The Last Thing

Responding to the public's demands, Mayor Nick did something truly meaningful for Valentan.

The battle at Vidal Estate was brief and swift; the mayor swiftly suppressed the rebels and made a difficult decision with great courage and responsibility.

Faced with a choice between loyalty and pity, he chose the latter, betraying Taidariel Family.

The people petitioning outside only caught a fleeting glimpse of what had just happened: Hong San, the Cathayan who had gone mad outside, was bound hand and foot and taken out. All the bandits were subdued. Meanwhile, Princess Tina's husband, Kang De, Cathayan, was persuaded by the mayor with righteousness to leave the city bound and ready to avert this calamity.

The crowd that had gathered only saw a jumble of figures, and watched the mayor leave expressionlessly below the Kang De Hall, but that was all; they dared not ask anything more.

Or perhaps they simply don't want to ask anymore.

They were simply cheering loudly, trusting what they wanted to trust, moved to tears, praising endlessly, and dedicating all their praise to Mayor Nick.

And selectively forget a certain person.

It was as if the mayor himself had bound himself and left the city, willing to die in place of all the city's people.

So, persuaded and driven away by the patrol troops, they all went home satisfied, with happy smiles on their faces, ready to have a good night's sleep, as if they had won a great victory.

What awaited them was either a mysterious figure waiting at home, a swift flash of a blade, or strict surveillance and house arrest. They couldn't tell their neighbors the good news, and those hiding at home had no way of knowing whether this audacious plan had succeeded or not.

It was nighttime, and moreover, now; the flow of information had been completely cut off, and someone still maintained control over the city... Besides, these people tonight were chosen by him.

"That shouldn't be difficult, Mr. Mayor?"

The shackles and ropes on Hong San's body had been removed. He stretched his hands and sneered.

The night was still, Nick stood alone in the bitter cold, with only Hong San by his side.

The mayor said coldly, "Do we really need to be this careful?"

Hong San revealed a mocking smile, "This city, which has been desperately defending itself under the enemy's attack, has seen its lowly people used as cannon fodder to draw the elves' firepower and die first; the brave fought for their homes and died later; and the heroes who turned the tide were almost killed by the enemy's treachery and the shamelessness of the common people. Mayor, how many people are left in this city that has endured blood and fire? Living among a city full of beasts, how can you not be careful?"

A flash of anger crossed Nick's eyes, and he hissed, "Watch your mouth."

Hong San sneered, "I'm a beast too. I curse myself, I curse my own kind, so what?"

Nick took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then opened them. Now, he had restrained his previous manic behavior.

Seemingly realizing that all was lost, they wanted to preserve their last vestige of dignity as nobles.

He looked at Hong San and said calmly, "Mr. Hong, why say such things? Since you have decided to follow His Highness Kang De, you are sure to have a bright future, a future that can be described as 'a boundless journey'."

"Mayor, your knowledge is truly impressive. Well then, let me offer you a piece of advice: 'Take care of yourself.'"

Hong San reached out and patted Mayor Nick on the shoulder.

He leaned closer, staring into the other person's eyes.

This was something he would never have dared to do before.

But now it seems like nothing happened.

Because it's just as the master said...

These seemingly unapproachable big shots are actually nothing special. I'm a lousy person, and they're lousy people too. Since we're all lousy people, what's the difference between us?

He revealed a sharp smile, "You're smart tonight. Knowing my temperament, I'd be going to cause a huge ruckus, spread rumors, sow discord, make Valentan collapse without a fight, drive the madmen to madness, and make those scoundrels taste the bitter fruit. I guarantee I can make this city unbearable to look at before the elves arrive... The only reason I haven't is that I don't want to offend His Highness Kang De's eyes."

"If you are obedient, then everything will be fine. You can try your best to fight for your life and preserve your wealth. We will also try our best to prove your innocence so as not to tarnish your family's honor. But you must remember, if you don't die today, you may not die tomorrow. Your family will not be wiped out by contempt. All of this is not something you earned yourself; it was bestowed upon you by His Highness. What was bestowed upon you can be taken back."

"So, if you're thinking of playing any tricks, think about what I'm about to say."

Nick remained expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice. "Can we go now?"

Hong San laughed and asked, "Where are we going?"

Nick said coldly, "I'll take you out through the tunnel. What, do you want me to take my son as a hostage?"

Hong San still smiled, "Will bringing your son help? I've already experienced the mayor's ruthlessness firsthand. What if you sacrifice your own and your son's lives to collude with the elves, ambushing us with a large force at the other end of the passage to wipe us out in exchange for the wealth of the Valentan Family... who knows?"

Nick took a deep breath. "So what do you want?"

Hong San blinked. "Remember to have the mage corps cooperate. Now it's up to the mayor's methods."

Nick's expression changed, and then he heard the clanging of metal against metal echoing in the quiet night.

In the darkness in the distance, the Humvee suddenly transformed, not into a human form, but somewhere in between. The four-legged monster firmly supported the ground, and the launch pod on its back unfolded with a clang.

Flames erupted, thick smoke billowed, and the green-skinned Katyusha rockets roared into the air, sending rockets soaring through the dark sky toward the elven camp.

Suddenly, strange noises filled the air.

Nick's expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "You actually..."

Hong San smiled and bowed, "There's no need for the mayor to lead us through the tunnel. My prince is young and naive; he's afraid of such a dark and enormous hole."

The Humvee sped up and came hurtling down the street. Hong San pushed Nick aside. The headlights were blinding. The mayor squinted and saw Kang De sitting on the roof. Hong San out and pulled him up steadily as the car and the man passed each other.

The Humvee sped along and arrived near the city wall in no time.

The effectiveness of that barrage of green rockets is unknown, but it certainly served as a taunt. The elves launched a fierce counter-attack with spells, and the Valentan mages immediately met it. Spells exploded in the sky, creating a deafening roar and a shower of light, as the Humvee transformed once again beneath the city walls.

The Autobots raised their massive shields, their backs deforming, and the mechanical giants created a long ramp. Stuntmen roared in on their vehicles. In the past two days, Iron Son, at Kang De's behest, had created a brand-new engine. The Greenskins, using materials provided by Valentan, devised a more powerful version of the motorcycle. According to them, this one was even more amazing than the last, thanks to the watchful gaze of the Big Mek, which made the machine spirit even more exhilarating.

Each vehicle was still very unique. In addition to the messy decorations, one or two people were strapped to the wide seats. They were all members of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce, wrapped up tightly in blankets, soft armor, down pillows and the like, like big rice dumplings.

One after another, motorcycles sped up the city wall at incredible speeds, hurtling down the artificial ramps erected by the Autobots, flying outwards like lightning.

The roars of the greenskins and the rumble of their engines were drowned out by the shockwaves of the magical clashes. Apart from the astonished city wall defenders, no one knew that a group of aberrant creatures had already charged out.

Once the last vehicle had left, the Autobots retracted the ramp and leaped forward.

Kang De, holding Leona, and Hong San, each grabbing onto the windshield panel on either side of Iron Son's chest, leaped over the wall with the Autobots.

He was suspended in mid-air, watching the lonely figure on the street. Nick watched them go, but they were far away, and the night was dark, so he couldn't see their eyes, or even their features or faces.

For a moment, I didn't even know what I was feeling.

The Autobots had reached their highest point and were flying out of the city. In his last glance, Kang De saw Nick's figure seem to move, but he didn't know what Nick was planning to do.

The Autobots landed and transformed into Humvee. In a dazzling transformation, Kang De and Hong San were already firmly seated in their seats, while Leona sat on Kang De's lap, fitting him perfectly.

Leona was about to struggle when, with a click, the seatbelt automatically fastened and locked.

Iron Son said nonchalantly, "Father, all members have landed safely, all vehicles are functioning well, and we are retreating to the northwest, closely monitoring the movements of the Valentan and Elven enemy forces."

Kang De said in a deep voice, "Be cautious; it's far from safe."

"Clear."

Leona twisted a few times and then stopped struggling, and Hong San remained silent.

After a while, Kang De said softly, "Valentan, it's over."

After all, it was just a city without a strong garrison. After holding out for so long, its morale had collapsed. Under the elves' propaganda offensive, the situation was even more turbulent and fraught with danger. Now that Kang De and his group had broken through and left, it was the final straw that broke the camel's back, and the outcome was almost certain.

This city may be facing its end.

I wonder if the elves will keep their promise after they breach the city, and how many more people will die.

Kang De exhaled.

He originally wanted to do everything he could to protect the city.

But the elves used such a vicious scheme, and the Valentan People fell for it with a clear conscience. Nick's attitude and actions completely disappointed him, and he made up his mind to leave the city. But this did not mean that he would feel happy about Valentan's fate tomorrow... He should have felt happy.

Just then, Hong San said, "Those rotten people are so rotten that even thinking about their deaths and fates is boring and disgusting."

He was always like that, still understanding and articulate, and even now, the unease and uncertainty in his heart were no less than that of Kang De.

Leona, who had remained silent until now, turned her head slightly and said softly, "This isn't your fault. You've done your best. Since the elves invaded Goth, this kind of thing has happened many times, and it's all their fault."

Just as Kang De was about to speak, the Autobots said in a deep voice, "Encounter the enemy and engage in battle!"

Even though they managed to break through under the cover of night by taking advantage of the momentum from the magical battle, how could the elves have been on guard for so long? This roaring, charging force was eventually spotted by the scouts.

Inside the Elven main tent, a messenger strode in. Selendron, the legion commander, instinctively covered the letter in front of him with his hand. The handwriting was fresh, and his face and lips were still somewhat pale.

"Legion Commander..."

The messenger quickly reported the enemy situation.

Selendron's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "You saw the strange green-skinned mount and the alchemical chariot? Did you see Kang De either?"

"We have both mounts and chariots, but as for that Cathayan..." the messenger said, bowing his head, "We haven't seen him. After all, the enemy is moving very fast, and the vehicles are sealed."

Selendron pondered for a moment, "The forest rangers and wilderness scouts are in pursuit. Pass on my orders..."

The messenger bowed and listened attentively.

Arrows rained down, magical light flashed, and pursuers closed in. Weapon stations rose from the top of the Humvee, firing wildly in all directions as it moved, creating explosions and flames everywhere. Inside the vehicle, however, all remained calm and peaceful. The three men were preoccupied with their own thoughts; too much had happened tonight.

After a while, Kang De stretched and said, "I'm out. Valentan is finished. The elves will definitely make a big deal out of it and won't miss the chance to slander me."

Hong San said, "We have captured enough evidence, a lot of it, enough to shut up any doubters. It was Valentan who betrayed you; those scoundrels don't deserve to be saved."

Kang De said quietly, "I don't really care about this anymore."

Leona, who was sitting on Kang De, suddenly shuddered.

Even in this posture, Kang De couldn't discern any change in her expression.

The atmosphere inside the car suddenly became somewhat somber.

Seeing this, Hong San suddenly laughed and said, "Mayor Nick, you gave him a machine and filmed a video promising to prove his innocence. If he surrenders to the elves this time, pretends to be helpful, and even cooperates with the elves to speak ill of you, and then we counterattack, he can use this video to talk back—sir, are you still planning to admit to this and let him live?"

"Of course," Kang De turned his head and said seriously, "If he has a charger."

Hong San burst into laughter.

The atmosphere lightened a bit, and he then began the serious topic. "So, where are we going next? Heading north to see Princess Tina?"

Kang De's eyes dimmed.

For some reason, this happened... He didn't want to see Tina anymore.

Then, a thought struck him, and he laboriously pulled out several crumpled letters from his pocket.

This was given to him by Nick during their penultimate meeting. At that time, Nick was very confident, saying that if the city could not be defended, he would send Kang De away, only asking Kang De to find the Gladiolus Legion and deliver the information about the city's fall. The Gladiolus Legion's route of advance was in this letter.

But tonight, Nick revealed that true colors...

Kang De sighed silently, then said, "He is, after all, her brother... Let's go find the Gladiolus Legion."

Let's see what kind of person her second brother, one of the heirs to this country, really is. If he's not a bastard, we can't just watch him crash into the hole.

Yes, just for this.

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PS1: I felt that describing the plot in detail in today's chapter wouldn't be very interesting, so I omitted the negotiation and confrontation scenes in the middle. That's not the focus anyway, you get the idea. The closer we get to the climax, the harder it is to write, and the more careful we have to be... Goodnight, goodnight.