Chapter 442
Chapter 442: New Forces and New Reputation, This Will Be a Brand New Version You Haven’t Played Before
After Lady Adele’s report, a new post quietly appeared on the forum.
Although it also used the style of official posts, it was not a formal update or online hotfix, but rather a “in-game combat announcement” equivalent to material release posted under the name of Administrator Alpha.
Its format was quite proper:
【Shadow Intelligence Bureau Security Domain Report Summary – Assessment Report on Various Transia Forces’ Recent Response to the Foul Swamp Threat:
While all of Transia is busy with internal construction and preparing for the Black Plague, mysterious and dangerous forces are quietly rising in places we cannot see, evil claws crawling from the shadows, lurking under the mud and eyeing the world in the sunlight covetously.
As time passes, they are no longer content with cursing Transia from dark places, they have adopted more radical action plans.
This means that new storms have begun to blow, and the fierce winds of war are calling warriors to the battlefield!
Report 1:
The Shadow Intelligence Bureau has confirmed the deployment of forces and strongholds in the Foul Swamp by the gnoll clan “Plague” from the Dark Mountains. Lady Adele has sufficient evidence that the undead attack on Malo Town in the Transia border region a few days ago was the work of the Plague Clan.
But that was just a lucky or unlucky accident.
Because these undead were originally meant to attack the First National Armament Factory of Transia and the Goldflower temporary military camp near Torrent Fort.
The Plague Clan has already shown full malice towards Transia’s order and bared their fangs at this land, such provocation must be responded to in the most severe manner!
Shadow Intelligence Bureau Director, Baroness of Shadow Adele
Report 2:
Through reconnaissance of key points around the Foul Swamp, the Thorn Clan’s nightwalkers have confirmed that the Plague Clan is conducting strategic contraction, the cunning gnoll sorcerers have scattered a vast number of undead cannon fodder throughout the swamp, to break into their lair we must first deal with these damned undead.
The White Mountain faction of the Thorn Clan will not stand idly by while Transia is threatened by undead at this critical moment, but we urgently need experts in fighting undead to participate in the attack we are preparing, all warriors who join this war will receive friendship from the Thorn Clan.
Thorn Ambassador, Count of White Mountain Andre.
Report 3:
The elite witch hunters of the Avalon Church discovered many disturbing traces during their swamp reconnaissance, the Plague sorcerers who are proficient in voodoo and necromancy are summoning Netherworld creatures into the material world on a large scale, their arrival will directly pollute the ecology of the Foul Swamp and thus affect the long-term stability of all of Transia.
Considering that the Foul Swamp bears a very important role in natural degradation and ecological balance on Transia’s land, the Plague Clan has become an enemy of nature.
The desecration of nature by malicious things cannot be tolerated, and the balance of life and death must be brought back on track! This is the noble will of Avalon, which means we must march into the swamp immediately!
Avalon Church Leader, Adventurer Guild Guildmaster Natalie.
Report 4:
In a large-scale war like the Black Plague, defending locally against fierce foreign enemies is the worst choice. From a military perspective, we should secure the most advantageous positions before war breaks out. Setting fire to enemy territory is always the best choice a commander can make. Therefore, whether the Plague Clan is there or not, the development and occupation of the Foul Swamp is a strategic component of the Kadman People’s Army.
We are preparing our horses and sharpening our weapons, we draw our swords, we will not ignore any threats, we will teach the gnolls what courage and strength mean with our fists!
Yes.
We choose war!
Commander of the Kadman People’s Army, Baron of Leim General Maxim.
Report 5:
The thieves of the Blood Rat Gang made a successful theft during reconnaissance, we have confirmed that the Plague gnolls are searching for the legendary great treasure, this could very well be the most valuable buried treasure ever on Transia’s land.
Hey, the chance to get rich is right before your eyes! What are you waiting for, rookies who never have enough money in their pockets?
Blood Vulture Exploration Master, Blood Rat Gang Leader Dorothy.
Report 6:
The Blood Pact Knights’ vanguard has confirmed that the Plague Clan gnolls are indeed a branch of the many gnoll clans from the Dark Mountains, they are part of the barbaric spellcasters among gnolls, if we can annihilate the Plague Clan in the Foul Swamp, that means we can achieve an undeniable victory before the formal war begins!
Dealing with the Black Plague is quite difficult work.
We must cut off the wings of the gnoll army as much as possible before war begins, when facing such enemies of civilization, any radical methods are acceptable, and moral factors are not among any considerations regarding the Black Plague.
Blood Pact Knights Vanguard Commander, Bow Knight Captain Lainnia.
Report 7:
I think entering the swamp is a bad idea, but I won’t stop Transians from going to their deaths.
By order of Her Majesty the ‘Wolf Queen’!
Fort Crimea will open its outer areas to Transia’s warriors from three days hence, if you can offer enough to tempt our quartermaster, some of the Winter Wolf Legion’s idle equipment can also be made available for your use.
Although cheap deaths inevitably make one sigh, by Nord tradition, I still must salute the brave!
Fort Crimea Commander, Winter Wolf General Devar Baldwin.
Report 8:
King Louis and Marshal Loren did not send us to Transia just to observe the war that will happen here, my warriors and I are very willing to participate in any effective battle that can weaken the Black Plague, wherever the battle takes place, the Goldflower people will bravely step onto the battlefield and fight for our motherland and our king.
The Pioneer Army vanguard welcomes all warriors who dare to confront the gnoll threat, we are happy to re-arm you, of course, you need to bring gnoll claws and tails as proof of valor.
King Louis’ Eye, Pioneer Army Colonel Frayzer Skanderbeg III Carpe.
Report 9:
I’m too lazy to care what the gnolls are hiding in the Foul Swamp doing, I just know that if we don’t kill them, they’ll become our trouble.
So our choice is very simple.
Warriors!
Charge through, crush them!
Transia Governor, Count of Kadman Lord Murphy.
The main text of the report ends here, the attachment includes the reconnaissance results and terrain maps of the Foul Swamp by various Transia forces.
Note!
This terrain map may require some military background to understand and analyze.】
This unique report from various forces naturally attracted the attention of a group of information-hungry forum surfers, though their focus points were a bit strange.
Male Fist Mama: 【??? What’s up with this announcement? Why is it incomplete? And I don’t see Brother Alpha’s witty remarks this time, I’m not used to it. Did those four new people in the test group make a mistake and post an unedited document directly on the forum?】
Qing Dynasty Veteran: 【You male mama don’t look at attachments at all, if you just open and look you wouldn’t ask such weird questions.
This is clearly a declaration of war!
The terrain map in the attachment is just short of drawing out the various Transia forces’ encirclement attack plans on the Foul Swamp.】
Mr. Fire Seeking Wife for 10000 Miles: 【Wait! Brother, why can’t I understand this map? What do all these solid and dotted lines and those strange symbols drawn on it represent? Can you explain?】
Qing Dynasty Veteran: 【It’s normal not to understand, because this is a hand-drawn military map! It’s not drawn to normal map proportions and doesn’t have things like contour lines for observation assistance, though I’m not particularly familiar with how Transians draw maps either.
But I can basically confirm that solid lines represent passable routes in the swamp, dotted lines represent impassable areas, red star marks represent large numbers of enemies there, and gray star marks represent fewer enemies.
Considering Transia produces vampires, those few bat marks hidden in advantageous positions probably represent several forward camps of the Blood Vulture Clan in the Foul Swamp.
The other different symbols should represent different forces, look at how many forces appear in this report, so I guess if this battle really happens, it might adopt multi-line operations with coordinated penetration tactics.
After all, judging by the density of red star marks on this map, the number of enemies players will face in the swamp is extremely terrifying, and we don’t have heavy firepower on our side.
Although the enemy doesn’t have solid fortress works either, they’ve clearly set up at least three layers of defensive lines according to the swamp’s terrain to protect their core area, which is Plague Town at the edge of the map.
In this situation, stupidly fighting a war of attrition with them would be playing right into their hands. If you ask me, we need to use multi-point blooming with focused breakthrough tactics.
Our soldiers must break into the enemy core in the shortest time! Or carry out a precise enough coverage strike to take out multiple outposts the enemy has arranged in the outer areas, opening up roads into Plague Town from three directions simultaneously, otherwise with insufficient battlefield width, no single force can complete the assault and annihilation of Plague Town alone.
In this situation where we have no terrain advantage, no manpower advantage, and no firepower advantage, the initiative of war must be in our hands, otherwise it will be very difficult to fight next.】
Male Fist Mama: 【Damn, brother you’re amazing! You’re a professional right? You can see so much information from a terrain map without even explanations? What do you do in real life brother?】
Qing Dynasty Veteran: 【Hahaha, you flatter me, I’m just a security guard watching gates…】
Male Fist Mama: 【I don’t believe it! Who would believe that?】
Tiger Leopard Cavalry – Lin: 【Sweating, old company commander stop teasing newcomers, @Male Fist Mama, this is my old company commander when I served before, now he’s the security department supervisor at a university, it’s normal for him to see the information from this map.
Our company commander was very impressive before!
Know about large-scale exercises?
He used to assist in the director’s department before.】
Qing Dynasty Veteran: 【Those are things of the past, don’t talk about that now, I see the backend info says my helmet will take half a month to arrive, wait for me to get in before you start the war, don’t take all the fun.】
Tiger Leopard Cavalry – Lin: 【Don’t worry company commander, this ghost game is very realistic in this aspect, a war takes at least 10-15 days from preparation to start, there’s plenty of time.
Did you look at the fortress construction plan I gave you before? Anything that needs improvement?】
Qing Dynasty Veteran: 【I had professional friends look at it, wait a bit, there should be a reply soon from that side.】
Ranger Captain Patton: 【NPCs have spawned here in Malo Town, it’s the young lady’s vampire spirit mages, they gave us a “Investigate the Plague Clan” quest, I think this might be the guidance quest for the new map, brothers who want to go to the new map hurry over to accept.
New quest rewards Pioneer Army standard rifle, much better than the guns from newbie quests.】
Shrimp Catcher: 【There are new quests in Smuggler’s Woods too, Hog’s subordinates posted new clues on the quest board, guiding us to enter the Foul Swamp to search for Blood Claw Clan’s missing hunters and barbarian soldiers.
That gnoll Nash told us the hunters’ disappearance might be related to the evil forces in the swamp.
This big storyline is clearly starting!
What are you brothers waiting for, hurry to gather at the swamp, let’s charge! We missed the first two dungeon runs, we can’t fall behind this time.】
Multi-Turret Religion Chief: 【Damn, wait for me brothers, my helmet arrives in two days, let’s kill monsters together then, save some for me.
@What Color is Loyalty, Brother Loyalty, I got the field gun blueprints, and specially consulted some professionals about casting details, even tried the clay mold method myself, I feel I’ve got the hang of it.
Anyway, save me a spot to show my might when I get in.】
What Color is Loyalty: 【…I won’t ask where you got these things, my suggestion is why don’t you hurry to register at the nearest police station? Don’t get itchy hands and start working in your yard!
You guys aren’t afraid of anything and dare to do anything, every time I chat with you I break out in cold sweat.】
Our Nuke Failed to Scratch Enemy Armor: 【Wait! How did the topic get twisted to this degree? I say haven’t you ignored some details in this report?
The first few forces are fine, they’re all current official forces of Transia, but the last two are harder to say, the Winter Wolf General of Fort Crimea and the Pioneer vanguard, these are two new reputation forces right?
They represent Nordtov and the Goldflower Kingdom respectively?
So, are player-selectable factions now open? Can we choose to serve the northerners or King Louis after entering the game?】
Lumina Yanghen: 【It’s not like that, currently players are still warriors of Transia, this is the only faction, Fort Crimea and the Pioneer vanguard are just foreign forces providing aid because of the Black Plague.
The former currently belongs to reputation extension of the Thorn Clan, the latter appears due to the military agreement between Lord Murphy and Marshal Loren.
They’re not isolated cases.
Orchid and Lady Aqua analyzed for me that as the outbreak of the Black Plague draws closer, similar organizations will definitely appear in Transia later.
I just asked Lady Tris, the war smiths of the Winter Wolf Legion are famous across the continent for forging swords while the Goldflower Kingdom produces quite good guns and artillery due to military reforms, this is definitely forces temporarily opened by the development team to enrich weapon choices.】
Onboard Joy Stick: 【No, not just that, Sister Lumina, I think the appearance of these two factions might represent some special factors, perhaps this is related to the quest mode of this swamp operation.
@Meow King, have you finished your escort quest?
Hurry over when you’re done, I have a feeling this battle will be a tough bone to chew.】
Meow King: 【Already on the way back to town, we’ll talk details after I reach your defensive line, hey, you definitely can’t guess what good things we got from escorting these mountain folk.
Hehe, I can already see your envious eyes, hahaha.】
Electronic Succubus Old Tune: 【Tch, isn’t it just a few wind griffins? Why be so mysterious about it, wouldn’t it be better and nicer to let brothers have a good look?
Picture, picture, picture.】
Although verbally criticizing Brother Meow for being mysterious, Old Tune posting photos was also a kind of “showing off”, because in the three photos he posted, all showed the Big Bird Spin Spin Spin team riding majestic wind griffins arranged in special formation soaring through the sky, and he even edited and beautified the photos.
This was clearly showing off.
Sinking Fish Playing Games at Work: 【!!! Such beautiful birds! Their tail feathers are just like a phoenix!】
Bursting Belly: 【Damn, hippogryphs!】
Don’t Need Hands to Show Off: 【Uncultured! Already said they’re wind griffins, not hippogryphs, although they look similar, the two aren’t the same concept, the mountain folk call these things ‘wind spirits’, we’ve tested that wind griffins’ flying speed is twice as fast as gargoyles!
Haha, it only takes 2 hours to fly back to Crimson Citadel from the Ancestral Forest, and only 4-5 hours to fly to the Baroness of Shadow’s domain.
And these things are very clever, they can understand riders’ words, you can easily control them even without animal language talent. We spent about 10 days completing this escort quest, the mountain tribe opposite happened to be skilled at training wind griffins, so they gave us several.
But you guys don’t need to hurry, I heard Lady Sharon is planning to establish flight service points throughout Transia, these wind griffins can all be rented in the future.
But if you want to buy, you’ll probably need to grind reputation with the mountain folk.】
Thirty-Year-Old Tobacco Mulberry: 【Wind griffins fly very steadily, Old Tune tried shooting while on the saddle, accuracy was very high, I think we can form an air cavalry with wind griffins, any brothers want to join?
I self-proclaim myself commander of Transia’s First Air Cavalry Company, I now need a fearless deputy.】
Medieval Evangelion Warrior: 【Me me me! Choose me Brother Tobacco, I’m not afraid of death! And I’m super good at playing with aircraft!】
Thirty-Year-Old Tobacco Mulberry: 【.】
Meow King: 【.】
Male Fist Mama: 【…Brother there’s no need to mention that kind of talent right?】
Medieval Evangelion Warrior: 【Where are your minds going!? flips table I meant dogfighting in Ace Combat okay? Damn, you guys are too impure.】