Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 644: Chapter 463: Karachi’s Visit and Plot

"A few days ago, an envoy from the Light Holy See arrived at my Royal Capital," Karachi said.

"They brought me this."

He pointed to the scroll on the table.

"The Light Holy See’s ’War Mobilization Order.’"

"A War Mobilization Order?"

"Yes."

Karachi nodded.

"In the name of the Light Deity, they are demanding that all nations who believe in the Light Deity immediately and unconditionally declare all-out war on all Dragon Realms!"

"They claim that Giant Dragons are evil, a filth that must be purified. Any nation that dares to defy the divine oracle and side with the Giant Dragons will be deemed heretical and face the most severe ’Divine Punishment.’"

"The Holy See’s influence is deeply entrenched in my kingdom. I... cannot refuse."

Raylo was silent.

He already knew about this from his system’s intelligence, but he hadn’t expected Karachi to come and tell him in person.

"So, what did you come to see me for?"

Raylo looked at Karachi, his eyes filled with amusement.

"Are you here to give me a heads-up that you’re about to declare war on me?"

A smile more pained than a sob appeared on Karachi’s face.

"Count Raylo, you’re half right."

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a great resolution, and said, word by word,

"Within a week, I will officially declare war on your Thunder Dragon Duchy... on the grounds that it is harboring evil Giant Dragons."

"But I hope you will cooperate with me to put on a show."

"A grand play... for the Light Holy See to watch."

Nearby, Alex could hardly believe his ears.

’A show?’

’A king, secretly infiltrating an enemy nation just to ask his nemesis to help him stage a war?’

This sounded even more bizarre than the wildest tales of a minstrel.

Raylo said nothing.

He just watched Karachi quietly.

Karachi felt a chill run down his spine under Raylo’s gaze. He swallowed hard and continued.

"Count Raylo, I know this request is absurd," he said.

"The Light Holy See’s envoy is still in the Royal Capital. Although I have never been loyal to the Holy See, I must make a gesture. Otherwise, the entire Fiery Sun Kingdom will face annihilation."

Karachi looked at Raylo with a complicated expression.

Raylo picked up the glass of water on the table and took a light sip.

’Karachi is right.’

’The Light Holy See’s move is both ruthless and absolute.’

’They’re forcing all neutral nations that believe in the Light Deity to pick a side, then use their strength to wear down and exhaust all the Dragon Realms.’

A full-scale war, sweeping across the entire continent, had already begun.

In this massive vortex, no nation could remain unscathed.

Raylo had originally intended to refuse outright.

’This is Karachi’s problem, not his.’

But on second thought, an even bolder idea popped into his mind.

He set down his glass.

"I can help you with your show."

Raylo’s answer made Karachi’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly relax.

He nearly jumped out of his chair.

"But I have one condition," Raylo said.

"Name it! As long as I can do it, any condition is acceptable!" Karachi said eagerly.

Raylo stood up and walked over to the huge military map.

His finger moved slowly across the map, finally landing on a vast area marked in dark green.

"I want the battlefield for this war to be set here."

Karachi followed his finger with his eyes, and his expression changed slightly.

"The Jade Swamp?"

"That’s right."

Raylo turned and looked at him.

"After you declare war, I want you to have your army detour through the Jade Swamp to advance on my Thunder Dragon Duchy."

The suggestion left Karachi deeply perplexed.

From a military perspective, it was utterly foolish.

The Jade Swamp, a land of death filled with venomous insects, poisonous miasma, and unknown Demons, was a nightmare for any army. Any sane commander would choose to go around it.

Marching through the Jade Swamp would not only significantly increase travel time and logistical strain, but it would also cause the army to suffer immense, unnecessary losses while crossing it.

"Count Raylo, I... don’t quite understand," Karachi said hesitantly.

"Why the Jade Swamp?"

Raylo smiled and said,

"Your Majesty Karachi, as you said, we are ’friends,’ aren’t we?"

"How can a friend declare war on a friend?"

"The war between our two nations will unfold like this..."

"The Fiery Sun Kingdom’s army will detour through the Jade Swamp in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on the northern part of the Thunder Dragon Duchy. In the Jade Swamp, they will unexpectedly encounter a Demon Legion from within the swamp, and ultimately, they will clear out the Demons in the swamp."

"The Fiery Sun Kingdom’s surprise attack will be discovered by the Thunder Dragon Duchy, and the Duchy’s army will enter the Jade Swamp to face off against the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s expeditionary force."

"Your Majesty Karachi, both our nations border the Jade Swamp. The Nine-headed Demon Serpent deep within it is our greatest mutual enemy. For this war, let the hardliners in your country who support the Holy See go into the depths of the swamp for us and probe the true strength of the Nine-headed Demon Serpent that has slept there for a thousand years."

"We have a saying in our Duchy: ’beat the grass to startle the snake...’"

"It’s too dangerous for us to be the ones wielding the stick that strikes the snake. Letting the Light Holy See, which has always prided itself on eliminating all evil, act as the vanguard couldn’t be more fitting."

Karachi looked at Raylo, his mind racing.

He understood Raylo’s intention: to use this war to make the Fiery Sun Kingdom tread on the landmines deep within the Jade Swamp.

"Fine."

Karachi forced out the word.

The northwestern border of his Fiery Sun Kingdom also had a small portion of territory that bordered the Jade Swamp.

Mobilizing troops from there, though a long detour, was not entirely unfeasible.

Besides, he felt no guilt about sending those in his country who were loyal to the Holy See, but not to him, to their deaths.

"I agree."

"After the declaration of war, I will order my army to advance through the Jade Swamp."

"Excellent."

A smile finally appeared on Raylo’s face.

He walked back to the table and extended his hand.

"Then, Your Majesty Karachi, I hope we have... a pleasant cooperation."

Karachi looked at Raylo’s outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally shook it.

At that moment, the two hands, each representing the highest power of two rival nations, clasped together tightly for a common, unspoken purpose.

"A pleasant cooperation."

After settling all the details, Karachi did not linger.

He put his hood back on, hiding his face, and prepared to take his leave.

Just as he reached the door and was about to pull it open, Raylo’s voice drifted over from behind him.

"Oh, by the way, Your Majesty Karachi."

Karachi’s steps faltered, and he turned back.

Raylo leaned back in his chair and said, seemingly offhandedly,

"My Black Stone Territory’s Pegasus Knights have suffered some heavy losses among their mounts due to the recent string of battles."

"As you know, Your Majesty, Magical Beasts like the Pegasus are proud and extremely difficult to tame. Replenishing them is no easy task."

The corner of Karachi’s eye twitched imperceptibly.

He of course understood what Raylo meant.

’He’s asking for a handout.’

Karachi’s voice replied.

"I understand. I will... find a way."

"The Light Holy See just sent a battalion of the Divine Punishment Knight Order—a full thousand Pegasus Knights. It would be better to give those Pegasi to you, Count, than to let them feed the Demons in the swamp."

"Then I’ll be counting on you, Your Majesty."

Raylo smiled, picked up his glass, and looked away from him.

Karachi pulled open the door and strode out with his attendant, his figure quickly disappearing down the end of the hall.

The reception room fell silent once more.

Alex walked to Raylo’s side, his face still showing his shock.

"My lord, are we... really going to join forces with the Fiery Sun Kingdom?"

"We are not joining forces," Raylo set down his glass and corrected him.

"We are using each other."

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