Chapter 276: Preparation for War

The next day at noon, the group finally arrived.

In the river valley surrounded by mountains, straight plumes of smoke rose. Leo had already led the migrating Stayans in rebuilding their homes here.

This was indeed a suitable place to settle.

Ansu surveyed the surrounding terrain. Militiamen guarded the high ground, and though the watchtowers were crude, they offered a wide view.

The only lower-lying pass, the essential route into the valley from the front, was currently being fortified with simple wooden walls by a large number of people.

The two passed through the walls under construction, seeing busy Stayans everywhere.

“Ah, Morris is back!” a rough voice called out.

Ansu looked in the direction of the voice and saw the large warrior Agger.

He was carrying a huge log, and seeing Ansu return, he grinned. “We’ve all been waiting for you to rejoin! The hero party can’t be without its mage!”

Ansu smiled and nodded, asking, “Where’s Leo?”

“He’s in a meeting at the camp,” Agger said, pointing deeper into the camp. “The big tent in the center, you’ll find him in there.”

Ansu and his group walked through the busy camp to the tent.

Pushing aside the tent flap and entering, Ansu saw several Staya high-ranking officials seated at the long table, besides Leo. He also saw Freya’s parents, Isera and Callen.

“Freya!” Isera’s face was filled with delight. She hurried over and hugged her daughter tightly. “You’re finally back! I was so worried!”

“Mother, I’m fine…” Freya was a little breathless from the hug, but she still smiled and patted her mother’s back.

Callen also walked over, scrutinizing his daughter, his eyes full of concern.

After confirming she was indeed alright, he shifted his gaze to Ansu and quietly asked, “Did you encounter any danger on the way?”

“No,” Ansu shook his head. “We ran into a minor danger, but it’s resolved.”

Leo, seated at the head of the long table, looked up as Ansu and the others entered, asking curiously, “I didn’t expect you to be back so soon. Was Father John rescued?”

Archbishop Paul shook his head and sighed. “Only two nuns survived. The rest are dead.”

Leo’s smile faded, and he sighed. “Those damned Wolfgars!”

Ansu looked out of the tent, seeing the tense atmosphere in the camp. Men, women, and children were all helping out, and the militiamen were stepping up their training. The air was thick with the scent of an impending storm.

He asked Leo, and Leo’s expression grew solemn.

“You’ve returned at just the right time. I just received intelligence that the Wolfgars have ceased their invasion of the Feiyu tribe remnants. Their main force has fully assembled and is advancing south towards Elvin Village.”

“They intend to organize a major battle, aiming to completely conquer the Staya Tribe.”

Leo’s voice fell in the tent, like a stone sinking into deep water.

Silence filled the tent, and the atmosphere was grim.

Even without their main force, the Stayans would find it difficult to win, let alone against that terrifying undead army…

The odds of winning this war were truly slim.

Ansu, however, quickly pondered in his mind.

High Priest Gulzan certainly wouldn’t want the Staya Tribe to be completely conquered. According to his script, this war should ultimately end with the people winning under Leo’s leadership.

From then on, the heroic deeds of “Chosen One Leo” would spread throughout every corner of the Talin region.

He didn’t know what Gulzan’s subsequent script was—perhaps rescuing the captured populace? Or perhaps completely saving the entire Talin region.

But one thing he was certain of.

From this simulation, Gulzan was quite dissatisfied with his “ally” Barcas.

Barcas probably only asked him to prepare the undead army, but he was using this opportunity to pursue his own ‘private agenda’—harvesting the people’s faith through Leo, and then ascending to godhood.

Looking at it this way, Barcas really picked a terrible teammate.

Oh no, he couldn't pick any good teammates now either...

(Master of Poaching)

Ansu collected his thoughts and said, “Leo, we discovered some things during our investigation.”

He briefly described the underground karst caves, necromancy magic, and the black magic altar.

He concluded, “That place is very likely the Wolfgar High Priest’s secret base. All the undead creatures are manufactured there.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a Staya youth abruptly stood up.

“If we destroy that place before the war starts…” his eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’ve heard of necromancy magic. Once the caster dies, all summoned creatures vanish. We can send people to assassinate the enemy high priest!”

Ansu remembered this youth; he was the tribal chief’s grandson, one of the direct heirs, named Gronn.

Ansu and Freya exchanged a silent glance.

Even all the top combatants here combined couldn’t defeat Gulzan, unless Freya unleashed her full power, but he would never let Freya sacrifice herself.

“We should split our forces,” Gronn continued, his tone carrying the impulsiveness of youth. “As long as you transcendent power users form an elite squad, you can definitely slay him, which would alleviate pressure on the main battlefield. What do you think, Leo?”

Because Leo had promised this from the start: in the melee, the hero party would act as a sharp blade, infiltrating to slay the enemy leader.

“Let me think…” Leo fell into thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the tabletop.

Perhaps feeling it was too early to bring this up given the current situation, he remained silent for a long time.

“I think… we shouldn’t attack rashly,” Ansu suddenly said.

“As a mage, merely at the cave entrance, I felt a suffocating concentration of mana. The Wolfgar High Priest’s strength must be exceptionally formidable.”

With that, he gently nudged Freya and gave her a look.

“Freya, what do you think?”

After Ansu tossed the topic to her, everyone simultaneously looked at Freya.

Freya’s cheeks flushed slightly. She opened her mouth, her voice a little nervous: “I also think, well…”

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steadier.

“I also think it’s safer to temporarily defend against the Wolfgars’ upcoming attack here. We shouldn’t act rashly and disperse our elite forces.”

She looked at Leo, then at the elders of the Staya Tribe, trying to make her gaze appear resolute.

“We need to concentrate our defenses, hold the pass, and only make plans after we understand the enemy’s true strength.”

Gronn frowned, unable to resist retorting, “They have so many undead creatures. If we can’t eliminate the caster first…”

“Gronn,” Freya bravely interrupted him. “These undead are different from before. Underworld Bone Puppets are advanced magical creatures and won’t dissipate with the death of the caster.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

The atmosphere in the tent shifted subtly.

Several tribal elders exchanged glances, their gazes lingering on Freya for a few extra seconds.

Freya continued, her voice gradually steadying.

“Furthermore, Morris and I have thought of some ways to effectively block those undead creatures.”

“The enemy’s so-called undead army is not unbeatable. As long as we master the methods to counter different undead creatures, it will certainly have a significant impact on the battle.”

The expressions of the attendees were somewhat surprised. Some whispered, while others re-examined the young woman who had previously only been regarded as “Isera’s daughter.”

She had energized the atmosphere.

Ansu secretly nodded in his heart.

The little Holy Maiden has made great progress.

Gronn glanced at Freya, his gaze somewhat scrutinizing, then frowned.

Ansu turned to Leo, “Besides that, I also have a way to rapidly improve the combat capabilities of the militia.”

Leo’s eyes lit up. “That’s excellent!”

Ansu paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the tent. “In short, what we need now is a victory.”

Leo slowly nodded.

“Morris is right,” he said, standing up, his gaze firm. “That high priest must be eliminated eventually, but our immediate priority is to defend against the enemy’s upcoming full-scale attack. We need a victory!”

His voice carried an inspiring power.

“We need to give everyone confidence, and we also need to let the Wolfgars know—we Stayans are not to be trifled with!”

“That’s right! We Stayans are not to be trifled with!” Several Staya young adults also shouted, clenching their fists.

“Let’s fight those damned Wolfgar curs to the death!”

Leo looked at the tribal elders, who all nodded in agreement.

So he finally said:

“It’s settled then. Concentrate all our forces and hold this wave first.”

The tent, which had been dull and negative before, became much livelier.

Gronn sat back down, his expression displeased.

He whispered something to an elder beside him, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards Freya, carrying undisguised dissatisfaction.

But many tribal elders, at this moment, began to truly notice the young girl who had left the tribe long ago to become a Holy Maiden in the human world.

Come to think of it… Freya was also a theoretical potential heir, wasn’t she?

Ansu took in all their gazes.

He had indeed had an ulterior motive just now.

He wanted to use this opportunity to help Freya, this ‘political newcomer,’ gain recognition, offer more suggestions, and make her presence known to these elders.

Freya turned her head and secretly winked at Ansu.

Those beautiful, playful eyes seemed to say: Lord Ansu, how was my performance just now?

Ansu unconsciously curved his lips upward.

‘Excellent!’

Freya’s eyes curved into two crescents, her joy almost spilling from the corners of her mouth.

‘Yay!!’