The World Dragon's Heir-Chapter 178: Low On Storage

The skill and spell gems arrived moments later, along with the strike team, who had loaded themselves and their horses with supplies again.

All of their storage items were full at this point, and they were carrying crates and bags on the mechanical horses. But they could give some supplies away as they travelled, earning goodwill from the civilians.

Then, they would restock from the next target they hit.

Dominic took the boxes of gems and opened one to see what was actually in it.

Spell Gems of Monstrous Strength, Spell Gems of Agility, and Spell Gems of Sharpness.

Literally, the most basic of spells that would be given to any common soldier to improve their basic physical attributes. Normally, they wouldn’t even attempt to improve them with mana cores, they would just allow them to level up as they trained.

By the time that they were through a six-month training regimen, the spells would be at level three, and they would be considered fit for duty as a city guard.

Still, he recorded all three spells into the Sorcerer’s Spellbook. More strength and agility were never a bad choice, and he did own a sword, so he might have use for sharpness one day.

The second chest was the same as the first, and Dominic dropped the gems back into the box after checking them.

The real treasures were the bags of mana cores.

They weren’t from monsters, they were the ones created by mages for the basic training of soldiers. Equivalent to a level one or level two Goblin Core.

Not individually impressive, but for recruits who had no base? It would help.

They were also valuable to the soldiers here.

Nobody had entry-level skills anymore, but you could drain the mana cores in combat instead of using your own mana. It wasn’t considered a productive use of the items, but in an emergency, it was an option.

"Pass these out to the unit. There should be enough for everyone to have one, and then some spares. Bring what is left back to us for safekeeping." Dominic instructed.

"You don’t need them for making munitions?" The messenger asked.

Dominic shook his head. "I have thousands of rounds ready. I will have the Regiment come and restock before we move. Just remind them that they need to keep space for their tents and camp equipment. We don’t have extra vehicles to be loading down with gear that they should be carrying."

That made the messenger chuckle. Not only did they not have extra vehicles, the ones that they did have were all overloaded and obviously of a foreign design, as the local steam trucks were a decade behind in their development.

They could try to claim some of the damaged and discarded trucks from their future ambushes, but they would never be capable of keeping up with the Regiment.

The soldiers packed up everything that was nonessential before turning in for the night, and first thing in the morning after breakfast, they began sweeping the area of all signs that they had been camped for an extended stay.

They were about to leave when Princess Alexis gathered the leadership to give last-minute instructions.

"I think that we have been going about this the wrong way. Cygnia already has soldiers in the region, and the military training camp is already gone.

Forget having a good reason to be here, I believe that we’re actually behind friendly battle lines at this point.

Attacking Dagos deserters and civilians isn’t our goal here, and it’s not going to draw out the big fish that we need. So, I propose that we head northwest toward Alewent. There is a keep there, and a city of nearly fifty thousand without a wall.

But the target isn’t the city. We are going to set up on the road and become the most annoying highway bandits that Dagos has ever encountered.

At first, we will head cross-country until we hit the highway near the coast. Then, find a good spot for ambushes and stop the Dagos Army from moving soldiers east to intercept our forces who are taking Staptondon and Midgexe.

The destination is a few hundred kilometres north of the original plan, but if we push, we should be able to get there before the reinforcements sent from Albroles and the Northern Peninsula arrive." She explained.

"Why not set up near the port at Picleshowen? That is where they’ll be sending their reinforcements by sea.

Plus, it’s just fun to say." Commander Dax suggested.

The men of the Regiment chuckled, while the Princess rolled her eyes.

"No matter how much fun it is to say, that’s less than three hundred kilometres from Staptondon down an improved road. The forces coming down it will be larger than we can deal with safely, and setting up far enough from the city to avoid retaliation puts us dangerously close to the patrol lines of our own airships." She explained.

One of the scouts cleared his throat.

"If we’re going to go harass Alewent, the crossing at the Skiptondal River would be a good spot. It’s heavily forested, the road runs through a valley as it crosses the river, and it’s so far from any major target that they shouldn’t expect us.

We would have to eliminate the bandit control units that are sure to be set up along the valley, but that’s not a big deal." The scout offered.

"Devious, I like it. The fact that it’s a known ambush spot and rife with bandits anyhow really helps sell our disguise.

Only when they start losing entire military Regiments will they realize that something is wrong. And that should bring a proper response, perhaps even from the scumbag Prince himself.

With half of the east falling to our forces, he’s going to have to do something to prove his leadership." Alexis agreed.

Dominic committed the new plan to memory, and then gestured to a stack of mortars sitting along the side of the camp.

"Everyone, grab six rounds. That should spread them evenly, and it’s all we’ve got for now. As it turns out, giving everyone a mortar launcher requires an absolutely ridiculous amount of ammunition." He joked.

The other Officers he had given mortar creation orbs to gave him a sheepish look. That spell wasn’t easy to activate, and only Dominic could make more than a few per minute.

"Don’t worry, Lord Sorcerer. We will make every one of them count." Commander Dax assured him.

It was hard not to, as effective as they were.