Magic Crystal Mine
Reinforcements arrived, and the overburdened city defenses collapsed under the relentless attacks of the monster army.
A crimson beam of light shot straight into the sky, clearly visible for dozens of miles around. The rich elemental aura was palpable even to those who had never studied magic.
"Magic Crystal Ore!"
Governor Pierce said coldly.
The murderous intent in his eyes betrayed his true thoughts. Viscount Autumn, standing to the side, trembled with fear.
Magic crystal ore, such a strategic resource, is not something a minor viscount can possess. Small, low-reserve magic crystal mines are one thing.
However, judging from the activity revealed before them, this was undoubtedly a large magic crystal mine. Even a noble Dalton Family couldn't swallow it, yet Viscount Autumn dared to secretly hide and mine it.
More importantly, this kind of illegal mining didn't just happen for a day or two, but may have continued for over a hundred years.
To conceal the mining activities, they went so far as to move the county town to the mine and reinforce it with Magic Array to seal off the aura.
Clearly, Viscount Autumn's ancestors included some prominent figures. This kind of achievement is beyond the capabilities of an ordinary middle-class noble family.
"Governor Excellency, let's defeat the beasts first, then deal with this problem!"
Compared to Governor Pierce's anger, Hudson was much calmer.
The Coslo Family had only been rising to prominence for a few days. If it weren't for Viscount Autumn's ancestors being able to hide the magic crystal mine, it would have been completely divided up long ago, and he wouldn't have had a chance to get a share.
Now is the perfect time to expose ourselves. Whether we hand it over to the kingdom or have the nobles of the Southeast Province join forces to secretly mine it, Hudson can get a share of the profits.
"Good!"
He verbally agreed, but deep down Governor Pierce was bleeding. If this magic crystal mine had been discovered three or five years earlier, he wouldn't be in such a passive position.
With two strong contenders, which one will gain the most?
If looks could kill, Viscount Autumn would already be torn to pieces. This isn't just undermining the kingdom; it's undermining the very foundation of the Dalton Family.
A large magic crystal mine is an important strategic resource for any major power.
The exact reserves and quality of the Magic Crystal Stone are still unknown, but the commotion at the scene suggests that they are definitely extraordinary.
The mystery of Blood Moon County's large arsenal of Magic Crystal Cannon has now been solved. Those who have no shortage of Magic Crystal Stone can naturally squander them as they please.
"All troops, attack! A pincer movement against the beast horde!"
With Hudson's command, a bloody battle erupted, and shouts of battle echoed throughout the land.
As Dragon Knight, Hudson was forced to take the lead and charge at the forefront of the team.
"Maxim, you idiot, stop fighting and get out of here!"
Hudson was furious as he watched the Red Dragon lead him straight into the horde of beasts. If the dragon hadn't been so usually a bit silly, he would have suspected it was deliberately trying to trick its master.
Despite the criticism, the effect was quite good. The Giant Dragon rampaged through the beast horde, making the already chaotic situation even worse.
No matter how the three high-level magical beasts commanded, they could not stop the horde from becoming increasingly chaotic.
Taking advantage of the chaos within the beast horde, the human experts following behind immediately amplified this advantage, attempting to split the beast horde in two.
The three high-level magical beasts, eager to attack, ultimately did not charge forward. Without the cooperation of the herd, a single eighth-tier magical beast plus two seventh-tier magical beasts were no match for a fully grown Giant Dragon.
Perhaps realizing that the situation was hopeless, the three wolf cubs in the lead quickly left the battlefield and headed straight for the Monster Mountain Range.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; without the command of a high-level magical beast, the beast horde quickly crumbled under the onslaught of the army.
Upon seeing this, Maxim, blinded by greed, became even more eager to fight and gave chase.
The steady Hudson has already dismounted from the Red Dragon's back and left the battlefield with Beldens.
Despite the large number of monsters participating in the battle, only a small fraction of the Black Stone Mountain Range have arrived so far.
The highest-ranking magical beast that triggered this beast tide was only an eighth-rank magical beast, which was not representative of the Black Stone Mountain Range at all.
Hudson remembered that Beldens had said that there were ninth-tier magical beasts roaming deep within the Black Stone Mountain Range.
This battle is merely a matter of clearing out the monsters in the surrounding area. Venturing deeper into the Black Stone Mountain Range would also be fraught with danger.
Of course, this danger refers to Hudson. Even if the thick-skinned Maxim couldn't beat him in a fight, he could always outrun him.
Of all races, Giant Dragon possess the most balanced and top-tier talents. Whether in speed, attack, defense, or combat on land, sea, or air, they excel at the highest level.
Perhaps some Warcraft characters surpass them in one aspect, but none can surpass them in every way.
Even Beldens, meticulously nurtured by Hudson, could only dominate on land. On any other battlefield, they would be utterly crushed by Maxim.
In a secluded courtyard in Blood Moon County, an old man with white hair cursed incessantly, "I can't live like this anymore!"
Our business has just opened, and we've already encountered a once-in-decades beast tide. We're definitely going to lose money this time.
..."
The girl in red standing nearby said with a grin, "Grandpa, you're cursed with bad luck! Wherever you go, trouble follows!"
The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart. The white-haired old man inwardly groaned; he had been so busy causing trouble that he had overlooked the flaw he had revealed.
Although these things were ostensibly unrelated to the old man who was halfway to the grave, nobles didn't need evidence to get things done.
Once it is discovered that their group is present every time a major event occurs, the authorities will take immediate action.
It doesn't matter if they arrest the wrong people; they're just a few third-rate merchants. Who would stand up for them?
"Stop talking nonsense! You're an adult now, why are you still so naughty!"
I've just been having a bad run of luck lately. In the previous few years, when my finances were good, I made a lot of money.
Looks like I need to find someone to marry you off soon, otherwise these old bones of mine will be worn out by you sooner or later.
Despite her constant complaining, the loving look in her eyes was undeniable.
Even Heretical Cult have their quiet periods. During the Beastfolk invasion a few years ago, the Skull Society kept quiet.
It's not that they have a broad perspective, but rather that their backers behind the scenes won't allow them to cause trouble. Heretical Cult that can't read the winds of change all perish in the storm.
Once the major powers get serious, they can expose them no matter how well they hide.
Who can blame them for creating this extraordinary world?
If there are truly no clues, there is still the art of Divination. Of course, the Church's Great Prophecy Art also have the same effect.
The future cannot be accurately predicted, but investigating the past is not difficult. Unless a master intervenes and disrupts the threads of fate, it is very difficult to unravel the past.
Just like the assassination of Caesar III, the details were cut off, and no matter how the Alpha Kingdom investigated, they could not find a breakthrough.
These are things only top-tier powerful organizations can do; a fallen society like Skull Society doesn't have this kind of capability.
The old man has been able to live a long and smooth life thanks to his granddaughter's talent, which has helped him avoid countless dangers.
"Grandpa, I'm not getting married, I want to..."
Before he could finish speaking, the girl in red's expression changed drastically. "Grandpa, quickly pack your things and leave! It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"
"Guna, are you sure you're not mistaken? There are monsters roaming outside the city. Should we go out now..."
Before he could finish speaking, a strange phenomenon shot straight up into the clouds, and the old man couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "A magic crystal mine!"
In an instant, he understood. The fact that Blood Moon County was located on a magic crystal mine had been exposed, which meant that this place had become a hotbed of trouble.
Will the nobles of the Southeast Province obediently hand over the magic crystal mines to the kingdom?
If these people don't want to hand them over, then the only option is to suppress the news. As witnesses, they'll probably never be able to leave Blood Moon County for the rest of their lives.
Being placed under house arrest is a minor issue; the key problem is that these noble lords want to investigate everyone's identities, which cannot withstand scrutiny.
If a problem is discovered, being sent to mining is considered a good outcome; more likely, it will lead to immediate death.
"Grandpa, forget about magic crystal mines. Those belong to the noble lords; they won't give you a single gold coin."
Someone just called for reinforcements; judging by the commotion, the defending forces should be launching a counterattack now. The beast horde outside is no match for a regular army; their rout is only a matter of time.
While the battlefield is in chaos, this is our last chance to escape. Otherwise, once the noble lords realize what's happening, we won't be able to leave!
Enough with the chit-chat, I'm going to find the wolf cub; it hasn't had its milk yet today.
As she spoke, Guna brought a wolf cub out of the house. However, this wolf cub was different from ordinary wolves; it looked more like a dog than a wolf.
Its pure white fur exudes an aristocratic air, making its noble origins immediately apparent.
That's right, it's another story of picking up a monster along the way. When they were traveling through the edge of the Black Stone Mountain Range, a mercenary group got into a fight with a pack of wolves, and the little guy took advantage of the chaos to sneak onto Guna's wagon.
Seeing that the species was extraordinary, they took it out and led it all the way to Blood Moon County.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and pack your things! Can't you understand human language?"
Forget it, money is just an external thing. I'll take the essentials and leave these other goods behind.
The old man said with a pained expression.
Over the years, he's become addicted to acting. Most of the time, he plays the role of a shrewd, small-time businessman, and even now, his decision to abandon his goods is genuinely painful.
Sunlight bathed the earth, highlighting the bloodstains and creating a chilling scene. It was as if one had been transported to hell, where the air was thick with the scent of carnage.
The scattered limbs and remains on the ground continued to tell the cruel story of war. The polite vultures hovered in the sky, but did not descend to steal the food.
They were destined to be disappointed; the laborers who had been hiding in the city had already come out to clean up the battlefield.
The remains of one's own people should be collected and buried in accordance with the traditions of the Aslant Continent, presided over by priests.
Dead monsters and wild beasts are the best source of meat, and there is absolutely no reason to discard them; they have no chance to get a share of the spoils.
After everyone finished tallying the casualties, their faces were grim. A single beast tide had still resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, and even though the majority of the losses were among serfs, it was still a severe slap in the face for everyone.
The worst off were the minor nobles of Blood Moon County, who suffered heavy losses under the ravages of the beast horde. Although Blood Moon County drew the fire, five Knight's Territory and one baronial territory were still breached by the beast horde.
The castles were all destroyed, not to mention the people inside. The majority of the casualties came from these six destroyed territories.
Hudson had no interest in the ownership of these territories. He didn't care if the survivors inherited them or if they were divided up among others.
He has no interest in land without people. Besides, it's an exclave; acquiring it would be a waste of resources.
Territory can be left uncontested, but magic crystal mines cannot be relinquished. These are rare commodities; they can be traded normally in peacetime, but become extremely difficult to obtain during times of war.
Throughout the entire Alpha Kingdom, only two large magic crystal mines, seven or eight medium-sized magic crystal mines, and dozens of small magic crystal veins have been discovered on the surface.
The Blood Moon County Magic Crystal Mine is the third large Magic Crystal Mine in the Kingdom, and the only large Magic Crystal Mine in the Southeast Province.
For Hudson, this was the only magic crystal mine he could reach. If he missed it, who knew when he would get another chance?
"The beast tide has ended, and the remaining magical beasts have retreated back to the Black Stone Mountain Range. The threat has been eliminated. Now let's talk about the aftermath."
Besides resuming construction on the Blood Moon Defense Line as soon as possible, what should be done with the destroyed territories? And how should the aftermath of the magic crystal mine be handled?
Having said that, Hudson turned his gaze to Governor Pierce. The war was over, and the power dynamic had shifted once again.
If there were no magic crystal mines, it wouldn't matter who chaired the aftermath meeting. But reality doesn't allow for "what ifs, "Dalton Family certainly couldn't relinquish control at this moment.
"Count Hudson is right, the aftermath should indeed be addressed. Viscount Autumn, don't you have something to say?"
As soon as Governor Pierce finished speaking, all eyes turned to Viscount Autumn. Hiding magic crystal mines was a serious crime, and now that it had been exposed, he would be severely punished, if not killed.
"Governor Excellency, spare my life! I really can't..."
The reason that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back. As the master of Blood Moon County, he had placed the county on the mine as a cover. To say that he didn't know that someone was secretly mining would be an insult to everyone's intelligence.
Even though these things were all done by his ancestors, and he was merely continuing the tradition in his generation, he is still to blame.
"Snort!"
"You must know very well what the crime of illegally possessing or mining magic crystals is. Whether you did it or your ancestors did it, the result is the same."
According to the kingdom's rules, as the lord who reported the magic crystal mine, you would receive 20% of the mining profits. Unfortunately, greed knows no bounds.
Considering the construction time of Blood Moon County, you've been illegally mining veins for over a century. With something this serious, no one can protect you!
Despite his harsh words, Hudson knew that Governor Pierce no longer intended to kill him.
Viscount Autumn deserved to die, but the Southeast Province had no authority to execute a fiefdom viscount; it had to be reported to the Kingdom's Noble Council for approval.
Once the charges are settled, the news of the magic crystal mine will be exposed. The kingdom will then seize the opportunity to bring the mine under the central government's control, leaving everyone with nothing.
Even if Viscount Autumn is spared, protecting the magic crystal mine won't be easy. The strange phenomenon ahead is visible for dozens of miles around, and there are far too many people who know about it; it's only a matter of time before it's leaked.
"Governor Excellency, I am willing to atone for my crimes by performing meritorious service!"
He must atone for his crimes through meritorious service!
Count Hudson, please have mercy!
..."
In the blink of an eye, Viscount Autumn had pleaded with every powerful nobleman present. He was desperate to preserve his family's legacy and his own life.