Pillar of Yita

The middle-aged arcanist was actually here to request support from Nulman this time.

Currently, the Hall Guard Knights and the external guards have all been dispatched, but with the information chaos and inability to determine the exact location of the adversary, the modest number of troops they had was like a drop in the ocean in this complex fortress. Right now, the only option was to mobilize over two thousand soldiers and knights stationed in the Inner City — no, not even that many were needed, a third of their force would suffice to draw out those detestable rats with a net.

But to deploy these troops, which nominally belonged to the King of Sand, there was only one person in this castle with the authority to do so, and that was His Excellency the Governor.

”The forces of the Inner City must not be moved.”

Nulman understood the other’s intentions and directly and firmly rejected the outrageous request, fully aware of his duties, which certainly did not include indulging the magicians’ whims. Although he also realized that this might truly be, as the other party said, just an accident, and those ”rats” outside might not truly have any designs on Bain Fortress.

But he wouldn’t take that risk.

However, out of consideration for their alliance, he didn’t put an absolute stop to the conversation. After some thought, Nulman replied, ”The soldiers responsible for the defense and patrol between the Inner City and the Inner Court, about a hundred of them, I can temporarily place in your charge. This is the last assistance I can offer, and it comes with the risk of weakening the Inner City’s defenses. If this doesn’t work, find your own way to explain to His Majesty.”

The middle-aged arcanist’s face looked a bit unsatisfied.

But he understood this was the last compromise the other side could offer; a hundred men were like a drop in the ocean, but it was better than nothing. Nodding, he still expressed his gratitude.

Nulman, seeing his demeanor, couldn’t help but remind him, ”Be cautious of the direction of the Inner City, they might continue to advance.”

”Impossible,” the middle-aged man shook his head, ”Impossible. They only went to the Inner Court to rescue someone. I merely underestimated their arrogance and determination, but continuing deeper holds no benefit for them. By the way, I have one more request, Your Excellency the Governor.”

Nulman looked at him, seemingly knowing what he was about to say, replied, ”I can hand her over to you, but you better ensure her safety, and it’s only for one night.”

The middle-aged man nodded quickly, ”Don’t worry, this is the only companion they haven’t rescued yet. As long as she’s still in our hands, we can always catch them out.”

”I hope so.”

Honestly speaking, Nulman wasn’t optimistic about their plan, but he also didn’t want to meddle too much, just nodded lightly. At the same time, he felt a headache thinking about how to explain this to his daughter. He had just agreed to the other side, and now her ”history teacher” was being used as bait.

If all went well, it would be fine, but if the person was indeed rescued, he would have to take action himself.

”Thank you very much.” Having obtained the answer he wanted, the middle-aged arcanist finally lowered his stance and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

He wasn’t too worried about explaining to the King of Sand, but more about how to account to Lord Ebene for the mess caused.

...

Fang Hong took a little time to explain clearly to Luo Yu and Xiangzi what had happened. Naturally, he didn’t need to hide anything from his own people and also spoke about the possible connections between the magicians, the Lord of Bain City, and the King of Sand. After hearing it, Luo Yu couldn’t help but ask:

”So it seems, the objectives of King of Sand Barbaltan and the Grand Princess seem to conflict?”

Fang Hong remained silent; this was precisely what puzzled him. Of course, assuming Delan wasn’t lying to him, but the other party seemed to have no reason to deceive a stranger like him, and besides, the information he heard from those two servants not long ago seemed to vaguely point to this possibility.

”What do you think?”

He looked at Luo Yu. His reason for raising this question with the two was to gather more ideas, to see if Luo Yu could identify anything he hadn’t yet perceived. Mainly Luo Yu, he wasn’t exactly expecting Xiangzi to come up with any constructive opinions.

Thinking of this, Fang Hong gave a somewhat exasperated look at the red-eyed, red-forehead young man who wished to be seen as mature, while the latter maintained a stiff face, pretending the previous incidents hadn’t occurred.

”Actually, I think it’s quite simple,” unexpectedly, Xiangzi spoke up when he saw Fang Hong’s eyes looking his way, ”This is a conspiracy. Perhaps that Princess didn’t tell us the truth from the beginning; it’s possible that it was all orchestrated by King of Sand Barbaltan, who ordered the attack and killing of her biological mother.”

”So the two have become enemies, and for years the Princess has been investigating the true cause of her mother’s death, finally finding some clues from smugglers. But at this critical moment, King of Sand Barbaltan commands the arcanists to silence them first.”

”And we just happened to get caught up in this incident.”

Xiangzi smacked his lips, eventually adding, ”So it’s that simple.” His calm demeanor was as if he was proving a mathematical theorem, writing ”Q.E.D.” as the conclusion.

Fang Hong looked at him with some surprise, asking in a tone used to show affection to a less clever child, ”So, where did you hear this convoluted story?”

”It’s an assassin’s intuition,” the young man with mysterious aura replied, ”only assassins can understand assassins, oh—”

...