"Ahhh! Why! Why is this happening! The attacker hasn’t been found!
The city has been dealt another heavy blow!
Clearly, he could have used magic to keep bombing us! Why didn’t he do this from the start? Is he toying with us? What does he take us for?
My city... my city! It’s over!"
In the basement, under the soft lights, Viscount Ireland let out an incredibly wretched howl, collapsing to the ground with tears of pain and desperation.
Having just learned of the losses and casualties, he was nearly on the verge of collapse. He could foresee how many more residents would leave the city by tomorrow morning.
If this trend isn’t stopped.
Even if the city’s residents aren’t all burned to death, they’d most likely all flee!
Then Ireland City would become a ghost town!
And he, the Viscount, would be nothing but a figurehead!
"Send someone! Send someone to notify His Majesty the King! Have His Majesty request the Legendary Mage Saint Maier! Only he! Only he can save us now!"
The Viscountess, clutching her head like she had found a lifeline, shouted out.
"Madam! Pardon me for saying this! The Legendary Mage Saint did not even attend the magic conference two years ago, he might..."
The Grand Mage Nan Jia, with a worried expression, paused here.
"Might what? You’re not about to tell me that the Mage Saint has fallen, are you?"
"No, I mean that the Mage Saint may still be traveling in the Other Plane, madam, you must understand, at the level of a Legendary Mage, the entire world is no longer their shackle.
The universe is boundless; the Mage Saint might have already left to explore new paths."
"Then what do we do? Are we just to let the attacker run rampant? If the Mage Saint isn’t here, then summon those level 19 and level 18 Casters!"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent again. Would such high-level Casters really be willing to oppose a Caster infinitely close to being a Legend for them?
They couldn’t tell.
Yet they did not continue to persuade the Viscountess, who was on the brink of madness.
"Right, do we know how many have fled from the city now?"
Viscount Ireland suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat weary and low.
"Almost ten thousand people have fled, probably."
"Ten thousand..." Upon hearing this, Viscount Ireland held back a sigh.
"If this continues, in just a few days, this city will be ruined by my own hands! This is absolutely unacceptable! You... go give the order for me..."
As Viscount Ireland finished speaking, his expression turned as dark and grim as a ghost.
Those around him reacted with a series of changes in their expressions as they heard his final words.
The next morning, early.
The sky was dim, not yet light, but the whole city was bustling.
Of course, this commotion carried not even a hint of merriment!
Along the streets.
Groups of people, dragging their family and luggage, surged toward the city gates!
They were preparing to leave this city cursed by the gods, and plagued by constant catastrophes!
As of today, more and more people have grown pessimistic about the city’s future, increasingly believing that the Viscount has offended a Divine Being, leading to such disasters!
To survive, they must leave this city!
The residents can no longer bear the reality and future of potentially dying at any moment!
Even if, upon leaving, much of their property and real estate turn into mere shadows!
At least they’ll still have their lives, won’t they?
However, as they reached the city gates, they found a large crowd had already gathered there.
The gates were sealed, and a large number of soldiers wearing armor had formed a human barricade, blocking the path.
"Open the gates! Open up! Why aren’t you letting us out of the city!? We’re not criminals! You bastards have no right to do this!"
A group of residents at the front yelled and shouted, continuously impacting the human barricade formed by the soldiers.
Facing the onrush of residents, the soldiers wore bitter expressions.
"Everyone, please be quiet! Quiet down! The disaster will soon be over! Please have faith in our Lord Viscount! He will soon find the attacker! Peace will return to the city! Everyone, please calm down!"
"That’s bullshit! It’s been over a month already! How many times has Viscount Ireland said that? Do you think we still believe it?"
"This is divine punishment! Viscount Ireland offended a Divine Being! We’re innocent! We absolutely won’t stay here and die with this bastard! Let us leave!"
"You bastards! Do you really want all of us to die here? Let us go!
Do you think I don’t know? You bastards have already moved your own families away, haven’t you?
You just want us to stay here and die!"
The residents shouted and yelled, their impact becoming even stronger.
Yet they were still blocked by the soldiers without fail.
Until a resident, losing control of his emotions, suddenly drew a dagger from behind, stabbing and instantly killing a soldier!
"You deserve to die! You all deserve to die! Because of you bastards, constantly saying the attacker will be found soon, that the city will soon be peaceful!
I actually believed you! And then what! My wife! My child! And my parents!
They’re all dead! And now! You still dare to deceive me! This is unforgivable! Unforgivable!"
This resident roared, pulling out the dagger again and viciously lunging at another soldier!
But the next moment, an archer on the city wall suddenly acted, and an arrow directly pierced through the resident’s throat!
"Ugh... uh uh..." The resident clutched his neck, eyes wide, and fell down.
At once, all the residents erupted in screams of utmost terror.
They surged forward even more frantically.
"Stop right there! Get back! If anyone is inside ten meters of the city wall by the time I count to ten! I’ll shoot them dead!"
A chilling shout echoed, silencing all the residents.
Yet not many paid heed.
Until... whoosh! Another sound of an arrow cutting through the air, a resident’s neck was pierced, falling into a pool of blood.
At that point, many residents were terrified and began retreating.
But there were still some who, even more violently, clashed with the human wall and conflicted with the soldiers.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh...
And at that moment, arrows followed arrows, more and more people were shot and killed, until after about a quarter of an hour, all the residents had finally retreated.
Yet this left a mess behind, at least a dozen corpses, their faces twisted in anger, glaring like wrathful spirits at the soldiers guarding the city.
Seeing this, the soldiers felt a pang in their hearts, yet they breathed a sigh of relief, smiling bitterly:
"Captain, are we really doing the right thing?"
"There’s no other way! Who would have thought that in just over a month, the once bustling Aire City would turn into this ghostly scene!
Nearly ten thousand residents from the territory have already fled! If this keeps up, the city will be completely ruined!
The Lord Viscount gave us the order because of this."
The captain holding a longbow sighed bitterly.
Everyone’s mood was heavy, none knowing when this ordeal would end.