Chapter 39

There's a bit of news, that's all, it doesn't seem little! Hehe! In the pinned post in the book review section, there's a request for everyone to think about the settings. Take a look, and if you have any ideas, feel free to write them down!

Roland is a flower that blooms in winter, and the reason the royal family of the Roland Empire named themselves after Roland is closely related to Roland's geographical location and origin.

To the north of the Roland Empire lies the Yalan Empire. Although the Yalan Empire is far behind the Roland Empire in terms of national strength and living standards, it is located on the great grasslands, producing excellent mounts and knights, but lacks food, so the Yalan Empire has designs on the Roland Empire.

The Ceylon Empire, while nominally bordering the Yalan Empire, is unfortunately separated by the Angans Great Snow Mountain, which only allows small caravans to pass through rugged mountain paths. Large-scale armies are impossible to move through. However, the Angans Mountains gradually disappear at the border between the Ceylon Empire and the Roland Empire, leaving only the turbulent Angans Grand Canyon between them. This year's drought has almost dried up the Angans River, which is why the Roland Empire was caught off guard by Ceylon's sudden invasion. As a result, the Ceylon Empire was able to quickly conquer the Munni Duchy, forcing the Roland Empire to deploy the Mage Corps and the Mammoth Knights.

However, no one in the Roland Empire, including the 165th Roland, a man in his thirties, could have imagined that 300 Mammoth Knights would be wiped out by the Ceylon Empire. This was a heavy blow to the Roland Empire, as the Ceylon Empire was considered a barbaric land, and the Yalan Empire a harsh and cold place, inhabited by farmers.

When the news of the 300 Mammoth Knights' demise reached the capital, everyone was stunned. The first to speak was the 165th Roland: "No way? Don't we still have the Mage Corps?"

"Your Majesty, it's true. The Mammoth Knights were surrounded by two million Ceylon soldiers, and the frequent fog in the Munni Duchy prevented the Mage Corps from casting spells," reported Richard, the captain of the Griffin Squad, who brought the heavy news.

"Impossible, Richard, you're lying. Even two million infantry, let alone two million knights, couldn't stop 300 Mammoth Knights from breaking through," the military minister Daku asked coldly.

"Your Majesty, the Ceylon Empire forged tens of thousands of thick iron chains. Each group of ten soldiers, led by elite guards, formed a ten-kilometer barrier. The 300 Mammoth Knights charged for ten kilometers, and along this route, 90,000 such Ceylon squads fell. This is the magical image recorded by Sir Melif after the battle," Richard reported in a distant voice.

"Heavens!"

"No! No! This can't be true!"

"Ah!!!"

"Wow!!!"

"Ugh!!!"

When the magical image was activated by a court mage, the first thing seen in the several-meter-wide projection was a blood-red path, a kilometer wide. As people moved closer, they realized what the red was, and everyone was stunned, followed by various reactions.

Shouts, fear, disbelief, screams, vomiting, and crying. The 165th Roland silently took off his hat, tears streaming down his face, and knelt on one knee toward the battlefield, loudly declaring, "I, Qidun Roland, swear by the name of my ancestors to avenge the 300 brave warriors."

"Bring the military minister Daku to me and imprison him. From today, the empire enters a state of martial law, and all actions will be under the royal family," Qidun then stood up and shouted.

"Arrest him, hang him."

"Hang him!"

"Hang him!"

At the imperial meeting, Daku and his subordinates were overwhelmed by the anger of the nobles. In the past, Qidun, the 165th Roland, would have hesitated to issue such an order, as Daku was not only an old noble but also a three-term minister, and his direct line included many nobles.

But today, even some of Daku's direct line were shouting to hang him. When Qidun shouted, Daku collapsed, realizing his fate.

Daku and his direct line were taken away, and ironically, the ones who took them were the capital's guards, whom Daku had personally trained. Their respectful demeanor had turned to anger. Daku muttered, "I forgot, I forgot this empire is Roland."

Qidun, watching Daku being taken away, thought to himself, "Uncle Daku, you were too arrogant, arrogant enough to forget this empire is Roland."

"Now, I will issue the emergency mobilization order, quack...!" Qidun stood up, looking at the angry nobles and officials below, and laughed inwardly. He shouted, but was interrupted by a thunderous roar, a sound so unpleasant.

"Saint Mage Munky Clary requests an audience with Your Majesty!" Just as Qidun was surprised, a loud voice echoed through the large meeting hall.

"Munky Clary, quickly, quickly!" Qidun repeated, almost running to the meeting hall's entrance.

"Qidun Roland greets Grandfather Munky." Qidun rushed out of the door, immediately kneeling on both knees and shouting.

"Hehe, get up, little Qidun. The last time I saw you was eleven years ago, at your coronation, right?" Munky, dressed in a fiery red robe, was Lorrie's grandfather, looking spirited despite his middle-aged appearance.

"Yes, Grandfather Munky. If you need anything, just call me. Why go through the trouble of coming here yourself?" Qidun quickly stood up, bending over with a smile.

"Haha, I don't like your pretentiousness. I won't waste your time. I'm just here to tell you that I'm going out to handle some matters. I've already informed the other two old guys. You carry on with your business," Munky said and was about to leave.

"Grandfather Munky, if you have any matters, just tell me. Why trouble yourself to come here?" Qidun immediately became anxious.

"No need. I'm just going out for a walk. I was at a bottleneck and needed to get out. I didn't expect to run into some trouble, so I'll take care of it," Munky said and left. On a nearby square, a red-haired giant was drooling, looking at the surrounding soldiers.

"Your Majesty, Miss Lorrie is in trouble, which is why her mentor came. It's best to cooperate with the mentor. This time, the mentor will take his two most powerful followers, and you should send some people to assist with miscellaneous tasks," said Rody, Munky's student and a High Mage, standing beside Qidun.

"Yes, yes, quickly, send a Griffin Knight, no! Two Griffin Knight squads, to follow Grandfather Munky, quickly!" Qidun, after hearing this, was shocked and loudly ordered. The urgent manner left the nobles in the hall stunned, while some old nobles wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.

"Who is Munky?" a baron, also the Minister of Etiquette, asked. The Minister of Etiquette was a marginalized department, while the Minister of Agriculture and the military minister were the key figures in the empire.

"The most temperamental of the three guardians," someone whispered in response.

"The one who burned the late king's bedroom?" the Minister of Etiquette asked in shock.

"Cough! Quiet!" The meeting chairman coughed, hating the Minister of Etiquette: "Since you know he burned the late king's bedroom, why did you say it? You have no sense of the bigger picture. It's time for a change."

"Sir Rody, there's a banquet tonight. Please, Sir Rody..." Qidun watched the red-haired giant on the square transform into a huge black bird, carrying Munky into the sky. Behind Munky were two knights riding giant green wolves, each over five meters tall, leaping over the thirty-meter-high inner city wall with ease. The ten Griffin Knights followed at a distance. Qidun, amazed, then invited Rody.

"No need. I need to return to the Mage Tower. And, Your Majesty, isn't it unwise to hold a banquet now?" Rody smiled and left.

"Whoosh!" As Munky was about to leave the capital, a magical firework appeared in the city center, and a figure flew up.

"Sir Munky, I represent the Mage Guild to formally remind you that in the war between empires, Mages of the High Mage level and above are not allowed to participate," the figure, dressed in earthy yellow, floated in the air.

"Hehe, I remember the Mage Guild's rules. However, I'm going out to train and to find my granddaughter, who is reportedly missing in battle," Munky, looking at the figure, narrowed his eyes and chuckled.

"Missing? Sir, please keep the situation under control and avoid harming too many civilians," the figure, surprised, respectfully said.

"Alright, but please inform the Ceylon Empire that if anything happens to my granddaughter, they may face the wrath of a Saint Mage," Munky, after a few seconds of thought, said calmly.

"Saint... Saint Mage!" The figure nearly fell, stammering in response.

"Hehe, possibly!" Munky, after saying this, immediately spurred his mount to leave.

"No, I must report to headquarters immediately. The wrath of a Fire Saint Mage, heavens, can a small Ceylon Empire bear it?" The figure, dazed, slowly descended, determined.

"Why were you so polite to that guy, Munky?" Munky's mount, speaking in a human voice, asked curiously.

"Hehe, look at that Mage Guild enforcer. His magical equipment alone is worth our entire fortune. I was polite for several reasons: first, he represents the Mage Guild, an organization you should know about. Second, I wanted to use the Mage Guild to send a message to the Ceylon Empire. My granddaughter is a rare dual-elemental (Lightning and Fire) mage, and no one in our magic-barren Roland Empire is qualified to be her mentor. If something happens to her, I don't know what to do," Munky explained with a bitter smile.

"Then, revealing your intention to advance was also for Lorrie?" the mount continued.

"Hehe, yes. I want to find a Legendary-level mentor for Lorrie, not a Saint Mage," Munky said, feeling the mount shudder, and both fell silent.

Unlike the Roland royal family's high morale, the Ceylon Empire was in a different state. When Angila, using all her strength, returned to the Ceylon Empire, it was already midnight. However, as a court mage, she easily entered the palace.

"Angila, what is it?" Ceylon XIII, somewhat displeased, asked. The Ceylon Empire was known for its fierce people and powerful noble families. Although the army was under the royal family, the rate of emperor changes was several times that of other empires.

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince is dead," Angila said, bowing slightly.

"Dead? How?" Ceylon XIII, stunned, asked calmly.

"Poisoned," Angila, knowing Ceylon XIII's reaction, said. Ceylon XIII, a Great Swordsman in peak condition, could easily live for several more decades, and if he became a Silver Swordsman, his lifespan would double. Moreover, he was known for his lust, with nearly twenty princes and even more princesses.

"Poisoned? Bring the culprit to me," Ceylon XIII, frowning, said. Although his motives for sending the Third Prince to the front were not pure, being poisoned was different from dying in battle.

"Your Majesty, that's why I'm here. I want to resign as court mage and go on a trial," Angila took a deep breath.

"Angila, do you know what you're saying? What did you promise me?" Ceylon XIII, displeased, said.

"Your Majesty, this is for your good and mine. The Third Prince was likely poisoned by a Master Alchemist or even a Grandmaster Alchemist," Angila, gritting her teeth, said.

"Poof!" Ceylon XIII, drinking wine, spat it out upon hearing this.

"Master Alchemist, Grandmaster Alchemist, Angila, are you joking?" Ceylon XIII's hands began to tremble.

"Your Majesty...!" Angila explained the detailed events, including the strange circumstances, and even brought back samples.

"That damned fool, fool, who did he provoke? I should have strangled him, strangled him," Ceylon XIII, hearing Angila's account and the samples, jumped up and cursed.

"Your Majesty, I have violated the rules among alchemists. I don't know if I'm being watched. I've decided to work at the Alchemists' Guild headquarters for two years, as it's safer there," Angila, thinking of a Master Alchemist possibly watching her, felt her scalp tingle.

"Go, go!" Ceylon XIII, not daring to retain her, waved his hand. Although he was reluctant to let Angila go, he feared an unknown attack, such as an accidental mishap, so he made a wise decision.

"A third-rank enforcer of the Mage Guild in the Ceylon Empire requests an audience with Your Majesty," a figure burst in, loudly reporting.

"The Mage Guild? Third-rank enforcer, please come in!" Ceylon XIII immediately ordered, exchanging puzzled glances with Angila. The Mage Guild had only two branches in the Ceylon Empire, one in the capital and another in a medium-sized city below the Angans Great Snow Mountain, the latter being larger.

"Your Majesty, I received a message from the Mage Guild in the Roland Empire, requesting you to ensure the safety of this person," the enforcer, neither humble nor arrogant, showed a magical image.

"Who is this girl?" Ceylon XIII, seeing the image of a girl, asked in confusion.

"The granddaughter of Saint Mage Munky Clary, no! Perhaps a Saint Mage," the enforcer smiled and explained.

"Saint Mage? Saint Mage? Munky Clary?" Ceylon XIII muttered.

"Your Majesty, he is one of the three guardians of the Roland Empire, the Fire Guardian!" Angila reminded.

"His! Those three old guys said they wouldn't act unless the capital was invaded, and the Mage Guild has strict rules that Mages above the High Mage level cannot participate in imperial wars, right?" Ceylon XIII, standing up anxiously, asked.

"Yes, but we can't prevent a Saint Mage from attacking certain forces. Do you have the ability to hire a Saint Mage or two Sword Saints?" the enforcer asked, grinning widely.

"Poof!" Ceylon XIII spat out a mouthful of blood. Hiring a Saint Mage? What nonsense? Hiring a High Mage is already a stretch.

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