I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 393 Disdain

The player's expeditionary force's attack went far more smoothly than Chris had anticipated.

They experienced defeat in the invasion of Bagnia, being invaded by both the Kingdom of Bagnia and the Empire of Retelia, the civil war among the heirs, and a crushing defeat while resisting the kingdom's invaders, among other things...

Having gone through these four processes, the Kingdom of Minicia is now truly weakened.

The veterans accumulated by the old king were almost entirely wiped out after the aforementioned battles, and the same was true for their equipment.

The northward expeditionary force marched almost unimpeded into the fortresses that had been spared destruction. The sparsely sparse garrison wore patched and ill-fitting uniforms, and their weapons were a motley collection, including rusty spears, chipped machetes, and even traces of farm tools.

The emaciated soldiers on the city wall were more likely the product of local lords conscripting men than actual soldiers.

The soldiers, dressed only in blue uniforms, had eyes that reflected a mixture of exhaustion, numbness, and deep fear.

When the player sees the massive, well-organized, and heavily armored expeditionary force appearing on the horizon, all the player needs to do is ride forward and fire a few symbolic shots. The soldiers on the city walls will either tremble and hide behind the parapets or simply raise a white flag.

Even worse, some lords simply abandoned the city with their property and private soldiers before the expeditionary force arrived, disappearing into the desolate fields and dilapidated villages.

Seriously, players don't even need to drag their field guns forward to fire a few shots and make a show of force to gain a town and a land full of starving people... and then abandon the strategic town.

When the expeditionary force had traveled 200 kilometers north, the situation in Minicia had not improved.

The main roads are dilapidated, the bridges have collapsed and no one is repairing them, and large areas of fields are barren and overgrown with weeds.

The villages along the route the expeditionary force passed through were mostly deserted. The surviving villagers hid in the shadows of their dilapidated houses, watching the unfamiliar army roll by with empty and desperate eyes.

Occasionally, local conscripts would be organized by nobles or surviving officers to try to establish a defensive line at a crossroads or on a low hill.

But most of the soldiers were emaciated, their ranks were loose, and many did not even have decent weapons.

A single probing charge by the expeditionary force's vanguard scouts, or the oppressive force of heavily armored infantry phalanxes advancing in perfect unison like a moving steel wall, was enough to cause these hastily assembled troops to collapse instantly, scattering in cries and panic.

The so-called "defense line" is as fragile as rotten wood in the face of a real war machine.

The central government of the Kingdom of Minicia also seems to have lost its ability to effectively command.

The player's scout even discovered an enemy army coming from the north, trying to block the expeditionary force. They couldn't find any supply points along their own territory. As they marched, they collapsed because they lacked food and clothing and couldn't even find targets to plunder.

The messages carried by messengers that players occasionally capture are often chaotic and even contradictory, revealing the confusion and sluggishness of decision-making at higher levels.

Intelligence indicates that some of the remaining, slightly stronger noble lords who are not on the expeditionary route have not left the city, but instead are fortifying their castles and keeping their gates tightly closed.

Even more extreme, some nobles secretly sent envoys to contact the expeditionary force, intending to discuss the treatment of those who surrendered.

The player commanders of the expeditionary force were initially on high alert, fearing it was a trap to lure the enemy in.

They advanced steadily, carefully scouting every valley and forest where an ambush might be hidden, and their supply lines were also protected without any leaks.

For several days, apart from sporadic harassment and routed soldiers, the expected fierce resistance never materialized.

Players will then know that the Kingdom of Minicia is now a complete mess.

As a result, the expeditionary force advanced at an increasingly rapid pace.

The vanguard's light cavalry moved through uninhabited territory, sweeping through several villages and towns in a single day.

The main infantry force only needed to follow behind and take over the settlements that had surrendered without a fight or whose defenders had already fled. However, the armories in these towns were empty, and the granaries contained only a thin layer of moldy old grain.

Occasionally, one might encounter some low-ranking officers or veterans who still possess a sense of honor and attempt to organize resistance. Their heroic charge, in the face of absolute power and order, is like a moth drawn to a flame, fleeting and ephemeral, leaving behind only a few dozen uncollected corpses and a few faint sighs.

The once mighty Kingdom of Minicia is now like a piece of rotten wood hollowed out by termites, emitting a chilling groan of impending total shattering under the gentle tapping of the players' expeditionary force.

Everything seen along the way was proof that this kingdom had shed its last drop of blood.

The players in the expeditionary force gradually went from initial tension and excitement to a kind of indifferent pity... They were not conquering, but rather receiving a vast and hopeless ruin.

The expeditionary force and the Overmountain Tigers joined forces near White Rock City, which meant that the expeditionary force would only need to return to Bagnia to complete its mission.

However, given the current situation, the more than 10,000 players in the expeditionary force have begun to have other ideas.

At that moment, Elena requested a meeting with the commanders of the expeditionary force, as she had important business to discuss.

The players who shared the information were well aware of what important things Elena was doing, and the leaders of the expeditionary force also knew what kind of person she was and felt disgusted by her.

Despite their dislike, the players couldn't refuse Elena. They wanted to hear what rewards the future queen was prepared to offer before making a decision.

……

The meeting of the expeditionary force's supreme command was held in the hall of a relatively intact noble manor that had just been "acquired".

Seated around a long oak table, which I don't know which nobleman brought it from, were the leaders, core commanders, and logistics and intelligence chiefs of various major battle groups.

Their ID prefixes varied widely, but all exuded an air of competence and seasoned experience. The air was filled with the scents of tobacco, leather, and a barely perceptible odor of sweaty feet... Someone was taking off their shoes indoors.

When Elena was led in, the murmurs that had been swirling in the hall quickly fell silent. Ten pairs of eyes fell on her simultaneously, some scrutinizing, some amused, and some undisguised contempt, but none showing respect or sympathy.

why?

Elena noticed the unusual gazes directed at her. She took a deep breath, forced herself to straighten her back, and walked to one end of the long table.

She has now changed into a relatively neat but undeniably worn long dress, trying to maintain a semblance of aristocratic dignity. However, in front of these sharp-eyed players, this dignity appears so fragile and out of place.

"Thank you, Commanders, for taking the time to meet with me."

Elena's voice trembled slightly, but she tried to remain clear.

Before the meeting began, someone provided Elena with a list of the names and titles of the meeting participants... Unfortunately, Elena couldn't understand it and could only refer to them as commanders.

“I am Elena Tia.”

She looked around and saw faces that were either expressionless or slightly mocking.

With information shared, everyone knew why she came.

"I have come here for White Rock City, for the innocent people trapped within, and especially for my family members... the male members of the Tia family, to seek help from the powerful expeditionary force!"

Elena raised her voice, trying to evoke a sense of chivalry in everyone present.

She described in detail the current chaotic state of White Rock City: deserters and mobs were rampaging, order had collapsed, and members of the Tia family were imprisoned somewhere within the city, their situation extremely precarious.

"The expeditionary force is invincible wherever it goes. White Rock City is within your grasp."

Her words carried a hint of sincerity.

"However, I implore you commanders, before the formal siege begins, could you... could you send an elite squad to infiltrate the city?"

She looked at the players, her eyes filled with hope. "The mission of this squad is not to fight, but to search, locate and protect, or in the most critical moments, rescue hostages trapped in specific locations in the city, especially my loved ones."

I can provide detailed intelligence on where they are being held. As long as they are safe, the expeditionary force can act decisively and swiftly to quell the chaos in the city and restore order.

Elena's speech, delivered in the manner of a nobleman's habitual pleading, emphasized the "humanitarian" and "rescue" nature of the mission and implied that it would benefit the expeditionary force's subsequent "restoration of order" operations.

However, her words were like scratching an itch through a boot to the ears of the players' higher-ups.

The hall was silent. No one nodded, no one expressed agreement.

The only sounds were the light tapping of fingers on the table, or the barely perceptible sneer at the corner of a mouth when exchanging glances.

Elena's words were beautiful, a standard aristocratic speech, but she omitted the most crucial thing... the reward.

Elena seemed oblivious to the implications of this fatal silence. She took a deep breath and threw out what she considered her most valuable bargaining chip.

"If the expeditionary force can lend a helping hand and save the Tia family from this crisis, I, Elena Tia, as the future... as the representative of the Tia family, will forever remember the kindness of the expeditionary force. I myself will owe all the commanders present here... a tremendous debt of gratitude."

She deliberately emphasized the words "owing someone a favor," as if it were a priceless promise.

In her mind, the personal connections of a future princess should carry considerable weight in political and future negotiations.

Unfortunately, she was not facing a feudal lord who valued aristocratic reputation and future political investment.

She was facing the players.

A group of "Fourth Calamities" whose guiding principles are immediate interests, task rewards, and actual gains.

"Ah……"

A clear, undisguised, contemptuous laugh came from somewhere, piercing Elena's carefully maintained composure like a needle.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Ruoyu, who was sitting in the middle of the long table, stood up and broke the silence with his calm and straightforward voice.

"Miss Elena, we sympathize with your plight."

Despite saying this, Lin Ruoyu's tone was devoid of sympathy, instead filled with formulaic indifference.

"However, the expeditionary force has strict military planning and risk assessment procedures. Any additional military operations must have clear objectives, clear benefits, and controllable risks."

He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Elena.

"You're asking us to send an elite team to infiltrate a chaotic city where the enemy situation is unclear and a large-scale conflict could break out at any moment, to 'search for' and 'protect' specific targets?"
Who will bear the risks involved: the lives of the soldiers, the loss of equipment, the potential intelligence leaks or even the annihilation of the squad if the operation fails?

Who can't say polite things?

As the leader of the Extreme Battle Group, Lin Ruoyu is a cultured person who has received nine years of compulsory education and seven years of higher education. His social skills are no less than Elena's.

On the other side, Iron Will, who was in charge of the expeditionary force's logistics, pushed up his non-existent glasses and spoke.

“Miss Elena, you mentioned ‘human relationships,’ but what we need is something more… concrete.”

He spread his hands, his tone carrying a hint of cold mockery.

"For example, enough silver dollars, excellent equipment, and rare magical items."

Or perhaps valuable industrial contracts that were not plundered? Or... some crucial strategic intelligence?

As for your 'favor'!?

"I'm sorry, but it's very difficult for us to send someone to their death based on your personal connections."

Does human kindness have no value?

It depends on the person. If it's a favor from Chris, the entire expeditionary force wouldn't lose money even if they died three times. But what about a favor from Elena?
I'm sorry, but everyone here is a shrewd person. Because of Monokuma's experience, they had already figured out this NPC's character... a standard female noblewoman.

Perhaps her favor will be very valuable and useful in the future, but as it stands now, it's not worth a team of Tier 1 players carrying out this kind of infiltration and protection mission, which is obviously very frustrating.

It's not that players can't do these kinds of tasks, but if you want them to "eat shit," you have to offer them a reward that makes them willing to "eat shit."

Elena's favor was clearly not worth the price.

The players' rejection and mockery turned Elena's face instantly pale.

She had imagined being rejected, but she never expected to be questioned about her payment so bluntly, as if she were haggling over a price at a market.

Her noble status and princess title, which she was so proud of, seemed worthless in the eyes of the other party.

"I...the Tia family is in White Rock City..."

She tried to name some of the family's remaining wealth, but her voice was hoarse.

If Baiyan City is in such a state, how much of the family business in other places can be left?

Even if she does have one, can she immediately produce a contract and proof of the contract?

Elena still holds a trump card, but it's for Chris to play; she can't, and dares not, play it here.

"Miss Elena."

The older-looking Barbarossa sighed, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible pity, but his stance remained equally cold.

“We understand how you feel, but the Expeditionary Force isn’t some random mercenary group. Favors and such… well, how about this, I’ll post a notice for you, and people will come to you to sign up.”

While these people can't compare to Monokuma, if you look carefully, you can always find some good ones.

The warband leaders and high-level players were dismissive of Elena's rescue mission, but there were always players who wanted to earn some military merits and reputation.

Elena stood there, feeling as if the air in the hall had frozen, chilling to the bone.

Those scrutinizing gazes, like tangible icicles, pierced through her last vestiges of aristocratic dignity and illusion.

She finally understood that in the eyes of these powerful and pragmatic conquerors, her family, her personal connections, and her pleas were nothing more than insignificant noises before a grand plunder.

She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say anything.

A wave of immense humiliation and despair washed over her, almost suffocating her. Her carefully prepared request, the bargaining chip she thought held weight, was crushed in the face of cold reality and naked calculations of self-interest.

She was like a beggar trying to buy a dragon's treasure with leaves, leaving behind only an awkward silence.

"Understood... Thank you for your help."

These words were almost forced from Elena's lips, but she had to say them sincerely, full of gratitude and thanks, because he was the only commander present who was willing to lend her a helping hand.

(End of this chapter)