Chapter 30 – The Army is at the Gates

After the princess’s speech concluded, the mages merely stared silently at the podium. The “big baboons” nearby also sensed the awkward atmosphere and gradually ceased their cheers! The plaza quickly fell into silence. Warriors glared at the mages, while mages glared at the princess on stage, creating an intensely awkward scene…

It seemed this situation was completely unexpected. Her Highness the Princess, who appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, was essentially still a little girl raised in privilege. Delivering a speech under crisis pressure had already been challenging enough, and now facing this extremely awkward silence, crystalline sweat beads began forming on the young princess’s jade-like neck, tracing elegant curves as they trickled into her armor. Though the princess maintained a facade of composure, even the most muscle-brained warriors could now see that our princess was flustered!

“Sigh~” After the tense atmosphere persisted for over ten seconds, it was Mainaixi who finally broke the deadlock. He stepped forward to the podium, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the princess. His stern gaze, sharp as a steel blade, slowly swept across the gathered professionals. Everyone present felt an involuntary chill in their hearts, but aside from a few lower-level professionals who were already drenched in sweat with trembling legs, the mages’ side suppressed their discomfort—almost none retreated.

Mainaixi knew that without offering these mages certain benefits, there was absolutely no hope of expecting their assistance in battle. While his own power might indeed be formidable, the enemy also had professionals whose strength was no inferior to his own. He could engage the enemy’s professionals, but he absolutely couldn’t simultaneously defend this undermanned Konola City alone. These mages were the key to holding the city! Though Mainaixi possessed numerous magical methods, he ultimately wasn’t a Legendary Mage who could cast “Mind Alteration” spells. He couldn’t force professionals to risk their lives for him—even if he used coercive methods, once on the battlefield when he became occupied with enemy Formal-Level professionals, the coerced warriors would undoubtedly choose to switch sides immediately. Aside from establishing an employment relationship through payment, our Formal-Level Mage had no alternative path.

Now, Mainaixi felt he finally understood why those moderately wealthy mages would establish their own alchemical legions and such. While absolutely loyal servants might not help him defeat powerful enemies, they could protect his property and homeland!

Currently, without any loyal army at his disposal, Mainaixi had no choice but to show sincerity in hiring these low-level professionals he normally wouldn’t even glance at. And it was precisely because these low-level professionals understood this reality that they dared to confront Mainaixi, a Formal-Level Mage!

Despite numerous internal deliberations, Mainaixi maintained his stern expression outwardly.

“Any warrior who eliminates fifty enemy professionals, after undergoing my personal Divination Spell verification, may come to me to receive three Apprentice-Level spell knowledge fragments I possess, and one Formal-Level spell knowledge fragment. Simultaneously…” he paused briefly, “…they may ask me—Formal-Level Mage Mainaixi—one question!Mainaixi stated his offer in a low voice.”Hiss~”! Many mages below the stage, including Punk, couldn’t help but gasp sharply!

Hearing Mainaixi’s generous terms, Punk knew this deal was sealed. Even fully aware of the dangers, such immense benefits were tempting enough to move even an heir like him, let alone those wandering mages desperate to learn magic. After all, they didn’t necessarily have to win the war—just kill some combatants. And in the chaos of the battlefield, even if the situation turned dire and the war was lost, options like slipping away, defecting, or playing dead remained feasible!

Sure enough, after brief consideration, the mages adopted smiling faces, each performing a mage’s salute toward the princess on stage while calmly declaring their “loyalty” to the Kingdom.

“Warriors and other combatants will also receive a unique royal Secret Technique,” announced a knight standing behind the princess, not forgetting the other professions. Though spellcasters were the primary large-scale damage dealers, the power of martial professionals remained indispensable!

“Prince William’s brutal army is expected to arrive at our walls by dawn tomorrow. Let us unite to protect our home—Konola City shall never fall!” The princess stepped forward again to boost morale, though her trembling, youthful voice carried little conviction. Only the martial professionals and a handful of mages responded to her encouragement, many merely putting on a show out of respect for Mainaixi.

After performing an impeccably standard mage’s salute, Punk raised his head. He cast a meaningful glance at the mage Mainaixi, who had retreated behind the princess again, offered a faint smile, and turned to walk toward his Laboratory.

“As a Formal-Level mage who advocates self-interest, going to such lengths for an incompetent princess… Unless Mainaixi is some rare eccentric, his relationship with her is far more than it appears on the surface,” Punk mused, stroking his smooth chin as he vanished into the shadows of an Alley. “What surprises and rewards will this war bring me? Truly something to anticipate!”

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War had arrived—unexpected, yet inevitable.

As Mila rose, the first dawn light fell as always upon the mottled, ancient walls of Konola City. But today—the day after Greenery Festival—the blinding glare of Mila was accompanied by a silvery ribbon formed by countless suits of armor reflecting the sunlight. At the horizon’s edge, the gleaming silver army advanced toward Konola City with slow, determined steps. The silver tide surged like an unstoppable flood, their blades radiating a chilling gleam that pierced from the distant Wilderness into the very souls of every soldier in Konola City. It seemed the mere sight of those weapons could sever and shatter a warrior’s heart!

Punk leaned against a battlement, surrounded by grim-faced ordinary soldiers. To avoid being targeted by enemy Formal-Level experts, all combatants were dispersed along the walls, mingling with the common troops. Once battle commenced, Mainaixi would engage the enemy’s Formal-Level powers, while the combatants’ task was to prevent the foes from seizing the walls.Konola City had long lost its former bustle and liveliness. All the commoners had tightly shut their doors and hidden in their homes. Just yesterday, everyone had been joyfully celebrating the Emerald Festival, a symbol of happiness. But in the blink of an eye, today, a war that for many existed only in the tales of bards had suddenly descended. Even Punk felt a sense of absurdity, imagining how much harder it must be for the ordinary folk to accept.

Yet, no matter how difficult it was to accept, they had no choice but to do so. As the weak, they had no alternatives!

“So, I must become strong, and this war is an excellent opportunity for training!” Punk coldly watched the Kamosi army pressing closer to Konola City, his right hand gripping his staff tightly.

William’s army, like a silver river, was gradually encircling Konola City. They had at least three hundred thousand elite troops, while Konola City had fewer than one hundred thousand ordinary City Defense Army soldiers. The approaching William army was neatly arrayed, their polished steel armor encasing the warriors as tightly as iron barrels. Their powerful, synchronized footsteps echoed like booming war drums, each step causing the earth to tremble slightly, each step seeming to stomp on the hearts of the defending soldiers. An overwhelming killing intent surged forth, as if its sheer, torrential force alone could crush this decaying, dilapidated city!

With a disdainful glance at the trembling City Defense Army soldiers beside him, Punk turned his gaze back to the seemingly unstoppable army destined to trample the entire city underfoot. A sudden azure glow of magical energy ignited in his pupils.

“This is truly… exhilarating!”

(End of Chapter)