A Sorcerer’s Journey

Five years later.

Raised cheekbones, thick and bestial beard, it was Muyi, standing in front of an army of more than three hundred Knights and another army with more than two hundred Noble Knights. They had arrived at the foot of Rocky Mountain’s ore mine and blood agate mine, a territory that Dawn Protector City had taken from the Moth Frog City more than twenty years ago.

Moth Frog City came to an agreement with Bataatti City nearby to attack Dawn Protector City together. In exchange, Bataatti City was not only getting a huge amount of gold coins, but also fifty percent of the proceeds of the blood agate mine!

After much consideration, Grimm had actually agreed to this term.

Compared to the income of these two mines, Grimm was more focused on not letting the three cities around Moth Frog City form an alliance. The reason being that for the past two years, these three cities had been experiencing a contradiction between dramatic population increase and relatively backward economy, as such there might be an uncontrollable outbreak at any given time.

On the contrary, the natural population growth of Moth Frog City had been rising steadily, and had begun to catch up with the other three cities.

Moreover, Moth Frog City had attracted a large number of outsiders seeking to earn a livelihood in the city itself.

“Commander Muyi, I’ve long heard that there is a Legendary Knight in Moth Frog City. Finally we meet. You are one extraordinary man indeed. Haha haha.”

With a bloody axe on his shoulder and glowing eyes, the commander of Bataatti City was leading an army of more than three hundred Knights.

Although he was not a Legendary Knight, and was not able to stimulate blood essence, his unusual strength made him strong, perhaps even stronger than Muyi.

“Commander Areth.”

Muyi was still a man with few words. Equipped with metal armor, he was riding a handsome white horse.

The two armies became one, and both of the commanders got into a battle stance. Glaring at a Dawn Protector City’s defending Knight on the opposite hill, they wielded their weapons forward.

“Defeat them!”

***

Seven days later, at the governor’s residence, Grimm received the news that Moth Frog City had successfully reconquered the two mines.

“Okay.”

Grimm nodded, looked at the Knight who knelt on one knee in front of him, and replied without much emotion, “Inform Muyi to stay at that area until Dawn Protector City sends an emissary. I will deliver the subsequent supplies. His mission is not only to guard the mines, but also to be proactive to launch attacks.”

“Yes.”

The Knight responded and walked out.

From years of Demon-Hunting expeditions, Grimm had never had the thought of using passive defense.

The two mines gathered the main battle forces of Dawn Protector City. If Muyi’s army did not take the initiative to attack, their enemy would go around the mine and attack Moth Frog City for revenge, which would be a foolish mistake.

***

One month later.

“Heh heh, the sixth disciple of the elder master is hot-tempered indeed. Not only did he start a full-blown war, he even dragged Harmonia City along with him. It seems like they are going all in on this.”

Although Love Bee City did not agree to join Moth Frog City’s attack plan, they had been successfully alienated and agreed not to interfere in this matter.

Unexpectedly, Dawn Protector City found another ally. Although Harmonia City was not next to Moth Frog City, it was adjacent to Dawn Protector City.

Now that only fourteen years had gone by, the new population under Dawn Protector City’s birth reward program had not formed their combat abilities. It would take at least two to three more years for them to form the initial stage of combat power and gradually become stronger.

Meanwhile, Grimm’s road construction plan would take roughly another five years or so to complete.

However, once the road was completed, Moth Frog City would experience tremendous growth. Grimm was confident that by that time, Moth Frog City would no longer be a city that could be easily defeated by one or two undeveloped towns.

At the same time, although Moth Frog City did not have a birth reward system, with the increase of the people’s wealth, the infant death rate was greatly reduced. Hence, it could be considered as an increase in population as well. However, since Moth Frog City’s wealth started after the all-round development of gold mines, they would only be able to see an increase in population more than ten years later.

Grimm had thought everything through.

In general, two years later, there would be a three-year period in which Moth Frog City and Dawn Protector City’s combat power would change.

As long as Grimm’s Moth Frog City could survive the three years, the road ahead would be smooth and easy. However, if they were not able to make it, there would be no future for them.

The road that Grimm had built in the early stages would end up to be for the welfare of others.

It seemed that they needed to raise a large amount of money quickly, and prepare to survive the three years of weak period!

For now, Moth Frog City was still far stronger than Dawn Protector City, so they did not have to fear anything. Harmonia City was just joining in on the hype for a while, and they would naturally retreat after a few months, just like Bataatti City.

With this in mind, Grimm exclaimed, “Treasury!”

With wealth, Grimm’s strategy would be more diverse and flexible. For example, by hiring mercenaries!

Currently, several chambers of commerce had reached trade agreements with Moth Frog City. As the governor of Moth Frog City, Grimm had the power to make these chambers hire mercenaries beyond Hydra Wrath Sorcerer Academy.

***

Half a month later.

Grimm gave a passionate speech in Moth Frog City, catching the attention of tens of thousands of people.

The gist of which was that Grimm accused Dawn Protector City of greed and sin, and mentioned how they had plundered the two mines that belonged to Moth Frog City decades ago. Now, Moth Frog City was just taking back what belonged to them in the first place.

As the governor of Moth Frog City, Grimm called on the Knights in the city to unite and defend the honor of Moth Frog City!

***

If Grimm were to talk about honor and justice in Moth Frog City when he was first appointed as the governor, he would have been seen as a joke by the people. However, after the prestige Grimm had built in the city and the “etiquette brainwashing” taught by Myna at the Knights Teaching Academy, all these Knights had begun to have their own sense of honor and value.

“Defend the justice of Moth Frog City!”

“Protect the glory of Moth Frog City!”

Effortlessly and with minimal cost, Grimm had gathered more than a thousand of well-trained Knights to join the battlefield, which was sufficient to resist the simultaneous attacks of Dawn Protector City and Harmonia City.

This was Grimm’s expenditure on etiquette teaching more than ten years ago, and now he had received ten times in return!

These Knights who protected the justice and glory of Moth Frog City would save Grimm a lot of gold coins, and these gold coins would help the small town employ incredible foreign aid forces in the future.

“Caw caw caw caw! Young master, did I pass my mission?”

Standing on Enigma No.1, Little Myna was full of confidence and waited for Grimm’s compliment.

Over the years, Little Myna had established an unshakable image of power and dignity among the young generation of Knights. Basically, Myna’s every word was some deep and profound truth to this new generation of Knights.

Little Myna even documented a set of “Knight’s Rules of Conduct”, which was a collection of the Stigmata Sorcerers’ sharings before Demon-Hunting expeditions.

All in all it was stated:

“When you are right, and I beat you, it is not my fault. It’s the cruelty of fate and rules; it’s the order given by the superiors. I am just protecting the submissive nature of Knights.”

“On the other hand, if you are wrong and I beat you, then I am right. I am defending the justice and peace of the world. It is my glory, and I am beating you on behalf of the whole world.”

“So will you submit?”

Grimm had read Little Myna’s “Knight’s Rules of Conduct” once and that was what he interpreted with his wisdom as a Sorcerer.

“Well, not bad. It seems that Tutor Myna is very talented in teaching students. Haha.”

After Grimm complimented Little Myna generously, he threw some Magic Stones to Little Myna and said,” Here’s your reward.”

The Magic Stones were just a small reward, but they were enough to make Little Myna scream in excitement, “Caw caw caw caw! Young master, wait till you read my “Dignity and Glory of Knights”! Caw caw caw caw!”