Ash pulled out the majority of Leithanien and Kazimierz's troops. Ordering Mlynar and the twin empresses to retreat.
According to their logistics and data, Ursus lost about fifty percent of their troops. Which is basically annihilation against a standing army.
Shining is wearing glasses and currently reporting the damages they did against Ursus.
"Ahem, as Ash desired. These are the major damages that Ursus has suffered. Their borders with Kazimierz and Leithanien are for one, completely devastated." Shining pointed a laser on the PowerPoint behind her.
Nian provided the pictures for the damages. "Did you really make a flick by taping battles Nian?" Ash was in disbelief.
"Yeah? It was cool ya know? Like our artillery goes bang! And they all go uwaaah, my leg! It was pretty entertaining. And you know people, they love a movie based on a true story. It doesn't get realer than the actual footage." She shrugged.
He sighed and massaged his temples. Ash had to give her A for effort. Everybody was shown pictures of the borders burning because of Talulah.
Luna and Soleil didn't just act as support too. In one of the outposts, they buried it six feet under by creating a tsunami of earth.
Mlynar and his squad of pegasi tried to recreate his father's legacy too. Fighting soldiers with overwhelming odds. His squad of ten people fought 200 to 1.
With their improved armor and weapons, especially the shotguns loaded with buckshot and slugs. They took down their own share of emperor's blades as well.
"That is all. We are expecting Ursus to lay low for a couple of decades due to this attack. Our elite operators and Reunion that came from the north also devastated landships all over the place." Shining put down her glasses and looked at him weirdly.
"What? I like a girl that can rock glasses. Anyways, Ursus will be breaking their banks in order to repair their mobile cities. Taxes would rise, people would be dissatisfied, rebellions and will start." Ash rubbed his palms with an evil smirk on his face.
"Then we swoop in and take the citizens? Bleed them dry like a leech. You're devious as always, husband." The twin empresses smiled at his plan.
"Kaschey wanted to make Ursus great again, guess what? It will never financially recover from this. Ursus has never been that rich in the first place." Ash laughed.
It was basically like the USSR. They forget that Ash supplies most of the food in the world. And he is going to pull out Asmodeus enterprise from Ursus as well.
It was a layered attack that would cripple any nation. Their army was the weakest it has ever been. Cities are crippled and has to receive emergency repairs that cost an arm and a leg.
And with the borders being so weak, Leithanien and Kazimierz will slowly increase their landmass. Like a noose slowly tightening, they were put in death row that would slowly erase Ursus from the map.
"I have to say, I feel complicated about this. I did fight for Ursus once." Patriot sighed.
"They get what they deserve." Yelena quickly rebutted. Due to just being an infected, she was thrown in the mines with her parents. Just a child that is harmless. Forced to mine originium, worsening her infection.
And the sick guards played roulette with their lives. Killing off the unlucky, or fortunate ones that got picked. It was the darkest part of her life until Patriot raided the mines and saved the survivors from there.
"Yelena is right Patriot, you know how Ursus operates. Can't make an omelet unless you break a few eggs." Ash scoffed.
"Well, that is true... We will be scouring for infected and send fleeing civilians to Lungmen or whatever country is the closest at the time." Patriot let it be for now.
They were doing it so they would have such a massive reputation that no group or country would dare fight them. It was a massive step for his dreams. A Terra without any bloodshed.
And he knew that whatever you do, you can't reach that without spilling it.
"Alright, this meeting is adjourned. I will be going to talk with the Legati from Laterano." Ash stood up and ended the meeting.
Shining and Margaret followed him, they were his secretaries. And the two of them guided him towards another conference room where the Legati were currently in.
Ash saw some Sankta that were wearing robes. He checked them out for any weapons and they open carried some handguns and revolvers. Nothing really major.
"Hello, it seems that the pope sent his best huh?" Ash checked out their leader. He had a black halo with a portion of it being white. And the man in front of him smells like blood.
"This meeting is of utmost importance. I am Federico Giallo." He stood up and gave a hand to Ash. (pic)
He shook it and noticed he had a firm grip. "So? What does the Legati want with Paradiso?" Ash sat down and propped up his chin.
Federico nodded in satisfaction at his no nonsense attitude. "It has come to Laterano, that you have entered a war against Yan and Ursus. Even annexing Lungmen which is an important city for Yan."
'So they think we are still battling them, that's good.' Ash calculated what he wanted to get from this meeting with Laterano.
"I see, news does travel fast if it concerns things like this." Ash squinted his eyes. Laterano was distasteful in his opinion.
They only give a rat's ass if fighting begins. Because if they were real peacekeepers, they would stamp their foot on Ursus already for being a militaristic nation.
Laterano speaks about peace and all that crap, but they do nothing to achieve it. Like vultures, they wait for opportunities so they won't lose much.
'Crafty fuckers is what they are. These angels might love sugar and desserts, but they're pretty fine ignoring the bad if they won't get out of it unscathed, cowards.' He sneered in his mind.
"Yes, and I came with Laterano's interests. As well as the whole of Terra. It seems that Kazimierz and Leithanien are sworn allies?" Federico was getting to the meat of it.
"Yes, that is true. Kazimierz and Leithanien have been defending against Ursus for decades. So it is only natural that we ally ourselves against a warmongering country." Ash shrugged.
"I see, then that is wonderful news is it not? I will explain Laterano's desire now. Our pope dislikes conflict. And this is a major one that has never been seen for decades. The last one being the battle of the four emperors." Federico started his spiel.
Though Ash did notice that he doesn't look really enthusiastic. The guy is most likely a cleaner for Laterano, with how much blood he has on him.
"And due to the war that has transpired, every nation would be antsy to say the least. And that's where Laterano comes in, we would like to make a treaty with your alliance." Federico offered.
'Hook, line, and sinker.' Ash smiled. "A treaty you say?" He acted confused.
"Yes, to prevent wars like this from fracturing countries like Kazdel. It would be a great gift to humanity." Federico sounded like a priest giving a sermon, making Ash almost puke from the fakeness of it.
"Hmm, you've piqued my interest Federico. As the emperor of Leithanien, I will run this by my empresses. They are the rulers of the country after all. The grand knight of Kazimierz will also hear this." Ash nodded at him and Federico was pleased by his reaction.
"Then, we would like to invite you to Laterano your majesty. Along with the other rulers in your alliance. It would be a big step to establish peace on Terra." Federico offered his hand for a shake.
"Indeed, I have recently lost my last family member due to the conflicts you see? And as you remember, Paradiso helps the poor people afflicted with oripathy. So it is in line with our creed." He faked sadness on his expression.
The Legati were moved by his desire to help the poor and unfortunate. And it was all true, so their empathetic powers didn't notice anything wrong.
He hid his intent well by manipulating his brain and keeping calm all throughout the meeting. He would capitalize their mistake on the contract later.
"Well met your majesty, it was an honor to meet you. We hope to hear from you soon." Federico bowed and they left the place.
"Heh, I guess having a nice scapegoat for all the fights we'll be engaging in would be excellent." Ash grinned, Margaret and Shining clapped at him. Making him deadpan towards them.
"Why are you clapping?" He raised a brow and the two sighed.
"Well, you definitely have a scheme cooked up in your head. We don't know yet, but we're pretty sure it would be effective. Even Enciades which is really good in politics lost against you." Margaret shrugged.
"Yeah, you only helped in her plan to annex Kjerag. But she would've been able to do it on her own. That woman is a top schemer I tell you." Shining agreed.
"Well thank you, I like you guys too." He kissed their foreheads and they sputtered.
He then sent messages to Mlynar and the empresses. Coordinating their schedules to have a little talk with Laterano's pope.
__Lungmen: Penguin Logistics__
Exusiai was just enjoying some nice apple pie. Made with granny Smith and honey crisp apples from Asmodeus enterprise. Which was the juiciest and the best of course.
And she suddenly felt someone took hold of her halo, startling her. So she did the only natural thing. Unload a whole mag on who did it. Everybody knew not to touch a Sankta's halo.
"Jesus Christ. Calm down Exusiai, did you just unload 30 bullets on me? I was just curious how your halo felt." Ash replied with a pout.
Exusiai choked on a piece of apple that got lodged in her throat. "Hah, she's choking on apple pie. That's ironic, it's her favorite thing in the world." Shining rolled her eyes and whacked her on the back.
The Sankta started to breathe again and she was confused as hell. "Ash? What in the world are you doing here?" She tilted her head, coughing out pieces of pastry still.
"Well, remember the call I gave you earlier? We're actually going to Laterano to speak with the pope. I just hope he doesn't like little kids, because God might be merciful, but I am not." Ash squinted his eyes.
"Um... Yeah, so when are you going to go? I haven't been back in Laterano for years now." Exusiai looked to be deep in thought. Which was weird, because she never has deep thoughts.
"Kyahaha, it would be tomorrow little angel. Now tell me, where's Texas? I fought a lot of strong opponents back in Ursus. I have to compare with her!" Lappland violated her personal space.
She was breathing on her neck and Exusiai let out a yelp. "Stop that Lappland, you're making her uncomfortable." Texas appeared, sweating a bit.
The Lupo rushed to the scene immediately after hearing Exusiai fire her gun. But she wasn't surprised that it was because of their particular group.
They weren't healthy for the heart. Ash's group is weird after all.
"So, what are you guys doing here?" Texas was pushing away Lappland's face who was trying to get into her personal space.
"Well, I hired Exusiai to be our nice little tour guide in Laterano you see?" Ash chuckled at Lappland's antics.
"Wait, already? You're going to have a meeting with the pope that quick!?" Exusiai was of course flabbergasted.
He was so friendly and just pops out of nowhere that she forgot that he is a monarch. A global superpower no less.
It was unthinkable for her to meet up with the pope of Laterano that easily.
"Well, what can I say? I'm in high demand everywhere." He shrugged and Texas wasn't as nonchalant about this as Exusiai.
"You're going to be doing something troublesome..." She squinted her eyes. Texas liked her time with penguin logistics, it was nice and peaceful unlike her time back in her homeland as a mafioso.
"We'll be making history, the signing of this treaty will be legendary." Ash gave them some papers.
Texas deadpanned at him and Exusiai's eyes shone like the stars. "The Gelato Accords? Really? Will this seriously work with Laterano? They love their sweets, but this is ridiculous."
"Ahhh, you shouldn't jinx it like that. Maybe I should add your name to it if you're so against it. A neutral country that everybody can make agreements on called Texas? I think that would work." Texas paled immediately.
"Nononono! Please don't do that, I was wrong sorry..." Texas prostrated herself immediately.
"And I was thinking of using your picture too, I think the populace would love you to be the mascot. Ain't that right Lappland?" Ash chuckled.
"Aww, that was a genius idea boss! Texas, can't you agree? Please?" Lappland begged her and she glared at them.
"Okay, when's this meeting going to be?" Exusiai stepped in because she wanted details.
"Hmm, no time like the present. So, now? They won't expect it, Laterano's facilities will be tested out of the blue. Make us see what the country is about without them preparing for it." Ash shrugged.
"T-that's actually genius! Come on! Let's go, oh boy. I haven't met my sister in a long time, I'll introduce you to them." Exusiai bounced around like Tigger.
__
Thanks for reading everyone.
And a little something, I'll be making a schedule now of three chapters a week. I hate to say this because I feel like a sellout, but I'm opening a Patreon. Makes me shudder remembering that asshat ghostyz lmao.
I've been having some gene therapy for a good half a year out of pocket. And as you can imagine just by the name, it's hella expensive lol.
I'm not opening it yet though, I'll be stockpiling chapters. And when it's ready Imma post it here. I can't work, so I'll use my free time here. Thanks for supporting if ever. Anyways, ciao.
P.S. What do you guys think is a reasonable amount for it? I know the minimum is a buck a pop, but the site tells me to raise it to 3. I just really don't like to think about it. Feels like I'm pressuring people. Anyways, ciao.