Chapter 167:

In the military camp’s conference room of Battalion Commander Natalie, the summoned Witch Hunter captains listened expressionlessly to Lieutenant Frayzer’s description, and the entire room fell into a dead silence. Niuniu, who had snuck in as an “auditor” with Amber, was stunned in his heart. He was shocked that the persecution of Witch Hunters within the Goldflower Kingdom had reached such an unimaginable level. They were indeed implicated in the Church’s rebellion, fighting and killing for you for a full ten years, leaving only the few people left now. Yet, even after the war ended, you were still unwilling to give them a way out. The Circle Tower was clearly trying to burn the bridges after crossing the river, cutting them off completely! On the other hand, Niuniu’s heart also surged with a different kind of excitement. Well! His older sister’s judgment was indeed accurate! It seemed like a waste of time for him to leave the Newbie Village, but unexpectedly, he had ended up in such an explosive event. The entire White Oak Battalion currently had only 1,400 people left. If the Circle Tower wanted to stop them, it meant they would also have to dispatch a military force! This was not just a small skirmish like the ones in the Smuggler’s Woods, this was a full-scale, large-scale team battle! He might even get to play a “key role” in it? Moreover, how could he enjoy such a good event all by himself? He had to share this good news with his companions. So, while pretending to listen, he opened the game’s forum and edited a new post to announce the triggering and arrival of the new event. Let’s not talk about how the little player Niuniu was excitedly announcing the new event on the forum. In the conference room, the Witch Hunters were far from being as excited as Niuniu. They were all too familiar with the current situation of the White Oak Battalion. It was said to be 1,400 people, but in reality, most of them were in dire need of rest and recuperation, with no more than 500 people capable of direct combat at the moment. The only good news was that due to the persecution the Witch Hunters had suffered over the past ten years, there were no true “non-combatants” within their ranks. Their military discipline was extremely high, and once a plan was confirmed, they could immediately take action. “I know that asking you to defect to the vampire lord of Transia at this time is an indignity for you, but this is the most perfect decision that can be made given the current circumstances.” Lieutenant Frayzer persuaded them: “Whether it’s General Loren or the Carpe family, they cannot truly break with the Circle Tower at the moment. Even if we are determined to protect you, it will take time for the White Silver Dwarf Earth Priests and my family’s mercenary army to arrive. However, the Circle Tower’s carriages are already outside the military camp. I believe that they are only sending an envoy to represent their stance, but at least one hunting force prepared for you may already be lurking nearby. Lord Murphy is already mobilizing his forces, and they will meet you in the Anderma Hills after nightfall. You must make a decision as soon as possible!” “But... they are vampires.” An elderly, fully-armed Witch Hunter master sat in a chair, her tone hesitant: “Even before the ten-year war, in the long years prior, there was never any peace between them and us. The two Night Wars and the Crusade of the Saints left both sides stained with each other’s blood. Will that vampire Murphy truly be willing to help us? I’m now worried that we might face a two-front attack from both the Circle Tower and the vampires.” “Your concern is unnecessary, Grandma Marianne.” Amber, as a new-generation Witch Hunter captain, attended the meeting with her arms crossed and sneered: “The Circle Tower has just wiped out the headquarters of the Blood Vulture Clan, killing over a hundred thousand people. Believe me, Murphy and his vampires would love to devour those Spirit Mages alive. The only question is whether they have enough power to support us? When we left earlier, the remaining members of the Blood Vulture Clan didn’t even number 15.” “He dared to make that promise, perhaps representing that he truly has the means.” Old Norman spoke huskily: “Although I detest that vampire, I cannot help but acknowledge that he is no ordinary being.” “Bang!” Amid the sound of a table being slammed, another surviving elderly Witch Hunter master abruptly stood up and shouted: “Why are you already discussing that vampire aiding us? Where is your stance as a demon-hunting warrior? Have you forgotten Avalon’s teachings? We must always be wary of the night!” “Cut the crap, Old Eugene! Avalon hasn’t responded to our prayers for ten years now. We have to rely on ourselves!” “You shut your mouth! You insincere one! Even if the situation is difficult, we nature-walkers cannot forget Avalon’s teachings! Otherwise, what’s the difference between us and those fallen ones immersed in slaughter?” “Who are you yelling at? You think you can kill all those Spirit Mages by yourself? If not, shut up!” “Damn you, Sankie! This is not the first time you’ve been disrespectful to Elder Eugene as his student. As an elder’s disciple, I must...” “Bang!” The sound of the Great Oak Sacred Blade striking the ground interrupted all arguments in the room. Natalie, who had remained silent, tilted her head back, her scarred face serene. Her gaze swept over the Witch Hunter captains before her, and she eventually rose while grasping the Sacred Blade, her voice hoarse as she said: “We’re going to Transia!” “Battalion Commander! We cannot do this! The ancient tenets are...” “This was my father’s dying wish!” Natalie’s next words silenced the room once more. The gray-haired Huntress closed her eyes and said solemnly: The Circle Tower! The largest faction of Spirit Mage users on the continent, an arrogant force believing itself invincible. They think their atrocities would terrify Transians, making us cower under our beds, trembling in fear. But no! They wish! This land and the life it bears will never be cowed. And in the face of intimidation, our reaction can only be one: We will attack! We will retaliate! We will gnaw on their flesh and spit on their wanton souls! We will let those Spirit Mage cowards know, through blood and death, that they have provoked an enemy that will haunt their waking and sleeping moments. On this very day!” Murphy shouted loudly: “The wailing souls await justice! The dark lands thirst for the sweet rain of spilled blood! We go to greet the followers of our warriors and benefactors. Whoever dares to obstruct us is our enemy!” “Ding ding ding ding” Continuous notification sounds prompted the players to look down, where a brand-new quest had been triggered: 【Important Side Quest ‘Vengeance Sworn in Blood!’ has been triggered. Quest Objective: Follow the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess and the Count of Kadman into the Anderma Hills battlefield. Rendezvous with and escort the neutral White Oak Battalion into Transian territory. Repel and kill the Spirit Mage hunters of the Circle Tower. Storyline Progression Reward: New faction 【Avalon Church】 unlocked, faction 【White Oak Battalion】 opened, Avalon Church profession system fully unlocked. Quest Reward: Witch Hunter’s War Treasury Key x1, Cosmetic – Demon Hunter Recruit Outfit Set x1, Mount – Demon Hunter War Steed’s Reins x1.】 “Holy crap! Mount reward! Awesome!” A voice exclaimed from the crowd, belonging to North Forest Dog’s Paddle. “Holy crap! Another loot box? Damn it!” Meow King in the crowd painfully covered his eyes. “Holy crap! Costume reward! Yay!” Little Ashina, who had always wanted to bring Lady Aqua into the game, cheered in surprise, only to receive a light knock on the head from Orchid. “Stop saying dirty words, child!” “Warriors! We, representing Transia’s will, march forth!” With a grand sweep of his hand, Murphy elicited a chorus of cheers from the players. Outside the hall, Lady Tris was leading a few vampire Spirit Mages in maintaining a large Spirit Transmission ritual leading to the Anderma Hills rally point. The players cheered as they charged through the light veil reflecting the scenery of the new map, behaving less like soldiers going to war and more like a chaotic picnic excursion, akin to seventy rabid dogs let loose. “I don’t understand.” Behind Murphy, concealed in the shadows, Lady Shani couldn’t help but ask: “How have you trained such belligerent and crazed Blood Servants? Why are they so eager for a war bound to be brutal? Do they truly embrace death?” “It’s the Circle Tower! An organization that even Lord Payne would ponder carefully. Have you all gone mad? All this for a group of Witch Hunters?” “It’s not just for the Witch Hunters.” Murphy gestured with his hand, gripping the hilt of Necessary Evil at his waist, which was already restless in anticipation of tasting Spirit Blood. He soothed his arrogant, insolent blade as he said solemnly: “This is merely the prelude to vengeance! Transia has lost a hundred thousand souls due to the Circle Tower’s wanton acts, and they must atone for this sin. I know they will certainly be unwilling to acknowledge the crimes they have committed! But it doesn’t matter. We are Transians, we always take what we desire! As for myself and my warriors, we are the embodiment of this land’s will, Lady Shani. This dark land thirsts to taste the blood of the perpetrators. It howls for us to repay tenfold the suffering it has endured upon the culprits. Of course, we will satisfy it, and it will reward us in turn. Oh, how generous! How bountiful.” As Lady Shani and Lord Andrei beside her exchanged looks at Murphy as if regarding a madman, the Count of Kadman grinned. He extended his hand in a “please” gesture and said: “The best part is, in light of the pact we’ve just signed, Madam Shani, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance the first waltz at tonight’s crimson ball?” “If you address me so disrespectfully again, I’ll sew your mouth shut! But... look at this beautiful blood and gentlemanly pact. On such a gentle night...” Lady Shani, the Grand Duchess, elegantly placed her hand in Murphy’s, tossing her golden braid nonchalantly as she said: “Why not?”