Chapter 356 - 128: Lifebound Profound Corpse! Succeeded

Chapter 356: Chapter 128: Lifebound Profound Corpse! Succeeded

"It was the addition of this ’Dark Thorn Battle Group’ that caused the pressure on the Iron Wall Battle Group’s defensive line to surge." Desari looked at everyone. "What Leonard needs is high-end combat power capable of confronting the Dark Thorn’s Tier Four cadres head-on, not more ordinary Soldiers."

He paused, then added, "And the Ninth Battle Battalion, as it happens, has just that."

Another silence fell.

Legion Commander Jais didn’t state his position, merely watching Desari silently with eyes that had seen too many hardships.

"State your full proposal," he said.

"Yes, sir." Desari nodded. "My proposal is for Legion Command to issue a ’Temporary Theater Support Mission’ to the Ninth Battle Battalion, dispatching their main force and elite experts north to reinforce Grey Stone Pass for a period of three months. The nature of the mission would be a ’rotational deployment,’ not a ’permanent unit transfer.’ The Ninth Battle Battalion’s designation, defensive zone, and personnel authority would remain under the command of the Thirteenth Battle Group."

A staff officer immediately raised an objection: "If we move the Ninth Battle Battalion north, what about the defenses at Lakefront Town? The Red Ridge Mountain area is where three provinces meet; its geographical position is crucial. If the Blue Scarf forces take this opportunity to break through from that direction, it would be like opening a back door into Valencia Province!"

"As it stands, the risk is manageable." Desari had clearly already considered this problem and replied calmly. "There are two established Blue Scarf units closest to Lakefront Town. One is the ’Blood Cross Regiment,’ and the other is the remnants of the ’Blue Crow Battle Group,’ which was rebuilt after being routed. The main forces of both these units are currently positioned toward Grey Stone Pass, leaving their rear areas vulnerable."

He pushed up his glasses and continued, "In other words, the direct pressure Lakefront Town is facing right now is at its lowest point in nearly two years. This is also why I believe we can seize this window of opportunity to temporarily redeploy the Ninth Battle Battalion, which is a ’spearhead unit.’"

The staff officer who had asked the question furrowed his brow, seemingly still weighing the options.

But another staff officer had already picked up the conversation, frowning as he said, "Chief of Staff Desari, what you’ve said—the battle reports, the data, the troop comparisons—might all be correct. But there is one thing you may have overlooked."

He looked directly into Desari’s eyes and said, "That Lynch Blackwood from Lakefront Town—I’ve heard of him. The man is defiant and arrogant, looks down on everyone. Relying on his military achievements and backing, he doesn’t even show respect to the special envoys from military command or the Holy Light Church’s Tribunal. When a young master from the direct line of the House of Hohenzollern went to ’negotiate’ with him, he dared to arrest and imprison him, sending him to the mines for labor reform."

He paused and sneered, "A troublemaker like that might not even obey a direct order from military command. And now you want to ’negotiate’ the transfer of his main force? On what grounds? Does the North Wind Legion’s reputation carry more weight than the walls around his Lakefront Town?"

These words were quite blunt, but they made many of the staff officers present nod in silent agreement.

Indeed.

In the Empire’s military system, a military order was absolute.

But that applied to normal commanders.

Would a troublemaker who dared to imprison a direct heir of a powerful Imperial Capital family for labor reform, who dared to detain an enforcement squad from the Holy Light Church’s Tribunal, obediently follow an order to head north?

Desari, however, calmly replied, "I can understand Staff Officer Cole’s concern. But there is one thing that Staff Officer Cole may have overlooked."

He casually flipped open another document and continued, "Lynch Blackwood of the Ninth Battle Battalion and Amadis Hayes of the Iron Wall Battle Group were classmates at Hurst Royal Academy. Furthermore, according to intelligence from multiple sources, the two of them are very close friends."

"If, instead of issuing a direct order, Legion Command were to step in and coordinate, explaining the critical situation at Grey Stone Pass and the predicament his old classmate is facing, we could make him understand that reinforcing the Iron Wall Battle Group is, in essence, ’reinforcing Amadis Hayes’..."

He paused before continuing, "I believe the probability of him sending troops is very high."

The conference hall fell silent for a moment.

Because Desari’s logic was indeed sound.

Lynch might not show any respect for an order from the Empire.

But would he refuse to rescue his old classmate?

Legion Commander Jais leaned back slowly in his chair, his fingertips tapping gently on the armrest. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, "Deputy Chief of Staff Desari."

"Sir."

"In the name of Legion Command, you will draft an official ’Situation Report and Request for Coordinated Operations’." Jais spoke deliberately, each word clear and forceful. "The wording need not be overly humble, but it must make three points clear."

"First, if Grey Stone Pass falls, the main force of the Blue Scarf will drive straight into the Valencia heartland. Lakefront Town cannot remain isolated and safe forever."

"Second, the commander of the Iron Wall Battle Group’s Sixth Battle Battalion, Amadis Hayes, is currently stationed at the most dangerous position: ’Broken Blade Cliff.’ She is under immense pressure."

"Third..."

He paused, then added, "As for how many troops the Ninth Battle Battalion sends, Battalion Commander Lynch can decide for himself based on his own defensive pressures. Legion Command will not make a mandatory assignment. Even if he ultimately decides not to send any troops, this communiqué will not be held against him in any military performance evaluation."

That last sentence caused several of the staff officers, including Desari, to be visibly moved.

"Yes, sir." Desari nodded solemnly. "I will draft the letter myself."

Legion Commander Jais nodded and said, "Next item on the agenda."

Afterward, a new series of debates and arguments erupted once more within the Legion Command conference room...

「Meanwhile.」

Night had fallen deep over Lakefront Town.

Beneath the garrison, in the center of the Sleeping Tomb.

Runes of a Negative Energy Array snaked across the floor, their pale gray light flowing slowly over the bluestone slabs, seeming to stain the ground into a shallow bank on the shores of the Nether River.

In the center of the Array, the enormous corpse of an Abyssal Demon still lay silently within a white jade sarcophagus.