The illumination mushrooms growing upside down on the ceiling emitted an orange-yellow glow, lighting up every member's face around the council's long table.
This was the first cabinet meeting of the Mushroom Fortress, attended by core members active within the Northern Territory.
According to intelligence dug out from the mouths of those spies entering the Northern Territory, some lords in the north of the Empire had already begun to make moves. The Mushroom Fortress must prepare.
Louisa (Piggy) scanned the crowd, sharp fangs looming behind her lips:
"We have now integrated almost the entire power of the Northern Territory, plus the sturdy city defenses of the Mushroom Fortress, and the enhancements brought by the Boss Puchi. We absolutely won't be inferior to any Empire Duke, perhaps even stronger!
The Empire's territory is vast, with constant internal discord. It is absolutely impossible for them to turn out in full force for a newly emerged border faction.
Take advantage of their slow reaction and misjudgment to deliver a head-on blow.
Use a clean and crisp victory to tell them that here lies a hard bone that will break their teeth if they try to gnaw on it.
Only in this way can we grasp the initiative!"
Opposite her, Shou raised his eyelids:
"Louisa, I understand your thoughts.
But that is the Empire!
The strongest faction on the continent, with unfathomable foundations.
A momentary victory might be possible, but what then?
Inviting more violent retaliation, dragging the Mushroom Fortress into a total war we are not yet prepared for?
If the Empire were still at war with humans and dwarves, I would support you, but the Empire has now freed its hands."
Next, Shou began to expound on his own ideas: "I think we should avoid direct conflict as much as possible, even... we can appropriately show weakness, putting on a posture of submission on the surface to buy time. In secret, continue to accumulate strength, waiting for the next time changes occur in the Empire to act."
Louisa sneered, as if hearing the most laughable thing:
"Show weakness?
Only a small tribe leader like you who has only stayed in the wilderness would have such naive thoughts. Showing your soft throat to a pack of ferocious wolves?
Shou, that will only make every wolf convinced that you are the easiest piece of meat to tear open!
They will swarm up and divide you until nothing is left, not even giving you a chance to pretend submission!"
Starfire interjected at this moment: "Perhaps we don't need direct confrontation, nor do we need to show weakness.
Can we find a way to create some trouble within the Empire?
Provoke friction between them and dwarves or humans, creating some problems inside the Empire?
Most residents in the Mushroom Fortress are demons. It's not impossible to plant spies back into the Empire's territory and then create chaos.
Distract the Empire's line of sight elsewhere to buy us more time."
Louisa retorted immediately, but her tone was slightly milder this time:
"Starfire, your idea isn't unfeasible. The Empire is indeed full of internal contradictions; there are indeed many opportunities to sow discord and create incidents.
But time! What we need is time!
Planting spies, cultivating forces, causing chaos—these all need to be calculated in years.
Whereas the time left for us by the Empire's scouts and border lords might only be a few months, or even a few weeks.
This suggestion of yours can be done, but that is for the future. It doesn't offer substantial help for the difficulties before our eyes."
The argument continued. Every proposal was accompanied by a fierce exchange of pros and cons.
In the corner of the long table, Norris sat quietly, his body almost shrinking into the shadows.
His hands were placed flat on his knees, eyes staring at the texture on the tabletop as if the true meaning of the world were hidden there.
Two years ago, he was still digging magic crystals in a mine; what did he know about major military and national affairs?
He even suspected whether this was also some way the Boss was tormenting him.
Norris glanced quietly at the Marshal Puchi sitting on the specially elevated main seat.
The Boss just listened like this the whole time without expressing any views. Wonder if he was also zoning out?
...
Lin Jun certainly wasn't zoning out.
He was just brainstorming.
Once he opened his mouth and set the tone, it would be difficult to hear more opinions afterward. Therefore, he temporarily just listened silently, letting Piggy, Shou, and Starfire argue.
Currently, it seemed that Piggy, who had struggled in the Empire, gave advice that, although radical, was indeed more reliable.
Although Starfire and Shou had grown a lot managing the Mushroom Fortress and being responsible for diplomacy during this period, they were still much shallower in terms of insight and experience.
This was normal. Piggy was fifty-two years old, properly belonging to the elderly in the vigorous core circle of the Mushroom Garden, the kind who could sit at a table with retired Old Dylan, so it was normal for her experience to be more seasoned.
Based on the Empire's ecology Lin Jun observed from Fatty Xi, showing weakness indeed easily invited prying eyes. Even if weak and unbearable, pretending to be fierce was the way of survival for many demons in the Empire.
However, the Mushroom Fortress's situation had its special points.
The Mushroom Fortress didn't fear a large army bearing down on the border.
After all, the Ice Elemental Lord was still in Inanna's hands. When the battle situation was disadvantageous, at worst, just release it back into the ruins.
Although the temperature wouldn't drop immediately, in at most a month's effort, it would plunge those Empire troops lacking [Cold Resistance] into a plight where even roasting by a fire wouldn't warm them up.
What Lin Jun was more worried about was that after the Empire discovered the army couldn't handle the Mushroom Fortress, they would turn to let Dukes, Princes, or even the Emperor himself come to trouble him.
Not to mention anything else, if they found the Ice Elemental Lord and then found a way to kill it, then this Field Magic Card would be considered broken.
Although the Emperor himself was keeping an eye on slimes and matters of those few dungeons within the Empire recently and was unlikely to personally run to the Northern Territory, the world was impermanent. Who knew what accidents might happen?
If he really came, could Lin Jun fight him?
Lin Jun thought about the newly obtained [Soul Touch], thought about his Ji-God Soldier, and the Delicious Mushrooms regularly tributed to the Emperor every month...
If this were an ordinary world, Lin Jun would be plotting to poison the Emperor. Unfortunately.
Overall, even facing a raid from top-tier experts, Lin Jun thought he wasn't without power to fight back, but the odds of winning were indeed not great.
Therefore, the delaying time to accumulate strength mentioned by Shou was also necessary.
First, Lin Jun needed time to train the newly obtained skill.
Second, relying on the unique advantage of [Life Source Essence], the growth rate of forces under Lin Jun far exceeded ordinary factions. Time stood on the side of the Mushroom Fortress.
Of course, he couldn't delay indefinitely. After all, this world seemed to still be waiting for the Hero to save it!
Finally, the Marshal Puchi on the main seat slowly raised a tentacle.
This simple action made the arguing sounds that were almost about to flip the table come to an abrupt halt. All gazes focused over.
"If the Empire side really sends troops to invade, the enemy cannot be left uneliminated, but cannot be completely eliminated either! We must fight them to a draw, or even appear slightly at a disadvantage."
Shou and Starfire were blank for an instant, then sudden realization and admiration flashed in their eyes: "The Boss is wise!"
Piggy also understood, but this undoubtedly meant asking her to hold back while fighting. To some extent, this was even more uncomfortable than not fighting.
But the Boss made the decision; she dared not oppose anything anymore.
And at the end of the council, what surprised Lin Jun somewhat was that the Yellow Codex actually also made a suggestion:
[Boss, regarding creating chaos and planting spies within the Empire... perhaps, this humble one can be responsible for organizing it.]
It paused, seemingly observing Lin Jun's reaction, then continued to add carefully:
[Didn't you also want to conduct a certain magic ritual within the Empire?]
[Perhaps, this humble one can combine these two matters... and handle them together.]
Looking at the Yellow Codex volunteering actively, Lin Jun rarely had some hesitation.
(End of Chapter)
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