Chapter 406: The Plan Unfolds
In the third month of the ongoing conflict, the Dragon Blood Corps had successfully completed 93% of their assigned tasks. They were now only 7% away from achieving the coveted Ever Victorious Legion buff. However, the Orc Empire had taken notice of a mysterious army that was moving around the demon cave. In response, they had dispatched many of their elite scouts to locate this unknown super Legion.
Amid these developments, William had grown increasingly cautious. He avoided any direct contact with the Dragon Blood Legion and instead delegated command to Annie and the unicorns. His fear was that his presence might somehow diminish the overall luck of the entire legion, leading to potential defeat.
Even with William keeping a low profile, the military operations of the Dragon Blood Legion teetered on the edge of danger numerous times. It was only thanks to Annie's sixth sense and her ability to evade potential traps that they narrowly escaped disaster.
However, fleeing from battles meant conceding defeat, and there would be no opportunity to secure the coveted winning buff for future engagements. Consequently, William made a bold decision. He would use himself as bait to divert the attention of the Orc Empire toward him.
The night of the third day of the third month marked the tenth year of the bloody war. The conditions were far from ideal, with darkness, a lack of wind, snow, and clear skies. Three full moons hung high in the night sky, illuminating the far northern region as if it were daytime. It was hardly the optimal time for launching an attack on the city.
Yet, in the extreme cold of November, many individuals preferred the warmth of their beds over anything else. For those who were single, these frigid nights were a lonely experience, regardless of the season.
William, bundled in a snow-white polar suit, found himself deep in the northern territories of the Orc realm, over 60000 meters away from the Dragon Blood Corps. He had ventured far from his comrades and was in need of a discreet moment to answer nature's call. Though the chilling temperature threatened to freeze any exposed skin instantly, he was quick in his endeavor.
After completing his task, William took a moment to warm himself, ensuring that he wouldn't suffer from frostbite in a rather sensitive area. He refrained from using his Thunder Shield, which would have emitted a conspicuous glow. He understood that his unique abilities, like his Thunder Shield, were like beacons to those who sought to harm him, especially Epic Level foes.
William had once remarked that assassins of attributes other than darkness adhered to a code of warrior-like principles. The higher their level, the more pronounced this creed became. Now, dressed in his snow-white polar suit, he was more than 60000 meters away from the Dragon Blood Corps, watching as the orcs carried out their activities.
Observing from afar, William noticed that the orcs stationed on the north wall were not adequately fortified, indicating that they were eager for battle. Ever since the arrival of orc reinforcements from the Black Great Wall, it was apparent that the strategy involved attacking the city from both the north wall and other locations.
The orc force stationed at this fortress numbered 120000, including two epic giants, over 1000 Grandmaster Level warriors, and 50000 high-level soldiers, with the remainder being Intermediate Level troops. This made the orc army an imposing and formidable opponent.
Given the situation, William recognized that today's orcs posed a significant threat compared to what Dawn City had previously encountered. Even if he were to summon all the epic bosses from Dawn City, it might not be enough to counter the overwhelming orc forces.
Nonetheless, William wasn't one to back down easily. He had a plan in mind, one that involved using his unique skills to "acquire" valuable resources from the orcs. He believed that the Orc Empire possessed countless space rings filled with strategic materials and resources, both ordinary and precious.
William was determined to relieve the orcs of some of these resources, but he knew that Epic Level orcs would not entrust such valuable items to common soldiers. Instead, these materials would be stored in well-guarded warehouses and managed by dedicated logistics teams.
This logistics approach was common not only in Dawn City but also among the Elves. Epic bosses had more important matters to attend to than managing logistics on a daily basis. Therefore, separate logistics teams were responsible for the storage and distribution of materials.
As William ventured deeper into orc territory, he began to dig a hole into the frozen ground with his divine left hand, creating an underground passage that would lead to the orc's storage area. His progress was swift, and he covered a distance of 6000 meters in no time.
Upon reaching the orc's underground storage area, he exercised caution to ensure that he remained unnoticed. His primary objective was to divert the orcs' attention away from the Dragon Blood Corps. He had a plan in mind, and he was willing to take some calculated risks to see it through.
William continued to dig, gradually making his way towards the orc's storage area. As he did so, he noted that a peculiar cellar had been added to the surroundings, a detail that hadn't appeared in the five fortresses he had previously explored. This raised his curiosity and suspicions.
After having explored five fortresses, each one meticulously examined on multiple occasions, William had yet to stumble upon a cellar of any kind. It was as if these underground hideaways were an anomaly in his conquests thus far.
Determined to uncover the mysteries hidden beneath the orc fortress, William's divine left hand went to work, digging a hole into the frozen ground. As his head leaned in, his eyes widened with excitement.
"Well, well, what have we here? A hidden treasure trove, perhaps?" William muttered to himself, expanding the hole and swiftly entering the cellar. Once inside, he blocked the entrance to avoid detection.
Inside the underground chamber, William's eyes scanned the surroundings, quickly noting that the marks on the walls appeared fresh. It became evident that this hidden chamber had been recently excavated, fueling his curiosity even further.
The contents of the chamber were intriguing. It was clear that it wasn't a storage space for equipment or food since neither of those would require a climate-controlled environment. Instead, the warm chamber contained a modest assortment of items – wine, vegetables, and fruits. While simple in nature, these provisions filled the underground room, which spanned a mere 80 square meters.
William pondered the purpose of this hidden cache. It became apparent that it catered to the Grandmaster Level and Epic Level Professionals of the Orc Empire. Those with exceptional performance were likely entitled to access the provisions stored here, particularly high-quality food.
Apart from the vegetables and fruits, cold-storage food was also present, primarily consisting of seafood. This revelation contradicted the misconception that orcs exclusively consumed meat. In fact, they required a balanced diet to supplement vitamins and avoid deformities, a principle even orc tribes adhered to, let alone the Orc Empire.
William contemplated whether to seize the provisions or contaminate them with poison. Ultimately, he decided against leaving anything behind, opting to take everything with him. In the harsh northern climate, food was a precious commodity, even if its quality was less than stellar. Both humans and Elves could benefit from these supplies.
However, poisoning the provisions would hinder his ability to take additional items, such as ordnance. Each acquisition carried the risk of drawing unwanted attention, but he was determined to proceed carefully.
Examining the six space rings on his hand, each measuring 200 Meter in Length, 200 Meter in Width and 200 Meter in Height in size, William devised a plan. He would act as a diligent porter, swiftly transferring the provisions into his space rings.
His movements were swift, reminiscent of a dance – a choreography of unloading and reloading the supplies. In the span of a single song, all the beverages, vegetables, and fruits from the hidden chamber were relocated. Only a constant-temperature magic array remained, undisturbed and still operational.
As William glanced towards the door of the hidden chamber, he noted that it was nearly midnight. Under normal circumstances, most individuals would either be asleep or engaged in meditation. However, he considered the possibility that some orc masters might engage in late-night revelry, even on the front lines of war.
To maintain vigilance, he placed an alarm magic array by the chamber's entrance. Any attempt to open the door would alert him immediately. It was a prudent measure, considering he was conducting his operations under the watchful eyes of two epic giants. Caution was his ally.
Having completed his mission within the hidden chamber, William retraced his steps. He used his soul perception to identify a secluded location, then proceeded to dig a tunnel to conceal his tracks. He reemerged from the ground and surveyed his surroundings with his keen eyes.
In the comfort of a warm and well-lit chamber, a scene unfolded. A pale orc and a demon sat together, sharing wine and indulging in a feast of meat. The pale orc, standing at an imposing 2.3 meters in height, poured wine with a raised eyebrow.
"Come…"
"My Lord!" a high-ranking orc immediately responded to the call.
"Leave us," the demon ordered another orc, who promptly exited the room.
With the room cleared of any eavesdropping ears, the pale orc retrieved a treasured bottle of wine that he had been saving for years. He met the eyes of his companion and offered a sly smile.
"I know you've always had a fondness for my wine collection. You even went through the trouble of sending someone to the wine cellar. Who do you take me for?"
His demon companion responded with a mix of jest and sarcasm, "You stingy fool! If only you weren't so miserly, I wouldn't have resorted to such tactics."
The pale orc chuckled, licking his lips as he prepared to open the coveted bottle of wine. However, his mirth was short-lived as he narrowed his eyes and questioned his companion, "This wine is a Frost Dragon's Crystal Bubble vintage. Someone asked me for it. Do you know what I inquired in return?"
The tall pale orc sneered, his gaze briefly shifting to the demon whose stature fell short of his own. He answered bluntly, "It's merely a bottom, what harm could it do?"
The demon smirked in response, challenging the pale orc, "Then be bold! Tonight, let's not stop until we're both inebriated."
The pale orc agreed, albeit with one condition, "But we must consume at least two bottles of wine."
"Two bottles it is, and they must be fiery and potent!"
Unbeknownst to William, his actions in the cold night had gone unnoticed in the warmth of the orc fortress. Meanwhile, his next destination was the armory, where a vast collection of materials and supplies awaited him. As he set his sights on the towering stockpile, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and hunger for more spoils.
"Let's go, let's go," William muttered to himself, eager to continue his acquisitions. He envisioned moving heavy crossbows, arrows, and catapult accessories. Even if they weren't fully compatible, they could be useful in other ways. Artillery shells, in particular, piqued his interest as valuable items worth relocating.
With every intention of making the most of this opportunity, William embarked on the next phase of his daring mission.