Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 627: Chapter 627. The State of the First Demon Army

Like Surly Gate Town, Amon spent weeks reconditioning Steam Water City for his campaign. Progress was slower here, as the population harbored more resentment toward the Echos’ army. For starters, they caused the death of their beloved mayor. Then, they forced them to go through a period of agonizing hunger. Last and worst, they slew a lot of their friends and even relatives during the massacre brought about by their provocative feast.

Considering the situation, Amon understood that he couldn’t fully appease the citizens. So, he opted for an iron-handed method. Soldiers were posted at every corner of the streets, and curfew was imposed every night. Any transgressions were severely punished. He used dread to rule the city.

Throughout the weeks, he also imported citizens from other Khode’s settlements. These citizens were agents of the Vagrant Sect and the Charger Guild. They blended in with the population and helped him maintain peace. They became his spies, reporting any attempt at revolt before the movement could take place.

Thanks to these agents, Amon didn’t need to leave too many soldiers inside the city to keep the peace. He could resume his campaign to Khode’s capital soon.

However, he didn’t immediately move his army. There were still some matters he needed to handle. One of them was to reorganize his army, which had spread out when they isolated Steam Water City. The consolidated troops were now camping outside the city.

Amon met with his regiment leaders inside the city hall to reassess the state of his army.

Thanks to continuous reinforcement from Fort Fresh Maw, their number didn’t shrink despite the soldiers who died throughout the war. They numbered even more than before they invaded Khode. Their troops now numbered close to forty thousand.

Out of this number, only thirty thousand could advance with him to Khode’s capital. He left five thousand troops each in Surly Gate Town and Steam Water City. He ignored other nearby settlements. He only needed these two, which served as vital stops for his supply route. He could go directly to Dabao City after securing his grip over Steam Water City.

Since he could only bring thirty thousand, his army’s power had not improved much from the beginning of his campaign. Thankfully, his force was strengthened in other avenues. Thanks to the advanced factory in Surly Gate Town and the massive supply of parts scavenged during the war, the number of battle puppets under his control had increased significantly.

He now commanded over thirty thousand battle puppets.

In terms of quality, these battle puppets were also better overall. A majority was still high-tier engraved, but one-third was low-tier runic. As for mid-tier runic puppets, he had a total of twenty-one.

After occupying Steam Water City, he gained additional Yuanxu Cannons. He now had thirty-eight normal cannons. His Greater Yuanxu Cannons remained only three. Out of these thirty-eight, he left eight cannons each in Surly Gate Town and Steam Water City.

As for rifles, he had more than enough to equip half his troops. The problem was with the bullets. His stock of blackstone had been depleted. Thankfully, Huang Zhan agreed to send him the blackstone in Echos Kingdom’s warehouse. These blackstones were those stockpiled from the ancient ruins throughout multiple excavations in the past. Echos never truly possessed the facility or expertise to utilize this material, so Huang Zhan decided to give them to Amon to help him with his campaign.

Aside from that, Zhong Yuan also suggested using different materials that were more abundant. After several tests, they decided to settle on Ebony Steel. The bullet forged from this material was inferior to blackstone. They couldn’t harm Spirit Stage cultivators even if said cultivators didn’t use a defensive art, but they were effective enough against Mystic Stage cultivators.

Lastly, the First Demon Army still had the human puppets. Most of the receiver modules had been destroyed after several battles. Thankfully, they found a decent stock of new modules inside Steam Water City. With this new stock, they could repurpose twenty thousand imprisoned Khode’s soldiers and citizens into their human puppets.

After finishing with the assessment, Amon dismissed everyone. He told them they would resume their march in two or three weeks. He would be leaving the city for at least two weeks to deal with an issue.

Xin Wuming asked him where he planned to go and whether he needed to bring a security detail. Amon told him not to worry. Amon left him in charge during his absence.

Everyone left except for Wu Di.

”You have that long face throughout the meeting. Something you wish to say?” Amon asked Wu Di.

”I now understand why you chose me to remain in Surly Gate Town. You don’t want me anywhere near Steam Water City because you know I won’t go along with how you deal with this city.”

”I’m glad you understand. Anything else?” Amon asked.

Amon’s response ticked Wu Di off.

Wu Di slammed his fist on the table. ”Damn it! I know you do not value others’ lives, but do you have to put the citizens in this city through that hell? They are innocents who never want anything to do with this war. Why do you have to involve them?!”

Amon wasn’t perturbed by Wu Di’s aggressive display. He calmly replied, ”Because they are the most effective means to let me occupy this city without too many losses on our side.”

”You...!” Wu Di was angry with Amon’s nonchalant reaction, but he still restrained himself from doing anything too far. He clenched his fist and said, ”After this campaign, I will not assist you anymore! I will request a transfer.”

”That is a pity. I have high hopes of you, but if that is your decision, I won’t stop you,” Amon replied.

Wu Di didn’t say anything further. He left.

Amon also exited the city hall. He had informed his people he would be absent for the following weeks. Before he left, he went to visit Zhong Yuan.

Steam Water City had several advanced workshops instead of a large factory like Surly Gate Town. Zhong Yuan had claimed one of these workshops and did his work there. In this workshop, only authorized personnel were allowed entry.

Zhong Yuan was busy at work when Amon entered. He was working on what appeared to be the internal structure of a battle puppet. On a table not far away was Zee Min’s mechanical armor. This armor was confiscated after she was apprehended.

”Have you taken a look at this armor?” Amon asked.

Zhong Yuan stopped his work when he realized Amon was there. He was so absorbed with his work that he ignored even his Mystic Sense.

He walked toward Amon. ”I told you already that this type of mechanical armor is customized for its user. I will spend less time building a new one rather than modifying it for a new wearer.”

”Then why didn’t you build one?” Amon asked.

Zhong Yuan made a face like he had heard the most absurd things ever. ”When I said less time, it doesn’t mean a short time. Building a mechanical armor required not only rare materials but an extensive period. Also, the wearer must be available throughout the process, because I will need to recheck the wearer’s body regularly. The process normally takes months. I don’t have that kind of time at hand because, you know, I have another project going on.”

Zhong Yuan was pointing at the half-constructed battle puppet when he spoke the last sentence. ”You want that to be completed before we reach the capital, don’t you? Which means I don’t have much time left.”

”Hm... Okay, I will delay our march and give you another month,” Amon said.

”Tch, one month, he says,” Zhong Yuan grumbled. ”You should be thankful it is me. Other puppet makers won’t be able to complete it even in years.”

Amon grabbed the mechanical armor on the table. ”Since you can’t do anything to this armor, I will take it.”

”What are you going to do with it?” Zhong Yuan asked.

”I will return it to its owner,” Amon answered.

Zhong Yuan gave him a questioning face, but Amon ignored him. Amon left the workshop and flew toward the city jail next.

In the first week after the city was occupied, the jail was filled to the brim. It was not so now because most had been repurposed into human puppets. The prisoners left inside this jail were mostly Martial Realm cultivators or recent additions. Amon walked to a special cell at the end of the jail. Zee Min was inside.

”How is your stay?” Amon asked after entering the cell.

Zee Min had one leg bound by engraved chains to a bar in the room. The whole cell was reinforced by words of power strong enough to resist a Spirit Stage cultivator.

”What do you want?” Zee Min asked. She was curious because this was the first time Amon had visited her.

”I want to take you on a trip,” Amon answered.