Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

160 Illusion

The next day, Kang De woke up early.

He was about to check his weapons and do some explosions when he heard an urgent knock on the door.

He pushed open the window and looked down. It was Hong San. His Cathayan face was filled with uneasiness. This expression came from a certain fatalism and sigh.

How should he put it?

It was like the expression of a swordsman who had lost his will to fight. That was the current Hong San.

Kang De’s heart sank.

He asked, “The elves are here?”

Hong San looked up and replied, “No.”

“…”

—Then why are you panicking?

“But soon,” Hong San said uneasily. “The speed of the elves’ march is beyond expectations. I thought there would be at least a day of preparation. I didn’t expect it to arrive so quickly. It shouldn’t be, unless…”

He really looked extremely flustered. As he spoke, he began to think about this matter to himself, completely forgetting that he was talking to Kang De.

Kang De frowned and said, “Unless what?”

Hong San was shocked, then he shook his head and said, “It’s nothing… If I’m here, I’m here. It’s useless to say this.”

He looked up at Kang De, “Mayor Nick sent someone over and ordered me to speed up the arming and organization of the troops. Moreover, I have to lead 800 people to the west wall to familiarize myself with the battlefield and prepare before noon today. Our mission is to defend the part of the west wall…”

At this point, Hong San’s voice was already trembling.

War, bloody war, terrifying war, and cruel war were about to descend on this city and thousands of weak people who had nothing to do with it.

He looked at Kang De. His expression changed several times. There was pleading, guilt, fear, and uneasiness.

There were a thousand words to say, but they only gathered into one word, “Master…”

Kang De stood by the window on the second floor and looked down at the Cathayan below. From above, people would indeed become small and humble, so the ruler and the higher-ups always wanted to stand at a high place.

Hong San was a self-deprecating, small, and humble guy to begin with. He had always lived obediently.

However, this time was different.

This time, Hong San’s expression and posture were as small as ever… but he was not humble.

Kang De slowly exhaled.

Then, he jumped down from the second floor and landed beside Hong San. He patted his shoulder.

“Call me Military Advisor.”

Kang De walked straight out.

Hong San turned around and looked at Kang De’s back in a daze. He suddenly wiped the corners of his eyes.

When he was beaten, he smiled. When he was insulted, he smiled. When he was mocked, he smiled. When he was amused, he smiled. He thought that he would never cry and would not know the taste of tears because he did not know what it meant to be sad. He had always been very optimistic. Why should he cry?

However, there had been many tears recently.

Previously, he had cried because Kang De had exposed him. He was not crying for himself, but for those unpredictable people and the sad fate they could not control themselves.

Now, why was he crying?

It was very strange and he could not understand.

It was clearly a good thing. Master Kang had clearly agreed. He should be happy… Why did he want to cry when he patted his shoulder and said four words?

He quickly followed and left this question behind.

This matter was not important. What was important was… what he had to face next.

The street was filled with people, just like yesterday.

Kang De could still remember the scene last night. The Vidal Chamber of Commerce had sent a large number of resources. There was food and drink, meat was full, and there was a lot of sugar. Therefore, everyone smiled and indulged to their hearts’ content. Not only did Hong San’s reputation climb again, but even an outsider like him instantly obtained approval and admiration.

When Hong San returned yesterday, people looked at him as if he was a god.

However, today, his faith wavered.

After last night’s indulgence, when he woke up this morning, the cold air overflowed. Sometimes, even with human slow senses, he could sense the change in the atmosphere. A storm was coming, and the wind was already filling the building.

The aura of war was approaching.

Men, women, old, and young, everyone looked at Hong San with great anticipation.

Kang De watched coldly from the sidelines, but as the military advisor who had “brought back a large number of resources and was extremely capable”, he also carried a portion of the anticipation. Many people also looked at him from the corner of their eyes.

He suddenly had a very strange feeling.

This was because he could read people’s gazes and expectations.

That silent gaze represented a prayer—the great Hong San, when you hear that the elves are coming, escape with us. Don’t let me die and let me not worry about food and clothing. I want to eat as well as last night’s feast. In short, lead us to survive and find another city to settle down and live in.

This was probably the feeling.

They placed all their expectations and hopes on one person.

He suddenly felt a sense of absurdity and… displeasure.

How should he put it?

These people were very weak and innocent. The war should have nothing to do with them. They did not want to be involved in the flames of war. They wanted to live a peaceful life, survive, and eat well. They wanted to escape. This was human nature, very normal, and the instinct of living beings. It was not wrong for them to think so.

However, their mistake was to place such hope on a person who had nothing to do with it and only helped.

Moreover… no one considered Hong San’s feelings.

However, they kept using prayer, worship, and dependence to put Hong San on the spot, causing him to be in a dilemma.

Looking at Hong San in front of him, he sighed silently.

However, in this cruel world, what was the point of talking about right and wrong?

In such a world, right and wrong were meaningless. Just as the elves would not argue with you about the right and wrong of invading Goethe, they would directly send troops to attack and whitewash themselves. Just as the Goode family would not care about the right and wrong of betraying Goethe, they would directly attack. If they won, they could also fake the truth.

Right and wrong were not important. What was important was whether everyone had made their heartfelt decisions and was prepared to pay the price.

Then, Hong San…

Is this what you really want to do?

The crowd began to riot.

Someone shouted, “Lord Hong San, has the elf army attacked?”

Someone asked again, “Lord Hong San, can we leave this place?”

One after another.

“Lord, should we defend the city? Should we fight the elves?”

“Lord, the elf army is very terrifying…”

“Lord…”

“Lord…”

Questions were spreading. Everyone was waiting for Hong San to say something.

Kang De glanced at the crowd and sneered in his heart. This was because the leaders of the Chen, Song, and Huang factions were like quails. They shrank their heads and did not say a word. They were all ambitious and yearned to take this opportunity to make contributions. However, at a time like this, they shrank their heads and did not speak.

They wanted Hong San to be the evil person and break everyone’s fantasies to announce this bad news.

D*mn.

When he thought of this, he was even more unhappy. Just as he was about to speak, Hong San pulled him back.

He turned to look at Kang De and smiled.

Then, he said, “Brothers and sisters, children, elders, calm down.”

Relying on his usual prestige, the commotion stopped. Everyone shut their mouths. Hong San took a deep breath and said, “Everyone already knows about the elves’ attack. Last night, we drank and sang together to relieve our sorrow and fear. However, a banquet doesn’t happen every day. Today, there’s naturally today’s sorrow. I can tell everyone clearly that we can’t leave and have to fight for this city.”

As if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake, the crowd instantly erupted.

“We reject!”

“This is not our home! This is not our battle!”

“We don’t want to fight! Those are elves! We can’t defeat them! We’ll die!”

“We want to leave this place! Lord, please bring us away!”

The crowd surged.

Kang De saw a trace of bitterness flash through Hong San’s eyes.

As it turned out, at the critical moment of life and death, in the face of danger and in a situation where his personal interests were damaged, what leader, what Lord Hong San, what reverence and admiration were all useless.

The reason why they gathered and followed Hong San was only to find a powerful protector.

That was all.

When this protector could no longer protect them or guarantee their interests, the reverence and loyalty like a building in the air would sway and even be in danger of collapsing.

Hong San was drowned by such a sound wave. In all directions, there were questions, protests, and objections. They caught him off guard and shook his heart. He might have been prepared, but when all this erupted, he still felt at a loss, or rather, his heart ached.

Some agitated people had already squeezed not far from Hong San and shouted at him.

Ironically, yesterday, this person’s cheers were perhaps the loudest and most enthusiastic.

Kang De even felt that it was a little funny. Why could these weak ordinary people ignore everything Hong San had done previously and shout at this powerful protector and turn hostile?

However, he quickly understood.

The street exploded. Magic light flashed. Everyone turned around in shock. A young officer was draped in armor, holding a sword, and riding a warhorse. Beside him, a blue-robed mage put down his staff.

Behind the officer was a team of fully armed cavalry.

The officer urged his horse forward. The horse neighed, and the people in the street retreated in fear.

The officer waved his sword and rushed forward without hesitation. He shouted at the surrounding people, “You want to leave? The four doors are closed and you can only enter and not leave. If you force your way out, you’ll be killed without mercy! If you have the ability, break out!”

His gaze was sharp as he glanced around, “You don’t want to fight a war? You don’t want to fight for Valentine? The place you live in was given to you by the City Lord. The food you eat was given to you by the city. You’re eating and living here for free. When the elves come, you want to change places and continue to get food and drinks? How can there be such a good thing?”

“Let me tell you, no one can leave! When the elves break through the city, everyone has to die! Since everyone has to die, everyone has to die in battle! This is a military order! Those who don’t obey have to die!”

“You stinky beggars, remember this. Be good and listen to my orders. Fight to the death and defend the city. You can survive! If you can’t defend it, you have to die! Do you still want to leave? The elves are about to arrive. Even if you run out, you’ll still be captured and tortured by the elf scouts!”

“Die here. Die in Valentine. Do you hear me?”

“Do you want to hide? Hide in a corner of the city? Let me tell you, it’s useless! Can you foreign scum hide in this city? Whoever reports you will be rewarded and given an exemption to defend the city. Just hide. If I catch you, I’ll skin you alive!”

The officer’s roar sounded on the street.

The cavalry unsheathed their swords. Their armor was cold, and the mage’s staff shone with the light of the elements.

“You’re not convinced? Come, I’m here. Bring me down, kill me, and kill your way out of the city. Don’t you have the ability? Don’t you not want to fight for this city? Then rush out! Come!”

Where the sword pointed, everyone subconsciously retreated.

Everyone shut their mouths and did not say a word. These people who dared to shout at the famous Lord Hong San maintained their silence in front of a small Goethe officer.

They did not have the same aura as before.

They even subconsciously stole a glance at Hong San, hoping that their leader, the lord they followed, would step forward and argue with this domineering Goethe officer.

The street was very, very quiet. The surging emotions from before were like an illusion.

…