Conquering OtherWorld Starts With a Game - Chapter 186: Behind-Enemy-Lines Teams

The large amount of undead activity at all four city gates definitely had an impact on the residents of the city.

Astute shopkeepers, as if having come to an agreement in advance, desperately raised their prices. The price of black bread in bakeries skyrocketed to 10 copper coins a bag overnight, and even potatoes, a cheap food that usually cost a few copper coins for a large amount, soared to one or even two copper coins per half kilogram.

However, apart from the soaring prices, there were other problems.

Gangsters who were active on the streets were hired by the wealthy to watch their homes and yards, resulting in the security of each district to improve rapidly.

The middle class firmly believed themselves the backbone of the city and was certain they would still be employed no matter the city lord. Plus, it was difficult for them to abandon their properties and flee. So, their emotional state remained relatively stable.

Most ordinary city folk were very anxious, but on discovering vegetable farmers still entering the city, milkmen riding their tricycles around the streets in the earling morning, and paperboys selling newspapers, they quickly calmed down as well.

This morning, as per usual, the freckled Sanchi gathered with the incoming vegetable farmers and milkmen in front of the west gate, waiting for it to open. When it was time, the gate guards, afraid of the undead outside, refused to open the gate.

Sanchi, along with others who needed to enter the city to make a living, angrily knocked on the gate and made a ruckus for over half an hour before they managed to get the city gate opened and rushed into the city for work.

That’s right, the undead wandering around outside the city gates were very conspicuous, but for the lower classes who live hand to mouth, they had to continue their lives as long as these undead didn’t kill or rob them.

Those undead had no intention of storming the city gates, and Sanchi couldn’t understand what the gate guards were afraid of!

Well… actually, it was Yang Qiu who had set a limitation on players, temporarily restricting them from entering the city in order to prevent the city lord’s mansion being stormed before the war even started—the Bartalises’ main residence had other uses, so it was better not to let these undead calamities strike.

Business had been exceptionally good for Sanchi this morning. Occasionally, well-dressed gentlemen stopped him to buy newspapers and inquire about the situation outside the city. The clever freckled youth knew exactly what these gentlemen wanted to hear. He enthusiastically told them how amiable and warm the undead were and how they had even helped clear a huge trash heap beneath the city walls in the slums.

In other words, Lord Rex’s undead army indeed wouldn’t attack people arbitrarily, so everyone could rest assured.

Most middle-class people (wealthy people have better sources of information) who sought information from paperboys indeed needed this kind of news. They gave Sanchi an extra copper or two and went to work, reassured.

There were also a few who were skeptical and went to the city gates themselves to take a look. After confirming that those intimidating undead indeed did not attack the people entering and leaving the city, they finally felt relieved.

By noon, the inflated prices within the city had started to fall.

There was no other choice but for prices to fall. After all, the premise of profiting from war was because people felt fearful of that threat, prompting them to buy and hoard goods under pressure.

However, the Weisshem undead weren’t cooperating at all. They didn’t restrict people’s movements in and out of the city, leading to farmers joyously bringing in food to the city after noticing the skyrocketing prices inside. The carefully planned price gouging scheme by merchants backfired, and it benefited those farmers instead!

When the merchants reluctantly removed the “out of stock” signs and put back the original price tags, the Indahl city defense force, after a morning of negotiation and exchange of interests, finally set out from the central district toward the west gate.

This contingent, consisting of 1200 city defense force soldiers, over 2000 private soldiers serving noble families, and more than 400 temporarily hired and armed civilians (essentially mercenaries), caused a commotion as they marched in formation down Saint Joseph Street, leading to residents closing their doors and windows, and pedestrians and street vendors fleeing in panic…

It couldn’t be helped; military forces in this world didn’t have a good reputation. Everyone knew that while the strictly disciplined city defense force soldiers were one thing, private troops of nobility and mercenaries were another, as they could easily don masks and switch to becoming bandits or highwaymen when necessary.

Ordinary folk would be scared of having their stuff “requisitioned” or even being dragged away to be free laborers.

When the commotion-causing city defense force arrived at the west gate, even the gate guards fled swiftly, afraid of being dragged to the battlefield as well.

Adra III, donning armor to personally lead the city defense force, was unfazed by the fleeing civilians on Saint Joseph Street. But upon arriving at the west gate and finding that all the gate guards had fled, he was livid.

“These disgraceful cowards! All the gate guards are to be replaced after this battle!”

Accompanying Steward Gould sighed inwardly. Gate guards were a part of the national defense system. The Bartalises, relying on the city defense force under their direct command, didn’t care much about the national defense corps, so naturally, these people weren’t very loyal to the Bartalises.

No, it wasn’t just a lack of loyalty; they might even hope that Charlie Rex would be victorious. After all, in other territories, the national defense corp was the main regular military force and valued by territory lords.

Since Charlie Rex even took good care of Weisshem’s less prestigious militia, these gate guards would naturally look forward to a new lord who didn’t treat them as invisible.

6 a.m. Earth time and 11 a.m. OtherWorld time was when the territorial war officially began.

Due to “OtherWorld’s” unique login mechanism, the early hour of 6 a.m. was a slightly special time that could ensure a high online player rate—office workers and students could log in during their morning snooze period to join the battle.

Yang Qiu had made the announcement about the start time for the territorial war a day before. At the appointed time, the number of online players surged from over a thousand to more than three thousand. Most set alarms to log in on time, while a few were called to log in by their friends. Being personally called to log in during high-reward events was a testament to players’ friendship.

As the lord of the territory, Adra III wouldn’t personally charge into battle. After sternly instructing the city defense force commander Horn to fight for the Bartalis family with all his might, he, along with Steward Gould and about 20 personal guards, ascended the city walls.

Joining Adra III on the city walls were the mayor, sheriff, other city officials, as well as Viscount Darcy and a group of local nobles.

Adra III, who disliked managing the mundane affairs of the territory and often dreamed of the royal capital, understood the importance of uniting local forces at critical moments—even Baron Markus, who lost his territory, was forcefully brought on site to watch the battle.

Forcing local nobles to join him was a useful strategy as long as the defense forces had a sliver of a chance of winning. Even someone with ulterior motives like Viscount Darcy had to openly contribute his resources (private troops).

The mule and horse market square beneath the west gate, an open area ideal for battle, soon resounded with warring cries and shouts.

In the rear of the Weisshem encampment, Yang Qiu took out a pair of binoculars to observe the local dignitaries on the city walls, then turned to Rex. “Everything ready? If so, it’s time to move.”

“Everything has been ready since morning.” Rex nodded in affirmation.

With a wave of his hand, Yang Qiu signaled Rex to proceed.

On the other side of the camp, shielded by the large prisoner camp, several warehouses had been silently erected. Here, ten “behind-enemy-lines teams,” composed of town hall staff, orc volunteers, and 200 members of the security squad, were ready for action as Rex had confirmed.

Rex provided a pre-mission briefing, “You all will be facing a different battlefield. Please be very cautious, do not act recklessly. If you notice anything unusual, retreat quickly and prioritize your safety.”

Rex’s pre-battle pep talk brought smiles to this bunch, especially the staff that were former members of the city defense force. In the past, they were accustomed to hearing from their officers about how they should prove their loyalty with their lives and never to value their own safety.

“We will be careful. Don’t worry, Rex,” Official Barton said on behalf of his comrades.

“Go, the rest of us will be waiting for all of you to return,” Rex said solemnly.

Ten “behind-enemy-lines teams” promptly set out, taking advantage of the moment when all the city’s bigwigs were focused on the battlefield at the west gate. Each driving wagons full of “Weisshem specialties,” the teams took a detour through the south gate into the city.

Security squad member Jimmy was assigned to Barton’s team. Having come to Indahl for temporary work in his younger days, Jimmy knew his way about, and after entering the south gate, led the team’s wagons to the largest civilian district in the southern part of Indahl.

Adjacent to the free market at the southern end of Saint Joseph Street, this was the most densely populated civilian district.

The district, lacking regulation and planning, was crammed with densely packed residential buildings and narrow, dark alleys, resembling an otherworldly version of Kowloon Walled City, squeezing over twenty thousand locals and migrant workers into a space no larger than a regular village.

The team’s wagons stopped at an empty area that was part of the free market outside the civilian district. Jimmy, knowing the area well, headed to one of the several coal yards catering to the district’s needs for fuel, as there was no electricity or gas piping in the area.

Upon entering one of the coal yards, Jimmy spoke to a group of coal delivery workers, who were having their lunch break, then gestured toward the direction where the wagons were parked.

In no time, the coal-stained workers cautiously followed Jimmy back to the wagons.

Jimmy pulled out a set of deep blue outerwear and trousers from the wagon, noticeably thick and durable, albeit with a strange design, and handed it to the coal workers for inspection. “This is the clothing we’re offering. Only 20 copper coins per set, just as affordable as the undead fabric.”

The workers wiped their hands on their dirty trousers before hesitantly touching the offered clothing and discovering the fabric wasn’t only thick but also rather resistant to dirt.

“Is it really just 20 copper for a set?” The breathing of this bunch of coal workers grew distinctively heavy with excitement.

Town hall officer Barton, who had less life experiences than former militiaman Jimmy, saw the opportunity and immediately approached with a warm smile. “Of course. We, Weisshem people, never lie when it comes to business. If you can help us spread the word and let the people in the Market District know about our affordable quality clothing, we can offer these clothes for your efforts.”

Considering the coal yard’s decent profits didn’t equate to high earnings for the coal workers, the opportunity to exchange a bit of legwork for a new set of clothes worth 20 copper coins was a great deal, and they all eagerly signed up.

With the zealous promotion of the workers of the coal yard, who were well-acquainted with the Market District, a large crowd of residents soon emerged from their homes, driven by curiosity to see what was on offer…

The crude denim outerwear and trousers, originating from G, Y, and S Province manufacturers sourced from Pinshaoshao, had been stockpiled for at least five years and bought by the weight (2 RMB for one kilogram. Despite their outdated style and craftsmanship, which would be scorned on Earth, they became irresistible bargains at 20 copper coins a set, sparking a buying frenzy among both local and migrant workers.

As the stuff sold rapidly, news that “cheap goods from Weisshem were flooding into Indahl while the lords were busy at war” spread like wildfire among the lower classes.

The notion that “Weisshem goods are so cheap and affordable” and “How does Weisshem have so many nice things?” spread rapidly.

While the city defense force struggled to contain the relentless assault of the undead at the west gate, the lower-class citizens in the South District, and even beyond, began to look forward to the possibility of Weisshem’s lord taking over Indahl…

Yang Qiu didn’t expect a mere “behind-enemy-lines fire sale” to mobilize the masses. The primary reason for this activity was straightforward: He understood all too well the nature of the ruling class in this world.

Once they realized professional soldiers couldn’t handle the crisis, local nobles would undoubtedly and necessarily conscript the city’s able-bodied men, sending these already exploited commoners to the battlefield.

Deploying “behind-enemy-lines teams” to sell goods in the densely populated South District during combat was meant to send a clear message of goodwill from Weisshem to the city’s common folk—

Weisshem isn’t your enemy. If you’re forced onto the battlefield, feel free to surrender to us.