Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 431 Otherworldly Recruitment Privileges
At the start of this astrological month, Forrest acquired a swordsman camp for Kuraki and recruited 410 swordsmen through diplomacy, sending them all to the strongest swordsman training ground for advancement.

In addition to the 350 swordsmen recruited in the illusionary realm, another group was recruited in Kuraki's territory, but the number was clearly less than that of the swordsmen in the large illusionary realm.

However, Forrest wasn't greedy. Since the last war, Kuraki had been continuously replenishing his forces, but he had to proceed gradually, only managing to recover to a level of six or seven hundred. With this recruitment, the strongest swordsmen would surpass 1000 for the first time, becoming Kuraki's most influential legion.

Moreover, Forrest also acquired the Advanced Recruiting Diplomacy skill, a rare promotion opportunity for an architect, which he successfully seized.

The recruitment diplomacy skill is not much different from ordinary advanced diplomacy skills. The biggest benefit is that it can connect to other dimensions and conduct special diplomatic transactions.

To some extent, diplomacy is actually a transaction between countries, and also involves the captivating charisma of leaders.

Kuraki is indeed powerful now, with both troops and money. If Forrest and other generals were placed in barren territories and allowed to develop freely from scratch, I'm afraid that apart from undead like Liliana who could snowball quickly, the other generals wouldn't fare as well as Forrest.

Besides gaining an early advantage, the greatest use of diplomacy is exploring the Library of Wise Men. Normally, entering this mysterious building requires exceptionally high attributes. However, diplomacy heroes can use their unique skills to open passages and gain additional attribute bonuses.

However, the probability of a Sage's Library appearing is extremely low, and there are no actual buildings of it. Elton, the Arcane Empire, and Isildur combined have not produced a single Sage's Library, making this function of diplomacy somewhat of a waste.

However, the recruitment diplomacy technique can connect to other dimensions, which offers a special hope. If a different world with a library of sages is opened up, Forrest will be able to gain a large number of attributes.

As for Su Mu, he can inherit the recruitment and diplomacy skills, enter the field, and get promoted.

Although this hope is somewhat unrealistic, it is still a method, much better than having no clue at all.

After acquiring advanced recruit diplomacy skills, Forrest immediately attempted to connect to an alternate dimension.

He meditated in the magic guild, as if he had traveled to a void of starry sky, and then he discovered that three planets were approaching him, each flashing with a different light and probing him.

[Advanced Recruitment Diplomacy user: You have captured the coordinates of an interdimensional space during meditation. There is a chance to negotiate with it and establish a special portal, gaining diplomatic recruitment privileges. Do you wish to exercise this privilege?]

【Demon Iwo Jima: This area is occupied by hell demons and contains a large number of hell units. Iwo Jima can improve the attributes of hell sequence heroes; the probability of establishing a connection is 3%.

Sea of ​​Fire Elementals: The Sea of ​​Fire Elementals is filled with a large number of fire and flame elements, which are volatile and extremely aggressive; the probability of establishing a connection is 13%.

The Savage Trial Grounds: A desolate land, uninhabited, said to be teeming with cannibals, yet none have ever returned alive; the probability of establishing a connection is 9%.

Having sensed these three alternate dimensions, what else was there to say? Forrest simply gave up, conserving his strength to wait for a later opportunity.

Even disregarding the compatibility issues of these local troop types, the probability is extremely low, and establishing a portal is very likely to fail.

On one hand, it's because Forrest, as a human architect, doesn't have a high enough affinity for these otherworldly realms. After all, he has almost never led these types of troops and knows very little about their characteristics. On the other hand, it's his first time sensing otherworldly realms, and his proficiency is not high enough, so he can only randomly capture some of them.

If he tries a few more times and uses the accumulated magical power, he might be able to find suitable coordinates in another world.

【Do not exercise this power!】 However, Forrest did find some tricks and said to Su Mu who was standing next to him.

"My skills are more focused on building and development. If you were to take charge of other skills and implement recruitment and diplomacy, we might be able to connect with useful worlds."

While Forrest used his recruitment diplomacy technique, Su Mu was beside him, carefully sensing the changes in magical power and the state of the other world.

After all, this magic is risky. The world of heroes is protected by the gods, thus avoiding 99.9% of the gaze of evil gods or other crises. Once it connects with other worlds, there are far too many risks.

The Void and the Stars are the heroes' most terrifying enemies. For Forrest's safety, Su Mu personally stood guard by his side. Although he did not draw in the otherworld, there were no abnormalities, but he still had to be careful.

"Indeed, diplomacy is one aspect, but the characteristics of heroes can also increase their appeal. Many heroes with different unit types and skills can be promoted to legendary status, and some can even cross the void to reach corresponding otherworldly realms to hone their skills."

However, Kuraki doesn't have many specializations for different unit types right now, and Goode's skills are shrouded in danger within the void, making this a difficult situation!

When Su Mu said that, Forrest was stunned for a moment, but then realized that he was right.

Kuraki Heroes' skills are too comprehensive. Orin and Ivan cover almost all ranged and melee unit types, so they can bring anything. Only the later-joined Cedros, Liliana, and Good have their own unit specialties. The former two are non-human forces, so their forces cannot be accumulated in large numbers and they will not be deployed to the main battlefield. It seems that Good's Crimson Knights are the most promising.

However, the Dream Realm is the most complex and threatening otherworld, and it can even appear in the world of heroes. If they connect to more distant dreams, the danger would likely increase dramatically.

“The Glory Sharpshooter is one of the options, but the intensity of the war is too great now, and the Sharpshooter is not quite able to withstand it.”

While the inherent weaknesses of Tier 2 units can be compensated for by heroes, there are basically no good ways to address their weaknesses in health, damage, and speed.

The Orlings possess the most powerful ranged damage output capabilities, so it's appropriate to have them deal damage from the back row.

"Ivan has led the strongest swordsmen for so long, he might have some inspiration, but who can say for sure?"
Alternatively, we could employ another tactic: in this battle, I will lead a contingent of my strongest swordsmen directly into the Far Plains, launching a pincer attack from both sides.

With the number of strongest swordsmen increasing, Kuraki has established a special swordsman legion, currently numbering 1000, named "Wrath of the Earth," with a distinctive banner, and is basically led by Ivan.

However, if Su Mu were to select a few hundred men as a strike force, their combat effectiveness would not be diminished at all.

However, Sumu has not yet dispatched troops; he is waiting for Esidor's next move.

With so many troops in the hills, plus the divine golden dragon, their reinforcements can arrive extremely quickly. A direct assault might not be successful. We should only attack when the enemy harbors evil intentions and reveals a weakness.

Just as the two were discussing this, news arrived.

"Your Grace, Master Randall requests your presence. Hammondal seems to be showing signs of promotion."

(End of this chapter)