After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. The veteran who climbed the city wall raised his binoculars and looked around. Through the dispersed forces of the Northern Army, he understood Commander Kate's intentions.

The capital city was merely bait. The division commander didn't want to hold out; he wanted to turn this area into a massive meat grinder to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy.

The day the capital falls will be the day the great war begins.

"Outside the city, the Loyal Legion is on our east side, led by Legion Commander Ereon; the Special Forces, the Light Cavalry, and the 1st Regiment of the 3rd Division are on our west side; and the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Division and the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the 3rd Division are behind us, led by Regiment Commander Federico. Have you all noted this down?"

"I've got it."

Using bricks to press the map down, Lucas quickly marked the locations on the map based on the veterans' reports. Finally, he drew a circle on the southern city wall to indicate their operational area.

"The light cavalry regiment on the west side and the 1st Regiment of the 3rd Division will intercept the enemy at critical moments. Our mission is to hold the enemy's attacking forces at all costs and provide our allies with ample space to maneuver."

The veteran put down his binoculars and rubbed his stiff neck. "The enemy has the combat power of a curse incarnation. If Commander Eryon and High Sister Arabella can hold on..."

The theory was impressive, but everyone present knew that they couldn't have any expectations for reality.

The only high-end combat forces that Ice City can currently mobilize are Paladin Commander Paul and Saintess Jane. Based on the current situation, the veteran is more inclined to believe that Commander Paul will participate in the battle for the royal city.

"The enemy we are about to face is a combined force of the Blood Hunter Legion, the Locust Army, and the Southern Army. It is still unknown how many Southern Army troops the Elven Army can hold off for us, but everyone has witnessed the Elven combat power, so I will not go into details here."

The veterans' pre-battle mobilization was always strange. Lucas felt that he was cutting off all hope for everyone, because this war had already foreshadowed that many people would die.

After observing the situation of each unit, the veteran led his troops down the city wall. The south gate of the royal city was being reinforced with steel and cement by the militia. Inside the city wall, most of the houses had been demolished and replaced with a large, interconnected military fortress.

Back at his post, Lucas leaned against the concrete wall, chewing on a salty piece of jerky, watching the militiamen sweat profusely as they worked hard to build a new brick wall.

Lucas felt that some things shouldn't be thought about too much, as thinking about them would only cause more trouble.

"No, why are we on the front lines too?"

"Of course!" The veteran, puffing out smoke rings, patted his chest. "With Fei Sanbian gone, who dares to compete with me for frontline combat positions? A bunch of greenhorns, chattering away, dare to call themselves elite?"

"you……"

Lucas was convinced. He said that after a bloody battle, his unit could not get a rest and was immediately put on a new combat mission. It turned out that it was all because of this old man!

"Boss, do you realize that if the wall breaks, we'll have to face the enemy's fiercest attack head-on!"

"Otherwise what? The wall will definitely break down." The veteran looked at everyone with a "what are you doing?" expression, clicked his tongue, and instructed them, "The same old rule applies: no armor removal for the first three days. Make sure your armor is tightly fastened. Our fortifications can't stop winged locusts."

He got up, dusted himself off, turned his back to Lucas's murderous gaze, and hummed a song as he went to beg his division commander for money.

Helpless, Lucas could only anxiously await the arrival of war. Days passed, and the capital remained bustling. Monet became a cook in the logistics department. Lucas urged her to leave the capital and go to the northern territory, but Monet refused.

As the weather gradually warmed up, reinforcements from the Northern Territory arrived before the Goddess Army's troops could reach them.

Lucas was not qualified to see Paul, nor could he go to see Paul.

Besides the highly decorated paladin commander, the group that came to support the royal city this time included a heavily armored dwarf army of two thousand men, as well as fifty battle nuns dressed in peculiar black robes and light armor, carrying some strange canister-like weapons, and wearing bird-beak masks.

They were all assigned to the front line by Commander Kate, squeezed into the same battle line as Lucas and his men.

The dwarves were very enthusiastic. After only half a day of contact with them, Lucas concluded that they were a group of martyrs who were even more fanatical than humans. They worshipped Duke Oswald to an extreme degree and believed that only by dying in battle could they repay the Duke's kindness.

The nuns were friendly; they were usually quiet and never took off their masks. Regarding the issue of coordinated combat, the nuns said they would be responsible for fighting the man-eating locusts, while warning Lucas and the others that it was best to stay away from them during the battle.

Thus, amidst Lucas's exclamation that the world had finally driven everyone mad, the Northern Army's defense of the royal city began.

The intense roar of the steam cannons dispersed the thick morning fog and shook Lucas out of bed.

He quickly regained his composure, donned his armor, gathered his weapons, and rushed to his battle position. In just two minutes, the entire front line of soldiers was in place, once again redefining Lucas's understanding of the military.

Heavy crossbows and cannons were frantically consuming the mountain of resources, and the militia of tens of thousands of people were like a swarm of ants migrating together, constantly turning back and forth, running from dawn to dusk.

The flames of the alchemical bomb scorched the air, and the scalding heat wave blew across his face, condensing into beads of sweat. Even though the stench of blood was so strong that it could not be dispelled, when the sun rose the next day, Lucas still did not see a single enemy.

"Rest for a while, sleep for as long as you can, drink plenty of water, and keep your energy up."

Grabbing a bundle of hay, the old soldier adjusted his posture, rested his head on it, and took intermittent puffs of his cigarette, pretending to doze off with his eyes closed.

The second day's offensive was even more intense, and fierce battles broke out in the area where the loyalist legion was located. Lucas could only see arrows of various types on the city walls, weaving a huge net that flowed and swallowed the sky.

After nearly three thousand alchemical bombs were fired, Lucas saw rows of steam cannons being dismantled and carried down from the city walls, and he couldn't help but clench his fingers tightly.

He couldn't even imagine how many enemies were outside the city walls.

In the afternoon, except for the north wall, the other three walls were attacked by the Goddess Army. At the same time, more and more man-eating locusts rushed into the royal city, causing the city's troops to launch a saturation attack.

Lucas had just shot two man-eating locusts with his crossbow and was about to reload when the veteran grabbed him and pinned him down.

"Conserve your energy; that's our mission."

The veteran banged on his armor, producing a dull, resounding clang. Lucas understood; they were the true walls, and the troops stationed behind them would continuously provide long-range firepower.

"Don't be nervous. Our guard only has about a hundred men. The comrades stationed on both sides of us are all veterans who have gone through fire and water. Even if the guard is wiped out, we will definitely be able to hold the line."

The veteran patted him on the shoulder with a heartfelt expression, and Lucas almost choked on his words.

"You know perfectly well what I'm worried about, why are you still saying all this?!"