Chapter 240: Light and Darkness

“From the looks of it, there seems to be no other way!” Knight Val appeared quite unwilling. He had likely never felt such a sense of power lessness before!

As a high-level Legend, although he couldn’t say he had always been invincible in the past, he had never been led by the nose by an enemy like today without discovering a single clue.

George, who had some guesses in his mind, spoke slowly: “Mr. Val, please think about it. Exactly what level of strength is needed to keep an expert like you in the dark?”

After hearing George’s words, Knight Val began to frown and mutter to himself. One familiar or unfamiliar name after another came from his mouth. The familiar ones were all famous figures on the Western Continent.

‘Alexandra Brudnell Darwin seems to be the Ring Leader of the Silver Federation’s Ring Law Association. That guy is rumored to be a peak Mage who uses legendary magic to extend his lifespan in the Bone Plane. A true old monster who survived from the Old Empire era. Aurean Cowell Rattigan is said to be a chosen one of the Lord of Conspiracy; the number of dynasties destroyed because of him over the centuries has reached double digits…’ Listening to Knight Val recite name after name, George felt his heart pound.

Aside from these old monsters who were still alive, many of the names he had never heard of were probably experts hiding very deep! What surprised George even more was that several of them seemed to be figures whose deaths had already been reported. He didn’t expect those guys to still be alive and well. Of course, it was also possible that they could just linger in the Prime Material Plane.

“Is the strength of these big shots like Isolde all above yours?” Viscount Bolerum asked quietly, seemingly afraid of being overheard. Although the civil officials recruited were not the type to gossip, there was no guarantee there were no enemy spies around them. At a time like this, no more trouble could be afforded.

“Not necessarily! At our level of strength, regarding combat, besides the strength of both sides, pre-war targeted preparation, personal performance during combat, and luck that might cause unexpected changes are all very important. So before we actually fight, we cannot guarantee that we will definitely defeat the other party. But against the vast majority of members among them, I feel I should be able to gain the upper hand.” Knight Val’s answer could be said to be humble first then confident, displaying considerable self-confidence within it.

Hearing this, Viscount Bolerum finally breathed a sigh of relief, because he knew that even if that potential enemy attacked personally regardless of everything, Bolerum Territory was not completely powerless to fight back. Although he knew Knight Val’s strength was very strong, he was merely a newly emerging strongman from the last ten or twenty years. Compared with those old monsters who had suppressed the entire Western Continent for over a century, he was still more or less worrying!

George nodded and asked following Knight Val’s words: “Mr. Val, then according to your meaning. The strength of these experts is not necessarily above yours. It’s just that they happen to have considerable talent in executing plans. So being able to avoid your detection is correct?”

“George, you are right! Perhaps in charging and fighting I am confident I am no weaker than them, but in the skill of playing tricks behind the scenes, I am far behind.” Knight Val touched his nose bridge and said with a dry laugh.

“Then have you considered whether a Deity personally intervened! Since the Aerial God Race is also called the Aerial Divine Envoys, they have the responsibility to transmit messages for the benevolent gods! And I have heard that the Omen Divine Envoy often uses fables or proverbs to metaphorize the tasks at hand. In this way, the possibility of Deity intervention is not nonexistent!” George first searched all aspects of knowledge in his mind to explain to the two in the room. Then he threw out a heavy bomb: “And among the Lawful Good Deities, there is actually one who has a pretty good relationship with our Bolerum Territory!”

Viscount Bolerum immediately thought of something: “A Deity with a good relationship? George, could you be talking about the Lord of Justice?”

“Indeed, given that Highness’s temperament, in dealing with Dark Elves, it is very likely to intervene. And among the Aerial God Race, the Lord of Justice is also one of the most influential Deities.” As he spoke, Knight Val’s originally quite good complexion immediately darkened.

Seeing the change in Knight Val’s expression, both Viscount Bolerum and George shivered. Then the faces of both became as ugly as if they had eaten British Royal Navy brand beef jerky.

George asked with great difficulty: “I say, Father! Do you think we need to transition to a wartime system now?”

Wartime system usually refers to when the government believes the country is on the edge of danger, in order to defend national security, it can propose to the highest legislative body to implement a temporary economic and social management system, which is implemented by the government after approval. Of course, in the current Bolerum Territory, George’s family had the final say, but it was necessary to report to His Grace the Duke in advance to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings from other Lords.

The so-called wartime system involves political, economic, cultural, military, and other aspects. In terms of national political system: different countries might have different choices. Some democratic republics would even dissolve Parliament, implement military control, and increase the government’s control over the country. More importantly, it would give the current government more temporary discretionary power. Government executive power would cover many domestic laws, replaced by temporarily promulgated administrative regulations, often meaning stricter party control and news censorship. To prohibit the spread of rumors and other speech that disperses one’s own military morale and fighting spirit, emphasizing the absolute obedience of the people to the needs of military struggle. In this regard, Bolerum Territory had done quite well before!

Economically: generally, new temporary economic management measures would be introduced. The government’s active regulatory ability would be greatly strengthened, and the management of economic activities would completely focus on maximizing the guarantee of safety as the key consideration, which might damage the interests of some economic entities. Especially carrying out so-called “scorched earth”. Transferring all transferable supplies, including food, metal, fuel, and other strategic supplies, to safer locations, or hiding them.

Transferring original civilian industry to military use. Conscripting civilian transport power to serve our military struggle. If possible, freezing all assets of hostile countries in the country. Increasing our strategic material reserves. It can be said that for Bolerum Territory, which relied on trade as its main source of wealth, this aspect was the most fatal. Even if the war ultimately did not break out, just that atmosphere of paranoia would make many Caravans retreat.

Militarily: possibly conducting full mobilization, active duty troops fully equipped and staffed, reserve forces quickly reorganized, if necessary, new temporary conscription measures might be promulgated to ensure the reliability of military power. Curfews and light control might be implemented within the Territory.

At the same time, strengthening the protection ability of various Manors outside the city; for those with weak defensive measures, all personnel and supplies would be withdrawn to the city. Disregarding the gain or loss of one city or one place, prioritizing the preservation of effective strength. Then concentrating superior forces to kill the enemy’s effective strength as much as possible. Because the Dark Elves race had a considerable weakness like Elves, their reproduction and growth were quite difficult. Population issues had always been their fatal defect.

“Let’s wait a bit longer! After all, Mage Botfish’s spell will get a conclusion in at most two days. And reporting to Karada also takes time!” Viscount Bolerum said hesitantly.

What Viscount Bolerum said was not entirely unreasonable, and George certainly would not refute his father’s face on such a matter. Otherwise, he still reminded: “Hope nothing happens! I think if a Deity is really warning us about something. That would be no ordinary big trouble. It can even be said that the victory of this battle, in a certain sense, is quite important for his camp.”

“Then I will let Laurel act quickly! If it really is a divine oracle, then we must prepare early. After all, there are quite a few precedents for this situation in history. But every war can be said to be tragic.” Knight Val expressed his worry about the future with his own words.

“Don’t worry! Spell materials will be prepared for you by this afternoon.” George delivered the first good news of the day. The greatest value of gems in this world was not their so-called ornamental value. But their use as important raw materials used by Spellcasters.

At the same time, in the dark underground tunnel, it was as silent as death, only slight footsteps echoed faintly. Lifefish Edison cautiously observed his surroundings. Because he needed to confirm that all team members were in their respective positions.

Finding that everyone was safe and sound, he breathed a slight sigh of relief, and incidentally wrapped his thick cloak tighter. At the same time, his right hand never left the Rapier at his waist.

This was the Underdark, where deformed, Evil creatures lived to avoid sunlight. It was filled with cities and nations of Duergar, Dark Elves, Gray Dwarves, and Mind Flayers. It was also the home of some rarer races, such as Aboleths, Beholders, and Kuo-toa, as well as some intelligent humanoid slaves from the Surface.

The Underdark was a desolate world. There were two overriding rules: survival and destroying enemies. Most of the Underdark was eternal darkness, filled with creatures not adapted to real light. As compensation, they evolved Darkvision or enhanced senses long ago.

Glowrock, night-glowing crystals, and phosphorescent moss, lichen, and fungi dimly illuminated some places. Weird plants were common; visitors could hardly identify which were hostile and which were poisonous without using magic or conducting potentially lethal experiments.

Because there was no rain in the Underdark, fresh water was the most precious resource. Residents had to rely on any filtrates coming down from the Surface. Discoverers of water would store water and protect it with their lives.

Because of the scarcity of reliable resources, every city would produce a few specialty products during peacetime to trade with neighboring cities. A typical Caravan included dozens of heavily armed merchants and soldiers, and two or three would be sent to patrol ahead or behind during the journey.

Although the tunnels were usually quiet, echoes traveled far. An experienced Underdark scout could distinguish the subtle difference between natural creatures and potential threats just by the echo.

Wealthy cities teleported Caravans to their destinations, or used ready-made portals to speed up the journey. Roads leading to nearby portals were usually the fuse for long-term wars between neighboring cities. Of course, those cities that often murdered and enslaved Caravans during peacetime often found that they could no longer obtain useful resources and were vulnerable to invasion.

Lifefish Edison’s location was already at least thirty miles away from the Surface. The air was dark, cold, and damp, carrying a bone-chilling chill.

Half a month ago, they set off from Blindstone City, aiming for the distant City of Ikasha. Based on past experience, the time they spent on the road was at least over four months. A round trip would waste more than half a year in these cold, dark cavern tunnels. It could be said that this was far more depressing than naval officers and soldiers in submarines deep in the ocean.

The only thing that could add excitement to this simple, boring journey was the endless stream of monsters in the Underdark. Calculating it, they encountered a battle on average every two to three hours along the way, sometimes even more frequently.

Just half an hour ago, they had just dealt with five Hook Horrors. This was a kind of cunning and highly territorial monster that would launch merciless attacks on all “intruders.” Their heads were like vultures, their claws sharp as hooks, and their massive beetle-like bodies were covered in thick shells, as hard as rock—though not enough to withstand enchanted Longswords sold by Dark Elves, let alone Magic.

This time, Lifefish Edison felt he seemed to have good luck. Because most of the time, the number of Hook Horrors they encountered was above ten, and every battle would delay a large amount of time.

Thinking of this, he gripped the sharp sword at his waist even tighter. The craftsmanship of this ordinary Gray Dwarf forging was exquisite, but it was not that rare kind of fine product. It was mass-produced with average material, but the Magic attached to it made it sharper than Adamantine weapons. This was very rare in the Surface world, but in Shasmar City, it was sold like ordinary goods.

This weapon he bought last year had saved his life more than once in the long time it had been in his hands. Unfortunately, this kind of weapon was destined not to see the light. There was no implied meaning here, just the literal meaning.

The earth pulse radiation affected everything in the Underdark, and this certainly included Magic Items. They made swords sharper, armor firmer, and contained more powerful spell power—but they could not see sunlight.

Even the simplest and most basic Enchantment could exceed the much more expensive enhancement effects on the Surface. If not in the Underdark—for example, on the ground, weapons would not possess any bonuses from Enchantment. More importantly, this kind of weapon might dissolve immediately when exposed to sunlight. Even if one successfully resisted momentarily, there was still a possibility of destruction every day after that. Hiding it in a room or wrapping it in cloth could not avoid this effect. But it could be kept safe in a completely enclosed space—such as a Space Bag or a Dimensional Hole. Of course, a relatively simple method was to treat this weapon with an Alchemy Item called Drow Oil, then the weapon could temporarily be immune to the effects of sunlight.

In fact, the small-scale encounter just now was not dangerous at all. Instead, it was a good pastime to familiarize oneself with the environment, exercise skills, or even pass the time. The real trouble was actually getting lost.

Traveling in the Underdark. It was completely different from the Surface world; there were no obvious landmarks and open views, only tunnels that extended in all directions like a spider web, and the ubiquitous darkness.

Even the most experienced traveler, holding a detailed map, would find it difficult to identify directions in such a place. And due to the interference of earth pulse radiation, compasses were simply unusable. Although Lifefish Edison had been traveling back and forth on this Caravan for 10 years, new situations would arise every time. Such as the collapse of caves, or the migration of certain irresistible Magical Beasts.

And his goal was this society far below, which was an excellent magic item market in the Underdark. Shamas City, considered a powerful trading partner by other cities.

By Dark Elves standards. Shamas City was an unconventional city; its rulers were Mages, not Priestesses of the Spider Queen. In this city, the status of Arcane was supreme, and everything else was beneath it. Religious belief was not valued or even rejected here, which was completely unimaginable in other Drow cities.

It is said that about three thousand years ago. Shamas City was actually like other Drow cities, ruled by families led by Lolth Priests. At that time, the First Family was Shamas, also the founder of this city. Later, a civil war broke out. The Matrons of various families, as well as all influential Priests, were all killed, and Mages began to seize power. In the long years that followed, male Dark Elves gained an advantage through a high birth rate of males for several consecutive generations, reducing the number and power of Dark Elves Matrons.

After the successful coup, the Mages changed the previous family rule model and established a ruling Parliament, composed of leaders of various Arcane schools. At the same time, they modified the laws and reconstructed the hierarchy: Mages were the highest, while Priests, Sorcerers, Bards, etc., were second-class citizens, because their power was not obtained through personal effort, but came from bloodline or divine gift, which should be despised. Humans and Elves would not be hostile, because they possessed the possibility of becoming Spellcasters.

As for Goblins, Ogres, Minotaurs, or Blind Barbarians and other “inferior intelligence races”, they were unceremoniously treated as slaves. It can be said that these slaves constituted a quarter of the city’s population. And visitors from other lands, Undead servants, and summoned creatures made the usual population reach sixty thousand. This was an amazing number in the underground world. It can be said that anyone who knew Magic or witchcraft, as long as they were not afraid of being enslaved, was welcomed by this city.