Chapter 133: Marie and the Four

“Judging by the arrangement of these runes, if my guess is correct, the structure of this array is quite crude. There are even several unnecessary components. The runic knowledge of the one who set this up could use some improvement…”

After evaluating the positions of the runes, Jie Ming fell into deep thought.

What was their goal?

Could it be the same as his?

Jie Ming’s brow furrowed slightly before relaxing. “Well, no matter. The function of these runes doesn’t conflict with my objectives. Perhaps I can even borrow their power to lighten my workload… I hope that wizard won’t mind me hitching a ride.”

…

In the royal capital of Elosia, within the resplendent banquet hall of Holly Palace.

Crystal chandeliers cast dazzling light, illuminating the space as if it were day.

Silk and gold thread adorned the walls, and the air was filled with the fragrance of fine wine, fresh flowers, and perfume.

Nobles in lavish attire clinked glasses and exchanged soft laughter, as if the looming shadow of war had never touched this paradise.

Jie Ming, dressed in a subdued dark tailored suit, stood out among the vibrant colors.

Holding a glass of wine, he wore a polite smile, occasionally exchanging pleasantries with nobles who approached him.

As someone outside the kingdom’s political system, Jie Ming was rarely invited to such banquets.

But today, it seemed every noble in the kingdom was hosting events, desperate to suppress their inner fears.

Amid the bustling crowd, his gaze inadvertently settled on the central area of the hall, where a group of young talents and noblewomen surrounded a young lady.

She was graceful, her lake-blue gown making her appear like a forest sprite.

Her features weren’t breathtaking, yet she exuded an indescribable allure, pure and captivating like morning dew.

Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and her eyes carried a sincere warmth when speaking, as if she could see through to one’s heart.

Jie Ming could clearly sense a gentle yet powerful life affinity radiating from her, spreading invisibly.

This force wasn’t aggressive, yet it soothed those near her, causing them to lower their guard and instinctively feel fondness and trust.

After speaking with her, people’s faces would unconsciously light up with ease and joy.

“Such a powerful life affinity…” Jie Ming marveled inwardly.

This woman was none other than Miss Marie, the talk of the capital’s social circles in recent months, the daughter of a viscount from the borderlands between the Elven Kingdom and the Human Kingdom.

As Jie Ming pondered, a familiar voice sounded beside him.

“Lord Jack! You’re here too!”

Turning, Jie Ming smiled lightly.

Approaching were Count Reinhardt, Baron Fabio, and General Brandon—three nobles who had escaped Golden Harbor with him, now dressed in splendid attire.

Though traces of fatigue lingered on their faces, their spirits seemed much improved.

They approached Jie Ming, their expressions a perfect blend of gratitude for surviving and a hint of awe.

“Count, Baron, General,” Jie Ming greeted with a nod and a raised glass. “It’s truly a pleasure to see you all here.”

“A pleasure! A great pleasure!” Baron Fabio’s face jiggled with excitement as he downed a gulp of wine, saying with lingering fear, “If not for your valor, my lord, we’d likely be dead in the wilderness. How could we be here enjoying the capital’s splendor?”

Count Reinhardt gave Jie Ming a meaningful glance before turning his gaze toward Miss Marie, his voice tinged with emotion.

“Indeed, returning here feels like a dream. But the capital’s atmosphere is far tenser than I expected. The war at the front, the people’s panic… thankfully, we have His Majesty’s wisdom and certain reassuring presences.”

He paused, gesturing toward Miss Marie. “Take Miss Marie, for instance. She’s become the focal point of the capital’s social scene. The countesses can’t stop praising her poise and charm, saying her presence calms even the most anxious nobles.”

Baron Fabio chimed in, “The Count speaks true. Miss Marie is like a clear spring, soothing the capital’s restless hearts. I heard she came to the capital seeking a marriage alliance. I wonder who’ll be fortunate enough to win such a beauty.”

General Brandon let out a soft grunt, his tone carrying a soldier’s pragmatism and a faint, almost imperceptible worry. “I’ve heard of that viscount. Just a useless drunk. Instead of wasting time on such matters, we should be thinking about the allied army. Those wizards don’t care about your status.”

At his words, the others fell silent.

Jie Ming understood their reaction—this was precisely why the kingdom’s nobles were frantically hosting banquets today.

In truth, if he weren’t privy to insider knowledge, he too might have felt fear.

After all, today was the day the contribution leaderboard was updated.

Thus, the people of the Elosia plane once again witnessed the sky torn asunder, with gods clashing against “foreign evil deities.”

Perhaps to differentiate this event from previous ones, to instill just the right amount of tension in the natives, or perhaps because the high-tier fate wizard’s hands weren’t entirely clean…

In any case, this time, as the “foreign evil deity” met its “demise,” it unleashed a desperate burst, dragging one of the gods down with it in mutual destruction.

…Or rather, just before being expelled from the plane by the gods, it “snatched” a deity and took it along.

Though the abducted god was merely a lower-tier one, barely at the fourth level, the fall of any deity was an unimaginable event for mortals.

“Speaking of which,” Baron Fabio took another swig of wine, steering the conversation elsewhere, “when it comes to those who’ve truly fought the foreign demons in the capital, there’s only that ‘lucky one,’ Kaiden, right? Lord Jack, you’ve heard of him, haven’t you? The village warrior who survived the ‘David Annihilation Battle’ by the skin of his teeth!”

Count Reinhardt frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with the topic but still explained, “It’s best not to call him that. Mr. Kaiden has gained quite a reputation in the capital’s common districts.”

“He often speaks at taverns and squares, recounting the brutal realities of the war he experienced and the evil of the wizard ‘David.’ His words are so rousing that they ignite the crowd’s emotions every time. Now, the capital’s people are practically demanding that His Majesty launch an all-out attack on the wizards!”

General Brandon snorted coldly. “That Kaiden is a complete madman. But I’ll admit, his wild tales have whipped the capital into a frenzy. Many new recruits in the army joined because of his agitation, all pumped up like they’re on fire. It boosts morale, sure, but this kind of pre-war fanaticism… it’s not a good thing!”

Baron Fabio, however, was unconcerned. “Madman or not, as long as he can get ordinary folk to fight for the kingdom, he’s a good madman! The capital’s people are now dead-set on taking on the wizards. Even the cowardly merchants are clamoring to donate money and supplies!”

At this, Jie Ming’s heart jolted.

He was almost certain that this “Kaiden” was a wizard in disguise. As for the wizard’s true identity…

Jie Ming wasn’t entirely sure. It could be David, but it might not be.

Based on the updated contribution leaderboard, David’s points hadn’t increased much this month, so the situation was unclear, and it was hard to draw conclusions.

“It seems the capital’s calm won’t last much longer,” Jie Ming remarked, raising his glass to clink with the three nobles, a profound glint in his eyes.

On the other side, Miss Marie, surrounded by admirers, deftly handled the crowd, her gaze subtly drifting toward Jie Ming’s position.

After the banquet, Jie Ming returned to his residence.

He entered the illusion-shrouded study, his expression grave.

The information from the banquet had sparked new insights.

He redrew the traces of the runic arrays he’d discovered recently, carefully reviewing each node and energy flow.

Soon, Jie Ming realized that some of the runes’ distributions weren’t as chaotic as he’d thought.

After relentless sketching and connecting the runes, he discerned the outlines of three massive arrays!

These three arrays, located in different parts of the capital, were interlinked, with their energy convergence points all directed toward the core faith hub of the capital—the combined faith power of all the cathedrals.

“Three arrays…” Jie Ming murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Great minds think alike…”

This indicated that, besides him, other wizards from Noren Academy were lurking in the capital, working toward a shared goal.

Jie Ming couldn’t suppress his excitement.

If he’d only planned to hitch a ride before, now he was determined to get involved!

“The arrays are well-constructed, but there are still flaws. The coordination between the three is slightly off. Let me… act as your mediator!”

“Wait, hold on!”

Jie Ming suddenly noticed something, unfolding the sketch of the capital’s underground runic network again and comparing it to the previous one.

“As expected, several runes here have vanished… and the style of these runes doesn’t quite match the habits of the other three…”

A grin spread across Jie Ming’s face. “Not three, but four people?”