The Military Princess Won’t Fall in Love with a Magic Scientist

Chapter 196. Borrowing a Chicken to Lay Eggs

Logaris froze for a moment, then replied irritably, “I remember. Their physical conditioning and discipline aren’t a problem. They’ve had a few bandit suppression campaigns under their belts, but they lack experience in large-scale warfare. If they really go onto a battlefield, they’ll need some hard seasoning first.”

“Exactly. A soldier who has never seen a real battlefield is just a farmer holding a weapon.”

Sylvia spun around sharply. At that moment, the light in her eyes was no longer the anxiety from before, but a kind of thrilling madness and ambition that made one’s heart tighten.

She pointed at that patch of dead ground on the map, the corner of her lips curling into a breathtaking arc.

“You’re right, Logaris. That’s my second brother’s territory. It’s a trap. A death trap.”

“But look at it from another angle.”

“There are endless magic beasts there. That makes it the best live-fire target range. The environment is as harsh as it gets. That makes it the best training ground. And on top of that... my second brother is providing free rations and fully reimbursed military expenses.”

Sylvia’s voice was as cold as ice and yet as hot as fire. Every word landed on Logaris’s heart like a hammer blow.

“Since we can’t avoid it completely, then we maximize the benefits.”

“We’ll use my second brother’s grain to train our soldiers. We’ll use his money to ‘sharpen’ our recruits!”

Logaris was stunned.

A few seconds later, the smile at the corner of his mouth slowly widened.

“You mean... borrow a chicken to lay eggs?”

“There’s no need to make it sound so ugly when scholars are talking business.” Sylvia blinked, regaining some of her playful charm. “This is called ‘making rational use of the kingdom’s resources to train troops for the nation.’”

“I’m not sending the veterans. Not a single man from Victor’s heavy knight order will move.”

Sylvia pointed out the window. “We’ll divide the newly recruited soldiers into batches, equip them with the latest Thunder Mark I Magitech Rifles and Second-Generation Magitech Armor, then send them to the southeast. We’ll rotate them through combat. One batch goes in, fights, withdraws, then a fresh batch goes in after them.”

“I’m going to turn that place into a whetstone for the Northern Territory’s new army!”

“If my second brother wants to wear down our troop strength, then I’ll use his money, his grain, and his turf to forge a truly modern magitech legion—one that has seen blood, taken lives, and can fight real hard battles!”

Logaris straightened in his seat and pointed at the transfer order on the desk. “But there’s a fatal loophole. Morton isn’t an idiot. He specifically asked for the ‘main force.’ If we only send a bunch of green recruits, that won’t pass his inspection. He’ll say we’re being perfunctory.”

“We need a reason.”

Logaris tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop, his gaze turning deep and thoughtful. “A reason so airtight that we have no choice but to keep the elite troops behind.”

Sylvia frowned. “What reason could possibly outweigh an official order from the Royal Capital?”

“If your own backyard catches fire, would you still have the mind to go help your neighbor put out his?”

Sylvia paused, then her eyes lit up. “You mean...?”

“We need an ‘unavoidable circumstance.’”

Logaris smiled.

His fingers left the tabletop and traced an arc through the air, passing over Winter City before coming to rest on the stretch of rolling white mountains to the north.

The Dragonspine.

That was where the Demi-Human Empire’s elite forces were stationed, along with one of their “old friends.”

“We need a war.”

Logaris rose to his feet and adjusted his collar. “A ‘border conflict’ that looks overwhelming and perilously close to disaster, but in reality is all thunder and very little rain.”

“As long as the demi-human legion presses down on the border in force, we’ll have no choice but to keep Victor’s knight order here to defend our home. At that point, if Morton still dares to force the main force south, then he’ll be handing the Northern Territory to the foreign races on a silver platter. That charge is one he can’t bear, and neither can the Second Prince.”

Logaris walked to the window and looked out into the pitch-black night.

“I’m making a trip.”

Before the words had even fully fallen—

Bzz—

Space twisted without the slightest warning.

Logaris’s figure vanished from where he stood like a pencil sketch erased by a rubber eraser, disappearing in an instant without stirring even the faintest breeze.

Only Sylvia and Victor were left staring at each other in shock.

...

Several hundred kilometers away.

At the northern foothills of the Dragon Mountain Range, inside the demi-human legion’s encampment.

The freezing wind howled, and enormous bonfires burned throughout the camp.

Inside the central command tent, Ulzok was hugging a roasted lamb leg and gnawing on it until his mouth was slick with grease, while a barrel of cheap ale sat beside him. Kane, meanwhile, sat in front of a map, using the dim candlelight to wipe down his longsword.

“This damned weather.” Ulzok cursed as he spat out a chunk of bone. “Who knows whether that human brat was telling the truth or not. If he dares lie to me, I’ll personally lead troops over and tear down that lousy wall around Winter City.”

“Be patient.” Kane did not even lift his head. “That man isn’t simple. Anyone who can laugh and chat with Lord Leonard won’t trip over a petty matter like this...”

Whoosh.

The candle flame that had been burning steadily inside the tent suddenly lurched violently without warning, casting a long and eerie shadow.

A strange presence carrying the oppressive aura of high-tier magic abruptly appeared in the very center of the tent.

“Who’s there?!”

Kane reacted with astonishing speed. His longsword was out of its scabbard in an instant, the blade flashing with a streak of cold light as it pointed straight at the center of the tent.

Ulzok might have looked bulky, but as a Sixth-Tier warrior, his instincts kicked in at once. He tossed aside the lamb leg in his hand, snatched up the double-edged battle axe leaning against the table, and unleashed his battle aura in a burst. He looked like a furious wild bear of the wastelands, radiating murderous intent.

Two terrifying killing intents locked onto the intruder at once.

“Easy, gentlemen. Waving blades around this late at night is liable to hurt the flowers and grass.”

A lazy voice rang out.

Logaris’s figure emerged from the void. He even had the leisure to pat off the snow that did not actually exist on his shoulder.

Looking at the two legion commanders who were treating him like a mortal enemy, he pushed up his glasses and revealed that signature professional fake smile of his.

“My apologies for this late-night visit. I didn’t bring a gift.”

Logaris casually pulled over a chair and sat down, completely ignoring the two lethal weapons pointed at him.

“I’m here to discuss business.”

“Discuss business?” Ulzok glared with his bull-like eyes. “You scared the hell out of me! So what if you’re a space mage? You think that makes you impressive? Believe it or not, I’ll split you with one swing of my axe—”

“I believe it. Of course I do.” Logaris waved a hand. “But before that, I’d like to ask the two of you for a small favor.”

He leaned forward and lowered his voice, like a black-market peddler trying to sell contraband.

“Tomorrow morning, could I trouble you both to bring your tens of thousands of troops and come to our front gate... to make a little noise?”

“Noise?” Kane frowned. “You mean... attack?”

“No, no, no. A ‘feigned attack.’”

Logaris corrected him. “The spectacle needs to be big, the slogans need to be loud, and it would be best if you dragged out all those magitech cannons and catapults for a little display. Fire a few shots into open ground. As long as it makes a bang, that’s enough.”

“You need to look like you’re about to flatten Winter City. The more ferocious the performance, the better.”

Ulzok and Kane exchanged a glance. Both could clearly see the same question in the other’s eyes.

Has this man gone mad?

“Why?” Kane withdrew his gaze and stared coldly at Logaris. “What benefit does that bring us? We are warriors, not circus clowns.”

“The benefit is...”

Logaris raised one finger, and his tone turned meaningful.

“As payment for your performance, I will forge a piece of ‘irrefutable evidence’ showing that Regent Remington has been secretly selling military supplies to human smugglers, and I will place it directly into Mr. Leonard’s hands.”

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