Chapter 690: A Show of Power ( 690 )

Francesca smiled gently, lifting her teacup with both hands.

“Yes dear~ That son of ours… really tucked everything inside that Pekko pen of his. Including high-grade weapon platforms.”

Eridith leaned forward, already biting a biscuit. “Didn’t he connect them to a relay system for automatic target detection?”

“He did,” Garius replied, rubbing his chin. “And not just that… His mana-seal magic grid activates when the long-range detectors on the border wall sense high-speed mana signatures. That includes aerial threats.”

“Which means…” Francesca mused softly, “His anti-air mana guns are about to fire.”

Before Garius could answer, footsteps approached.

Alf, ever composed, arrived in crisp uniform, hand over chest in a respectful bow.

“My lord,” Alf said.

Garius glanced at him.

“Yes, Alf?”

“We’ve received word from the Border Wall’s communication node. Young Master Javier’s anti-air system has gone into alert mode. The aiming sequence has already begun… but our scouts reported no visual confirmation of enemies in the sky.”

Francesca gently set her cup down.

“…They’re cloaked,” she murmured.

Before anyone else could speak.

A heavy, metallic hatch somewhere on the western compound hissed open. From within, faint steam escaped—followed by the low, rising hum of mana charging.

Garius shook his head slowly.

“So… he deployed the mana-guided missile silo too.”

He smirked slightly.

Garius turned slightly, glancing at Alf with a relaxed expression.

“…Alf?”

“Yes, my lord?” Alf replied with a smile, bowing his head slightly.

“Could you ask the maids to bring more food to our table?”

“Of course, my lord.”

Alf straightened and turned, casually nodding toward a poised woman standing near the archway.

Erinnette, elegant as ever, already awaiting a task.

“My, my… Lord Garius,” Erinnette said with a teasing tone. “You should’ve told me directly.”

“Ah, sorry, Erinnette.” Garius smiled faintly. “If you please.”

She curtsied softly. “Right away, my lord.”

Garius raised his hand. Calmly. Gracefully.

A single signal.

Everyone around the courtyard—wives, attendants, and guards—immediately covered their ears without question.

From the distance , several flickers sparked.

A dozen streams of light tore across the sky.

The streaks of light continued soaring into the sky—one after another—as more hatches opened outside the outer estate wall.

Each launch echoed like distant thunder. Rhythmic. Predictable.

One after another, mana-guided missiles launched in perfect synchronicity, rising in , before arcing toward the far horizon.

They vanished beyond view. But everyone here knew where they were going.

“It looks like a rather festive firework show today… don’t you think, Alf?” Garius remarked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he sipped his tea.

Alf bowed slightly, eyes never leaving the horizon. “Yes, my lord. A celebration, perhaps. Or maybe someone’s just placing an order for grilled wyvern.”

Garius chuckled, placing his cup down. “Speaking of grilled wyvern—Erinnette?”

“Yes, my lord?” she responded gracefully from behind him.

“I think I’ll have steak. Rare.”

“As you command. I shall inform the chefs at once.”

Francesca chuckled, waving gently for more biscuits as she leaned into her chair with ease. “I must say, dear… the timing is rather impeccable.”

Eridith, belly round and clearly enjoying her pregnancy privileges, tore another bite from her roast meat without shame.

The other two wives, Lady Garcinia and Lady Phenelopie—exchanged amused glances and shook their heads, accustomed to the chaos their family brought.

“Garcinia? Phenelopie?” Garius asked, glancing casually toward them.

“Yes, dear husband?” they responded in unison.

“Where are our children? Heres? Aelius? Athine?”

Phenelopie placed down her teacup and folded her hands gently.

“Heres should still be at the Gaze City Office.”

“And Aelius and Athine?” Garius pressed.

Garcinia answered with a soft voice, “They’ve yet to return from the Demon Country. Still tied up negotiating those raw material deals with King Veldrac’s representatives. You know how… thorough those two can get when it comes to business.”

“Mm,” Garius nodded, leaning back once more, gazing at the sky as another round of missiles flew overhead.

“Let’s hope our dear friend Hesbeirn isn’t too shocked, right, Alf?” Garius said with a small grin, glancing toward the man who stood just a step behind him.

Alf smirked faintly, arms behind his back. “Yes, my lord. Let’s hope our dear friend doesn’t drop his tea cup in the main base.”

“Hahaha.” Garius let out a light chuckle, flipping over to the next page of his report. “He should be used to surprises by now.”

He sipped his tea again, then turned to Francesca beside him.

“And where are Marcellus and Cedric?”

Francesca exhaled softly, eyes warm with mischief. “Marcellus is… quite busy. Lithia and Harny seem to keep him thoroughly occupied these days.”

Garius raised a brow and gave an amused hum.

“And Cedric?”

Francesca’s smile deepened. “Occupied as well. His catfolk maid, Meira… and the new addition, Zania.”

“Oh~” Garius smirked, closing his folder gently. “Looks like both our older sons are thriving.”

“Mm. Quite enthusiastically, I’d say,” Francesca replied, calmly reaching for another biscuit.

Alf let out a quiet chuckle as he watched another streak of mana missile fly off into the distance.

And in the background, Eridith spoke between bites of steak, her voice muffled.

“Mmfh—do we get to fight too if they come closer?”

“No, dear,” Francesca said gently. “Finish your meat.”

Eridith huffed, cheeks puffed as she chewed.

Garius just smiled and returned to his report.

Meanwhile. Armand Border Wall.

Hesbeirn stood tall atop the border wall, arms crossed as he watched the sky light up with continuous bursts of anti-air mana fire.

Another missile soared , trailing brilliant arcs of blue flame, then exploded mid-air with a thunderous roar. A faint scream echoed from the sky.

Hesbeirn didn’t flinch.

He simply sighed.

His sharp eyes scanned the horizon where smoke trails and shattered wings now littered the distant sky.

Behind him, his troops were already roaring—cheering with fierce morale as they saw the enemy being torn from the sky.

The new special Pekko mount unit—equipped with enhanced armor and magic crossbow, stood at the ready, formation perfect, eyes gleaming.

Hesbeirn slowly turned to face them.

“…Looks like they really thought flying in through the skies would be enough,” he muttered to himself. Then gave a dry smirk.

“Well… guess we should get ready for the ground war instead.”

He looked down at the rows of gleaming mana cannons mounted along the full length of the border wall—each humming with dense energy, awaiting targets.

“…That is… if they can even make it this far.”

He turned again to the horizon, the wind rustling through his cloak.

“Welcome to Armand,” Hesbeirn smirk.

( End Of Chapter )

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