Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 401: Chapter 169: Ingrid’s Transformation and the Outbreak of the Final Battle

Ever since learning that the final battle was about to erupt, the Hesse Territory had entered a state of full preparation for war.

The survival or demise relies on the outcome of this battle.

Thus, under the full mobilization of the newly appointed Governor Oliver, the territory almost halted all internal affairs and production, pushing military mobilization to the extreme.

The territory’s Fallen Wolf Mercenary Corps and Blue Heron Mercenary Corps were all urgently summoned, and together with members of the Red Brotherhood, the standing Free People’s Corps alone reached a size of more than 500 people.

Then the territory also temporarily hired over 300 mercenaries, ranger knights, trade team guards, and other free people with exceptional combat abilities journeying through Hesse Territory, all forcibly conscripted and directly incorporated into the Free People’s Corps for military control.

Besides these 800 or so outstanding soldiers, Oliver also mobilized 1,000 free people, including artisans, merchants, and farm owners with property and wealth within the territory, as well as a squadron of Dwarf Thundering Musketeers.

Notably included were more than 60 other Pioneer Territory survivors from the southeast, migrating from the Empire’s Tirteus Territory, known for their valiant ways and expertise in crafting war chariots. When they joined the territory, they brought four chariots with outstanding impact force.

Marshal Oerstein returned from the north with a large supply of armor and horses, greatly alleviating the territory’s equipment shortage.

However, after three days passed, Su Li had not yet seen the arrival of the Green Dragon Legion but instead welcomed the first thunderstorm of autumn.

Each autumn rain brings a chill, and once this heavy rain ceases, the weather will noticeably turn colder.

Nonetheless, the heavy rain was advantageous for defense. The main forces of the Green Dragon Legion, already slow-moving, would have their march further hindered by the muddy roads in such torrential weather.

On the other hand, the Hesse Territory was relatively less affected. The blacksmiths inside the castle worked fervently 24 hours a day. The dwarves entered a celebratory mood, fully enjoying their favorite life of sweating profusely while crafting weapons and armor.

Day and night, these blacksmith shops smoothly produced dozens of longswords and two to three sets of armor, amassing a considerable scale. Since Marshal Oerstein’s return, the territory’s entire military equipment output rose to more than 100 weapons and over 30 sets of armor daily, with two sets of Vibranium Rune Armor emerging each day.

Every day that the final battle is delayed, the strength of the Hesse Territory grows.

However, it was somewhat disappointing that the Rare Level weapon had yet to emerge. Su Li, too, didn’t understand why a group of four or five champion-level dwarves hammering on a weapon for days couldn’t complete it, causing sparks to fly under their hammers.

A perfect-grade weapon takes just a day or two to forge; why does a Rare Level weapon take so long? Is the engraving of the rune beyond their capacity?

Yet, Su Li couldn’t help either, and during such critical times, even if Su Li was the lord, disturbing the stubborn and irate dwarves might have led to him being scolded out by them.

Thus, Su Li simply took Oerstein to the banks of the Black Water River to start fishing.

In fact, he wasn’t too worried about the residents catching the Storm Dragon Head Eel, as fishing this carnivorous extraordinary fish required God Chosen Level bait, which the residents clearly lacked.

For Su Li, fishing such fish brought him the joy of angling, as the God Chosen Level mouse meat proved immensely effective. Once immersed in water, the blood and scent quickly attracted numerous fish, eager to fight over it.

After a morning of fishing, while Su Li didn’t catch the Storm Dragon Head Eel, he managed to catch over a dozen ordinary fish, including one trout weighing over 40 pounds, nearly snapping his fishing line crafted from Extraordinary Spider Silk.

In the afternoon, as the rain slightly cleared up, Marshal Oerstein put down his fishing rod and said to Su Li, ”Lord, I need to hurry back to train the soldiers. The newly enlisted Free People’s Corps are still used to their previous unruly combat style, like lone wolves, not understanding cooperation. This is a major taboo on the battlefield. It takes time to drill them to enhance their military discipline and improve their ability to obey orders and cooperate in battle.”

Su Li, having a fish on the hook, replied while reeling it in, ”Then you go ahead, I’ll continue fighting here. I’ll treat you to fish tonight.”

”Ingrid, come quickly and prepare the net.”

However, the strength of this fish was astonishing. Su Li and Ingrid, the Beautiful Witch, battled it together for over ten minutes. Despite the struggle, this fish retained its vigor, holding tightly to the mouse meat and continuing to thrash at the river’s edge, even leaping out of the water.

Ingrid, with her frail body and lack of strength compared to the knights, was already panting, asking, ”Lord, could this be the Storm Dragon Head Eel?”

Indeed, the joy of fishing and hunting is the same—it’s the thrill of harvest and capture. This huge fish in the water, even though Su Li was worn out, he was immensely excited, saying, ”No matter what, I must reel it in.”

Su Li’s blood surged, activating the ability of [Blazing Blood·Royal Authority], inflicting dragon-like pressure on the fish, sapping its strength.

But the big fish, unwilling to succumb, released a surge of electric current over its body, causing Ingrid, who was holding the rod for Su Li, to exclaim and collapse onto the ground. With emerald green magic robes, a pair of round, white silk-clad legs peeked out from the split skirt, glowing with beauty.