Miss Wang Weina, even your cousin won't do!

He didn't want to be the chairman whose machine gun had shifted five meters to the left.

Wayne had a sudden inspiration. That's right, he might not be good at fighting, but wasn't there a ready-made group right in front of him?

"Theresia, can you?"

Theresa was startled by his words and quickly shook her head, saying:

"I can, but only a little bit, I'm sorry."

"Does your brother know how?"

Theresa was stunned.

Chapter Eleven: So You Are the General, I Am the King

If you have someone in your life who is good at everything, and one day you ask them for help with something, and they suddenly refuse, saying they can't do it, don't doubt it, there's a high chance they're just in Versailles.

Theresia is a prime example. She was once a national hero of Kazdel, the chief and chairman of the Kazdel Military Council, leading the Sarkaz to numerous victories against invading and provocative powerful warriors. Her claim that she couldn't fight was simply a polite remark. Even a novice could deduce her past strength from her glorious deeds. And Theresis, her equal and current chairman of the Kazdel Military Council, possessed military capabilities that were second to none across the entire land.

Moreover, they are exactly what Wayne needs right now: generals who can fight guerrilla warfare.

The Sarkaz, constantly on the run, are unwelcome everywhere on Earth and suffer relentless suppression from Laterano, naturally weakening their strength. To preserve their forces as much as possible, guerrilla warfare, fighting and retreating simultaneously, is practically an instinct ingrained in the DNA of Sarkaz leaders. In the original storyline, even when her forces were collapsing, Theresa managed to bypass Theresis's surveillance, seize Rhodes Island's transit ship, and ultimately repair and safely transport it out of Kazdel's territory, demonstrating her considerable skill in strategic retreats... no, strategic escapes.

Of course, even if Theresa really doesn't know anything about military affairs, Wayne still has one last resort.

If you're going to Ursus, please clear customs yourself!

Of course, this doesn't refer to "Wayne" himself, but rather to the "Doctor" emerging from the sarcophagus beneath the core city of Chernobog.

Puns are so funny!

But Wayne felt it wasn't the right time yet. The Tower of Babel wasn't even a tangible example yet; were they going to dig out its evil spirit and turn it into Victoria's evil spirit? Besides, the evil spirit of the Tower of Babel might be related to the sensitive issue of pure-blooded humanity. Wayne wasn't ready to unravel the Ark's greatest historical mystery, at least not now. If Victoria needed to rely on the evil spirit of the Tower of Babel to defeat the Deeppool, then all the reforms Wayne had implemented over the past year would have been a joke.

Wayne asked the question readily, but Theresa was genuinely stumped by it.

Therese certainly knew military strategy. His brother's military abilities, and I'm not being modest, were genuinely far superior. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so passive in the Military Council. But whether her brother could be an asset to Wayne was something Therese wasn't sure about. Therese's stubborn and extreme personality made him a double-edged sword; he could easily hurt himself if she wasn't careful. Besides, if they employed Sarkaz, would Victoria's army really be willing to accept command from the demons?

Theresa's concerns were not unfounded, but this time Wayne was not as conservative as before. He hesitated only slightly before reaching out and patting Theresa's shoulder, reassuring her:

"The Sarkaz can't, but you can. And because you can, the Sarkaz will be able to sooner or later."

Wayne said with deep emotion,

“I used to think that it wasn’t the right time, that the people of Victoria might not accept your existence, and that I should try to build up more prestige for you so that the people of Victoria would recognize you. But now I realize that simply waiting for the right time will not yield any results, and may even lead to a worse outcome.”

Wayne was perhaps the first member of the Aslan royal family in all of Victoria to learn of the existence of the Deep Pool, but for the sake of the reeds, he didn't tell anyone this secret. He wanted to wait for the right opportunity, wait to quell the domestic rebellion, wait to deal with Columbia, wait to return from Lungmen, wait to change Ursus. Until yesterday, he was still confidently telling himself that once Vina delivered her New Year's speech and announced the abolition of Drak's right of succession, he could openly announce to the Deep Pool that their conspiracy had failed and they should surrender as soon as possible.

But how could Deeppool sit idly by and wait for death? Every minute he waited was a chance for Deeppool to bite back and accumulate strength. It wasn't until the cannons of Little Hill County sounded that his dream of "waiting a little longer" was finally shattered.

The situation is similar for Theresa and the Sarkaz in Victoria.

You might have a thousand plans to increase Theresa's recognition, but such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity only comes once. Opportunity waits for no one; it's fleeting. Instead of telling Theresa to keep waiting, tell her to do it, to succeed, and to achieve it all in one fell swoop!

A Sarkaz princess has won a brilliant victory for Victoria, and nothing could be more acclaimed for Theresa and the Sarkaz people she represents!

With me here, you will be able to command the Victorian army. Obedience to orders is an essential quality for an army loyal to the Empire and the Empress, and this will not change simply because the general's appointment has changed from a Feline to a Sarkaz. And if you can win a resounding victory with the Victorian army, then the Sarkaz will successfully break this endless stalemate and truly become a part of Victoria.

Theresa gritted her teeth and nodded heavily:

"In that case, I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

...........

Victoria, ? ? ?, Kazdale region, December 27, before dawn.

On winter mornings, the sun always rises exceptionally late. It's already six o'clock, the last darkness before dawn.

After an overnight journey, Theresa arrived at Kazdel, a region nestled in the wilderness of the heart of Victoria. After a year of recuperation, thanks to Theresa's efforts and the support of Theresa and Wayne, Kazdel had expanded from a single, dilapidated city to a kingdom of three. Three mobile cities—one medium-sized and two small—while insignificant compared to the major nations of the continent, symbolized that the Sarkaz's survival issues had been largely resolved, and Kazdel had officially risen from the ashes.

Theresa got out of the car in front of the military council’s pantheon-like building and went straight inside; she was there to see Theresis.

Theresis was prepared. The chairman's office opened again after a long time. Theresis, who had returned from the principal's office at Kazdel Military Academy, propped herself up with her hands in a pyramid-like gesture to cover her mouth, closed her eyes, and silently waited for Theresa's arrival.

"Click".

As if in the next second, or perhaps the next minute, a girl who bore a resemblance to Therese but possessed a completely different personality stepped into the deathly silent room.

“Brother, I have fulfilled our bet.”

Therese opened his eyes, his sharp gaze capable of terrifying even tigers and wolves, yet unable to sway the mind-reading demon king before him. He said in a deep voice:

“You don’t, Theresa.”

"Bozokastie returned to Victoria."

"But he did not return to Kazdel."

"That's because I'm not the one sitting in that chair."

Theresis chuckled, finally lowering her supporting hand and looking at the elegant and haughty princess not far away:

"I never expected to hear such words from your mouth. This is something you gave up, and now you want to take it back. Disregarding my will and the Military Council's will, who gave you this confidence? Wayne?"

Theresa shook her head, her voice as gentle as ever:

“It is myself. Just because I once abandoned it doesn’t mean it isn’t mine. Brother, as long as I live, I will always be the Demon King.”

The tone was melodious, like the song of a bard, a noble bard reciting legends and history, and the words within were not to be questioned in the slightest!

Therese narrowed her eyes: "Sister, you're a little different today."

"I just intend to pick up my sword again."

Therese let out a sneer, but there was no smile on his face. He questioned, "Just because of that dress of yours, which makes you look like a white winged beast?"

Theresa nodded: “Some people long for doves to bring olive branches, while others believe that swords will carve out days of peace. But I know I must have both.”

"So you are the general, and I am the king."

"Fight me again, brother. I traded white doves for Victoria's help for the Sarkaz, so now you can stand in this city of Kazdel and speak to me. And this time, in your own way, draw your sword, this time, for all of the Sarkaz!"

Chapter Twelve: If you're rich, you can fry me!

Victoria, Lentinium.

No city has ever been worthy of being called the center of the world. Anyone who comes to Londinium will marvel at its perfect blend of classical and modern, at its vastness, and thus gain a more direct impression of the entire Victorian world. This is a nation that cannot be rivaled; its rise to prominence began with a pioneering move in the technological revolution, but was solidified by the hard work of countless Victorian pioneers.

It is inclusive, with a vast and fertile land inhabited by people of different races and origins, and it can accommodate the spread of different ideas and cultures. People enjoy the greatest freedom within the rules on this land. Being a Victorian is a source of pride and honor. Unlike Ursus, they do not fall asleep to the roar of war, nor do they stumble in the shackles of tradition like the Lytanians. They can do what they want. The Empire supports every innovation and sponsors every dreamer.

But there are always people who are dissatisfied with this situation.

They attempted to disguise their ambitions as dreams, reaping the benefits of Victoria while simultaneously undermining its foundations. Their decisive move delivered a resounding slap to the empire's face—change was needed.

"Freedom is not for everyone. How many ambitious people use the name of freedom to commit their crimes? While we practice democracy for the majority, we should exercise absolute dictatorship over a minority of extremists! For the tree to grow, we must prune the bad branches!"

This was Wayne's first speech at the new council, addressing the annihilation operation—Operation Deeppool. Even he himself couldn't have imagined that these words would later become a guiding principle in Victorian politics, spreading throughout Terra along with the later saying, "There are no absolute friends or enemies between nations, only absolute interests." After being supplemented and interpreted, it formed the famous "Tree Theory."

Right now, Wayne, having just finished his first parliamentary trip, was walking down the palace corridor, preparing to return to his office. Theresa had sent word that she had persuaded Theresis and was now waiting in her office to learn more about the troops Victoria intended to send and to discuss the battle plan.

When Wayne returned to the office, Therese was sitting on the sofa to the right of his desk, holding a stack of papers. Seeing Wayne return, he looked up and asked with interest:

"Did you write Her Majesty the Queen's speech yesterday?"

Wayne shrugged and sat back down in his office chair. "I guess so."

Therese looked Wayne up and down before speaking, her tone slightly weaker this time: "Is there any way I can get you to write one for me too?"

Theresis didn't feel he was inferior to Theresia in any way; he also enjoyed considerable support within the Sarkaz race. However, he always lacked something—he didn't possess Theresia's persuasive power. Although Theresia repeatedly emphasized that her speeches didn't employ any Demon Lord abilities to interfere with others' thoughts, Theresis didn't believe such nonsense at all. But Wayne's prepared speech was clearly far superior to his expectations; with Wayne's help, he might be able to surpass Theresia in oratory and persuasion.

But he also knew that the chances of getting Wayne's help were extremely slim. So he was just trying to ask.

Upon hearing his question, a brilliant saying immediately popped into Wayne's head, and he casually replied:

"Sure, Chairman, every inch of our land is bought with blood, and every ten thousand youths make us ten thousand soldiers. What do you say?"

Theresa glanced at Wayne in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to actually blurt out such a powerful and memorable line so casually. Theresis, on the other hand, was overjoyed. Although it was just an ordinary sentence, using a language uncommon in Sarkaz, the message it conveyed was astonishing. Theresis had no doubt that if he translated this sentence into Sarkaz and used it in his speech, it would ignite the passion of his soldiers!

He asked impatiently:

What happened next?

Wayne glanced at him. "The aftermath...the Chairman's aftermath wasn't good. I don't think you'd want to hear it." However, his eyes darted around, a smirk playing on his lips, and he countered with a question:

"You want to get something for free?"

Theresis paused, realizing her earlier haste. Showing impatience during negotiations meant she was at a disadvantage. But Theresis felt her loss was justified; Wayne was probably the only one in the world who could so easily use witty remarks to bait people.

"So, what is the price?"

“Theresa already told you, didn’t she?”

"Fight a war? Just this kind of petty skirmish?" Theresis chuckled, replying with considerable disdain. "To be honest, it's just wiping out a reactionary organization. I do this kind of thing almost every day in Kazdel. It's a piece of cake. How many troops are you planning to send?"

Therese learned about the configuration of Deeppool through Theresa. According to his estimate, given 30,000 men, he could wipe out Deeppool completely in three months.

Of course, 30,000 men alone wouldn't suffice. Ideally, these 30,000 men should be soldiers who have received basic training, understand basic tactical commands, and possess some combat capability. As for weaponry, each soldier should ideally have a set of bows, crossbows, and swords. If possible, Theresis also wants a few squads of Victorian steam-armored soldiers. This is because Deeppool might have advanced combat units, requiring a certain number of units of the same rank to provide balance. After all, no matter how capable Theresis is, she can't possibly be in multiple places at once, personally fighting on her own.

"Yes, of course, this is the ideal configuration he offered. In reality, when he led the Sarkaz army in battle, he couldn't even achieve one-fifth of this configuration. Considering that he was now at a disadvantage in the negotiations, it was understandable that Wayne was trying to lower the price. Theresis's bottom line was at least 10,000 men, including a squad of steam-armored soldiers, but this squad of steam-armored soldiers had to be elite, highly mobile, and equipped with one set of weapons for every three men."

He was prepared to negotiate with Wayne; after all, war is about money, and everyone knows that. But if Wayne wouldn't even agree to this basic request...

Then he'd have to lose money, calling upon his Sarkaz subordinates to provide top-tier steam armor and fill the soldier gaps. Surely Vayne wouldn't be so stingy as to refuse to even provide weapons?

Hearing Theresis's words, Wayne felt much more at ease. However, considering that Theresis had never been in contact with Victoria's army and might not be very familiar with its configuration, Wayne decided to give her more. He estimated for a moment and said:

"I plan to draw 100,000 men from the Royal Army and another 50,000 from the garrisons in the northern counties. Weapons cannot be guaranteed by the garrisons, but the Royal Army is an elite force equipped with full steam armor. In addition, I plan to deploy 10 land-based warships and 5 military aircraft. I myself will also accompany the army on this expedition. What do you think? Is that enough?"

Therese raised her mouth, which was wide open, and her strange expression seemed to say, "Are you joking with me, or do you simply want to get me to Versailles?"

Seeing Theresis's astonished expression, Wayne gritted his teeth:

"It's not that we can't add more. If there are difficulties, I can add special forces, Patriot Bozocasti, Surtur, and Mudrock. I can also personally recruit Unicorns to join the war. The number of steam armor units in the basic combat units can be increased to 150,000. Ten more aircraft and twenty road ships can be added. That's all."

Wayne shrugged.

“War is expensive. Although Victoria’s finances are not incapable of supporting a larger-scale all-out war, I think that dealing with a rebel organization on this scale is already giving them face.”

face?

Therese was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth to dust. You call this giving face?

With so many troops, I'd believe you if you said you were going to destroy a country, but you're using them for a annihilation operation that doesn't even qualify as a local war? Are you planning to plow through the entire northern border of Victoria? With this equipment, even if you gave it to 30,000 pigs, let alone 150,000 men, they wouldn't be able to finish off the entire Deep Pool in three days and three nights!