My Players Are So Fierce

Chapter 424: It’s Time to Put Some Pressure on Our Bad Neighbors

“What did you say? Transia has started large-scale defense line construction outside the swamp?”

In Plague Town within the Foul Swamp, Flesh Render, the gnoll warlock who was disturbed from his contemplation by the sudden incident, was very displeased. However, after hearing the news brought by Hog, the skinny gnoll chieftain before him, Flesh Render himself was stunned.

This old and cunning evil warlock narrowed his eyes, and in his cold gaze, he said to Hog:

“The vampire lord Murphy’s foolish act of sending gnoll and kobold prisoners to dig trenches outside the swamp has been under our observation all along, it can’t hide from anyone, it’s just their pathetic resistance against the Black Plague.

Similar things have happened many times before, but each time their pathetic defense lines were completely useless before the invincible gnoll army.

This matter is completely not worth your such surprise, you fearful wretch! I guess you’re almost scared to death, but hasn’t Lame Claw given you enough skeleton armies to protect your pitiful woods?”

“It’s different, my lord! This time it’s different!”

Hog, who was “forced to perform,” acted out the image of a cowardly gnoll frightened by war with perfect authenticity.

It wailed and shouted at Flesh Render:

“Before they were just digging trenches, but now soldiers have been stationed there, my lord! The unfortunate cubs in my clan saw with their own eyes the terrifying Winged Cavalry appearing in formation near that battle line, and more People’s Army infantry being deployed over there, but this isn’t the most important part!

The humans of Transia are few in number, no matter how well they fight they can’t be a match for your mighty undead forces.

But this time it’s not just Transians who have come!

There are also those who use the goldflower as their emblem!

Those war merchants who have been beating up the Transians for the past few years, I once led my clansmen across the border at night to steal meat, I saw with my own eyes how those humans slaughtered their own kind.

They also seem to be choosing an area near the swamp to establish a camp.

Over by the Anderma Hills, those Silan are commanding a terrifying army, my cubs couldn’t even count how many people they had, the masses were even more numerous than the legions under King Kenport.

Lord Flesh Render, believe me, the situation is really different this time.

If something hadn’t really happened, with my cowardice, would I dare come here to disturb your important matters?”

“Hmm?”

Hearing Hog’s wailing, Flesh Render, who was originally unconcerned, also felt his heart skip a beat. From Hog’s rambling description, could it be that the regular army of the Goldflower Kingdom has entered Transia?

Hmm.

This is indeed troublesome.

Compared to Transia’s complete devastation, the Goldflower Kingdom with its rising national power was indeed a very tough opponent in the eyes of the gnoll commanders.

If these fellows really set up camp near the swamp, then his and his Plague Clan’s holy mission would certainly face enormous challenges.

Moreover, the timing of this incident was also wrong.

Flesh Render was organizing a huge legion preparing to conquer the territory of powerful legendary beasts deep in the Foul Swamp, he was almost ready, but if at this time they were attacked from both front and rear.

“You!”

The gnoll warlock quickly made a decision, he raised his long, pale fingernails as ghastly as dead man’s skin, pointing at Hog and said:

“You go stop them!”

“Ah? Me?”

Hog was completely dumbfounded.

This decision was not in his and Lord Murphy’s plans, Hog immediately hugged Flesh Render’s leg and wailed with snot and tears:

“No! I can’t do it! My lord, my weak clansmen and I are no match for those crazy humans with muskets and cannons, we will be slaughtered by them. By the Lord of the Hunt!

Lord Flesh Render, I have been serving you wholeheartedly during this time, I haven’t done anything to wrong you at all, you can’t just abandon us like this.”

“You cowardly fool!”

Hog’s performance was too poor, so poor that Flesh Render wanted to kick this cowardly fellow.

No wonder the gnolls from the Dark Mountains looked down on gnolls from other places, how could such cowardly goods deserve the power bestowed by the Lord of the Hunt?

However, precisely because Hog’s performance almost perfectly matched these Dark Mountain gnolls’ impression of outside gnolls, it made Flesh Render’s vigilance against this Blood Claw chieftain increasingly fade.

The warlock kicked him away to avoid this fellow dirtying his robes, and said in a cold tone:

“Behave yourself properly! I’m not going to let you go to your deaths, your few people all together wouldn’t be enough for their artillery shells to consume, I will send several plague warlocks and necromancers leading a skeleton army to your woods.

You don’t need to participate in the war, you just need to provide them with enough information.

Didn’t you boast earlier that you have deep roots locally and connections with gnoll tribes throughout Transia?”

“Awooo, of course I have many informants, Lord Flesh Render.”

After hearing that he wouldn’t have to be cannon fodder, Hog immediately felt relieved, he showed a cunning smile again and rubbed his claws fawningly as he said to Lord Flesh Render:

“I have already figured out where those Goldflower people are stationed, moving quickly through my woods, it would only take 2 days to catch them by surprise. Your mighty ones could even cross the border into East Prussia, directly striking those Silan’s base camp there, I heard many people died there because of the war!

Graveyards everywhere!

Countless war dead buried inside.

My lord, isn’t this exactly the ‘troop source’ you need most?”

“I do indeed need enough excellent materials.”

Flesh Render glanced at the fawning Hog and sneered:

“But I neither need to make enemies nor intend to expand the war right now, you behave yourself! Just resist the enemy in your woods, entangle those humans establishing defense lines, and buy us some final time for our operations.”

“Awoo, alright alright.”

Hog hurriedly lowered his head.

As if not daring to meet Flesh Render’s cold eyes, however in the instant the Blood Claw chieftain lowered his head, a fierce glint flashed in his cunning eyes.

Hmph, operating in my territory, whether or not to expand the war is no longer up to you to decide, Lord Flesh Render.

Lord Murphy now very much needs Transia’s neighbors to realize the threat of the Black Plague is right beside them, so sorry, but hopefully the “accidental” deaths of these plague warlocks and necromancers can bring you some unnecessary pressure.

Ha, let the situation descend into chaos!

The more chaotic the situation, the more important the Blood Claw clan’s role will appear in both sides’ eyes, and he and his clansmen can continue to maintain their advantageous position.

They just want to survive and live more comfortably, what wrong have they done?

————————

“Marshal Loren wants to push Transia to the frontline of war, his most perfect scenario would be for the Goldflower Kingdom to never be defeated before Transia bleeds its last drop of blood.

I must admit his plan is very perfect, however I don’t intend to let him hide safely behind us building an iron defense line.”

In the night sky, Murphy spread his wings flying at high speed, with Maxim flying beside him as his companion, listening to his master’s unique views on this war.

The vampire lord would never hide his thoughts in front of loyal subordinates, he said to Maxim:

“Hog is carrying out a secret operation, if its performance is good enough, then perhaps soon a skeleton army of gnolls from the Plague Clan will cross Transia’s border into East Prussia.

Many people will die, Max.

Many people will be forced to accept the test of war because of this operation I planned, when they originally shouldn’t have suffered all this.”

“If their deaths can make that arrogant short marshal realize his foolishness and arrogance, and truly put all preparations into the war, then these deaths are meaningful.”

Maxim responded in a deep voice:

“Master Murphy, you don’t need to carry any mental burden for these actions at all, if Transia cannot withstand the gnoll invasion, the people of East Prussia will die all the same.

I don’t think Loren will extend his so-called ‘perfect defense line’ to the entire East Prussian border, those who cannot be protected are destined to become sacrifices of this war.

You are just accelerating this process and will make it achieve a perfect result, from a military perspective, this will be a necessary victory.

It’s just a pity that Fort Crimea firmly controls the road from Foul Swamp into the Kafhoka Plains, otherwise we could replay such tactics in the northerners’ territory, to make the young Wolf Queen realize some things’ importance is higher than her political schemes.

I’ve gained some new insights while learning history from Professor Malcolm recently, I’ve realized that behind all successful alliances between various forces in past history, there was terrifying pressure from third parties.

The greater the external pressure, the more stable internal alliances become.

As our warriors say, putting some pressure on bad neighbors helps them understand the pressure we face right now, that short marshal will be heavily slapped in the face, which will undoubtedly make him more clear-headed.”

Maxim’s response carried strong consolation, which made Murphy laugh wryly.

The vampire lord enjoyed the relaxation of freely soaring under the night sky, he raised his head looking at the crescent moon hanging high in the sky then lowered his head looking at the beautiful earth wrapped in silver gauze, he said:

“No, Max, I’m not saying these things to make you comfort me, I’m not weak to that degree, I just want to tell you that since I’ve decided to execute such pressure tactics, then we should rationalize this sacrifice and maximize its utility.

I plan to have my warriors play the role of ‘saviors’ in this conflict.

Especially for those newcomers who have only recently come to Transia and still cannot understand the cruel conflicts on this land, the construction speed of Torrent Fort is satisfactory, but a city needs more than just houses, it needs people!

A group of survivors under the threat of the ‘undead plague’ will only accept the doctrine of the Holy Light faster and more readily.

When they chant the name of the Holy Light in unison, the projection of this power symbolizing all good things will only resonate more violently in the subspace.

And if this continues to develop, one day.

Yes!

One day, we will shape a deity with our own hands!

This is the professional opinion Tris gave me regarding faith, I can only say that in terms of vampire coldbloodedness, Tris is a hundred times more than me.

She set the death toll for this disaster at tens of thousands, but for a governor extremely lacking in manpower, this seems a bit too wasteful.”

Murphy shook his head, he looked towards East Prussia and said:

“Before the People’s Army main force rushes to the swamp defense line, Max, I want you to conduct an assessment of your soldiers’ discipline and execution ability, I want you to also join the ‘rescue and support’ operations that will be carried out in the next few days, acting together with those warriors from the Torrent Knights who call themselves ‘holy knights’.

This will be a rescue operation full of humanitarian glory, it’s so perfect that Loren cannot say a single harsh word and instead has to thank us.”

“I never doubt your plans, master, but what I’m concerned about is another matter.”

Maxim said in a low voice:

“If those gnoll warlocks enter East Prussia from Hog’s territory, won’t this cause your carefully nurtured Blood Claw clan to vanish in smoke under the revenge of the narrow-minded short marshal?

From our current intelligence channels, the role that Hog and his clansmen can play in our conquest of Foul Swamp is surprisingly amazing at minimum.

Adele has already viewed Hog as the trump card of the Shadow Intelligence Bureau.

She may not allow you to so easily consume the scouts we have cultivated with such difficulty.”

“No, she won’t.”

Murphy recalled the content of his conversation with Colonel Frayzer this morning, he said with certainty:

“As long as Loren still has some rationality, he won’t launch retaliatory actions against poor Hog, Hog’s role is not just for this war. When facing a larger and more terrible threat, even gnolls can become assistants to the civilized world.

Dusk

I should perhaps thank them for their style of stirring up trouble everywhere, fearing the world isn’t chaotic enough, having such an enemy of civilization is enough to unite most people who don’t want to close their eyes and wait for death.

But your concerns are also correct.

Hog may need to find a way out for his Blood Claw clan.

After all, once the Black Plague starts, the Smuggler’s Woods which has neither strategic depth nor can support too many warriors cannot protect him and his clansmen.

I see the flood before my eyes, no one facing it can live in isolation, and in this war that will surely determine the continent’s fate, everyone is making final preparations.

Even someone of humble origins like Hog has already chosen their camp. This is a world war! All previous speculations about the Fifth Black Plague were wrong, Max.”

Murphy emphasized:

“The scale of this Black Plague will definitely be shocking!

I can be certain of this point, this time no force will be able to stay out of the Black Plague, and more terrifyingly, this Black Plague that could very likely destroy the entire continent’s civilization may just be a light breeze blown up before an even greater storm brews.

Ah, I can understand old Finoch’s warning to me now.

That old fellow must have seen all this to be so desperate and helpless, he felt we might not be able to be reborn from the flames, but I have different views on this.”

“We will definitely win!”

Maxim beat his wings in the air and said in a deep voice:

“Nothing can stop your great cause, I firmly believe this.”

“Having confidence is always good at any time, but confidence also needs enough power and knowledge as backup support, therefore, Max, I have a new task for you now.”

Murphy took out a computation bead with unlocked permissions from his chest and handed it to Maxim, saying:

“From now on, you will be able to freely enter the warriors’ ‘Otherworld Tavern’ just like me and Tris, because of the approaching war, those fellows have moved many military works and war cases from their world onto the forum, those are materials and experiences you must study seriously.

I know you’ve been learning from me all along, Max, I’m very pleased, but now you must learn from those greater shining stars of the otherworld!

You, Femis and Miriam will all undergo the test of this otherworld knowledge, I believe this can definitely accelerate your growth.

Of course, you need to maintain your disguises, so I’ll give you some extra tutoring, the ‘NPC Performance Art’ subject will be taught by me personally.

Your three’s new identities will be new employees of the ‘test group.’”

“I think I can understand your meaning.”

Maxim frowned as he replaced his original computation bead, he looked at Murphy and said:

“You mean to have me and the young lady and Miriam disguise ourselves as people from ‘their’ side, just like how the Torrent Knights warriors have been trying to disguise themselves as people from our side.

Forgive my frankness, I don’t think this is necessary.

Especially at this crucial moment when every minute counts, after all they don’t have unique warfare like the Black Plague over there”

“You’re too arrogant, Max.”

Murphy sighed and shook his head, saying:

“Let me ask you a question, how many countries’ alliance do you think Transia alone could resist?”

Maxim blinked his eyes.

This question was impossible to answer, current Transia couldn’t provoke either the Goldflower Kingdom or Nordtov alone, let alone resist an alliance.

The vampire lord shrugged and said to Maxim:

“In their world there was a country… that is, the homeland of the warriors, when they were as poor and just established as we are, they fought against an alliance of 17 nations alone and emerged victorious.

Max!

Compared to them, the wars happening here are like children playing house!

Be more humble, go read those war histories and afterwards you’ll discover the source of my confidence, because those warriors’ descendants are fighting alongside us!

I believe they can create miracles just like their ancestors.

Max, we must win, and we must fight this battle, if we don’t fight, our descendants will have to bear all this.”

“Um, master, I admit your words are very inspiring, but we are vampires, we can’t possibly have descendants”

“Shut up! Just look when I tell you to look, where did all this nonsense come from?”