The Cornflower Witch

Vol 2 Chapter 115 Valley City

Three days after Valley City closed its gates.

Prince Jabers, City Lord Fabre, and a group of the city's military officers and knights were discussing countermeasures.

"The enemy is camped upstream on the river. They don't seem in a hurry to attack. Instead, they keep sending scouts to reconnoiter the area around Valley City. Their scouts have been spotted on the nearby plains, in the forests across the river, and in the villages downstream."

"It feels like the enemy is slowly wrapping their hand around your throat. Even though they haven't squeezed yet, it's incredibly uncomfortable."

"If we let them continue like this, mapping out everything around Valley City, then any future retreat or any action we take will be right under their noses."

Listening to the officers' discussion, Prince Jabers leaned back in the seat at the head of the table, propping his head up with one hand. His eyes were fixed on the map on the table, his brow furrowed.

Although he had no prior military achievements to his name, this Prince Jabers had inherited the Regas royal bloodline quite well. He had a head of beautiful short golden hair, coupled with handsome facial features, which had won the admiration of many young girls in the city. Even several noblewomen who had come from the Kingdom of Ante were somewhat infatuated with him.

"Why don't we eliminate these scouts?" he spoke up at this point, his eyes filled with disgust for the Ante scouts.

"We'd like to as well, but many of those scouts are Transcendents of the 'First Tier - Mist Shadow' Aspect. There are also quite a few squad leader-level figures who are 'Second Tier - Mist Shadow.' They are exceptionally skilled at concealing themselves and moving at high speeds. Ordinary people simply can't catch up to them, nor can they defeat them," explained an old Regas officer beside the prince. "Don't these scout assassins have any natural predators?" Prince Jabers was still displeased.

"In conflicts between nations, when facing such scout assassins, the options are either to send out similar personnel to harass the enemy, or to recruit hunters skilled in tracking or wizards proficient in mental sensing."

"Wizards possess many obscure and strange abilities. Even scout assassins find it difficult to predict or detect them. Once they are caught off guard and captured, it's easy to use superior combat power to eliminate them."

"So, don't we have any powerful hunters or wizards on our side?" Prince Jabers remained dissatisfied and pressed further.

"When the Kingdom of Regas still stood, the military had specialized detection personnel who were former hunters. As for wizards, our country had very few. Only the palace occasionally had special court ladies who assisted. They possessed some unique secret arts to protect the royal family from assassins."

"Court ladies..." Prince Jabers recalled his childhood. It seemed there were indeed a few mysterious old women in the palace. They would help diagnose illnesses for the royal family, prepare special potions, and occasionally teach mysterious knowledge to princes and princesses like them.

"Where are those court ladies now?"

"After White Cliff City fell and the palace was destroyed, we don't know what happened to the people inside. They might be dead," someone nearby whispered in reply.

Hearing this, Prince Jabers let out an impatient *tch* sound, then picked up his wine glass and drank to relieve his frustration.

Seeing this, several officers present also felt they really needed to come up with a solution. Otherwise, this situation was truly passive and unbearable.

"How about we recruit and form a patrol team? There are many mountains and forests near Valley City, and there are some hunters among the common folk. Their strength may vary, but having some is better than having none."

"Just do it that way," Prince Jabers waved his hand, signaling them to proceed.

...

That afternoon, recruitment notices were posted at the main streets and city gates of Valley City, drawing crowds of residents.

"Recruiting hunters of 'First Tier' or above. Generous remuneration, 50 silver coins per month..." someone nearby read the text aloud.

"Fifty silver per month? That's so good." An ordinary person in Valley City earned only 5 silver coins for a month's work.

"But it requires First Tier or above. A First Tier hunter, just by hunting on their own, probably earns about the same, right?"

"My uncle is a First Tier hunter. Occasionally, when he hunts beasts that have condensed an Aspect, his monthly income can reach 1 to 3 gold coins. But it's unstable. Averaged over a year, it's about 50 silver per month."

"Adventurers fare a bit better. I've heard skilled First Tier adventurers can earn 70 to 80 silver per month, though it's more dangerous."

People discussed animatedly. While the remuneration matched the qualifications, the appeal was only average. After two days of recruitment, very few had come forward.

To address this, Prince Jabers decided to throw money at the problem. He doubled the pay, offering 1 gold coin per month to each hunter, along with a set of practical leather armor. Only then did many hunters sign up enthusiastically.

...

In an ordinary gray-brick cottage in the city, a woman with chestnut-gold hair sat by the window, adjusting her bowstring and maintaining her bow.

*Knock, knock.* A knocking sound came from the door.

"Just a moment," she answered upon hearing the sound, then put the oil brush back into a glass bottle and stood up.

She walked to the door unhurriedly and opened it. A young girl, a head shorter than her, walked in.

"Sister Karen, you're still at home today," said the freckled girl as she entered, looking around the room with curiosity. Seeing the animal heads mounted on the wall, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Yes, is something the matter? You don't usually come by," Karen said, pouring her a cup of water and handing it over.

"The city's been sealed off lately, and I have nothing to do at home, so I came out for a walk on the streets."

"With the Kingdom of Ante's army arriving, who knows how long Valley City will be blockaded. If they don't let me go out to gather herbs soon, I might not have money for food in the future," she complained a little.

"At a time like this, don't think about gathering herbs. Getting through this safely is good enough," Karen comforted her a few words.

The girl nodded. Actually, she was just venting. This petite girl had saved up some money over the past two years and wasn't in danger of starving.

"Sister Karen, have you been out on the streets these past two days?"

"No."

"I thought so," she covered her mouth and chuckled.

"No wonder Sister Karen is still staying home so calmly today. You probably don't know what's happening in the city now."

"Prince Jabers had notices posted. He wants to recruit hunters to form a patrol team to clear out the Ante scouts outside the city. The pay is 1 gold coin per person per month."

"Ah, Sister Karen, aren't you tempted? I heard them say it's not just 1 gold coin per month. They also reward 1 gold coin for capturing an enemy scout. That means you could even earn 2 to 3 gold coins per month."

One gold coin, for an ordinary person, was 100 silver coins, roughly the sum of two years' income. The temptation was enormous.

"I know. But I don't want to get involved in conflicts between nations," Karen shook her head.

"It's better to remain a pure hunter."

"Really not going? The patrol team's pay is excellent, with various subsidies and rewards. If I had Sister Karen's strength, I'd definitely go."

"Besides, the Kingdom of Ante is so bad. By doing this, we'd be eliminating a scourge for everyone," the girl across from her clenched her small fist.

Hearing this, Karen smiled but still refused the suggestion.

"I'll stay home during this time. I won't participate in matters of war."

Seeing Karen's mind was made up, the girl could only stand up somewhat dejectedly and bid farewell.

Only occasionally would she look up and listen to the sounds of discussion coming from the nearby street.

"So many people are attracted by the patrol team's pay," she put down the bow and arrows in her hands.

"However, war is extremely cruel. If it's just for that bit of money..." Karen shook her head and fell silent.

She took down a small notebook from a crossbar on the wall. Its pages were already somewhat yellowed, filled with notes she had taken while studying under Scholar Heide.

Only the last page bore the signatures and well-wishes of several people.

Her fingers gently traced those names as she recalled the time spent studying together. Although it was only half a year, that half-year was far more vibrant and memorable than these past three years.