Chapter 634 — The Plan

"We should not be discussing this now," Gaoyang said, withdrawing his gaze and shifting to a more relaxed posture. "Victoria, you are outstanding. Even among the pioneer generation, you would be an excellent noble. After this war is over, we can take our time considering how to revive this country, but before that, our most important task is still to end this war."

"As you say," Victoria said, letting out a soft breath. Then her expression turned slightly more solemn and she lowered her head. "In any case, you saved me and the Mountain Legion. I cannot repay that debt, so no matter what happens from now on, at least I personally will be your loyal ally."

Once only he remained in the room, Gaoyang could not help leaning back in his chair and letting out a silent breath.

"On a personal basis... no one has it easy."

After that sigh, he sat up straight and prepared to draft a workable plan for the main forces to march north—the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and he could no longer act according to the previous timetable. Considering the importance of Saint Frost Perch as a gateway fortress, he had to send a body of battle-ready troops north faster than originally planned.

Using those converted civilian cargo ships, using the Gorgon River—perhaps that would be a good plan...

And just as he had drafted the beginning of his plan, the magic-net communication terminal on the desk suddenly gave off a buzzing sound.

Gaoyang looked up at the identification characters displayed on the holographic projection—it was the special channel from Xuanyao City.

The magic-net terminal activated at once, and after the projection flickered briefly, Gaoyang saw Hedy's face appear before him.

"What happened?"

"Miss Tire says she has something important to discuss," Hedy said simply, then stepped aside—and only then did Gaoyang see a long snake tail swaying in the background behind her. The tail arched twice, and Tire's upper body swung in from the edge of the frame to its center.

"I sensed it again," the siren lady said, eyes wide as she stared at the holographic projection before her. "The scent of food! It suddenly became very strong!"

Gao Yang's heart instantly tightened—though he had long anticipated and prepared for this, the sudden arrival of Til's message still set his nerves on edge: "Direction, strength—can you roughly determine the target's condition or state?"

"The direction should be deep in the eastern part of the Holy Spirit Plain, but I can't sense the exact location clearly yet. It seems to be suppressed or sealed by something, or perhaps it's deep underground," Til said rapidly. "As for the strength... I don't know how to describe it. It feels very subtle. It should be 'alive'—that much is stronger than the giant squid—but its aura is unstable and impure, as if many chaotic auras have fused together, and it fluctuates between strong and weak."

Gao Yun drew a soft breath.

Was this the "divine power" held in the hands of the Church of All Things' End? The "energy source" they used to create and activate divine scourges? Had this energy source slipped out of control? Was something akin to a god awakening?

So the sudden mutation of the crystal cluster legion was connected to this out-of-control "divine power"?

Countless conjectures surged through his mind. Gao Yang reined in his thoughts and questioned the siren before him: "What is your queen's stance?"

"She has taken an interest in Little Biscuit and your arcane energy technology, and she is willing to offer assistance. They are already preparing the elemental folding towers on their end, but the specifics of how we coordinate our actions still need to be discussed," Til said, flicking the tip of her tail with a solemn expression. "Also, I am to relay the words of Her Majesty on her behalf—the sirens can only help you deal with 'non-human things' and will not intervene in wars among humans. We hope this cooperation will be pure and restrained; that is the guarantee for maintaining long-term cooperation in the future."

"That is already enough," Gao Yang nodded sincerely. "Thank you very much for your assistance."

"Think nothing of it—mutual benefit," Til waved a hand and the tip of her tail, then shuffled lazily out of the communication screen, her voice alone drifting in from off-screen. "How do you turn this off? Oh, then you do it. I'm heading out first."

Two seconds later, Hedy reappeared before Gao Yang: "Progenitor, the engineering team dispatched to the edge of the wasteland has begun its return journey. The supplementary construction of the Great Wall has been successfully completed."

"Finally, some good news," Gao Yun breathed a soft sigh of relief. "Very good. Let these personnel rest fully first, then arrange for them to build the second-phase tank factory and arsenal. Have that elven magister go to the Arcane Technology Research Institute to assist Rebecca in the transcription and optimization of the anti-gravity runes."

"Yes."

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