FATE: Target of Grand Master

"Take them down one by one? The other side isn't stupid; they probably won't try to save their grandfather like the Calabash Brothers did."

Diao Yunshang did not quite agree with Xia Yan's idea.

"In a normal war, she wouldn't fall for it, but in this Hundred Years' War of the Evil Dragon, Jeanne d'Arc Alter's side has a clear advantage. Furthermore, her goal isn't to conquer land, but pure destruction. So, what will she do when she hears that there are still places resisting?"

Without hesitation, Diao Yunshang replied, "Send followers to suppress it."

"That's right. See, this breaks down the opponent's power, doesn't it?"

Diao Yunshang pondered for a moment, and it seemed that this was indeed the case.

"Aren't you afraid that Jeanne Alter will launch a full-scale attack like she did at La Salleh?"

Diao Yunshang thought of another extreme.

"I was quite worried at first, after all, given Jeanne Alter's violent temper, it's not surprising that she would do such a thing, but thanks to you, she probably won't do it again."

"I?"

After Xia Yan said that, Diao Yunshang realized what was going on.

"You mean the time Lu Bu led me all the way into the castle?"

"That's right. Thanks to that surprise attack, Jeanne Alter will definitely not dare to send out all her forces again. For the side with the advantage, the decisions will become more conservative, because the side with the advantage is less likely to accept being defeated in a ditch than to suffer a head-on defeat."

"Xia Yan, how old are you this year?"

Diao Yunshang became increasingly interested in the boy who analyzed the battle situation so logically.

"20, what's wrong?"

"Oh dear, that's a year younger than me. I'm 21 this year. I'll leave this anomaly to Xia Yan, little brother."

Diao Yunshang gave Xia Yan an incredibly charming smile, her expression and demeanor reminiscent of her ancestor Diao Chan.

Xia Yan's mind immediately went into alert mode.

A honey trap?

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

I only love anime girls.

"Call me Xia Yan, don't add any suffixes, and don't try to take advantage of me."

Diao Yunshang was speechless at Xia Yan's reply, and cursed inwardly, "Straight man, no wonder he's single."

Afterwards, Diao Yunshang put away her charming demeanor and returned to her relaxed state. Clearly, her previous behavior was just a way for her to deliberately try to win over Xia Yan.

"I agree to your proposal. I'll leave the rest to you, Xia Yan!"

Diao Yunshang deliberately emphasized the last word in her address, which made Xia Yan both amused and exasperated.

Why is this woman still holding a grudge?

Xia Yan wasn't prepared to continue arguing with Diao Yunshang, so he turned to look at Hu Qiu, who hadn't said a word.

"Uncle, what do you think?"

Hu Qiu, who had been quietly watching the show from the sidelines, quickly put on a smile when Xia Yan suddenly asked for his opinion. "Uncle's brain isn't as quick as yours young people's, but I trust your judgment, Brother Xia Yan. Whatever you say, we'll do."

"Alright, then everyone agrees. I'll go tell Joan of Arc that everyone should get a good rest tonight, and we'll officially set off tomorrow morning."

Xia Yan explained his plan to Jeanne and Gilles. Although the plan was made in a very rushed manner, the two were successfully persuaded by Xia Yan.

"While it's impossible for everyone to join, I think most people would be willing to operate alongside the army. Weapons are relatively easy to arrange; there are still some in stocks in various cities, which can be taken along when passing through. But how will we solve the food problem?"

As a general with extensive combat experience, Jill naturally thought more carefully. As the saying goes, "an army marches on its stomach," and without food, even the best-equipped army cannot win a battle.

"As for food, isn't this all-encompassing?"

Jill looked in the direction Xia Yan was pointing, where there was the corpse of a two-legged wyvern that had just been killed not long ago.

"You mean, we're supposed to eat this?"

Gil suddenly felt that the young man in front of him seemed to be much crazier than those alchemists.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. This is a matter of life and death for France. What does it matter if we eat some wyvern meat for the sake of our country?"

Xia Yan spoke with righteous indignation and awe-inspiring conviction, as if he were a Frenchman, leaving Gilles and Joan of Arc speechless for a moment.

"Don't worry, at least eating wyvern meat won't cause poisoning or anything like that. Although the texture is a bit tough, the taste is still acceptable. Don't look at me, this is what Diao Yunshang said, she's already eaten quite a lot of it."

Thinking of Diao Yunshang's sweet face, Jill's impression of these strangely dressed humans who claimed to be from the future plummeted, and she even began to worry about the future mental health of humanity.

However, after much thought, it seemed that this was the only solution. Jill finally compromised and ordered a piece of wyvern meat to be cut off and roasted, and he was the first to taste it.

Similar to what Diao Yunshang relayed to Xia Yan, the meat was a bit dry, but the taste was still acceptable.

With this confidence, Gilles no longer hesitated and ordered preparations to be made for the military advance that would begin the next day.

Xia Yan then returned to the small building where the three Masters were resting and slept soundly through the night with the other two.

-----------------

Inside the ancient castle of Orléans

This is hereby declared.

Your body is under my command, and my fate rests on your sword.

By the call of the Holy Grail, if you are willing to follow this will, then answer my call.

I hereby swear an oath.

I am the one who spreads all evil throughout the world.

However, you should serve me with your eyes clouded by confusion.

You are the one imprisoned in the cage of madness, and I am the master who holds its chains.

You are bound by the three great incantations for seven days.

O guardian of Libra, who comes from the Wheel of Restraint!

Jeanne Alter chanted a summoning incantation before the summoning circle, and a tremendous magical light surged forth. Then, a girl with long white hair, dressed in a blue-black retro court dress, appeared in the summoning circle.

"Seriously, there's absolutely no need to add more berserk spells. My current ideas are already crazy enough."

The girl in the gorgeous dress stepped out of the summoning circle and saw Jeanne Alter's face clearly.

"Huh? You're Joan of Arc?"

Jeanne Alter said with a look of disdain, "Although I don't know who you are, please don't get me wrong. I am not Joan of Arc, but the 'Dragon Witch' who rides a black dragon and is going to burn this land of France to the ground, and I am also your Master."

"I never imagined that even Joan of Arc had this side to her. How interesting! In that case, we're even more compatible."

The girl in the gorgeous dress had even brighter eyes and couldn't help but reach out and touch Jeanne d'Arc's face.

"Watch your manners!"

Jeanne Alter angrily slapped the other person's hand away.

"Tell me, what's your real name?"

When Jeanne Alter asked her question, the girl in the elegant dress did not answer immediately, but instead looked at D'Eon and Sanson standing behind Jeanne Alter.

"There are quite a few familiar faces here."

Upon seeing the face of the girl in the elegant dress, Dion and Sanson immediately knelt on one knee.

"Hehe, there's no need for that."

The girl in the elegant dress giggled, took two steps back, lifted her skirt, and curtsied.

"Avenger, Marie Antoinette Alter, have been summoned. I will help you ravage this land called France."