City of Desire: Chapter 1048 Retreat, Pause and Ready (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

I drank the potion and slowly removed his blade from my chest; a little deeper and it would have killed me.

It was a massive risk, but there was no choice. Viremont was extremely powerful. Even with every bit of strength and power of Eudo’s script, I could only injure him.

If I hadn’t taken the risk, he would have escaped, and I knew he would have come back within weeks, with a bigger army and more powerhouses.

I looked at his dead body and the battlefield, which had gone completely silent. It looked like they still couldn’t believe what had happened.

“Lay down your arms and surrender,” I declared, my voice carrying across the battlefield. “Those who surrender will be spared and treated humanely.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then the dam broke.

Common soldiers, nobles, and powerhouses alike turned and fled.

I moved, despite it being the last thing I wanted to do. I am tired to the bone; it took everything to defeat Viremont. Especially the runes; using them came at a cost.

Immediately, I felt the spells targeting me. I looked up and saw a massive lightning spell coming toward me.

Selveron was covering the retreat.

Leila appeared, flew in front of me, and swiped a misty blade at the lightning.

It shook her, but she stopped the attack.

“Leave this old bastard to me!” she said. I nodded and moved. My first target is Baron Valdis.

Late Lv. 30 powerhouse- why him? Because he is noble and has an artifact. I could go after Gaiden, Viremont’s general, or Kav, a mercenary, but they are Lv. 40.

Killing them in a single attack wouldn’t be possible; by the time I finish with them, others would run off.

I need to be rational. Choose the targets that benefit the dominion.

I will not target a single big fish. Instead, I will focus on the multiple little fish. That will bring me far more benefits than the big ones.

The strategy is already decided before the battle, and my people move toward their targets without waiting for orders.

I reached the man in his sixties, who looked at me in horror, seeing me appear before him.

“I surre”

I didn’t stop, and my blade moved toward his head, but at the last moment, with a flick of my wrist, the back of it struck the man, sending him flying and knocking him unconscious.

I moved immediately, jumping off the wall.

Something I would never have done if I had not killed Viremont.

A few seconds later, I dealt with the second target, but moved toward the third. Most of them didn’t have artifacts; some lost them in war, some didn’t bring them here, but despite that, they are valuable.

‘They are regrouping.’

General Azalia’s voice rang in my mind, and I nodded. It was likely Gaiden, seizing command of the army before the retreat collapsed completely.

Their officers were smart and experienced, and Viremont’s general was capable. With Selveron supporting him, he began forcing the chaotic retreat back into discipline.

Seeing that, I changed my priorities.

I began targeting mercenaries and valuable officers as well.

‘My lord, retreat; they might be setting a trap!’ Informed General Azalia. I nodded and stopped. Their powerhouse has gathered in one place; I went too far, and they might come at me.

I may be powerful, but if they surrounded me, I could be in big trouble.

I looked at targets before sighing. A moment later, I retreated toward the wall.

I stopped beside Azalia. She looked tired and injured, enough that I felt like she might fall any second.

“We did it,” she said finally. Her voice was soft, but I could hear the relief and joy in it.

“Yes, we did,” I replied with a big smile on my face.

We killed two of their most powerful powerhouses, including the leader. It is the kind of victory we wanted; while I would have to kill and capture more, we did better than we estimated.

After a few words, she left.

She is a general; she has so much to do. Assess the damage, mount the defense with people who are in the best condition, and deal with the injured and the dead.

I wish she could rest, but she is the general.

Everyone looked at her as she moved, following orders as they left her mouth. They respected her; she had already proved her mettle, but this battle took it to a whole new level.

I looked around; the wall was standing, but it was in shambles. It's going to cost a lot in repairs- not just repairs, but an upgrade.

The news of the golem will spread across the empire and the continent, making Panar more valuable. Its defenses need to be strong enough to withstand anything that comes at it.

“Do you think they will attack again?” asked Leila as she appeared beside me.

She is not wearing a circlet. Given her current condition, it's dangerous to wear it. But if Selveron returned, she would put it back on.

She may be a Great Mage, but she could not fight that old fox without that thing.

“Unlikely, but we need to be prepared for them and others,” I replied, and her expression turned somber. We might have dealt with Viremont, but others still might come.

I am not just talking about the undead, but also Arenthal and Grimvale, who might even ally with these retreating.

So, the next few days are going to be extremely dangerous.

“The undead had paused the attack on Gailhorn,” she informed me. The undead had been very cautious this time. They sacrificed only their undead, not pillars and powerhouses.

They had only used them once during the assassination attempt and not again.

“Their ships?” I asked.

“Still in the same place,” while the ships remain; the attack is not over. As for what they will do, I don’t know, but I have to be cautious as the war is far from over.

I stayed on the wall until the army was nothing but a small dot, then walked down.

A few minutes later, I was sitting in an office at the military headquarters, taking in all the reports coming in when the door opened; a middle-aged orc came walking in.

“Lord Silver,” he greeted.

“Mr. Yarl,” I replied.

“The council congratulates you on your victory, Lord Silver,” he said, and I smiled. “Please thank the council for me, Mr. Yarl, and for the aid they have provided.”

“Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to win so quickly.” The man nodded, acknowledging it.

“Now, the use is over. I must take them back,” he said, and I really didn’t want to return them, but that was the deal.

“Can I keep them a little longer?” I asked, and the man smiled. Seeing that, I sighed and turned to Zela. A moment later, six boxes flew up in front of the man.

He opened them, revealing six artifacts Oksall had loaned me.

To be used in a single battle and only against Viremont. It’s their revenge against him for attacking their state and precious institution.

A warning to everyone, without lifting a finger.

A minute later, the man left.

“I have started receiving messages from their houses about the artifacts,” Zela informed me, and I smiled. I wasn't surprised, not even a bit.

Artifacts do not belong to a person, but to a house.

In the imperial laws and the laws of almost all kingdoms, it is the same. This means these artifacts do not belong to me; I might have defeated their users, but I cannot legally claim them.

They still belong to their house.

Of course, they will have to pay a massive ransom to get them back, but I will have to give them back to the houses they belong to.

These laws are old and in place. So, a person couldn’t accumulate too many artifacts; the power remained distributed in a kingdom. One could keep artifacts only if they were gained in war between kingdoms.

Like Viremont’s blade.

I could keep Hiren’s belt because the chronology of its changing hands is conflicting, but still the house is petitioning the imperial courts to get me to return the artifact.

Of course, I will not return it, no matter how much money they are willing to pay to get it back.

I could legally keep the artifact for years, a decade at max, if I pushed, which I am going to do.

As for what happens a decade later, nobody knows.

I may get more through other sources so that I do not need them, or things change enough that I do not need to return them to their houses. Anything could happen.

A few minutes later, I got up and stepped out of the headquarters.

Soon, I appeared in front of the large white building and stepped inside. Immediately, the familiar smells hit me: sweat, blood, and medicine.

I looked around and saw beds occupied by people, doctors, healers, and nurses moving around them.

I wanted to visit earlier, but I didn’t want to disturb the doctors doing their job.

“Lord Silver,” greeted the man in his late forties. “General.”

He is Brigadier General Nindis, the highest-ranking medical officer in the army.

“It looks bad,” I said, looking at the people on the beds. Not a single bed was empty, and some people didn't have minor injuries. Many among them could never fight again.

“It is not as bad as it looks.”

“It is quite remarkable, actually. They are receiving treatment only afforded to the officers in the empire,” he stated. It did not make me feel good, though it comforted me knowing my efforts are paying off.

The army's medical corps is among the most well-funded.

We have the required number of healers needed in an army of our size, along wth best medical tools and resources. Including a large number of essence potions.

I have told them to use them as long as it saves lives. Even merchants don’t do that.

Emotion essence is only for the officers and important people.

I walked with the man until we reached the room on a floor above. He opened the door and walked inside. There was a woman, bandaged to her every inch.

Even her hair was barely visible beneath all those bandages.

“Her injuries were severe, but we were able to stabilize her,” he said. I nodded, feeling relieved. I don’t know how I would have answered Valentina if something had happened to her.

She held back, Baron Fairwyn, until the end of the battle.

That wasn't easy, since our information on the man was limited. He was a lot stronger than we had thought, but she kept him contained until the end.

I looked at her for a few seconds before walking to the room beside hers.

“My lord,” a weak voice greeted me.

“At ease, Lt. Colonel,” I said to Halewright. After Irab died, the man held Zorazel Lant back. Unfortunately, she had survived.

“You did well today, exceptionally well,” I praised.

He did much better than expected. Holding back an experienced Lv. 40 is no simple thing, but he did, and his special abilities played a huge part.

“Thank you, my lord,” he replied weakly.

“Rest, Lt. Colonel. We have things to talk about after you recover,” I said and walked out of the room.

“Summerfield’s army had reached Greltheaven,” Zela informed me as the door closed behind us. I nodded and walked toward another room.

It is the battle I am least worried about. Greltheaven is safe, at least from Ronda’s forces.

…

Carla Salt

“Your Lord has once again impressed me,” said the Storm Mage as the screen disappeared.

“He is impressive,” I replied.

There is no need to be humble; the strength he had shown was incredible. Count Viremont was a very powerful enemy, but Remus defeated him single-handedly.

“This is just one battle; there are still the undead and others. Also, an army is marching toward your city,” said Artur.

“We will deal with it, as we dealt with Count Viremont.” Anyone who attacks us will pay. Summerfield will be no exception from it.

“When are you leaving?” asked the Storm Mage.

“Tomorrow.”

I have some meetings in the city. I would have liked to leave as soon as possible, but there are things to do.

“My people will leave with you for the negotiations.” I nodded at that; the sooner we start, the better it will be. I am sure the Imperials have already stretched their greedy hands toward golems.

“I will also send a team of body script specialists that we have. I hope you will ask Master Angestel to advise them,” she added.

It surprised me.

Few people knew about Eudo’s other talent, though he used it in battle, much less the grade of his expertise. His scripts remain invisible unless one has specialized ocular or sensory skills.

“He would be happy to,” I replied.

It’s a small request; I am sure Eudo would not have any problem.

A few minutes later, after handing over the invitation, I stepped out of the tower. There are many things to do, but I don’t know whether I will be focused on them with how things are going at home.

I will have to, for home.