Saying it’s a white flag might not be entirely accurate.
It should be called a white vest, but the intended meaning is the same.
The Black Cross Star City garrison surrendered.
Ella was just about to take off on her Dragon Hawk when she saw this scene and silently put away the Necromantic Sword.
Weren’t they going to fight to the death?
You were about to start, and now you surrender?
Of course, as the only major city in the South and the primary target for the first phase—the place about to become her temporary main base—even if she was annoyed, she still had to put away the sword.
On the fourth morning after the war began, the Allied Army took Black Cross Star City without bloodshed and fully took over city affairs.
The residents of the city were initially very panicked about this sudden military operation and the fact that their city had changed hands.
However, when they saw Duo Luo and Gumu—two generals who clearly didn’t look human—and then the following majority of Demon Soldiers, they instantly quieted down.
“Military coup, totally normal.”
A city resident eating breakfast on the street said to another.
“Ever since Demon King Aio died, this kind of thing happens a lot among the higher-ups. I heard the flag in the Capital changed three times in a month. We’re remote here, so nothing ever happened, but it was only a matter of time. Look, it finally happened today.”
More and more people around joined the topic.
“What’s a coup?”
“Simply put, it means our leader changed.”
“Doesn’t sound like a big deal then.”
“So, who’s our new leader now?”
First, rule out the generals with four arms and one eye each, because they rode into the city together and didn’t look like superior and subordinate.
Besides, as everyone knows, two tigers can’t share one mountain.
Second, rule out the Elven general. Foreigners are even less likely.
Didn’t you see that most of the soldiers entering the city were Demon Soldiers?
“Who is it, then?”
“Why are you asking me?”
At that moment, the roaring sound of wings above drew everyone’s attention.
Looking up, they saw a Dragon Hawk flapping toward the central tower of the city.
And the One-Eyed General and the Four-Armed General actually reined in their horses and saluted the sky.
“I think that must be our new leader.”
The person eating breakfast said.
“The one riding on top of that.”
The others nodded in agreement.
The tower was a somewhat cylindrical building.
It wasn’t particularly tall, nor was it a true tower, but it was where the City Lord lived and worked—the center of power for all of Black Cross Star City.
The officials who hadn’t managed to escape were all here.
“First, the city’s name needs to change. From now on, it’s Bright Cross Star City.”
This was the first thing Ella said to the crowd after landing on the Dragon Hawk.
The army had just entered the city, and the generals were on their way by horseback.
She, with Zero, had flown ahead on the Dragon Hawk.
The officials present were stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what was happening.
Some guards also caught on. At the same time, they thought, this girl came here alone—isn’t that—
Smack!
The Guard Captain reacted swiftly and slapped the weapon out of his subordinate’s hand.
Don’t say anything.
Don’t make a move.
If she dared to charge in alone, it meant she was confident enough to wipe everyone out herself.
Not to mention the black-haired girl behind her, whose eyes alone radiated deadly intent.
With the scene under control, Ella found a chair and sat down, spreading her hands to everyone present.
“Who’s going to tell me the situation with your City Lord and what happened before this?”
A few minutes later, she finally understood everything.
First, the City Lord, named Latte, was parachuted in from above a few months ago, seemingly with some connection to the current Demon high command.
Earlier, he had gone up to the city wall, given the order to resist to the end, then took his confidants and slipped away.
By the time anyone realized it, he’d already left the city.
As for the people left here, they were officials in name, but in the terms of her previous life, the ‘officials’ had fled, leaving only the clerks behind.
In short, there was no need for a major purge, at least not here.
As for City Lord Latte, fleeing was both to avoid the purge and to report back—no doubt the events here and news of Duo Luo, Gumu, and the other ‘Old Demon King’s Generals’ would reach them quickly.
Ella snorted coldly in her heart.
Trying to escape?
Not so easy.
When they march back to the Demon Race Capital, all of you will be purged!
An official tentatively stepped forward.
“May I ask, esteemed one, how should we address you?”
“Lady Ayla!”
Gumu and Duo Luo burst in, pushing open the door.
“We’re here!”
No need for her to answer personally now.
“Sit, all of you.”
Ella touched her face with one hand and smiled gently.
“The army has just entered the city. We must pacify the people and restore order as soon as possible. Don’t disturb the civilians.”
This is her territory now.
She had to manage it well.
Gumu and Duo Luo snapped to attention.
“Understood!”
The sharp-eyed Guard Captain elbowed the nearby official, who instantly got the message.
“Understood! Lady Ayla!”
The reminder sparked a chorus of agreement throughout the room.
“Very good. Then, next—”
Ella thought for a moment.
“One of you stays. The other takes half the troops with me to support the Eastern Front.”
Celes and the others were too slow.
She’d go help speed things up.
Since the Allied Army at the Eastern Front was Human, Duo Luo and Gumu discussed for a while whether one eye or four arms was scarier, to avoid frightening their allies.
In the end, Duo Luo stepped forward, took off his armor, and put on a loose coat, hiding one pair of arms inside.
“Lady Ayla, I’m ready. We can depart at any time!”
The reinforcements arrived in the afternoon.
The Wolfhead Tribe hadn’t fully invaded during the last campaign, suffering less than a hundred casualties.
Even though several Wolf Kings had died in a row, using their home advantage, the remaining wolf packs managed to hold the line, unlike the other side, which fell rapidly.
But they never expected that as the fighting dragged on, enemy reinforcements would attack from the rear.
When the Western Allied Army arrived from Bright Cross Star City, encircling the Wolfhead Tribe on both sides, the battle line collapsed and could no longer be recovered.
Ella and Zero waved at their companions from the sky on their Dragon Hawk.
“Leah, Celes, Vina, we’re here!”
After four days, the girls of the Hero Squad reunited in victory, just as planned—the only problem being that the location was different from expected.
“See? I told you they’d be faster.”
Vina said to Celes.
“Mm…”
Before the girl could reply, her father—and Human Army General Glengo—spoke up beside her.
“That child, Little Ai, really has a talent for war. Her grasp of strategy is strong. Well, now you don’t have to study it anymore.”
Celes blinked, wondering why, just because Ella was good at something, she didn’t have to learn it herself.
Could it be…we can stay together for a lifetime?
…Is that possible?
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