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[Assistant] Next, he pulled the mill above the fluted disc, aiming at the inscribed line, then pressing the pedal.


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[Assistant] The belts transfer the power generated by pedals' wooden wheels to the mill shaft.


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[Assistant] Later on, Roland held fast to the mill handle and pulled down slightly, and then the rotating mill cut the fluted disc slowly at an angle of 90 degrees.


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[Assistant] As the material of the fluted discs was pig iron, it was not hard to carve the indentation, despite the fact that the mill was working the rolled steel after the quenching process.


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[Assistant] The air was thick with the fragrance of lard, causing the blacksmiths and apprentices who did not eat meat for a long time to swallow their saliva.


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[Assistant] After the demonstration, it was time to sign the contract.


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[Assistant] The business in Border Town had just begun and the industry was even more recent.


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[Assistant] Therefore, neither steam engines nor machine tools would get popular immediately.


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[Assistant] At this time, the majority of people could hardly understand the huge power those things represent or their potential.


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[Assistant] As a result, Roland had to promote the machines by himself.


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[Assistant] The contract said that the Smithy using milling machines had to process one set of gears every week.


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[Assistant] All the needed materials should be provided by the castle and the processing fee was 10 silver royals.


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[Assistant] Besides, the machine tools were not free, and the process functioned more like renting.


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[Assistant] The smithy had to pay two silver royals to use the tools.


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[Assistant] During the months of demons, the business in the smithy was not as prosperous as before.


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[Assistant] It was an order from the prince and it could also benefit the smithy. Thus, nobody went against this order.


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[Assistant] At the same time, Roland told them that it was the first milling machine and there would be more milling machines being produced constantly. Anyone who was interested could apply at the City Hall.


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[Assistant] Your Highness, why don't you directly make the processing fee eight silver royals?


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[Assistant] Carter asked, confused, after the blacksmiths went away.


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[Assistant] The amount is the same, but the meanings are different, Roland explained.


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[Assistant] This is probably the first commercial lease contract in Border Town. I need to set an industry standard.


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[Assistant] Carter wiped his forehead, knowing that his highness was talking nonsense. He had experienced this situation.


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[Assistant] The prince would carry on talking if he pretended to listen carefully A good start can lead to a virtuous cycle


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[Assistant] At present, only I need to buy gears, so I provide machine tools. They get rewarded for their labor.


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[Assistant] Later, when others also need them, the blacksmiths will realize that they can get more commissions from buying the machine tools than renting them.


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[Assistant] Roll and post, thus, whenever they confront new things, they would consider applying the method of alternative production to avoid the risks.


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[Assistant] I can get rewards by renting the tools out and the subsequent development of new things will be decided by the market. That's a virtuous cycle.


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[Assistant] With high spirits, Roland was about to give a long harangue on how to establish a reasonable market when there came the homophorn.


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[Assistant] This was unusual as only when the patrol team could not handle the issue would the alarm signal sound out.


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[Assistant] Roland and Carter looked at each other and then rushed to the castle's backyard.


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[Assistant] Roland mounted the horse which had been prepared by the guards and headed for the city wall with Carter and his healers.


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[Assistant] When they boarded the city wall, the militia was already in place.


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[Assistant] To Roland's relief, there was suddenly an array of guns on the top of wall. It seemed that the eggs did work.


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[Assistant] Roland looked northwesterly, finding a group of demonic beasts approaching border town. Roland guessed there were about 20 evil beasts.


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[Assistant] Iron Axe ran to Roland from his guarding position, giving a salute and reporting to Roland, Your Highness, there is something weird about those demonic beasts. Weird? Do you mean that they generally don't take collective action?


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[Assistant] No, Iron Axe explained, colonial animals would forever be colonial animals. Take wolves for example. Their habitual nature won't be changed.


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[Assistant] However, these demonic beasts are not the same kind, and they are not supposed to take actions together.


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[Assistant] Some hunters even witnessed them fighting with each other before. Demonic beasts were often mutated.


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[Assistant] They had a burning desire to hunt, were prone to be infuriated, and did not know how to avoid risks.


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[Assistant] In a sense, they had lower intelligence than beasts.


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[Assistant] Roland carefully observed for a while, finding different sizes and species of beasts, including demonic wolves and demonic bison.


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[Assistant] Roland thought it didn't mean that they knew the importance of collective actions.


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[Assistant] Because they were still guided by the barriers and traps furnished by Iron Axe.


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[Assistant] All the beasts had been gradually getting close to the front of the city wall.


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[Assistant] Vanner was so nervous that his wet palms could not grip his gun tightly.


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[Assistant] While nobody was noticing, he secretly wiped the sweat using his clothes.


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[Assistant] The hunters who were responsible for observation repeatedly said, relax and take a deep breath. Vanner did as what the hunters said over and over.


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[Assistant] However, his could not cease to be nervous because he had heard so many rumors about how fierce the demonic beasts were for the past ten years when he lived in the western region.


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[Assistant] Since the start of months of demons, the hunter squad had killed some scattered demonic beasts under the city wall, which had eased his fear for them a little, and he had thought he could be brave enough to face the fierce beasts. The fact was, he was not that brave.


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[Assistant] Being picked out by His Highness to be Deputy Force Commander of the Spear Squad, Vanner tried to keep his expression calm, maintaining the appearance of an armed guard.


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[Assistant] The beasts were getting closer to Vanner, and he could recognize what they looked like.


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[Assistant] At the head of the beasts was a demonic bison whose two shiny black emblems were as thick as his arms. Its fur was just like a cloak, fully covering its body.


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[Assistant] Vanner felt the ground was quaking while the demonic bison was about 70 meters away from the city wall.


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[Assistant] He licked his dried lips, waiting for the thrust order from the hunters. A loud noise was heard.


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[Assistant] The demonic beast did not slow down and directly ran into the city wall, shattering its brain and splashing its black blood.


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[Assistant] Hearing the order from the hunters, Vanner subconsciously raised his gun and tried to stab the wolves even though they were not in his attack range.


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[Assistant] The effect was not as good as they trained. Some thrust their guns immediately after the wolves jumped up, and some failed to react in time after receiving the order.


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[Assistant] As a consequence, there was only one demonic wolf being pushed back while another one fell down on the top of the wall. Stay in formation, the hunters shouted loudly.


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[Assistant] Although he was wondering which side the demonic beast would attack, Vanner still remembered what iron axe had warned them.


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[Assistant] When you focused on the things behind you, the danger would come from the front.


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[Assistant] He kept closely staring at the oncoming beasts, holding fast to his gun.


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[Assistant] The Hunter Squad was obviously more experienced than the Spear Squad.


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[Assistant] Before the demonic wolf fell down, the hunters had pointed their machetes at the beast.


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[Assistant] Iron Axe was pretty nimble. He directly dashed to the beast, smashed at its waist with his gunstock, and then watched it roll a few circles in the air.


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[Assistant] The demonic beasts were great in both physical stamina and defensive ability. Thus, such attack would not cause it too much damage.


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[Assistant] Alter falling down, the beast got up instantly and showed its sharp fangs. Iron Axe had already pointed his gun to its forehead. Then came a gunshot.


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[Assistant] Vanner glanced at him from the corner of his eye and saw a member of the platoon team sitting beside the city wall, hands stained with blood. His thorn was out. It was scratched by the claws of demonic wolves. Please help me. Damn it. Bind up with a cloth. The scene was chaotic.


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[Assistant] A few demonic boars with rough skin rushed at the city wall and were hit by crossbows of the hunters. Calm down. Roland shouted loudly.


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[Assistant] He was blocked by Nightingale just now and arrived at this moment. Don't you remember what to do if someone get hurt during the training? Follow the rules.


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[Assistant] What Prince said reminded Vanner of his responsibility.


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[Assistant] As Deputy Force Commander of the City Wall's Defense Team, there should be someone organizing the rescue when there was an injury.


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[Assistant] He named his two teammates and said, You take him to the hospital quickly.


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[Assistant] According to his previous experience, there was no chance that this man could survive.


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[Assistant] His Highness, instead, considered it to be more important to follow the orders and regulations, especially for the member of the militia.


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[Assistant] After the wounded were carried away, the order was restored on the city wall.


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[Assistant] The demonic beasts seem to be of numerous quantities. Only a few could impose threats on the people atop the city wall.


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[Assistant] The hunter squad shot the left demonic beasts one by one and Vanner eventually took a deep breath.


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[Assistant] He felt he had used up all of his energy during this half an hour's battle.


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[Assistant] At this moment, the hunters on the alert in the watchtower of the city wall shouted again, my gosh, what's that? Vanner also saw it.


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[Assistant] Although it was a long distance from the city wall, it must be a buster from its silhouette.


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[Assistant] Vanner firmly believed that it would be larger than ten cattle together.


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[Assistant] Only Iron Axe recognized what that monster was at once. He sucked in a breath.


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[Assistant] There was no doubt that it was a demonic hybrid and that this would bring them big troubles.


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[Assistant] If the mutation of demonic beasts is at least biologically sensible, this monster is so incredible that it seems to have come out of a horror film.


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[Assistant] From a distance, it looked like a gigantic tortoise with two heads.


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[Assistant] Upon closer inspection, it turned out to have two wolf heads. Is this the guinea pig of Dr. Frankenstein? Roland thought to himself.


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[Assistant] The gigantic demonic beast was as high as the city wall and almost six meters long, with six short and thick feet in the shape of rhinoceros legs.


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[Assistant] The size of each leg was equal to that of an adult human's body.


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[Assistant] As for its heads, the two wolf heads were unlike those of the common two-headed monsters in films, which either let out howls and turn or snapped at each other.


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[Assistant] Instead, the two heads sank low, with their eyes dimmed and their movements like zombies. The most eye-catching thing about it was the shell on its back.


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[Assistant] The shell's surface had a dim grayish-brown color and was covered with moss. With one glance one could tell that it was incredibly hard.


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[Assistant] This shell was similar to that of a tortoise. It covered the monster from head to tail.


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[Assistant] If the monster could retreat into its shell like a tortoise, it would definitely be hard to kill it.


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[Assistant] But Roland was not worried since a demonic beast that moved so slow was destined to be a target.


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[Assistant] Even if firearms could not penetrate its shell, it would be easy to hit a wolf head outside the shell. If it hit in the shell, they could blow it with dynamite. Your highness, this is a demonic hybrid. Iron Axe approached him with a grave face.


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[Assistant] Now I understand why there has been a collective action of demonic beasts of different species. They were all driven by this demonic hybrid. Just like a lion that drives a herd of sheep, roll in thought and nodded. This one is rather different from the one you saw last time.


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[Assistant] It's also the first time that I've ever seen a demonic hybrid of this kind. Though it looks clumsy, you shouldn't underestimate it. Any of the demonic hybrids would be hard to tackle.


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[Assistant] It's almost within the range, Roland said, and let the archers try first.


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[Assistant] It snowed lightly, while the wind blew rather unpredictably from the northwest. The weather was not good for archery.


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[Assistant] But the two huntsmen chosen by iron axe seemed confident enough.


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[Assistant] They ascended the lookout tower and shot their arrows according to their judgment of the instantaneous wind direction. The two arrows behaved like a pair of eyes.


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[Assistant] After they rose to a vertex under the influence of both wind and gravity, they fell and landed almost vertically on the targeted shell.


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[Assistant] Just as expected, the arrows were repelled and this action even sounded off in a tension tone like a game in Roland's mind.


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[Assistant] The two huntsmen continued to shoot their arrows calmly for another two rounds.


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[Assistant] The last round was successful because the arrows landed at the anterior of the monster.


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[Assistant] One arrow landed right onto a wolf head, while the other stuck into the neck of its target.


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[Assistant] However, it did not screech angrily or increase its attacking speed.


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[Assistant] It stopped for a moment and then hit its heads and feet into the shell while moving on. This incident baffled everyone. The beast looked then like a tank with its chassis lowered. The ridge of the shell almost touched the ground.


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[Assistant] In this way, even the best archer could not shoot their arrows into its body. Use flintlock. Roll uncommanded.


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[Assistant] Now the target was about 17 meters away from the city wall. Even a flintlock without rifling could not miss it.


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[Assistant] Carter and Iron Axe came to the parapet quickly, mounted their guns, aimed, and fired.


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[Assistant] While the smoke was dispersing, Roland could see clearly how the bullets hit the shell and made tiny fragments sputter. A small section of the shell cracked.


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[Assistant] Yet the demonic hybrid was unaffected and maintained its speed.


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[Assistant] The hardness of the shell still corresponds with that of a carbon-based organism he thought to himself.


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[Assistant] It was a pity that the lead bullets were too soft and prone to deformation. They were unfit to penetrate the thick shell.


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[Assistant] It would be unrealistic to attempt to shatter the hybrid shell with these four guns. They would have to resort to the explosive packages. Iron Axe made the same judgement like the Prince.


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[Assistant] He commanded Deputy Force Commander of the Spear Squad to carry the dynamite, while the beast was already budding the city wall.


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[Assistant] When it found it could no longer advance, its shell began to vibrate with such an unbelievable speed and hit the wall with high frequency like a rotary hammer.


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[Assistant] Stone chips instantly splattered and several cracks spread quickly along the weak spots.


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[Assistant] The Rubble Wall had a high compressive capability, but yet its tensile and shearing strengths were extremely low.


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[Assistant] To be more specific, it was almost defenseless against vibration. The people on the city wall all felt it.


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[Assistant] Soon, a loud friction noise pierced the ears of everyone and informed them that the hybrid shell had cut a slit into the wall. Yet the crashing did not stop.


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[Assistant] The beast moved again until the whole interior of its body was embedded into the city wall.


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[Assistant] The militia fled from the part of the city wall that was covered with cracks, while the invisible nightingale carried the prince in her arms and jumped from the wall. If anyone had stared at the prince at that moment, he would find the prince had descended like an apparition.


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[Assistant] When Vaner arrived carefully with a pack of dynamite, he found that the middle part of the city wall had an almost three meter wide opening.


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[Assistant] The demonic beast who had crossed the wall then stopped vibrating and continued to advance with its previous speed.


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[Assistant] Iron Ax said loudly, light the dynamite and place it under the beast.


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[Assistant] Though his hands were shaking, Vanna retained the clearness of mind.


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[Assistant] He remembered every detail of the training about how to use an explosive package.


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[Assistant] Unlike the packages used in training, each of these explosive packages contained less dynamite and was sealed with wooden planks.


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[Assistant] Fragments of mining waste were stuffed between the packages and planks.


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[Assistant] Its firing equipment was also optimized with an extractor of flint and copper wire.


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[Assistant] When this part failed, at the end of the package there was still a normal fuse.


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[Assistant] He tore the cloth soaked with oil at the outermost layer in a flurry and pulled at the copper wire with all his strength. From the wooden box there soon came a short buzzing sound.


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[Assistant] Then smoke appeared. That was a sign it had been successfully lit.


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[Assistant] The fuse that had been soaked in salt burned rather slowly and would take about 30 seconds to burn.


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[Assistant] The world turned quiet for Vanner when he saw the white smoke that came out of the box. He had seen how powerful this thing could be.


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[Assistant] He turned and saw white airflow gush from beneath the shell. It was the snow on the ground that had been blown up by the explosion and looked like a misty flower.


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[Assistant] The demonic beast stopped advancing at last, as if it was unable to withstand the burden it was carrying. Its gigantic shell fell rumbling to the ground.


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[Assistant] Only then did he realize that cold sweat had soaked through his clothes. It had finally ended.


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[Assistant] When everyone thought so, the horn sounded loudly again on the border.


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[Assistant] Another herd of demonic beasts emerged from the horizon and came toward Border Town.


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[Assistant] She also felt like throwing up, but she restrained herself.


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[Assistant] A wounded man was brought to them, and while he was still conscious, he repeated, Save me, save me.


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[Assistant] The despair and plea in his eyes was heart-wrenching to watch.


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[Assistant] When she saw the bowl hanging out of his body Nana vomited. Even so, she made up her mind to complete the healing.


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[Assistant] After Brian placed the bowl back to the wounded man's body, Nana reached out her hand and healed the wound with her eyes closed. Uhm. The little girl seemed a little dispirited.


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[Assistant] She leaned on Anna and said softly, Today is the first time I heard the sound of the horn. Did His Highness get into trouble? I don't know. Anna shook her head. She wanted to take a look at the city wall so much.


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[Assistant] She was now a little envious of Nightingale's power of invisibility, for that power would make going out very convenient. At that time, there was a booming sound from the city wall. Everyone felt a slight vibration.


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[Assistant] Losing patience before going to the battlefield would only make bad things worse. Not to mention, now things are still far from bad. I'm sorry, your excellency, Brian answered. I just can't calm down.


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[Assistant] I just don't want to sit here wasting my time while others are fighting on the city wall at the cost of their lives. Defending this little town should have been my duty. Perhaps. Pine shrugged his shoulders.


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[Assistant] But the duty of defending the town doesn't belong to you alone. I've heard that his highness will grant you the title of knighthood.


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[Assistant] Then you should understand that a knight's foremost duty is loyalty.


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[Assistant] But soon, they heard the second horn blow, more desperate than the first and rumbling like a thunder in everyone's heart. Pine frowned. Anna. Nana cried out in surprise.


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[Assistant] As long as you come with me, you aren't disobeying the order of his highness. Brian became bewildered. He turned his gaze to Pine. That was clever, the Baron thought to himself. What she said makes sense.


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[Assistant] If things are really urgent, the participation of a witch might turn the situation around. Finishing his thought, he nodded. Take care of her.


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[Assistant] Seeing the two leaving, Nana asked, Father, will you go to the battlefield? My battlefield is right here, my sweet one. The baron smiled.


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[Assistant] Whether they're demonic beasts or demons, I'll never let them hurt you. The city wall was not far from the hospital.


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[Assistant] Anna and Brian ran eastward on the flagstone pavement along the wall.


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[Assistant] When they came to the central lookout tower, they realized things had escalated for the worse. The city wall had been a huge opening.


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[Assistant] Roland's guards were defending the opening with shields, but still, a few of them were knocked down.


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[Assistant] Among the demonic beasts, there was one with the look of a boar that was particularly ferocious.


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[Assistant] When the demonic beast made its way through the crowd, it turned and headed for Anna.


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[Assistant] Brian the guard came to the side speedily, lowered his body, and waved his sword horizontally. The frenetic beast did not dodge, and one of its forelegs hit the blade and sent the sword flying, while the force of its own body weight severed the leg.


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[Assistant] It fell down shrieking and struggled like a fish out of water. No one dared to come close. Anna walked near it and placed her hands on the ground.


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[Assistant] Soon fire rose from under its body and quickly burned it into charcoal.


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[Assistant] Roland also noticed the flame that emerged all of a sudden.


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[Assistant] When he found that it was Anna who did it, his heart almost leaped out of his chest. That was never in his plan.


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[Assistant] After most of the people had accepted witches as one of them, he would slowly make Anna known to them. But now it was too late.


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[Assistant] He said immediately to Nightingale, Pay no more attention to me now. Protect her first. No harm must come to Anna. She's the key in the development of industrialization.


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[Assistant] If she was injured, the loss would be immeasurable, thought Roland. Got it. Nightingale replied. Take care of yourself as well. Anna walked to the opening.


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[Assistant] Roland's guards made way for her since they had all seen this girl in the strange outfit many times.


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[Assistant] She stood right in a wall of shields, stretching her arms out horizontally.


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[Assistant] Flames grew from her hand like vines and climbed onto the surface of the city wall where the opening lay. Everyone who saw this wonderful scene was dumbfounded.


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[Assistant] They could not believe their eyes when they saw a wall of flame rise unhurriedly and fill the opening in the city wall.


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[Assistant] This, however, could not be an illusion, because the high temperature of the flame made the guards step back involuntarily and the snow around melted instantly, giving rise to dense white mist. The demonic beast also felt the heat of the flame wall.


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[Assistant] Roll and grab the chance and shout it. Spear Squad. Resume your formation. Hunter Squad. Fire.


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[Assistant] After saying this, he grabbed Carter's flintlock and ascended the wall, shooting at the demonic beasts which had no way out. The prince's action inspired everyone.


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[Assistant] After all, in this era, the noble and the royal members hardly fought in the front.


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[Assistant] When Prince Roland chose to fight with the militia whom he had selected from the common people, it seemed inspiring indeed. Everyone shouted defend border town.


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[Assistant] Fight for his highness and resume the defensive formation as if the city wall had never been damaged. The fight lasted till dusk.


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[Assistant] There was eventually no more demonic beasts alive in front of the city wall. The flame gradually dimmed and vanished.


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[Assistant] Anna wiped the dampness from her forehead and walked out of the opening. Then Roland saw an incredible scene.


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[Assistant] The guards all touched their chest and nodded respectfully to her.


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[Assistant] The militia, as if affected by the guards, watched her quietly. No one shouted demon or sorceress. Peace prevailed at the moment on the border. An unknown power was dreadful indeed.


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[Assistant] But when the owner of it stood by the people's side and fought against the evil with them, trust and gratitude would gradually replace fear.


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[Assistant] Roland tried to suppress his excitement and walked over to Anna, only to find her pale and staggering. It seemed she would collapse any minute. Are you okay?


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[Assistant] He held the maiden's shoulders worryingly, while the latter gave a faint smile, passed out and fell in his arms.


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[Assistant] Through the narrow and high window on Veranda, the setting sun shone its scarlet light on the floor and imprinted vermilion strips on the wall.


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[Assistant] In the whole kingdom, there were only a few places left where one could still see sunsets, and port of Clearwater was one of them.


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[Assistant] It was rumored that the months of demons in which heavy snows and storms prevailed had almost no influence on this place.


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[Assistant] Apart from the fact that Black Sail Fleet couldn't sail forth from the harbor, the whole city was as busy as usual.


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[Assistant] The lord of this harbor city, Garcia Wimbledon, was sitting at the table below the window and reading the letter in her hand attentively. Her gray hair had a tinge of gold in the setting sun.


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[Assistant] In the play of shadow and light on her face made her features even sharper, lending it even more charm and audacity. Ryan had stood beside her for quite a while.


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[Assistant] Though the letter had occupied the Queen longer than usual, Ryan chose to wait quietly aside, for he doesn't want to be the one who disturbs the peace in this room.


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[Assistant] My father, Ailing Wimbledon, the King of the Kingdom of Grey Castle, has died.


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[Assistant] She seldom repeated what she had said, he thought to himself.


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[Assistant] She would have ignored his question if she had reacted according to her usual manner. But couldn't she be joking? Could the king really be dead?


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[Assistant] Ryan opened his mouth in attempt to comfort her, but his words turned to a question. How did he die?


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[Assistant] Fortunately, Garcia took no notice of all this psychological activity. She was Princess Garcia, Lord of the Port of Clearwater, the Supreme Commander of Blacksail Fleet, and cared for no one's comforting, the letter said. It was my brother Gerald who killed the father and was later caught by the guards.


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[Assistant] He didn't commit suicide to escape punishment, so the hand of the king and a few other ministers made him go through a public trial and sentenced him to decapitation.


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[Assistant] This couldn't be the case, replied Ryan subconsciously.


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[Assistant] Of course this couldn't be the case, said Garcia impassively. My brother was stupid, but not stupid enough to court his own death.


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[Assistant] Without someone else's instigation, he couldn't have done this. Did someone set him up? Let me guess.


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[Assistant] Princess Garcia closed her eyes in contemplation. Maybe someone made a detailed proposal to him, saying that they could help him to take the throne. To bring assassins into the King's city is impossible unless careful arrangements are made, including killing, swapping, and buying off personal.


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[Assistant] But that has never been what Gerald is good at. Or rather, he doesn't care to deal with these trifles.


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[Assistant] So it's not hard to conclude that the ones who made the arrangements had all his trust, yet betrayed him at the last moment.


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[Assistant] Ryan didn't reply, for all was just speculation. How things happened no longer mattered. It was the result that mattered the most. He believed that Princess Garcia was of the same opinion.


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[Assistant] As expected, Garcia opened her eyes and continued, There were so many stupid men around my big brother, every one of them a muscular beast. No wonder they were all duped. It was only...


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[Assistant] Garcia said, knocking her fingers unconsciously on the table, a blind man can see that.


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[Assistant] But he didn't have to do this, for he had been father's favorite. Ryan realized that her highness was upset. It was unusual for her to put on such an expression.


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[Assistant] Much as she complained about King Wimbledon III's excessive partiality, she would have never wanted her father to have such an end. Ryan could understand her feelings more or less.


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[Assistant] It was exactly how the younger generation felt towards the elder in a big family. The elders are like a mountain to cross, arousing respect, awe, and loathing.


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[Assistant] If she had been right and Prince Timothy had done all this, then the prince could be called cruel. But, why did he have to do this?


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[Assistant] Because he was afraid of me, Garcia took a deep breath and seemed to be gathering herself together, saying he was afraid of the Black Sail fleet.


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[Assistant] There's nothing strange about that, just like I have a range in Formers in Valencia and King City.


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[Assistant] When he knew about the existence of Black Sail Fleet, he could easily guess what was my next plan.


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[Assistant] However, Valencia doesn't have an army that can resist black sail fleet.


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[Assistant] So he used the most stupid way, making Gerald his stepping stone to get what he wants. Do you mean that he wants an army?


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[Assistant] He wants the crown, said Garcia. When Gerald dies, he will be the first in line of succession.


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[Assistant] Now that my father had died, he must have been on the way to King City.


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[Assistant] As long as Timothy becomes Wimbledon IV, he can muster the forces of feudatory and army beyond the limit of domains. She continued, shaking her head. But as I have said, he didn't have to do this as father's favorite son. Isn't this the worst situation?


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[Assistant] Ryan said worriedly, what if Prince Timothy is successfully crowned, declares that royal decree on the selection of crowned prince has come to an end, and then summons you to King's city?


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[Assistant] Garcia replied scornfully, this step of his was much too blunt.


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[Assistant] My father's partiality doesn't entail the support for most ministers.


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[Assistant] The murder of the king is no trivial matter. Though Timothy has shifted the blame to Gerald, he could only fool the commoners.


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[Assistant] She turned to look at Ryan. I may have to change my plan a little.


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[Assistant] Ryan at once went down on one knee and said, I'm all at your service.


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[Assistant] Garcia stood up and walked to the window, her back to Ryan. He would take on me as soon as he were crowned.


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[Assistant] But what he could think of could only be ordering Joey Cole, Duke of the Southern territory, to exert military pressure on me.


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[Assistant] Yet the latter would probably take the mourning of the latest king as an excuse to hold back his troops. The old man's too sly to take any risks.


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[Assistant] The most Joey Cole would do might be mustering his feudatories and making a show of it next to the border port of Clearwater.


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[Assistant] As it lies at the heart of the kingdom, Eagle City has been a city almost without defense.


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[Assistant] It is possible to arrive at Town of Clear Spring by the tributary of San Juan River and from there one can reach Eagle City within a day.


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[Assistant] After taking over Joe's city, the whole southern territory will be in my command.


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[Assistant] There will be such an interesting time lag. When he sits on the throne and wants to command Joey, he will find that the whole southern territory has been seized by him. I'd love to see his face then.


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[Assistant] Garcia turned, while the setting sun on the sea surface cloaked her with magenta gossamer.


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[Assistant] Her face was hidden in the dark yet there was still some flickering light in her eyes.


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[Assistant] Her eyes are so firm, Ryan thought, though there could be anger or pain in them, but there should be no place for sadness. Sadness is not for Her Highness. No, you shouldn't, he answered earnestly.


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[Assistant] Garcia nodded satisfactorily. Go and gather the captains here for me.


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[Assistant] Now that Timothy wouldn't wait until five years later, I'd certainly not disappoint him.


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[Assistant] The whole southern territory will be declared independent after I seize the Eagle City.


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[Assistant] It doesn't matter to her if it was done by Timothy, Ryan thought. She can always find her way in the most turbulent situation and head for her goal once a decision is made.


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[Assistant] This is where her charm lies, and the reason why I followed her. I'll do as you bid, your highness.


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[Assistant] No, Ryan answered respectfully, Your Majesty the Queen.


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[Assistant] Roland knocked on the door and pushed it open after he heard Nightingale's consent.


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[Assistant] The heavy drapes hung in the room would only be pulled apart in the early morning and evening to let in some fresh air. At other times they were down for warmth and shade


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[Assistant] The only source of light came from the two candle stands at the end of the bed.


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[Assistant] The candles burned in silence and projected two crossing shadows on the objects in the room.


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[Assistant] He walked to the bed and watched the still unconscious girl buried in soft pillows and quilts. He let out a little sigh. Everything is okay at the border front line? Nightingale came to hand him a glass of warm water. Everything has gone unwell. Roland took a sip and handed the glass back to her.


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[Assistant] After that day we didn't encounter any more large groups of demonic beasts.


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[Assistant] When the injured militia members returned to the army, they were inspired. What about the opening in the city wall?


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[Assistant] Carl moved the shell of that hybrid demonic beast to the damaged spot by rolling logs and attached it to the city wall with hangers and winches.


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[Assistant] Roland knew that Nightingale was trying to divert his attention to keep him from worrying too much.


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[Assistant] But ever since he stepped into the room, all his attention could not help but be on the girl in slumber.


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[Assistant] The person who contributed the most to the last victory against the demonic beasts was Anna.


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[Assistant] If she had not blocked the damaged spot on the city wall with her flames, what would become of the battle was hardly imaginable.


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[Assistant] Theoretically speaking, if someone was in a coma and did not eat, drink or get nutrition through other means, for example, by injection, in more than a week, the body function would then deteriorate until the brain died gradually in the process.


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[Assistant] But Anna did not show any signs of serious illness or even weakness. Her look was at least much better than when she fainted off. Her cheeks were rosy. Her breath was smooth.


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[Assistant] The temperature one felt by touching her forehead was normal.


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[Assistant] All indicated that Anna was healthy, yet unable to wake up.


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[Assistant] It's also the first time that I'm faced with such a situation.


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[Assistant] Nightingale, who stood aside, shook her head and said, the magic in her has been emptied during the battle.


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[Assistant] But now it's almost saturated and even thicker than before.


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[Assistant] If my estimation is right, she'll have her day of adulthood this middle night. Do you mean that she'll come to adulthood in the coma? No, she might die in the coma.


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[Assistant] Nightingale spoke frankly. One has to undergo the pain on the day of adulthood with the utmost willpower.


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[Assistant] As soon as one gives up resisting the pain, the magic power will bite a witch's body and destroy it irreversibly. Roland took a chair and sat beside the bed.


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[Assistant] However, I remember you told me that when demonic torture happens, no matter how painful it is, one will retain clear consciousness until one either overcomes this crisis or dies. Yes, indeed.


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[Assistant] In the Witch Cooperation Association, some witch had hoped to pass the demonic torture in a coma.


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[Assistant] It was not even day of adulthood pains, but less severe pains that happen once a year.


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[Assistant] Nightingale hesitated for a moment, and then said, she sank into unconsciousness with the aid of alchemical potion, but that attempt was meaningless.


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[Assistant] The magic power bit her body and made her awake yet defenseless. Does the pain increase gradually? No. When the time comes the pain strikes like a thunder.


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[Assistant] The uncertainty was a trial in itself as one did not know how long one had persisted and how much longer one would still have to persist. This felt like a lonely boat in the stormy sea, thereby making one lose hope even more quickly. In the silence, he felt a hand upon his shoulder.


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[Assistant] The witches have been treated like animals, hanged, burned or tortured to death by the noble who take pleasure in their pains.


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[Assistant] The fortunate witches that survived could only distance themselves from the crowd and live in isolation while Holy Mountain, a place that is nowhere to be found, serves as a feeble hope for them. Nightingale's voice became softer than usual. But Anna is different.


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[Assistant] It's the first time that I've seen someone outside the Witch Cooperation Association who cares so much for the witches.


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[Assistant] She's needed, respected, and treated like a normal person.


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[Assistant] Your Highness, even if Anna doesn't come to adulthood successfully, she has found her own holy mountain. But this would not be the ending that he wanted.


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[Assistant] Roland closed his eyes and recalled the first time he met her.


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[Assistant] Her feet were bare and her clothes were ragged, but yet she did not show any fear in a prisoner's cage.


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[Assistant] Her eyes were like unsullied lakes, serene and clear.


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[Assistant] She was the flame, yet not so flippant like the flames. Pictures flashed quickly in his mind.


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[Assistant] When she heard that Anna would come to a adulthood, she insisted on staying.


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[Assistant] Roland had to arrange a room on the second floor for Tegui Pine, who had accompanied her.


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[Assistant] So just like that, Roland and the other two witches sat by the bed and waited quietly for midnight to arrive.


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[Assistant] Nightingale and Nana had to undergo the demonic torture in this winter as well.


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[Assistant] Fortunately, the awakening time was different for every witch.


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[Assistant] Otherwise, Roland thought he could not have acted so calmly if the three witches had to undergo their trials of life and death all at the same time. There was no belfry in the little town.


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[Assistant] The passing of time became unnoticeable in the dimly lit room.


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[Assistant] From time to time there was a shrieking sound of the wind current that passed through the window gap.


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[Assistant] Just when Roland began to feel drowsy, Nightingale observed. It started.


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[Assistant] Only she could see the magic in Anna that then became active.


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[Assistant] The green flame became thicker and thicker, and its center turned from bright to dark.


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[Assistant] The restless magic gradually converged to the center, as if dragged by something.


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[Assistant] It struggled and seeded, but yet its effort was in vain.


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[Assistant] Roland did not see this change, but he still felt that something was different.


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[Assistant] The flames of the candles flickered, though there was no wind in the room at the time.


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[Assistant] The flames became darker and darker as if devoured by the shadows around. Then the color of the flame changed from red to green. He turned his gaze to the girl in bed.


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[Assistant] Anna was still in slumber without the slightest change of expression on her face, as if nothing in the room that happened was relevant to her.


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[Assistant] Then the candlelight became almost invisible. The flame was not out, but the green part of the flame was nibbling away at the red part until all light vanished and darkness prevailed.


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[Assistant] But soon light returned to the room, while the flames of the candles remained pure green.


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[Assistant] In the green light, the three looked at one another in confusion. Then Anna's grown pulled their attention back to her. She slowly opened her eyes. Anna. Roland was in a daze and thought, is she waking up?


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[Assistant] The girl blinked and smiled, and then reached out her right palm to the prince. Green flame leaped from her palm and burned quietly. Roland understood her intuitively.


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[Assistant] He placed his finger into the flame after a second's hesitation, but the expected burning pain did not come.


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[Assistant] Instead, what he felt was only gentleness and warmth, as if he had placed his finger in lukewarm water.


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[Assistant] The next day after Anna woke up, Nightingale came to bid farewell to Roland.


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[Assistant] Though we don't know why, Anna is probably the first witch to have spent the day of awakening without pain, Nightingale said excitedly before leaving.


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[Assistant] Having lived with Roland for a long time, she got used to the word awakening to describe the transformation of witches.


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[Assistant] I'll bring my sisters in the Witch Cooperation Association to Border Town. I hope you'll accept them, just as you have accepted Anna. That was exactly what Roland prayed for.


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[Assistant] Anna's ability alone helped the town to improve the hot forging process so that the town could see the dawn of the industrial age, let alone the ability of a bunch of witches.


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[Assistant] Of course, considering Nightingale's safety, he asked her to stay, hoping that she could go to the impassable mountain range after the months of demons. But Nightingale was obviously too eager to wait.


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[Assistant] Many of my sisters will face the difficult period during the winter.


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[Assistant] If I could tell them the news earlier, maybe more of them can survive the awakening.


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[Assistant] Don't worry, few demonic beasts can sense my whereabouts. Then, when is your day of awakening? Roland finally asked.


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[Assistant] Nightingale mounted her horse and said, the end of the winter or early spring. She waved to Roland and rode off. Don't worry about me. That pain becomes lighter and lighter these years. Her reply made Roland lost in thoughts.


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[Assistant] He had been thinking about the reason why Anna got through the day of awakening successfully.


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[Assistant] After all, Anna said after awakening that she did not feel the slightest pain, which was a total reversal of Nightingale's notion, a which gains her power from the demon, and thus she is tainted and evil.


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[Assistant] Such notions were rooted in people's mind, as they saw the witches would suffer terrible pain on the day of awakening.


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[Assistant] And when the witches died in the awakening, their blood and flesh would be dried and their skin would be burned, which became the irrefutable evidence of their depravity. However, Roland never believed in that notion.


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[Assistant] He had probed the memory of the real Prince Roland, but yet failed to find any evidence of the existence of God or demon.


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[Assistant] Since power was not endowed by God, then it should not be regarded as a standard to distinguish between good and evil.


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[Assistant] In fact, even if the gods existed and frequently interfered in the secular world, believers should be endowed with power after they chose their camp and not the other way around.


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[Assistant] According to the description of Nightingale, the magic power gathered in the witch's body.


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[Assistant] Then was it possible that the vessel was damaged because the magic power could not be released?


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[Assistant] Roland thought it was quite possible, as the witches, faced with most people's hostility and oppression, had to hide their ability and pretend to be normal.


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[Assistant] Therefore, they had few opportunities to use their magic power before they reached their adulthood.


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[Assistant] Of course, Roland would not think that his castle happened to be a wonderland.


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[Assistant] He had already talked to Anna, knowing that she experienced insufferable pain before.


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[Assistant] If anything was different during this year, then it was the fact she used her ability almost every day since she came to the castle.


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[Assistant] And what Nightingale said before she left implicitly confirmed his assumption. Nightingale often used her ability of invisibility as it was hard to be noticed. And she had also been forced to train her ability. What's more, she could use her ability without any misgivings now.


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[Assistant] And that was why the bite on the day of awakening had little effect on her.


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[Assistant] After Roland returned to the castle, he immediately asked Nana to strengthen her training.


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[Assistant] If no one was hurt while defending the town, she would have to heal a variety of small animals.


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[Assistant] If the assumption was proved through Nana's training, it would have an earth-shattering effect on the witch community, as the curse of demon would change into the endowment of God.


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[Assistant] As long as he could ensure that his domain was safe and open to the witches, they would come here endlessly.


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[Assistant] Anyhow, everything got back on track after this incident.


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[Assistant] Roland urged the production of Steam Engine 2, which could also help Anna to familiarize herself with the new ability.


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[Assistant] Another shed was put up in the castle backyard, but the shelter snowed this time.


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[Assistant] He felt that it would be safer to build his experimental base in his own territory.


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[Assistant] According to what Nightingale said, a witch's ability would be stable in her adulthood, and she might generate new derivative skill.


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[Assistant] Though he had not seen Ana's new skill yet, her way of controlling flame was completely different now.


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[Assistant] No, whether it could be called as a flame was uncertain now, Roland thought.


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[Assistant] If the former flame could be barely understood with common sense, the green flame now is utterly unexplainable. He named it as heart fire.


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[Assistant] Because it could exist away from Anna, and change its shape at Anna's will, just as what she was doing now.


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[Assistant] A flicker of flame stood on the iron plate two meters away from her, swinging slightly back and forth, as if it was saluting. But Roland knew that it was controlled by Anna.


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[Assistant] Normally, it kept a temperature close to that of the body. Once Anna wanted to heat it up, it would instantly rise to a higher temperature and the color would change from green to dark green.


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[Assistant] Similarly it could also change into a large cluster of flames. In addition, it could move at a slow speed.


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[Assistant] Unfortunately, it could not be far away from Anna. Through repeated testing, it was confirmed that the heart fire would disappear if it was five meters or more away from Anna.


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[Assistant] Another feature of Heartfire was that Ana could summon a lot of flames, though she could barely control two flames simultaneously until now. Recently, the border was quite calm.


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[Assistant] Demonic beasts still appeared outside the wall, but without demonic hybrids, it was hard for them to break through the defense line.


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[Assistant] As Roland said, the beasts became stronger and quicker, but they were just beasts.


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[Assistant] The demonic beasts were led to the middle section of the wall so that the militia of about 100 soldiers could cope with the situation.


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[Assistant] So in addition to the daily routine inspection, Roland spent a lot of time on construction.


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[Assistant] He had set aside a site on the south of the castle and planned to build houses on it for the arriving witches.


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[Assistant] As the investor of the project, he appointed Carl to be in charge to build a number of two-story brick houses.


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[Assistant] A reasonable and pleasing layout, easy entrance and exit, convenient drainage system and other issues had to be taken into consideration as he strove to create a well-planned neighborhood.


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[Assistant] He even considered distributing the witches to live in the old and new area of the town so that they could live together with the common residents. Later he thought it over and deserted the plan.


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[Assistant] That might be helpful to speed up the common resident's understanding of the witches, but it might cause irreparable consequences before the misunderstanding was cleared up.


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[Assistant] After all, the different view of witches only existed within the militia right now.


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[Assistant] What's more, Roland could not guarantee that all of the witches brought by Nightingale would be pure and harmless. Most of them had suffered the pain and torture of the world, so Roland was afraid they were much more sophisticated. After all, witches like Anna and Nana were rare.


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[Assistant] Therefore, if the witches lived together, it was more convenient for centralized management.


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[Assistant] Relevant rules and regulations had to be drawn up before their arrival. Roland had no experience to refer to.


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[Assistant] After all, he was neither the personnel of Superpower Office of National Security Agency, nor was he the founder of the Avengers. How could he know how to manage a group of people with superpowers?


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[Assistant] He had to work out a temporary system by referring to the personnel management system used in companies and plan to modify it slowly while putting it into practice.


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[Assistant] Of course, Roland knew that this plan was full of flaws.


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[Assistant] Anyhow, as a pioneer, who else could you rely on?


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[Assistant] If he chose to hide and be conservative in border town, maybe he could touch the threshold of industrialization in decades. But being a mortal man, how many decades could he afford?


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[Assistant] If he wanted to lead the town to the next era and be the pioneer of the reform, he had to have an adventurous spirit.


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[Assistant] Just when he was writing his thoughts on the parchment, Barov opened the door and walked in.


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[Assistant] Shaking the snow off his coat and saluting to the prince, Barov said, Your Highness, a messenger of Longshan stronghold has come.


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[Assistant] He was unwilling to leave his warm house in such a cold winter especially when the demonic beasts were raging on the continent.


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[Assistant] Nevertheless, Duke Ryan designated him to place the tricky document in the hands of Prince Roland.


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[Assistant] Certainly, he knew what was said in the document. In fact, the entire nobility of Greycastle was discussing the alarming news. The king died in a murder and the murderer was Gerald Wimbledon, the king's eldest son.


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[Assistant] Subsequently, the king's second son rushed to the king's city and declared that he would succeed to the throne as the second in line, since the kingdom could not survive without a king. However, his action was not accepted by all.


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[Assistant] It was claimed that Gerald's trial was rather strange as he was exposed only a few times during the whole interrogation with his mouth sealed and his hands tightly bound.


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[Assistant] Therefore, some people were hoping to investigate the murder thoroughly and then decide who should inherit the throne.


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[Assistant] Besides, it was rumored that Timothy Wimbledon, the second prince, was the man who pulled the strings behind the murder.


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[Assistant] As the real murderer of the king, he pretended to be sad but could not wait to ascend the throne.


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[Assistant] Regardless of the controversies, the Second Prince temporarily took over the position of the King, thanks to the full support of Prime Minister.


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[Assistant] At the same time, he issued recall orders to all his competitors. The battle for the throne had come to an end, and the princes and princesses, after receiving the orders, had to return to the king's city before the end of the winter.


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[Assistant] The new king would confer domain and titles on them based on their ruling of territories over the past six months.


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[Assistant] Of course, Petrov could sense the eagerness behind the command.


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[Assistant] Through this, Timothy Wimbledon could know his sibling's reaction and know whether he could sit on the throne firmly.


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[Assistant] If they chose to give up the battle for the throne and return to the King's city, then Timothy Wimbledon would become the undisputed Wimbledon Four.


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[Assistant] All the documents to border town would be transferred through Longsong Stronghold first.


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[Assistant] When Duke Ryan read the recall order, he was fairly disdainful of it.


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[Assistant] The last king had controlled the lords well before he died. As for the second prince, his ascending to the throne was already controversial.


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[Assistant] Moreover, since Gerald was beheaded on the guillotine, it was highly doubtful that anyone would be willing to return to the King's city.


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[Assistant] Anyway, in the eyes of the six noble families in Longsong Stronghold, this command came at a good time.


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[Assistant] About two months ago, Earl of the Elk family made an unauthorized scheme, which made the Duke unhappy, especially when he knew the scheme failed.


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[Assistant] The prince also gave a fierce response, and he directly sentenced Kills Med to be hanged. With this, both sides came to an open rupture.


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[Assistant] The Duke had originally planned to calm the troubled waters after the end of months of demons.


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[Assistant] But now with this document, he had a more legitimate option.


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[Assistant] After Roland Wimbledon returned to the King's city, Border Town would naturally be owned by the Duke again.


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[Assistant] And if the prince refused, the duke could force him to leave in the name of the new king.


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[Assistant] The duke did not care much about who would inherit the throne in the end.


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[Assistant] But as a messenger, Petrov did not feel very comfortable.


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[Assistant] Last time he promised that he would bring back a new trade agreement, but the scheme of the Elk family came first.


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[Assistant] Now he visited Border Town again, but he brought bad news again. Whether it was the death of King Wimbledon III or the recall order of the new king, neither would be welcomed by Prince Roland, Petrov believed. The sail to Border Town was quite smooth.


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[Assistant] As Kingdom of Greycastle lay in the south of the continent, the river did not freeze even in winter. From time to time, Petrov looked outside the window.


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[Assistant] He did not see any people being starved to death or fleeing from the town which indicated that border town did not fall to the demonic beasts. That surprised him slightly.


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[Assistant] After all, he witnessed how the city wall was built when he visited Border Town last time.


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[Assistant] Truth be told, he had little confidence in the stone wall plastered by mud. What he saw next surprised him more.


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[Assistant] A sailing ship with the banner of Willow Town slowly passed them on the right side of the river. He had seen such a scene before, but never in the months of demons.


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[Assistant] Border Town is doing business, even when they are fighting against the demonic beasts.


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[Assistant] How could they resist the brutal beasts without summoning all miners to the defense line, he thought.


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[Assistant] Three days later, the ship arrived at the dock of Border Town.


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[Assistant] The wooden dock was still old and shabby, but beside it, a simple wooden shed was newly built.


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[Assistant] Once the ship was ashore, two guards walked out from the shed, staring at every move of the boatman.


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[Assistant] Petrov immediately understood the meaning of setting sentries here.


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[Assistant] Prince Roland apparently did not want anyone to leave the town secretly through the waterway.


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[Assistant] Then a man brought a horse for him and accompanied him to the castle.


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[Assistant] Just like last time, Prince Roland Wimbledon met him in the living room.


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[Assistant] What's more, the prince ordered his attendant to prepare a sumptuous meal, although it was not the normal dinner time.


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[Assistant] The attendants served grilled ham, dried fish slices, an unknown salad of wild vegetables, as well as butter bread, and vegetable soup that could be seen at any dinner party. It seemed that the prince liked to talk business after dinner.


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[Assistant] Petrov thought while his hands were busy with the forks.


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[Assistant] After all, he had not had much of a chance to enjoy a good meal.


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[Assistant] Even his honeysuckle family, except having dinner with guests, would just eat potato and bread with bacon. When the dinner was finished, the dessert was served. Petrov respectfully handed over the document.


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[Assistant] Roland took the document and opened the ceiling wax with his dining knife. He flattened the document and took a quick glance. Then he was stunned. The king was dead. Roland had no feeling toward his nominal father.


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[Assistant] He was already in border town when he woke up as Prince Roland, and he had never seen the King face to face. Plus, he only found complaints and resentment toward his father and Prince Roland's memory.


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[Assistant] Because of this, he thought he was caught in an embarrassing situation. Should he have a sorrowful look on his face?


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[Assistant] The second prince, under his new authority as the new king, announced the end of the battle for the throne and commanded all his siblings to return immediately to the king's city? He doubted that.


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[Assistant] Roland coughed and raised his head and caught the regretful look in Petrov's eyes.


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[Assistant] So that's it, Roland thought, Duke of Langson's stronghold must be happy to see this. Whether I obey the order or not, I'm in a dilemma.


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[Assistant] Instead of bringing the promised agreement, Petrov brought a piece of bad news which might cause my death. He must be feeling guilty at this moment, Roland thought.


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[Assistant] Even if I intend to leave, I have to wait until the end of the months of demons.


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[Assistant] If I leave, what will the people of Border Town do in the heavy snow?


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[Assistant] To someone else, Petrov would certainly say things like, don't worry, stronghold will help you handle the situation, or any other diplomatic words.


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[Assistant] However, faced with Prince Roland who he had only met twice, he could not speak so readily.


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[Assistant] Roll and call the attendants to bring over a pen and paper.


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[Assistant] He soon wrote a document and covered it in sealing wax and his personal seal.


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[Assistant] Petrov glanced at the envelope when he got the document from Roland.


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[Assistant] It was clearly written to Timothy Wimbledon, the second prince of Greycastle, instead of King Wimbledon IV. He has showed his attitude, Petrov thought.


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[Assistant] Roland pushed open the door to his office, where Barov had been waiting for him for quite some time.


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[Assistant] He tossed the document to Assistant Minister Barov, settled back in his chair, and put his feet on his desk.


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[Assistant] If outsiders had not been present, he would have wanted to hum a tune.


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[Assistant] Your highness, please restrain your grief, said Barov. He read the letter, frowning and frowned.


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[Assistant] The king has unfortunately passed away. The first prince is the murderer. It is a tragedy. I don't know what your highness intends to do next. Gerald's death was so peculiar.


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[Assistant] I want to see how Garcia and Tilly react before deciding, said Roland, but in any case, we should be taking precautions. Barov looked at the Prince, waiting for him to continue.


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[Assistant] With this change in royal power, the King's city may become turbulent.


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[Assistant] The first thing to do is to vacate your beloved ones and family members.


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[Assistant] It was important to prevent the second prince from taking these people to threaten his personal ministers.


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[Assistant] Right now, Assistant Minister Baruff was indispensable for maintaining the administrative and normal financial operation of Border Town.


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[Assistant] Roland sipped his tea and continued, You, Carter, and your subordinates need to write letters to your family members.


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[Assistant] I'll entrust the guards to go to the King's City with the letters and arrange shelter for them in other towns. No need to come to Border Town? Barov was not a fool.


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[Assistant] After 20 years of experience in politics, he immediately understood the prince's deliberate intention. No.


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[Assistant] Roland neither wished for the adversary to use the families to threaten his subordinates, nor did he want his subordinates to think he was trying to use the families to threaten them.


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[Assistant] So he chose a compromise, relocating them to other safer towns first.


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[Assistant] In about the ore trade, the recent export of iron ore will be suspended.


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[Assistant] We'll only sell raw gemstones to Willow Town, he commanded. I need to keep the iron ore for my own use. This will reduce revenue, your highness. But it won't go down too much.


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[Assistant] The miners have found a new gemstone deposit that can make up some of the gap, Roland said. And there would be no business during the winter.


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[Assistant] No one was willing to go out anytime the demonic beasts might be hanging out.


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[Assistant] As a result, there would likely be only two or three transactions for the next four months.


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[Assistant] For the lightweight barge, obviously the transport of gemstones was a more cost-effective choice. Understood. Barov jotted everything down.


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[Assistant] After Bariff had left, Roland called on Carter Lannis. I need to expand the size of the militia.


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[Assistant] After the recruitment release, please arrange to transfer a few members with quick response and high ability to the new platoons to become captains.


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[Assistant] The training must be based on the same method that was implemented last time.


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[Assistant] Your Highness, if you follow the old training method, it will probably be a long time before the new platoon is ready.


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[Assistant] That's still stronger than a rabble, said Roland, waving him to do what he had said.


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[Assistant] The platoon trained thus far was far from being able to be called an army. He was afraid that they were at the level of college students after military training.


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[Assistant] But sometimes the measure of fighting capacity had to be compared to the opponent.


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[Assistant] In addition to the demonic beasts, they were also likely to encounter a group of private core mercenaries and mixed platoons temporarily put together by serfs.


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[Assistant] As long as they were equipped with cross-air weapons, college students would be almost adequate.


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[Assistant] After Carter had left, Rowland could not help laughing. He had not expected such a coincidence.


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[Assistant] He knew little about Garcia Wimbledon, but she was not the kind of person to be trampled upon at will.


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[Assistant] The first prince had been sentenced to death in such a short period of time.


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[Assistant] Even if there was no insider, she would probably not return to the King's city easily. He was just a follow suit.


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[Assistant] As long as he could guard border town without moving elsewhere, someone would certainly jump out, and the Duke of Longsong Stronghold was likely the first person to feel uneasy.


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[Assistant] Otherwise, he would not have been so anxious about the documents and delivered them to him in such bad weather.


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[Assistant] For the duke, the sooner he saw it, the sooner he would sleep and eat in peace.


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[Assistant] If Roland chose to stay in Border Town, it was equivalent to defying the new king's will. He would wait until the months of demons were over.


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[Assistant] The Duke would then probably want to give him a profound lesson under Timothy Wimbledon's banner. But this was exactly what Roland needed.


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[Assistant] If anyone were to ask what industrialization lacked the most, the answer would definitely be people.


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[Assistant] It required a large number of people to join in this large-scale production, turning the public into individual parts of a huge machine to drive it into operation.


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[Assistant] It was no exaggeration to say that with the sheep eating men enclosure movement in Britain, a large number of farmers were deprived of their land, making them free laborers, which then laid a solid foundation for the later industrial revolution.


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[Assistant] The industrial age was so harsh, as long as educated workers were put into this furnace continuously, the exchange in return would be huge.


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[Assistant] The smaller the industrial classification, the larger the population needed to be.


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[Assistant] Roland had been troubled constantly by the problem of population.


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[Assistant] There were just over 2,000 inhabitants in Border Town.


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[Assistant] Even if it was a new era of machinery, it was still only workshop style production.


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[Assistant] Without a large number of people many projects could not be launched. Where could he swindle so many people to come to this town? Could he buy slaves?


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[Assistant] There was no mention of where to buy thousands of slaves at once.


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[Assistant] Adult slaves were expensive and did not have much significant training.


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[Assistant] Younger slaves under the age of 10 would take too long to train.


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[Assistant] Even if child labor was employed against conscience, the waiting period would still be too long. Could he recruit talents? How many people would be attracted to border town? This would result in more costs than buying slaves. Could he encourage people to give birth to more children? Forced marriages? Forget it. He had also considered long song stronghold.


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[Assistant] But since the kingdom was in a stable state, if you were to attack the surrounding lords, it would simply be gambling with the future.


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[Assistant] Duke Ryan would also not dare to confront him blatantly, he would rather secretly try to put a spoke in his wheel. However, the situation was different now.


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[Assistant] Now that Timothy had ascended the throne, he was eager to see all his competitors disappear. This recall order reflected his eager mood. Duke Ryan had obviously been able to understand this.


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[Assistant] Once released from the Old King's constraints, it would be strange for him, as the ruler in the Western region, to do nothing.


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[Assistant] This was the opportunity Roland had been anticipating for a long time long song stronghold, as the border of the kingdom was a century old city with nearly 10,000 permanent residents.


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[Assistant] Behind Longsong Stronghold, there were towns with large tracts of land and no defense ability.


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[Assistant] If it was possible to defeat Duke of Longshan's stronghold and win the city, he would be able to get a large number of free people, while completing the original accumulation of wealth in the meantime.


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[Assistant] What easier way was there to gain population than annexation? What else could accumulate wealth faster than plunder?


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[Assistant] The news was like a lighthouse dispelling the mist, illuminating the direction of Roland's progress. He would never miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


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[Assistant] The path under her feet was only as wide as her shoulders. To one side was a huge stone cliff. Opposite were steep rocks. The two apart was about three meters wide. Below was a bottomless ravine.


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[Assistant] She carefully followed the stone cliff to avoid slipping.


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[Assistant] When she looked up, she saw that in the sky there was only a thin ray of light, like a hanging silver thread. But she knew that it was noon. Even in the daytime, she had to carry a torch.


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[Assistant] The light coming through the rock was not bright enough to illuminate the road ahead.


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[Assistant] The long path gave the illusion that she was inside the mountains.


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[Assistant] The only advantage here was that despite the cold wind whistling and snow swirling in the mountains, the gap between the cliffs remained unaffected.


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[Assistant] Occasionally a few snowflakes fell from overhead down the cliffs and paths, quickly turning into water vapor. The temperature here was different from outside.


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[Assistant] Occasionally she could see warm gas rising from the abyss.


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[Assistant] Had it not been so, she would not have dared to go alone through the impassable mountain range in the months of demons.


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[Assistant] The mist could hide her body, but could not isolate the temperature.


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[Assistant] She would have frozen to death if she had walked in the cold wind for less than two hours.


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[Assistant] But Nightingale was unwilling to stay here for more than a moment, for she always felt something in the dark staring at her. It gave her the creeps.


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[Assistant] If she could, Nightingale would have wished to walk through the mist.


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[Assistant] Unfortunately, she did not have enough strength to do that. Prolonged usage of strength would quickly exhaust her. Nightingale lifted the torch.


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[Assistant] On the opposite, rocks were flickering in and out of sight.


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[Assistant] In the faint firelight, she could occasionally see shadows of different sizes on the opposite cliffs.


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[Assistant] Nightingale knew that they were caves, so deep that light could not shine, and they looked like a cluster of shadows.


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[Assistant] In the same position as the cliff close to her, there was also a corresponding deep hollow.


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[Assistant] This reminded her of the hearsay about the mine on Northern Slope. It was said to be the demon's underground den.


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[Assistant] From there, there were many byroads in all directions supposedly dug by monsters.


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[Assistant] Northern slope was only one corner of the impassable mountain range. Were these caves connected to the mine? The idea made her shiver.


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[Assistant] West of the impassable mountain range was the uninhabited barbarian land.


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[Assistant] Who could dig numerous caves inside these mountains stretching hundreds of kilometers?


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[Assistant] Perhaps nobody but the monsters who had survived in barbarian land could do that.


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[Assistant] She did not dare to contemplate further and instead she concentrated on walking forward. Finally the path in front changed.


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[Assistant] The shoulder-wide path was divided into two, one slightly upward and the other straight down, extending deep into darkness. Nobody knew where it led to.


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[Assistant] At the turnoff, she had stronger feelings of being watched as if countless pairs of eyes were gazing at her in the darkness. It made her mouth go dry and her scalp tingle.


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[Assistant] Nightingale gritted her teeth, opened the mist, and hurried upwards. Soon the strange sensation vanished.


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[Assistant] With the altitude rising, the surrounding temperature was gradually falling.


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[Assistant] The silver thread overhead was growing wider and wider. After half an hour, a huge cave appeared on her right. The entrance of the cave was slightly higher than the road.


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[Assistant] She stepped into the cave and could see faint lights of fire deep within. It was the hideout of the witch cooperation association.


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[Assistant] Nightingale stepped out of the mist and was immediately discovered by the guarding witch.


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[Assistant] A black gas wall blocked her way, but soon disappeared into the invisible.


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[Assistant] In the darkness, the companion's voices cried pleasantly. You're back.


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[Assistant] Finally back, she thought, but when she noticed her companion's arms wrapped with two pieces of white cloth, Nightingale's mood, which had just leaped, sank again. Two more sisters. The other person's voice paused for a moment. Ah, ah, they were Aerie and Abby.


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[Assistant] Arian Abbey, a pair of twins born to an affluent family of fallen dragon ridge, had at last ended their lives in this deep mountain.


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[Assistant] If she had not taken the two away, at least they could have enjoyed the rich and healthy life, not having to drift away with the others before death.


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[Assistant] But at the thought of Wendy, a warm current surged in Nightingale's heart.


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[Assistant] If Wendy had not helped her, she would still be a puppet, used as a tool and possibly discarded at any time. Nightingale wanted to tell her the news as soon as possible.


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[Assistant] And she wanted to tell all the sisters that they did not have to hide like rats here and there. Some people were willing to accept them and they could spend their day of awakening every year in peace.


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[Assistant] Entering the camp, Nightingale saw a familiar figure squatting at the side of the campfire, handling the food. The other witches had not arrived yet. She could not help crying out, Wendy, I'm back. Wendy was startled.


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[Assistant] She raised her head, revealing a smile with which Nightingale was familiar. Veronica, welcome home.


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[Assistant] Wendy was a very kind-hearted woman, and also one of the earliest members of the Witch Cooperation Association.


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[Assistant] She was 30 years old, but there was not one wrinkle on her face. Her reddish-brown straight hair was almost waist-length.


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[Assistant] She had mature facial features, full of charm like a big sister. She cared about every sister in the association.


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[Assistant] It did not matter whether it was daily life or psychological enlightenment, and she was ready to do whatever she could to help.


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[Assistant] Had it not been for Wendy, the association would not have been able to gather so many witches so quickly.


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[Assistant] It was because of her that Nightingale had decided to get away from her family and embark on the journey looking for Holy Mountain.


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[Assistant] Wendy was also one of the few people who knew her original name.


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[Assistant] How many times have I told you that I'm no longer that cowardly little girl, said Nightingale, shaking her head with a smile.


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[Assistant] I'm now a powerful witch, and Veronica has ceased to exist. Your history still belongs to you.


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[Assistant] After a while, Wendy asked, what happened to the girl? You couldn't save her?


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[Assistant] Speaking of this, Nightingale was suddenly excited.


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[Assistant] The Lord, called Roland Wimbledon, is the fourth prince of the kingdom of Greycastle. He's willing to have us in his care.


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[Assistant] Besides, he promised that in the future he would let the witches in his territory live as free people.


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[Assistant] At 16, like many young men, he decided to strike out on his own.


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[Assistant] Dempsey's ex-wife went to the press with an accusation that Dempsey had avoided the draft. These were devastating headlines.


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[Assistant] He was cast in the role of a villain, and what hurt Dempsey more than any punch was to be called slacker. Nobody would dare say it to his face, but it hurt Dempsey, grievously.


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[Assistant] Almost 90,000 people attended that fight. Nothing had ever been seen like it before.


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[Assistant] Carpenter trained mostly in secret. Story was given out to the press that he was developing a special punch that was going to surprise Dempsey.


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[Assistant] Whether there was some sort of fix or whatever that hasn't been proven, what remains today is the controversy of the long count.


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[Assistant] Jack Dempsey represented a whole new era. He comes in like a pit bull.


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[Assistant] He crouches low, his hair is shaved off the back of his head, he's got the scowl, and he's out to kill his opponent.


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[Assistant] Dempsey was beating them up but then Purple landed a punch and knocked Dempsey right through the ropes.


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[Assistant] H.T. Dempsey outside the ring, knocked out, being helped back in the ring, pushed back in by the sports writers.


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[Assistant] I'd walk with them down the street, or in the restaurant, people would say, Jack,


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[Assistant] Chapter 15 Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time


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[Assistant] While the two girls still crouched in the bushes with their hands over their faces, they heard the voice of the witch calling out,


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[Assistant] At this moment, the children were for a few seconds in very great danger.


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[Assistant] For with wild cries and a noise of skirling pipes and shrill horns blowing, the whole of that vile rabble came sweeping off the hilltop and down the slope right past their hiding place.


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[Assistant] They felt the spectres go by them like a cold wind, and they felt the ground shake beneath them under the galloping feet of the minotaurs. And overhead, they went a flurry of foul wings and a blackness of vultures and giant bats. At any other time, they would have trembled with fear.


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[Assistant] But now the sadness and shame and horror of Aslan's death so filled their minds that they hardly thought of it. As soon as the wood was silent again,


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[Assistant] Susan and Lucy crept out onto the open hilltop.


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[Assistant] The moon was getting low, and thin clouds were passing across her.


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[Assistant] But still they could see the shape of the lion, lying dead in his bonds.


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[Assistant] And down they both knelt in the wet grass and kissed his cold face and stroked his beautiful fur, what was left of it.


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[Assistant] And cried till they could cry no more.


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[Assistant] And then they looked at each other and held each other's hands for mere loneliness and cried again and then again were silent. At last Lucy said, I can't bear to look at that horrible muzzle. I wonder, could we take it off? So they tried and after a lot of working at it,


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[Assistant] For their fingers were cold and it was now the darkest part of the night. They succeeded.


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[Assistant] And when they saw his face without it, they burst out crying again and kissed it and fondled it and wiped away the blood and the foam as well as they could.


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[Assistant] And it was all more lonely and hopeless and horrid than I know how to describe. I wonder, could we untie him as well? said Susan presently.


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[Assistant] But the enemies, out of pure spitefulness, had drawn the cords so tight that the girls could make nothing of the knots.


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[Assistant] I hope no one who reads this book has been quite as miserable as Susan and Lucy were that night. But if you have been...


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[Assistant] If you've been up all night and cried till you have no more tears left in you, you will know that there comes in the end a sort of quietness.


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[Assistant] You feel as if nothing was ever going to happen again.