Surviving The Fourth Calamity

43: Chapter 43 Perplexed Fran 43: Chapter 43 Perplexed Fran Hill returned Alice to his room and instructed her to stay put.

He stood at the door, waiting for Adrian to come down, and walked with him into Fran’s room.

Fran sat upright in the dark small living room, his expression stern.

He looked up at the two men, “Sit down, do you have any news from the other cities?”

Hill suggested, “They should know; I saw a few of them using their communicators.”

Fran nodded, “Adrian, go up later and take a look.”

He said to Hill, “They are indeed very interesting.

They don’t care about achieving victory in this way.”

“That lady was there too,” said Adrian, “very proud.

Constantly singing her own praises.”

“Securing the greatest victory at the smallest cost is their creed,” Hill said slowly, “Schemes and tricks don’t matter; they didn’t think they’d need them, it’s more about amusing themselves.”

“Everyone uses schemes and tricks,” Fran said, “That’s just their unorthodox methods, fortunate accidents.

How many legends are there who are so naive?”

“They didn’t really think they could scare anyone.

It was just for their own amusement,” Hill said, “After fighting for a day and a night, they probably wanted to raise their spirits.”

“This is to raise their spirits?” Adrian asked, “Then their entertainment must be rich indeed.

Unlike us, even legends can get distracted.”

“A perfectly good legend, laughed at for tens of thousands of years just because of their death,” Fran could hardly bear it, “If I died like that, I’d have to fall into the Abyss.”

“Only legends who meditate in the Temple year-round can end up like that,” Hill steered the conversation away.

Better not to apply it to themselves.

“I was stunned, too,” Fran said indifferently, “Adrian froze for a good few minutes.

Enough time to die dozens of times.”

“No one will be scared by it in the future!” Hill said, “Such a thing can only trap people the first time.”

Fran was still not easy to appease, “A legend dying in such a disgraceful way!”

“There will only be more of these incidents in the future!” Hill said decisively, “If grandfather is not used to it, stay away.

It’s fine if Uncle Adrian steps in.

In their eyes, grandfather is just an Alchemist Master with no interest in communicating with others.”

Fran slumped back into the chair, “I once thought that once you become a Mage, you wouldn’t have to compromise anymore.

But things don’t always go as one wishes.”

Very few Alchemists reach the level of legendary, as alchemy requires too much study.

Hill found his energy was limited, so he focused mainly on alchemy of instruments.

Adrian, on the other hand, preferred Potion Brewing.

But both of them were far from being an Alchemist Master, only Fran, who mastered all the skills, was close to reaching that level.

Yet Adrian was about to become a Magister very soon, one can imagine how much his progression speed was hampered by Fran.

A Mage-Level Alchemist Master commands respect even from legends.

In Fran’s years as a mage, he might only have one regret: Melanie.

Unfortunately, reality is always cruel.

Fran sighed deeply, “I’ll go back to secluded meditation after this is over, better get to legendary status sooner.”

Adrian said, “The future isn’t something we can interfere with anymore.

A legend died like that, what is an Archmage, then?”

Hill looked at the somewhat dejected Adrian and said, “The affairs of the Deities weren’t ours to meddle with in the first place.”

Adrian turned his head to look at Hill.

“Is this their own power?

This is the power of the Deities!” Hill said, “If the Deities no longer need them, they will all disappear together.”

“It’s just enduring it,” Hill said softly, “My mother’s affair also made us endure for 18 years.

Now, just to keep silent and stay on our own land is already quite good.

Maybe it’s just another 18 years.”

“I thought you would serve William,” Fran suddenly said, “You identify with him so much.”

“Grandfather, I am a child of a lord,” Hill said with a faint smile, “All children of noble lands with inheritance rights, on their 8th birthday, will take the oath of allegiance to the Royal Family, the loyalty oath to Saral.

To my own country’s king, as long as his will does not harm my interests, I am quite willing to obey.”

Adrian asked with a puzzled look, “Doesn’t teacher know?

Prince William took his oath when you were already in the Royal Palace!”

“The Fran Family has fallen so much by my generation that it’s just a lordship,” Fran looked outside the window, “I have been immersed in learning magic since I was young, with no interest in politics.

If it weren’t for Melanie, I probably would have traveled until I became a Magister.

I thought only Princes took the oath.”

“Only those who have taken the loyalty oath have the right to inherit noble lands,” Adrian said, “That’s why noble lands can only be passed down through the legitimate line.

If there is no heir of this kind, only the title can be inherited, and the land will be taken back.”

He looked at Hill with a puzzled expression, “Why would Hill take the oath?

I thought Melanie would stop you.

You weren’t supposed to be interested in Earldom lands.”

“Mother thinks I’ll never become a High-level Mage.” Hill turned his head to look out the window, “When the Earl sent someone for me, they said that if I didn’t take the loyalty oath, they wouldn’t even grant me the title of Lord.

She thinks I need some security.”

Adrian said, “Melanie’s judgment has always been poor.”

Fran furrowed his brow, “Does it affect you much?”

“Not really.

I have no interest in treason or rebellion,” Hill said, “Even without taking the oath, I wouldn’t easily betray my motherland, the country that nurtured me.

As a pioneering noble, very few laws constrain me.

I simply agree with William’s policies and am willing to implement them fully in my territory.

After all, with so few people, I can do as I please.”

“Even if he taxes you in the future?” Adrian suddenly asked.

“Ah, you see it too, huh!” Hill said nonchalantly, “He could only tax trade, right?

It’s impossible for him to tax the land.

The land belongs to the lord by divine oath, and even William wouldn’t dare.

Moreover, the Western Border might be the last direction to be developed.

By the time our area becomes part of the Saral territory, my grandfather should have become legendary.

There are few people there, and it’s not profitable.”

Adrian nodded hesitantly, “Let it be, it has nothing to do with us.”

Fran asked, “So is treason the reason those people were killed, and no one cared about the stripping of their ranks and titles?

And Edward’s and Charles’s supporters almost took William’s life, but they were just expelled from the country.”

“Yes, it’s fine for them to resist the King’s commands, at worst they get expelled from the country.

But if they use the army to fight and lose, that’s treason.

The only outcome is death.

As for Edward and Charles, struggles within the Royal Family have always been like this.

The losers are out and have to fend for themselves,” Adrian said without hesitation.

“The losers are all traitors?” Fran exhaled, “I really have wasted so many years at the court.”

Hill thought to himself: A scientific giant, his Skills not in political struggle, even less in court warfare.

Adrian said, “We’re almost there, I’m going to take a look.

Hill, coming with me?”

“No.” Hill shook his head, “It’s better to keep a polite distance with them like this.”

Adrian nodded in agreement and turned to leave the room.

“Was I wrong to focus all my heart on the pursuit of Alchemy and Magic?” Fran spoke up, “I thought as long as I was powerful enough, no one would dare to bully me.

I immersed myself in cultivation, yet my daughter ended up led astray.

After all the effort put into seeking revenge, by the time I became a Magister, others had avenged me.”

“Grandfather wasn’t wrong; indeed, they didn’t have the guts to take action against you.

But even the strongest cannot ensure that their close ones won’t be tempted,” Hill said indifferently, “My mother made the most mistakes.

She came to regret it later; the love was gone, and years without meditation also lost her the hope of becoming an Archmage.

Only Alchemy remained as her last hope in life.

Her knowledge of Magic and her life philosophy were all taught by you.

When she talked to me, I could understand.

You always hoped she would be independent and strong.

Unfortunately, she was seduced by the intoxicating luxury and extravagant lifestyle of the court, finding it easier to be a noble lady than to practice what you taught with diligence.

She thinks I’m too soft-hearted, too much like her, and that I wouldn’t succeed either.

That’s why she dislikes seeing me.”

“Melanie’s judgment.” Fran sighed, “Kindness is not weakness.

She is capable of killing with her own hands, but what use is that?”

The two were silent for a long time.

This lady was their connection, their only relative.

But even the love wasn’t that deep; thinking of her only brought a sigh.

The airship slowly came to a halt.

Hill looked out the window, and the players jumped down one by one, waving at the ship below to say goodbye.

“Why don’t they use the Teleportation Array?” Hill suddenly remembered.

“William ordered it to be shut down on that day,” Fran said irritably, “What if one of the cities is breached?

Do they just teleport straight to William?

He doesn’t want to die!”

“So they just fly over directly?”

“What about the others, don’t they defend?

What if someone else goes?” Fran was extremely surprised.

“Sky Knights and Sword Masters will ride over on horseback.

Mages will definitely fly.” Hill weighed in, if it was himself, he would rush over to see such a big event without caring much, “There will always be people too lazy to move, and they will stay.

But most would come over.

They probably will activate full defensive Magic Arrays, they have money.”

“They prefer to spend money just to watch a scene unfold?” Fran also started to understand the players’ mindset.

“Let’s go, upstairs.

Dionysio must have received the news by now,” Fran suddenly smiled, “I wonder how he feels.”

Hill thought to himself, probably relieved.

After all, the Saint Heir, the future Pope, is supposed to be untainted and above the mundane.

If he were to be bewildered, how could he continue to maintain a pure and distinguished demeanor?

Adrian stood by the window, turning back to the two and said, “Teacher, Hill.

Two cities of Legend have received the news and are flying back.

The city on the southeast corner is still under assault.”

“News of the Undead Tribe?”

“Yes, that communication device is really useful, almost instantaneous knowledge,” Adrian reported.

Fran thought for a moment, then quickly steered the airship to ascend, “Dionysio will definitely come up with countermeasures.

Otherwise, he would have no face to employ Divine Descent.”

Adrian announced, “No sleep tonight.

Let’s wait for the night attack!”