Chapter 759: Resource Allocation

Excitement immediately sweeps through the room.

Rawkins speaks first. "If that's true, we can send more people."

Henwell rejects the idea at once. "No. This isn't a feast where everyone rushes to claim a share. People will die!"

"Everyone here is authorized to read the intelligence on the Grassland Fury Spirits. I assume you've all seen it."

"The Northern Mountain Raiders themselves aren't frightening. They're humans affected by radiation near the calamity source, though some may also have come from a minor plane."

"The Calamity is called a calamity because far more terrifying things come with it."

"Large numbers of beings like the Grassland Fury Spirits will appear across our continent."

"The creatures appearing in the Northern Mountain region should be called mountain demons. They attack in strange ways, have extremely durable bodies, and possess Knight Rank combat strength."

"Worse, they have no fear of death and seem endless in number."

"The Calamity has only opened early in the Northern Mountain region, so mountain demons are still relatively rare."

"We estimate the full outbreak won't occur for another two years. That will be the true day of the Calamity!"

"Two years from now, calamities will begin erupting one after another across the continent."

"There are two right beside us."

"The Ogiro Forest Stirring will produce Quiet Forest Wanderers, followed by the far more powerful tree wraiths."

"The Lumir Sacred Lake Migration will produce River Bandits, followed by its main force, the water demons."

"When calamities erupt in these neighboring regions, they are very likely to spill into our territory."

"We know only the approximate timing, so we have to remain vigilant. We can't transfer every unit north."

"I'm sending the Central Military District, our strongest combat force, north so it can test the way for our other troops."

"It must also develop tactics for dealing with the Calamity."

"Many soldiers will die, but many others will step onto the extraordinary path. Even more will reach the threshold of extraordinary power."

"That's when they'll need the Enhancement Potion to push open the final door."

Phoebe Crow immediately rises. "My lord, I'd like to visit the Northern Mountains and examine the situation."

Henwell waves him down. "There's no hurry. Once the Northern Expedition army groups are firmly established, the Pharmacy Department and many others will set up research stations there."

"The Weapons Department must test our old and new weapons against calamity creatures, then adjust and improve them accordingly."

"The Medical Department must adapt its treatments to the wounds these creatures inflict. It will also dissect our enemies and search for weaknesses."

"Even the Construction Supervision Office will send a team to assess our defensive line and improve the way we build fortresses."

Henwell's expression hardens. "This is a top-level secret. Nothing may be leaked, or it could cause unnecessary panic."

Rawkins suggests, "Should we activate the rotation deployment plan and have every military district send its main forces?"

Henwell shakes his head. "It's too far away, and there isn't enough time. Calamity sources will appear near us in two years."

"Besides, every calamity creature is different. Experience from the Northern Mountains won't necessarily apply to the creatures near us."

"Instead of going to all that trouble, we should focus on training our armies. Then the coming battles will be much easier."

Arnold, deputy chief of the military, asks, "My lord, how long does a calamity last?"

"Anywhere from three to ten years. It depends on the local resistance. If the Calamity is contained and kept from spreading, it can be suppressed in as little as three years."

"Once the situation spirals out of control, though, taking ten years to seal the breach is hardly unusual!"

Victor asks, "Has there ever been a complete failure? A total loss of control?"

Henwell falls silent for a moment. "We'd better hope that never happens."

"The continent's population would suffer enormous losses."

"It would also invite direct intervention from the Abundant Continent. Both the empire and the church would send large numbers of professionals and entire formations of elite troops."

"When forces that powerful cross into our territory, it never ends well for us."

"Whenever that happens, the Western Federation's control over the continent reaches its peak."

"It then takes centuries for that control to weaken to its current level."

Cumberland, the new director of the Military Intelligence Office, asks, "My lord, does the balance of power change after every Hundred-Year Calamity? And how does the Western Federation view those changes?"

Henwell glances at him. The young man's political instincts are remarkably sharp.

With a smile, Henwell explains Vorry's predecessor state and how it broke away to become independent.

Eyes begin to shine around the room. Cumberland probes further. "Then, my lord, if Ogiro were destroyed, could we perhaps..."

Henwell raises a hand, cutting him off. "Don't entertain such crooked ideas. The Hundred-Year Calamity is far more terrifying than you imagine."

"Trying to use the Calamity to eliminate your enemies would be digging your own grave."

"If calamity creatures break through and slaughter people on a large scale, both their numbers and their strength will grow."

"The pressure will then fall on us, and we'll suffer even heavier losses."

"The cost would far outweigh any benefit."

"We have to trust ourselves. We'll perform better than anyone during the Calamity and emerge with more of our strength intact."

"Once the Calamity ends, if we can still wage war abroad, our neighbors will submit without us ever attacking them."

The discussion that follows is fierce and lasts deep into the night.

Every department draws up contingency plans for the arrival of the Calamity.

As for the Enhancement Potion, no one wants any of next year's three thousand available slots anymore.

They will all go to the expeditionary zone, along with a substantial share of the following year's slots.

Once the Calamity begins, no one knows what might happen.

If the expeditionary zone is completely cut off from Peace Haven, the consequences will be disastrous.

The isolated expeditionary zone may be self-sufficient, but its high-end industries still lag far behind Peace Haven proper.

It cannot replicate Peace Haven's extraction and smelting of extraordinary alloys or its Enhancement Potion production.

The same is true of weapons such as the Heart-Piercing Lotus, extraordinary ballistae, and Thunder Hand Cannons.

If the route is severed, the expeditionary zone will have to survive on its existing reserves.

That is why a wide range of resources will be directed there over the next year or two.

Henwell still has one more important announcement.

He is about to attempt his breakthrough to Glory Rank. The process will take time, and he built the twin-pyramid structure to keep the disturbance contained.

At the beginning of next spring, Henwell will enter the structure and focus entirely on his breakthrough.

The news thrills everyone in the room.

As Henwell's dependents, they have already sensed that they can rise further only after he advances.

Once Henwell reaches Glory Rank, Peace Haven will soon produce large numbers of Iron Knights.

Their numbers will surpass those of every country on the continent except the Western Federation.

For the many senior military officers present, the news could hardly be more inspiring.