GBP Chapter 1379 An Action Not Taken by a Wise Man
Chapter 1379 An Action Not Taken by a Wise Man
When my master's army lands, they will no longer face an enemy force exhausted from their arduous journey through the corridors of death, but a fresh and well-rested army, perhaps also prepared with traps in their wake.
The owl's voice remained steady, but the grim judgment it contained sent a chill down Shahar's spine, a chill that was even more intense than the snowstorm in the north.
He instantly understood Night Owl's implication: the enemy wasn't refusing to attack because they were scared off, but because they had switched to a more dangerous and cunning tactic! They were waiting, waiting for reinforcements to land and willingly walk into their trap!
"Captain Night Owl, you mean... they might be setting a trap on their side? Are they not going to attack us? You know, the only reason they'd attack us is for that thing in the Tsar's ruins... If they want to go, they'll come sooner or later... Don't they just want it?"
Night Owl shook his head: "I don't know the specifics... The enemy's refusal to attack isn't because they've been scared off, but because they've switched to a more dangerous and cunning tactic! They're waiting, waiting for reinforcements to land and willingly walk into their trap!"
"this..."
Shahar's expression was grim: "Then... what should we do? Are we just going to watch them prepare? Divine Envoy, should we... take the initiative and lure them out? Send an elite force to launch a feint attack, or deliberately create an opening to lure them into attacking?"
This was the most direct method Shahar could think of: to lure the enemy back into the battlefield he had planned.
Night Owl shook his head slowly without hesitation and said, "No need. Any proactive attack that breaks away from the fortress's defense system is too risky given the current unclear enemy situation."
As he spoke, he continued, "We cannot ascertain the strength of the enemy's rear. If we launch a rash attack, we may fall right into their trap and be ambushed and annihilated, resulting in unnecessary losses."
"All actions will be decided after the arrival of the master's army. In the meantime, maintain the highest level of alert, strengthen defenses, and continuously monitor enemy movements. Order your troops not to launch any attacks without authorization."
Shahar looked into the owl's cold and resolute eyes, opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed the words he was about to say.
He realized that any risky proposal was futile in the face of this absolutely rational divine messenger who obeyed only higher commands.
He could only place his last sliver of hope on the mysterious man who was about to cross the icy sea!
In any case, as long as he can hold this area before the main army arrives, it will be a victory for him!
"Yes... I will obey the command of the divine messenger."
The next few days were spent waiting, and both sides fell into an extremely strange peace.
Both sides are cultivating their own spheres of influence.
Shahar has buried everything he could find; there's only one safe zone known only to them on the outer perimeter. So, just in case, they sent the Night Owl team to the Ice Sea to warn them...
It happened a few days earlier than they had predicted, at dawn three days later...
Beneath the grey surface of the northern icy sea, a massive shadow silently breaks through the thick ice.
It wasn't the roar of icebreakers, but rather a dozen or so strangely shaped, cold-lined steel behemoth submarines.
These submarines that came out of the creation base were much larger than those that were sent to Xiao Ce before.
Like prehistoric behemoths emerging from the abyss, they silently parted the ice floes and opened their hatches. Then, column after column of figures stepped onto the frozen shore.
They are not human soldiers.
It is a legion built of steel and energy.
The number was enormous, nearly ten thousand.
Their shapes were more uniform than those of the Night Owl Squad...
The armor has a matte black color that absorbs light, and there are dark blue energy lines flowing through the joints. The steps are precise to the millimeter. The movement of tens of thousands of machines only produces a low and uniform hum, like the heartbeat of the ice field itself.
They silently assembled and lined up, without flags or slogans, a suffocating, moving jungle of steel. Even the wind and snow seemed to freeze before them.
The leader arrived on the ice.
He wasn't wearing any standard armor, just a seemingly ordinary but exceptionally high-quality dark-colored outfit, covered by a heavy cloak for warmth.
The hood was pulled low, covering most of his face, but it also carried a sense of composure and an invisible pressure from someone who had long held a high position.
He is the "master" that Shahar has been eagerly awaiting, the mysterious man!
Xiao Dingshan. At this moment, he no longer needed to hide anything.
Although he was killed in his previous confrontation with Xiao Ce, they possessed those skills, so to some extent, he was still alive.
He is immortal...
As soon as they stepped onto the shoreline of the icy sea, the owl was already waiting.
Upon seeing Night Owl, Xiao Dingshan asked, "Why are you waiting here?"
Night Owl briefly explained the situation to Xiao Dingshan...
Xiao Dingshan was somewhat surprised: "Hmph... I overestimated Xiao Ce... I thought he had already succeeded... but his speed is still a bit slow..."
The owl nodded without saying anything.
Xiao Dingshan asked, "Has the Hidden Dragon Armory been emptied by him?"
Night Owl shook his head: "Probably not. After all, it's all within the Slavic Empire. At most, he'd take some things away... If they really emptied the Hidden Dragon Armory, they wouldn't have needed to attack the Slavic Empire at all, or they might have simply crushed it..."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dingshan nodded and said, "Alright...you're right...let's go to Shahar now. Lead the way..."
Night Owl, as usual, didn't waste any words and set off.
This massive army of robots traversed the frozen ground in this frigid climate...
Not a sound was made; it was perfectly quiet and perfectly orderly...
Not long after, when this extremely fierce torrent of steel appeared on the northern horizon of Everwinter Fortress!
The sentries on the city wall were stunned for a moment after witnessing this scene, and then let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Then the alarm blared, breaking the silence of the early morning.
After hearing the commotion, Shahar guessed that someone might have arrived...
He practically tumbled and crawled up the city wall. When he saw the boundless black legion surging in like a steel tide, especially the figure at the very front, exuding an awe-inspiring presence!
The fear, despair, and humiliation of the past few days were instantly overwhelmed by an almost explosive ecstasy!
"They're here! They're really here! Divine soldiers have descended from the heavens! God bless Slavs!"
Shahar trembled with excitement, tears streaming down his face, and shouted hoarsely, "Quickly! Open the city gates! Lower the drawbridge! Kornev! Igor! Follow me out to welcome our savior!"
The heavy suspension bridge crashed down onto the frozen ground.
Disregarding his status, Shahar was almost the first to rush out, trudging through the deep snow towards the silent legion. Kornev followed closely behind, the scar on his face contorted with excitement, his eyes gleaming with an almost sacrificial fervor.
Even the usually composed and steady Igor, now walking with faltering steps, eagerly followed, his cloudy old eyes fixed on the steel tide that represented hope.
Shahar rushed to a spot a dozen steps away from Xiao Dingshan, so excited he almost fell at his feet.
He opened his arms wide, his voice trembling with sobs and utter obsequiousness: "Honorable master! You have finally...finally arrived! Shahar...Shahar and all of Slavia have waited so long for you! Thank you for your mercy! Thank you for not abandoning us, your lowly servants!"
He bowed deeply, almost burying his face in the snow.
However, when he raised his head and his gaze fell on Xiao Dingshan's true face revealed after he pulled down his hood, his expression of ecstasy froze instantly, replaced by utter astonishment.
A typical East Asian face!
His features were well-defined, his eyes deep and sharp, carrying a weathered coldness and an unquestionable authority.
This is related to the mysterious figures he has imagined countless times in the dark, whether they are majestic gods or towering beings from other lands!
Completely different!
Shahar's mind went blank, almost stopping his thought process. This…how could this be? The Slavic Empire he ruled had been shattered by the Xiao Kingdom of East Asia! How could this supreme "master" before him be…?
Just then, a temporary robot captain from the Night Owl squad standing next to Shahar stepped forward and said, "Master, Night Owl, commander of the Everwinter Fortress outpost, reporting to you. The target area has been initially controlled and defensively deployed as planned, awaiting your next instructions."
When Shahar heard the robot's confirmation, he had his answer.
Seeing this, Xiao Dingshan said to Shahar, "Shahar, why do you seem a little disappointed..."
Upon hearing this, Shahar's initial astonishment instantly transformed into an even more fervent, almost obsequious fawning.
With a thud, he truly knelt down on both knees this time, his forehead hitting the cold snow hard, his voice trembling violently with excitement and awe!
"Shahar...Shahar is blind!"
"We failed to recognize our great master at first glance! Please forgive us! Your glory cannot be concealed by any mortal appearance! The Shahars and Slavs will forever prostrate themselves at your feet!"
Kornev and the other ministers and generals who followed him also knelt down and kowtowed to Xiao Dingshan in the wind and snow.
Xiao Dingshan merely glanced indifferently at Shahar, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes calm and unwavering, as if he were looking at a speck of dust.
He slightly raised his hand, gesturing for the robot beside him to stand up. His gaze then swept over Shahar's head and landed on the solitary Everwinter Fortress in the snowstorm, as if he were assessing the value of an item.
"Get up."
He then simply shouted to the crowd, "Lead the way, into the city."
"Yes! Yes! Master, please! Quickly! Clear the way for your esteemed master!"
Shahar felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly got up, bowed deeply, and personally led the way, his posture extremely humble, to welcome Xiao Dingshan, Night Owl, and the others into the Everwinter Fortress.
Inside the fortress, all soldiers and civilians were ordered to kneel on both sides of the road, and no one dared to look up directly at them.
Only the heavy sound of steel footsteps echoed on the stone-paved streets!
That was the robot legion that followed Xiao Dingshan in, surging in like a black tide. They quickly took over the key points, their cold scanning beams sweeping over every corner.
The fortress's original garrison appeared small and vulnerable in the face of these steel warriors.
Inside the council chamber, the throne had long been removed and replaced with the most luxurious chair.
Shahar dared not sit on his own throne; he stood personally beside Shah Ding Shan as if he were the most loyal servant.
"Owner…"
Shahar's voice was filled with guilt and fear as he began his performance of repentance: "Your subordinate... Your subordinate is incompetent! I have failed my master's expectations!"
"The capital city...Eagle Sorrow Gorge...lost a large territory...sixty divine envoys...also...also...destroyed by Xiao Ce and Han Da's trickery...retreating all the way here...losing troops and generals...bringing shame to our master! I beg for your punishment!"
As he spoke, he was about to kneel down again.
Xiao Dingshan picked up the hot drink offered by the servant, but he did not drink it; he simply felt the temperature of the cup.
He interrupted Shahar's apology and said calmly.
"The defeat has nothing to do with you."
Xiao Dingshan put down his cup, then fixed his gaze on Shahar: "Xiao Ce has obtained the key to the Hidden Dragon, and with a veteran like Han Da assisting him, your defeat is inevitable. Those divine messengers! They are nothing but outdated consumables; once destroyed, they are destroyed. Doesn't war always involve sacrifices?"
"And these sacrifices are utterly insignificant..."
Shahar's eyes widened upon hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, his mind reeling.
It turns out he already knew that Xiao Ce possessed the power of that terrifying armory!
It turns out that the destruction of the capital's divine envoy was so insignificant in the master's eyes!
The last trace of burden he felt from the defeat vanished instantly, replaced by boundless awe for his master's unfathomable power.
And an even burning desire for the Hidden Dragon Armory; after all, something he valued so highly must contain something extraordinary!
"Thank you... thank you for your magnanimity, Master!"
Shahar was moved to tears, but then a deep-seated hatred and eager fighting spirit appeared on his face. He then asked Xiao Dingshan, "Master! You have now descended from the heavens with divine power!"
"Those Federation people are to the south! They seem to have sensed something and are hiding here!"
"Should we immediately march south and utterly crush them to avenge our defeat? The soldiers of the Everwinter Fortress are ready to be the vanguard!"
Shahar seemed to see the flames of revenge burning, and Xiao Ce and Han Da reduced to ashes under the steel torrent.
Xiao Dingshan slowly shook his head, his gesture conveying an unquestionable decisiveness.
"Do not."
This simple word was like a bucket of ice water poured on the fire of revenge that had just been ignited in Shahar.
"There's no rush to attack Xiao Ce."
Xiao Dingshan turned his gaze northward, as if piercing through the thick stone walls of the fortress and into the depths of the wind and snow, and said, "They are holding back their troops; they must have something to rely on, or perhaps it is a trap. A direct attack would be a waste of resources and not the act of a wise man."