Shut Up (Thanks to Xiong Bao for the Alliance Leader)

Shut Up (Thanks to Xiong Bao for the Alliance Leader~)

The night was pitch-black.

There were no stars or moon.

The night wind swept through the forest, and the distant hoot of a Night Owl echoed through the trees.

Ronan slowly snapped the dead branch in his hand into pieces and tossed them into the wavering campfire before him, listening to the faint crackling as the flames consumed the dry wood.

Around him stood more than twenty people in long robes.

Everyone gathered around the fire, occasionally whispering among themselves.

The atmosphere was even more solemn than when Ronan had attended Wizard Potter's funeral last time.

Through the mist-like darkness, Ronan saw that most of the faces flickering in and out of the firelight wore worried expressions.

Old Wells had called this gathering.

Those who had come were all wizard residents living near this Treehouse Area. Naturally, the reason for the gathering was the news Ronan had heard in town today—the Black Wizard Land's invasion.

The moment he returned home, Old Wells had summoned him here.

Ronan felt that Old Wells was a bit like the neighborhood committee aunties from his previous life, constantly running around and worrying over every little thing in this "community."

Old Wells had presided over Potter's funeral as well.

"Wells, everyone's here. If you've got something to say, spit it out. Don't waste everyone's time.

"I've still got a potion simmering on the stove!"

Just as Ronan was thinking that, a sharp voice rang out.

Looking up, he saw that the speaker was a skinny middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a nose ring and a lip ring, his face full of impatience.

Ronan noticed the Spiritual Power fluctuations coming from the man. He was a Level Four Wizard Apprentice, a relatively rare sight in the Treehouse Area.

"Then let's begin."

After the Nose Ring Wizard urged him on, Old Wells, who stood in the center of the crowd, gave a light cough and slowly stepped forward.

The chatter gradually died down. Everyone stopped talking and turned their eyes toward Old Wells.

"I imagine everyone has already heard about the Black Wizard Land's invasion today. The main reason I gathered everyone here is to discuss how we should respond.

"We all live here together and are all gray-robed wizards. Faced with such a major crisis, we should find a way to work together and resist it.

"I also have some experience in this regard."

Before Old Wells could finish, a burst of disdainful snickering rose from the crowd.

It was the Nose Ring Wizard again. He interrupted Old Wells's opening remarks.

"What is there to discuss? Don't tell me you think that with this handful of people, we can band together and withstand an invasion by Black Robe Wizards?"

The Nose Ring Wizard sneered repeatedly, his face filled with contempt and disbelief.

As soon as he spoke, the worry on many people's faces deepened. Their eyes darted about, and some were already clearly thinking of leaving.

"Our strength alone certainly cannot stand against the greater tide, but a group is still better than struggling alone. After all—"

Old Wells suddenly raised his voice. "I once lived through an invasion by the Black Wizard Land."

In an instant, everyone who had been restlessly shifting fell silent.

Ronan, too, looked at Old Wells in surprise.

"I was still very young then..."

Old Wells slowly continued. His aged, low voice passed through the flickering campfire, carrying the air of old memories.

"I was only a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice.

"I lived here as well, and then Hoddam went to war with the Black Wizard Land. Back then—"

"Get to the point, Wells! No one wants to hear your boring stories about when you were young—"

Ronan frowned at the Nose Ring Wizard, who had spoken again.

He was starting to dislike the man.

Old Wells did not get angry. He merely paused before saying, "In my experience, although news of an invasion by the Black Wizard Land has already spread, the day of the actual invasion will not come as quickly as we imagine..."

"How long does it usually take?"

Someone asked.

"Perhaps one to two years, maybe even longer..."

Old Wells answered, "So there is no need for everyone to panic right now. Instead of worrying ourselves sick, we should think of a way to get through this together. If nothing unexpected happens, the prices of all kinds of goods in Hoddam will rise sharply next..."

"The rent for the worst houses in town had already risen to nearly one magic stone a month this afternoon."

Someone said worriedly.

Old Wells thought for a moment. "There is actually no need to follow the crowd and move into town now. The forest is still safe."

"That's only because you think it's safe!"

The Nose Ring Wizard retorted, "What if Black Robe Wizards show up in the forest tomorrow? Rent in town is skyrocketing. I say everyone should hurry and move into town to find a place to stay before housing prices reach their peak."

Old Wells looked calmly at the Nose Ring Wizard. "If we go to town too early, we may exhaust our savings before the real crisis even arrives and be forced to move back out again."

The Nose Ring Wizard sneered. "That's still better than having money and nowhere to live when the time comes."

"That won't happen."

Old Wells shook his head. "There aren't enough people in Hoddam for the whole town to become so crowded that there isn't even a place to stand. And living in town does not necessarily mean having a house."

"You want all of us to sleep on the streets like beggars?"

The Nose Ring Wizard's expression turned ugly.

"That is only the worst-case scenario. Compared to losing our lives to Black Wizards, I don't think such humiliation amounts to anything.

"Until then, we should remain in the forest. In case my experience proves mistaken and Black Robe Wizards invade early, my suggestion is to form a Patrol Team. Everyone can spare a little time to take turns standing watch each day. If anything happens, we can issue a warning in time—"

"I have to say, that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard.

"How laughable. Wells, I think you've gotten so old that you've gone senile."

"Shut the fuck up, you idiot!"

An impatient shout suddenly rang out. Everyone stared in astonishment toward one spot.

They saw a handsome young man in a gray robe step out of the shadows, his eyes fixed coldly on the Nose Ring Wizard.

"Were you talking to me?"

The Nose Ring Wizard pointed at his own nose in a daze.

Ronan said flatly, "Other than you, is there another idiot here?"

A childish, crisp laugh sounded from the edge of the crowd. But when everyone turned to look, it immediately stopped. A little girl, looking guilty, hid behind Old Wells.

The Nose Ring Wizard glared viciously at the little girl, then looked at Ronan and spoke with a dark expression. "Kid, who gave you the nerve to talk to me like—uh..."

Halfway through his sentence, the Nose Ring Wizard suddenly sensed the Spiritual Power fluctuations emanating from Ronan. His expression changed drastically.

"Level Four?!"

He carefully looked Ronan up and down, his face full of disbelief. "So young? You live here?!"

"None of your fucking business."

Ronan's expression was cold. He had put up with this guy for a long time, and now he could not bear it any longer.

To put it bluntly, everyone present occupied the very bottom of Hoddam's wizard circles. Most were Level One or Two Wizard Apprentices, with a few at Level Two or Three.

Though the Nose Ring Wizard before him was also Level Four, Ronan had the Double-Rune Intermediate Protection Ring and Expert Level Energy Missile. He truly did not take this guy seriously.