Chapter 347 – Confrontation

The passage of time always catches people off guard with its swiftness. The transition of six seasons seemed to arrive belatedly yet felt rushed in its haste. Before anyone realized it, the cold winter of Faerûn had quietly descended. Even as many farmers had yet to harvest their remaining crops, even as newborn calves had not grown enough fat to withstand the cold, and even as the poor on the streets had not scraped together enough silver coins to buy winter coats… the steps of the Winter Maiden would not slow for anyone’s prayers.

When she arrived bearing ice and snow, the temperature across Faerûn plummeted overnight. A blanket of dazzling silver covered the land in just one evening as snowflakes fell continuously. The pristine white snow on the ground, gently touched by sunlight, shimmered with golden hues that made both wilderness and cities appear breathtakingly beautiful.

However, this beauty was only appreciable by nobles and professionals with the leisure to enjoy such scenery. For the vast majority of impoverished people living in destitution, the cold winter was destined to be the most difficult season to endure.

As the saying goes, there’s always worse to come. If previous cold winters were merely “challenging,” then for the poor of the Maple Leaf Kingdom, this year’s winter was undoubtedly a hellish difficulty where nine out of ten would perish.

There was no way around it – the Maple Leaf Kingdom, or rather Joni Zordas, had never embraced such “advanced” concepts as “winter being unsuitable for military campaigns.” Even though the winter cold had frozen all lakes and rivers in the Hoth Mountains region three feet thick, in Joni’s eyes, this only represented convenience for troop movements.

As for whether the soldiers forcibly conscripted from the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled poor, or the homeless poor suffering from hunger and cold would freeze or starve to death? Joni solemnly declared – as long as they strictly upheld the honor in their hearts, mere severe cold would inevitably retreat and vanish in the flames of courage!

Well, this reasoning was truly magical. Whether others believed it or not, the entire Zordas Family certainly did.

In the vast Maple Leaf Kingdom, Joni’s decisions were authority, truth, and supremacy. No matter how absurd they might be, no one dared to oppose his decrees… except for one “outsider” who wasn’t the least bit intimidated by this Master-Level Holy Warrior.

“Brother Cyan, that religious fool Joni has gone mad. Shouldn’t we try to talk some sense into this guy? If the Maple Leaf Kingdom collapses, it will only make Ovakain happy”…

In the warm, firelit tavern, Ben Lajie showed moved expression as he watched the poor people and children kneeling outside the window, begging to enter the building for warmth. Soon, unable to bear the sight any longer, Ben Lajie began complaining loudly to Punk.

A week had passed since Punk and Ben Lajie’s last conversation. During this time, Joni seemed to have been busy making final preparations for the “dragon slaying,” while Punk had been cautiously moving about outside, deploying the “Graybone Virus Stock” everywhere. It wasn’t until yesterday that he had confirmed that large quantities of the Graybone Virus had fully proliferated in the streams of the Maple Leaf Kingdom.

However, when Punk finally returned to the tavern with relief, he once again encountered the increasingly garrulous Ben Lajie.”Jiaoni is truly a madman. It’s one thing for him to deceive the Thought of Truth and cause his own family’s inevitable destruction, but now it seems he doesn’t even care whether his nation survives… This is a Kingdom with tens of millions of people! In Jiaoni’s eyes, it’s still less important than his so-called honor and revenge. The most unbelievable part is that Jiaoni is genuinely from the good and lawful alignment—meaning he firmly believes his actions are righteous, benevolent, and orderly! Honestly, brother Cyan, I think this kind of value-distorted madman is far more dangerous than Ovakain…”

“…Mr. Nokani, when did you become so nosy? If you’re so eager to help those boring insects, I’d suggest you just burn them all to ashes. Look how they’re suffering outside—sending them to an early release is much more useful than your complaining here.”

Having grown tired of Ben Lajie’s complaints, Punk rubbed his temples wearily and impatiently proposed his “brilliant solution.”

“And rest assured, at least until Ovakain dies, the Maple Leaf Kingdom won’t descend into chaos. If any blind insects dare to start a revolution during this time… I wouldn’t mind helping Jiaoni suppress them! So you can relax and go eat your duck meat. As I said before, when battle comes, you just need to focus on casting fireballs from the rear. Now, could you please shut your mouth?”

Punk’s words were exceptionally blunt, as his mood was far from pleasant. Being a spellcaster who detested noise, the constant pleas of the poor outside the inn had already begun to irritate him.

“…Punk Cyan, are you… serious?”

Hearing Punk’s “inhumane” remarks, Ben Lajie’s complaints abruptly ceased.

At this moment, the portly old man looked at Punk with unprecedented seriousness, his eyes filled with barely concealed anger and… horror!

“I’m always very serious, Mr. Benlajie Nokani.”

Hearing the change in Ben Lajie’s tone, Punk set down the book in his hands and looked up.

In his profound pupils, cold magical light began to slowly swirl, his eyes beneath the hood’s shadow resembling unfathomable lake waters.

However, this time Ben Lajie didn’t laugh it off and retreat as usual. He maintained his composure while staring back at Punk, subtle fluctuations of fire elements beginning to manifest around his bulky frame.

Seeing the two Master-Level powerhouses showing signs of potential conflict, the Apprentice-Level mage attendant standing nearby trembled in fear—the destructive power of two Master-Level experts could rightly be called human-shaped nuclear weapons. If these two truly started fighting here… At this thought, the young attendant felt he might faint.

Fortunately, Punk and Ben Lajie ultimately didn’t take action in the Maple Leaf Kingdom.

Because… outside the inn, Oaks’ respectful voice sounded quite timely:

“Honored sirs, General Jiaoni requests your presence at the Royal Palace to discuss the expedition against the Dragon Roar Kingdom. Do either of you have any questions?”

“None.””I never intended to start a fight anyway,” Punk replied indifferently to Oaks. Seizing the opportunity, he casually turned and left the hotel’s parlor.

Punk had no desire to actually confront Ben Lajie at this moment. In his view, a seventeenth-level evocation mage was both a valuable combat asset and a formidable enemy not to be provoked.

Watching Punk depart the inn directly in his black Mage Robe with red patterns, Ben Lajie could only mutter to himself and abandon the standoff.

“……Fine. Staying cooped up in the Mage Tower for too long made me forget what a wretched old man I am. Perhaps I’d already gone mad before leaving the Mage Tower… who knows?”

The resigned Ben Lajie murmured quietly to himself before promptly following Punk out of the inn.

Punk’s mysterious schemes, Jiaoni’s arrogant ambitions… these matters were all crucial. At least Ben Lajie hadn’t forgotten why he had traveled all the way to the Hoth Mountains.

(End of Chapter)