Chapter 1314 - 1232: Overestimation
[Immortal Stone Field Border · Pianaburg]
[6 PM]
The light of the fluorite lamp illuminated the marble with red and white patterns. On the bright red carpet lay an ivory wood table.
The blue and white porcelain vase on the table was a rare item, quite brand new, and Branded City had not produced many of them recently.
But now, as the table’s owner fiercely swept his cane across the tabletop, the porcelain and flowers clattered to the floor.
"Lost is lost, it’s not like I haven’t lost before!" Da Dousi’s voice was extremely hoarse. "What does not seeking proactive attacks in a short period mean?!"
"It means, before intelligence is confirmed, our troops will not leave Pianaburg for a short period of one month to as long as three months."
"One month! By then, my wealth will have been emptied, what will be left of my Fishing City?!"
"Don’t you have money in the Falan Royal Bank?"
"A few thousand gold pounds, what’s that worth?"
Kakulkan could only direct a pleading gaze toward Cataloni.
"It’s just a battalion that has been established for less than three months." Cataloni crossed his legs on the table.
"So what?"
Cataloni frowned, looking at the sweating Kakulkan next to him. "I really hate talking to fools."
A battalion that’s been established for less than three months, even if it consists of one-third veteran soldiers, its combat effectiveness is remarkably exceptional.
According to the Royal Court’s organization, a garrison of 30,000 includes six groups.
Each group has 5,000 members, including 8 companies and 200 to 300 senior vampires and knights.
Cataloni led the Royal Palace Guard’s fifth group, which, although not the first echelon within the Guard, was at the forefront among all vampire armies.
Because they were a direct force under Serafe, unlike the North Road Army or that bunch under the governor Arcadra, who recruited and trained independently.
Compared to the wild miscellaneous troops of the North Road Army, the Royal Palace Guard is immensely superior.
Yet, when faced with this new battalion, upon first encounter, one company (600 soldiers) was defeated.
This combat effectiveness truly refreshed Cataloni’s understanding.
He was once a thief in the Ogre territory, later joining the army and following Serafe everywhere as a mercenary.
Between 1440 and 1450, he gradually honed his skills alongside His Excellency Serafe, venturing far and wide.
It can be said that many family disputes within the Royal Court had their support.
Later, around 1448, His Excellency Serafe imitated the spring gun design and created the Blood Covenant Gun.
Subsequently, their mercenary corps became invincible in the surrounding areas, facing almost no opponents against the Blood Covenant Gun.
After Serafe’s coup, he was granted the pseudo-prince-level Lilith’s Blood.
After drinking from the Holy Grail, he gained significant strength, defeating numerous veteran generals in the ensuing Royal Court civil war.
Yet for the first time, the fifth group of Royal Palace Guards under his command encountered such a difficult opponent.
Especially that volley charge tactic left a profound impression on Cataloni.
Most importantly, despite being a newly established battalion for only three months.
Is this still human?
Cataloni couldn’t help but wonder, are the Imperial and Holy Alliance humans even the same race?
Regardless, they have already fought to this point, and if replaced by the miscellaneous North Road Army, they would surely face complete defeat, wouldn’t they?
The Royal Court’s assessment of the Holy Alliance is flawed; His Majesty Serafe was right—this is an unprecedented formidable enemy!
With this level of military strength, the current vampire forces are completely unable to defeat them.
Without caution, there’s even the risk of defeat or encirclement.
"Let me put it this way." Cataloni patted the dust on his knee, levitated, then descended like a feather, "Before the blood explosion cannons appear, we are at a considerable disadvantage in artillery; we can’t make a move."
Cataloni’s move made Da Dousi instinctively step back half a step.
Yet he couldn’t resist asking, "What about my territory?"
"Don’t you still have two counties?"
"I relied on you because I saw the Royal Court’s credit and capability, but what did I get in return? You give me this?
I thought Serafe was some kind of hero, but you people..." sob..."
Before he could finish speaking, Kakulkan saw Da Dousi suddenly fall silent.
Then, a crimson claw mark appeared on his neck, strangling deeply into the flesh.
He immediately tried to struggle, but the tip of his toe slowly left the ground, only able to make pleading murmurs: "Uh ah uh ah... Aba Aba... Bata Bata..."
"Wait, wait..." Kakulkan looked at Cataloni, whose veins were popping, and hurriedly stepped forward, "This person cannot be killed."
Cataloni’s red eyes glared at Da Dousi tightly, but his raised hand did not fall.
"Da Dousi is a local lord, still useful. We can use him as a model for allegiance to save a lot of effort..."
Cataloni’s facial expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
"... He is the person His Excellency Serafe wants."
"Boom."
Once Kakulkan spoke, Cataloni withdrew his hand.
Da Dousi sat down hard on the ground, gasping for fresh air like a drowning man.
"Lowly human!" Cataloni didn’t even glance at him, but headed towards the door.
Kakulkan initially wanted to speak to retain him, but sighed instead, saying nothing more.
Upon reaching the door, Cataloni turned his head: "Copy today’s war report and send it to the Royal Court Warfare Council.
Let them reassess the combat effectiveness of the Holy Alliance and their previous plans.
What were the previous intelligence officers doing? Almost got us killed because of their intel!"
......
[Next Evening]
[ry Court Barracks]
Sitting at the dining table, Horn picked at green beans with chopsticks while reading the war report with great interest.
This report took more than a day to transmit via water routes to the nearest signal tower.
From the signal tower, through the signaling machine transferred to Horn’s hands, it took only an hour.
Opposite him, Catherine speared a piece of steak with a fork, "Why do you always like using these two little sticks to pick things up?"
"Because it’s convenient." Horn clicked the chopsticks a couple of times.
In fact, Horn’s way of using chopsticks had already become popular within the Holy Alliance, inspiring many middle-class people to learn.
It’s fundamentally because, in the eyes of these middle-class citizens, using chopsticks signifies intelligent means, implying not needing to cut one’s own meat.
Upper-class!
Whenever hearing about such events, Horn would feel amused.
He really only used them for convenience.
"How did the lads fare in the fight?"
"A minor victory, though the vampires’ prowess cannot be underestimated."
Honestly, in Horn’s original world, bayonet charges and close-range combat were two different concepts.
During the line era of his original world, only a few bayonet charges would transition into close combat.
Bayonet charge followed by close combat typically happened in narrow ranges such as hillsides, roads, or trenches.
Most bayonet charges, akin to cavalry charges, in life-threatening encounters, usually resulted in one side retreating.
Because the surrounding area was open terrain, unlike trenches where there was nowhere to run.
Moreover, soldiers during the line era had training, morale, and organizational levels significantly inferior compared to those in the first or second world wars.
But in this world’s cavalry charges, they truly collide like depicted in stereotypes.
The bayonet charges of this world genuinely transform into bayonet close combat.
Whether vampires or infantrymen, they at least possess extraordinary physical attributes and martial skills.
Line tactics require staying composed in facing life or death crises, while close combat is often driven by overwhelming passion.
Various potions, divine art, spells, and other augmentations make the Holy Alliance and Imperial people seem more detached from life and death compared to Earth people.
Nevertheless, the combat strength exhibited by these vampires is vastly different from the intelligence gathered by the windmill ground Cheka.
Closing the letter, Horn picked up the orange juice soda next to the table and drank it all: "I really underestimated Serafe."