I Became a Witch and Started an Industrial Revolution

Chapter 282: They're All Great Powers? That's Unreasonable. They Need to Be Split Apart.

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍intelligence obtained at the cost of an entire combat team's annihilation was immediately sent back to the homeland. Large quantities of gas masks and vehicle-mounted oxygen cylinders were transported by the emergency strategic airship transport force to the frontline main combat units.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was no longer the first time such a thing had happened. Intense combat was the fastest and most effective way to understand the enemy.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alliance's tactics relied on coordinated operations between land, sea, and air forces—a straightforward yet orthodox style of warfare.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Allied Nations, however, employed countless unconventional methods. All sorts of bizarre talents and special abilities constantly caught the Alliance Army off guard during small-scale engagements.

Creating ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sinkholes beneath tanks on the spot was nothing extraordinary. There were even air combat tactics that generated massive showers of rocks—or simply meteor showers—to blanket entire sections of the sky.

During ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍high-speed maneuvers, fighter aircraft were extremely sensitive to airborne debris due to the compromises made between structural strength and weight.

Especially when colliding head-on with a rock at several hundred kilometers per hour. Even if the shield prevented catastrophic damage, the impact would still consume a tremendous amount of shield energy and bleed off a great deal of speed.

Fortunately, these problems mainly affected the lightweight, air-superiority-focused Zero Fighters. Heavy Fighters, which had not been designed with extreme maneuverability or close-range dogfighting in mind—and whose close-combat role had largely been delegated to the Zero Fighters—were affected far less.

In response, the Alliance General Staff ordered fighters to reduce their ammunition loadouts and instead carry additional rocket pods. During engagements, they would unleash overwhelming medium-range saturation bombardments. If the enemy could be blasted into ashes in a single strike, there was no need for close-quarters dogfights.

If the Allied Nations wanted to close the distance, they would have to fly over and pursue the Alliance themselves, minimizing the possibility of falling into terrain-based ambushes.

Ground combat was even easier to address. Large numbers of ordinary soldiers who had previously worn only exoskeletons were now universally equipped with gas masks, additional external armor plates, and an oxygen cylinder.

Even if the gas mask's filtration system failed, the oxygen supply would still allow them to move freely for approximately ten minutes.

At the same time, large numbers of Magic Armor Soldiers and Tracked Anti-Aircraft Vehicles were transferred to the Luke Front and assigned to regular units, reducing the proportion of unarmored soldiers and further strengthening each unit's combat capability during unexpected encounters.

"Over the past few days, we've carried out another three rounds of large-scale strategic bombing against Itzamein. At the same time, we've deployed a large number of older Katyusha Rocket Launchers, firing approximately six thousand rockets at them. Aside from the Royal Capital of Itzamein, the main defending forces throughout the rest of the Holy See's territory have all been defeated by us..."

Midia reclined against the sofa with her snow-white legs resting on a footstool. She took a sip of coffee from her cup.

"It's already come to this, and they're still not surrendering?"

"Sometimes I really can't understand where that bitch Yifudien gets the charisma to make so many people follow her so loyally."

"Uh..."

Anna hesitated.

Midia glanced at her.

"If you've got something to say, just say it. There aren't that many taboos between us."

"I think... it may have something to do with the surrender terms you've proposed. Most of them have said they're unacceptable," Anna replied softly.

"Oh, I'd almost forgotten about that."

Midia frowned slightly as she stared at the black coffee in her hand as though it were arsenic.

"The flavor is authentic. I approve of you using me in advertisements to promote this stuff, but I don't ever want to see it again. Mm... those nobles can have the same treatment."

"They actually think they're still the privileged nobles of the past? The kind who maintained private armies, possessed self-sufficient systems independent of the state, controlled local taxation, and could obey commands while ignoring summons?"

She set the coffee cup down and stretched lazily.

"A bunch of pigs waiting for slaughter, yet they think they're qualified to negotiate terms with me."

"Leave this matter to Betty. If this group won't agree, then replace them with another group that will. I'm sure there are still plenty of people capable of recognizing reality."

"As for Itzamein, ignore it. Surround it and let it rot there as a warning to everyone else."

Anna nodded before continuing,

"After this period of building our intelligence network inside the Allied Nations, we've basically uncovered the overall situation."

"Regarding this joint war strategy, every participating nation had considerable internal opposition from the beginning. It was simply suppressed at first."

"But as our counteroffensive continued and their losses increased, the factions with opposing views gradually expanded and have begun affecting the Allied Nations' military itself."

"According to our intelligence, among the thirty-three elite legions serving in the Allied Nations' vanguard on the front line, eight have shown virtually no military activity for an extended period. They're essentially remaining half-hidden."

"Those eight units come from the Kingdom of Shoro and the Wallis Empire."

"Five belong to Shoro, accounting for eighty-five percent of its deployed elite forces. Only one elite legion and two regular legions remain actively fighting on the battlefield."

"The remaining three belong to Wallis, accounting for forty-five percent of its forces. They respectively belong to the Earth Dragon Lucio Family, the Light Dragon Abdel Jalil Family, and the Life Dragon Fabiano Family."

After hearing the report, Midia raised an eyebrow and spoke with a teasing tone.

"As expected, when it's time to show your fist, you can't back down. Before this, I thought they were truly united against a common enemy."

"But that aside... do you think we can cooperate with them?"

Anna did not answer immediately. She thought carefully for a while before replying,

"It's possible, but I think the chances are low. Their families are all connected through complicated marriage ties. They may have disagreements regarding major policies, but fundamentally, they're still standing on the same side."

"...Take these inactive legions, for example. Even if they aren't doing anything, the very fact that they're willing to participate in the war already expresses their position."

After listening to Anna's analysis, Midia smiled meaningfully.

"Exactly. They've expressed their stance because they're too deeply entangled with one another. But if they're only participating to make a statement, then being forced into doing so also represents dissatisfaction."

"That dissatisfaction may appear to be nothing more than a difference of opinion, but in reality, it's caused by an imbalance in influence and authority. That kind of dissatisfaction runs much deeper than people imagine."

"And I happen to have a way to solve that dissatisfaction."

Anna looked puzzled.

"Huh? What way?"

"Separate and found independent nations."

Anna drew in a sharp breath.

"What did you just say?!"

"If they're unhappy staying together, then they might as well split apart. After all, each family already rules several states. They've long met the qualifications to establish countries of their own."

"If an entire continent has only a handful of great powers, then this world is far too monotonous."

"Take the Britian Empire, for example. After driving out the Orcs, did they divide the territory among them?"

"But that's still unfair. If I remember correctly, there are around seventy to eighty different Human ethnic groups within the empire. Logically, several ethnic groups should receive their own territory, creating ten or even twenty independent countries. That would be much more reasonable~"

"The Wallis Empire is the same. The various Dragon Families could each establish several kingdoms. If I remember correctly, the Lucio Family's territory contains the largest confirmed tungsten ore deposit discovered so far. That single mineral vein alone is enough to make their family the wealthiest in the empire."

"So, little Anna, do you really think the Lucio Family is willing to divide those profits into more than a dozen shares?"

Midia reached her conclusion directly.

"They definitely aren't willing, but they have no choice. It's not just the Lucio Family. Every family has to surrender part of its own interests."

"Meanwhile, the ruling Red Dragon Family occupies the most fertile agricultural land. Grain is certainly indispensable, but it can never generate particularly high added value."

"So if we approached them at that moment and offered a procurement agreement lasting no less than fifty years, openly putting those profits on paper..."

She smiled faintly.

"What kind of consequences would those enormous figures create? I'm really looking forward to finding out~"

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