Chapter 13: Decay
In Angor City, the only city in the Light and Dark Empire that had not been attacked.
Of the four kings, the death notices of two had been confirmed, one was missing, with a 90% chance of being killed as well, leaving only King Lehman as the sole surviving monarch.
At this moment, Angor City was in chaos. The steam trains from the Storm Kingdom had transported 110,000 civilians and 160,000 soldiers. Under normal circumstances, such numbers would be impossible, but with every carriage packed to the brim, they barely managed it. After these trains arrived, over 20,000 civilians had died, showing just how cramped the carriages were.
The Kingdom of Lehman had the most soldiers, a full 720,000, but they were severely lacking in weapons. Fortunately, the factories of the Chidorman Company were located within Angor City.
After the soldiers and civilians arrived in Angor City, issues of housing and food arose. It was still nighttime, and having just lost their homes, they were now homeless in Angor City, which frayed everyone's nerves. If these problems were not resolved quickly, the city would face internal strife before the external monsters even attacked.
In the residence of the old councilor, Su Xiao was checking his mission information. He had interrupted the plan of the mastermind, Grul, yesterday, which had forced the latter to act recklessly in desperation.
Based on the current situation, Grul's plan was to destroy the four kingdoms and the Council Chamber together. The four kingdoms had been destroyed, but Angor City had not.
"Kukulin, how long until my father wakes up? Angor City needs him badly right now."
Puli clearly knew his own limitations. He understood that he was a temporary replacement, a figurehead in the acting councilor position, and that he was not skilled in this area.
"A few days, perhaps longer."
"Haven't you already healed him?"
"I did remove the effects of alchemy on him. The fact that he hasn't died proves that. As for other aspects..."
"I'll find a way to get the Starlight Iron."
"..."
Su Xiao glanced at Puli and said, "It's not about the Starlight Iron. Your father's body is decaying, corrupted by a power whose source I cannot trace. All I can do now is ensure he doesn't die for a few years."
Su Xiao was not trying to exploit the situation. Taking the Starlight Iron and treating the old councilor was a deal already made. The old councilor's second coma was no longer simply a matter of alchemical influence; it was a much more troublesome issue. The old councilor was being gradually decayed by some force. Su Xiao had tried to intervene but nearly caused an accident.
He had only obtained 72 grams of Starlight Iron. He needed at least 100 grams to upgrade the ability of Dragon-Slaying Flash, enhancing the true damage of Azure Steel Shadow. To upgrade the Demon Blade, he would need 600 grams at once.
"Really no way?"
"It depends."
Su Xiao leaned back in his seat, pondering one thing: Grul's next move.
Although they had never met, Su Xiao knew how difficult Grul was to deal with. This plan of his was probably not something prepared over just a few decades. More likely, someone before Grul had already started preparations, passing it down through generations until it reached Grul, who then set the plan in motion.
The current situation was both simple and complex. The entanglements of the four kingdoms no longer needed consideration. Now, aside from Angor City, the only threats on the continent were the forces controlled by Grul and the humanoid monsters that had destroyed the four kingdoms. These monsters were transformed from civilians or soldiers.
Beyond the changes in the situation, Su Xiao's main mission had also changed. He had overfulfilled the first ring of the main mission.
The mission required finding the mastermind behind the train hijacking within eight natural days and obtaining information for the next ring through that mastermind.
What Su Xiao did caused Grul to start his plan directly. Under normal circumstances, Su Xiao should have been scheming against Grul within Angor City. Instead, as soon as Su Xiao arrived, Grul went into seclusion.
The secluding Grul became somewhat insane and directly destroyed the four kingdoms. As for why he didn't destroy Angor City, if he could have, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of controlling the old councilor.
The methods Grul used against the four kingdoms were ineffective against Angor City. Su Xiao was certain of this.
After figuring this out, Su Xiao checked the notification records and the newly triggered mission.
[You have completed the Main Mission (First Ring), Mission Completion Rate: 237%.]
[You have received a Skill Scroll Chest (Seventh Rank), Random Draw.]
[You have received a Brave's Medal (This is a medal-type reward. After use, it can enhance the 'Melee Combat Grandmaster' ability, with an enhancement intensity of Lv.3 to Lv.5.]
[The Main Mission has undergone partial changes. You have triggered the Main Mission (Fourth Ring).]
[Main Mission: Battle for Survival (Fourth Ring).]
Difficulty Level: Lv.63
Mission Information: Ensure that Angor City is not destroyed within 10 natural days. After 10 natural days, Light and Dark will collide, opening a gap.
Tip: The final stage of the Main Mission is an Attribute Barrier Breakthrough Assessment.
Mission Duration: 10 days.
Mission Reward: Light and Dark Talisman ×5.
Mission Penalty: Forced Execution.
...
Su Xiao had jumped directly from the first ring of the main mission to the fourth, showing how severely he had disrupted Grul's plan.
Puli paced back and forth in the room, not hiding his panic. He wanted to do something for Angor City, but he had no experience in this area.
In Puli's mind, he had already tacitly aligned himself with Su Xiao. First, there was Su Xiao's identity as an Alchemy Grandmaster, and second, he had dealt with the traitor maid, Ruis.
Not only Puli, but Azaz also agreed to cooperate with Su Xiao. With the old councilor down, someone had to step up. Azaz knew Puli was not up to the task. As for whether Su Xiao was trustworthy, Azaz had no choice. Compared to trusting someone of unknown origin, trusting an Alchemy Grandmaster they had worked with was easier to accept.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang, crouching at Su Xiao's feet, barked, indicating that there was movement from the other two powerful councilors.
Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha were all by Su Xiao's side. Beini's whereabouts were unknown, but given her cleverness, Su Xiao was not worried.
Thump, thump, thump.
The door was knocked, and Azaz, leaning on his cane, entered the room.
"The council meeting is about to convene. We have a seat. Councilor Frost Serpent, Councilor Rose, and King Lehman will all attend. The meeting is in one hour."
Azaz looked at Puli, who shrugged.
"I feel Kukulin is more skilled in this area. If it were a date with a lady, of course, I'd be better."
"Impossible. The other two councilors and King Lehman won't trust an alchemist who just arrived in Angor City."
Su Xiao had no interest in seizing power. He was not familiar with Angor City.
"Then let's vote. One of the three of us... no, one of the six of us, will become the decision-maker."
Azaz included Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha in the count.
Bubu Wang raised his dog head, as if to say: 'Don't vote for me. I'm very busy.'
"That's too foolish. Even if I become the representative of the Holy Realm Councilor status, I still need the support of the other two councilors and King Lehman. Otherwise, it will only backfire."
"We'll find a way to handle that."
Azaz and Puli exchanged glances and nodded to each other.
"..."
Su Xiao said nothing. Before understanding Angor City, he would not make rash decisions. Councilor Frost Serpent and Councilor Rose knew this city better. The good news was that Azaz was very strong in combat. In a life-or-death battle, without activating Azure Shadow King, Su Xiao had a 50% chance of winning.
Su Xiao had a feeling that Azaz was holding back. This old cripple probably had a trump card.
"Depart in half an hour."
Azaz finalized. Among the three, Su Xiao would act as the temporary representative.
Ssshhh～
A sound like a pen tip scraping against paper came. Su Xiao pressed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. In this small building, he no longer needed to hide his strength.
With a thud, the entire small building shook. Su Xiao drew his longsword and made a diagonal slash.
The longsword stopped just before the neck of a short-haired woman. Su Xiao judged that this suddenly appearing woman was a contractor, a contractor from Reincarnation Paradise. Her life force was like a candle in the wind, about to go out.
As soon as the short-haired woman appeared, she fell to her knees with a thud. Black tentacles as thick as a pinky finger coiled around her.
"Don't go... there... you must kill them all... the contractors... of Death Paradise."
After saying this, the short-haired woman collapsed to the ground. The light in her eyes quickly faded, and the flame of her life went out.
Su Xiao looked at the corpse of the short-haired woman, his eyes narrowing. The energy within her body had decayed, turning black, similar to the condition of the old councilor.