They checked the settlements' alignments by sending a regiment over. Peniel told them not to bother with towns or villages as those settlements were sure to submit to Master's rule, unless of course if they planned to take over the settlements by force.
They decided not to do so. Although they could easily subjugate the settlements with their one-million army, they would still need to exert some effort. Additionally, after defeating said settlements, they still needed to station a decent number of troops to keep those settlements occupied. Otherwise, the settlements would just revert to Hydrurond's rule once they left. Doing this would reduce their already limited army.
They passed through one city, one town, and two villages. When they sent the battalion to the city, they were greeted with hails of arrows. So, they proceeded on.
Emris informed Jack that their rations were getting thin. The next settlements they found, they would have no choice but to use force to take it down if it was still not an ally.
Luckily, this time the city gates opened when they approached.
The city's name was Lefkauselis. Jack had visited this city before. It was where he first got into contact with World Maker's serial killers.
Coincidentally, the person who greeted him by the gate was someone he knew. It was Zoikod, the vice governor of the city whom he had saved from the serial killers.
"King Storm Wind," Zoikod greeted Jack with a small bow.
"Vice governor Zoikod. It's good to see you," Jack greeted back.
"It's governor now," Zoikod replied. "We all decided that Princess Aldryth is the rightful sovereign. My predecessor disagreed. Sadly, we have to relieve him from his post."
"I'm glad you did," Jack said.
"I still haven't thanked you for saving my daughter and my life," Zoikod said.
"You know it was me?" Jack asked. He was using the orc disguise when he saved Zoikod.
"I don't know at the time, but after doing some digging around my outworlder contacts, I learn of your identity. I'm glad that Hydrurond still has a good friend who is willing to come in her time of need."
"We all have a common enemy."
"Come!" Zoikod ushered Jack into the city. "Your army can rest outside. Our small city is too crammed if your army enters, but I've prepared the military rations I believe you will surely need. I will have my people arranged to transfer the rations."
"Your help is much appreciated. We will pay the rations with coins."
"No need! If you can help Queen Aldryth retake the throne, we should be the one paying you instead," Zoikod returned.
Jack turned to Peniel while sending his thought, 'I thought the system required us to pay for the supplies even if we are allies?'
Peniel simply shrugged. 'I guess this Zoikod likes you very much, I think?'
Jack and the other high-ranking officers entered the city. John insisted on bringing one battalion into the city that followed them around just in case this was a trap. Jack didn't think this was a trap but he didn't stop John.
As the army rested and their supplies replenished, Jack and the others had a meeting with Zoikod inside the city hall.
"Do you know any other settlements that are also loyal to Queen Aldryth?" Jack asked Zoikod
"I have heard some news. However, other such settlements are quite a distance away," Zoikod answered.
"This means this should be the city where Aldryth starts rebuilding her influence," Jack said. He then turned to John and asked, "What do you think if we used this place as the center of the rebellion?"
"To be honest. This city is not that good in terms of defense. Whether the city itself or the terrains around it. If we have to fight the enemy's larger force. I don't see a good prospect."
"Then we should call more army from Themisphere," Jack said.
"Without your runestone of marching, it takes one week just to cross the border territory. Not to mention the time needed to mobilize the troops from different stations. The enemy will have arrived before our reinforcement."
After letting Aldryth's troops leave the capital, Master spent two days stabilizing his force in the capital, as well as raising the dead using the Necronomicon. Afterward, he left Gridhacker to oversee the rest and marched out of the capital with the Liguritudum army, the Aurebor army, and the newly created zombie army.
At this time, this army was hot on Aldryth's tail.
Aldryth tried making contact with the settlements they passed by. But she was unlucky, all those settlements had taken the system's side, submitting to Master's rule.
Each settlement had a modest number of defenders stationed. They were there to keep the settlements stable during wartime. They won't be enough to defend against an army if Aldryth decided to take over the settlement by force.
However, using a settlement that was against her as a base to grow her force would be much harder compared to using a settlement that supported her rule. Hence, she didn't waste time and soldiers to subdue those settlements. She continued looking for ones that supported her as she headed East.
Because she was going on a zigzagging route to visit nearby settlements, Master's force was gaining up on her. By the time Jack's army was resupplying in Lefkauselis, Master's army had shortened their distance to only one day from Aldryth's.
Jack knew about Aldryth's army's position because Jeanny and the others were with that army, but he didn't know about Master's army's movement. It was Zoikod who brought the information to Jack. Zoikod still had friends in the other cities that had submitted to Master. These friends sent him the news using the message transmission device when Master's army passed by their cities.
"They won't make it here," John said.
They had been putting the information into the 3D map projection inside the city hall.
"Are you sure there are no friendly cities from here to where Queen Aldryth's army is?" Jack asked Zoikod.
Zoikod shook his head with a sad expression.
Jack and John looked at one another. John said, "We can't wait and fight our battle here. We have to go out there and meet them in the middle before the enemy catches up to them."
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