"Forward!"

"We are the unbreakable spearhead of the Alliance!"

"We are a torrent of steel that sweeps everything!"

"We are ready to give our hearts and are ready to use our lives to realize the ideals of His Majesty the Administrator!"

"Heading towards the airport!!"

The engine rumbled, and the skeleton corps on the truck followed the whistling sand.

The desert-painted steel turret is half-exposed.

The mole, holding the telescope in his hand, was looking at the horizon of the yellow sand rolling in the distance, shouting excitedly with the voice of the male duck.

Even if the turret was sun-dried enough to fry poached eggs, even if he stood out from the crowd and drenched his mouthful of sand, the guy in the excitement still didn't want to get off the tank.

The other three crew members were all sitting in the truck hauling the tank, and at the moment they were talking listlessly, unconcerned about the Mole Brother's remarks.

After playing the game together for so long, they had long been used to this guy's performance art, and it stopped after a while.

"There are too few spare ammunition for 155, why not make a 120?"

"There is no production line with 120 barrels, so I just use 155 barrels."

"? Is that okay? ”

"Haha, you look so surprised that you look like a budding newcomer."

"It's too hot, it's annoying to sweat, we should install an air conditioner for the tank."

Hearing this weak speech of the good brothers, the mole put down his binoculars and looked at them dissatisfied.

"What's that? It's too weak! It's better to bring two more shells! ”

Crew members: "......"

Lose your marbles.

This guy is already stunned.

Each of the 35 tanks was carried by 35 trucks.

These 12-wheeled heavy-duty trucks are the latest products completed by the alliance with the assistance of Silver Wing Group - "Electric Cow", whose load capacity is more than several times that of electric screws, with a maximum load of 80 tons, mainly used to carry heavy equipment.

As for the heroic and fearless "armored grenadiers" of the Skeleton Corps, most of them sit on "electric mules" on four wheels.

More than 700 kilometers of off-road, of course, it is impossible to drive a tank over.

The 400-kilometer raid of the T34 was a miracle in military history.

Most tanks have a motorcycle hour of around 500 km, after which the engine and suspension have to be overhauled.

Therefore, it is more common to rely on road or rail transportation and then expand it after arriving at the destination.

Although the No. 2 tank uses futuristic materials, the industrial technology of the alliance is still relatively rough, and the mechanical durability is not outstanding.

If you really go 700 kilometers off-road, I'm afraid that you won't be able to reach your destination, so you have to push the tank away.

The Skeleton Corps, which enters the desert from the south, will advance along the edge of the sandstorm and rely on the rust-coated sand and gravel to avoid possible high-altitude reconnaissance and electromagnetic searches.

On the other side, Irena was standing on the heavy truck, humming a little song while frying the eggs she had picked up on the engine cover of the tank, not minding the Spirit of the Sand Sea to sprinkle some spice on him from time to time.

The elf Wang Fugui, who was crouching on the edge of the guardrail of the truck, kept staring at the map, trying to judge his current location from the desert where there was almost no reference.

"Where are we now?" Irena asked casually.

Elf King Fugui shook his head and said.

"I don't know, there is no GPS...... The devil knows where it went. ”

Placing the omelette on an iron plate, Irena gave him a comical look.

"Don't leave the Legion's hometown."

Elf King Fugui put away the map and rolled his eyes.

"Alright, alright, you can shut the crow's mouth."

"Okay...... By the way, why not an omelette? ”

This omelette does smell good.

Although the variety of ingredients is a little weird, Lao Na's cooking skills really have nothing to say, and the monster meat steak that is popular all over the North Street of Dawning City is made by him and the scrambled egg brothers.

However, the rich brother did not take the bait immediately, swallowed his saliva, and looked at him vigilantly.

“…… Are you sure this is just a bird's egg? ”

Irena looked away with a subtle expression, scratching her head.

"I can guarantee it's an egg."

Elf King Fugui: "......"

……

On the other side, the fortress of Petra.

There was a sign saying "Temporarily Closed" at the door of the White Bear Knights' "station", but there were quite a few people in the warehouse at the moment.

It's even a little crowded.

The man at the head was Theon, the lord of the fortress of Petra.

He was followed by the guards of the castle, the generals in charge of the city's defenses, the nobles in rich costumes, the priests in white robes, and so on......

Compared to the boring journey of the Skeleton Corps, the encounters of the players of the White Bear Knights are much more exciting.

Seeing that almost all the powerful people in the city were gathered here, old Boomer felt that his legs and stomach were faintly weak, and his heart couldn't stand it.

However, he was still a little relieved to see that the young lady who had been taken away by the guards had returned intact again.

He's been trying to find out how to find out her whereabouts these days, but let alone find out what happened to her, and he can't even find out where she's been taken.

Anyway.

Just come back.

Sesame Paste, who was surrounded in the middle of the crowd, had a cramped and uneasy expression, and he didn't know what to do.

And Sisi, who was standing next to her, looked at the people in the hall calmly and said slowly.

"She's the oracle I'm talking about."

As she spoke, she gently took off the hat on top of her sesame paste.

When they saw the pair of shaking cat ears, almost everyone showed a surprised expression, and even exclaimed.

Except for the rest of the White Bear Knights and old Boomer standing in the corner.

Perhaps because he had seen it more, he had become accustomed to the unusual pair of ears on the top of the young lady's head.

However, when he heard the word "oracle", he still had a blank expression on his face.

God...... Oracle?!

What the hell is going on?!

……

It's no wonder that old Boomer was surprised, after all, he couldn't get on the forum, and players naturally wouldn't bring him with them when they exchanged strategies.

Rewind to five days ago.

The court of the lord of the fortress of Petra.

Under the gaze of all the merchants and magnates of the entire city-state, Sisi admitted on the spot that all the rumors in the city were his own.

Whether it was the mercenary leader's own part, or those rumors born in the midst of false rumors, she took it all at herself.

And the admission is justified.

However, she only denied that it was a lie made up, and insisted that it was a prophecy that the goddess of the silver moon had entrusted to her companions.

The moment she said, "That is God's will," there was an uproar in the court.

The old priest in the white robe had a crooked nose, and angrily denounced her as a blasphemous witch on the spot, and asked the guards to behead her.

Earl Ruskin, who served as a foreign affairs officer, also said that this sounded a bit bizarre, and that the rebuttal given was also well-founded.

“…… If it is really God's will, why didn't the great gods choose a religious believer, such as our lord, but you? ”

He paused, his voice full of suspicion.

“…… A pagan from outside the oasis, the great deity, for what reason might it be for you to tell us what to do. ”

The old priest on the side took his words in a rage.

"That's right! Even if it is the spirit of the sand sea and the guidance of the goddess of the silver moon, why would he find you and not me! ”

Anyway, if he is dead, he can't reopen it, and there is still a way to survive if he fights, so Si Si simply let it go out and went back unceremoniously.

"Shouldn't this question be asked of yourselves!"

I was stunned by this bold voice.

The hall was silent for a while.

Without waiting for the stunned-looking Count Ruskin to speak, and before the nobles could reorganize their scolding words, she raised her head and puffed out her chest, as if the gods were standing beside her.

"You know that people have bad intentions, and then you watch them break into your house with butcher knives, blaspheme your faith right under your noses, and try to awaken the evil spirit that was sealed by the gods two hundred years ago! You know everything, but you don't do anything, and instead of even standing up and resisting, you bury your head in the sand and become an ostrich. ”

Looking around at these well-dressed aristocrats, she rightly rebuked.

"Why did the Spirit of the Sand Sea find me? Why didn't He turn to His 'most devout' believers? Shouldn't you reflect on what you've done to let Him down like this? ”

This piercing statement completely angered everyone.

It has also stung the self-esteem of countless people.

Especially the aristocracy, headed by Ruskin.

Most of them were capitulators, believing that by offering their loyalty to the Legion, they would not only retain their wealth and status, but also advance their titles.

Just like the nobles of the Falcon Kingdom, most of the first to surrender were rewarded.

However, no matter what sophistry they use to explain that the surrender is for the sake of the thousands of Li people in the oasis, it cannot hide the fact that they have fallen to their knees spiritually.

The city lord of Petra was also angered by this sentence, but when he saw Ruskin and the other nobles blowing their beards and glaring angrily, he suddenly became less angry.

Especially when he calmed down and thought about it.

What do you say......

Doesn't seem to be wrong?

If he were the Silver Moon Goddess or the Spirit of the Sand Sea, seeing that his followers were so soft-boned, he would probably also think that it would be better to find an outsider to come over.

The only pity is that this girl has no evidence, and there is not a single visible evidence except for some sophistry.

Unable to believe her words, she ignored the nobles and priests who were clamoring to cut her down, and instead took a compromise approach and placed her under house arrest in a windowless, cold, damp room in the castle dungeon.

It was usually where felons were kept.

However, this does not mean that he intended to torture her.

This one is protection.

At the same time, it is also a test.

When people are isolated, psychological defenses are the most vulnerable, especially in cells where the slightest sound cannot be heard.

Unless you have undergone professional anti-investigation training, it is easy to sign a confession in despair, even if you have not committed any crime.

But if you have really seen the gods, and you really have so much confidence in your heart, you must not even be able to pass this little test.

After he announced that she would be sent to the dungeon where the felons were kept, the nobles were indignant, but they couldn't say anything.

The woman, on the other hand, accepted the sentence very calmly, although she still insisted on the defense of innocence.

That calm look couldn't help but make Sein wonder if he had done something wrong.

However, he was not going to change his mind, and he had to lock her up for at least a month.

If she still insists that it is God's will after a month, she believes what she says and apologizes to her.

However, the rumors about the Legion and the evil gods in the city are getting more and more uncontrollable, and the movement in the east is becoming more and more disturbing.

If he doesn't make a decision, I'm afraid that before the legions come to fight, the order of the fortress of Petra will be crushed by fear itself.

Worse still, if it turns out that the woman did receive God's will, or that the prophesied thing really happened......

How should he, who had sent her to the dungeon, explain it to His Majesty the King and to the people of the fortress of Petra?

Do you really want to join the legion with those soft bones?

Sain didn't realize that at the same time that he ordered the man to be sent to the dungeon, he was actually caught in a psychological game.

Believe?

Or don't believe it?

No matter which one you choose, it will not necessarily be a bad outcome, but you have to prepare for it. And if you continue to be undecided, it will be the worst outcome......

So, in the early morning of the fifth day after that dusk, he finally made up his mind and invited the woman from the dark room to the guest rooms of the castle.

That calm and self-satisfied look made Sain feel a little more comforted, maybe she was telling the truth, maybe her judgment was correct......

The thought that he had imprisoned an honest and brave man in a dungeon made him feel guilty, and although he did not apologize in the end, he silently asked the guards to prepare a hearty breakfast and clean clothes for her.

After seeing the table full of delicacies, Si Si, who was sitting at the table, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If this is not the last meal.

Then she should have won the bet.

"Do you still insist that you saw the Goddess of the Silver Moon?" Looking at the girl who was eating, Sean suddenly spoke.

"Yes." There was no hesitation in the affirmative answer, she had rehearsed countless times offline, and she had also colluded with her friends to make confessions.

No matter how much the NPC in front of her wants to break her head, it is impossible to know that she has spent the past five days perfecting the lie, and with the help of everyone, she has added the details to the letter.

The reason why the lord of Petra Fortress did not kill her directly was mostly because that person still had the idea of resisting the legion in his heart.

And this will be a breakthrough.

She needed to produce strong enough evidence to prove her truth, and the lord of the fortress of Petra needed a credible proof to convince the other nobles and priests who might be able to convince her.

And the clues to all this are actually hidden in the book "Oasis Under the Djobar Mountains" and the "Silver Moon Sacred Word" recommended by the academy researcher.

Si Si couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Unexpectedly, the book I bought out of curiosity at that time accidentally saved my life.

"What about the evidence?" As everyone on the forum guessed, the NPC in front of him really said this line.

She had already prepared her words and replied skillfully.

"My companion and I are proof, we see the same dreams. Especially one of her companions, she saw the clearest dreams and ...... She communicated face-to-face with the goddess of the silver moon about the specific content of the prophecy. ”

"Can you tell me who it is?" Sein's tone was not as tough as before, but with a hint of solicitation.

"Absolutely."

After enjoying the hearty meal and fruits, Sisi picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth, and continued calmly, "But she is very timid, you have to ensure her safety." ”

Sein touched his Heavenly Spirit Cover with his index finger and said in a sincere tone.

"I swear to the Spirit of the Sand Sea and the Goddess of the Silver Moon."

Sith stared at him twice.

"Her name is Sesame Paste."

Sein was slightly stunned, the pronunciation sounded weird.

"Sesame...... Paste? ”

The corners of her mouth curled, and her voice took on a hint of lightness and pleasure.

"Well, it sounds a lot like a cat's name, doesn't it?"

Sein nodded blankly.

Although the cats in his castle are not called by this name, it really doesn't sound like a name that ordinary people would use.

After a pause, Sis continued.

"She's a cat who has become human on a journey, and I know it sounds weird, and we were amazed at how she changed and couldn't figure out what was going on. Later, our knights traveled all the way, until they came to Luoxia Province, and gradually revealed a little bit of the mystery of her origin. ”

Sain swallowed: "Her background ......"

According to the Sacred Words of the Silver Moon, the goddess of the silver moon loved cats and allowed them to enter and leave her dormitory and take care of her own daily life. The reason why the cats at the foot of Djobar Mountain proudly accept the offerings of the believers is because they serve the gods, which is a clue I found when I investigated the relevant literature......"

Looking at the stunned City Lord of Sein, Si Si continued in a firm and serious tone.

"We also learned later that the reason why she became a human was not a coincidence, but because she carried the mission given to her by the Goddess of the Silver Moon."

"That's why she met the Goddess of the Silver Moon in the land where the sun shines!"

What happened next was the scene from before.

The Lord of Cyne summoned the city's prestigious nobles and the priests of the temple, and went with her guards to the headquarters of the White Bear Knights.

When Sisi unveiled the hat of sesame paste and announced her identity as a "divine messenger", the atmosphere at the scene was in an uproar again.

But the difference from the last time was that after seeing the cat ears on the top of the head of the sesame paste, and seeing the cats in the city being so close to her......

Even the most stubborn old priest couldn't help but have a trace of trance in his cloudy pupils, and he couldn't subconsciously say words to refute it.

The rest of the matter was logical.

Si Si repeated the words he had spoken to the lord of the castle in the early morning to the nobles and priests who professed to be devout.

Then she looked at old Boomer and continued in a sincere tone.

"I'm sorry to keep it a secret from you, but in fact, the purpose of our coming here is not just to do business, but to guide the goddess of the silver moon."

Old Boomer's Adam's apple moved, and his eyes shook with shock and disbelief.

This statement......

It's not that he can't accept it.

After all, good people don't lie.

After saving him from the marauders, the men did not take his cattle and baggage for themselves, but returned them to him in good faith...... It's really not like the average person would do something.

After all, receiving payment from the saved is permissible in the teachings of the Spirit of the Sand Sea.

"What about you...... The same is the money that is given to the poor? ”

"It's the will of the Goddess of the Silver Moon."

Sisi didn't blush and said in an affirmative tone.

"The followers of the Spirit of the Sand Sea are suffering from hunger in the land she guards, where food and fresh water are abundant, but the people who possess them are blinded by money. Therefore she asks us to save the brothers and sisters you have forsaken. ”

Old Boomer's face was full of guilt.

The Spirit of the Sand Sea had taught them to help those in distress, but he had chosen to ignore his fellow human beings who were suffering.

Even when the kind girl offered to help the poor, he even weighed the pros and cons, trying to convince them not to give to the poor with the idea that the golden lion would soon be worthless.

Really.

His faith is still not pious and pure......

Standing next to the lord of the city, Count Ruskin, who served as a foreign affairs officer, had an expression of disbelief written on his face.

Of course, he didn't believe this woman's nonsense, but for a while he couldn't think of a reason to refute it.

Actually, it's normal to think about it.

The sand sculpture netizens on the forum spent five days making up the story, how could they find out the bugs in it after listening to it once?

Even if it's a forced lifting of the bar.

You have to listen to it twice to find the angle to lift the bar.

Seeing that the group of people were stunned and did not speak, Flesh looked nervously at the tail on the side, lowered his voice and whispered.

"What the hell are these people trying to do?"

Tail touched his chin and frowned in serious thought.

"Can't do it...... It's thinking about that. ”

Seeing her serious expression, the flesh swallowed.

"What about it?"

"Hmm!" Tail nodded earnestly, looked at Sesame Paste who was in the center of everyone's eyes, and said in a confident tone, "They must be planning to sacrifice Sesame Paste to the evil god who was sealed in the Valley of Loss!" In exchange for the peace of the oasis! ”

"Ah???h Rourou exclaimed in a low voice and hurriedly asked, "You, how did you come to this conclusion?" ”

If this is true, aren't they dangerous?

Thinking of this, Flesh couldn't help but feel a little weak in his legs and stomach.

The other xenos are fine.

The kind of monster that looks too Cthulhu, she really still has some physical discomfort.

"Huh? Isn't it common sense that the combination of cat lady and tentacle monster is common? Tail was stunned, and glanced at the flesh strangely, as if wondering why she was surprised, "That's how the book is drawn." ”

“……”

The emotions that had been brewing for a long time disappeared in an instant, and the flesh moved a little distance to the side speechlessly, making an expression that he didn't know this guy.

But after being interrupted like this, she was no longer nervous and worried.

The white-robed old priest took two steps forward, staring at the cat's ears on the top of the sesame paste for a long time before speaking in a trembling voice.

"You...... Did you really see the goddess of the silver moon? ”

Although his heart was full of nervousness, in order to live up to his partner's efforts, Sesame Paste nodded seriously.

"Yes."

Whispers abounded.

The old priest's eyes twitched with excitement, and he stretched out his hand tremblingly, but when he saw that the cat in her arms was staring at him with amber pupils, he hurriedly stopped this impolite gesture and withdrew his outstretched hand.

Legend has it that the goddess of the silver moon possessed her beloved pet.

He could feel the gods watching him.

Restraining the excitement in his heart, the old priest's voice carried a hint of piety.

"You are in prophecy...... What do you see? ”

Facing the unfamiliar gaze, Sesame's face was full of cramped uneasiness, and he looked at Sisi on the side for help.

'What should I do?' ’

Siss, who was standing aside, gave her an encouraging look back.

Just repeat all the nonsense I taught you in the group. ’

'Good ......'

After a brief eye contact, courage gradually rose in her eyes.

In response to the eyes that were looking at her with suspicion, excitement, or hesitation, she made a solemn and holy expression on her face, and lowered her eyelids. Speak slowly.

"I saw a light."

"Light?! And then what! The old priest asked nervously.

Facing the bated crowd and the eager old priest, Sesame Paste continued in a slow voice.

"A light hotter than the scorching sun bloomed in the mortal lands, followed by endless flames burning in the desert...... The rivers have evaporated, the oases have been scorched, and the mountains of Djobar have been scorched, and even the snowflakes have been cursed. Hundreds of thousands of people died in the Holocaust, while the remaining survivors wailed with hunger. ”

Her human language is average, so she speaks slowly, but her words are clear.

The description of the end of the world coincides with the description of the "Ragnarok" in the beliefs, myths, and nursery rhymes of the Hump Kingdom.

All of this is included in the book "Oasis under the Djobar Mountains".

But the old priest did not think of going there.

None of the nobles present thought about it.

The "apocalypse that brought down the gods of the sky" was no secret, but it wasn't a mystery that anyone who came here would not have been exposed to on a daily basis.

Even putting aside the identity of the "divine messenger" and the bizarre story of "from a cat to a human", a little girl who came to the oasis for the first time and couldn't even speak clearly, was able to describe the "apocalyptic catastrophe" so clearly, and even basically consistent with the obscure scriptures......

Isn't that a prophecy?

Could it be a coincidence?

"I don't ...... It's not unbelieving. ”

Seeing that the lord of Thine and the old priest were looking at him, Count Ruskin, who interjected to interrupt the oracle's speech, stubbornly used euphemistic words.

"I'm sure what she said may be true, but the only way to stop the prophecy from happening is through war. There may be some misunderstanding in this, and I suggest sending an emissary to speak with the Legionnaires and persuade them to leave the Cursed Land. ”

"They'll consider it, after all, it's for their good."

It's not that no one has ever beaten the idea of Lost Valley before.

But the remaining "curses" have caused them to suffer from terrible diseases.

Although some medicines can lift the curse, and even heal the damage caused by the curse, not everyone can afford to consume such expensive things...... At least it is unlikely that it will be used by more than 10,000 soldiers.

He felt that he could still talk about it.

The old priest didn't speak, his fiery eyes were completely glued to the sesame paste—or rather the oracle's.

He had come to believe in her identity.

Doomsday prophecies are not terrible.

If the Goddess of the Silver Moon had foreseen this, she would have known how to prevent that terrible thing from happening again in the land.

The Lord of Thine thought carefully for two seconds and considered Count Ruskin's suggestion.

After all, he is not only representing himself, but also all the nobles in the fortress of Petra who are in favor of defecting to the legion.

"Makes sense, you're right."

Affirmation from the city lord, Count Ruskin had a happy expression on his face.

However, before he could say thank you, the lord of the city looked at the captain of the personal guard on the side and continued to speak in a hearty voice.

"Prepare a camel for our Earl, and send another troop of cavalry to follow him, and send him to the Lost Valley to talk to the men of the Legion."

Count Ruskin opened his mouth wide and looked at the city lord in front of him in surprise, and seeing that the expression did not seem to be a joke, a trace of horror gradually appeared on his face.

The captain of the guard took the command with his hands clenched into fists.

"Yes!"

"Great, sir—"

Ruskin was anxious to say something, but was interrupted by the bad woman who was full of lies standing next to the oracle.

"Let Mr. Ruskin ride a motorcycle," Sis quickly took over and said with a wink, "more than one hundred and fifty kilometers, ride a motorcycle faster!" ”

The city lord Sein was stunned for a moment, then smiled and waved his hand happily.

"Makes sense!"

"Accurate!"

——

(Thanks to the leader of the "Legend of Light" for his reward!! ）

------Off topic------

When I was writing this chapter, I suddenly remembered that I played Civilization 6 before, and while sending tanks to rush the city of AI, I washed religion with the apostles...... Of course, I haven't played a game lately, and I haven't had time to play a game for a long time.