Chapter 15

In the midst of Nalasha's laughter, four days passed, and the spaceship was now less than five hundred kilometers from the royal city, thanks to a previous stop.

Derek and Bob, who boarded later, also saw hope. They had been gritting their teeth and enduring the discomfort of fifteen people crammed into one space, even if it was a suite.

What comforted them was that the spaceship had not made any resupply stops and was not lacking in food, water, or bathing water.

They felt that the spaceship was not for transporting goods but for leisure travel. They had seen with their own eyes that during the hottest part of the noon over the past two days, water had flowed around the spaceship to cool it down and clean its surface.

The spaceship's storage capacity was truly impressive.

At this moment, the scenery below the spaceship turned into a vast expanse of wheat fields. The second harvest of wheat this year had just been completed, and the third planting had already begun.

Then came the first winter of the year, lasting about three months. After winter, there would be another two and a half months until the fifteenth month's harvest.

Simultaneously, the fourth planting would take place, with the harvest occurring at the end of the seventeenth month or the beginning of the eighteenth month. The next year's wheat would be planted, and the second winter would arrive, lasting four months, until the end of February. The harvest would take place in June.

After that, some fields would be left fallow for ten months, or half a year, while others would be planted in rotation.

The area around the royal city was entirely covered with wheat fields, a precaution against war. No matter when the enemy launched an attack, the royal city would not lack food.

At the same time, a scorched earth strategy could be employed. Even if the enemy attacked during the harvest, the wind around the royal city would always blow back and forth, and a single fire could destroy a large area.

At that time, the royal city would send out suicide squads, and just by setting fires, they could inflict heavy losses on the enemy.

Then the cavalry would charge, galloping back and forth across the vast plains.

If it were the rainy season, there would be even less to worry about, as the wheat fields would make the enemy deeply experience what it meant to be mired in mud.

With a five-hundred-kilometer radius, if the enemy really reached the city walls, would they consider retreating? Even if they were confident in capturing the royal city, would they be willing to hold it alone? The time it would take to capture the city walls and fight street-to-street would be enough for the empire to mobilize and deploy troops.

Even if the duchy failed, it would buy the empire a lot of time, and no one could shake the position of the duke.

"This is a strategic deployment, Mr. Murong, what do you think?" Baron explained the situation around the royal city.

Gongsun Murong nodded, "It is indeed a helpless situation."

"Helpless?" Baron was puzzled. How could it be helpless?

"Yes, helpless. If it comes to that, it means that one of the border areas has been completely breached, and the nearby cities cannot be rescued. Other cities have not received intelligence and have not sent troops to help, the strategy of repelling the enemy at the border has failed, and the war will spread, causing suffering to the people. Holding out in one corner and waiting for reinforcements is nothing if not helpless," Gongsun Murong said in a string of words, then shook his head lightly.

"Uh~!" Baron was stunned, unable to understand why such a good design would change when spoken by Mr. Murong. But upon careful consideration, it was indeed so.

"Then, then, what do you think should be done, sir?" Baron asked, seeking advice.

"Of course, it's about strategy. Preventing the enemy from sending troops is the key. The best strategy is to outthink the enemy, the next is to outmaneuver them, the next is to outfight them, and the worst is to besiege their city. Therefore, the focus should be on strategy, not on fighting. Winning a hundred battles is not the best; the best is to win without fighting."

After Gongsun Murong said this, he sighed, "Even if it comes to fighting in the end, it should not be so risky. This is a victory in the midst of danger, but a good fighter does not seek glory."

Baron's eyes were wide open, he was dumbfounded. Although he did not understand the specifics, it felt very powerful. What was this talk of strategy and fighting? Was not fighting better than fighting? How could that be possible?

Nalasha clapped her hands and interjected eagerly, "I know, I know, Nalasha knows. Grandpa said it comes from 'The Art of War.' A good strategist subdues the enemy without fighting, captures the city without attacking, and destroys the country without a prolonged war. He must strive for a complete victory in the world, so the army is not worn out, and the benefits are complete."

"Good, well said." A voice suddenly came from the open door.

"What's good? You sneaked up on us, thinking we didn't know? You're so clumsy, walking on tiptoe. Do you know about pressure? Are you a thief? The captain should be in the control room, not here. Looking for a beating?"

Nalasha was about to strike.

"He is the young master," Baron shouted these four words as fast as he could, fearing that the spaceship could not withstand Nalasha's antics.

"You should have said that earlier. I thought he was a spy. Sigh!" Nalasha complained.

"This is my young master, the second son of the Lord of Aurelia City, Giselle Aurelia. As you can see, the second young master is the captain of the magic spaceship, a sixth-level mage. The eyes of the divine mage are always on the second young master, so the second young master... uh, I'm sorry, I forgot who I'm talking to."

Baron, who was enthusiastically promoting his young master, suddenly paused. He was proud of his young master, as mages were so rare.

He had been boasting about his young master, but then he remembered Nalasha.

Giselle Aurelia's face showed a hint of shame. He was only thirty-two years old and could control a magic spaceship on his own. In Qishui City, he was the only one, and even in the royal city, he could rank among the top hundred.

But he did not have the confidence to compare himself to Nalasha. Someone like Nalasha should go to the empire's top academy and compete with the geniuses blessed by the gods.

"I did not mean to disturb you. We are about to reach the royal city, and I wanted to discuss matters with you two in advance. I accidentally overheard Miss Nalasha's words. Clever Nalasha, can you tell me what you meant?"

Giselle Aurelia's face recovered somewhat, and he smiled, genuinely curious. From what he heard, the two children seemed to understand military matters.

"Actually... uh? Look, the spaceship has stopped. There's a lake below."

Nalasha was about to explain but suddenly noticed something more interesting.

Giselle Aurelia was stunned. The spaceship had stopped, and he had lost contact with the control system.

Below was a vast expanse of blue water.

The other people on the ship also noticed the problem. The families of the adventurers did not dare to ask, but the adventurers, including Derek and Bob, came over.

"Heaven, the Soul-Shaking Lake. It shakes souls every hundred years. Who let you fly over it?"

A guard next to Bob asked.

"Steve, you're right. The Soul-Shaking Lake shakes souls every hundred years, but it has been seventy-nine years since the last shake. Does that mean we can't get close for another twenty-one years? What about the people living by the lake?"

Keliselle responded, recognizing the guard.

Steve, upon seeing Keliselle, immediately squinted and laughed, saying, "Keliselle, be careful when you talk to me. Although we were both fifth-level, second-rank a few months ago, that doesn't mean I'm weaker. Strength decides everything, you should know that."

As he spoke, Steve's battle aura revealed itself, fifth-level, sixth-rank, and his fierce expression made him seem very powerful.

Keliselle first bowed to Gongsun Murong and Nalasha, saying, "Young master, miss, please allow your servant to show off a bit."

Then his battle aura also revealed itself, no longer the fifth-level, fifth-rank from Sasa Town, but fifth-level, ninth-rank.

"Keliselle, you've improved again? Three days ago, you were still fifth-level, eighth-rank. Keep it up. If you need anything, just tell me and Brother Murong."

Nalasha clapped her hands happily, her eyebrows flying up, and her eyes twinkling as she congratulated Keliselle on his improvement, as if she herself had become stronger.

"Thank you, miss. Your humble servant's progress is too slow, holding you back, but please believe your servant... Keliselle, has always been working hard and never slacked off."

Keliselle bowed his head respectfully.

Nalasha nodded, "Brother Murong and I know. You've been training, and so have the others. The most has improved by six ranks. What was the name of the one you just spoke to? Do you have a grudge against him? I allow you to break his neck. I can guarantee that the two people next to him won't be able to stop you."

"I also guarantee." Baron followed, releasing his seventh-level, fourth-rank battle aura, easily suppressing the two people on par with Keliselle.

"Thank you, miss. Your loyal servant and Steve are actually friends. We had a drink together three months before going to the desert."

Keliselle remained respectful. His respect for Nalasha was not just based on strength and status but also on character.

"Ah? You like drinking? Why didn't you say so earlier? Brother Murong has a lot of wine aged for ten years. I also learned to make fruit wine, at least aged for two years. For example, the fruit wine made from the Ten-Thousand Devouring Crystal Fruit, the Moon Illusion Sand Fruit, and the Dream Shattering Fruit. They're all real."

Nalasha said happily to Keliselle.

"Miss and young master are truly amazing. When I achieve something, please reward me with some."

Keliselle did not doubt that his young master and miss could find these three fruits and make them into wine.

Although these three fruits with beautiful names were carnivorous and of the same seventh-level, seventh-rank, they were not something anyone dared to touch, despite their very slow movement.

However, their large coverage, concealment, and strong predictive abilities were no match for the young master and miss.

Miss's perception range was terrifying, and the young master's speed was so fast that he was invisible. When they wanted to pick the fruits, the fruit trees had no way to resist, as if they were natural enemies.

"Keliselle, you, you actually found a master? You've really let me down."

Steve said in frustration.

"Steve, I'm also disappointed. You actually became someone else's guard. Are you stronger than me?"

Keliselle responded with a smile.

"I did it because..."

"Steve, shut up. Don't you see the situation? Where's your calm?"

Bob's voice rang out.

"Keliselle, you don't need to worry about me and Brother Murong. Whatever you do, we support you. Grandpa said, 'Trust those you use, and don't use those you doubt.' Oh, little Keliselle, you're awake? But I can't feed you candy anymore. I'm afraid it will rot your teeth. How about we bite on some carrot sticks?"

Bob shouted, and Nalasha immediately followed, as if opposing him.

Seeing Keliselle's two-year-old child, she quickly went over, took out a carrot stick, and put it in the child's mouth. Little Keliselle, as long as he had something to bite, thought he was eating and happily drooled and laughed.

Nalasha wiped the drool with a tissue, laughing along.

Seeing this, Steve's eyes dimmed.

Bob and Derek were stunned.

Gongsun Murong remained calm.

The other adventurers under Gongsun Murong were relieved.

Keliselle puffed out his chest, proud.

Baron's lips curled. It was not a matter of not recognizing quality, but of comparing quality. Although they were all masters, their treatment of their subordinates was different.

If the masters were truly powerful, that was one thing, but the problem was that their own strength, relying on their families, was far inferior to Nalasha's.

Bob felt this gap, or distance, and became angry, staring at Nalasha, his eyes flashing, and his fists clenched.

"Steve, you should advise your employer. As a friend, I sincerely tell you, don't let your employer lose his life in a fit of anger. If he makes any move, I guarantee he will be bloodied on the spot. Don't look at me; I won't move because it would be meaningless."

Keliselle said to Steve.

"Don't look at me either; I won't move because it would be equally meaningless."

Baron, seeing someone looking at him, quickly raised his hands and said.

Then Moses and all the guards raised their hands, looking very irresponsible.

Giselle Aurelia: "I didn't know you would be so impulsive. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you on the spaceship. Now I have to consider how to face the accusations of your families, as you are about to lose your precious lives, and it's on my spaceship. Don't worry; I won't move either."

"Nalasha, I won't move either." Little Keliselle, hearing the adults, imitated their actions and raised his hands.

"Oh, our little Keliselle doesn't need to move. A spit from us will make them behave. First, let's have some porridge, and then some sweet fruit juice, okay?"

Nalasha enjoyed the feeling of being a big sister.

The atmosphere in the spaceship became very mysterious.