Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Outside a small civilian house in Dawn Town, a group of players had formed a human pyramid, crowding around the doors and windows. They peered into the room, completely disregarding the fact that the door and windows were on the verge of bursting from the pressure.
Xi Wei, the Demi-human Saintess, Ye Hao, and Avatar, along with several other well-known players, were seated in two rows around a long table.
One row had only Xi Wei, and across from him, the protagonist group and the player representatives sat together, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Every one of them was filled with vigilance and a hint of fear, as if they were looking at a ferocious dragon, baring its fangs and claws, ready to devour them.
“I am not here to attack Dawn Town.”
Xi Wei repeated himself.
His gaze was icy, his expression disdainful, showing no hint of respect for the small territory of Dawn Town. He perfectly portrayed the image of a ruthless, arrogant, and cool villain BOSS.
Despite sitting alone, he still exuded a heavy oppressive aura that weighed down the players opposite him.
“Now, I’m giving you an opportunity to negotiate terms with me.”
“The orcs are attacking Black River Territory, and I’m about to lead my troops to reinforce them. I heard you demi-humans have a group of fearless foreign fighters. Lend them to me.”
“Absolutely not!”
Saintess Ruo Yi’s pretty face turned cold, and she refused the Lord of Eagle Territory’s unreasonable request without hesitation.
“I will never agree! You’re asking the Heroic Spirits to be cannon fodder, to die for nothing! You demon disguised in human skin!”
Upon hearing this, Xi Wei slowly stood up, his expressionless gaze fixed on the beautiful, fair-skinned girl with golden eyes, white hair, and fox ears.
In the girl’s terrified eyes, he suddenly leaned down, his face close to hers.
“Listen, I’m commanding you, not seeking your agreement.”
Xi Wei’s sapphire blue eyes gleamed with a cold light, and his icy gaze was filled with killing intent.
His nose was almost touching Ruo Yi’s increasingly pale cheek.
“You can negotiate terms with me, but if you refuse, I will immediately take Dawn Town.”
“And then I’ll throw all you demi-humans out.”
Xi Wei’s voice was like the cold wind of a winter night, sending a chill down Ruo Yi’s spine.
Helplessly, she hugged her shoulders and murmured tremulously, “How… how could you do this?”
“I think you’ve misunderstood something. Dawn Town belongs to my Eagle Territory, not your demi-humans.”
“B-but, this land was once a demi-human kingdom… I only wish for everyone to have a home. Why is such a small request so difficult to achieve…”
Xi Wei chuckled at her words:
“Your kingdom has already fallen. All the land belongs to the Kolon Empire. I am not a philanthropist; I have no obligation to give you demi-humans a town to settle in.”
“You are truly foolishly cute, my naive Saintess.”
“Or,” Xi Wei’s lips curved slightly, and he raised his hand, hooking Ruo Yi’s tender, white chin. He looked into the girl’s beautiful golden eyes and said seductively, “If you are willing to submit to me, then not only will I not use those foreign fighters as cannon fodder, but I can also grant Dawn Town to you. What do you say?”
“How dare you!”
Ye Hao, unable to tolerate it any longer, roared and charged at Xi Wei with a clenched fist.
Ruo Yi was the woman he, Ye Hao, had chosen; how could he allow others to humiliate her?
“Protect Saintess Sister!”
Following Ye Hao’s move, the players also shielded the dazed Demi-human Saintess Ruo Yi behind them.
The system prompt for mission completion appeared in his mind. Xi Wei showed a satisfied smile, then turned and raised his hand, slapping the charging Ye Hao across the face.
Ye Hao was only level 20 at this time, the duration of his breakthrough skill had long ended, so he was sent flying back even faster than he had charged.
Xi Wei elegantly took a white handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his hands, and then said with a laugh:
“I won’t waste any more words with you. Either all the foreign fighters will sincerely serve as my cannon fodder, and I can agree to one of your conditions, such as entrusting Dawn Town to you, or you can wait for my army to flatten Dawn Town. I’ll give you only ten minutes to think about it.”
After speaking, Xi Wei left the room calmly without even looking at the stunned crowd.
After a brief silence, a hesitant voice broke the quiet.
“Brothers, if I’m not mistaken, the thing the Lord of Eagle Territory used to wipe his hands just now was probably stockings…”
“Mm… and white ones, too. It looked like they’d been worn…”
“I can’t… I can’t hold it in anymore…”
…
For the players, becoming cannon fodder was not an unacceptable fate, as they could resurrect.
However, to die for nothing, without any reward and even lose levels, was a bit too much.
Several player representatives consulted with each other and gathered the opinions of the vast majority of players. Finally, despite Ruo Yi’s dissuasion, they approached Xi Wei.
“We accept your conditions.”
Avatar looked at the Lord of Eagle Territory calmly and added, neither subservient nor overbearing, “But you must agree to grant Dawn Town to us and swear to the gods that you will not reclaim it.”
“Is this your decision or the Saintess’s?”
Xi Wei asked with interest.
“Our decision is the Saintess’s decision.”
“Since that is the case,” Xi Wei nodded, placed his fist on his chest, and said loudly, “I am an infidel, but I can swear on my knight’s honor that if your foreign fighters do their best in the upcoming battle, I will transfer the ownership of Dawn Town to you after the war.”
“However, we heard that the Lord of Eagle Territory is not someone who values knightly honor very much.”
Xi Wei put on a very surprised expression upon hearing this and said solemnly, “Where did you hear that? I am a knight first, a lord second, and only then an Earl.”
He placed his hand on his chest again, and said piously, “I will use my entire life to defend the reputation of a knight.”
The players looked at the shameless Lord of Eagle Territory before them, their faces full of shock, with ten thousand alpacas stampeding in their hearts.
How could such a thick-skinned person exist in this world!
Three days ago, this person hadn’t said the same thing.
But the players had no choice; the situation was stronger than them, and they had to bow their heads. They finally acknowledged the Lord of Eagle Territory’s oath.
They could stall for time. Once they players developed, they would flatten any Lord of Eagle Territory or Lord of Gray Eagle.
At that very moment, all the players’ panels received a system notification.
[To all players: You have obtained a special mission. Follow the Lord of Eagle Territory, Xi Wei Jinshi, to reinforce Black River Territory, which is being attacked by orcs. The mission has been accepted. (Rewards unknown)]
“What the hell? Even BOSS can give us quests?”
“Are we going to war?”
“We’re going as cannon fodder…”
“So what if we’re cannon fodder? Playing games is fun.”
“Ura! Ura!!”
“Fight orcs? I’ve only been in the game for five days, and it’s already this exciting?”
“Accept, accept, damn it! This is a top-tier NPC. He throws us straight into battlefield combat, unlike a certain scummy protagonist who always tells us to go punch trees.”
…
Ye Hao, still licking his wounds: “…(T＿T)”
Was he saying that loudly so he couldn’t hear?
What was wrong with punching trees? You were all so happy when you accepted the mission!
