Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 432 - 289: The Eve of the Storm (1)

Chapter 432: Chapter 289: The Eve of the Storm (1)

Since there were no other issues, Lady Anna took her leave, saying there were still problems in the Farole region. Chaos was forcefully deploying troops, seemingly preparing to tear open a rift in the Farol Principality.

Neither the Sydney Union nor the neighbouring Tony’s Man Principality could afford to watch Farol Principality fall—transitioning from their own rear to the front line is not a transformation any king or duke would want to see.

So Lady Anna had to go there.

Malin accompanied Faye back to the villa, only to discover that all the girls were present and gathered around the table.

Faye’s idiot brother was clutching his head, seemingly pondering over a question.

"My girls, what are you looking at?" Malin approached them curiously.

"We’re watching the Apprentice from the Church of the War God doing his homework," Jessica laughed as she spoke, "It seems Faye’s brother is a seventh-year Apprentice in the intelligence sector of the Church of the War God, following the Sage Sequence."

"The Mowish family’s penchant for adventure sure is strong," Malin muttered to himself as he glanced at the question—Discuss the deep strategic games behind Chaos’s increased invasion efforts into Farole over the past two years.

Whoever set this ridiculous question, don’t they know that this Chaos is simply a Mimicking Bird,

But then Malin reconsidered—there’s no need for the Church of the War God to be afraid, according to Malin’s analysis over the past few years. Nine out of ten times, their own War God has likely fallen to its knees, but the clergy of the Church of the War God can still wield Divine Arts. This divine office must lie either in the hands of the God of Justice or A’Krong.

If it’s in the former’s hands, then there’s nothing to fear.

If it’s in the latter’s hands, is there anything to be scared of?

In any case, both are heavily suppressing Mimicking Bird, so this matter need not be feared after all.

So Malin decided to give the lad a wake-up call, "According to the principle of interest, shouldn’t we think about why Chaos is doing this?"

"Why?" The boy looked up at Malin, "Why even ask why with Chaos?!"

His face was a picture of disbelief as if he was being tricked.

Malin smiled, "Chaos indeed gives people a sense of unpredictability, but that is a trait granted to them by Chaos. However, the Great Demons and champions under Mimicking Bird are the craftiest of hunters and prey. Think about it, what kind of Chaos forces are invading the City of Farole this time."

"...Indeed, it is Mimicking Bird," Joe nodded.

"Think about it, the native Chaos has just been defeated, why would they deploy forces here? Here, with the military of the Farol Principality still in the process of conscription, they are unable to engage in blitzkrieg warfare. Why would Mimicking Bird send his troops to fight our natives head-on? It doesn’t suit the aesthetic of Mimicking Bird. I see no intrigue here, only bloodshed. This seems more like a style of terror, but obviously, these are not his legions."

Lillim brought over a chair for Malin, and Jessica pushed a strategic map table towards him. Malin stood on the chair and raised one hand, and the sand table immediately transformed to show the terrain of the Farol Principality, "According to your intelligence, Mimic Isle’s legions emerged in the Eastern Region of Farole. The neighbouring Tony’s Man Principality immediately sent troops through the Chaos Watch Treaty to assist the City of Mannas in the easternmost part of Farole, stopping Chaos’s legions there. Both sides are locked in battle here; Lady Anna will bring reinforcement troops from the Mage Tower to the fight, and the nearby Church’s military is also assembling. This is a tough, head-to-head battle, which doesn’t suit Mimicking Bird’s aesthetic. I don’t see any plots here, only bloodshed, and it seems more characteristic of sheer brutality, yet clearly, they are not his legions."

Then, with another press of his hand, the sand table’s topography expanded to include half of the Western Human World, "If Mimicking Bird wants to divert attention through the battle in the Farole region, to then commence his schemes in a region we have yet to fathom, that would make sense. After all, a battle or a campaign is just a part of a war. As long as a total victory is achieved elsewhere, even the loss of a legion in the Farole region is acceptable."

Having said this, Malin looked at the astonished young man, "Now, you can think again about where Mimicking Bird would score a total victory."

"You must be Mimicking Bird, aren’t you?!" After thinking for a long while, the boy could only utter this one sentence.

The girls burst into laughter on the spot, and even Faye laughed, hitting her brother lightly, "That’s not a particularly funny joke, you idiot."

"But why..." the boy pointed at Malin after struggling to find the right adjective, "...does Brother Malin think of such dangerous possibilities!"

"Because water has no constant shape, and in warfare, deceit is no anomaly. In the world of humans, war is an extension of politics; ultimately, it is nothing more than a transaction. However, our war with Chaos is different; it’s a war that seeks annihilation. We must be craftier than Mimicking Bird. Remember, if you avoid contemplating these issues simply because the Chaos is an Evil God of schemes and tricks, then we’ll only fall victim to plots and trickery. Remember, all that we do is to ensure that the innocent in this world survive." After speaking, Malin looked at Joe, "Now think again, what could Mimicking Bird’s target be?"

"The Northern battlefield. We’ve now pushed into the Central Administrative Province of the old Engma Empire, and the situation is favorable for us. Mimicking Bird might use the Southern battles to distract us, then build up strength in the North, until our defense line is pushed all the way back to the South."

With Malin’s encouragement, the young man’s first answer made Malin nod in agreement—correct, that’s indeed a point, "But there’s more. Can you see it?"

"Hmm, another direction is the Northern regions, primarily encompassing the Boer Kingdom, and the Kingdoms of Demay and Rednia. Their refugees have been fleeing south, and that region now suffers greatly. The entire area is under the grip of famine. If Chaos invades there, it will surely cause enough carnage, and indeed, they have already begun to do so. If they deploy a large military force... I fear the Northern Union might struggle to endure."

"No, that’s one point, and there’s another, have you thought of it?" Malin asked with a smile.

"...I can’t see," the boy quickly shook his head.

So Malin pointed at the Eastern Kingdom, "The Eastern Kingdom has also suffered from disaster, and although the Church of Justice has already reached a temporary peace agreement with it, the Eastern Kingdom has always bordered both the Dark Zone and the Death Zone. Chaos has certain influence in these two places, so if we deploy troops here, perhaps we will achieve quite a few victories as well."

Jessica was the first to agree with Malin’s view, "That’s right, the Eastern Kingdom has always been the poorest of our nations, facing the onslaught of Chaos; they will suffer greatly. The problem now is, we still can’t confirm the target."

"Yes, that’s exactly the advantage of Chaos. We can predict their possible invasion points, but we can’t confirm their direction of invasion, and it’s even possible that they will choose a fourth point that we are unaware of, such is the nature of their schemes and tricks."

Having said that, Malin jumped off the chair, "Write down what I said, then add some of your own thoughts." After speaking, Malin reached over and wrapped his arm around Clovis’s waist, taking in a whiff of the fluffy Bunny Girl.

"Let’s go, I’ll teach you how to make something delicious."

......

To be honest, most of what Malin taught the girls were quite easy dishes, such as the carrot soup that Clovis had been learning. It only requires experience in thickening the soup, but for some reason, the Bunny Girl just couldn’t get it right. It’s unbelievable that someone, who like Faye is a genius mage and a prodigy in Alchemy, would be so incompetent at thickening soup that it’s suffocating.

After teaching the other girls a dish each and letting them put their own twist on it, Malin once again assisted the girls in thickening soup.

And failed again—though the good news was that at least this time the carrot soup was edible.

After bringing the dishes to the table, Malin saw that Joe had also come to eat. "I think you should have people treating you to meals."

"Why should anyone treat a useless third prince like me? Are you paying?" The boy said this while trying to skewer a piece of steak, only to have his sister prick his hand with her fork.

"Sis! I’m your baby brother!" the boy shrieked.

"Reflect on what you just said." Faye gave the boy a stern look.

"At least we share the same father, Sis!" the boy continued his pitiful pleas.

Faye grew somewhat tired of the boy’s wailing abilities, and Malin also signified just to let him eat—after all, if it came to it, he could just make a few more dishes.

Malin figured that no matter how much the boy could eat, he wouldn’t outpace his giant appetite; with so much food, Malin and the girls couldn’t possibly finish it all—what could another mouthful possibly count for?

Half an hour later, Malin regretted that thought. What he had cooked usually sufficed for him and the girls, then fed the Rat-maid servants as well (usually with leftovers), but today the boy had cleared all the food by two-thirds through the meal.

"Guess it’s really growing time, eh." The girls commented one after another that their brothers were the same, insatiable as if starved.

Malin had no choice but to cook a few more dishes to satisfy the boy, then he made a few for the Rat-maid servants.

Their favorites were roasted potatoes and fried bugs.

To be honest, Malin had wanted to serve them some roasted meat, but the Rat-girls all declined. Feeling the matter was mutual, he followed their wishes and made a meat soup instead—see, it wasn’t roast meat. He was, after all, a very reasonable person.

The Rat-maid servants were very happy with their meal, and their elder sister was a bit anxious that Malin had made food especially for them; however, Malin reassured her, "You work for me; it’s only right that I take responsibility for your meals. I’m not genuine Nobility; like Mowish in his earlier years was just Noble, I was just an orphan a few years back, so I must remember, no matter what I do, to never forget what I once was, and so should you—don’t mind it." Malin said, smiling as he patted the Rat-girl’s head.

Back in the orphanage, as a teenager, he was already cooking with a shovel—feeding a few Rat-girls was nothing.

Had he forgotten he was once a mere Mortal now that he had some money and status, and was he eager to change himself?

Perhaps, for each has their own aspirations.

But Malin felt this was not where his ambitions lay.