Chapter 2025: 1136: Lord and Sand Table_2

Chapter 2025: Chapter 1136: Lord and Sand Table_2

Leo Ray nodded thoughtfully, then shifted his gaze to the military chess piece that symbolized our grand army.

This time, our forces were divided into four parts. The first part was composed of the elite units from the Royal Army Corps, the Commercial Land Army, and the Lancaster Corps, totaling 20 main forces corps.

The second part was the summoned puppet army corps of the King’s hero spirits, totaling 30 main forces corps.

The third part was 20 corps converted from Grim Defectors by Prince Viceroy Lawrence.

The fourth part was our 10 regular army corps as the rear guard, totaling 80 corps.

Among these, the first two parts, especially the repeatedly summonable puppet army corps, were the main forces for sieging, while Lawrence’s defectors’ corps were mainly responsible for maintaining order in the Grim Kingdom cities along the way. As for the rear’s regular army corps, they mainly handled logistics.

It’s worth mentioning that, according to Leo Ray’s instructions, Prince Viceroy Lawrence officially announced that he did not recognize the coronation of the New King and declared his involvement in the throne struggle, delivering a series of speeches in Grim’s cities along the way.

Such grandeur, apart from his confidants, also gained the response of a considerable number of Grim nobles who had long been suppressed by Saint King William, causing many Grim cities to willingly open their gates.

Although still somewhat stretched thin compared to the deeply rooted forces of the New King of Grim and the Temple of Light, with Leo Ray’s strong support in funds, personnel, and various equipped Magic Medicines, Lawrence has officially become a new force to be reckoned with in the Grim Kingdom, gaining significant influence.

It is precisely because of Lawrence’s full commitment, coupled with the priests sent to the Grim Kingdom giving daily speeches, that the cities we have conquered gradually stabilized, allowing us to advance without concern.

After all, officially, these cities still belong to the Grim Kingdom, only they are now controlled by the Grim nobles led by Prince Viceroy Lawrence, who holds a claim to the throne.

Of course, as a subordinate, Lawrence himself is still under Leo Ray’s control.

In this way, it undoubtedly mitigates our resistance to the greatest extent, considering the influence of Gannon the Ninth and the Temple of Light is too deeply entrenched in the Grim Kingdom, almost unshakable.

Even Gannon the Ninth’s birthday is celebrated for weeks throughout the Grim Kingdom, showing just how ingrained his influence is.

In summary, with the Great Catastrophe and plate wars looming, Leo Ray naturally will not spend time and energy on solidifying gains, but will focus on expanding victories and acquiring resources.

Once his power and influence become unshakeable, everything else will naturally fall into place.

“I’ll leave the rear entirely to Lawrence, and I can fully concentrate my efforts on Gannon the Ninth.”

Just as Leo Ray thought this, a young Messenger Officer burst into the command room.

“Reporting to his Royal Highness Prince, the 600,000 troops from Ironhand Archipelago have already conquered the Gleam Fortress from the west and are advancing into the Grim Kingdom’s heartland!”

The young Messenger Officer respectfully reported, hand over heart.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Leo Ray nodded at the Messenger Officer and began further observation on the giant sand table.

The Gleam Fortress is situated at the western pass of the Grim heartland. This undoubtedly means that we and Catherine have simultaneously opened passages from both the east and west into the Temple of Light’s sphere of influence.

As for the Deep Green Kingdom attacking from the south, they’ve adhered to the plan to tie down a significant portion of the Grim Kingdom’s garrison and newly recruited corps.

After all, the Southern Region is crisscrossed with steep mountains, and with a limited number of Eckhart’s elite troops, who are not skilled in mountain warfare, keeping pace with the other two fronts is impossible.

“Your Highness, it seems everything is proceeding very smoothly!”

From the Royal Capital, Avoidance War King Karen approached, his unshaven face full of excitement.

“It’s all thanks to the efforts of each Your Majesty and the nation’s heroic spirits.”

Leo Ray smiled slightly at Ariel Watson’s grandfather, maintaining proper respect.

As Ariel’s Father King’s father, Avoidance War King Karen didn’t leave a good name in history, but after some time together, Leo Ray discovered.

Besides lacking a bit of kingly courage and boldness, there’s not much else to fault about him. He certainly has more responsibility than those Corrupt Nobles, albeit limited in capability.

“Your Highness, without your strategic planning, how could our army break through so easily?”

Karen chuckled, then sighed helplessly, “If only your Highness had been present in my era, I wouldn’t have ended up with this unflattering kingly title.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty also cultivate such a valiant Coldflame Monarch like His Majesty King Ironarm?”

Leo Ray tried to console him, smiling, “Moreover, Your Majesty’s timely intervention to save the Coldflame Kingdom already secures your legacy for future praise.”

“Your Highness certainly knows how to comfort, unlike those ancestors who only lecture me.”

Despite his gray hair and deeply wrinkled face, even wearing a crown, Karen still wore a pouty, aggrieved look, like an old child.

“I’ll leave the Royal Capital to Your Majesty when I’m not around.”

Leo Ray didn’t know how to respond to this unconventional king, so he just smiled wryly.

“Please, your Highness. You have saved both my son and my granddaughter, and I will forever remember such a great favor.”

Karen nodded heavily, continuing, “I will guard this place with my Father King and will not allow your Highness any distractions!”

Needless to say, Karen’s Father King is naturally King George of Lost Territory.

“I’ll leave it to you two, your Majesties.”

Leo Ray maintained a calm smile in response.

Though this pair of father-son king titles seem unreliable, utilizing the Lion King Temple’s miraculous functions to summon elite puppet army corps genuinely increases the Royal Capital’s security measures effortlessly.

“Your Highness, I won’t disturb you any further. Just going to check on my son Bertet.”

Knowing he couldn’t help here, Karen tidied his beard and took his leave.

Watching him leave the command room, Leo Ray turned his gaze back to the giant sand table.

“According to the plan, as long as Catherine and I continue to advance powerfully, soon we can rendezvous at their main city, and it will be the end of Gannon the Ninth.”

Leo Ray looked at the symbolic gold city in the Grim heartland center, representing the Holy City of Radiance.

Feeling invigorated, Leo Ray frowned slightly.

Even though everything is proceeding in order, I still have a nagging sense that something is amiss.

“Thinking it over, this past week has gone way too smoothly. Not only have the reinforcements sent by the Grim New King been minimal, but there hasn’t even been a shadow of a Brotherhood strongman, and the other side wouldn’t just surrender…”

Leo Ray pondered for a moment before coming to a sudden realization: “Could it be that Gannon the Ninth is plotting some unknown schemes?”

Upon thinking of this, Leo Ray’s brows furrowed further.

Hence, the unusually calm week might very well be a harbinger of an impending storm.

“There’s no turning back now; beyond continuing forward, I have no other choice.”

With a surge of fighting spirit on his face, Leo Ray thought to himself, “As they say, knowing the danger of the tiger mountain yet still going for it, let me see what tricks the other side can pull.”

Determined, Leo Ray relaxed his brow and began thinking further.

Nevertheless, before engaging the opponent formally, my aces have already been exposed right under their noses.

Maybe before the actual confrontation, I can still make some preparations to increase a sliver of dawn piercing through the endless gloom.

Just as Leo Ray thought of this, a familiar yet urgent prompting voice from Mind Talk suddenly rang out.