78. I Swear by This Sword / 79. Legend

"Yes! This is the armor of the Steam Knight!" An elderly woman, though still spry, walked up to the armor, gently touching and stroking these radiant creations.

Her eyes sparkled with a bright light:

"The story of how I was chosen to build steam armor when I was young, and how I spent countless nights polishing the power lines of these behemoths. It was our factories, our proud assembly lines, and our workers who built these steam armors."

She looked up at Bai Ye:

"Young man, I have lived long enough. Those factories, nobles with titles longer than their surnames, businessmen who made their fortunes through trade, or Sarkaz ... those who claim to be its masters have come and gone."

"But the assembly line is still there. The machines have never stopped running. Every rivet that has passed through our hands is still in its rightful place. Whoever occupies that palace in the center of Londinium, this city we built will still experience tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."

"We don't care about these things, but I can't accept that the steam armor we created, which was supposed to protect us, those honorable Steam Knight, died in some forgotten corner."

"They were killed not by the Sarkaz, but by the Victoria."

"Young man, you're right. This is a betrayal, a blasphemy!"

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Let This Sword Be Our Oath

(Happy New Year!)

The crowd was silent, yet also furious.

When people gather, they lose their ability to think independently; they are easily swayed and swept up by the collective consciousness.

At this moment, their hatred for the Sarkaz lessened; however, the pile of steam armor placed on the ground rekindled their resentment towards the nobles.

These traitors welcomed the Sarkaz into Londinium.

Where were the dukes when they were enslaved? They could have saved them, but instead they sat comfortably in their own lands watching the Londinium bleed.

Ha, so-called legislation, so-called prohibition of dukes from entering Londinium, the king has been hanged by them, isn't the parliament just their one-man show?

Bai Ye walked into the angry crowd, and they all made way for him. Then Bai Ye walked to the person who had spoken up against him earlier.

Bai Ye looked at him:

Aren't you going to wear your top hat?

"What... are you saying, sir?"

The man looked at Bai Ye with an innocent expression on his face.

Bai Ye laughed:

"I know who you are, Duke Caster's spy, 'Gray Hat'."

Although he was exposed, the Gray Hat remained calm. He had been no different in demeanor from the other citizens around him, but now he suddenly straightened his back, as if he had become a different person.

"I don't need politeness and uniforms to prove my identity."

He bowed gracefully to the Bai Ye.

This appearance makes it seem like they've given up.

"Hang him!"

"Did you hear that! He's the Duke's spy!"

"Traitor!"

The angry crowd surged forward; clearly, this man was about to bear the brunt of the citizens' fury.

"Enough, let him go. Haven't you had enough bloodshed and death today? Do you want to be bombarded by the cannons of high-speed warships?" Bai Ye raised his hand to stop the agitated crowd.

"You're not going to execute me?" The Gray Hat showed surprise for the first time.

"Unless we want to completely break ties with the dukes and give them an excuse to act," Bai Ye shook his head. "In the end, even if these people unite, they are definitely no match for those people. All we want to do is preserve their most basic right to speak, so that they don't die without being able to make a sound."

The Gray Hat paused for a moment, then laughed:

"You are a very interesting person. I will pass on the situation here to the Duke, and hopefully it will be of some help to you."

"On behalf of the Core City of Chernobog and the Adventurers' Association, I extend my greetings to the Dukes. We love peace, and therefore will continue to monitor the situation in Londinium." Bai Ye's well-intentioned words sounded more like a threat to the Gray Hat man.

After all, Bai Ye is not alone; he is not only powerful, but also has an incredibly powerful force behind him.

Three "Gray Hat" had died in the Core City Chernobog; they had come to investigate the "Red Dragon" but were caught up in the bloody purge of the Bai Ye. However, the Duke Caster said nothing, acting as if nothing had happened.

Ursus, Lungmen, Kazimierz —more and more nations are standing behind Bai Ye, forming a massive interest group that Duke Caster calls the "Bai Ye Force."

Therefore, the Gray Hat agent had no choice but to obediently leave.

After the Gray Hat left, Bai Ye turned to look at Krolovsia. She must have known about the Gray Hat's identity all along. Moreover, Bai Ye had a feeling that this young woman's identity was not simple. However, he didn't know what kind of status the unicorn held in Londinium, or whose interests she represented.

According to Old Wei, after the Red Dragon Edward fled to Lungmen, he was simultaneously betrayed by their enemy Duke Koschei the Black Serpent, and placed in the power center of both Victoria and Da Yan. Subsequently, Old Wei received a secret letter delivered by a unicorn.

Clearly, this race also holds a special status in Victoria.

"...Mr. Bai Ye?" Krolovsia spoke first.

"What's wrong?" Bai Ye snapped out of his daze and found that everyone's eyes were on him. It was as if Bai Ye possessed a kind of magic; as long as he was there, everyone felt a sense of security. The citizens of Londinium, who had been engulfed in anger, had miraculously calmed down.

"Mr. Bai Ye, what should we do now?" Heidi asked.

"Open the fortifications, stop the pursuit of the Sarkaz, and let them go. Londinium has already witnessed too much death today. Killing a few more demons will not benefit you in any way, except to vent your hatred. Don't fall into a vicious cycle of revenge." Bai Ye said softly.

"So we're just going to let them go like this? Our people were enslaved and killed by them before, and now we're just going to let them go?" Indeed, many people couldn't accept this outcome.

Bai Ye shook his head:

"The Sarkaz will certainly pay a price, but only if they live, so that they can provide you with compensation. If these people die here, you will get nothing, and you can only stand on the ruins and watch the Grand Duke redistribute Londinium. It's just that a new group of people will 'enslave' you, and your life will not change."

"Those Sarkaz will pay compensation? Those demons never keep their promises."

Bai Ye raised his head:

"Then I will vouch for them."

"How do we know you're trustworthy, and not like those old men who go back on their word and make empty promises?"

All eyes were on Bai Ye.

They are waiting for a convincing answer.

Clearly, Bai Ye's words had shaken them somewhat, and after regaining their senses, they began to seek more benefits. Naked self-interest is most likely to sway people, such as compensation or restitution.

Now, what they need is for Bai Ye to give them a gentle push from behind.

Say something, Bai Ye, and convince us.

Mandragora and the others standing behind Bai Ye held their breath. This was the first time they had been stared at so many eyes. Hope shone in everyone's eyes.

Then Mandragora suddenly realized that they must have been staring at the leader in the same way in the past. It turned out that Bai Ye and the leader were similar people; they were born to be the center of attention and the focus of gaze.

Bai Ye took a deep breath. He knew it was time. He hadn't wanted to do this before, but it seemed there was nothing more powerful than that thing.

Then, a sheathed longsword appeared in Bai Ye's hand.

As if sensing something, the man in the Gray Hat stopped and turned around.

The crowd fell silent instantly, and everyone involuntarily craned their necks.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Bai Ye drew his longsword and raised it high—

"Let this sword be our oath."

Chapter Seventy-Nine Legend

Bai Ye raised his longsword and pointed it straight at the sky, the tip of the sword gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

Although this sword doesn't seem as special as the legends describe—it's not huge, nor does it have any exaggerated decorations—it appears to be just an ordinary sword.

However, when Bai Ye drew it from its Sword Sheath, the sword attracted everyone's attention like a magnet, and they stared at the longsword intently.

The girl who had first recognized the steam armor was once again astonished when she saw the longsword; her hands began to tremble slightly. The "Gray Hat" who turned around was also clearly stunned when he saw the longsword.

"Hmph..." He couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

At this moment, everyone was captivated by the longsword, as if it truly possessed some kind of magical power.

"Mr. Bai Ye ..." Krolovsia seemed to have thought of some possibility. She tried to speak, but the words just wouldn't come out because it was just too incredible.

Bai Ye nodded, confirming her guess:

"You are right, Miss Krolovsia."

Bai Ye gripped the hilt of the sword with both hands, holding the longsword upright in front of him, its bright metallic sheen reflecting his face.

"This is the national sword of Victoria, the Breath of Kings. Holding this sword, I declare that I will not fail you. Ancient monarchs of Victoria, be my witness!"

People had forgotten how to breathe; they could almost hear their own hearts pounding, feel the blood flowing through their bodies, and finally rush to their brains... Their eyes were fixed on the sword, and their ears echoed with that name.

"The Breath of Kings"

Some people's bodies began to tremble, while many more involuntarily shed tears... A certain ancient and glorious, yet forgotten emotion gradually awakened from the bottom of their hearts, an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

This sword seems to belong only in dreams. Though it appears unremarkable, it is incredibly beautiful. It possesses a power that stirs the soul. Upon seeing it, one is immediately convinced that nothing is invincible.

Krolovsia murmured:

"In the days before Mobile City existed, kings used this sword to cleave through Catastrophe. For centuries, no storm has been able to destroy Londinium."

"People say that as long as the Breath of Kings exists, Londinium will always be able to defeat any powerful enemy, whether it be a mighty monster or a terrible Catastrophe."

At this point, she couldn't help but look up at the sky.

At this moment, the Catastrophe clouds had not yet dissipated, and a hideous scar could be clearly seen in the sky, through which sunlight shone down on the earth.

Clearly, this scar left on the sky was not formed naturally; it is proof of humanity's struggle against the sky.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but turn to look at Bai Ye.

So, the legends and myths weren't just fiction. No wonder the Catastrophe in Londinium lasted so short, only wreaking havoc for a short while before being stopped.

Krolovsia immediately understood why Bai Ye had appeared in Londinium at this moment, and his previous actions all connected. He must have obtained intelligence that the Sarkaz would use the Shards to summon a storm, so he entered the Resting Place of Kings and found the national sword "Breath of Kings," using it to cleave the Catastrophe.

Not only Krolovsia, but many people thought of this. At this moment, they were convinced that Bai Ye had wielded this national sword and cleaved through the Catastrophe.

"Thud—"

The metal struck the ground with a crisp sound. A weapon had fallen to the ground.

The next moment, countless weapons slipped from the hands of the Londinium people. They were either seized from the Sarkaz or rummaged through the ruined armory. Some of them were not even decent weapons to begin with...

Some elderly Victoria even knelt on the ground.

Mandragora stared in astonishment at the Londinium; she hadn't expected that a mere sword could have such an effect. Faced with the angry mob, Bai Ye had actually managed to persuade them.

"It's not just because of the so-called 'Breath of Kings'," Kilian, the "spy" beside him, said slowly. "It's just an ordinary longsword, perhaps sharper and stronger than ordinary weapons, but that's all."

"What matters is not the sword, but the person who wields it..."

Bai Ye had no idea what the people of Londinium were imagining. By a twist of fate, he discovered that the story of the national sword cutting through the Catastrophe and saving Londinium was spreading throughout the city.

At this moment, no one questioned Bai Ye anymore. They obeyed Bai Ye's request and stopped their revenge against Sarkaz.

Wherever Bai Ye goes, he always feels the burning gaze of people. These fervent eyes seem to be looking at a legend who has stepped out of mythology.

"Mr. Bai Ye, the exits to the various peripheral plots have been opened, and the demons have retreated. What should we do now?" Krolovsia asked.

"..." Bai Ye blinked, wondering why the commander of the Londinium Citizen Self-Rescue Army wanted to ask for his opinion. He sensed something was amiss, as if people's attitudes towards him had changed ever since he took out the national sword "Breath of Kings".

Bai Ye thought for a moment and then said:

"I don't have any good advice, because the chaos in Londinium is unprecedented. However, I think we should prioritize disaster relief, clearing the areas hit by the Catastrophe and helping those infected. But remember to take protective measures to prevent the spread of Oripathy."

He paused, then added: