Chapter 374: The North
Ace continued in a sonorous and forceful voice:
“We must not only know what astrological signs represent, but we also need to know why a sign represents a specific meaning. Why do the stars hang in the sky? Why do we stand on the earth? Why do both the Wind and Earth systems have flight spells? What are their similarities and differences, and what are the principles behind them?
“This is what we Wizards must study. We need applied research because it allows us to obtain power directly, but we must never ignore theoretical research, because theoretical research brings us closer to the truth and guides us to discover even more effective applications!”
This string of questions was like a sharp spear, piercing directly into everyone’s hearts, yet also like an enlightenment poured over their heads. Some Wizards began to ponder deeply.
Betty whispered, “Applied research can indeed allow us to develop greatly in a short time, but theoretical research must not be neglected. Only when both advance side by side can magic achieve true development.”
Ace concluded, “Specifically, the future policy of our High Tower Wizards will be: Externally, we will use war to promote peace, while actively seeking cooperation with Deities willing to become the guardian gods of our territory. Internally, we must not only strengthen intelligence and internal investigations but also place equal emphasis on theoretical and applied research.
“Thinking Wizards are the measure of all things. The future belongs to us. The Torch will never go out!”
…
Meanwhile, inside Milne City-State.
Great Hero Helix Milne and King Yves Milne sat quietly in the palace council hall, seeming to wait for someone.
Their expressions were solemn. King Yves sat on the central main seat, while Helix sat on a secondary seat not far away. Further down the steps, eleven Heroes stood in attendance.
Before long, a figure gradually manifested from the air. This was a blood descendant of the God of Secrets—short in stature but sturdy in build, resembling a robust marmot.
“Your Majesty Yves, it has been confirmed that Lord Karim is missing and very likely dead. The Punisher team sent to crusade against the desecrators has been completely wiped out. Only four Heroes and one Quasi-Hero escaped the disaster.
“According to their descriptions, they were bewildered by a mysterious fragrance and quickly fell into a coma. When they woke up, they found the Mud Giant Bear dead, and Karim and Aleias were missing.”
Yves frowned tightly. This was a heavy blow. He felt a bit dizzy but forced himself to focus and ask, “Jad, what about the whereabouts of the City-State’s Quasi-Noble Phantasm, the ‘City of Protection’?”
Jad hesitated slightly before replying, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The whereabouts of the ‘City of Protection’ have not yet been found.”
Yves and Helix exchanged a glance, both realizing the gravity of the problem. Not only had a Great Hero died, but they had also lost Milne City-State’s Quasi-Noble Phantasm, the mobile fortress known as the “City of Protection.” The strength of the desecrators was far greater than imagined.
Helix stood up, bowed slightly to Yves, and said:
“According to the reports from the remaining personnel of the Punisher Organization, Karim only resolved to lead the team to eliminate the desecrator ‘Dark Raven Devil’ and his blasphemous forces after receiving a mysterious tip. Based on my investigation during this period, this mysterious tip came from the Believers of Pain!”
This statement was like a heavy hammer, causing Yves to stagger. He understood Helix’s implication: Devils were never to be trusted, and neither was their intelligence.
“The urgent task now is to unite with the other four City-States. Each state must contribute manpower to rebuild the Punisher Organization and purge internal desecrators, especially the Devil Believers!”
Then he turned to Helix and said, “Take the Five-God Oath Stone from the Ancestor God’s temple and seek help from the other four City-States. The ‘Dark Raven Devil’ is not something one person or one City-State can solve. We must gather our strength and mobilize eight, or even ten, Great Heroes!”
…
In a remote small town within Eric City-State.
Spring rain fell in a steady drizzle, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass. The entire town was quite dilapidated, consisting mostly of wooden houses with very few brick structures. Some farmers had risen early, carrying hoes and walking toward the fields near the riverbank east of town. The fine rain beat against their homemade straw rain capes but could not dampen their longing for grain.
Beneath the town lay a strange underground factory. Massive machinery was everywhere, free of any rust and smelling of fresh oil, indicating frequent maintenance.
A handsome bald man dressed in white walked into this strange underground factory through a secret door. He greeted the people processing mechanical parts inside heartily and gave a young lad a bear hug.
“Tus, you survived! Weren’t you lurking in Milne? Why have you come to headquarters?”
Tus chuckled. It was clear he didn’t dislike the handsome bald man; instead, he cheerfully pulled him into a secluded corner.
“Scholar Amid, I have good news for you. According to reliable intelligence, the executioner of the Punisher Organization, Karim, is dead. The entire upper echelon of the City-State is anxious and uneasy. I heard they dispatched a crusade army to eliminate the organization where the ‘Dark Raven Devil’ belongs, but unexpectedly, they were counter-killed, and even their Quasi-Noble Phantasm was lost.”
Amid had been looking for the organization the ‘Dark Raven Devil’ belonged to for some time. He had almost seized the opportunity a few times and had even been forced to engage in combat with them, but unfortunately, he had never established formal contact.
He was excited to hear this, then looked at Tus strangely and said, “How did you find out so much detail? I didn’t know you had such capability. You’re looking for Lord Nicholas too, right? Let’s go together.”
Tus’s strength was equivalent to a Quasi-Hero, so his rank within the Fire Stealer Alliance wasn’t high. Amid possessed strength equivalent to a Hero. Under his lead, Tus met Nicholas without obstruction.
Nicholas lived in symbiosis with mecha. He seemed somewhat cold and indifferent. Dozens of tubes extended from the back of his mecha, inserting into the earth as if extracting something; the tubes gulped continuously.
Amid looked at Nicholas with some concern. He always believed there were flaws in the method of mechanical symbiosis. Even the Emperor of the Pre-Civilization, Augustin, was recorded in secret history as having undergone a drastic change in temperament after undergoing mechanical symbiosis.
Nicholas looked at the approaching Amid and smiled faintly on his cold face. “It’s Amid. Have you found the organization where the ‘Dark Raven Devil’ belongs?”
Amid shook his head. “No results yet. This is Tus, our organization’s lurker in Milne. He has obtained important intelligence to report to you.”
After listening to Tus’s report and repeatedly confirming its authenticity, Nicholas let out a long sigh. Then, with burning eyes, he said:
“I thought I was the only mortal-born Transcendent in the Salia region comparable to a Great Hero. I didn’t expect the ‘Dark Raven Devil’ to have also reached this level—and his state seems even more stable than mine!
“The five northern City-States will definitely unite for a crusade. When their rear is empty, we will attack Milne City and destroy that City of Sin in one fell swoop!”
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