"The reason is simple," Edith explained directly without waiting for questions from the others, "Cage Mountain is a branch extending horizontally from the Impassable Mountain Range and is also the highest point on the Dawn border. This idea is similar to the original Impassable Defense Line, utilizing the terrain advantage. The First Army's artillery units can have a broader range of fire, and the enemy's mobility will also be restricted. After all, the number of flying terror beasts is far lower than the lowest-level Fiends."
"Secondly, according to the Taqila side, the Red Mist tends to gather at lower altitudes and is weaker closer to the edges. Therefore, establishing a defense line at a high point is beneficial for witches to be stationed. Judging from the frontline intelligence just received, this has been a preemptive move."
"Finally, there's His Majesty's Dawn Project—" Here, she looked around, "We all know that this project relies on the ore of Cage Mountain. Before finding other alternatives, Cage Mountain is an area we absolutely cannot abandon."
No one in the hall raised a question.
Clearly, none of them had seen the final product of the Dawn Project, nor could they imagine how much energy those imperceptible small spheres possessed. They simply treated it as one of the core objectives of the future strategy based on Roland's words. This feeling was, to say the least, gratifying for Roland.
This was probably the highest ideal in the minds of science and engineering nerds.
"But we can't completely abandon Eternal Winter and Wolfheart either." He looked at Edith, "To win the war, Graycastle needs a large population."
"Yes, so from the appearance of the Red Mist to its complete spread, the First Army's main task is to migrate the population and delay the enemy's advance as much as possible. I don't think the demons will just sit and wait for the Red Mist to slowly dissipate. They are very likely to take advantage of this momentum to establish a large number of outposts, just like four hundred years ago."
The Pearl of the North paused, "Honestly, the sudden advance of the Red Moon can even be considered a help to the First Army. When the people of Eternal Winter and Wolfheart truly recognize the enemy from another race, they will naturally understand which side to choose. Even if Iron Axe refuses to let them in, they will probably beg to come to Graycastle."
Speaking of this, she raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile.
Even if many people will die.
Roland sighed inwardly.
In a sense, most humans are indeed like this. He could faintly understand Edith's pleasure at this moment—it was probably similar to seeing the news in later generations that residents of a community who resisted cell towers finally got their wish and lost cell phone signals. But before this war of fate, he couldn't sit idly by and ignore those people.
"This year's Gold Number Two should have had a great harvest everywhere," Roland instructed Barov, "Draft a plan to transfer some of the grain to Dawn, ensuring that the refugees fleeing occupied territories can have their fill."
"Your Majesty, if I understand correctly, once the information is confirmed, the main force of the First Army will soon be moving towards Cage Mountain, which is already a very big strain on logistics." The old chief steward showed a troubled expression, "I really don't have the confidence to deliver the grain needed for the refugees in time while transporting what the army needs, even if all the ships of the Fiord Chamber of Commerce are rented, it may not be enough."
This was an unavoidable problem. Even the largest sailing ships of the Fiord were far from sufficient in terms of transport capacity before an all-out war. Now, just transporting migrants, the rented fleet was already operating at full capacity.
"Unless...we can build another railway directly to the neighboring country..." Barov said this with considerable hesitation, obviously well aware of the cost of such a large-scale project. Every time he had to use the national treasury funds, he felt like he was cutting off his own flesh.
"There probably won't be enough time," Roland shook his head, "And Winter City has already invested too many resources in the Fertile Soil Railway Line. Copying it to the Kingdom of Dawn will affect the production of other projects."
Starting from the Misty Forest all the way to the Taqila Ruins, this steel river stretching across the Fertile Soil Plain consumed countless amounts of steel and a construction period of up to a year and a half. This was also under the condition that the first half was repaired with the assistance of Leaf, and the second half was built entirely on flat land. And the terrain between Winter City and Cage Mountain was obviously not as obvious as that of the Fertile Soil Plain.
The construction period alone was an unpredictable value.
"Your Majesty is wise, I also think so..." Barov visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"First formulate a plan according to the current situation, don't save on expenses, it doesn't matter if most of the Gold Royals are used up, now is not the time to be stingy." Roland said, "As for logistics, I'll think of a way."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
He then looked at Edith, "The idea of using Cage Mountain as a dividing line is feasible in principle. The General Staff Department should come up with a plan as soon as possible, and then hold a meeting to discuss it item by item."
For the Pearl of the North, these were all routine procedures, and he believed that with the other party's talent, even without him saying much, she could perceive the urgency of time.
"Please leave it to me." Edith said, touching her chest.
Roland stood up, his gaze swept over everyone in the hall, "I said before that the Third Battle of Divine Will will be a war that determines the fate of all mankind, and now it has come. The victory in the Battle of Taqila is enough to prove that the defeat four hundred years ago is not impossible to rewrite. I hope that everyone can do their duty and play an indelible role in this war. History will remember this day!" He said loudly, "Listen well, no matter who the enemy is, I have only one requirement—this war can only be won, not lost!"
"As you wish, Your Majesty!" Everyone responded in unison.
This day was destined to be a sleepless night.
As everyone left the castle meeting hall one by one, Roland stopped Tilly.
"I have some things I want to say to you alone."
...
Back in the office, Roland let Nightingale leave first, then closed the door.
Tilly raised her eyebrows, "Can't even Nightingale listen? It seems you're not planning to ask me about the training of the Sky Knight Corps."
He didn't answer, but poured each other a glass of chilled Mint Chaos drink. Its taste was not so great, but it had a good effect in relieving emotions.
Seeing that Roland didn't speak, Tilly didn't ask any further, but took small sips of the drink, as if waiting for him to break the silence.
Roland stared at this "nominal" sister, his thoughts were extremely complicated. Compared to the Fifth Princess of the past, the current Tilly Wimbledon seemed much calmer, both in expression and demeanor, more like a leader. However, compared to her current appearance, he still preferred to see that little girl who huddled next to Anna in the cold winter, casually propping up her feet, flipping through a pile of books, laughing and discussing how to set questions to stump the other sisters.
If it was just like this, it would be fine. After all, people can't always be the same, but Tilly's changes were too fast. From Ashes' sacrifice to that lament, in just a few days, she completely shed that childishness. Not only that, her hatred for the demons was also deeply imprinted in her eyes. Although she rarely mentioned it afterwards, Roland felt a strong sense of unease from her "only request."
That was an incomparably resolute attitude.
As if the whole world had lost its color to her.
Now he learned from Zero that all this was not irreparable. Considering the credibility of the information from the Consciousness World, the safest approach was to definitively revive Ashes before telling Tilly, in order to avoid the great disappointment after the hope was lost. But he also realized that according to Tilly's current state of mind, it was very likely that she would not be able to successfully get through the Battle of Divine Will.
Saying it might restore her to her former self.
But if it failed in the end, she would fall into even deeper despair.
It was precisely these two thoughts intertwined that prevented him from speaking at the first time.
But even the longest silence has a limit.
Roland knew that he had already made a choice by calling Tilly over.
Rather than regretting it after it happened, he would rather place the hope of the future in the present.
"Brother?" Perhaps he had been staring for too long, Tilly slightly avoided his gaze and asked with some doubt.
Roland took a deep breath and said slowly, "Maybe what I'm about to say sounds a little unbelievable, but I still want to tell you—"
"Ashes may still be alive."