Chapter 659: No Disposable Tools
The following days were rocked by the council’s shift in plans and decisions.
Under Elena’s commands, the ship soared through the sky, its repaired dark hull sparkling as bright as the citizens’ hopes of settling in peace. They flooded the deck during the travel, fresh winds ruffling their hair and eyes locked on the horizon. Each time a village or town came into sight, the noise of their delighted claps overwhelmed the hum of the mana engines.
They watched the strongest summoned leap down, clamouring they had to join them safely after registering as mercenaries before resuming their journey toward the heart of the Lionheart kingdom.
Though many disagreed with the distribution of their forces, Julius felt at ease knowing most would survive. After all, Gaston’s heartless idea, supported by Nathan and Zeph, disregarded their weaker members to focus on the elites.
He found it stupid, revolting even. Each time he thought about it, his fists and jaw clenched, and his blood burned in his veins like a scalding river.
As wrong as it might sound, the strongest had to journey to ensure the weakest’s survival. And most readily agreed for a simple reason—they weren’t disposable tools or stepping stones to one another. Instead, they were a close-knit community despite their playful disagreements. If one suffered, most would rush to save him without second thoughts.
If not for the council’s refusal, he would have even waited for each one of them to return after obtaining their identity cards. Alas, he also acknowledged Elena’s perspective—delaying equated to higher risks of being found out.
Almost a month had passed like that, the number of summoned dwindling with each passing day. From dozens of thousands, only fifty remained today—each a critical asset they couldn’t bear to risk.
And now, he would help settle the hundreds of thousands of civilians before entering the capital city: Regalia.