Chapter 67
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Chapter 67: Signs of Turmoil
"I had calculated that with our current resources and troop strength, we could keep the forest," Midi retorted stubbornly.
"Of course we *could*," Fina replied bluntly. "But the cost would be too high. I won’t spout empty words about sacrificing Alice for the people’s happiness. Even if we think only of ourselves and those close to us, abandoning the forest is still the wisest choice."
"I can push myself harder—" Midi insisted, his eyes darting toward Alice.
*That’s exactly why we’re abandoning it—so you won’t have to push yourself to the brink!*
Fina roared silently in her heart, torn between anger and tenderness.
After witnessing Midi’s near-fatal struggle against Wiseman, the girls had sworn never to let him shoulder burdens alone again. They would face every challenge together.
To uphold this resolve, Fina had stayed in the Autumn Ancient City instead of returning to the Hamilton family, helping Midi manage post-war duties while keeping opportunistic schemers at bay. And now, to honor that same resolve, Alice would abandon the forest.
Only by relinquishing this vast territory could Midi focus on strengthening himself instead of exhausting himself defending endless borders.
As Fina halted Midi’s protests, Alice—who’d lingered hesitantly until now—suddenly straightened. Her gaze hardened with resolve.
The black-haired girl strode decisively into the center of her White Crow Array and chanted a complex spell. The tree mansion shuddered, dissolving like ash into particles carried off by the wind.
Alice left nothing behind—no traces, no mementos. Once resolved, she acted with ruthless finality.
“Let’s go,” she said flatly, turning away from the barren clearing.
Fina met Alice’s eyes. Though the red-haired noble and the black-haired sorceress often clashed like fire and ice, their shared determination now bridged all differences.
With a nod, Fina nudged the speechless Midi and walked out side by side with her rival.
Even the conservative Elves raised no objections after their Mistress abandoned the forest. The mutated monsters and raging fires in the Forest of Gran had shaken them deeply—survival outweighed nostalgia.
Guided by meticulous preparations, the Elven tribes endured attacks by hundreds of mutated monsters during their migration but suffered no major crises. Days later, they settled safely into the Elven District of Asreks territory.
Meanwhile, an envoy awaited Midi at Asreks castle. After brief greetings, the man presented a gilded invitation from Count Kafka—a fellow Queen’s faction member whose lands bordered the growing Asreks domain.
The message was simple: a grand ball hosted by the Kafka family.
Alice studied the invitation’s intricate craftsmanship briefly before losing interest. The Mist Sorceress cared little for noble politics.
But Fina, raised in the cutthroat world of power transactions, and Midi, a nobleman with memories of a past life, recognized the invitation’s true purpose—a bid for alliance.
No sane noble would host lavish parties during such turmoil unless desperate. The Belmar Duchy’s aristocracy, though softened by peace, were no fools. Each had clawed their way through court intrigues to survive.
This invitation could indeed be considered a roundabout method.
Alliances could be formed through various means, with the most sincere approach being personal secret visits before public announcements.
But Count Kafka? Clearly laying a trap.
Should Midi attend the ball, Count Kafka would undoubtedly spread rumors to fabricate an alliance between Asreks family and Kafka family. Refusing formal negotiations afterward would damage Asreks’ reputation.
Accepting this alliance would burden Asreks army with defending Kafka territory’s security.
Though all claim loyalty to Queen’s faction, political ties remain fragile unless Iron-Blood Duke intervenes directly. Expecting noble lords to aid each other in crisis? Pure fantasy.
Nobles act for profit – Midi included, though his motives extended beyond personal gain.
Count Kafka clearly fell outside this circle.
Yet the invitation brought peculiar tension to Midi and Fina. Battle-hardened warriors both, they detected ominous undercurrents.
Two weeks since Forest of Gran’s inferno, nobles already scheming alliances? Stationing Asreks troops in Kafka territory risked making Kafka family Midi’s automatons. Yet Count Kafka pursued this treacherous alliance regardless, revealing desperate urgency.
Such desperation hinted at Kafka territory’s crumbling stability.
What of other noble lands?
Perhaps still stable now. But Midi remembered – Forest of Gran’s catastrophe would worsen after flames died, while unmanageable adventurers hostile to nobles multiplied like weeds. The outcome? Predictable disaster.
If all territories became as unstable as Kafka’s, what fate awaited Belmar Duchy?
Midi already knew –
Civil war.
Once civil war erupted, Asreks family would be shackled to Queen’s faction’s war machine.
Destroying Crimson Flame Legion? Annexing territories? No cause for pride. Against ancient noble houses, Asreks remained weak. When Iron-Blood Duke wielded Midi as weapon, resistance proved impossible.
Moreover, as Belmar transformed into grinding war machine, stagnant elements would be first crushed.
The lurking Delos Empire stirred anxiety in Midi’s heart.
In past life, he’d fled like stray dog during duchy’s fall, facing only common Empire Soldiers during Asreks massacre.
Now he’d clashed with Empire’s experts.
The Hand of Nightmare Wiseman’s terrifying power, three Demon Swordwomen’s life-burning final assault – these reaffirmed Delos Empire’s might.
Resisting Empire seemed impossible; preserving strength through civil war posed greater challenge.
What to do?
No answers came.
Foreknowledge without power to change fate deepened Midi’s frown.
*Flick*
Slender finger snapped against his forehead.
"Fina!" Rubbing the spot, Midi forced wry smile.
"Worried about civil war and Delos Empire?" Direct as ever.
Though less tactically adept, Queen of Magic’s strategic insight surpassed all. This invitation’s ominous implications, Empire’s Alchemist Guild appearing in noble war, Midi’s troubled expression – sharp-minded Fina pieced it together instantly.
"Can’t hide anything from you." Midi nodded ruefully.
_You hide plenty!_
Fina seethed silently.
But pressing Midi now served no purpose. Current turmoil and duchy’s fate demanded attention – Midi’s concerns, and why she stayed in Autumn Ancient City: to help him shoulder burdens.
Seeing worry in black-haired boy’s eyes, Fina spoke.
"Let’s build our own Legion." The future Hawk Brigade commander declared calmly. "Not Hamilton’s, nor Asreks’. Not Noble Council’s or Queen’s faction’s. Ours alone."
"Our… Legion?" Midi’s mind blanked, memories of past life resurfacing.
"Indeed. Name’s decided – Hawk Brigade. For the red hawk’s free spirit."
Pride ringing in her voice, eighteen-year-old girl’s eyes held commander’s resolve and maiden’s charm.
Midi found himself captivated anew.
