Chapter 698: Chapter 446 First Encounter_2

Chen Lun’s gaze shifted subtly, exuding depth.

The people inside the wagon watched silently as the leader pondered, not daring to disturb him.

“Hmm…”

Chen Lun murmured thoughtfully.

Then, he asked Barton for paper and pen and wrote a simple letter on the portable desk beside him, sealing it with his personal stamp.

After placing the letter in an envelope, he took out a Golden Cup Token and rang it.

Ding!

Without a moment’s delay, a faceless servant appeared from the Spirit World before Chen Lun.

“Good day, Mr. Jack, what can I do for your service?”

The Messenger bowed respectfully.

Chen Lun placed the envelope and two Gold Pounds as a tip on its tray, instructing:

“Send this letter back to the headquarters for Speaker Azjiluo to review, I would like to request the use of an ‘A-grade Mysterious Object’ from the council…”

“No problem, Mr. Jack, leave it to me.”

The faceless servant softly agreed, bowing as it carried the tray away.

After it had left, Chen Lun finally turned his attention back to the others.

“I’ve divined fragments of the future. The Imperial Army is likely to suffer difficulties at the Hercules Bridgehead Fortress, influenced by many factors…”

The subordinates revealed expressions of surprise.

They did not question the accuracy of the leader’s divination, but at this time, Akebin asked:

“Mr. Jack, should we inform the military to take precautions earlier?”

“No need.”

Chen Lun shook his head.

“Firstly, the military does not trust the Seven Gods Church very much, and secondly, relying solely on divination cannot influence the military’s strategy.”

He had another vital reason he did not voice, which was the fear that leaking the information would change the course of events… thereby rendering his countermeasures ineffective.

Chen Lun could not be sure there were no spies within the military, and with many players among them, these Undead Foreigners would quickly spread any news, as this world’s NPCs ultimately lacked understanding of players.

“I have a plan that requires your help.”

Chen Lun stated.

“At your command, Mr. Jack.”

Commander Frey Akebin and the Circus executives all bowed their heads in response.

Chen Lun nodded and slowly elaborated his arrangements.

A moment later.

The group looked thoughtful.

“We understand, Mr. Jack.”

*

*

*

Three days later.

In a canyon within a desert, tens of thousands of Imperial Army troops were marching orderly, with numerous wagons carrying arms and equipment trailing behind.

Chen Lun and his executives marched with the army, seated in a wagon marked with the emblem of the Generous Council. The players walked with the main forces, bringing up the rear.

Joining Chen Lun on this mission were only Circus’s elite players, numbering around two thousand.

Before long, a messenger informed Golov, who was driving the wagon, that General Vance, the supreme commander, had ordered the troops to rest at the mouth of the canyon before moving out.

“Understood.”

Golov calmly nodded and conveyed the message inside the wagon. After receiving Mr. Jack’s permission, he followed the troops to a shaded area to stop.

Chen Lun descended from the wagon, with Floey and others following.

He took off his hat and surveyed the environment briefly.

The yellowish-brown rocky landscape filled his view, with some dried plants rolled into balls, being tossed and twirled on the ground by the wind… Farther away, the uneven canyon walls gleamed golden under the searing sun.

Some hardy cacti stood on the canyon walls and the surrounding ground, while creatures like scorpions and lizards flickered in and out of sight.

“Where are we now?”

Chen Lun asked softly.

“Not far from Benavides River, crossing this canyon will take us to the Kel Plain…”

Golov responded.

Chen Lun nodded to acknowledge.

He glanced at the temporary military camps set up around, where some Imperial soldiers were eating canned food at makeshift tables or checking their flintlock guns and sidearms.

Others were moving sealed wooden boxes.

Chen Lun knew what those were.

Inflatable rafts.

During a meeting on strategic deployment in the southwest region, which included a strategy on how to seize the Hercules Bridgehead Fortress, General Vance had suggested at a bend in the Benavides River, 30 kilometers from the fortress, where the straight-line distance was shorter, it might be possible to secretly ferry some troops to launch a surprise attack from behind the fortress.

But Chen Lun also knew, this was essentially impractical.

The importance of the Hercules Bridgehead Fortress was more apparent to the Anlong United Kingdom than to the Tresor Empire, and they even used Transcendents from their Constellation to set meticulous protective warnings along the banks of the Benavides River.

The Imperial Army would be discovered the moment they entered the Kel Plain.

Yet, Chen Lun did not offer any advice, as these strategic plans and decisions were the responsibility of the military… In plain terms, it did not concern him.

Chen Lun quietly observed the environment, when suddenly his Spiritual Intuition gave a slight warning. He pondered for a moment, then bent down to pick up a handful of clay from the ground, noticing it was somewhat deep red like blood.

After examining it briefly, Chen Lun whistled.

Whoo!

From under a thick cactus nearby, a palm-sized lizard scurried over and jumped directly into Chen Lun’s palm.

Chen Lun used “Beast Speech” to briefly communicate with it, asking about the situation.