The Legendary Mage (Alavin)

"And the women?"

"Enjoy them, ha-ha."

"Rooaaar!"

In the central district, the majority of the two hundred thousand had already assembled. Lucan was in intense negotiation with Vandill and his Protégés, who subtly surrounded the Mallister family's guard troop, preventing them from leaving prematurely.

"Vandill, without an explanation, we will not leave Azure Mountain," Lucan declared firmly, though he kept his voice low, fearing the people nearby couldn't bear such news.

"Don't bark orders at me here, I'm just following the commands given. Do you have the guts to shout in the halls of Cobalt Strike?" Vandill stood before Lucan, hands clasped behind his back, and head tilted up. Their powers were nearly equal, neither fearing the other.

"You do as you're told, and I follow my own rules. No one leaves until we have enough strength to ensure our safety."

"Hah, do you think you're some kind of hero? You think you can just say, "We're not moving," and that's that?"

"I can tolerate a lot, but this time, you won't have your way!" Lucan, towering at two meters with a muscular and majestic stature, now had a fierce look on his face, his aura crackling with flames, a terrifying sight to behold.

Thousands of guards stood behind him, gripping their swords tightly. Their eyes were filled with anger. They would not be pushed into a corner without a fight.

Vandill sneered and stepped forward. "When the morrow comes, every mine slave must leave Azure Mountain. We'll destroy this place completely - burn it, crack the earth, flood it - Azure Mountain will be no more! If there are cave-ins, accidental injuries, or the like, we take no responsibility."

"Don't push us too far!"

"Heh, what if I bully you? What are you going to do about it?" Vandill glared, daring Lucan to challenge him.

Lucan clenched his fists, and his body trembled slightly. The rage in his chest was nearly exploding. However, behind him were countless citizens of Stormcast, who would suffer if he lashed out. His duty was to protect them, not drag them into conflict.

"You want to kill me? Do you dare? The Organization has given a deadly order! Anyone who defies it shall be shown no mercy! If you have the courage, kill us all and see how you'll account for the lives of these two hundred thousand souls!" Vandill's voice rose fiercely, defiant to the end.

These harsh words had been repeated countless times, and even Vandill was tired of them, but they struck Lucan's Achilles' heel.

The miners slowly lifted their heads, looked around curiously, and wondered what was happening. Captain Lucan seemed very agitated.

Lucan tilted his head slightly, and closed his eyes tightly. But how much longer could he bear it?

As Lucan was about to compromise again, Vandill snorted coldly and turned to address the miners, clearing his throat to make an announcement. "What are you doing?" Lucan grabbed his arm.

Vandill looked down at the large hand on his arm. "Let go!"

"What are you going to do!" Lucan demanded again.

"I said, let go!!"

"Captain?" His men tried to calm Lucan.

Lucan's expression was tortured, but he slowly released his grip.

Vandill straightened his robe. "I'm announcing the relocation of the miners happening tomorrow."

"I'll do it!"

"What?"

"I said, I'll do it!" Lucan gritted his teeth.

"You will? Heh, please do." Vandill gave a dry laugh, gesturing for Lucan to proceed. He was curious to see how Lucan would explain this to his people.

Lucan clenched his fists again, then reluctantly relaxed them. With a hardened resolve, he turned to address the miners. The tough iron warrior's eyes were misting over. "What should I say? How can I assure them?"

"I have protected you for eight years, but how can I protect you tomorrow? Two hundred thousand people flooding into the forest... What a sight that will be. How many hungry Magi-Monsters and fierce predators will be drawn? This isn't relocation. It's a slaughter!"

He could already envision the bloodshed and the screams of agony. With only a thousand men, how could he protect them all? He could save one, but not everyone.

"Cobalt Strike, what are you really trying to do?"

"Captain, let me speak," Deputy Godfred grasped Lucan's arm.

Lucan gently pushed his hand away and managed a reassuring expression, taking a deep breath as he approached the miners. More than two hundred thousand people stood in front of him, weary and numb, all slowly lifting their heads to look forward.

Lucan climbed to a higher spot, struggling to control his emotions, not daring to meet the eyes of the people. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he remembered the scene when Lord Alavin returned. "Lucan, promise me, no matter what, protect them. Give me half a year, I'll be back in half a year."

Oh, Lord Alavin, I...

"Captain!" A tall, thin guard suddenly shouted.

"Quiet down," his fellow guard reprimanded him.

"No, look... there's a fire..." the tall and thin guard pointed westward, where in the distance, beyond the darkness, it seemed as if expanses of flames were dancing, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.