Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Why!
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"Why on earth!"
The one slamming his fist on the desk with those words was a human man.
"Those stinking navy bastards are racking up victory after victory, and we can't even claim that tiny patch of land?!"
He was Aidan Roden, the supreme commander of the Ronante Army.
Though their nation was called the Ronante-Oroban Alliance, the army command brazenly declared themselves heirs to Ronante.
No one in the command staff dared respond to the man in his russet uniform.
And rightly so.
According to intelligence agents and scouting forces, the garrison at Haren Base numbered barely a regiment.
Their equipment was even worse.
They had a decent number of mortars and some self-propelled guns, but not a single tank or walking mecha.
In contrast, the Ronante Army division was a fully equipped, complete unit.
It had been hastily assembled to crush the imperial base before they could prepare, but the small city size also meant they couldn't deploy massive forces.
Either way, the result was a crushing defeat.
Even before that, the Oroban Navy and the Heavenly King faction had been treating the Ronante Army with considerable disdain.
The Ronante-Oroban Alliance's failure to conquer other nations on the First Continent was largely due to the Empire and United Kingdom—the other two superpowers—being locked in war at the time.
With those two powers fighting across three continents, dragging in other First Continent nations as well, the alliance could only get tossed around, watching and waiting without finding the right moment to launch their continental conquest.
Unlike the Oroban Navy, which could blame sporadic incursions and occupations by the two nations' fleets, the Ronante Army at least appeared to be dragging its feet.
The Oroban Navy had even used the nominally supreme Heavenly King faction to rebuke the Ronante Army through political maneuvering. Yet the army still couldn't move.
There were several nations backed by the Empire or United Kingdom preventing the Ronante Army from advancing on continental conquest.
Numerically superior, the army could overwhelm them, but the emerging weapons like airships, hot air balloons, tanks, and walking mechs didn't yield favorable exchange rates.
Attacking wasn't impossible, but even victories at poor exchange rates left the Ronante Army uneasy if the Oroban Navy conserved its forces.
The alliance balanced on the army-navy rivalry, a clash between two players vying for dominance within one nation.
When the army asked why the navy didn't secure the coastlines first, the navy would dodge, claiming the army hadn't taken the ports. If the army overextended to capture them, the navy would sail in leisurely, using supplies as bait to demand a share of the spoils.
As this repeated, Ronante saw no point in advancing further, and civil war loomed—until the war with the United Kingdom forced a dramatic reconciliation.
Of course, the army and navy still harbored deep grudges.
Then, as the Empire seemed poised for hegemony, the alliance's two players hastily allied with Hegemonia.
The Oroban Navy's first move was dominating the great ocean between the Empire and their allies.
Thanks to the Empire's passive engagements, the navy won victory after victory, successfully building a supply base on the key stronghold of the Saizin Archipelago.
But problems arose.
One was the imperial remnants on Saizin.
They gave up fighting the navy within cannon range but hid in the dense forests, launching guerrilla attacks on supply depots.
Even mobilizing navy troops inland often failed to find them, or they'd suffer losses to small imperial groups.
As ground operations drained their forces, the Oroban Navy abandoned pacification and tried handing it to the Ronante Army.
But another issue: The First Continent's northeast was alliance-held, but the southwest teemed with kingdoms.
They couldn't cross straight to the Third Continent's west coast.
Supply lines required northern or southern routes, but the United Kingdom seized the south due to Fourth Continent proximity, limiting the alliance to the north.
And at the north's end lay Haren Base.
The Oroban Navy hoped the Ronante Army would swiftly take Haren, link transport routes, secure supplies, and clear Saizin's imperials.
But Haren wouldn't fall easily, spawning navy rumors:
"Those bastards dragging their feet on purpose?"
Alternative supply lines existed, but long hauls meant attrition en route, plus sudden imperial ship attacks—unreliable.
The slower Haren's fall, the more the Oroban Navy main force on Saizin withered.
From their view, with the navy winning nonstop, the army was stalling for past revenge.
But the army had no clear way to explain.
Both factions officially served the Heavenly King, reporting to him, but otherwise gauged intentions via spies, informants, and espionage.
Choi Seong-un saw the alliance's flaw from its name.
"Two-player alliances are tough."
During a meeting on countering them, he said that.
Wisdom asked,
"Even a true alliance?"
"Yeah. Might even be worse."
"Why think that?"
Seong-un replied,
"First, smashing Ronante and Oroban names together is laughable. Neither seized dominance. Means they'll keep fighting for it."
"Indeed."
"A system-backed alliance? Easy to betray or break. But they can't."
Wisdom said,
"Makes sense. How'd it happen?"
"Fear. Faced continental dominance fight, but froze. Usually, defense wins, so they built walls. Then we and Hegemonia conquered continents. Scared of bipolar world before their hoped-for tripolar, rushed alliance."
In short, weakness.
Seong-un said,
"Easy opponents. Just..."
"Other issue?"
"No."
Seong-un paused, then,
"Anyway, simple fix."
"How?"
"Drive a wedge."
Wisdom hesitantly,
"Sounds right, but offering alliance or favors now? They'll suspect external threat, might bond tighter. Risky?"
Seong-un,
"Not the only way."
His long-thought plan: simple.
"Just beat one."
He executed it.
Fake defeats to Oroban Navy, real wins against Ronante Army.
Real wins harder than fakes, but unlike the cautious duo hiding apostles, Pantheon deployed confidently.
'Suhyeongari and Vladimir—RPG players hoarding potions till death.'
Dordol and Keiju sneaked into Haren secretly, led troops to victory.
Beyond strategy and power, both war heroes like Obin, maximizing troop morale and skill.
Meanwhile, wary Ronante Army kept losing post-first defeat, retreating instead of advancing.
Learning this, Vladimir—ruling Oroban Navy—raged at Suhyeongari—ruling Ronante Army.
"Unbelievable after watching. What're you doing?"
Suhyeongari retorted,
"You first? Allies struggling, send support!"
"Don't be stupid. Tiny port town? Can't take with full army? Where's your apostle? Saving for stew?"
"Full army? Inland troops block revolutionaries. While your navy idled at sea, my army worked."
"Wrong. We're holding via naval blockade."
"Same here. Pull inland troops? Start from old Oroban lands—fun."
The spat calmed somehow.
But Vladimir's mind filled with cold suspicion over excitement.
'Withdraw my navy? Cede territory? This guy... with Empire?'
To Vladimir, with tricks, if Suhyeongari trusted Empire/Pantheon players, possible.
Such doubts spread to priests in territories, widening army-navy rift.
Hegemonia burned most.
Planned joint Third Continent east coast assault with alliance, but no signal till UK ready.
Hegemonia whispered Vladimir,
"What're you idiots doing?"
Vladimir hesitated at the growl,
"Hegemonia. Circumstances."
Hearing explanation and Suhyeongari suspicions, Hegemonia nodded.
"...Ah. Got it."
Resolute,
"Want to help."
"Really? Fighting Empire elsewhere, prepping expedition."
"Busy. But can't ignore."
Continued,
"Your apostles all in capital?"
"Yes. Guarding Heavenly King."
"Sending mine. They'll explain."
"Not telling now?"
Hegemonia bored,
"Told you, busy."
Vladimir awkward nod,
"Got it. Tell Suhyeongari."
After travel time from UK lands to alliance capital, Hegemonia's apostle arrived.
But not one.
"...Three?"
Suhyeongari muttered.
"Need that many?"
"Allied forces probably. Three apostles? Sure win."
Leading: Hegemonia's #1, Salkait.
The veteran gnome strode into Heavenly King's palace like home.
Following: #6 goblin Bowunda the Destroyer, #7 werewolf Arrega Lob—First Continent demon king descendant.
Heavenly King, informed, sat high, overlooking Salkait.
"Welcome welc..."
But words cut short.
Salkait hurled a stone at Heavenly King's head.
Thud!
Heavenly King's head pulped above the jaw, collapsing down stairs to Salkait's feet.
As Suhyeongari gaped, Vladimir messaged Hegemonia.
"What the hell! Hegemonia!"
Meanwhile, her three apostles massacred palace folk.
"What? Setting things right."
Suhyeongari and Vladimir's apostles—meant to guard king—stepped forward.
Two each: Suhyeongari tamed divine beasts; Vladimir used creations.
Both trusted their hidden power.
Hegemonia ignored them.
"Thought you might be... useful. Waited, assuming no news good. But excuses, bickering? Pathetic. Nebula hasn't even moved yet. Future's clear: you fight, grab my ankle; I flail, Nebula stabs undefended. That's..."
Hegemonia paused, then,
"...not my ending."
Glared at duo.
"Better you as my EXP."
Words done, Salkait smashed palace floor with hammer.
Hours later.
Over the alliance capital's ruins, Hegemonia eyed the floating world message.