Chapter 51 - Volume 3 (2/2)

Dike was a womanizer; while the knights paraded down New Port City, he was busy fancying the n.o.ble ladies in Port City while the knights paraded down New Port City. It was him who demanded revenge despite Anton’s urging against it and ordered the a.s.sault on the defenseless women.

As a result, the knights who held the ludicrous bounty on their heads were summoned back to the Marquis’ land in order to keep secret the disgrace that the knights were used to a.s.sault a group of women, and even back at home the knights had to hide their faces.

“Sigh… just what is he plotting.”

Anton knew that Isaac must have had a plan, a plan beyond just trying to save himself. The greatest evidence was the way the barricades were built. It was aimed to surround the Meta district, not to defend Ceta District. But Anton couldn’t figure out the reasoning behind it.

No matter how thick and strong the barricade was, it would be taken down in less than an hour thanks to the power of the knights. The same was true for the wall. The knights were armed with war hammers in case they had to level simple structures in siege battles. It was only a matter of time.

“Why does he not run, when his demise is so plainly obvious?”

There was an opinion back in the Marquis’ land to lose on purpose at this point. With the significant support from Port City betting on New Port City’s victory, New Port City was going to face an insurmountable debt if they were to win, forcing them into bankruptcy.

Many were convinced by the idea of giving Isaac a taste of his own medicine, but everyone agreed that the Marquis couldn’t let the first battle of his glorious knights end in defeat.

“Is he really just making a last stand?”

Anton walked the empty streets as he muttered to himself. But he quickly brushed the thought away as he shook his head. Anton couldn’t forget Isaac’s uncaring, apathetic eyes. Anton had seen those eyes before, back when he was young and traveled the battlefields for experience.

It was an old mercenary, whose battered body was soon to be forced into retirement. The mercenary killed his enemies without emotions as his victims cried out in pain for mercy. Even as he suffered a fatal wound at Anton’s hands, he died laughing at his own death.

Whenever Anton saw Isaac, he was reminded of that mercenary.

“s.h.i.+t, seems like someone’s already been here.”

“Let’s hurry up and look somewhere else.”

“I heard Marco’s group hit the jackpot?”

“They found a secret stash of some idiot, and it turned out to have 3 thousand Giga inside!”

“s.h.i.+t! I should have been there instead! Huh?”

Anton walked into a group of mercenaries who were talking to themselves as they came out of the alleyway. Finding Anton surprised the mercenaries at first, but they quickly recovered and greeted him with a very casual demeanor.

“h.e.l.lo, sir knight.”

“What are you lot doing?”

“Not much. We’re just scouting around to see if there’s anyone hiding around here.”

“…”

It seemed very doubtful that these mercenaries were acting as they claimed, especially when their bags seemed heavy with valuable goods. Anton was close to bursting out in anger at the sight, but sighed weakly and pa.s.sed through the mercenaries.

Anton didn’t know why those pieces of trash were recruited into the war with them, but until the battle started, Anton had no commanding authority over the mercenaries. Even if he did have the authority, those notorious pieces of garbage would find all kinds of excuses to disobey his orders.

“It’s a mess.”

Any competent commander would despair at the scene in front of Anton’s eyes. There were many groups littered across the area, where the mercenaries boasted of the loot that they had stolen from the nearby houses and shops. There was no way that a proper guard duty was in place in this situation, and even if such orders were given, it was obvious that they’d quickly devolve back into this situation unless they were watched from the side at all times. The knights who should have been leading them with example were busy having a party, and Anton wasn’t going to start a lonely fight to regain discipline especially when it was clearly going to end poorly for him.

“The wind is blowing.”

The collateral damage from the war was also significant, especially when it involved giant trade cities such as New Port City, because they acted as centres of transportation. When such cities were warring, all goods which flowed through the city had no choice but to wait until the war was over. It was especially harsh for this war, since now was harvest season. The season was also accompanied by a constant gale called the ‘breath of the wind’ which blew from the south to the north, allowing quick pa.s.sage for any s.h.i.+ps. The southern provinces were the center of agriculture, and all of their products which should have been transported to New Port City to be sold were now left to rot until the war was over.

“I should at least warn them of the dangers of fire.”

Anton muttered to himself as he looked at the mercenaries, who made campfires wherever they pleased and hosted a feast of alcohol and barbecues. There was no telling how badly the fire would spread when such strong winds were blowing.

Anton was heading through the port to get to where the commanders of the mercenaries were when he noticed that the port was empty. In the Meta District, there were six s.h.i.+ps which should have been docked at the port. The two giant sailing s.h.i.+ps named Meritho and Zrovenho were owned by the Marquis and were on standby after transporting the order of knights. The remaining four medium-sized sailboats were owned by the war merchants who transported the Full Hammer mercenary band, which should also have been on standby to take back their spoils of war. However, it was clear that they were no longer on standby.

“Hey! Where are the s.h.i.+ps going?”

Anton saw the four s.h.i.+ps leave the port and demanded answers from the group of mercenaries, who were busy cooking some mysterious meat nearby.

“The owner of the s.h.i.+ps told them to set sail because there was something he needed to transport immediately.”

“At this time of the day?”

“It’s not like you can choose what time of the day you make profit in war.”

Anton frowned as he watched the mercenaries snicker and drown themselves in alcohol. They were the lowest of sc.u.m who had not even a semblance of discipline in them. Anton quickly left the port, too irritated to even stay with them.

It is expected that guards patrol the area even in times of peace to protect the s.h.i.+ps, but the constant parties and what seems like a predetermined victory had eaten away at their sense of duty. Everyone had let their guard down to the point that not a single person stood on guard duty properly.

The same was the case for the s.h.i.+ps themselves. All of the sailors of the s.h.i.+ps disembarked to enjoy a brief vacation. Those unlucky enough to stay on the s.h.i.+ps were unlikely to have the willpower to stay on guard, so they ended up getting drunk on the decks. Meanwhile, the captains and navigators of the s.h.i.+ps were busy attending Dike’s parties in the hopes of currying his favor.

The s.h.i.+ps were packed tightly next to each other to connect the bridges. In the cold, dark water under the s.h.i.+ps, a single head appeared from underneath. The man who looked to his surrounding muttered to himself in dissatisfaction.

“Don’t you think this is too much?”

“Shh! Quiet. Let’s just get our job done quickly.”

Tens of other people appeared after him and warned the man who muttered to himself.

“You all know what you need to do right? Don’t let your guard down.”

“So why’s he telling us to make holes on perfectly good s.h.i.+ps?”

“I know right? And not just that, but he decided to complicate things even more by making the holes very small at first, but then larger as we go up. Why’s he got to complicate things like that?”

“Has anyone ever understood how that man’s thought process works? If you want to keep on boasting, move.”

Tens of swift shadows quickly snuck in and out of the s.h.i.+ps. One of those shadows got onto the main mast of one s.h.i.+p. The shadow admired the view for a moment, then took out a small magical lamp and spun it, letting out pulses of green light.

The Meta District was desolate; it had fallen into complete darkness, complemented by an eerie silence. The only sign of humans was at the port, where small lights flickered and faint laughter occasionally broke the silence.

Isaac was at the roof of the tallest of the buildings designated to become part of the wall behind the barricades.

“W, what is all this?”

Cordnell and Isaac’s hubaes, who followed Isaac to the roof, couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Many of the buildings were connected together to form the giant wall, and elves and North Bears could be seen running on top of the wall in a hurry.

“Just what are you planning?”

The four who remained in New Port City were confused by Isaac’s actions, but Isaac ignored them.

“I am hungry. Start cooking.”

“Yes.”

Isaac made his order, and one of the North Bears quickly began cooking a piece of meat on a barbecue.

“And what are you elves doing? My ears are bored. I’d like to request an upbeat music. But I don’t mind playing it myself if you don’t want to.”

The elves quickly responded to Isaac’s threat and picked up their instruments and played music. The north bears brought a range of alcohol up to the roof.

There was a party happening as people laughed and ate, but Cordnell and Isaac’s hubaes weren’t in a mood to partic.i.p.ate.

“Hohoho, don’t just stand around like statues. Come, and enjoy some wine.”

Milena approached them and smiled with her eyes as she handed them gla.s.ses of wine. The four took the wine in confusion, still unable to understand what was happening. Meanwhile, Isaac quickly sat down on the soft chair which was already prepared for him, which provided him the best view of Meta District.

“We’ve received the signal.”

Soland approached Isaac after enough time had pa.s.sed for Isaac to finish his cigarette and drink Rizzly’s hand-poured wine. Isaac turned after hearing Soland speak and looked to the lake where a faint green circle could be seen. Isaac took out another cigarette and muttered to himself.

“I wonder how many will live?”

Isaac looked down onto the Meta District, and in the abyss outside the port, faint embers could be seen s.h.i.+ning through the darkness.

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