsurprisingly lost their initial aversion.

After all, soldiers have very simple minds.

Within the military, military merit is always the sole standard of speech. Even if these four counts had objections to Chen Qi based on class, they would absolutely respect Chen Qi's achievements.

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Count Glaufeld, who had been holding back his words for a long time, finally spoke.

"Count Qi, you've really gone all out."

Glaufeld, his tone clearly angry, stroked his beard and questioned Chen Qi:
“We’ve moved all the businesses in Viseheim, and even in the mobile cities of us counts, to your territory.”

"Now it's all over. If I want to upgrade the equipment of the soldiers in my territory to make it easier to suppress the workers' strikes and demonstrations, I have to send people all the way to this dilapidated place to deliver the orders."

"We've been incredibly busy because of you, but you've managed to develop this run-down place into something quite impressive; it's practically the industrial center of our region now!"

"Count Glaufeld, please calm down."

As for the Earl's anger, Chen Qi, having anticipated it, remained as composed as ever, replying with a light laugh:

"Today, I am here to explain my thoughts to everyone and have Gertrude arrange this banquet for me."

"First, let me state my position—I have never allowed my party to support strikes and demonstrations in your territories, but if you wish to resolve this problem, I am willing to lend a hand."

"I can resolve the strike and demonstration issue without resorting to force. All I need is for a few gentlemen to do me a small favor."

"What kind of help?" Upon hearing this, the four earls paused in their breathing, suppressing their joy as they asked Chen Qi.

However, Chen Qi revealed a mysterious smile and did not rush to reveal his purpose.

Instead, he spoke with four earls, who had distinguished themselves in battle, about something that seemed insignificant.

“One of my informants in Kazimir… previously brought me some intelligence about the inside of Kazimir.”

"The problem of the infected oppressing the Kazimierz is very serious, and my informant is trying to unite with the infected knights in Kazimierz to cause some minor trouble for Kazimierz."

"At that time, this group of infected knights may travel to Letania with the help of my informants, and they will need our support and assistance."

"At that time, we will likely inevitably have some minor clashes with Kazimir's army."

"—You mean to say that Kazimir might cause us trouble?"

However, as soon as Chen Qi finished speaking and mentioned matters related to war, the four counts reacted extremely quickly and immediately understood Chen Qi's implied meaning.

In stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere before, the four counts, sensing the impending war, instantly transformed into wild beasts that had caught the scent of blood, each rubbing their hands together, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Kasimir? Heh, it's been a long time since we've fought them."

"I wonder if their knights still have the fighting power they once had after being treated like commodities in the competition by the Commerce Federation."

"We've been holding back for so long, don't let us defeat them too quickly."

All of this was within Chen Qi's expectations.

After all, since the war between the Four Emperors ended, Letania has never been able to launch a large-scale war again. The counts stationed on the border with Kazimierz have never had the opportunity to show their abilities, and their titles have been delayed.

Now that they finally have a chance to earn military merit, how could the four earls possibly let such a great opportunity pass by?
"My four Counts, your resolve to defend Letania is truly admirable," Chen Qi interjected at just the right moment.
"However, while the four of you are commendable for your courage, I believe that now that we are aware of the possibility of unrest, we should seize the time to prepare and guard against any possible attack by the Kazimir army."

"Kid, do you think we old guys can't fight anymore?"

Chen Qi's words quickly aroused the dissatisfaction of the most senior Earl of Glaufeld.

"No, Count Glaufeld, your military exploits are numerous, and I greatly admire your courage and strategy." Chen Qi shook his head and smiled without the slightest embarrassment.
"But I think that since everyone wants to win, we should make thorough preparations. Only by achieving a great victory can we demonstrate our achievements, right?"

"Hmm...you make a good point."

Although Glaufeld had a bad temper, he wasn't stupid. He calmly nodded and then asked, "So what's your plan?"

"It's very simple." To this, Chen Qi calmly uttered only one word to the four earls:

"Expand the army."

"The army is our strongest and most powerful source of confidence in ensuring victory. Only by expanding the armed forces in our respective jurisdictions can we contend with the people of Qazimir."

"...The number of private armed forces in each jurisdiction is strictly regulated."

Although somewhat tempted by Chen Qi's suggestion, Broufield suppressed his excitement and asked a crucial question:

“Even if we have a reason, excessive expansion of the army can be regarded as treason.”

"—Who says we can only expand our military?"

However, Chen Qi merely smiled slightly upon hearing this, and facing the bewildered gazes of the counts, he explained softly:
"In order to suppress internal violence and strikes, can't we increase the number of police and guards?"

"After all, the strikes and demonstrations are escalating, and if we don't want to use private armed forces for violent suppression, we will inevitably need the coordination of the police and guards." "These people aren't exactly part of the private armed forces, are they?"

"Besides, as far as I know, Lord Werner, who will inherit the title of Elector, is still a young man. It shouldn't be difficult for the earls to appease him, right?"

Is there another trick to it?
Seeing the four counts nod in understanding after a moment of confusion, Chen Qi's smile widened even further.

After all, no military commander would not want the army to be expanded.

The expansion of the military signifies a tense situation, means that soldiers' benefits will improve, and also means that their chances of winning battle merits will increase.

The greater the power a person wields, the higher their status—a fact best understood by nobles who come from military backgrounds.

But what follows is Chen Qi's real purpose.

"And my territory has several nearby mobile cities, the largest steel production plant, and a series of supporting and weapon repair factories and production lines."

"As long as you four earls place your orders, I can produce the equipment and weapons you need as soon as possible and guarantee that they will be delivered to every one of your soldiers."

"Furthermore, in order to ensure coordination and cooperation among our various jurisdictions in the event of war, I believe that our troops can be brought together for unified training."

"Hmm... the first few things are fine, but this unified training..."

The four earls looked at each other and all felt that Chen Qi's considerations were very reasonable. Moreover, he had handed over the entire plan and scheme to them, which could be described as perfect.

However, the four earls showed extreme difficulty when it came to unified training.

After all, unifying the training of the army means that they will lose their military strength to defend their territory in the short term. If Chen Qi takes the opportunity to detain their troops, they will really be annexed.

However, out of consideration for their aristocratic pride, none of them dared to speak so plainly. In the end, it was the most senior Earl Glaufeld who spoke.

"We don't need Earl Qi to worry about that."

"Don't underestimate us just because we're old. When it comes to training soldiers, we haven't given up at all. Even if we don't cooperate with each other, my army alone can wipe out those glowing ponies of Kazimierz."

"—I certainly believe in your abilities, Count Glaufeld."

However, Chen Qi, who had already anticipated this, smiled slightly, met Glaufeld's sharp, piercing gaze without fear, and calmly said:

"But perhaps, after you've seen my army, you'll change your mind?"

Gertrude.

"exist."

The next second, Chen Qi's tone immediately became serious, and Gertrude, the count who was completely on par with Chen Qi in the eyes of the others, stood up straight like the best soldier the moment Chen Qi spoke.

"I'll give you ten minutes to have the stormtroopers assemble in front of the beer hall."

"Yes!"

Without any questioning, Gertrude, having received Chen Qi's order, immediately ran out of the tavern.

Before the four earls could react, Chen Qi once again flashed a friendly smile and greeted them:
"I would like to trouble you four gentlemen to come with me to the second-floor balcony so that I may admire the military bearing of my assault team."

"I believe that none of you will regret it."

"--good!"

While everyone hesitated, Glaufeld, intrigued by the scene before him, was the first to stand up and stride after Chen Qi toward the second floor.

"I'd like to see what kind of style your assault team really has!"

……

Soon, Chen Qi and his group arrived at the second floor.

On the not-so-spacious balcony, they saw Gertrude's figure. She raised her staff and cast a spell towards the sky, creating a strange rune in the dark night sky.

As the runes gradually faded, the group soon heard faint footsteps coming from not far away...

"Da da da……"

The rhythmic footsteps, moving in unison, came from all directions. Soon, they saw squads of tall soldiers in crisp uniforms gathering in an orderly fashion in front of the beer hall.

In less than ten minutes, just six minutes, the 500 stormtroopers, all in high spirits and with their uniforms perfectly in order, stood in their well-practiced formation, awaiting orders.

Chen Qi did not rush to issue orders; his gaze remained fixed on the four counts, whose expressions were already stunned.

The silence lasted for three or four minutes. During this time, not a single member of the stormtroopers in front of the beer hall made a sound, remaining unmoved as the cold wind blew across their faces.

Finally, Chen Qi made a move.

"Long live Letania!"

"—Long live the Earl!" XN
"Snapped!"

Five hundred hands raised high responded to Chen Qi in unison, leaving the four earls on the balcony completely stunned.

They were not unfamiliar with such a well-trained army; like the silver-speared steeds of Casimir, their ability to coordinate attacks was an eye-opener for the Letanian nobles.

Although the Letanian nobles wouldn't admit it, they knew in their hearts that Letania couldn't train an army like the Silver Spear Pegasus.

After all, the quality of the armies under different nobles varied greatly, and the nobles of Letania preferred magic to the army, so they were not as strict in their control over the quality of their troops.

But now, as the four earls looked at the assault team below the platform, whose military bearing alone indicated that it was an absolutely powerful army, they had to admit that they were tempted!
Although this team only has 500 people, it is definitely enough to serve as an elite force and penetrate the weak points in the enemy's formation!

But what if they had a thousand, five thousand... or even ten thousand soldiers like that?!

Thinking of this, the four counts couldn't help but breathe heavily, imagining how invincible they would be if they could have such an army.

At this very moment, Chen Qi spoke up at just the right time.

"—My four earls, I would like to see something."

As he spoke, Chen Qi finally managed to draw the attention of the four men away from the assault team and then spread out the painting in his hand in front of them.

Soon, the four counts saw a mysterious symbol in the center, surrounded by a circle of white paint and a large amount of red, resembling a flag.

"This symbol... looks like the one Count Gertrude released in the air..."

"Yes."

Chen Qi nodded, acknowledging everyone's guess, and then explained the meaning of the symbol to them with great emotion.

"This is a symbol I designed; it belongs to the military."

"Red represents blood. Our power, dignity, and survival will all be won through bloody battles."

"White symbolizes the purity of our minds, the people of Letania."

"And this 'symbol'... symbolizes the mission that our struggle will inevitably be victorious!"

"Gentlemen, do you know what our army represents when all of this comes together?"

Facing the four counts whose eyes revealed both bewilderment and intense excitement, Chen Qi uttered that word carefully, one by one.

"—Invincible."

The moment Chen Qi uttered those words, the air on the second floor seemed to become hot and dry. The breathing of the four counts grew heavier and heavier, reflecting the wildly pounding hearts that had been pounding because of Chen Qi's words!

“You should have read my books, Your Excellencies. You should know that I am a pure man.”

“I love Letania, so I want her to become strong, under the leadership of a… strong person.”

Facing the four who were already interested, Chen Qi could no longer suppress his ambition. He stared intently at them and said in a low, intense voice:
"I hereby grant your request."

"This is by no means our limit. The army still needs to be expanded. Letania will need your support even more in the future, and it needs more soldiers and warriors like you!"

"An unprecedented war awaits us ahead, and I will hone every soldier into a warrior of steel."

"And you will lead these steel-willed warriors to fight bravely for Letania on the battlefield!"

"History will remember our achievements! Let us live on forever!"

"Eternal glory..."

Finally, at the moment the words were spoken, the four counts had made their decision.

They decided who the "king" they should serve was!

They raised their hands without hesitation, responding to Chen Qi with a voice even more fervent and excited than when they swore allegiance to Letania upon enlisting.

"We understand."

"—Long live Your Excellency Qi!"

(End of this chapter)