Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1496: Chapter 74: What Is Ismael Thinking?

Basia City had fallen into a strange silence. Among the few shops that remained open, Hill quickly identified that all of them were operated by the Stelter Family.

The Alchemist Association and those Great Nobility only closed their shops on the day of the Silk Spider outbreak, but when the Moon Clan stepped into Basia City, they completely shut their doors.

Then, seeing such a frightening scene, some small shops also quietly followed suit and closed their doors.

Only the Stelter Family stubbornly maintained the provision of supplies in the city... Of course, luxury stores and the upper floors of the Hall of Abundance were all closed.

Only the ground floor, Ellie seemed to have opened it up for everyone, allowing stallholders to set up shop without paying her fee... This was likely done for those who would starve if they didn’t do business for a few days, the small vendors who usually appeared only by the roadside.

Whether for the prevention of Silk Spiders, or for guarding against the potentially chaotic Moon Clan, the guards present in the Hall of Abundance could ensure the safety of these citizens... The guards trained by the Stelter Family were generally above intermediate level before they could leave the castle gates and join the City Guard.

Those excellent warriors who had undergone military training in the City Guard for over three years could receive a recommendation letter from the Stelter Family to enter the military system, but most people considered it a great achievement to obtain this letter in their eighth year.

The most praised aspect of the Stelter Family was that as long as one met the standard in professional skills and combat level, they would indeed be recommended, although the military might be a bit different, at least they would absolutely become a formal officer.

The Knight system and regular soldiers of the Army were two completely separate paths... To really stand out from hundreds of thousands of soldiers was extremely difficult, and such people could make a mark anywhere.

But how many people in this world have talents reaching that level? Ordinary people could never have access to such resources!

It seems like the requirements for the warrior profession were the least among many professions, but even the medicinal herbs and large amounts of meat needed during the foundational period were not something an ordinary family could easily provide.

So, the relatively fair practice of the Stelter Family was also the reason they were highly popular in the military.

Otherwise, Count Stelter wouldn’t be so at ease going home, leaving the heir in the army.

Of course, back then, it wasn’t thought to be so dangerous. The upper-layer struggles wouldn’t easily show their despicable and nasty acts to lower soldiers unless it was a life-or-death battle.

After all, once soldiers lost their awe of officers, it wouldn’t just be a question of following orders — how would they handle losing their heads at midnight?

In this transcendent world, no one thought they could be 100% safe.

Of course, if too many of the Moon Clan came, Count Stelter also wouldn’t risk these painstakingly trained warriors for the lives of some civilians, but at this point, he couldn’t just let the citizens fend for themselves.

The dozens of Moon Clan members who came to Basia soon discovered this was the only place they could stroll around.

No way, the only open stores were selling food and daily utensils, which had no value to them. Several people were already grumbling that they were told Basia City was a bustling maritime trade city, so why was it this desolate.

Armed guards of the Stelter Family, when hearing such words, had eyes full of killing intent... Damn Deluca City!

Damn near got their young master killed, and now they want to redirect the trouble eastward?

Though with unfriendly faces, those who completely didn’t care about the soldiers’ attitudes, as long as there was no direct cursing or hitting, having seen all sorts of NPCs... When the Moon Clan approached them asking why the commercial street was so desolate, these soldiers politely explained:

Because most families might enter a state of war with your Moon Clan, so their shops in Basia City have temporarily closed.

These families have already recalled their family members from remote city areas back to their own territories.

Though it was the truth, it was somewhat evasive... In fact, most of the people responsible for managing shops in Basia City were not recalled; they simply didn’t want to do business with the Moon Clan.

But in cities that had activated the Moon Clan summoning altars, they were all recalled.

Now, three situations had basically emerged in major cities of Danboro... Completely prohibiting Moon Clan entry, having summoning altars for the Moon Clan, or like Basia, allowing them to come but offering no special treatment.

As for attitudes toward the Moon Clan, they didn’t rigidly enforce this on the city’s residents, only asking them to maintain politeness and sternly stating this was for their own safety.

And the Stelter Family would absolutely not back up any fool who first provoked the other party; they themselves lived cautiously!

Who doesn’t have a huge family to care for?

The Stelter Family was not truly afraid of being wiped out by the Moon Clan, but... cherishing their family members, they couldn’t bear to lose anyone for some inexplicable reason.

Without other places to visit, the Moon Clan, besides going to the seaside to frolic every day, holding a strange magnifying glass, walked around Basia, their greatest joy being to visit the large market. They were surprised by some pearls, gemstones, corals, and shells, scaring off several stall owners... Fortunately, they seemed to have an agreement that they couldn’t take anything laid out on the stalls in the shopping district.

Otherwise, those who go through the streets and alleys and painstakingly gather these things from the fishermen and farmers of the coastal towns will probably end up sitting on the ground crying.

After all, even if they are never allowed, these Moon Clan people will still try to see if they can take them.

But Hill doesn’t think they are being excessive... If he were in their shoes, he wouldn’t give up on exploiting loopholes either, even if these loopholes exist only in his imagination, he’d still give it a try.

Their relentless efforts have actually set some people’s minds at ease temporarily, as the new adventurers every year would go through a phase of being shock and awe.

As long as their numbers don’t exceed ten thousand, they feel like they can manage, especially since these Moon Clan not only have such quick access to information, but also know almost immediately what’s happening in the capital and are eager to answer the locals’ questions... all it takes is a bit of money.

It’s much cheaper than those covert information brokers!

Those in Basia City who don’t plan on doing business with the Moon Clan still end up handing over a sum as an information fee... after all, even though there are messages from the capital, they are much slower, and the people delivering them might skimp on details... Who doesn’t have a few competitors, right?

Most people wait for their family messages while buying a bit of information from a broker to cross-reference.

Who knew, the Moon Clan has this advantage too!

As long as it’s news from a city with a Moon Clan presence, give them some money and they can find out very quickly and clarify the sequence of events to provide a formal document!

Hill has noticed that those thieves who habitually appear in the stall hall always trying to sneak into the shadows only to be discreetly warned by the guards are growing increasingly hostile towards the Moon Clan.

If there weren’t still many cities expelling the Moon Clan, they’d probably not hold on and instead send these folks directly back to Deluca City!

The Basia people now understand that once a Moon Clan member dies, they do resurrect, but they can only resurrect in a city with a summoning altar.

Though they can’t comprehend why someone, knowing they could die in the jaws of fierce marine creatures, would still want to set sail on a wrecked ship across the ocean.

But since their proud laughter informed the Basia people with this glorious piece of information, people no longer care what kind of madman the Moon Clan is.

Who can understand a madman properly, really understanding them would make them the same, right?

When Hill heard these comments, he didn’t know what expression to wear... he understands it very well, but he’s really quite earnest.

Anyway, the Basia people are staying calm, especially after hearing about the situation in the capital out loud... they’re really quite grateful their ever-loyal lord didn’t accept the altar.

Many are even thankful for those past years of the Alchemist Association’s persecution of the Stelter Family... If not for the grievances against Great Sage Ismael and those Alchemist Masters, Count Stelter might have really let the Moon Clan appear in Basia!

After hearing this completely off-the-mark speculation, Count Stelter was quite happy... It was always delightful to let the Alchemist Association take the blame.

Especially when the Moon Clan saw the Finch Family and Stelter Family, who stood on the side of the Noble Coalition, as mortal enemies, they treated the Stelter Family as half-kindred, and the Earl earnestly wrote a thank-you note to the Little Finch confined on Mage’s Avenue.

Finch had no time for Count Stelter; the situation in the capital at the moment was quite dire.

The nature of the Moon Clan was overly unpredictable, clearly negotiable one moment, suddenly bombing them with spells the next.

The nobles still cannot find an appropriate way to interact.

And the King locked himself in the underground chamber of the Royal Palace, refusing to see even Great Sage Ismael, let alone apologize to those families harmed by his reckless actions.

Currently, the stalemate in Danbolo Capital is wearing both sides out.

What’s most troubling is that in every conflict, despite the higher death toll on the Moon Clan’s side, they can resurrect!

On the side of the Noble Coalition, losing one is one less.

Many people are starting to feel shaken... no one expected the always compassionate Great Sage Ismael could watch so many people die and still not make a move against that King!

The nobles were all ready with their chosen successors for the throne, just waiting for Ismael to make a move... merely switching a King!

Yet Ismael refuses to act! What is he thinking?