I'm in Terra

The tall, beautiful woman standing to Tallulah's right was a familiar figure to all the officers—Cassiena, the Acting Governor-General. In Victor's absence, she held supreme power in Luxembourg. Her mere presence was practically synonymous with Victor's will.

"Line up."

The order came from Tallulah's mouth, and at the joint signal of Kashena and Hunting Bee, the drums next to the martial arts stage began to beat, and all the troops stationed inside Luxembourg quickly filed in from the training site and lined up neatly in front of the martial arts stage.

"Today is a special day." Looking around, Tallulah walked onto the training ground. The speakers prepared in advance carried her voice to every corner of the playground and into the hearts of every soldier.

"Some of you are elites who have served Governor Victoria since Norvinsk. Some are veterans stationed in Luxembourg for years, even decades. Some are young men who have just joined the army or even just passed the selection. But today, there will no longer be differences in status, position, or even military strength. All of you will have equal opportunities."

As she spoke, Tallulah waved her hand, and Kashena beside her took out a device similar to a crystal ball from her pocket and placed her hands on it in front of everyone.

The crystal ball trembled slightly, and a faint fluorescent light appeared in the center of the sphere. The light continued to rise with Kashena's breathing, and returned to calm the moment she let go.

After the demonstration, Kasheina handed the device to Beehunter, who was standing nearby, and asked her to imitate Kasheina in fiddling with the crystal ball. As the fluorescent light came on, Beehunter also successfully activated the crystal ball. However, unlike Kasheina, no matter how hard Beehunter tried, the ball remained at its original shape until she completely released it.

After confirming that all the soldiers had seen their demonstration, Tallulah grabbed the crystal ball with one hand. The soldiers standing in the front row discovered that the crystal ball was connected to a simple device underneath, and the function of the device was...

Tallulah held the device high, and the crystal ball lit up with a light far brighter than Kashena's at her touch:

"Indeed, I believe many have already guessed it—Originium Skill. This crystal ball-like device can test each person's adaptability to Originium Skill. Today's gathering is to select soldiers with the potential to become sorcerers. Registration is voluntary, and those who remain will undergo an adaptability test. Anyone who can make the device emit light beyond the activated state will be selected for the sorcerer reserve team."

"Excuse me." Just as Tallulah was passionately explaining the purpose of today's gathering, Kashena stopped her. "Before leaving, the Lord gave me relevant orders. The Warlock Battalion will have the same salary and benefits as the Elite Warriors, and the number of members will be very limited. Even the reserve team currently only recruits... one hundred people."

"Yes, this is not just a test, but also a fate-changing trial." Tallulah took over the conversation, expressing the soldiers' expectations in an enthusiastic tone:

"The top 100 test-takers will become the Warlock Battalion's reserve. They will then be sent to a remote base for training. Only those who complete all training will become members of the Warlock Battalion. As for the failures, they will be sent back to their original units. This concludes the entire meeting. All units are requested to gather their soldiers and exit in an orderly manner. Those interested in participating in the test, please remain where you are."

Soon, under the command of the officers, a small group of soldiers who knew they had no hope left the playground. The vast majority stayed, ready to try this so-called chance to change their fate.

The people on the stage were well prepared for this. At a signal from Bee Hunter, a dozen soldiers armed with devices emerged from the Supervisory Battalion. They had already undergone training on the devices and were proficient in their operation.

At the call of Bee Hunter, the remaining soldiers formed a new team. They went forward in groups of more than ten people to conduct the test of their adaptability to Originium skills.

In reality, this testing method was rather crude. This crystal ball-like device could only test the most basic adaptability, and wasn't very valuable for determining each person's proficiency in Originium arts or their potential for growth. But for Luxembourg, who was short on time and lacked a professional sorcerer, this wide-ranging approach was currently the best screening method.

At least those who can pass the test will have good prospects as warlocks. The only difference may be whether they can become war warlocks and perform large-scale spellcasting alone.

That being said, reality is often harsh. Few soldiers possess even the most basic Originium skills. Almost no one can illuminate the crystal ball. Even soldiers who are infected can only make the crystal ball glow in most cases.

If Rhodes Island's proprietary formula were used, the rating would be at best incomplete, not even good. This wasn't even a comprehensive potential test, just a simple adaptability test.

The test lasted only two hours, and the final statistics were quite tragic. Among the nearly 84 soldiers, only 100 had the potential to become warlocks, not even reaching the initial estimate of people.

Despite the disastrous results, they had no plans to expand recruitment. Currently, the recruitment and training of warlocks remained an internal Luxembourg secret; at least, what was happening in Leithnia couldn't be exposed to the other nobles so quickly.

It's worth noting that nearly half of the Yeti squad Yelena once led were selected for the Warlock Reserve. This could be due to their frequent assistance with Yelena's spells and the high infection rate per capita. Perhaps upon Yelena's return, Victory would consider having her lead the Warlock Battalion in Luxembourg.

Of course, this is all later. The current priority is to urge Gertrude to establish a qualified warlock training base and find a way to secretly transport these eighty people to Leithania.

Debauchery: 150 Order of Destruction

“Shoot! Shoot!!!”

"Where are the cannons sent by the Ministry of War? Push them all out!"

"Messenger! Quickly call for help from the nearest city. Hulao Pass cannot be lost!!!"

The towering walls were covered in mottled fragments, and soldiers fell like raindrops. There were Yan people, and there were Ursus people. In the chaotic battlefield, the number of fallen soldiers even exceeded the number of arrows streaking through the sky.

The most brutal offensive battle in recent decades will be launched on the Wuyan border.

In the early morning hours, before the sky even woke, huge cannons silently advanced into the firing range of Hulao Pass. The Fourth Army suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Longmen, but Nikalov was by no means a coward who would not give it a go.

On the contrary, his status, his position, his reputation, were all earned through battle after battle. And today was just one of the dozens of battles he had fought since he took command of the army.

The moment the morning sun appeared, rows of massive cannons roared, their shells soaring over the impassable walls and pounding relentlessly against their peaks. The explosions alone couldn't shake the hundred-foot-high walls, but the crossbows stationed atop them were completely submerged by the blast.

One round of bombing, two rounds of bombing, three rounds of bombing.

The war had not truly begun until the towering city walls were covered in black smoke and everything on top of them was destroyed by the mighty cannons.

Ladders were erected one after another, and heavy battering rams were pushed to the front lines under the cover of artillery fire. Whether they were soldiers from Yan or Ursus, everyone gripped their weapons tightly, waiting for the final battle.

When the first soldier climbed up the city wall and the giant hammer chiseled open the heavy gate, the killing began.

From a distant artillery position, Nekalov, telescope in hand, calmly watched the fighting on the city walls. The city gates were narrow, making it difficult for a small group of soldiers to break through the heavily guarded defenses. Ultimately, the outcome of this battle would be decided on the city walls.

Beside Nikalov were engineers, sweating profusely. The cannons had performed impressively, but they needed to immediately maintain these hot weapons to ensure they could continue to function.

"Have the calculation results come out?"

Suddenly, Nikalov asked without delay. The artillery battalion commander was taken aback and quickly saluted. "Report, the city walls are too high. Even if we drop shells in a parabolic trajectory, it's difficult to cause effective casualties. After all, the soldiers inside the pass are now concentrated near the city walls, and the rear should have been cleared."

"Then send the assault battalion forward and send the sorcerers to the city gate." Nekalov put down his binoculars and ordered ruthlessly, "Let the sorcerers tear down the defenses at the city gate. We can't waste any more troops here."

"Ula!!!"

Soon, a group of sorcerers in red and black robes were transported to the front lines by troop transports. By this time, neither the fiercely fighting walls nor the stubbornly defending gates could stop them. They could only watch helplessly as the black-robed figure opened his arms and unleashed a spell that looked only the size of a baseball...

BOOM————

The violent explosion destroyed everything within the city gate, overturning the painstakingly constructed fortifications. Although the following soldiers quickly reacted and prepared to block the city gate again, they were no match for the charging battalion that had already armed themselves with spears and were ready to go.

The gap in the city gate was quickly torn apart and spread out uncontrollably.

At this moment, the only option is to fight to the death.

"The First Army suffered a setback. Their troops were attacked from multiple sides, and they retreated in disgrace before even seeing the Governor's Mansion in Longmen. Fortunately, the casualty ratio wasn't bad; at least they didn't flee in disarray."

A week later, Victoria returned to his loyal throne. Although he never tired of playing with Gertrude's graceful body, and the girls from Leithnia at the banquet were also very enthusiastic, Victoria was, after all, the lord of a place, and it was impossible for him to leave his territory for a long time during non-wartime.

What's more, now that the war between the two countries has officially started, he can't miss any fleeting opportunity.

"Thank you for your hard work. I've seen your work schedule for this period. You've done a good job. However, I'll need to take care of how to secretly send the reserve battalion to Visheim."

Victoria put down the documents and sipped the black tea Yevina had brewed. The First Army's defeat wasn't beyond his expectations, but it wasn't a crushing defeat. The First Army's gains were equally impressive. Even though Yan Nation had long been prepared for their invasion, coupled with the significant advantages afforded by home-based operations and multi-front encirclement, the casualty ratio between the two sides was still similar, with the First Army even having a slight advantage.

"Everyone is on the hook now. If the emperor were to retreat after this defeat, the generals would undoubtedly label him a coward. However, if he insists on continuing the attack, the Yan Kingdom will have already recovered, and the resistance he faces will only increase."

Kasheina smiled faintly and raised her slender, perfect jailer. "Rumors are already circulating in Saint Steed Castle. Because of the Emperor's hesitation, the army missed the best time to attack. I think this rumor alone is enough to disgust him, right?"

"Well done. Things like discrediting one's reputation do need to be done gradually." Victoria's eyes swept over Kashena's legs. Although they were not as plump and attractive as Gertrude's, Kashena's legs were also top-notch.

"Luckily, we have a trick up our sleeve. Is everything going well with Niekalov? As long as we can break open the gates of Yan Country, we won't have to worry about those greedy hyenas not taking the bait."

Kasheina smiled charmingly and gently kicked off her high heels. The jailer placed his shoes on Victoria's feet and slid up little by little:

"Everything is as you expected. Nikalov didn't encounter much resistance, and Hulao Pass is heavily guarded by the Fourth Army. The battle report has been received back home, and most generals are eager to intervene. Congress, however, has a somewhat ambiguous attitude toward the Fourth Army, seemingly dissatisfied with Nikalov's unauthorized attack."

"A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. We asked Nekalov to do this, isn't it just to let him stand out?" Feeling Kashena's soft touch, Victoria leaned back on the sofa with satisfaction and closed his eyes to rest.

"The next battles will all be fought in the interior of Yan Kingdom. How much fat meat the generals can eat depends on their own abilities."

"Then let us wait quietly~~~"

PS: Sanjiaozhou is in the new season, and I will try to make 3X3 in two days.

Wine Pond and Meat Forest: 151 Look on with cold eyes

"Leave the Sichuan and Chongqing regions to me. It will only take a month... no, give me two weeks, and I will definitely take over the entire southern hinterland."

"You have little ability, but you're so arrogant? Then how about I just take over Bai Zao? In one month, I can break through Da Yan, and in three months, I can make those princes and nobles bow down to me!"

"Silence. This is the Supreme Council of the Empire, not a roadside tavern." Cherven, one of the members of the parliament, coughed twice in dissatisfaction, interrupting the two generals who volunteered to serve.

"Ahem, ahem, we all know your passion for serving your country, but deploying troops against Yan Country is not something that can be decided so hastily."

Sayid, the finance minister, also expressed his attitude. The current national situation of Ursus is not good, and the financial budgets of various regions have been tightening year after year. Whether such a large-scale offensive can be maintained is a big problem.

What's more, the two most influential people in the parliament haven't spoken yet.

Seeing that the rich man had spoken out to stop them, the generals had no choice but to stop fighting. In the silence of everyone, their attention gradually shifted to someone sitting in the center.

As the focus of all the parliamentarians, Speaker Witte adjusted his glasses and took a leisurely sip of hot tea in his cup:

"Since we have decided to use military force against Yan Nation, the Council will find a way to provide all necessary supplies for the war. But before that, I must remind you of two things."

As he spoke, Witt looked across the round table, gazing at His Majesty, who looked exhausted. "First, the news of the Yan-Wu conflict should have reached the desks of the leaders of the surrounding countries by now. The Council has previously analyzed that it is basically impossible for the surrounding countries to stop our probing of Yan. The recuperating Great Yan is also a considerable threat to them. This time, we can use our hand to test their strength.

But despite all the analysis, we must still take the necessary precautions. No more than three armies can be deployed in the Yan War, meaning at least half of the army must be used to defend the homeland. Secondly, the opportunity to attack Yan's heartland was earned by the Fourth Army's fierce battles. Therefore, until General Nikalov is defeated or his forces are depleted, he will retain control of the Yan War.

In Parliament, Witte's opinions often represented the thoughts of the majority of members, and also represented the voice of His Majesty. Now that the sovereignty of the Fourth Army had been declared, no matter how dissatisfied the other generals were, they could only suppress their restlessness and obediently return to their seats to await their assignment.

Seeing the commotion in the meeting quelled, Witte nodded in satisfaction. "Regarding the analysis of the frontline battle reports, the Ministry of National Defense has received reports from the Fourth and First Armies. Based on a comparison of the combat capabilities of the armies of Wu and Yan, as well as estimates of the city defenses in various locations, the Council has decided to dispatch three legions, including the Fourth Army, to simultaneously attack the three mobile cities behind Hulao Pass. The Ursus economy currently cannot sustain the costs of a long-term operation, so this war will primarily be based on plunder and exploration. In addition to the Fourth Army already on the front lines, this Council will determine the two additional armies that will be deployed."

As soon as he finished speaking, several officers spontaneously raised their hands and stood up. Their purpose was clear: to seize this rare opportunity to eat meat. The Yan Kingdom was currently unable to return to defend, which theoretically made it the easiest time to capture the city. If they could lead their army to break through the city...

Not to mention the honors and rewards after returning home, the extremely rich products alone are enough to make everyone salivate.

Snap——————

But just as the generals were vying for the chance to speak, a resounding slam on the table caught everyone's attention. The sound wasn't loud, but the person slamming the table was something that none of the generals present could ignore.

"Let's send the First Army out again. Although they failed to achieve their objectives in the Battle of Longmen, their casualty ratio was excellent. In terms of their familiarity with Yan Nation's soldiers, the First and Fourth Armies should be significantly ahead."

A steady voice recounted the reasons for dispatching the troops, and his calm gaze swept over each officer present. Every officer within his sight lowered their raised right hands and sat at attention, their postures dignified.

"It seems that no one objects to this proposal, so let's list the First Army as a participant." Witt pushed his glasses and narrated calmly.

Although he personally opposed Fyodor's insistence on sending the First Army, the emperor ultimately had the final say in the country. In principle, the parliament was established to assist the emperor in governing the country, at least that was what Witte believed and did.

The Emperor's proposal was naturally supported by all the councilors and generals, but it also ignited the flames of debate. Two of the three dispatched legions had already been chosen. Everyone else had to compete for this rare opportunity to perform meritorious deeds (and plunder) that only came once in decades, if not centuries.

Soon, the parliament became the largest vegetable market in Saint Jun Castle. The generals formed cliques and expressed their own opinions, and their goal was rare and unified - to send their troops to Yan Country.

Exchanging interests, swearing in the streets, these nobles who were nominally above the rank of earl were just about to draw their weapons and fight each other to compete for the last spot.

His Majesty Fyodor saw all of this. He looked at every noisy general present with an expressionless face, and then left the parliament hall quietly.

He had no interest in the hyenas fighting over food, and there was no need for him to preside over the meeting. Instead of watching them, he might as well go back to his room and rest.

Witte noticed Fyodor's fatigue, but as the Speaker of the Imperial Council, he had to stay and preside over this meeting that was destined to be full of intrigue.

As the quarrel in the field became more intense, the steps representing the power transaction also entered a white-hot stage. Witte, who was disturbed by the noise, did not notice that Chervin, the Minister of National Defense, had been sitting calmly by the side and had not participated in the quarrel of these soldiers at all.

He is obviously the most powerful military officer in the empire, but he seems to have no interest in invading Yan Country.

Finance Minister Sayid shared the same attitude, but unlike Chervan, Sayid had been actively involved in the verbal battles between the major factions. It was foreseeable that no matter which legion ultimately emerged victorious, he would be a vested interest.

As for Luxembourg where Victoria is, it seems to have been tacitly forgotten by everyone.

Yes, upon learning that the Empire was about to expand the scale of the war, all the legions sent officers to fight for it. Only the Sixth Army, where Victoria was stationed, sent only one officer to symbolically observe.

Wine Pond Meat Forest: 152 Blood-stained Dragon Blade

Longmen

The once iconic face of the Yan Kingdom is now stained with blood and gunpowder. Tallulah's Reunion Movement and two attacks by the Ursus Army have completely transformed this bustling commercial city.

The towering white walls were stained with black smoke, and the exquisite stone carvings were replaced by crossbows and cannons. But what truly changed within Longmen was the people's hearts.

During the Reunion era, Wei Yanwu considered the Lower City and the infected a liability. He watched as the Reunion co-opted and divided the infected, confident he could wipe out these obstacles to Longmen's development. But reality dealt him a heavy blow. Before the fully awakened Tallulah, his barely undone martial arts skills, along with his regrets, plummeted to hell, leaving behind a devastated mess for future generations to deal with.

Without the attack of the Ursus Army Group, all this would have become an irreversible outcome.

But Ursus came, bringing their elite troops and cannons, blasted open the high walls of Longmen, and trampled on every citizen of Longmen equally.

The high-ranking officials were terrified and fled Longmen with all the mobile funds they could mobilize from their companies, leaving only the civilians who did not want to or could not escape to endure the plunder and trampling of Ursus.

The infected, ordinary citizens, gangs, small business owners, and a handful of ethical groups and companies—they reached a consensus in the face of plunder and death, and under the leadership of Rat King Lin Gerui, they held back the Ursus advance. Even though their coalition was quickly annihilated by the Ursus soldiers who reacted, it truly united them.

Until——————Chen Huijie’s return.

The former police superintendent's unwavering integrity and inflexibility have always been synonymous with her. Even the residents of the Lower Town, who rarely interacted with her, have heard some interesting stories about her. When Longmen City fell and the Governor-General changed, many people wondered where the superintendent had fled to. Now, through her actions, she has given all the citizens of Longmen the answer.

She returned, bringing reinforcements gathered from the interior, and threw herself into the battle for Longmen without hesitation. In the battle for the Outer Ring, she led the charge, wielding a crimson blade, breaking through the Ursus Shield's defenses, forcing the Fourth Army to abandon its offensive against the Outer Ring.

Later, she worked closely with Lin Yuxia, learning Reunion's tactics and leveraging the complex terrain of the Outer Ring to continuously transport soldiers to the inner city. This allowed them to successfully capture the Ursus before they could escape. Even though that war had inflicted heavy losses on Longmen and even the Yan Nation, they had completely crushed the Ursus plot.

When the horn of retreat sounded, Chen Huijie, who had been fighting on the front lines, had already been reduced to a bloody mess. His armor was shattered, and he was covered in countless small wounds. The crimson dragon-slaying blade had turned blood red during the battle, constantly dripping with the blood of the Ursus people.

This cursed dragon-slaying blade completed its transformation on the battlefield. It was no longer the ominous dragon blade it once was, but a blood-stained dragon blade that symbolized killing and death—in Chen Huijie's hands.

When Chen Huijie woke up, the Ursus army had already evacuated for three days. Although the entire Longmen was in a state of disarray due to the series of accidents, the environment in the city was unexpectedly harmonious.

The infected stopped causing trouble, and those members of the Integration Movement who had failed to evacuate gradually integrated into the Longmen family during the battle. The Rat King and Lin Yuxia became the leaders of the infected, redistributing and coordinating order throughout the Lower City. Meanwhile, the Upper City was equally harmonious. The large-scale withdrawal of organizations meant that a huge market share was vacated.

With Madam Wenyue's approval, these companies, which had believed in Longmen and had contributed to it, happily took over these markets. Everyone believed they could rebuild a better Longmen. But the prerequisite was... Ursus and Yan Country no longer interfered.

Mrs. Wenyue, Shi Huaiya, Rat King, Lin Yuxia, Xing Xiong, Jiu...

Everyone's eyes turned to Chen Huijie, the successor who had stood up and stood on the front lines even when Longmen was in crisis. With the tacit approval of almost all factions, Chen Huijie was forced to become the new Lord of Longmen, with Madam Wenyue serving as his deputy.