Chapter 221: Chapter 221: North-South Confrontation, War Simulation
Chapter 221: North-South Confrontation, War Simulation
The next day.
At dawn, Audrey woke up from her bed, having had a rare sleepless night.
She lifted the quilt, half-leaned against the headboard, and looked out through the stained glass at the dimly lit world outside.
It was already October, and the weather was starting to cool down. In two months, it would be the New Year, and Backlund would be covered in snow.
She had once envisioned inviting Mr. Hastur, Glaint, Hugh, and Miss Fors to play together as the New Year approached.
Even if it was just sitting and chatting, drinking hot tea while looking at the misty snow scene outside, it would have a unique feeling.
But now, Mr. Hastur might leave Backlund before the New Year and head to Southwell County, which was about to become a battlefield.
"Audrey, what's wrong?"
"Quiet, don't talk, let me think."
Hearing this, Susie turned over and went back to sleep on the floor.
It wasn't until the sun leaped over the mountain and dispelled the outside mist that Audrey withdrew her gaze, lifted the quilt, and got out of bed.
She didn't disturb the still-sleeping Susie, went to the washroom to freshen up, and then let the maids dress her up as the most dazzling pearl of Backlund.
When she went downstairs for breakfast, Earl Hall took a special look at today's Audrey, and Audrey responded with a sweet smile.
Everything seemed as usual.
Today, Earl Hall was unusually gentle, telling some interesting jokes at the dining table. During this time, Audrey and Countess Hall also participated in the conversation many times, making the dining atmosphere very relaxed and pleasant.
Around nine-thirty in the morning, Audrey took a carriage out. Susie wanted to follow, but Audrey refused, telling her to stay at home.
The carriage passed through King's Avenue and arrived at Hastur's doorstep.
At this time, Hastur had just woken up from his sleep. He had successfully taken the extraordinary characteristics of the Corrupted Baron last night and successfully advanced to Sequence 6 Corrupted Baron.
His spiritual power was slightly overflowing at this moment, and his head was still aching. Hearing that Audrey was visiting made him feel both surprised and unprepared.
He could only barely suppress the overflowing spiritual power, then perked up, freshened up, and, without having breakfast, met Audrey, who had been waiting for a while, in the study.
Seeing that Audrey remained silent, Hastur spoke first, "Miss Audrey, why did you suddenly visit today?"
Under normal circumstances, Audrey would send a visiting card in advance, indicating when she would come to visit.
This was the first time she had visited directly.
She didn't seem to be just passing by and visiting on a whim.
Audrey calmly said, "Mr. Hastur, what do you think about the Southern Continent and Southwell County?"
"Miss Audrey is also interested in such matters?"
"Yes, this might affect the entire continent's situation, and I want to understand it."
It was probably at the Tarot Club that The Hanged Man Alger entrusted her to inquire about the upper echelons of the Ruen Kingdom.
She didn't want to ask Earl Hall directly, so she came to Hastur.
"War is inevitable. The best scenario is for the war to occur on the Southern Continent's land. A less favorable scenario is a large-scale naval battle between the North and South Continents. The worst scenario is the war starting in Southwell County."
Hastur shared his views on the war with Audrey without reservation, which should be enough for her to report back to The Hanged Man.
But Hastur didn't see a happy expression on Audrey's face; instead, he saw a faint sadness.
"Mr. Hastur, what do you think are the chances of our Ruen Kingdom winning?"
"Victory or defeat is naturally fifty-fifty, either win or lose." Hastur chuckled slightly, not giving a direct answer.
Audrey's eyes seemed to sharpen instantly, "Mr. Hastur, you don't think highly of the Ruen Kingdom, do you?"
Having his thoughts exposed, Hastur no longer intended to be perfunctory and said solemnly, "I indeed don't think highly of this war. The later it breaks out, the more advantageous it is for the Ruen Kingdom."
"Why?"
Hastur got up and brought a hand-drawn world map. This was a precise map drawn by the kingdom's navigators after many voyages, very precious.
Some places were slightly supplemented by Hastur, but he didn't write specific location information; he could understand it himself.
"It looks like a confrontation between the North and South Continents, but it's not really so. The real threat to the Southern Continent is the Ruen Kingdom and the Feynapotter Kingdom."
"Only these two kingdoms have a large part of their territory facing the sea. If the Southern Continent counterattacks, considering the battle route, their first targets will definitely be the coastal ports of the Ruen Kingdom and the Feynapotter Kingdom. They won't bypass and attack the Amanta Mountains in the northeast to attack the Fusac Empire."
"Small countries like Segal and Lenburg can barely protect themselves, let alone send troops to participate in the war. The Intis Republic has enough national power, but if they participate, they might propose a strategy of passing through the Ruen Kingdom's inland, which cannot be easily agreed upon."
"As for the Fusac Empire, occupying the northern region, with the northern part being ice fields and tundra, it is the country most hoping for a large-scale war."
"It will watch the Ruen Kingdom and the Feynapotter Kingdom fight the Southern Continent fleet, then look for opportunities to reap the benefits."
Hastur spoke eloquently. If the existence of gods was not considered, the Fusac Empire was the most likely to unify the North and South Continents.
Unfortunately, the God of War didn't have much intelligence.
Audrey just listened quietly, occasionally glancing at Hastur's high-spirited appearance. This was a rare side of Mr. Hastur.
She had always thought Mr. Hastur was a scholarly noble, but now she realized that Mr. Hastur had another unknown side.
His analysis of the war situation and how the future of the North and South Continents would evolve had his own set of views.
She didn't understand much of these views and insights, only a part of it. She had never been very interested in this aspect.
But she still understood Hastur's pessimism about the current situation of the Ruen Kingdom.
No wonder Earl Hall had recently been sighing and frowning.
"Ahem, these are all events that have a probability of happening. How the future situation will change, no one can be sure. After all, in war, miracles and accidents are very likely to occur."
After satisfying his desire to point out the country's situation, Hastur remembered his current identity.
He was no longer the player who could sit in front of a computer, drink a can of Red Bull, and play "Civilization VI" all day and night.
What he just said about the evolution of the situation was based on the absence of divine intervention.
Once the gods personally intervened, he couldn't predict how the war would evolve.
Especially the movements of the Intis Republic, the most important reason for this North-South Continent conflict was the Eternal Blazing Sun's personal provocation, and other orthodox churches were just helping Him.
But from the current situation, the Ruen Kingdom and the Feynapotter Kingdom were indeed in the most difficult situation.
"Mr. Hastur, is it because of these reasons that you want to go to Southwell County?" Audrey finally asked the most important question of her visit today.
"Our Campbell family's hereditary territory is in Southwell County. I can't just leave it alone. Restoring the Campbell family's glory is a promise I made to the old butler."
Hastur couldn't directly state his true purpose, so he used the restoration of the Campbell family's former glory as a reason.
There was indeed a part of this reason.
Audrey hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Mr. Hastur, is it voluntary? Or because of responsibility?"
"Both."
"I understand."
Audrey stood up, feeling relaxed, "Thank you, Mr. Hastur, for your explanation today."
"Did you come here today just to ask this question?"
Hastur looked at the beautiful Audrey in front of him with a puzzled expression.
Today, she seemed different from usual. This time, she obviously came with a heavy heart.
But now, she seemed to have figured it out, leaving Hastur full of confusion.
"Isn't Mr. Hastur's reason for leaving Backlund enough?"
Audrey also looked at Hastur with a puzzled expression.
The two looked at each other for a while, then smiled and tacitly moved past the topic.
Seeing that Audrey didn't want to say more, Hastur didn't intend to ask further.
Audrey smiled and said, "Mr. Hastur, can you see me off?"
"Of course, it's my honor."
He escorted Audrey out of the study, down the stairs, and watched her get into the carriage before withdrawing his gaze.
Audrey's visit today was like a gentle breeze, lightly brushing by and then quietly leaving, leaving behind an unfathomable thought.
Hastur didn't think too much about it. Audrey's visit today was obviously because she heard something from Earl Hall.
It was probably that he was about to be promoted to nobility and then sent to Southwell County, which he had always been looking forward to.
"Just don't know if it's the end of the year or after the New Year."
Hastur sighed. Naturally, he hoped to leave Backlund after the New Year, but if the situation became too tense, he would be sent to Southwell County at the end of the year.
He didn't think too much about it. His head still ached, and he was more irritable than usual.
After enjoying breakfast in the dining room, Hastur ignored the eager-eyed Aisala, returned to his room, and mercilessly shut Aisala out, then continued to sleep.
(End of this chapter)
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