The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 373: Volume 7: The Awakening Spring Thunder, - 7: Bait

Chapter 373: Volume 7: The Awakening Spring Thunder, Chapter 7: Bait

"Shark people?! Pirates dare to attack the shark people? Don’t they fear the shark people’s retaliation?!" The armored soldier was shocked. The shark people were the masters of the Mediterranean, with most of the islands under their control. Although the shark people did not often dwell on land, these islands were their forbidden territories, where members of other races seldom could enter. Due to their natural gift, which allowed them to breathe and live underwater, seafarers generally didn’t dare to provoke them easily, even formidable pirates.

"I am not very clear on that point, but it is true that there were some shark people being sold in Jazair Slave Market. Haven’t you seen those nobles spending money like mad, just to try something new? It’s been who knows how many years since shark people slaves, especially female ones, have appeared in the slave markets of Jazair. How could those nobles restrain themselves?!" With a touch of faint satire at the corner of his mouth, as the kingdom’s woes deepened daily, the so-called elite of the kingdom turned a blind eye, indulging in curious pleasures and uninterested in state affairs. Thinking of this, Tez couldn’t help but feel a sense of powerlessness deep within.

The armored soldier could certainly hear the helplessness in his old friend’s words, but this was not something the two of them could change. The only thing he could do was to fulfill his duty as a soldier to the best of his ability; anything else was beyond his power as well.

"Tez, have these pirates gone mad? If they want to survive on the Mediterranean, would they really provoke the shark people? If they anger the shark people, how would they be able to roam freely and do as they please in the Mediterranean? The enraged shark people would tear them to shreds, wouldn’t they?!" Mathew was more concerned about this issue, as such counterintuitive phenomenon often meant that something was happening. Although it was far from the capital, he was still very interested.

After pondering for a moment, Tez still shook his head, "There must be something odd about this, but right now I don’t have the energy to inquire into matters that are too far away from us. You should feel the same! The weather has already warmed up, and the beastmen’s active period is coming again. How is your preparation going?"

"The construction of the Northern Fortress is basically completed, and the Western Iron Cross Legion has been stationed there. Together with the Border Guard, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. However, have you had any news about the investigation His Majesty asked you to conduct? It’s a matter of our kingdom’s survival. Where exactly did the beastmen’s battering rams come from? What’s the mystery behind this?"

Nodding, Mathew countered with a question. This was the most important matter. If the beastmen truly acquired a significant number of battering rams, then neither northern nor western fortresses would be safe from calamity. Beastmen armed with advanced siege weapons like battering rams could not be stopped by a mere fortress or a legion. What worried Mathew the most was this: It wasn’t just the beastmen or even a few battering rams he feared—as a veteran of many battles, he had long since become as tough as steel. Beastmen might gain the upper hand with a surprise attack, but once the kingdom’s forces steadied their stance, the beastmen had few options against an immovable stronghold. However, if the half-beastmen, already far superior in physical condition to mortal soldiers, acquired the same advanced weapons as mortals, then the tide of battle could completely turn.

"Unfortunately, we still haven’t made much progress with this issue. But I can assure you that the beastmen have not acquired many battering rams, at least not since then. Our informants have not detected anything abnormal with the beastmen," Tez’s head began to throb subtly. "As for the mastermind behind this, I dare not assert without evidence. But why haven’t the countries on the western side of the Alliance suffered from beastmen attacks in these past years? This question is inexplicable."

"Are you suggesting that those fellows in the Western Alliance provided the beastmen with battering rams?! Can beastmen and mortals truly trust one another? Are they not afraid the beastmen will use these weapons against them?" Mathew had also harbored such suspicions, but without evidence, bringing up such a shocking theory could cause a major upheaval, even leading to the Alliance’s division. Even as the kingdom’s leading general, he dared not lightly propose such a notion.

"No, the number of battering rams acquired by the beastmen is not many. As long as we stay vigilant, they don’t pose a significant threat. Of course, a surprise attack could still inflict substantial losses on us, for instance, on the Myron Duchy and the city-states of Meine and Susoer. Those who supplied the beastmen with battering rams would naturally be wary, so the beastmen couldn’t form a fatal threat to them. And given the beastmen’s intelligence in manufacturing, they would never be able to produce such complex instruments. To continue obtaining and replenishing their losses, they would have to obey those behind the scenes—they are the ones who practically dictate the beastmen’s movements and can do as they please."

The emotionless deduction caused a chill to run down the armored soldier’s spine, and beads of sweat to emerge. If the opposition’s speculation was indeed true, then the kingdom was in grave danger. Even if the Blue Dove Legion was successfully formed, it couldn’t counter the threat of those with ulterior motives supplying advanced weapons to the beastmen. Such a scheme was sheer madness!