Chapter 1032: Chapter 780: Approaching the Official Raid (Part 2)
"Did they escape?"
Reiger could only make this judgment.
"Could it be that the good deed was done by that Ye’en from the Enyo faction?"
With the remnants of the dark factions nearly wiped out and Reveis, the red-haired monster woman, already defeated, the only one left in the underground forces capable of such sneaky acts from the shadows is the Enyo, a city destroyer.
And as the "powerless god," Enyo’s chances of taking action personally are undoubtedly slim.
Therefore, Reiger was sure that Ye’en, the oddball responsible for messing with Fulini and creating the giant humanoid elf clone, was the culprit.
Unfortunately, seeing the situation was unfavorable, they seemed to have escaped early. Reiger used several intelligence-type magic to track and search for them but couldn’t find them.
"Forget it, they escaped then they escaped."
Reiger shrugged with a smile.
"You can run, but you can’t hide. You won’t be safe for long."
Reiger decided not to think about it anymore.
Afterward, Reiger received a message from Raul.
"After Goddess Ishtar was banished, all the Ishtar Clan members became unaffiliated free individuals and were recruited by various major clans."
"As a result, aside from those confirmed disappeared or deceased like the [Man-eater], the remaining members of the Ishtar Clan joined different factions in the city."
"That fox girl you asked me to keep an eye on also joined the Hestia Clan affiliated with [Little Rookie]."
After getting this news, Reiger concealed his presence and went to Hestia Clan’s base to see Haruhime.
Then, Reiger saw the fox girl shopping with her childhood friend.
At that time, the smile on her face was bright and cheerful, no longer filled with sadness and sorrow as it was before.
Seeing this, Reiger smiled slightly and quietly withdrew from the scene.
...
The matter of the Ishtar Clan stirred up the city for over a month before gradually losing its impact.
After a month, the apprehensive atmosphere in the city finally began to ease bit by bit.
Under the efforts of the guild and the Ganisa Clan, the citizens finally stopped appearing fearful and uneasy, allowing the Maze City Orario to regain its calm.
Unfortunately, this calm was only superficial.
In secret, the Maze City Orario still seemed to be on the verge of a storm.
This was a situation only those with a keen eye could perceive.
Maze Street Daedalus Road remained unopened throughout this month.
Half of the Ganisa Clan’s combat forces were stationed at Maze Street Daedalus Road during the month as well, with leader Shakti remaining there day and night. Coupled with sounds of explosions and apparent battle noises occasionally coming from within, it was easy to see that some issues had yet to be effectively resolved.
Additionally, the Loki Clan had been making runs to the underground city in batches over the month, and continually purchasing large amounts of spiritual medicine, tools, and armor from stores and merchant associations in the city, which seemed quite unusual.
Even Reiger was busy like crazy after resolving the Ishtar Clan’s matter, either running to the underground city daily to search for artificial labyrinth entrances with Ais and Bert or purchasing various supplies from major business clans with Finn and Revilia, enthusiastically preparing for the artificial labyrinth attack plan.
During this time, another event occurred in Maze City.
An outside force attacked.
Yes, attacked.
A War Country named Lagia sent troops and attacked Maze City Orario during this time, attempting to seize control of Orario.
This country had attacked Orario multiple times in the past and had assaulted various forces across the continent, being a genuine War Country.
The Leiblu Kingdom on the Akasha continent also highly valued warfare, but the Lagia Kingdom differed from the Leiblu Kingdom in a decisive way.
Although the Leiblu Kingdom loves warfare, it possesses considerable strength, being one of the four major countries on the Akasha continent, having ample qualification to wage war on other nations.
But the Lagia Kingdom is different.
How should I put it...
Well, in Reiger’s words, this country is quite bullheaded.
Like the War Nation Tellskura, it’s a state-type clan established and developed by a clan.
The ruling god of this country is Ares, the famed war god of Heaven.
However, compared to the Ganisa Clan, the Ares Clan is simply synonymous with bullheadedness.
Because the Lagia Kingdom is not a global power, with the highest rank within only Lv.3, let alone first-class adventurer level, it doesn’t even have anyone at Lv.4.
Such a country dared to attack Orario, which boasts dozens of first-class adventurers, and kept losing yet kept fighting; what else could this be but bullheadedness?
Anyway, Reiger finds it quite admirable.
"If the Lagia Kingdom were placed on the Akasha continent, it would be annihilated in minutes."
This is doubtless.
But in Orario, well, it’s... um, very festive.
Because, many commercial clans in Orario have seen this as a massive opportunity, seizing this chance to profit from the war, running to the Lagia Kingdom’s forces to peddle goods while the latter was being battered by Orario’s clans.
Weapons, armor, spiritual medicine... various items created wartime profits, gleefully sold by the unharmed commercial clans from Orario, reaping unilateral rewards.
The military of Lagia Kingdom had to spend large sums to buy these goods.
Otherwise, how would injured soldiers be treated?
Otherwise, how would damaged weapons be replenished?
Thus, this matter eventually became a festivity for Orario’s commercial clans, even further boosting Orario’s overall economic development.
As a result, both the guild and commercial clans requested that combatant clans not utterly defeat the enemy, but take a slow and steady approach...
Um, it was ridiculous.
Anyway, Reiger took some time to glance at the battlefield outside Orario, then returned with twitching lips.
Can you imagine the Lagia Kingdom’s army being crushed unilaterally by Orario’s clans, driven away like chasing chickens?
Can you imagine each time a battle paused, merchants from Orario’s commercial clans swarming out like fish, shouting like it’s a festival, running to sell goods in the enemy’s base camp?
"This isn’t even war!"
Reiger could already imagine the war god Ares in his camp, roaring to the sky in anger, consumed by grief.
"...It’d be nice if the Akasha continent’s wars were as festive as this."
At least, then fewer people would fear war and dread sacrifice.
Incidentally, the Loki Clan, being one of the city’s strongest factions, was also selected to be sent out.
Of course, since the Loki Clan still needed to deal with the artificial labyrinth, the guild didn’t request their entire faction, but only required Loki and Finn to send someone to command.
The Freyja Clan didn’t have such good treatment, their penalty notice obliging almost their entire faction, including Goddess Freyja, to go out, leaving only Allen in their base.
So, Loki and Finn discussed and decided to send Grace, Theona, and Theone out again to handle this farcical war.
Initially, Reiger was selected.
But Reiger cordially refused.
"I’d rather run through underground cities than play with kids; at least I’d gain some experience points."
Because Reiger didn’t go, neither did Ais or Rephia, nor even Angel. Only Bert and Raul occasionally went to switch shifts, and that was it.
In this way, formal preparations for the artificial labyrinth conquest steadily advanced.
On this day, Reiger was summoned to the captain’s office and learned from Finn the last problem to be solved.
"Lack of manpower?"
Yes.
There was a severe shortage of manpower for the artificial labyrinth conquest.