It's been almost a month since the Black Plague arrived, but the Crimean fortress on the southern border of Transylasia is still quiet.

The Transansians at the entrance to the filthy swamp, not far from them, were building a line of defense at a frantic pace, and it was heard that criminals were being exhausted to death every day, but the cruel barbarians would not allow them to stop working.

Even kobold overseers are used to monitor their work, which is tantamount to bringing both physical and psychological oppression to the criminals.

Rebellions naturally followed, but the KPA reservists stationed on the Maginot Line were always quick to quell the rebellion, and Master Kudell even regarded it as a kind of "quasi-military operation" to train the boys and organize them.

It sounds very inhumane.

But the problem is that these criminals are not local.

As far as Transncia is concerned, the Archon Miriam is eager to divide everyone in half, so Translancia does not have a "prison" system at all, and all the guys who are tried for crimes will be directly escorted to the Maginot Line to work as coolies.

Fifty percent of the criminals on that line came from the kingdom of Nordov, and the Werewolf Lady continued her cunning "aid strategy" by organizing the criminals into an army and sending them to Transcia as the Nord's support for the Plague.

This is clearly a change of concept.

But now Transencia was short of people to do, so the consuls gritted their teeth.

The Plantagenet on the opposite side saw that they could still operate in this way, so in addition to the 50,000 border guards who came to the aid of the first batch, Marshal Loren also took out all the criminals in East Prus and Sachs who had served more than half a year's sentence, and also sent them to Transnesia.

Of course, this group of "talents" in various industries are not willing to work honestly, and they have staged large-scale strikes in an attempt to fight for their "human rights" in this way.

The results are remarkable!

Master Kudell personally stormed their barracks with 1,000 soldiers, and then executed the "Eleven Smash" as suggested by some of the Bad Eyed players.

If it was just pure violence, it would not have frightened the group of people who had already realized in the prison dragon field, they knew that the Transanians still needed their work, and it was impossible to kill them all.

This is the confidence of their confrontation.

However, as the members of the Moon Esoteric Sect appeared behind the defensive line, when the guys who still wanted to resist saw those corpse witches resurrect the unlucky ones who had hanged them back to the undead and continue to send them back to work in the pit, the hard-boned ones were instantly intimidated.

It turns out that the Transans can kill them all and resurrect them all, which may be more efficient.

Samoyalia, who runs the labor camp, is also a "talent".

This "devil's overseer" was so wicked that he sent the resurrected dead back to their old dormitory barracks, which was even better! There's at least one undead team member in every room, and that's enough to settle down those who want to hold back their bad stuff.

In general, the Maginot Line was built at an extraordinary pace.

Baldwin, the winter wolf general of the Crimean Fortress, had been observing, and he had watched almost with his own eyes as the otherwise sparse and ordinary defensive line had been built to the point of being usable within a month.

But the Transansians were not satisfied.

After the construction of the main part of the defensive line, they began to send laborers to dig trenches and build barbed wire positions, and the artillery purchased from Nordtov and supported by the pioneer corps was also placed on specific positions.

That line of defense really seems to have come to life.

It was constantly devouring materials and human life to make itself more resilient and intimidating every day, and it was getting more and more intimidating every day, at least in General Baldwin's opinion, if he were to attack such a line of defense, he would definitely have a lot of headaches.

And the scouts he sent had confirmed that the Transans were still doing something very dangerous in the Filthy Swamp, and they seemed to want to turn the entire Filthy Swamp into a battlefield that could be exploited.

And yet fighting the gnolls in the swamp?

Isn't this tantamount to provoking the enemy on the battlefield of superiority?

It's unimaginable.

General Baldwin had been pondering these things for the last few days, and judging by the performance of the Transansians, it was clear that they did not think that the Black Flame Pass defense line could hold off the gnolls, but General Baldwin had been there a few months ago to see it himself.

He believes that the defense line built by the vampires of the Blood Alliance is very solid, and although it is not perfect compared to the terrain given by God such as the Crimean Fortress, it can definitely hold off the Black Plague for a long time.

The stubbornness of the Translancians made General Baldwin suspicious, and he had to start thinking about what he should do in case the worst happened.

The gnolls could not breach the fortress of Crimea, so they had to go all the way into Transasia, trying to attack the Kafhoka region from the central line of Batassin, which was also the route of the King of the Biting Bones.

This time, the gnolls are hardly comparable to the army of the King of Biting Bones in terms of quantity and quality, and even if they can nibble through the three difficulties of the Black Flame Pass, the Filthy Swamp and the Maginot Line in a row, it is definitely the end of the crossbow to truly step into Transnesia.

When the time comes, he will be in command of the Winter Wolf Legion, and if he completes a cooperation with Marshal Loren on the Plantagenet's side, he will be able to defeat the vanguard of the Black Plague in the territory of Translasia.

This is the best and greatest way to go in the war, but it doesn't necessarily become a reality.

Perhaps he should send reinforcements to the Black Flame Pass and the Maginot Line to exhaust the Gnolls' forces to fulfill his strategic vision?

"Bang, bang"

Just as General Baldwin was thinking, a knock on the door suddenly sounded, interrupting his train of thought.

"Come in!"

The general picked up his cane, stood at his desk, watched the adjutant Colonel Duke, who had walked into the office, come in, and whispered to the chief:

"A visitor wants to see you, General.

She said she had brought news about the Wolf Blood Sword, and we had confirmed that she was indeed one of the thirty Vanguard Ranger sent into the Dark Mountains by the Winter Wolf Legion five years ago to search for lost treasures.

It was an operation that you personally signed, and at that time we were still guarding the northern fortress of the Great Wilderness. ”

"Pioneers from five years ago?"

General Baldwin frowned and said:

"If I'm not mistaken, thirty people went to that operation and only sixteen returned, and the remaining fourteen were declared dead as martyrs. Why are there still Pioneer Ranger coming back to report? ”

"That's what I'm saying, General, she's indeed dead, and the one who came is an undead."

Major Duke sighed and said:

"Irina Misimbayeva, a combat hero of the 7th Chasseur Brigade of the Winter Wolf Legion, was personally summoned and honored by Her Majesty the Wolf Girl, and was also praised as a 'model of courage for Nord women'. She is the seventeenth Female Swordmaster of the Winter Wolf born in our heroic realm, and she was once a potential star, but unfortunately something happened in the operation.

Do you want to meet her?

She said she had come to you on the instructions of General Baldwin Sr.

Her current military membership has been revoked, but General Baldwin Sr. has given her the title of 'Family Guardian'. ”

"He's not the patriarch of the Baldwin family anymore, he doesn't have that power!"

General Baldwin's brow was still furrowed.

Apparently very upset with the actions of his grandfather, who had risen from the dead, but he knew that Baldwin Sr. was not a man of lies, and it seemed that the undead ranger had indeed brought back important news.

"Let her in."

The general spoke, picking up his pistol and inserting it into his pouch, and he walked to the window of his office, looking in the direction of the filthy swamp with his cane.

A few minutes later, Ms. Irina walked into the office.

She was followed by two Winter Fang ascetics on the left and right, these were ascetics in the Great Temple of the North Wind, the most determined, ruthless and fanatical group of Sue's followers, and of course the most combative monks.

One-fifth of the Winter Wolf Legion is made up of such monks, and their reputation for fighting on the battlefield is well-known throughout the continent.

As soon as Lady Irina wants to do something dangerous, the two Winter Fang monks will immediately give her a good look, although the Wolf of the North Wind is not known for purification, but it gives the believer super offensive and destructive power, so that the so-called immortal undead body is just a joke.

But Irina wasn't going to do anything bad.

She obediently handed over her sword of bones and met her former commander unarmed.

With a bang, a standard Winter Wolf Legion salute was made, an action that made General Baldwin very satisfied, and the light in his eyes softened a little.

"Say it."

The general said softly.

Irina did not waste time by adhering to the nature of the undead, and she said directly:

"I found the Wolf Blood Holy Sword! I saw it worn by Legson, the Grand Overseer of the Splittal Clan, and it was at its hands that I died, and in that death I discovered a rather brutal truth, the General.

The Baldwin family's treasure, the Wolf Blood Sacred Sword, one of the three Nord artifacts, has been contaminated!

After obtaining it, the Splittal Clan used the divine power of the Lord of the Hunt to try to dispel Sue's blessings.

You know, that sword was made from Sue's wolf fangs, and once the Lord of the Hunt completely contaminated it, that holy relic could most likely be used to harm the god of the north wind, as confirmed by the theologically proficient vampire Grand Duke Lady Tris.

We

You must retrieve the Sword before it is completely tainted and send it to the Great Sanctuary of the North Wind to return it to its holy state. ”

"The Claw Clan is attacking the Black Flame Pass, right?"

General Baldwin nodded and asked:

"Is that gnoll named 'Hygson' among them?"

"There is no confirmed news at this time."

Irina replied calmly:

"But if Potana, the Splitter, reaches the Black Flame Pass, then the Overseer Hygesen will surely appear, and I've heard some gossip in the Dark Mountains disguised as a gnollo.

Potana is said to have regarded Hygeson as her heir, her most trusted subordinate and lieutenant, and one of the most powerful lords of the Splittal Clan.

It commands the Voodoo Army, the core of the Splittals Clan, and specializes in guarding the safety of the Splittal Master.

Therefore, I will tell you that your enemy will surely appear, and General Baldwin Sr. has asked me to convey a message to you that he is plotting to recapture the Wolfblood Sword in order to wash away the shame he has brought on the Baldwin family.

But now the war is urgent, and he needs some help. ”

"I'll send my family's private soldiers."

General Baldwin thought for a moment and replied:

"Is 2,000 enough?"

Irina shook her head and said:

"At least 20,000 people!"

The lion's wide-mouthed request stunned everyone in the office.

General Baldwin angrily pointed his cane to the ground, and he scolded:

"That dishonored one asked me to give him a legion? Is he already afraid of gnolls to this point? Without a legion to follow, didn't he even dare to wash away his shame with his own hands? It seems that death has turned him into a coward! ”

"These reinforcements are not for the old general! His Excellency Baldwin. ”

Irina explains:

"This is an aid to the Valley of the Shadows. The old general has appointed 25 Tranthia warriors as his companions to take the Holy Sword, and he is not worried about the cruel fate he has set the tone, but about this war!

Once there is a problem in the Black Flame Mountain Pass, with the current military strength of the Shadow Valley, it will not be able to stop the advance of the gnolls at all, and the reason for the establishment of the Winter Wolf Legion is to resist the black plague and deal with the destruction of the mainland civilization by the gnolls!

The old general said that you and your soldiers cannot stand idly by and watch the vampires fight, it is a disgrace to the Winter Wolf Legion. ”

"It's not his turn to teach me what to do."

General Baldwin said indifferently:

"I have my own decision, you can step down! Thank you for the news, Captain Irina, this is important to the Baldwin family and the Winter Wolves. I remember that you also have a sister who lives in Borisgrad and needs me to arrange a family visit for you? ”

"I really wanted to see my sister, but not right now."

Irina really seemed to be just a messenger, and after relaying the old general's request, she was ready to leave regardless of the result, and she said to her former superiors:

"I will follow the old general on the path to recover the holy sword, this is my mission, and I want to complete it even after death. As for my sister. Allow me, Your Excellency, to ask you one thing, if I don't come back, don't tell my sister about my resurrection as a ghost.

If I can fulfill my mission, then I will see her in person before I go to eternal death. ”

"I promise you, soldier!"

General Baldwin said in a deep voice:

"This is my promise! You can rest assured. I also have good news for you, your sister is not depressed after your death, she became the twenty-first Female Swordmaster of the Winter Wolf in our Heroic Realm two years ago.

She's walking the same path you were on.

She is now serving in Her Majesty's Wolf Lady's Guard, and has a lot of trust and a bright future. ”

"Then I'll be relieved."

Irina let out a hoarse laugh, but could not hear any joy in it.

This is the state of the undead, where all true emotions are stripped of at the moment of death.

She may have been genuinely happy, but she couldn't laugh anymore.

She turned away like a soldier, and didn't even stop at the Crimean Fortress, but accepted a set of elite hunter armor and a colonel-level winter wolf blade from Colonel Duke.

She was going to follow Baldwin Sr. to seize the Holy Sword, which was the necessary armament.

After Irina left, Colonel Duke returned to General Baldwin's office and found the general writing a military order, and the colonel waited patiently for a few minutes, and then saw General Baldwin stamping the seal on the military order, and then handed it to him:

"The 12,000 men of the 1st Army and the 5 artillery regiments of the 2nd Army in the Crimean fortress immediately set out, with sufficient supplies, and marched through the Maginot Line to the Valley of the Shadows, where they assisted the Transansians in their defenses.

In addition, the elite North Wind Guards were dispatched to rush to the Black Flame Pass as fast as possible.

They don't have to fight, but I have to keep an eye on what's going on there.

Finally, use the channels of the Thorn Clan to send a message to Her Majesty the Wolf Girl.

Please tell our Queen!

The threat of this black plague is extremely high, and the Crimean fortress needs support.

I have invited His Excellency Kuder to a banquet at the Crimean Fortress to-night, and I would like to discuss with him the need to support the Maginot Line. ”

"General!"

Colonel Duke was taken aback, and he immediately asked rhetorically:

"Do you think the fears of the Translancians will come true? But now we lack evidence to verify it"

"Duke, you've been with me for ten years, and you know I rarely do things by feeling, but this time it's different. All the details I have so far are revealing some unsettling signs.

And some information sent by Madame Shane also corroborates this, the gnolls are not good, and most importantly, they are not alone this time, there is a hidden force assisting them.

Although the goal of the two sides is not the same, it is enough to make the already dangerous Black Cataclysm even more deadly. ”

General Baldwin opened the drawer with some irritation, took out a cigar and put it to his mouth, Colonel Duke lit it for him with psionic fire, and in the thick smoke, the middle-aged general said in a deep voice:

"I believe in my grandfather!

Not because I shared a surname with him, but because he was once the sharpest psionic master under the Hero King, and his alertness to danger was even affirmed by Su. So if he feels that I need to respond, then I should really take that advice.

Irina was right.

The Winter Wolf Legion was founded to guard against the invasion of the Gnolls, which is our duty and our honor, and we cannot escape it.

Go get to work. ”

"Yes! Checkmate! ”

(End of chapter)