By the end of May, two major battles had broken out on the eastern and western fronts at the same time. On the south side of the Eastern Front, the Battle of Fort Curtis, initiated by Eliot's three guards, because he did not know that Charlie Ronin and the main reinforcements he brought had been put into the battlefield, Prince Eliot's three guards armies were attacked from the flank by Charlie Ronin's main force when the situation was good in the early stage, and they were defeated and lost. The 1st and 2nd regiments of the 1st Division, armed with brave rifles, encountered the enemy in a desperate fight, losing more than seventy percent and losing their combat effectiveness. The four divisions of the three guards armies that were put into the battlefield had a battle loss rate of more than 50 percent, and the second division was even completely deprived, and it lost the ability to launch an offensive in a short period of time. Although they inflicted nearly three times as many casualties on the enemy, the three armies of the Guards, which had lost their core attack power, had lost their offensive capabilities. They retreated to the eastern outskirts of Oredri and began to build a tighter line of iron shield breastwork.

On the Western Front, the Negro Republic and Charlie Ronin had the same idea, by concentrating absolute superiority in local areas, the troops of the Eastern Front Command through a feint lured Paul Chung's assault regiment to pursue the enemy deeply, and then encircled on both sides, carrying the desperate attack of the follow-up troops in the Western Theater, and ate the assault regiment that was too careless. After the war, the assault regiment that fled back to the Western Theater and was in the area controlled by the Thorns and Hills did not survive.

At this point, the formed force composed of nearly 5,000 brave rifles exported by Elena was basically dispersed. The warring sides on the Eastern and Western Fronts have once again returned to the phase of confrontation with the Iron Shield Breastwork. However, the impact of this time-ahead weapon on all sides of the war continues to ferment and will eventually be reflected on the battlefield.

At the same time, the Alonte Empire seemed content to take the lands north of the Ice Line and lay siege to Fort Winders without attacking it, focusing its attention on countering the naval harassment of Loren Robles. The Third Republic, which had just stabilized its domestic political situation, was still negotiating with Ankenrein and did not seem to be in a hurry to use force. The war throughout the central continent was still concentrated in the northern country of Ankenrein at this stage.

It was in this context that Eliot, Ronninger, Paul Chung and the people of the Negro Republic entered Elena through various means.

"Along the way, I have seen a lot of ruins and abandoned fields, and I found that your production here is still good, and it seems that this year is another bumper harvest year."

Sitting in Luna's dormitory, Miguel Martínez, the spokesperson for the capitalists of the Mage Tower, shook his head as he drank the black leaf tea that Luna had brewed for him.

"This is a place unlike anything else", after spending more than a month at Elena, Luna's skin has darkened and her arms have become thicker due to labor. However, her face had more vitality and glory that she had not had before. The first apprentice of the Mage Tower, sitting opposite Martinez, fiddled with the black leaf teapot in his hand, thoughtful.

“…… Although I don't want to, I have to admit that slavery did suppress the productivity of the peasants. The same person, just with a different identity, can increase the yield of farming by 50%, don't you think it's a miracle? ”

"Of course it's a miracle," Martinez sat up straight, "but Gastens is a man who is good at miracles." In this battle of thorns and hills, the Western Military District suffered a crushing defeat, suffered extremely heavy losses, and lost almost all of the Valorant's rifles. If the one behind you wants Paul Chung to contain the Negru Republic, please give us more Valorant rifles, okay? ”

"You know I can't be the master of this," Luna said with a slight smile, "I haven't talked much about business in my life, but I think it feels good to talk about business now." ”

You're on the strong side, and of course you feel good!

Martinez complained inwardly and put forward his own needs, "For us, the price is negotiable, the consolidation of the existing position, and the realization of the de facto independence of the Tulucas and Rylin control areas is the most important. We want all of your Valorant rifle production capacity in the future, all in cash, pay eighty percent in advance, and accept barter. ”

"Barter?" Luna frowned, "What do we lack?" ”

"Your pyroxene mines are limited in production and of low quality, and iron ore is facing the same problem. And in addition to the Elena factory, the other production capacity of Elena is weak. Cloth, daily necessities, tools, many things are not easy for you to buy, not to mention the fact that Ankenrein is now restricting the import of goods into the province of Enspan. With us, I can guarantee that you will get whatever this world has. ”

"Sounds good, seeing that you're in such a hurry, then I'll ask?" Luna nodded and got up, seemingly not wanting to talk for a second. Martinez watched her push the door open, and finally said the words.

"Please tell Gastens that without his support, we will not be able to hold the Thorny Hills, and the army of the Republic of Negro will be approaching the province of Enspan! You love Lena, and you can't stay out of it! ”

Luna pauses and walks away. Martinez was stunned for a moment and sat down. They are at a disadvantage, but Gastens also has something to ask them for. That's why he shouted the threat after making a full gesture. Only then can Gastens really value their proposal.

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While Luna and Martinez were negotiating, the head of Elena's factory, Thomas Gurakos, also met someone who surprised him a little.

"Brother, why are you here?" Although I haven't seen him for a long time, after all, it is a family relationship that blood is thicker than water, and Gurakos is very excited to see his own brother. He hugged his brother tightly, then ran back and forth to gather a table of food, took two bottles of wine, sat down with his brother, and asked about the experience after separation.

"When I heard that Strongwood was occupied, I was very worried about you," said Thomas Gurakos's brother, Hutt Gulakos, who took a bite of the boiled sweet potato and raised his eyebrows in surprise. ”

"Well, we have a way to make it not unpalatable", Gulasco smiled and asked again, "Brother, I haven't heard from you since the occupation of Strandwood, why are you here?" ”

"It's not the brave rifle you produced," Hutt admitted, "I joined the army later, but before the training was over, it was winter." Finally, after the establishment of spring, there was civil strife in the country. When the civil strife was over, I found out that I was in the Southern Command, and I couldn't come at all. If I hadn't been your brother and they asked me to ask you about the gun, I wouldn't have had a chance to come here. ”

"What's wrong with our rifle? You all know it? Gurakos was a little surprised, "I heard that some rifles have been sent to the Western Front, isn't it quite powerful?" ”

"Hey, you're talking light, we've had a lot of deaths," Hutt scooped a spoonful of boiled beans and swallowed it in a few gulps, "but your food is still not as good as ours, we have meat, vegetables and fruits for every meal, and apples you know, every day!" ”

"Haha, that's, after all, there are more things in the Neglo Republic, and there is no civil strife", Gurakos and Hutt ate together, the two ate for a while, Gulakos got straight to the point, "Brother, you came here this time, is there something wrong?" ”

"Indeed," Hetter nodded, "this time we investigated the origin of the Valiant rifle and found that you produced it, and you happened to be in charge of the factory's production. We would like to ask, would you like to come back, and if you come back, give you a factory of your own, you can produce anything you want, and make money, it's all yours, isn't it more comfortable than working for someone else here? ”

"Brother, what you say ......", Gurakos said half a sentence and fell silent. He thought for a while and rejected Hurt's invitation, "Brother, I'm still not going back, if you're here, how are your parents?" As if suddenly remembering his parents, Gurakos interrupted the conversation.

"It's all good, they escaped from Scottwood to me, and now they're living with us, it's all right, you can rest assured."

"That's good," Gurakos paused, "I'm not going back to what you said." Although the factory here is not my own, I can't leave what is being done here. ”

"I see", Hurt was not too reluctant, he thought for a while, and directly made another demand.

"Can you sell us that brave rifle?"

"Huh?" Although Gurakos guessed that his brother was coming for the Valorant's rifle, he thought that the other party wanted a design or something, but he didn't expect that he wanted to buy the finished product!

"If I provide you with the finished product, isn't that an enemy?"

"But you're from Tulucas, aren't you? You're still a member of the Workers' Party, a member of the Neglo Republic, not an Ankenrein, a backward feudal force, aren't you? ”

"That's different," Gulasco didn't even think about, "I used to be a member of the Workers' Party, but what happened to the Third Republic of Fern, brother, you also saw it." It is impossible to try to promote communism through parliamentary participation. The contradictions between us and the capitalists are irreconcilable, and the Workers' Party of the Neglo Republic, although it is fine for the time being, will certainly have problems in the future. Brother, listen to my advice, if you stay in Negro with an identity like ours, you will definitely be exploited, and only when you come here can you truly be respected and free. ”

"Hey, I haven't seen you for a while, boy, you can talk a lot about the big truths", Hutt was not moved by Gurakos, "Our home is in Tulucas, and now my parents are in Negro, it is impossible for me to come." I'm here to see you, and by the way, I can ask if I can buy some brave rifles, since it doesn't work, I'll go back soon, as long as you have a good time here. ”

"Stay for two days, brother," Gurakos tried to keep, "it's very good, it's different from any other place, you stay two days and you'll know how good Elena is." ”

"Next time, I'm still waiting for my news later", Hurt didn't hesitate in the face of Gurakos's invitation, "I'll come back to you when this battle is over." ”

"Well, definitely!"

Although the brothers have not met for long, they have no topic for chatting. The difference in identity and position makes them unable to say a lot of things. This meal of reunion between brothers after a long absence came to an end in the silence of the two.

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"Mr. Gastens", Billy Barnard, Prince Eliot's attendant, was the first of several forces to see Gastens. He also knew that the situation was tense now, and every second counted, so he got to the point without a few words.

"Now the situation on the Eastern Front is tense, Charlie Ronin personally leads the team to fight, and His Royal Highness the Prince is under great pressure. We also lost almost all of our Valorant rifles. If this continues, the situation on the Eastern Front will be very bad. Moreover, the current fighting situation on the Western Front is not good, the country is in danger, in this case, His Royal Highness hopes that you will give priority to protecting our brave steps, do you think it is okay? ”

"I will certainly not sit idly by while the country is in trouble," Gastens righteously said, "and thanks to the help of His Royal Highness the Prince, our work in the province of Enspenn is going well." Therefore, the problem of the Brave rifle, please tell His Royal Highness the prince Don't worry, our current factory has already gone through a expansion, and the production of the Glory rifle has also been reduced to a minimum. Now fifty brave rifles a day is no problem, if His Royal Highness the prince needs it, I can give it at any time, I can give it all! ”

"That's good," Billy Barnard laughed at Gastens' cheerfulness. He took two steps forward, held Gastens' hand tightly, and shook it vigorously, before he seemed to unintentionally make another request.

"I heard that you also have a weapon called the Thundering Type 1 here, I wonder if you can provide some for His Royal Highness? It is said that this weapon is even better than the Valorant rifle, and it really makes His Royal Highness the prince feel itchy when he hears the news. ”

Hearing Barnard's words, Gastens's heart tightened. It seems that no matter how strict the precautions are, the news still leaked out. He smiled quietly and pretended to be stupid.

"What is Thunder One? I really don't know. We use the Brave ourselves, and everyone is the same. How could I hide my secrets in front of His Royal Highness? You say yes, right? ”

You, the one who sent the flag to rebel, still dare not hide your secrets?

Barnard complained in his heart, and on the surface he was also smiling, "Oh, that must have been our mistake, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Mr. Gastens, it would have been a great help for you to secure our brave steps. When I return, I will definitely say a few kind words to His Royal Highness and emphasize your support and contribution to us. ”

"That's nature, the kindness of the six princes to me, I will never dare to forget!"

Gastens saluted solemnly towards the east, but how much truth there was in his salute, the two people present knew very well in their hearts. After finalizing the follow-up supply, the two politely became polite, Barnard said that he was leaving to report the good news to His Royal Highness, and Gastens said that he would step up production, and the two said a few nonsense words and said goodbye to each other. Only one empty conference room remained.

Watching in silence as things happen.