"Well... that's indeed true."
Elashia nodded.
One basic combat unit from the Iron Empire who had undergone regular martial hall training—an [Armored Elite]—could probably match an Elasian Guard who was relatively weak in close combat in terms of pure melee ability alone.
But even if Elasian Guards were weak in close combat, they were still professional soldiers trained according to strict and scientific training standards. Compared to Northern Fire soldiers who had both soldier and militia characteristics trained in the current chaotic civil war in the Holy Kingdom, they were indeed more than one level higher.
With similar morale, Elasian Guards wearing white armor forged with humanity's highest-level iron tempering technology and holding standard equipment were considerably stronger than Northern Fire soldiers who couldn't even be distributed standard equipment in hand-to-hand combat.
But... three Guard Corps weren't enough.
Elashia wanted quick and complete victory, not just driving away the Blood Clan!
Just like when they were small and Elashia would show off to Ileina the money she earned from her good small snack business in Radiant Emperor City, Elashia also smiled mysteriously and moved closer to Ileina.
"But... three Guard Corps is still too few, guess higher."
"Little Shia... you're just like when we were small..."
Ileina smiled nostalgically at Elashia.
When they were small, the nearly destitute Elashia would often make small snacks to sell at Radiant Emperor City's small market to earn money for survival.
Elashia's talent in this area was truly heaven-sent. The small snacks she made were not only delicious but also very cheap.
It was precisely those cheap and delicious small snacks that supported the two girls' small but warm home in Radiant Emperor City...
Thinking of this, Ileina felt warm but also pained.
When they were small, Elashia had taken her in, and she not only ate and used Elashia's things, but after gaining the ability to protect her, she had abandoned her alone to join the Holy Kingdom's resistance cause...
And now after their reunion, not only did she have nothing to repay Elashia with, she even had to rely on her country's resources...
When they were small, she lived in her house and spent her earned money. Now when both needed to shoulder their respective countries' fates, she still had to request Elasian aid from Elashia...
Thinking this way, Ileina's excitement about potentially receiving strong aid was instantly diluted considerably by flood-like guilt...
When they were in trouble in the past, she spent her money. Now that both had become factional leaders, her Holy Kingdom still had to spend Elasia's resources...
She... seemed to have always been like this toward Elashia since childhood... only taking, never giving...
"Hehe... keep guessing... Little Lena?"
Elashia was excitedly having Ileina continue guessing but keenly captured negative emotions from Ileina's face.
"Little Lena? What's wrong?"
"Ah... nothing."
Knowing that if Elashia knew she was upset, Elashia would also be upset, Ileina quickly shook her head.
"Just... uh..."
Ileina quickly thought of an excuse.
"Just thinking that many Elasian soldiers might die on Holy Kingdom soil makes me feel somewhat sorry for them..."
Ileina's words made Elashia's expression much more serious.
Where was there war without death? Even her and her mother Alexandra's combination technique couldn't make soldiers with destroyed heads stand up again.
But... as a leader, wasn't the most important thing to minimize deaths?
Even Elashia, who didn't understand politics and military affairs, could figure out this problem.
How many Holy Kingdom citizens who would originally die in Blood Clan massacres could be saved by Elasian and Iron Empire armies marching to the Holy Kingdom...
How could Ileina not understand such a simple problem?
Elashia said seriously:
"Lena... I think you should understand the reasoning behind this..."
Ileina nodded with her head down, suppressed the guilt in her heart, and forced a smile:
"Sigh... just suddenly thought of this. Let's continue talking about aid numbers."
Seeing Ileina acting somewhat strangely, Elashia continued with some concern:
"Lena... are you really okay..."
Ileina smiled and shook her head, changing topics:
"Oh... just suddenly thought of these things..."
To change topics, Ileina thought for a moment, forced a mischievous smile, and said to Elashia:
"But... it would be good if the armies aiding the Holy Kingdom were higher quality..."
"If our forces could directly crush the Blood Clan, there probably wouldn't be many casualties."
Hearing Ileina's words, Elashia's attention seemed to be attracted by Ileina again.
Elashia smiled proudly:
"So, guess again?"
Seeing that Elashia's attention was finally diverted by her, Ileina quickly continued guessing:
"Mm... it wouldn't be five Guard Corps, would it?"
Five Guard Corps would be at least half of Elasia's strength...
However, Elashia still smiled slightly:
"Still too few!"
"Ah?"
Ileina showed a surprised expression.
"This is still too few?"
If Elasia hadn't expanded their military, this half of their military strength would all be loaned to the Holy Kingdom...
If Elasia sent all their armies to the Holy Kingdom, what would they use for internal defense afterward?
Elashia smiled and nodded.
"Right, not only too few, but much too few."
"This... this won't work!"
Ileina became anxious.
"Although Elasia doesn't have strong external threats, they ultimately need to organize defense!"
"I also have some knowledge of Elasia's political and military systems. Although your lords don't have standing armies, if they wanted to mobilize soldiers it would only take a few days!"
"Even if Little Shia solved all food problems and citizens won't oppose the Elasian royal family anymore, there are still certain hidden problems lurking in Elasia!"
"For example, some lord might privately hide... oh."
Seeing Elashia just smiling without speaking, Ileina suddenly remembered something very important.
Elashia... seemed to know [Mind Control]...
Seeing that Ileina seemed to have realized, Elashia finally smiled slightly:
"Don't worry, Lena."
"Among Elasia's ten lords, only three haven't been controlled by me. The rest are all 'loyal imperial subjects' absolutely loyal to me."
After saying this, both Ileina and Elashia smiled.
Ileina knew that people controlled by Elashia definitely weren't good people.
And those three surviving lords... at least couldn't have moral problems and definitely wouldn't oppose the central government.
After understanding this, Ileina suddenly realized—even all of Elasia's Guards could come to the Holy Kingdom to help!
So... Elasia could even aid the Holy Kingdom with a full ten Guard Corps?
Nearly thirty thousand people?
"So you're saying... you can directly aid us ten Guard Corps?"
Elashia mysteriously shook her head again.
"No... still too few."
"This is still too few?"
Ileina thought for a moment, seeming to understand something, and pointed her index finger at Elashia with a smile:
"Oh... it must include your knight orders too."
Elashia smiled and shook her head again.
"Still too few..."