Chapter 171 : Chapter 171

Chapter 171. A Mage Tower?

Not ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍long afterward, Viscount Felman returned to the lord’s residence with several travel-worn officers.

When ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he saw Marquess Mellon speaking with Viscount Armand and Eli, he immediately stepped forward, struck his right fist against his chest, and saluted.

“Lord ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mellon, every important location in Kael City, including the warehouses, the armory, the towers along the city walls, and the key intersections, has been fully secured! The remaining resistance inside the city has also been eliminated!”

Hearing ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the movement, Marquess Mellon shifted his gaze away from Armand and Eli and looked toward Felman, approval appearing on his face.

“Felman, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you did very well. Swift and decisive.”

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍paused, picked up a slightly wrinkled piece of parchment from the desk beside him, and handed it to Felman.

“You may take a look at this. It was found in Iman’s former command room.”

Slightly puzzled, Felman accepted the letter and quickly read through it.

The letter had been written personally by Iman, the former commander of Kael City.

Its general contents ordered the remaining personnel to abandon Kael City, take away every valuable supply in the city as far as possible, and immediately gather in the direction of Storm City.

After finishing the letter, realization appeared on Felman’s face.

“So that is what happened! I never expected that Iman would actually abandon Kael City and run off to Storm City!

“Lord Mellon, when I was checking the warehouses, I already felt something was strange. Most of the supplies inside had already been packed and loaded onto wagons, as though they were about to be transported away. Now everything makes sense!

“It seems we arrived at precisely the right time. If we had been one step later, I fear all we would have obtained was an empty city, while Iman would have taken every supply for himself!”

Marquess Mellon nodded, his gaze sweeping over Eli.

“This also verifies once again the accuracy of the intelligence Eli provided earlier.

“It seems that internal turmoil we still do not fully understand has indeed occurred within the Federation.

“By doing this, Iman intends to contract his forces and concentrate his strength on defending Storm City.

“If he truly succeeds in gathering most of the scattered remnant troops and supplies across the Western Frontier into that ‘unfallen fortress’...

“Then it will undoubtedly become an enormous problem for our later effort to recover Storm City.”

“Lord Mellon, we cannot afford to delay!” Viscount Felman immediately seized upon the key point, his tone urgent.

“I suggest that Sir Armand and I immediately split our forces and head out separately to recover Emerald City and Monta City.

“As for Kael City, we need only leave behind a reliable commander with a portion of the troops to guard it and maintain order.”

At one side, Viscount Armand nodded in agreement as well.

“Lord Mellon, it is indeed as Viscount Felman says. In war, speed is precious.

“I will take responsibility for recovering Monta City to the north. Once it is taken, perhaps we can press forward to the edge of Dragonbreath Plain.

“That is an important route leading toward Storm City. We may be able to intercept some small Federation forces currently withdrawing from other strongholds toward Storm City.

“If we succeed, it will also reduce some of the pressure when we later attack Storm City.”

Marquess Mellon listened to the analysis of his two capable vassals and pondered for a moment.

His gaze fell on Soren, who had been standing quietly at the side, and his tone softened slightly.

“Soren, the letter you found provided crucial information. You did very well.”

That rare word of praise made a faint flush rise on Soren’s face, and he stammered, unsure how to respond.

Marquess Mellon then turned toward Felman and Armand and made his decision.

“Since both of you believe the situation is urgent, then proceed according to the plan.

“After the army has rested this afternoon, the two of you will each lead your troops and set out at once.

“As for exactly how many soldiers each of you will take, the two of you may discuss and divide them yourselves.

“As for the person to remain behind in Kael City...”

He thought briefly.

“Let Baron Venus stay behind.

“He is no longer young, and after today’s siege, he also needs rest. The task of remaining here is suitable for him.”

“Yes, Lord Mellon!” Felman and Armand immediately straightened their backs and accepted the order in unison.

“Lord Mellon, I will go discuss the troop allocation with Sir Armand right away and begin preparations immediately!”

Felman acted with lightning speed. After saying this, he exchanged a glance with Armand, and the two quickly left the hall together to arrange the troops and commanders.

Afterward, Marquess Mellon looked gently toward Eli, who had been quietly standing by.

“Eli.”

“Marquess Mellon.”

“Viscount Felman has rich military experience and is brave in battle. That is his strength.”

Marquess Mellon’s tone was calm, but the meaning hidden within his words was rather subtle.

“But sometimes, he is too confident, and his way of doing things is relatively... direct. I fear he may not be especially compatible with you.

“So... in this division of forces, I will go with him toward Emerald City.”

He paused, then looked at Eli and Soren.

“As for you and Soren, you will follow Viscount Armand’s force to Monta City.

“Armand has a steady temperament and thinks matters through thoroughly. I will feel more at ease with you following him.”

“Yes,” Eli replied without any objection, calmly accepting the arrangement.

Soren also hurriedly nodded. “All right, Father.”

Eli and Soren looked at each other and saw the same trace of relief in one another’s eyes.

Traveling with a gentle and steady commander was obviously far easier than following that forceful and aggressive Viscount Felman.

The two then saluted Marquess Mellon and took their leave, quickly heading in the direction Viscount Armand had gone.

Marquess Mellon watched Eli and Soren leave side by side, and a somewhat satisfied look appeared on his face.

It was never a bad thing to let Soren spend more time with capable young men of his own generation like Eli.

Before long, Viscount Armand had reorganized the troops assigned to him with extremely high efficiency.

With Eli and Soren beside him, he led a force of nearly four thousand men out of Kael City in grand formation.

They followed the northwestern road and advanced swiftly toward Monta City.

Almost at the same time, Viscount Felman also led a similarly sized force racing toward Emerald City in the southwest.

Just as he had said, Marquess Mellon went with Felman’s unit.

......

Time quietly passed amid the tense march.

Because of this, on the road to Monta City, Soren and Eli had more opportunities to talk.

Eli quickly discovered that this future Marquess Winterbourne did indeed have a temperament as gentle as the rumors claimed, even somewhat too shy.

He clearly had little interest in topics such as troop formations, marching arrangements, and battlefield slaughter. Most of the time, he merely listened quietly and rarely offered an opinion.

However, once the conversation turned to farming, crop cultivation, waterworks, and irrigation, Soren seemed to become an entirely different person.

His eyes would immediately light up, and his words would begin to flow without end.

From the different soil characteristics across the Western Frontier, to the various grains and fruit trees suited for planting,

then to how crop rotation could improve soil fertility and how pests and diseases could be prevented...

He could explain all of it clearly and methodically. Both his knowledge and practical experience were quite extensive, and he could speak with Eli endlessly.

Although Eli was not especially proficient in the specific operations of agriculture, he knew very well that this was the foundation of a territory.

For that reason, he listened with great seriousness and asked questions from time to time.

Seeing that Eli was so interested in his field of expertise and treated it with such respect, Soren became even more willing to teach him everything he knew.

Thanks to Soren’s instruction, Eli felt that he had benefited greatly. Many concepts that had previously been vague became clear.

He deliberately recorded some of the key points and novel methods Soren described.

Once he returned, he planned to hand them to Old Hadi, the Agricultural Officer of Obsidian Territory, so that he could properly study and put them into practice.

When Soren saw that Eli placed such importance on agricultural knowledge, which others often regarded as an unorthodox side path, and even took notes seriously,

he could not help feeling even more goodwill and closeness toward the young viscount. Their conversation became deeper and more casual.

Viscount Armand rode on horseback, often looking back gently at the two men traveling side by side and chatting happily...

one a young man,

and the other a not-so-young young man.

In his eyes, Viscount Eli had ability, background, humility, and a willingness to learn. His future prospects were immeasurable.

For Sir Soren to establish a good personal relationship with such a person would only benefit the future of the Winterbourne Family.

At last, after a day and two nights of rapid marching without rest, the outline of an incomparably grand tower gradually became clear at the far end of the horizon.

The tower was majestic, piercing straight into the clouds. Standing upon the wasteland, it appeared both extraordinarily abrupt and magnificent.

Eli tightened his reins and looked at the towering structure in the distance, which stood like a giant. He could not help exclaiming in wonder.

“That tower... must be over a hundred meters tall, mustn’t it? No wonder this city is called Monta City.”

Soren, beside him, was also full of surprise. Aside from this expedition, he had never left the territory of the Winterbourne Family before, and this was also the first time he had seen such a strange sight.

“Such a magnificent tower could hardly have been built by human strength alone...

“I remember once seeing a vague record in an ancient travelogue.

“It said that this tower existed here a very, very long time ago, even before the founding of the Kingdom of Orlando.”

At one side, Viscount Armand was well traveled and knowledgeable. Hearing their discussion, he urged his horse closer and explained with a smile.

“It is only natural that the two of you would be curious.

“I once entered Monta City on official business while following Lord Mellon, and I was fortunate enough to be led inside the tower by an old local scholar.

“According to that elder, this tower was not built in recent times. In ancient days... it was called the ‘Mage Tower.’”

“Mage Tower?”

Eli and Soren repeated the words at the same time, both of their faces revealing deep curiosity and the desire to investigate.

Seeing how the two had instantly been drawn in, the smile on Armand’s face grew a little wider.

“Since the two of you are so curious, after we successfully recover Monta City, perhaps we can find an opportunity to go inside and investigate it properly.

“But for now...”

He withdrew his smile, and his gaze turned toward the distant tower that looked even more mysterious beneath the glow of the setting sun, as well as the silent city beneath it.

“Our first task is to take it.”