novelraw Chapter 373: The Rules for Newcomers
Chapter 373: The Rules for Newcomers
"Creak~ Creak~"
A massive trebuchet was being pulled by its counterweight, gradually approaching the critical point. The magical light glowing upon it foreshadowed a truly terrifying power.
In the next second,
"Buzz~ Whoosh!"
With a tremendous sound of tearing through the air, a round, rough stone projectile, bolstered by magic, flew across a distance of fully five kilometers. It finally landed in a section of farmland that had already been smashed to pieces. The shattered green wheat seedlings mixed with mud and water, splashing up to form a spectacular curtain of muck.
And this spot was less than thirty-five meters away from the city wall.
At this moment, Socrates stood on the city wall, watching this scene with a normal expression. Even when a splash of mud hit his armor, he showed not the slightest ripple of emotion.
That's right, this was his territory, and he was currently bearing the siege of the Frost Duke's large army.
No one would have expected the Frost Duke to play strategy and tactics with such consummate skill. This move of sounding east to strike west was simply something Socrates could study for a hundred years.
But no matter what, he had to hold on.Fortunately, his foundation was very thick, and he was quite knowledgeable about certain secrets. Up until now, everything had developed smoothly. A Three-Star Tavern, a Two-Star Temple, a Two-Star Magic Well, a Three-Star Enchanted Blacksmith Workshop—these four essential special buildings had already been completed, and even a One-Star Mage Tower... Sigh, if only he had been given another half a year.
However, even as things stood, he was completely unafraid. He had no choice, because he really did have a backer. Every month, through recruiting twenty mercenaries in the tavern, there would be a portion who were his own people. They would bring in some important supplies within the maximum limit—like Magical Power, heh!
Up until now, he had stored 100 units in the Magic Well and still had 50 units on hand.
This Frost Duke still didn't understand. He thought of himself as not being a plot-driven NPC, but in reality, what he thought of himself wasn't important. If they said he was, then he was!
"Let this battle serve as my battle to fame. Outsiders will only think I won't last until the radiation storm erupts, but little do they know—"
Just as Socrates was thinking this, another stone projectile smashed down with a boom. Although this one still failed to hit the stone wall, it was already much closer. Furthermore, the number of opposing trebuchets would only increase, perfectly positioned just outside the radiation range of his own Magic Well.
"Damned Barbarians!"
A shadow flashed across Socrates's eyes. These were definitely Enchanted Trebuchets; both their firing distance and firing power were exceptionally outstanding. Theoretically, only Barbarian Cross-Border Players could have delivered the blueprints to the Frost Duke.
But the problem wasn't big. Even if they had enough trebuchets to destroy his level-three city wall, they still needed to commit troops for the assault. With 150 units of Magical Power, he could slaughter about three thousand troops. Did you, Frost Duke, dare to try?
Are you certain that the gains from conquering my territory will outweigh your costs?
Don't forget there's still Li Wei, and also Zhao Kewu! I'd like to see how you end up cleaning up this mess.
While these thoughts flashed through Socrates's mind, an All-Heavens Notification forcefully surfaced before his eyes without warning. After reading its contents, the feeling of suffocation was like someone force-feeding him shit!
"Li Wei? Hathaway! This bitch really did have other plans!"
A layer of anger finally surfaced uncontrollably in Socrates's eyes. Previously, he had intended to forge a three-party alliance. To that end, he purposely visited Ron first to try and persuade him, feeling that there was no need for internal strife among them. Forming an alliance, not targeting each other, building their respective cities, securing the Viscount title and territory, and completing the accumulation of their resumes for this stage—this would have been great.
But what he hadn't expected was that Ron was clearly under some spell, speaking with a kind of simple, rustic foolishness.
With no other option, he could only seek out Hathaway for cooperation, hoping to strike first and gain the upper hand. By joining forces, the two of them could wipe out Ron a step ahead, strengthening their respective powers. However, while this bitch agreed nicely on the surface, in reality, she continuously evaded and made all sorts of excuses. She dragged it out for a month until the Frost Duke's large army arrived at the city gates, pushing forward rapidly and completely trapping him within his territory.
"It's just that Hathaway probably capsized in a gutter this time. Tsk tsk, Vassal Lord—that doesn't even count as an ally! This is a delivery across a thousand and five hundred kilometers! How delightful, how delightful!"
"This Li Wei is quite formidable. Although Hathaway lost Night Owl's support, her abilities are not inferior to mine. Being suppressed into the ecological niche of a vassal during the Alliance Weight comparison basically means that his personal strength and the comprehensive development weight of his territory are at least three times that of Hathaway's! 75:25."
"Damn it, if I manage to survive this disaster, I'll have to find a way to make his acquaintance. If we can't be friends, we certainly shouldn't end up as enemies."
Thinking of this, Socrates felt a sense of relief instead. He wasn't afraid to lose, because he had enough capital to make a comeback. Dying once was harmless; the main thing was to continually accumulate experience and lessons, and in ten years, he could start all over again.
However, if one failed to learn experience and lessons, then they would just be recklessly courting death.
At the same time, far over in the east, Zhao Kewu was also looking at the All-Heavens Notification before him with a complex expression. Then, with a bitter face, he picked up an eerie magic potion and swallowed it in one gulp. A few seconds later, his expression drastically changed. Clutching his own neck, he began to dry-heave frantically. After a long while, he unexpectedly vomited out something half a meter long with two heads and dozens of attaching tentacles—an amalgamation akin to a snail mixed with a leech.
"Alright, since this thing has been vomited out, the problem shouldn't be too big now. I just hope you can learn your lesson. I told you that the Frost Duke is a hidden, hard-to-trigger boss, yet you actually dared to go chat with him and even had lunch together! Do you think you're Bart?!"
The speaker was an elderly old woman. However, it had taken Zhao Kewu an entire two months—first sending the intelligence back to call for help, and then recruiting the dispatched spellcaster in the second month—to finally be saved.
"Grandma's lesson is correct. I won't dare to do it next time."
Zhao Kewu smiled bitterly, feeling an intense lingering fear in his heart. This time, he was almost completely ruined. Thank goodness he discovered it in time. The moment he felt something was wrong, he immediately had his most trusted companions tie him up completely. Besides bringing food and water every day, they gagged him at all other times, covered him with a black cloth, and cut off all external contact. At the same time, he tightened their defensive lines and prepared for battle.
Sure enough, the Frost Duke's large army surrounded them heavily a few days later. During those days, he constantly heard the innermost voice in his heart telling him that the Frost Duke was such a great person, and that creating brilliance together with him wasn't an impossibility.
In the end, after launching a few probing attacks, the Frost Duke realized that the defenses here were exceptionally tight and the organization of the offense and defense was highly effective. More importantly, the Magic Well had a new spellcaster presiding over it. Only then did he choose to surround them without attacking.
They had now been in this standoff for nearly three months. Not only had all the farming seasons been delayed, but all task plans for the year were basically wholly set aside. It was akin to marching in place for a whole year.
"That Li Wei sure is lucky!"
"He's not just lucky; he also truly possesses strength. In any case, don't worry about others; first, take care of yourself. Starting tomorrow, organize the army; we'll kill our way out first!"
"But—"
"No buts. The Frost Duke's main force isn't here. That guy is an extremely cautious person. Once he found out he couldn't secure a quick victory over you, he opted for a siege, betting that you wouldn't dare to sally forth into battle. In reality, he's probably attacking Ron or Socrates in the west right now. Both you and that Socrates are smart, yes, but you both lack a bit of spirituality, or rather, a sufficient sense of crisis. You always feel like you have a backer and think 'what's the worst that could happen?' You lack decisiveness at the critical moments of life and death!"
"On this point, that Hathaway is vastly superior to both of you. Given enough time, she might very well become the second Night Owl..."
The old woman cast her gaze far into the distance, seeming vaguely emotional.
"Then, Grandma, what do you think of this person Li Wei?"
"I've never interacted with him, so I won't make an evaluation. But if he doesn't know what's good for him, the cause of his future downfall will inevitably start from Hathaway."
——
At this moment, outside Riverside Fortress, the bright setting sun shone down over the lush green wheat fields, displaying an exuberant vitality.
The convoy of Li Wei and Hathaway successfully arrived at the destination of this trip.
Li Yue personally came out to welcome them. Then, she saw a very disjointed scene—Hathaway with eyes red from crying, and Li Wei sitting on his warhorse, giggling foolishly without a care in the world.
Was that really necessary? So what if she was a Vassal Lord? It wasn't like she signed away her next life!
As expected, acting like a bitch is just being pretentious!
Without needing to ask for the reason, Li Yue mentally retorted and didn't offer a pleasant expression either. Who do you think you are, running over here acting like an innocent little green-tea flower? Your routine hasn't even reached the level of 'the pupil surpassing the master.' You ought to learn a few more tricks from your teacher, Night Owl!
"Hathaway, this is Aunt Yue whom I mentioned to you. She treats me incredibly well."
Li Wei dismounted from his horse at this moment. He first very gentlemanly helped Hathaway down, and then introduced her to Li Yue. In truth, the two of them should have already known each other; it would be weird if they didn't.
But that wasn't important. In this setting, they had to acquaint themselves with one another anew based on their relationship through Li Wei.
"Hello, Aunt Yue." Hathaway forced out a tiny smile. She wanted to laugh, but she truly couldn't. She found it exceptionally ironic. In fact, that old bitch, Poison Scorpion Li Yue, across from her was practically radiating sarcasm with that gaze and expression.
She couldn't keep up the act no matter how thick-skinned she was!
Damn it, how did Li Wei manage to recruit these two old bitches? Poison Scorpion Li Yue was merely cold and cruel, but Widow Yang was a notoriously sharp-tongued shrew who could probably break her defense with just a few random words.
Although she had no defenses left to be broken right now, the smiling, seemingly easily-fooled man beside her was already poking her full of holes.
"Aunt Yue, this is my friend, Black Mountain Baron Hathaway. She trusts me immensely and was willing to travel a thousand and five hundred kilometers to seek refuge with me. So, I would like to trouble Aunt Yue to host a welcoming banquet and handle the specific settlement arrangements for me."
Li Wei smiled at Li Yue again, completely unbothered by Li Yue's 'strangers stay away' expression. But strangely enough, at this very moment, Li Yue suddenly began to smile. It was as if all her sharp edges and barbs had never existed. The gentle contours of that smile blooming on the corners of her lips made even the illuminating sunset feel tender and absolutely stunning, just like a painting.
Truly, Li Wei swore, even during the time when he and Li Yue's relationship was at its most harmonious, she had never smiled at him like that.
"Oh, Little Wei, look at you. After running around outside for a month, traveling round trip for over five thousand kilometers, you've gotten a whole size thinner. Alright, don't worry about these matters anymore. Leave everything to me to handle."
"Go on now, hurry up and wash up. You reek of sweat! No wonder you made the poor little girl cry from the stench."
Saying this, she gave Li Wei a smack, telling him to scram.
At this moment, Hathaway's hairs stood on end, and she desperately wanted to cry out for help.
Li Wei also felt this was inappropriate. Don't do it! This is my ally—well, fine, vassal.
Thinking of it this way, he actually found it entirely reasonable.
Right then, he nodded towards Hathaway, completely ignoring her gaze pleading for help. Stop asking for help! Didn't you want to weigh the combined might of Poison Scorpion and Widow just a while ago?
At any rate, right now, you are still considered a Vassal Lord. If you actually became a territory staff officer, your status would drop down another tier. Just look at how Thomas and Sword Caster were put in their place.
(End of this chapter)