Chapter 89: Two Months Later

Kevin's words were indeed the truth. Times change rapidly, and armies must keep pace with the era. The traditional showcase of peak personal strength will inevitably be challenged. Perhaps one day, a common person pressing a switch could defeat a Sword Saint or even an Archmage. For a Sword Saint or Archmage, that would undoubtedly be a tragedy. At that point, someone would inevitably try to prevent such developments.

However, as long as the various races on the continent have not unified, this era cannot be ruled out. War has always been a part of the history of various races. To overpower one's opponents, to surpass them, to rule them, and at the very least to protect oneself, the development of new weapons is inevitable.

The strong grow stronger through cultivation, while the weak gain combat power by manufacturing weapons and tools. If the two do not constrain each other, they will essentially develop in sync. With Sword Saints existing, there should also be weapons to restrain them. Mutual restraint is actually the best way for society to develop. One side being invincible is the most unstable.

Kevin's words were the truth, and currently, the weapons research funding invested by Lupole Kingdom exceeds that of personal strength, by a considerable margin. Kevin sighed inwardly, wondering why these funds had never come into his hands. Although he knew that speaking up would not secure any money, he decided to voice it anyway. That way, in future debates, the other side could not use the excuse of "you didn't ask us for it."

The meeting ended, and everyone returned to their camps. To Kevin's surprise, no one came looking for him to cause trouble. He was somewhat puzzled. Could it be that the general had forgiven Kevin's lack of riding skills in order to save the cost of one horse? Although both matters were very small, there was no need to overanalyze them.

There were probably many reasons behind the scenes. The horse was one issue, and the general's shock at being away from home was another. Perhaps another reason lay with the advisor. The advisor, in order to curry favor with the general's son, had been against Kevin. But the general had no need to curry favor with his own son, and Kevin was already in a state of being punished. Why stir up additional trouble?

Speaking of which, the advisor still had only red qi, at best a fourth-rank warrior. His meals were naturally no concern, and his bloodline should be fine as well. He had been in the army for half a year, while only a few elite soldiers had advanced to fifth-rank warriors, and he still had not. The general also had the feeling of hating iron for not becoming steel. After all, he had many children, and the time was still short, so he was not particularly worried yet.

It was better that no one came to cause trouble. Kevin continued training the trebuchet and also began the normal updating process. Stadt had recently finally been granted a chance to go out. It was said that he had returned to his Stadt Library to manage things and had placed Kevin's new book, The Ballads, on the shelves.

Stadt's outing lasted only half a day, and he had to return before noon. He was not like Kevin, who would wander around alone. There was a proper management procedure there. This was Stadt's first time going out on his own after joining the army, but the time was still far too short. He had barely managed to handle some matters. In fact, Stadt had come to find Kevin the previous day mainly because he hoped Kevin could help at the Stadt Library. After all, Kevin could run around freely.

However, yesterday he had thought that Kevin was likely being targeted by his superiors again and had better not get involved. Moreover, if Kevin went to look at the library, it would probably have a better literary and artistic atmosphere, and it would be a loss.

Kevin himself did not care much about money. He would rather spend ten years traveling and telling dirty jokes than earn money properly. Having obtained thirty thousand gold coins, he had used them all to transform the trebuchet. Ordinary people would have stored it away or bought food and daily necessities. Perhaps it was a difference in spiritual realm. But to most people, Kevin seemed like a madman with half a brain. After a certain level of intelligence was reached, some common problems would appear, whether too high or too low.

The end of December had arrived, and a new year had begun. Nevertheless, life continued as usual. The legion was mainly focused on training new recruits. These new recruits were not like the batch of officers Kevin came from, who could be molded in three months. These new recruits would undergo a full year of training until the next batch of new recruits arrived, at which point their new recruit career would end.

A full year of new recruit life, the lowliest level of the army, was undoubtedly painful. The army feared that the new recruits could not bear it, so they would first tell them that the training lasted only three months. After three months, they would have it easy. In fact, after three months, they would have become accustomed to it. Many new recruits were depressed and melancholy, and Kevin could often hear cries from the corners. Obviously, the new recruits' psychology could not handle it. They missed home and so on. But this was a hurdle they had to overcome. Only after passing it would they become real soldiers.

Two plain months passed, and the army's training in winter became even more arduous. The climate in Sakar City was very cold, and the wilderness stretched endlessly, so the biting cold wind blew unchecked. The warm clothing issued by the barracks also felt difficult to resist. Therefore, everyone here was accustomed to exercising to stay warm. This could also be seen as a way of forcing people to train.

During these two months, Kevin had shifted from training the trebuchet to training himself. To say that he was particularly diligent or hardworking would not be accurate. Training was something that, if no one forced him, Kevin felt he was somewhat lazy. This was unlike making a trebuchet or debating, which were Kevin's strengths. Completing something would give him a great sense of accomplishment. Self-training, however, was much more boring. Especially with no sparring partners, practicing alone was particularly tedious, and in such cold weather, it was even more so.

Nevertheless, Kevin had at least ensured that his strength had not been wasted. As for the optical refraction tactics of the magic shield, due to the lack of sparring partners, it remained in a half-baked state. Incorporating a new combat concept into his system required considerable time and experience. This could not be solved by simply asking others or reading books.

As for magic, Kevin felt that he had made some progress. At this point, he could effortlessly fire three magic missiles with his bare hands. With a staff, the number would be even greater.

As for that crow, Kevin and it had a decent relationship. He often took it to taverns. The drunks had long been familiar with it, and many people habitually teased it. It would not get angry if fed meat or beans.

When Kevin trained, the crow would watch from the side or fly off to play by itself. The crow's greatest entertainment activity was pulling the tails of other animals. Not only the corgi in the cafeteria, but also the wild dogs, wild cats, other birds, even vultures, eagles, and so on outside would not be spared. One would often see it stealthily approaching from behind while the other animals were unaware, then suddenly pulling their tails. The animals would turn around in alarm, but the crow would have long since flown away, emitting "aa" sounds as if it had succeeded in its scheme.

Kevin knew that this crow was highly intelligent and not ordinary. He was not worried about it. As for its true strength, Kevin had not yet figured it out. He had also considered whether he could equip the crow with some weapons. It was said that the military was about to equip some excellent parrots with weapons as well.

There were miniature crossbows and enhanced claws. However, such weapons could not break through the armor of fully armed soldiers. They would only be useful in aerial bird combat or when attacking civilians. Equipping pets with weapons and armor was very common, whether for high-rank, mid-rank, or animal, and cavalrymen often equipped their warhorses with armor.

However, for this crow, Kevin always maintained a precautionary stance. Because he did not know the details, he had not signed a contract with it. As for further equipping it with weapons, that would wait until after signing the contract.

Although winter was cold, it had its advantages. At least there would be snow. After it snowed, there would be snowball fights and such. In the army, besides the boring mutual topping and the advanced bridge, this was another rare form of entertainment.

Meanwhile, conflicts in other parts of the continent and within Libelle Kingdom began to intensify. A large number of mercenaries had nothing to do and started causing trouble day and night. But their king still had no intention of compromising and tried to use military force to ease domestic contradictions. They attacked a smaller country than themselves.

Doug Kingdom, with three sides facing the sea and towering mountains to the north, had no neighboring countries around its borders, and there were no valuable mineral resources within the country either. It merely lived by fishing and selling fish. It could almost be said to have lived in peaceful isolation. As a result, in early January, twenty-odd warships suddenly appeared at sea, charging into their territory and plundering for a while.

This battle saw Doug Kingdom almost completely without resistance. This small country was only the size of two main cities in Lupole Kingdom and was no match for the opponent at all. Libelle Kingdom had not plundered anything of value either, just some fish and a few women. Just for the sake of the women, countless mercenaries competed to participate enthusiastically. The problem of domestic mercenaries having nothing to do was temporarily solved.

However, such banditry would undoubtedly provoke international conflicts. The Holy Church took the lead in condemning it. In the name of peace and light, it ordered compensation. Otherwise, the Order of Holy Knights of the Holy Church would launch a crusade against Libelle Kingdom.

The Order of Holy Knights posed no threat to a great power, but it would have some震慑作用 on a small country. These Holy Knights, regardless of strength, fought without fear of death in battle. Because they devoutly believed that after death, one would go to heaven. Since they would go to heaven, what was there to fear from death?

Libelle Kingdom had decently paid some money and dismissed a general, saying that this general had mobilized troops on his own initiative and expressed regret. Doug Kingdom could only accept it. What else could they say?

Weak nations have no diplomacy. The reason some small places with few people could still have peaceful and contented people was merely that the current situation favored great powers more. Once the situation changed, the small nations would become turbulent. But great powers were different. To make a great power turbulent, at least it would reach the level of a world war, where forbidden spells were being thrown around.

However, Libelle Kingdom's way of aggression was a case of drinking poison to quench thirst. The bandit behavior was ruining their own reputation. Its domestic merchant groups had begun to gradually consider withdrawing from the country or at least transferring capital.

Its domestic minstrels continued to boast that since they had won the battle, they must praise it to the heavens. After all, boasting did not incur taxes. However, its domestic high-end nobles were somewhat discerning. The country also had Sword Saints and Archmages. It could still hold out for a while while pretending to be strong, but if this continued, it would inevitably drift further and further from the mainstream era.

It was said that Laud was still in a cell in Libelle Kingdom, but his imprisonment was relatively comfortable. It was said that if he wanted to escape, it would be very simple. He was just on some task and had to stay. It was said that he was still reading Kevin's books in prison. Kevin was somewhat flattered.

Kevin's second book was still not particularly popular, but it was at least better than the first one. The first one, Assassins' Chronicles, had been such that because the assassins were worried about exposing themselves, they were not interested in the publicly known assassin matters. As a result, they had secretly read them in the middle of the night. The second one finally was no longer about assassins, so the assassins could borrow it openly.

There were quite a few comments, both encouraging and suggesting. Because the protagonist in Kevin's book was also a minstrel, Kevin could directly incorporate certain comments into the book, making them the readers' book reviews within the book. For the assassins' request for a character, Kevin could also write the assassin directly into it, continuing to seek a character within the book.

Although copying might have the suspicion of filler text, at least... it was authentic enough.

Early February was Lupole Kingdom's New Year. Lupole Kingdom believed that from that day on, spring truly began, and thus the first day of spring was set as the New Year festival. On this day, the whole country would be filled with joy. People who had been at peace for a long time would always come up with various ways to celebrate.

The splendor of magic was undoubtedly used to the extreme. Wind, fire, water, and earth elemental spells intersected and combined in the air, turning into a magnificent chapter. The civilians below cheered and jumped with joy. To the civilians, this was a sight they only saw once a year, extremely rare.

Kevin had thought that in the barracks there would again be bonfires, mutual topping, and drinking, but the result was that he was told that during the civilian festival, soldiers must tighten their patrols to prevent accidents. The Knight Order of Lightning had to cooperate with the city's security officials in patrolling, day and night in shifts, with no rest.

On this New Year day, since Kevin was alone, he had been temporarily assigned to the surveillance team. He and Stadt wandered along the city walls, watching the splendid spells in the sky and listening to the civilians' cheers, while also catching other soldiers who were slacking off. It did not feel bad.

After the New Year, as March approached, a matter that had always been important in the army was finally put on the agenda: the Red versus Blue Army confrontation exercise.

The Red Army was called the Red Army mainly because Lupole Kingdom had a large population, and red qi was the most common. At the sound of a signal, red qi would erupt in patches, looking spectacular from afar. Thus it became the Red Army.

As for the Blue Army, it was merely because the Blue Army simulated foreign armies. In past battles, the sand table flags were always red and blue. In the end, the exercise confrontation also used red and blue settings.

Exercises were held every year, but the scale varied each year. Kevin was very honored. This year's exercise, due to the addition of many new equipment, would be the largest in scale in ten years.

At the end of February, the general once again convened an independent department for a meeting: "This exercise is very important. Eighty percent of the entire regiment must participate. You go back and count the numbers. Try to send as many new recruits as possible; veterans can stay behind if necessary."

The crowd fell silent. Everyone had long been prepared for this matter, and they had a count in their minds.

"Is there anyone who has already counted and can report?" The general added with one more sentence. Whenever there were major events, the general liked to ask this, just to see which officer could handle matters efficiently and do things one step ahead of others.

The result was that Kevin stood up first: "I report. My team will have all members participate, with no one staying behind. The participation rate is 100 percent."

A smile could not help but appear at the corners of everyone's mouths, but they forced it down. Every time Kevin reported like this, it felt particularly comical. (To be continued.)