Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 186 - 138: Aftermath (I)_2

Chapter 186: Chapter 138: Aftermath (I)_2

Malin shrugged at the half-human beside him, then slipped away with his team without a peep—stay and see how this poor sir screams himself hoarse?

Leaving the scene, he called his team and continued to advance towards the Church district.

Along the way, there were armed citizens everywhere, City Guards and Noble guard squads were fighting Chaos Folk in love and war, and upon hearing the news Malin brought over, all the people of Pamir City were overjoyed—this meant that Chaos had no reinforcements, and they were diminishing one by one.

Then they fought with even more vigor—yes, more vigor, because a Chaos Believer’s head could fetch five coins at the Church, which was half a year’s income for those lower-class citizens.

If they had anything on them that could prove they were out of the ordinary, the price would naturally skyrocket.

According to the old Punisher, the head of a Chaos warrior was worth at least fifty, their weapons could fetch ten, and as for the Chaotic Sorcerers, that was truly a seller’s market, with prices that could only be described as outrageous.

"I always feel like this is a carnival," Malin said, watching the armed citizens charging into melee combat with the Chaos Believers under the cover of gunfire from the City Guards and Noble guard squads. He couldn’t help but turn his head to glance at the old Punisher.

"Lord Malin, this is the moment when the lower-class citizens gamble with their lives for the future. The last time Chaos invaded, some among them did not have the courage, but my grandfather did, allowing my father to enter the Church to study, and for me to become a Punisher reserve from a young age, to eventually retire with honor, watching my grandson become an Apprentice to the Church," the old man said. Seeing the surprise on Malin’s face, he smiled and said, "The Nobles of that time, their ancestors too sat at the gambling table called Fate, betting their martial skills and lives for honors, so don’t feel that the City Guards and Noble guard squads are just watching the citizens go to their deaths. They too are choosing brave and capable people, either to expand the ranks of the City Guard or to let them join the guard squads... after all, we are all seated before the gambling table of Fate."

Malin pursed his lips—this theory was one he had always scorned, but on second thought... it wasn’t without reason, at least not in this world.

In this world of Chaos invasion, the citizens’ bravery was not just for themselves, just as the old man said, but their bets were somewhat high, high enough that Malin, a fellow from another world, found it hard to accept.

But for them, such a gamble was a matter of course.

The winner takes all, and even losers can’t say they have nothing, but when even their lives are lost, whether or not they have anything becomes a moot point.

After all, earning money without a life to spend it is the most fatal aspect.

"The threads of Fate spun by the Goddess of Fate are really...," Malin said with a smile, some things are perhaps better left unsaid in a world with True Gods.

As for invoking her name, Malin wasn’t worried—let the Goddess of Fate come and challenge him, and see who ends up with more bumps on their head.

The old Punisher also chuckled, being a wily old man, he naturally knew what could be said and what could not.

It was only after the Chaos stronghold was completely taken down that Malin finally left with his people, not needing any thanks from anyone.

"You don’t seem to worry much about what’s happening at the Church," the old Punisher noted, looking at Malin.

"I think that now, with the main forces of Chaos from the eastern district broken, it’s questionable how much strength they still have. Moreover, they will exhaust each other. I suspect that when we get there, their hundred or so people still won’t have come to a conclusion," said Malin, spreading his hands: "Besides, the Church still has the Guard of the Church and the Punishers, and the terrain is in our favor too. How much Chaos will have to sacrifice to be able to breach the Church hall is itself a question."

The old Punisher thought for a moment and nodded in strong agreement: "You are right."

......

Meanwhile, at the Goddess of Harvest Church, everyone was watching from the second floor as the Mimicking Birds and Nagoth’s followers inflicted harm on each other in the streets.

Jessica leaned against the wall, glanced outside, and yawned: "When do you think they’ll sort out a winner?"

"If they’re content just shooting at each other from behind cover, I feel like they could keep going until tomorrow morning," Clovis’s ears drooped on the sides of her head, and she, exhausted, tilted her head back and drank down a bottle of energy potion: "These damned Chaos, can’t they pick somewhere else to fight?"

"I think as long as they don’t bother us, it’s fine," said the human Apprentice, sitting behind cover, nibbling on a hard loaf of bread, and joining the conversation.

"I feel the same way. If possible, I think they could fight outside the gates as long as they like; when our Church troops come back, they’re all as good as dead," a Foxkin girl expressed her agreement.

"Upstairs said more Chaos folks have arrived," a little Leopard Girl, who had been communicating with Maya using gestures, said and yawned, "When can I finally get some sleep? I’m so tired."

The Wolf Girl poked her head out a little and glanced at the street, only to see the opposing shooters jump out from behind cover after reinforcements had joined. They rushed towards each other, firing as they went with a variety of shooting poses: some held their guns above their heads, some tucked them at their waists, and others simply held their guns upside down, treating them like oversized clubs.

"Can’t they be a bit more serious?" the Wolf Girl said, frowning.

"That’s why they are Chaos," Lillim came over, glanced at the street, then patted Jessica on the shoulder, "How about it, anyone wants me to take over their shift?"

"Take over for me, I want to sleep," the little Leopard Girl on the other side whined.

So Lillim took her place, and the little Leopard Girl moved herself to a mat nearby, curling up on it.

"Right, she’s a little Leopard Girl, and so is Maya, but I see that Maya still seems very energetic," Lillim gave a look, then turned to her sisters.

"That’s why she was able to awaken on her own, while we could only get stronger by popping pills," Jessica sighed as she looked at her sisters, then glanced at Clovis, "Speaking of which, Clovis is also one of those who can strengthen themselves."

"Have you ever seen a Mage with beastly marks all below their neck from self-improvement?" the Bunny Girl gave the Wolf Girl a look of disdain.

"But speaking of which, is Faye really a Mage? I noticed last time, she never used a spellbook," Jessica turned to Clovis, completely ignoring the Bunny Girl’s contemptuous look.

"I feel she’s more like a bloodline Magician, the innate kind, but she does use a spellbook to record spell formations," Clovis explained.

"When I was young, I also wanted to become a Magician since I had a Magician grandfather, but I didn’t succeed, and instead, I became a Church Apprentice," Lillim said, laughing a bit shyly, "What a beautiful dream that was," and then she noticed Maya and Faye sliding down from the ladder, "You’re down?"

"Yes, it’s time for a shift change." Maya and Faye took over from the other two Apprentices and then sat down beside them, "What were you guys just talking about?"

"We were talking about dreams. Lillim said she wanted to become a Magician; I dream of the beastly aspects fading away, what about you, Jessica?" Clovis looked at the Wolf Girl who pointed at herself, "I just want to give my father a grandchild sooner rather than later, so he’ll stop preaching nonsense to me all the time."

"What about you, Maya?" the little Lamb Girl asked Maya.

Maya thought and shook her head, "I don’t have any dreams."

"Eh, how can someone not have dreams? Maya, is there anything you want to achieve?" the little Lamb Girl gently prodded.

Maya thought and shook her head, "The things I wanted to achieve have already been achieved."

"You’re so boring!" the little Lamb Girl covered her forehead, "So, what about you, Faye?"

"Well, I guess it’s to become the happiest bride in the whole world," Faye said with a smile.

In Maya’s eyes, reflected in the glass was Faye, wearing a pure white wedding dress, looking incredibly beautiful.

...Such a dream... seemed pretty good.

Maya felt that she had suddenly found that kind of thing everyone was talking about that they wanted to achieve.

It was really wonderful.