A Man Cannot Go a Day Without Power

The sleepless Distant Harbor, brightly lit, welcomed a new wave of activity.

This was the longest day ever in Distant Harbor.

Everything happened in a single day—first, the fleets of the three nations besieged the city; then, rumors spread; then chaos erupted, with riots and disturbances within the city, a swarm of dragons attacking from the sea, the fleets of the three nations facing a fierce assault, and a brutal and tragic battle unfolding nearby; then, steel warships pierced the sky, blades of destruction slashed across the heavens, and His Highness Kang De's flagship quelled all the disasters.

But the matter is far from over.

In fact, when Kang De's warships appeared out of nowhere, the instigators of the Distant Harbor riots already sensed that something was terribly wrong. The hundreds of thousands of Twilight Moon soldiers who died or were wounded in the Goth-Moon War had already proven one thing: this Dragon of Cathay was by no means known for his benevolence and friendliness, and now he had truly returned.

People only feel regret when they lose a gamble.

For example, someone might say, "I wish I hadn't spent the money on this."

The shrewd and resourceful are already preparing to flee this city.

But their attempt failed.

Taking the sea route would be tantamount to suicide, and an escape by land was also impossible, as they soon discovered that the Survey Corps from Danfeng Lucerne had blocked all land transportation to the Distant Harbor.

A dozen or so magical hot air balloons floated in all directions above the main roads, and high-powered life-searching light screens were deployed, constantly scanning the ground. Below, rangers and crossbowmen were also stationed to blockade the area, and everyone who tried to leave the city was turned back without exception. The answer was always, "It's Stella Stella's order."

This made the troublemakers even more panicked.

They colluded with each other, gathered information, changed hiding places, and even, in a moment of madness, bribed powerful figures in Distant Harbor to try and obtain inside information or protection. When real danger arrived, they no longer possessed the composure and wisdom they once had in stirring up trouble and driving conspiracies.

Because now, they are already caught in the middle of it all.

Nationality, promises, money, and status can no longer protect them.

These so-called big shots and planners are no different from the hooligans and idlers who follow the troublemakers to get something for nothing; they are all trembling under the threat of Kang De's impending retaliation.

No, they were even worse off than the latter.

The latter could at least offer some solace: perhaps His Highness Kang De wouldn't bother with these common scumbags and would only settle scores with those high-ranking officials.

But everyone was wrong.

They soon learned that His Highness Kang De valued equality for all.

"Don't let a single one escape!"

The slums of the Distant Harbor Wharf area are filled with the filthy smell of fish. The light of torches illuminates the darkness, and pairs of eyes, either numb or fearful, blink from the dilapidated shacks on both sides.

The people here are among the lowest class in the Distant Harbor, living off the dock area. They are laborers who sell their labor to unload cargo, prostitutes who provide paid services to sailors going ashore, and even sailors' brokers, mediocre cooks, thieves, beggars, gambling den henchmen, and so on.

Everyone stopped working tonight, but that didn't mean they were undisturbed. This was the third group of uninvited guests, about a dozen people, all equipped with small shields, short swords, and leather armor. They were the patrol team from the dock area. Under the watchful eyes of the residents of the shantytown, several soldiers dragged out a struggling man.

"I know nothing! I didn't do anything! Please, sir! Let me go!"

The man lay on the filthy mud, and behind him came heart-wrenching cries. A woman in tattered, patched clothes was howling, and two children were crying loudly.

The patrol squad leader looked reluctant to leave. He was also from this area. His mother remarried, and after her persistent pleas, his stepfather, who had some power, finally gave him the opportunity to join the patrol, enabling him to achieve upward social mobility. However, because of this past experience, he still felt great sympathy for the people here.

That's the problem.

Under the feudal system, the execution capacity at the grassroots level has always been a problem. Even if the powerful and wealthy in the Distant Harbor had fully understood Kang De's attitude and threat and were determined to do their best to meet his demands, the orders were passed down layer by layer, and by the time they reached the execution level, they were usually discounted considerably.

Because in the eyes of the big shots, those instigators and street thugs are nothing more than dogs; killing them is no big deal, as they can always raise a new one. But for these grassroots enforcers, those chamber of commerce leaders, gang leaders, and even tavern owners are their money bags, their good brothers, and their brothers-in-law. For various reasons, their enforcement of orders is somewhat lacking.

There might even be instances of being soft-hearted and indulgent.

But that happened two hours ago.

The moment the squad leader felt a pang of pity, a violent force surged from the side, shoving him until he stumbled. He turned around in shock and anger, only to be met with a mocking sneer from a man in a black cloak.

"Goth People, you are wasting your time."

There were three men in black robes. Their superior introduced them as friendly forces "guiding and participating in the investigation." They claimed to be members of the Inquisition under Lord Kang De, but they were nothing but a bunch of mad dogs.

The Suppressors of Rebellion stepped forward, grabbed the suspect by the hair, and lifted him up abruptly. The intense pain caused the suspect to scream, making the cries of his wife and children even more piercing.

The squad leader cried out, "Please don't do this, he..."

The other person turned back with a sinister look. "Six criminals have identified him, so his arrest priority has been raised to the level of a minor boss. I'll say it one last time, Goth People, don't question Horus's judgment anymore."

Horus.

This is the fifth time the squad leader has heard this name tonight.

All they knew was that Horus was a capable lieutenant under Lord Kang De, and nothing else. But the Distant Harbor arresting officers who had heard of this name already imagined him as a cloaked, ruthless judge, cold-blooded and cruel, efficient in his methods, providing his henchmen with all sorts of advice on torture, interrogation, and arrest, and never making a mistake.

Amid the man's screams, the Suppressors of Rebellion grabbed him by the hair and dragged him into the house.

Horus once said that wherever a criminal is caught, that becomes a torture chamber. If criminals are everywhere in the Distant Harbor, then the city is an execution ground.

"Nien Toka, nicknamed Swordfish, at least six criminals have identified you today, Lord Horus says. According to the cross-model inference, you should have a certain reputation and influence in this area. How despicable, Goth People, you have betrayed the only guardian who reached out to you and saved you."

Cries and screams erupted as Nien, pinned against the wall, struggled desperately. He watched in despair as his wife and two children were dragged in and roughly thrown against the wall. The two men in black robes drew their naval scimitars, their cold gleam sharp, and aimed them at the innocent women and children.

"No! Please! Have mercy, sir! It has nothing to do with them!"

The black-robed figure before me seemed like a messenger of demons.

Betrayal comes at a price.

The man claiming to Suppressors of Rebellion revealed a bloodthirsty look. "His Highness Kang De has issued a kill order for all traitors, and the Inquisition has obeyed his command. We will execute you and your family here."

Nien let out a desperate cry, struggling frantically, but his opponent emanated a terrifying aura of Dou Qi, his hands like iron clamps—a power he could not resist.

He could only wail as he watched the two demonic messengers approach his family with knives in hand.

The man let out a dying moan.

"--but."

Rain after a long drought, the sound of heaven.

The last glimmer of hope in despair is like a log that has fallen into the water and is floating by.

The man before him said coldly, "But His Majesty the Merciful Kang De is willing to give you one last chance, Swordfish Nien. You and your family face the death penalty, but if you can name five accomplices—note, those who instigated the crime and were as influential as you—you can be spared the death penalty for your wife and daughters. Name five more, and you will be spared the death penalty. You will only need to perform forced labor to atone for the rest of your sins."

"If you can provide more important information—that is, intelligence and the identity of the specific person who bribed and instigated you, or even their specific whereabouts and clues—one piece of information is worth five heads."

"This is on the premise that your testimony is entirely accurate."

He turned to look at Nien's wife and daughters. "I think you'd better know that deception is more despicable than silence, and it will bring more cruel punishment."

The interrogated man's eyes flickered; he hesitated, he weighed his options, he pondered. Friendship, favors, and family—sometimes the answers are obvious, but require time and a process to deduce.

However, the Suppressors of Rebellion were clearly very impatient.

"If you don't want to talk about it, then I'll ask your wife and children." He drew his long sword and twirled it. "I bet they know who you went out with during the day."

He took two steps, and then an urgent shout rang out behind him, "I'll talk!"

The Suppressors of Rebellion turned back with satisfaction.

Nien lowered his head and murmured, "I'll talk... I'll talk..."

A few minutes later.

In the darkness, a group of men in black robes moved swiftly through the night.

They did not use torches; the group's dim vision spell granted them cat-like eyesight. The Azure Fleet consisted of one mid-level mage, five low-level mages, twelve apprentices, and thirty-six Taxiao sword and shield guards carrying several small magical devices.

A heavily armored magic assault team under the classic Council military system.

They were ordered to carry out a covert search operation.

Just then, a deep and cold voice rang out in the silent night.

"I am Horus."

The leading mid-level mage immediately stopped. He gestured, and the sword and shield guards unfurled their crossbows, raised their shields, and looked around. Then the spellcaster raised the bracers on his right arm.

The red light above is flashing.

He said, "Lord Horus, the Firestorm Squad is on standby."

A cold, awe-inspiring voice rang out. "Mission changed. Major breakthrough in the interrogation. We've located the Cunning Fox Delisa, in the Blackwater Lake log warehouse in your southwest corner."

"You are the closest team. I order you to immediately lead your team in a surprise attack and capture this big fish alive. The Warspear Squad and Dragonfang Grass Squad from areas C-14 and B-5 will arrive shortly. They will launch a joint attack from different directions. Any questions?"

The captain of the Firestorm Squad replied without hesitation, "As you command, sir. I need the exact location."

"Please wait a moment, we are replanning your route. Turn right in 300 meters ahead..."

"You heard me, gentlemen," the spellcaster said, "Don't let yourselves be outdone by the elves and the Imperials."

Using their collective acceleration and following the navigation, they blended into the night wind and sped towards their target location. A drone, engraved with a sound-absorbing barrier, silently descended from the sky, its night-vision lens monitoring the battlefield situation and transmitting the data in real time back to the LCD screen on the bridge of the Afu.

A spellcaster with keen spiritual senses looked up at the sky, but the bracelet rang out Horus's voice.

"Keep going, soldiers," it said. "Father is watching your performance."

The log warehouse is located on the outer edge of the city, where there are no city walls and the enforcement of laws is relatively weak. To prevent theft and for some shady transactions that cannot be disclosed to outsiders, the owners of this area have built walls and even towers on their own and stationed overt and covert sentries around the area.

The Firestorm Squad approached silently. The Sight and Life Detection spells had already spotted the hidden sentries. After pinpointing their locations, the casters switched to sniper cannon cores and guided Shadow Arcane Arrows to silently kill them one after another. Then, they reached the vicinity of the log warehouse's wall.

"This is practically a small fortress."

The squad leader used Eagle Eye to scout. "Fortified arrow towers and firing ports, high vantage point, spellcasting entrances hidden in the walls, three-meter-high wooden walls plastered with fire-resistant mud, I heard the barking of mutant hounds, and abnormal elemental fluctuations. Spellcasters are stationed here... Infiltration is impossible."

He hesitated for a moment.

According to the Council's military manual, such areas require the deployment of magical artifacts for bombardment or suppression by mages specializing in the Earth School. The Firestorm Squad lacks these conditions. However, they are currently prisoners of war and fighting for Prince Kang De. More importantly, this mid-level mage, whose mentor died young and who has not made any progress in the past ten years, has his own plans and ideas.

So the captain gritted his teeth.

"Mr. Gross, I will lead the mage force in a feint attack on this city wall. During this time, I need you to lead elite troops to use the directional blasting disc to blow open the gate. Lord Horus said this is an important operation, and if you can successfully blow open the gate, His Highness Kang De will remember this achievement."

The leader of the sword and shield guards was taken aback upon hearing this, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Yes, sir."

If you want something, you have to work for it yourself.

"--Wait a minute, everyone."

Horus's voice rang out again. "I've noticed that the log factory has relatively dense defenses. Is your squad incapable of a surprise attack?"

The spellcaster said, "My lord, that's not true. We will..."

"Master, let's be realistic." The cold, decisive voice carried an undeniable authority. "In Father's army, there can be no situation where courage trumps reason."

The captain hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat dejectedly, "Yes, sir, we didn't bring any offensive magical artifacts, and the defenses here require Earth School to break through, which I'm not good at..."

He paused here, then continued, "But we yearn to achieve merit, sir. The warship we served has sunk, and as a vessel corrupted by the mutation and attacking friendly forces, it sank. As survivors, we have no future in the Council's naval system, so..."

"I understand, sir. But please remember, you are now fighting for Father. Even as temporary mercenaries, you must follow the rules set by Father. At least until you return the bracelet, remember that your lives are like gold coins in Father's hands, and you must use them with care."

Those who heard this were all taken aback; they couldn't immediately grasp its meaning.

But then Horus's voice rang out. "Submitting a request for firepower."

A moment later, a calm and reliable voice came through the bracelet. "His Highness Kang De has approved the bombing request. Fire control system is online, weapon system authorized, and aerial fire support platform is patrolling..."

Amidst the dark clouds above the Distant Harbor, a Dragon Break forth, flapping its wings and turning, as two large drones mounted on its belly detached and swooped down toward the brightly lit city.

Kang De was a man of his word, and he kept his promise. He said he wouldn't let the dragon soldiers participate in the battle, and he meant it. But that didn't stop him from having them deliver a package.

"Be careful to avoid the attack range, five, four, three, two, one..."

The dark night sky was suddenly illuminated, and waves of fire blazed in the air. When everyone looked up, they saw arrows of Flame falling from the sky, creating whistling sounds as they crashed down on the ground with waves of heat.

A violent explosion sent fireballs soaring like the sun, striking towers, platforms, and city gates with pinpoint accuracy. Shockwaves flew, fragments exploded, and intense light dispelled the darkness, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. This precise and ferocious bombardment illuminated every astonished face.

"Border defenses and fortifications destroyed. Firestorm Squad, enjoy the hunt, and be careful."

Horus's calm voice brought them back to reality.

The spellcaster raised his staff, drawing a bolt of lightning from its core. "Attack!"

The sword-and-shield guards raised their protective shields and charged through the blasted-open gate.

Crossbow bolts pierced the air, repeated crossbows roared in, and surging fire elementals converged and swirled, sending blazing fireballs hurtling through the air. Guards blocked the crossbow bolts with their shields, their frost shields flashing brilliantly. The fireballs struck, scattering snowflakes and sending steam billowing. The mid-level mage raised his staff, bracing himself against the shield, and shouted sharply, "Combined spellcasting! A thirty-degree fan-shaped area in front, covering distances of sixty-five to seventy meters, unleash Arcane Bolts..."

The next moment, a whooshing sound came from behind, and another large flying device descended. This was a green-skinned flying machine that even used some of the Grey Wind Locust for auxiliary functions and lift. Kang De mainly built this thing because he thought it was cool. It descended and remained stable under the absurd power output of the silver grasshoppers.

The suspended M134 Minigan began to rotate.

Then, red tracer bullets streaked across the sky, firing at full speed and spraying dense bullets onto the ground. Relying on the hydraulic shock absorber and the high-speed rotating barrel to absorb the recoil, the blade of death sliced through, leaving behind fragments, flesh, severed limbs, screams, and the sound of shattering. After defeating the resistance in front of them, the aircraft took off and headed in another direction. The Dragonfang Grass Squad from the elves had arrived.

The sword-and-shield leader stared in disbelief, then turned to the spellcaster and asked, "Are those Valentan People fight for His Highness Kang De always having such a good time?"

"You want to keep having this much fun?!" the mage snapped. "Then show me some real skills!"

The bridge of the Knight Afu had been completely altered, with twenty or thirty LCD TVs hanging around, projecting images of the battlefields in various parts of the Distant Harbor. Kang De leaned back in his swivel chair, took a sip of an ice-cold cola, and asked, "You think these guys are alright?"

Horus countered, "Wasn't it your idea to specifically group sailors whose ships sank, who lost their officers, and who were blamed for attacking friendly forces, into separate operations?"

Kang De proudly declared, "That was out of kindness and consideration on my part, giving them a chance."

A PDF image appeared on the LCD screen in front of him.

"The commander of the Firestorm Squad, the mid-level mage Alset, specializes in Atmospheric School. He has shown extraordinary interest and talent in mental magic, which makes him feared by his colleagues. He minors in frost magic. He is somewhat obsessive, power-hungry, impulsive, ruthless, and ambitious."

"I've already asked others; his mentor has passed away, leaving him without support or guidance. He can only climb the ranks in the Azure Fleet. The destruction of his warship in this operation is a double blow, and his magical skills have stagnated. Therefore, he's focusing more on his favorite area: the development and research of mental magic. Five of his eight patents are related to the use of mental magic in torture and judicial trials..."

Horus explained, "But he's very intelligent. He's already successfully carried out three raids, dispersed a group of Distant Harbor who were causing trouble, and is decisive, reckless, and unwavering in his use of cruel methods to achieve his goals. Moreover, he's very perceptive; he understands my hints immediately. I'd rate him 83 out of 100, and his inclination to join us is extremely high."

Kang De waved his hand and said, "Keep an eye on it, include it in the shortlist, and test it out after it's done."

Don't expect to find UR cards like Hong San with all attributes and maxed-out skills everywhere.

An R-level card is usable enough, isn't it?

"Clear."

Layers of files, large and small, appeared on the screen. Horus said, "We've now compiled 573 files. By observing their methods, combat skills, and experience, I've completed a preliminary assessment. The details are still being revised... But I must say, Father..."

At this point, the Transformers sighed, "I'm clearly not suited for this kind of thing. Dealing with them is exhausting; after all, compared to my father, they're just too boring."

Kang De nodded, took a sip of his cola, then frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Horus said calmly, "Of course, it was my father, as a loving elder, who often enlightened me, set an example, and showed me the brilliance of humanity with his pure soul..."

Kang De glanced at him sideways and said, "Hey, got him."

On the screen, the Firestorm Squad, seemingly on steroids, relentlessly pursued their target.

As the opponent fled into another warehouse, the incredibly strong Alset swung his staff, unleashing a violent hurricane that blew off the entire roof before the mage plummeted from the sky.

Upon landing, he unleashed a mental blast, then drew his twin short staffs, unleashed a shield, and amplified a Gale Impact. He charged towards the fleeing seven or eight people like a whirlwind, cutting through the grass and rushing forward like lightning. Finally, he used his magic shield to deflect the incoming sword strike, and his right short staff struck one of the opponents' ribs.

You could practically see through the screen that the guy was getting really shocked, he was practically slapping himself.

Alset's voice rang out from the bridge. "Lord Horus, we have captured the Cunning Fox."

Kang De waved.

A microphone was thrust towards him, and he said, "Well played, Mr. Alset."

In the footage captured by the drone, the monk's back suddenly jolted, and then he instinctively straightened up.

"It is my honor, Lord Kang De!"

His voice, choked with suppressed excitement, echoed across the bridge.

"Then, Mr. Alset, who is skilled in mental magic and has the qualifications of an inquisitor, could you give me an even better answer in your area of expertise?"

The figure trembled even more violently.

And then there was an even louder sound.

"That is absolutely it, Your Highness!"

"Okay, I'll look forward to it."

After the communication ended, Kang De seemed to be deep in thought.

Horus asked, "Father, is the taste of power wonderful?"

Kang De shook his head and said, "A great man cannot be without power for a single day, so my words are truly not deceiving me."

Inside the log warehouse, the air was thick with the smell of dry wood. Alset took a few deep breaths to calm his excitement. His subordinate beside him said, "My lord, the elves and the Imperials have arrived one after the other."

"Go and thank them for their support and assistance as allies, and invite them, if they are interested in participating in the trial, to come and observe the judicial skills of the Council."

Alset tossed his staff aside, his gaze burning as he stared at the steps leading up to him.

Delisa, the gang leader known as the Cunning Fox.

He had already given the other person a thorough massage with electricity to ensure that the other person could not move even a finger. It was amazing. Fire could burn flesh and blood, ice could shatter the body, but only electricity could burn a person to a crisp, or leave the other person unable to move. The old guys in the Council always liked to treat life science as a separate discipline, but Alset always felt that electricity was a key to the mysteries of life.

"I hope you will speak up and tell me what I want to know. This will allow me to complete the task as quickly as possible and gain His Highness Kang De's greater appreciation."

The electric shock subsided slightly, and the other person spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm. "Dream on! I will never yield!"

"Oh, friend, don't be so sure."

Alset rolled up his sleeves, fully revealing the bracelet. "Well, it's not a bad thing to show off my skills and manners to my new master..."

Magic Power flowed into the bracelet and then out, instantly enhancing elemental affinity. A spiritual light shone in the caster's eyes as he reached out to the stubborn man, his voice carrying the hidden power of thunder, like that of a god.

"Now, let's see what your greatest fear is."

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PS1: 7,000 words... Splitting failed again...