reincarnation npc, but tomorrow's ark

“…Thank you very much. This was a very good choice, at least for us Sarkaz,” Emengard said gratefully.

Bai Ye shook his head:

"In fact, many things in this world are not so-called 'correct' choices. We just have to work hard to make our initial choices correct."

"At least, I'm prepared."

As he spoke, Bai Ye smiled and said:

"I have informed the Lich King's Court of our position."

Chapter Seventy: The Banshee's Respect

(Azur Lane, launch! What's porridge? Never heard of it!)

-------------------------------------

After Bai Ye left, the Lich Lady breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. She had received communications from her teachers when such a major commotion occurred in Londinium. The Lich Royal Court judged that if they could persuade Bai Ye, it would mean that a large portion of the core nations would maintain a neutral stance at this crucial juncture.

At least, they won't kick someone when they're down.

Clearly, these reclusive liches are not like the liches in traditional literature, isolated from information and unaware even of the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Their understanding of the White Night surpasses that of most of the leaders of the core nations.

For example, Theresis seemed unaware of Bai Ye's identity, let alone the arrogant Blood Demon Lord who wouldn't even glance at other races.

In fact, apart from the Great Yan, which has never made any moves, any country in the core area of ​​Terra could potentially launch an attack against Sarkaz.

However, once Bai Ye is dealt with, Ursus and Kazimierz should no longer be a concern, since Bai Ye should still have some influence in those two countries.

Sarkaz now needs to focus on Letania, Colombia, and Vitória.

……

“Therefore, the situation in Londinium is crucial. If we want to maintain the fragile peace of the world, we must rebuild order. The future of this land will face many problems. A peaceful and united Terra, or a chaotic Terra full of war? Without a doubt, the former is more powerful and has a better chance of overcoming future difficulties.” Bai Ye shared his thoughts with Logos, Big Daddy, and the others.

In fact, only now have they had time to sort out their thoughts and take a break.

The three deep-sea hunters were radiating intense heat; touching them could easily result in burns. The high-intensity battle generated a lot of heat, and the surrounding frigid seawater served as a natural coolant.

On land, deep-sea hunters can only rely on natural heat dissipation.

Big Daddy's power armor suffered minimal damage in the recent battles, though its shield was nearing the end of its life, and the entire armor suffered damage and malfunctions to varying degrees. However, these weren't the main factors affecting its combat effectiveness. The most crucial issue was that the power armor's energy was depleted; the intense battles had consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

Through the power armor's system panel, Big Daddy discovered that the remaining energy was far from enough for him to experience another battle of that intensity.

As for Logos, engaging in a magical duel with the Blood Lord as the Lord of the Deathstroke Court was no easy feat for him. The Deepsea Hunters and Big Daddy were able to hunt down the Blood Offspring safely largely because Logos shielded them from the Blood Lord's spells.

As expected of Rhodes Island's S+ magic master.

Logos also needs a rest and to recover after this big battle.

Ascalon, on the other hand, suffered almost no damage, but she was indeed the only one besides Bai Ye to directly inflict harm on the Blood Demon Lord. After the battle, she prepared to leave the party again, this time to hunt down the Exonerators. The other Sarkaz could be considered as having been dragged into Theresis's revenge plan and could be loosely classified as innocent. But the Exonerators were clearly unable to remain uninvolved.

They were deeply involved in Theresis's plans, even helping him resurrect Theresa. As the executioner, Ascalon is to hunt down these sinners who toyed with life and desecrated His Highness's eternal peace.

In this way, it seems that only Baiye is at its peak, which is exactly the opposite of the previous situation.

"If the entire Londinium, or even Victoria, is preparing to attack the Sarkaz, how can you stop them all by yourself?" Logos asked after Ascalon left.

"Your actions may not be approved by either side. You just killed the Sarkaz regent, destroyed the Shard, and forced the Sarkaz to flee. Yet you choose to protect them, which will make both the Sarkaz and Victoria hate you. You have prevented them from seeking revenge for their suffering."

Even if you were helping them just a moment ago, they still can't understand you.

Lontinim certainly had reason to seek revenge, especially against the citizens enslaved by the Sarkaz. White Night had no reason to stop them, but he also knew that such revenge would gain nothing and would only add countless blood debts to the book of hatred between the two sides.

Bai Ye smiled:

“I don’t care about any of that. All I know is that if I do nothing, we will be ushering in a worse era. If we do something, the future may not turn out the way we expect, but at least we will give the future a different choice, a chance.”

“We may be able to forge a new path out of that endless cycle of hatred. That’s what I told Therese: we must learn to believe and learn to have hope.”

“This fire might burn you; not everyone sees as far ahead as you do,” Logos said in a deep voice.

“Yes, I understand. So, the premise is that I’m not just someone who talks a good game.” Bai Ye smiled. “I won’t force everyone to understand me, but I will stop them.”

"That makes sense."

As Bai Ye spoke, he clenched his fist.

He added:

"And I don't care about their attitude. I just want to do what I want to do, that's all."

“You and Kal'tsit are really alike… Two hundred years ago, she led a coalition of nations to conquer the Sarkaz, and then she became friends with Theresa.” Logos looked at Bai Ye and felt that this young man reflected the shadows of countless people.

Those spirits did not disappear because of the times and wars; on the contrary, these precious things have been inherited by the people in front of us.

At this moment, Logos admired not only Bai Ye's strength and his almost monstrous abilities, but also Bai Ye's character. This young master of the Deathstroke Court held even greater respect for Bai Ye.

He didn't say anything more, but gently patted Bai Ye's arm.

—The Death Knell Court will stand with you through thick and thin.

Chapter Seventy-One: Devastating News

At this very moment, the Sarkaz of Lontinim are on the run.

Clearly, as Logos stated, they are not entirely innocent; at least for the past four years, they have also been perpetrators, perhaps reflecting the brutal nature of this race. Of course, it's also possible that this is a collective consciousness—if they don't act in the same way, they will be seen as outsiders, or even simply categorized as enemies.

The Sarkaz did many unpopular things here. They killed some minor nobles, purged the city's garrison, hijacked weapons and armor, took over factories, and enslaved the workers. They also arbitrarily captured various citizens to fill their manpower shortage.

Well, it's a really hellish joke. The reason there's a shortage of workers is because a large portion of them die from their abuse and execution.

Therefore, the people of Lontinim hated them to the core.

This is the oldest emotion: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and revenge in kind.

The Sarkaz were on the run. Although the royal army still maintained some discipline, the mercenaries were now in complete disarray. Moreover, they had to face the pursuit of the enraged Londinium people. These "slave laborers," who had just been released from prisons and factories and had been exploited to the limit, now displayed terrifying fighting power when facing their former enemies.

They charged at the Sarkaz soldiers with overwhelming numbers, usually several or even a dozen men would tackle a Sarkaz mercenary together, take his weapon, and kill him.

Weapons will be given to the person who is most skilled at using them, while the rest will use whatever they have.

Even though the Regent had made arrangements and preparations before ordering the evacuation, time was still too short. In particular, the Sarkaz had just suffered a sudden attack from the Scourge, resulting in significant losses, and their weapons and supply depots had been destroyed by the Scourge.

At first, the Sarkaz mercenaries would launch an organized counterattack, hold their ground, and cover the retreat of others. After all, they didn't know what was happening, and everything would be fine as long as the Regent and his army launched an attack.

However, as time went on, the Sarkaz discovered that problems seemed to be arising at the highest levels as well. The original rulers of the royal court had suddenly disappeared, and the regent was nowhere to be found. Panic gripped the people.

So they stopped covering the rear and instead evacuated with the others.

Chaos reigned. Everyone was fleeing, though they didn't know why. Theresis had given the order to retreat, and so they obeyed. These once powerful and arrogant Sarkaz were being chased and brutally beaten by the weaker Londinium.

They even witnessed airships crashing from the sky, a sight that further dampened the morale of the Sarkaz.

In fact, the Sarkaz were not like this before. They have never lacked courage and ruthlessness, and it is impossible for them to be so frightened by a group of refugees from Lontinim.

In truth, they had been tamed by Theresis. Four years of comfortable life had made them excessively proud and complacent, and some Sarkaz had even forgotten the hardships of the past. The original Sarkaz mercenaries were essentially like breeding poisonous insects, killing each other every day for different employers. At this moment, they were indeed very strong.

However, after being recruited and incorporated by Theresis, they became an organized and regular army, and their lives in Londinium became too comfortable. It seemed that all they needed to do was consolidate the Sarkaz rule through horrific means such as bullying men and women.

Most mercenaries have become equipped with standardized and advanced weapons, but they only need to deal with weak, unarmed civilians. Unbeknownst to them, their combat effectiveness has declined. In addition, a large number of elite royal army soldiers died in the battle to kill the Steam Knights, the Lord of the Blood Court led his troops to gang up on the White Night group, the altars and rituals in the city that could amplify the power of the Sarkaz bloodline were destroyed, and the main force of the royal army, the Carrion Kings, went to stop the Grand Duke... Under the influence of many factors, the current situation has evolved.

However, this situation is only temporary. After all, the Sarkaz's inherent nature is difficult to change, and once they are put in dire straits, they will display terrifying fighting power. Especially the strong ones among them, those known as "heroes," will kill their enemies.

This is the cycle of hatred that Bai Ye feared.

……

Fortunately, the Sarkaz still controlled a port, the gate of which was guarded by the Sarkaz, allowing them to escape through here—or rather, evacuate from Lentinium.

General Manfred of the Kazdel Military Council stood on the city wall, observing the chaotic situation within. His face was expressionless.

He could no longer contact Theresis. Nor could he contact any of the other Lords of the Royal Court. The high-energy stone environment brought about by the Cataclysm had also disrupted communication between the Sarkaz on various plots, isolating everyone. Even Manfred himself was now finding it difficult to contact his subordinates.

Meanwhile, the powerful royal army also needs to contend with the counterattack of the Londinium city defense forces. These troops, who had previously ostensibly pledged allegiance to the Sarkaz, are now, in this situation of reversed power, the first to betray them.

It's not that they've suddenly awakened; in the past, they've often used their status to help the Sarkaz commit atrocities, even treating their own people more cruelly than some Sarkaz. It's just that they've found a new opportunity—another good chance for a reshuffling of power.

Manfred had no time to worry about that now; he was personally operating the city's defensive cannons.

This is Sarkaz's last resort, and Manfred's last trump card.

Originally, these city defense cannons were aimed at the city interior, and most of them hadn't had time to adjust their angles. But now Manfred was incredibly grateful that the cannons were all pointed outside the city.

During this incredibly long day, it seemed as if all the bad news came crashing down on the Sarkaz at once. They lost the Shard Tower and the airship, and could not contact the Regent, the Exonerator, or even the other Lords of the Royal Court.

The army of the Carrion King's court was doing its best to hold off the Grand Duke's so-called "alliance" forces at the front lines. However, they were clearly no match for the high-speed land warships. The Grand Dukes used a steel torrent to encircle and intercept them, gradually forcing the Carrion King and his court's defensive line back toward the Londinium defensive wall.

Instead of rushing to annihilate the enemy, they gradually compressed the enemy's range of operations, nibbled away at these Sarkaz, and eventually wiped them out, while ensuring their own strength.

Chapter Seventy-Two: The Hunting Ground

The King of Carrion is indeed very powerful. Any ruler of a royal court possesses immense strength and can single-handedly turn the tide of battle. His army can also withstand the attack of a Grand Duke.

However, he alone certainly couldn't stop such a massive coalition of dukes. He was facing an incredibly large allied force. Moreover, lacking follow-up supplies and support, defeat was only a matter of time.

Yes, this so-called alliance is actually quite fragile; they are still wary of each other and could turn against each other at any moment. However, such a terrifying land-based high-speed aircraft carrier fleet is enough to intimidate most countries and militaries on this land.

This is the strength of a long-established hegemonic power. Although the throne has been vacant for decades, the capital has been occupied by foreign tribes, the citizens of Londinium are enslaved, and the grand dukes are suspicious of each other, they still possess a formidable war-making capacity and potential on this land.

The Duke of Godottin brought a siege artillery regiment and at least two high-speed warships, making him the one with the smallest force. However, his fiefdom of Godottin is the only area in Victoria that borders the Krasde Sea, so the Grand Duke's reliance must be more than just land power.

The Duke of Windermere, whose territory borders Letania, is a duke guarding the Victorian border and a major enemy of the Elector of Letania. Based on intelligence, she made diplomatic peace with Letania, and after the Queen's Voice assured Letania of her stance, the Duke of Windermere led a mobile border fortress city and seven high-speed warships to raid Londinium.

Duke Castle, who controls western Victoria, is extremely wealthy. She is said to possess a vast and highly efficient intelligence network. Bai Ye had also heard of her, because… her influence even extended into the snowy landscape of Kjerag. SilverAsh's secretly hidden private army was trained on Duke Castle's territory before “secretly” (Yeragand knows everything) entering Kjerag. The weapons and equipment of these private forces were also provided by Duke Castle.

There were also Abercrombie, Ashworth, Fife, and the Duke of Normandy. Each of them possessed extraordinary skills.

The one currently commanding, or rather, nominally commanding, this allied army of dukes is Wellington, known as the "Death Knell of the Empire." His fame is earned on the battlefield; he fought alongside the Emperor of Ursus, witnessed the Witch King's magic, encountered the greatest monarchs, and dismantled the largest modern cities. This distinguished duke achieved considerable victories in wars against powerful enemies such as the Witch King, the former Emperor of Ursus, and Corsica I. Therefore, as the eldest duke, he was granted military command of the allied forces.

Eight dukes, leading their fleet of high-speed warships, headed straight for Londinium. Clearly, they weren't there for a casual chat. Their objective was to eliminate the Sarkaz and then "discuss" who should rule Londinium.

They had all been observing and testing how much power the Sarkaz had amassed, and what their trump cards and resources were. They allowed the Sarkaz to develop in Londinium for four years, repairing the Shards and enslaving the people of the Empire.

They will only make their move when the time is right.

As a result, White Night detonated the bombs planted by Londinium ahead of time, even destroying the Shard Tower directly, forcing them to withdraw prematurely. Fortunately, the Sarkaz were no longer a threat, and the legions' defenses crumbled at the first touch. The Carrion King's lines held out for only two days before being torn apart by the Duke's allied high-speed warships.

The King of Carrion originally planned to break out, but his attempts all ended in failure. The enemy he was about to face was no weakling.

……

Now, standing on the defensive wall of Londinium, Manfred can see the retreating Carrion Royal Court and the high-speed warship cluster appearing on the other side of the horizon.

Clearly, the dukes must have also seen the outer walls of Londinium.

Manfred maneuvered the city's defensive cannon, aiming it at his enemy.

However, the dukes suddenly slowed down, eventually even bringing their warships to a complete stop, halting their advance. They stopped just outside the range of the city's defensive cannons, effectively trapping the Carrion King's court before the city walls.

Clearly, they had also noticed the defensive cannons of Londinium.

The main guns of the city defense cannons are powerful enough to easily penetrate the armor of high-speed warships, posing a huge threat to the Duke's allied forces' high-speed warships.

Although it was clear that given the current state of Londinium, it was questionable how many shots the city's defensive cannons could even fire, the dukes dared not gamble. No one wanted to use their high-speed warships as bargaining chips. Losing warships now was not worthwhile, as these forces were bargaining chips for future discussions on the future of Londinium, and no one wanted to suffer losses later on. Therefore, no one wanted to bear this necessary loss.

So the dukes anchored their warships outside the city and began to construct battle formations.

More and more Sarkaz retreated to the city gates, only to find their escape route completely blocked. Although they rejoined the Carrion King's Court, they had no way to break out further.

Behind them, the angry soldiers and civilians of Lentinium were also pursuing them, and their retreat was also cut off.

Now, apart from the Sarkaz who escaped Londinium through other exits or passages, the remaining Sarkaz were driven into this not-so-small port area. This seemed to be their destined graveyard, a hunting ground chosen for them by the people of Londinium.

Sarkaz is in a dilemma here.

For these Sarkaz, this was a scene of utter despair. Just a day before, they had been able to arrogantly and arbitrarily manipulate the lives of the Lontinim laborers in the factory, executing the disobedient and sick workers. And now, they were being led into this hunting ground like pack animals awaiting slaughter.

Even the mighty King of Carrion was driven back by the Duke's allied forces, and his retreat route was blocked.

Their only remaining reliance was the few city defense cannons in Manfred's possession.

One gate faced into the city, and the other two faced outwards.

The three cannons simultaneously intimidated the enemies at both ends, giving the regrouped Sarkaz a chance to catch their breath.

However, no one knew how long these three defensive cannons could fire, or how they would respond if the dukes were determined to charge regardless of losses.

Manfred's hand remained on the launch button, and he felt immense pressure.