Chapter 386: Rough

Maxine frowned. "Are you sure this isn't a naturally occurring snowstorm?"

"This is definitely not normal, General!" The scout's voice was filled with unconcealed panic. "It's gray and black. Even the locals who were born and raised here have never seen such a strange blizzard. It's like it has life, rushing straight towards our camp. All the people and livestock in its path were instantly frozen to death!"

The professor stood up, opened the door curtain, and stepped out. The distant sky seemed to remain a constant gray, but if one looked closely, one could see that within the gray was a disturbing turbidity, gradually spreading at a constant rate.

The cold wind blew up snow foam, icy and biting, and it hit the pale face of the black-haired young man. But he seemed to be unaware of it. He just narrowed his eyes slightly and stared silently at the faint smoke from the camp, the fluttering flags, and the swaying embers of the campfire.

Then he suddenly took off the glove on his right hand, spread out his five fingers, and reached into the air, motionless, even though his fingertips soon turned slightly red from the cold - Leon beside him couldn't help but hold his breath in inexplicable awe, afraid to make any sound.

"The wind is increasing," the ghost said, his tone decisive, as if stating an established fact. "It's increasing very steadily. It doesn't seem like a natural storm."

He withdrew his hand, twisted his fingertips together, and said thoughtfully, "The wind direction is also problematic. The Frostwhisper mountains surround the Saga Glacier. The airflow affected by the terrain should be chaotic and disordered, but now it's twisted and constricted into one stream, as if all the air is forcibly restrained and rushing towards us."

Azuka frowned, took the glove, and took the restless paw into his palm. In just a short moment, the human's body heat had completely disappeared, and it felt freezing cold to the touch. He held it in his palm for a moment, making sure the body temperature had gradually returned, before putting the glove on the person.

He did all this as if no one was around. Ghost didn't seem to notice anything was wrong and obediently let himself be led. His mind was completely focused on the news of Salvador's upcoming arrival, and he ignored the slightly subtle looks from the others.

"Immediately activate the blizzard emergency plan," Ghost ordered decisively. "The temporary underground shelters and reinforced ice caves that have been excavated over the past few days must be immediately opened. Non-combatants and the wounded must be evacuated first. Medical and logistics teams must be ready."

"Remember, the area around camp is absolutely safe within about fifty miles." He spoke quickly, but every word was clear. "Ensure smooth communication between the sentry posts and communication points. Immediately contact the teams outside. No matter what you are doing, you must return to camp immediately. If you are unable to make it, find the nearest underground shelter as close to camp as possible."

——The wind and snow in El Salvador could never devour the domain of a god.

"Yes!" The scout immediately obeyed, then trotted off. Lyon, standing by, was stunned. These slaves, er, civilian soldiers, were passing down concise and powerful military orders in an extremely efficient manner.

"The path Salvador took is exactly the route all the Second Legion's soldiers must take in their retreat." The black-haired young man turned to look at the still stunned Leon Croft, his voice rational and almost cold. "Based on the current wind speed and the marching speed of the Second Legion's main force, they can't outrun this storm."

"Phil Goree might have a chance of surviving, whether it's the teleportation scroll or some other magical trick..." He lowered his eyes calmly and stated calmly, "But the vast majority of those ordinary Imperial soldiers will be swallowed up by this man-made storm, transformed into ice sculptures on the snowfield, becoming ants that Salvatore crushes while demonstrating against us."

Many of the Empire's lower-class soldiers had no choice. Who would want to risk their lives in this icy landscape if they could? A flicker of pity flashed in Maxline's eyes. Yialos remained silent, merely glancing silently at Leon Croft, whose face was gradually turning pale.

A lowly soldier of the Empire who had surrendered to a ghost right in front of him. In the past, he would have denounced him as spineless, shameless traitor, and a betrayer of his monarch, and then killed him on the spot - but now he only felt a heavy fatigue, and even a little understanding and empathy mixed with pity and helplessness.

"Mr. Croft," the ghost said, his gray eyes seeming to see through people's hearts. "You said you and your men wanted to join us. Now is your chance to prove your worth."

Leon was stunned for a moment, then immediately straightened his chest: “Yes! Please give your orders, sir!”

"I want you to take a few men and set off immediately," those smoky gray eyes stared at him seriously. "If my guess isn't wrong, most of the Second Legion's troops should be scattered around this location right now."

He stretched his hand back, and Azuka beside him immediately unfolded the map skillfully.

"The fastest round trip to the camp is about two days, and the blizzard will take another two days." The ghost's voice remained calm, without any idea that he was saying anything earth-shattering. "In the meantime, I want you to lead your men to find the main force of the Second Legion. Then, use the magic tools we provided you to broadcast loudly, telling everyone that the Limin Army has established a temporary shelter southeast of the Saga Icefield. Anyone willing can come to take refuge near the camp to help them survive this abnormal blizzard."

Leon was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears.

"Sir...this..." He said with difficulty, "I'm afraid they won't believe it..."

The slander against the People's Army within the Imperial Army has been going on for a long time, and it really sounds like a clumsy conspiracy.

"That's why we need you to go," the black-haired young man said calmly. "You're an Imperial officer, and your face is more convincing than any of ours. Tell everyone the truth: this storm was caused by the Great Shaman of the Ferros. There are no saints in the North right now, and the Empire is powerless and won't care about their lives. But as fellow Silver Iris people, the People's Army is willing to give our compatriots a chance to survive."

"This isn't an order, Mr. Croft. Even if you don't go, you can still join the People's Army, but your military merit won't be recorded." He leaned forward slightly. Although he looked thin and weak, Leon felt as if he were being pressed down by an invisible force. He could only straighten his back and look up at him silently. "We will provide the best mounts and equipment, but two days is just a conservative estimate. If there's even the slightest mistake on the way, you and your men will die out there—so I give you the right to choose. You and your men can continue to stay in the safety of the camp, or you can take a risk and go out and save those compatriots who, like you, are blindly working for the Empire from the Yankee blizzard. Every one we can save counts."

"Leon Croft," those smoky grey eyes stared at him emotionlessly, as if the moon were bowing its head. "What is your choice?"

…

Maxine watched the imperial soldier trotting away and couldn't help but sigh in a low voice, "He actually went..."

She hesitated for a moment, then moved closer to the black-haired young man and whispered, "Professor, how many imperial soldiers do you think he can bring back? We don't have much food and equipment. And once the blizzard passes, will those people... uh, repay kindness with enmity?"

"Not many." The professor gazed indifferently at the seemingly peaceful skyline. Unlike his intensely inflammatory tone in front of Leon, his voice now was terrifyingly cold and calm. "Those who will come are those who are completely desperate, on the brink of rebellion. But the news that the Imperial Second Legion, intimidated by the Yankees, abandoned its soldiers like headless flies, while the People's Party extended a helping hand to its former enemy, will spread throughout the North. This is more valuable than some supplies, and all we have to pay now is a few mounts."

After hearing this extremely villainous declaration, Yialos remained silent, while Maxine slowly blinked.

His Majesty was indeed the same Majesty she knew; it was impossible for him to suddenly show kindness without any reason. But the red-haired girl looked at the other person's serious, tense, pale profile and suddenly couldn't help but reach out and gently poke him—trying to be as gentle as possible.

professor:"?"

He turned his head in confusion—in recent years, Marcylin's control over her body had grown day by day, so at least she didn't poke him and make him stumble—only to see the red-haired girl blinking her green eyes and asking seriously, "By the way, aren't you cold standing in the wind like this?"

professor:"……"

He deadpanned, "It's freezing. I hate El Salvador."

When he returned to the warm tent, he saw Yialos say goodbye. He thought for a moment and whispered to Maxine, "Don't worry about food. I guess this confrontation won't last long. Azuka, you'll have to work hard next."

He was not stubborn. Since Saint Salvador of Ferros had chosen to step onto the battlefield, it meant that Saint Barrod's "non-war agreement" had long been torn up - even nuclear weapons had a rule that they would never be used first, but it did not say that they could not be used second.

The savior's eyes softened, and he reached out to rub the back of his neck: "You know, my power is always at your disposal."

"Salvatore's philosophy bears some resemblance to that of the Sea God, Odileus," he whispered. "One resonates with the northern ice sheets, the other with the ocean. If he's given more time, perhaps he truly will become the God of the Ice Sheet."

"So he's in cahoots with Poseidon." The professor stated, "At least they've communicated, and he got what he wanted from Poseidon."

"But it doesn't matter." The black-haired young man glanced at the red-haired girl beside him whose expression gradually became serious, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that he had become simple and rough.

He said very calmly, "Just kill them all."