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Chapter 986 - 986 123 The Grand Victory of Hank Ross

986: Chapter 123, The Grand Victory of Hank Ross 986: Chapter 123, The Grand Victory of Hank Ross “Enemy attack!”

At the same time the warning was sounded, the gates of the camp were already wide open.

There was no helping it; the sentries on duty were simply too tired and too hungry.

Their bodies did not allow them to remain vigilant at all times.

“Get up and meet the enemy!”

The officers of the night watch urged them hurriedly.

The soldiers who had just fallen asleep for rest now had to drag their exhausted bodies up from the ground.

Their movements, however, inevitably became sluggish.

Most of the soldiers were ordinary beings, their mental will unable to triumph over their physical frailty.

No matter how vehemently the officers yelled, they couldn’t rouse the spirit or morale of the troops.

“Get up quickly!”

“Move your asses, you wastes of space!

If the enemy gets in, none of you will survive!

…”

During the conversation, the Giant King had already kicked three slow-responding Giants.

Yet, the reactions he received remained as sluggish as ever.

“If the enemy gets in, none of you will survive”—this was clearly a deceit aimed at the Giants.

Just a few days ago, there were Giant Prisoners who had come out to persuade them to defect!

To be precise, it was prisoners of various species who had taken turns persuading them to defect, demonstrating in practice that the Expeditionary Army did not kill prisoners.

If it were before, they would still be willing to fight loyally for their species, battling the enemy in a fight to the death.

But after being tormented by Hudson’s “strategy of exhausting the enemy,” now many soldiers just wanted to have a full meal and a good sleep.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”

Arrows rained down like a storm on the freshly lined up defenders.

It had been a while since they encountered such treatment.

Clearly, the Expeditionary Army had received supplies.

With enough arrows to waste, they could fully unleash the power of their crossbows.

The defense had also put forth an effort, with far more arrow towers than an ordinary military camp, each equipped with a large number of Archers.

Taking advantage of their elevated position and firing downward at the Expeditionary Army, they held their own for a moment and did not fall behind.

Sadly, wars were not something that a few arrow towers could change the outcome of.

Without the cooperation of the soldiers below, the arrow towers were quickly taken down.

Unlike the previous cavalry raids, this time there were infantry participating in the battle.

The combat strength of the newly formed Moxi People’s regiments and the Warhammer resistance was indeed limited, but there was no problem with them joining in a battle where they had the upper hand.

Faced with the three-sided encirclement by the Northern Continent Allied Forces, the Ancient Heritage Alliance, with insufficient coordination, quickly fell into the awkward situation of each fighting on their own.

…

“Derris, we meet again.

It seems the situation is not much different from last time, though I wonder if your reinforcements will arrive in time this time?”

Hudson asked with a smile.

He knew better than anyone whether the enemy had reinforcements.

If he wasn’t completely certain, he wouldn’t have brought his cronies along.

War was never solely a matter of military strength; it couldn’t always determine the victor.

Bringing his cronies along, on one hand, was paying back their dues, and on the other, it was to reduce the casualties of the Expeditionary Army.

Even a cornered beast knew to fight, let alone the Ancient Heritage Alliance.

If they were really pushed to desperation, even these smaller species, risking their lives, could cause significant casualties among the Expeditionary Army.

“Hmph!”

With a dignified snort, Derris asked with a stern face, “Hudson, don’t forget, negotiations have already started.

In times like these, to provoke a war—are you not afraid of the negotiations failing and being held accountable?”

As an absolute high-rank within the Elf Race, and involved in negotiations with the Alpha Kingdom, there was no way Derris wouldn’t know, nor could Hudson, the Commander of the Kingdom, be unaware.

By convention, once negotiations of significant meaning to both sides began, everyone usually exercised restraint to avoid escalating the situation and affecting the negotiations.

“Miss Derris, what nonsense are you talking about?

What negotiations?

Could it be that your Elf Race wants to surrender?

If that’s the case, I can promise you: as long as the Nobles withdraw from the war, return the lost territories, and punish the war criminals, the Northern Continent Allied Forces will not pursue the matter further.”

Hudson feigned ignorance.

Thinking she could trap him was impossible.

Since the negotiations were secret, they had to be kept strictly confidential.

No matter what the outside world thought, Hudson had to deny, outright: “The Alpha Kingdom did not bypass other nations to negotiate with the Elf Race in private.”

“Despicable scoundrel!”

Derris cursed angrily.

If it weren’t for being targeted by Hudson, with her help, the Elf Army could have definitely broken through.

Now, however, the situation was different.

The Northern Continent Allied Forces indeed surrounded them on three sides, but with Hudson’s cunning use of troops, they dared not break out in the direction where no enemy forces were seen.

“Miss Derris, this is a blatant defamation.

Every attack of the Expeditionary Army has been done by the book, with a challenge issued in advance.

Even the battlefield location was chosen by you, so how can you call me despicable?

If you can’t endure the cruelty of war, why initiate it?

The fate of the Warhammer Great Plains is sealed.

Continuing the battle only means meaningless sacrifice.

I suggest you have your troops surrender.

End the war sooner, and you can go back to tend to your children all the sooner.

Battling and killing really aren’t suitable for you.”

Hudson laughed heartily.

There was no fault in his statement; he indeed issued a challenge before each attack.

However, the content of the challenge was rather vague—it was as good as saying nothing.

To sum it up: “You choose the location of the decisive battle, I choose the timing; next time we meet, we go straight into battle.”

“Hudson, you’re asking for death!”

As she spoke, Derris launched an attack.

Though there was an element of furious embarrassment, it was more out of desperation.