Viscount Issel's Study Room, Lagra Castle

1600, 8 Sept 2025

For indefinitely, General Khartoum will be in control of Buriek's military power in Sandhur Region. In addition to his staff officer and 2000 liaison officers, he also brought 3000 elite personnel of Tuscan Guard. The elite personnel will work hand in hand with TF Amethyst's QRF element to secure Lagra Castle. Given that the negative sentiments of Sandhur Region's remaining residents towards Kingdom of Buriek personnel were still strong.

In a calm tone, General Khartoum reported to Nate and Viscount Issel.

"All liaison officers have been assigned to the units they are responsible for. Meanwhile, Tuscan Guard's attributes and combat uniforms have been distributed to all Kingdom of Buriek's personnel."

Nate nodded slightly before saying, “Even though we managed to send Makai Combine Fleet home, some elements of Makai Guard and Makai Air Corps have already arrived in Sviek and Rivek Region. So we have to handle the current situation with a delicate touch.

And if we can prevent the conflict from continuing, the existing funds and resources can be used for more positive activities."

Nate then turned to Viscount Issel before adding, "Ser Viscount, I think it's time for us to send an invitation to see Kingdom of Makai's attitude."

Viscount Issel firmly replied, "Understood, tonight my courier will be leaving."

- - - - -

Marquise Orev's Office, Sviek Guard HQ

1300, 9 Sept 2025

Marquise Orev casually looked out the window, while his hand held a letter from Viscount Issel. Then, with hasty steps, Count Isak suddenly entered the room.

"Ser Orev, Makai Navy HQ withdrew their Combine Fleet to check for design flaws on their ships."

"We are in an emergency but they do a design flaw inspection. So what exactly have they been doing in the peaceful time?" After taking a deep breath Marquise Orev asked another question, "What about our current power consolidation?"

"If we add the strength of Sviek and Rivek Region, then we have 800 Riders and 700 thousand ground personnel." Count Isak paused for a moment, before hesitantly adding, "But to break through the defenses at Levsait and Raisat we should wait until the ground element reaches one million personnel. Considering that Buriek Navy will not attack from the sea to distract them."

Marquise Orev looked at the letter in his hand before saying, "There's a chance we won't go on a war?"

"Huh?"

"Aid from Tuscan Region arrived at the last minute and they somehow wiped out the Buriek Riders and Guards back to sea. Currently, in Sandhur Region there are 400,000 Tuscan Guards and 400 Tuscan Riders."

Seeing the question mark on Count Isak's forehead thicken, Marquise Orev immediately added, "Of course we can't just believe it. I want you to bring a delegation to check Sandhur Region's latest situation."

“How about our promise to help Sviek and Rivek Region to obtain a portion of Sandhur Region territory?”

After taking a deep breath Marquise Orev replied, "If Tuscan Guards are truly already in Sandhur Region, then we can't do anything."

"Understood," replied Count Isak with a small nod.

It was an iron rule that nobles and high-ranking officials in Kingdom of Makai should not be involved in conflicts or territorial disputes between Regions. As long as a Region was not occupied by foreign powers and still paid annual tribute, Kingdom of Makai had no justification for deploying military force to the Region concerned.

"I will be leaving tonight."

After giving a small bow, Count Isak then left the room. Meanwhile, Marquise Orev looked back into the distance.

'Looks like the rise of Tuscan Region is not hearsay,' muttered Marquise Orev quietly.

- - - - -

General O'Neil's office, Harley Quinn MOA

1000, 12 Sept 2025

With serious expressions General O'Neil, Brigadier General Rayden, Colonel Patricia, and Colonel Maddox looked at the display table, which displayed four fort cities on the east coast of Amstell Continent. TF Amethyst did hope the guests from the east would move slowly and carefully, but who would have thought that their preparations turned out to be quite massive.

General O'Neil calmly said, “The conflict in Sandhur Region is practically over. Therefore, we will direct our attention to the east for the time being.

Judging from the preparations, it looks like our guest is not only aiming for Terry Hill but also looking for new territory to occupy. So, I wonder if there's a possibility to break their intention without needing to deploy ground elements."

Colonel Patricia firmly replied, "Currently, we don't have assets capable of wiping out the four fort cities without deploying ground elements. The only options are setting up a Firebase to launch artillery strikes, or a Forward Airbase to launch airstrikes."

General O'Neil nodded slightly before asking again, "If you had a blank check, what options would you suggest?"

"Option one, with a Strike Groups consisting of eight Aegis Destroyer, we can destroy one of the fort cities using a salvo of 700 Tomahawk from 2000 km away." Colonel Patricia was silent for a moment before continuing, "Option two, six B-52s each releasing two 30,000 pound stand-off bunker busters from 1500 km away."

A question mark instantly appeared on Brigadier General Rayden's forehead. "Patricia, both options are standard tactics for destroying modern military bases with reinforced construction and underground structures. Are you sure these fire powers don't overkill our targets?"

"Absolutely not, the construction on Terry Hill shows that our guest is capable of making a construction as solid as a modern military base," Colonel Patricia replied firmly.

"We can't acquire a forbidden toy like a B-52. So our only options are Aegis Destroyer or Aegis Land System. Looks like we should start the procurement for the batch 2 of weapon system." General O'Neil then turned to Colonel Maddox before asking, "Can we start building the shipyard and maintenance facilities for Amphibious Strike Group, as well as the Aegis Land System for Harley Quinn?"

"We're temporarily halting efforts to turn the Southeast Triangle into a Nouel field, so we have sufficient resources." Colonel Maddox made a small calculation before continuing, "Three months for facility construction, one month for heavy equipment installation, then eight months to assemble 70-80 ASG's ships if there is no delay for the system and components shipment from earth."

Colonel Patricia frowned before asking, "Could you work a little faster?"

Colonel Maddox snorted before replying,

"1 CVN Ronald Reagan-class, 3 LHD USS America-class, 6 LPD USS San Antonio-class, 6 CG Ticonderoga-class, and 18 DDG Arleigh Burke-class. For this list, it's already a miracle if we can finish the assembly and sea trial in eight months."

“Fine,” Colonel Patricia replied before letting out a deep breath.

After tapping his fingers on the display table, General O'Neil then said, "Vex will return to Earth to take care of the shipments of batch 1 that haven't arrived yet. So I'll also ask him to start the purchasing for the batch 2."

- - - - -

Primary Hangar E6, Davy Jones MOB

0820, 16 Sept 2025

As soon as versus contact with Kingdom of Buriek's elements stopped, TF Amethyst immediately transferred Lagra Castle defenders who needed further intensive care to Magwurt City. Considering that in Magwurt City, TF Amethyst already had a hospital in which the capability and technology were not inferior to the Medic Quarter at Harley Quinn.

In Magwurt City there was also the Counseling Quarter which Lan Yan'er led directly. So Lagra Castle defenders who needed psychological assistance were also transferred to Magwurt City. The paramedics at Lagra Castle also suggested that the children in the castle be temporarily transferred to Magwurt City. Given the trauma they experienced was not light.

Major Shade and Lan Yan'er then wrote requests to General O'Neill and Vex. Once the approval was given, ACG immediately prepared eight C-130J Hercules to transfer thousands of children at Lagra Castle to Magwurt City. Each Hercules was fitted with two pairs of long benches facing each other and used a thick cloth net for backing.

The two pairs of benches inside the Hercules could accommodate 120 adult passengers who did not carry equipment and weapons. Therefore, the actual number of children brought could be higher. However, Vex limited that on each flight, a Hercules would only carry 100 children and 10 castle maids who became their guardians.

As soon as the eight Hercules were ready to be boarded, the bus carrying the children approached. In a neat line as if they were duckling, the children then walked towards the ramp door while their gazes were filled with curiosity. But this neat lineup only lasted for a moment.

Some children didn't pay attention to the way, so they tripped when they stepped on the ramp door. Some others scrambled for seats once they entered the Hercules, and some cried because they didn't want to enter the Hercules. The castle maids, the Hercules crew, and the security officers instantly became busy. But there were no yells or loud words they uttered.

It took two hours before all the children entered and sat inside Hercules. Inside the last Hercules, Vex sat side by side with Erlin and the other children, while his bodyguards stood around him.

"Lucan, are we really going to fly?"

Vex smiled before replying, "Yup."

A moment later, after the pilot turned on the engine, Loadmaster told the children to sit tight and hold on to the net on which they were leaning. Then, as soon as the castle maids and the flight crew made sure all the children were holding on tight, the Hercules moved to the runway, took a take-off run, and took off very gently.

As soon as the children were allowed to let go of their hold, the commotion filled the cabin again.

"Whoaah . . . We are flying."

"Uncle . . . Can this window be opened?"

"Wuaaaa. . . So high."

"Aunt. . . I want to pee."

While smiling Vex looked around the cabin, where the flight crew and castle maid became super busy again.

'Well, they are still kids and just lost their parents, families, and homes. It's truly fortunate that they are able to forget their pain, even if only for a moment.'

Then, Vex leaned his head to the net, while Erlin looked out the window in awe.

*****