Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 427 Diplomacy Takes Effect

Under Goode's escort, Forrest traveled south to the valley.

While this matter is challenging, it is not particularly threatening. After all, even if Congress dislikes Su Mu, it is unlikely that they would instruct the Demon Hunter Marshal to kill Kuraki's messenger.

But the valley is not peaceful now; the fortified army is restless and could launch an attack at any moment. If you are targeted by the Golden Dragon, they won't care who your subordinate is.

Therefore, Goode led the Wind Erosion Knights on a march through the dream world, while also protecting Forrest's safety.

If they don't encounter enemies, they won't reveal their whereabouts; everything will proceed smoothly. If danger arises, they will immediately protect Forrest and evacuate him.

Even if the negotiations fail, Su Mu already has a plan for the hills. The architect is the most prestigious person besides Su Mu, so there can be no mistakes.

Goode gained considerable improvement during the previous battle against the undead of the ancient ruins, thus becoming more capable of traveling and marching.

[Intermediate Dream Navigation (Governing): Reduces the effect of terrain on movement by 50% (100%), and increases speed by 2 (8) in dreams.]

For other generals, the Pathfinding Technique might only enhance their mobility, but for Goode, as a Crimson Knight, the ability to charge into the dream world and then arrive in the real world would be an extremely terrifying upgrade in combat power.

Moreover, cavalry heroes are inherently mobile, and with the weekly stables, they are practically dragons on the ground.

Having Goode escort them is indeed the most suitable option.

However, things didn't get to the worst, and Forrest successfully met Kenway Haytham.

The other person sat in the dark room, his face was not clear, but he seemed very imposing as a witcher.

After Forrest took his seat, he cut to the chase without any preamble: "Marshal Kenway, do you wish for revenge?"

"Revenge? What are you trying to say?"

"Zek, the excellent witcher of Highgarden, has disappeared without a trace after the false exploration of Cloud City. According to intelligence from the front, he has become the new leader of the rebels and has a strong boost to the Scarlet Army, making him a great trouble for the kingdom."

"Highgarden has no such witchers; Zeke has already sacrificed himself while exploring the ruins!"

Kenway spoke with a heavy tone, leaving no room for doubt. It was clear that he was somewhat angry, and the faint sound of wind and sand could be heard behind the tent, filled with a chilling atmosphere.

Forrest, however, remained unhurried: "Please don't mind me. I didn't mean anything by it. It's all the work of the undead. They are the masterminds behind the internal strife in the heartland."

I've come here today hoping to forge an alliance with you and wash away the humiliation suffered by the Haytham family.

Kenway glanced at him: "The ancient ruins are right here in the Plains Territory. You've been fighting on and off. With Duke Sumu's strength, you can even contend with the Arcane Empire, yet you haven't been able to destroy the undead ancient ruins. Who knows if you're incapable or unwilling!"

This was something many nobles in the kingdom suspected. While they might have initially thought the Ancient Ruins were difficult to deal with, after witnessing Kuraki's true strength, none believed the Ancient Ruins could withstand him. Was the Duke harboring a threat to enhance his own power?
Forrest shook his head: "There is a powerful artifact inside the ancient ruins. This burning altar was also caused under its guidance. I can say with certainty that if the ancient ruins are completely unsealed, even the Arcane Empire and the Eisdor Empire will not be a match for it. Unless the Void Throne and the Golden Dragon Queen reappear in the world, there will be no chance to fight against them."

You've seen the situation in the hinterland now!
Their war potential and danger even surpass those of Isildur!

Kenway remained silent for a long time, which seemed to indicate his agreement, and asked, "So, Kuraki is prepared to obey the kingdom's orders and return to the heartland to help quell the rebellion?"

The heartland has been in turmoil lately. The Congress has not only mobilized the lords of the western and southern regions, but also ordered the plains and valleys to return to support them. Even Kenway has received a letter, but it tells him to make his own decision based on the situation on the battlefield.

As the marshal recommended by Quentin, Kenway himself was part of Highgarden, and it was only right and proper for him to send some troops back to help with the disaster that was now befalling the heartland.

After all, his training of troops in the valley, including special training for the Witcher class, had not been without results. However, the pressure from Isildur was immense, and recently the Golden Dragon had come to their aid. If they were to split their forces and be ambushed, it would likely lead to a major defeat, and the situation on the eastern front would completely collapse. Therefore, he had been hesitant to act.

Could it be that Kuraki, who has a grudge against the National Assembly, has chosen this moment to put aside past grievances and extend a helping hand?

Kenway shifted his gaze to Forrest, who shook his head: "On the contrary, Duke Sumu is preparing to join forces with your army to drive Isidore's troops out of the hills!"

The rebels in the heartland are raging, but the kingdom's nobles are no pushovers either. They might not be able to deal with the imperial army, but they can hold off small groups of rebels for a while. If we send our troops back, we might be able to suppress their momentum, but we won't be able to completely wipe them out.” Forrest took out a map and pointed to the ancient ruins.

"To completely quell the rebellion, we must attack the ancient ruins and strike at the heart of the enemy. The undead that have appeared in the heartland are not the strongest form of our forces. Most are Lich Kings, some are Nightmare Knights, and we haven't seen a single Divine Ghost Dragon."

This indicates that although the seal on the ancient ruins has loosened significantly, it is not yet time to completely lift it, and they cannot freely send out more high-level undead legions.

If Kuraki leads a large army into the ancient ruins to initiate a battle at this point, all that awaits us are traps and a well-rested undead army; our chances of victory are very low!

Kuraki's army was indeed formidable, boosted by his governance skills, achieving a miracle in the Battle of Silver Peak City. However, that was a result of perfect timing, location, and support. The Ancient Ruins possess powerful special abilities capable of countering Kuraki's heroes, and being on enemy territory, they might not be so fortunate.

With the current number of Kuraki's troops, they can sweep and suppress the enemy on the periphery. If they really go in to fight to the death, the chances of winning will be much lower.

It would be better to join forces with the Witcher Marshal to severely damage the Isildur Legion in the hills and push them back to the plains. By retaking the defensive lines and overlooking the plains, we can attack or defend as needed, and the threat to eastern Kuraki will be eliminated immediately. Then we can free up our resources to deal with the troubles of the ancient ruins.

Most importantly, the timing was rare. Lloyd would never have imagined that, with the heartland in such chaos, the kingdom would still dare to fight a desperate battle and launch an offensive.

Kenway was stunned by Forrest's suggestion; he hadn't expected Su Mu to take such a risk. The Golden Dragon army was growing larger and larger, and while River Valley was still figuring out how to defend itself, Su Mu was already preparing for a desperate gamble.

"This won't do. The enemy has accumulated over a hundred divine soldiers, and their other armies are countless. If we are defeated, the kingdom will be plunged into utter ruin!"

"Do you really think the kingdom's situation could get any worse? Rather than being slowly boiled to death like a frog in water, why not take a bold step and try? If you succeed, you'll be a hero of the kingdom!"

That's certainly tempting. The previous marshals of the kingdom each had their own strengths, and some even died for their country. But they were all only defensive, and didn't pose a significant threat to Isildur. If they could truly destroy the Hill Legion under Kenway's leadership, they could march east at any time and reclaim the Fal Forest.

However, the Witcher Marshal was not an impulsive person, and he felt that the risk was still very high.

"I've thought about it carefully, after all, the situation in the hinterland is also very critical..."

His words were interrupted, and Forrest continued to press: "Kuraki doesn't need fame. All the credit for conquering the hills is yours, and we can share the treasures. But there is one special treasure that we are determined to obtain!"

As for the subsequent siege of the undead, Duke Sumu promises you the opportunity to personally deal with your brother, Zeke Haytham!

Kenway sat on the stone chair, his fists clenched, weighing the gains and losses.

Seeing that the Witcher Marshal was about to be persuaded, Forrest dropped a bombshell: "For the next month, this area where the valley meets Kuraki will be the Swordsman's Month!"

Upon hearing this news, Kenway's eyes widened instantly; he hadn't expected that Kuraki could actually alter the celestial phenomena.

Most importantly, few people know that Kenway Haytham was not only a witcher, but also an excellent diplomat, which is why he was able to lead the Haytham family so well in Highgarden and gain the full support of the Grand Duke of the Stag when they came to the Valley.

If the next event is the Swordsman's Month, the Demon Hunter Legion will be able to gain a significant boost in strength.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tell Duke Kuraki I'll take this job!"

"I explained the orders from the heartland to him, saying that the threat from the hill army has increased, and we must hold the line, or we will lose everything. As for the counterattack, we must formulate a detailed battle plan."

Forrest stood up excitedly and shook hands with Marshal Kenway: "It's rare for the kingdom to have a marshal as reasonable as you. We will surely win this battle!"

Kenway smiled and said, "Being able to persuade a hero with advanced skills shows that your diplomacy is even stronger."

I believe in Duke Kuraki's strength; this battle will be for the kingdom!

"For the Kingdom!"

(End of this chapter)