Chapter 221: Youth Council

"Ehm." Yutian broke the silence first. "Sir Lucen, would the forces’ announcement take much longer?"

"In a minute." Lucen replied calmly, "Another guest is arriving soon." He added.

Yutian didn’t ask again... Hugh and Kolee only exchanged glances.

Before long, the door opened again. This time the newcomer was anything but old.

A beautiful young lady, hair so white it could brighten the surroundings, eyes deep red. She was walking barefoot, wearing a silk dress that was revealing to an extent, mainly on the back.

"Everly of the Youth Council greets Sir Lucen." The newcomer greeted.

Lucen, with his eyes on the screen, nodded. "Sit." He gave her the same attitude he gave Hugh... An attitude of disinterest.

"Hooo, even the brats of this council thing are interested in this round." Ed didn’t miss the chance to drop a comment full of mockery for some reason.

The newcomer, Everly, gave Ed a sharp look. She was a representative of one of the most powerful structures in the Tower.

The Youth Council.

A place where the strongest and brightest youths from every corner in the Tower are selected to be part of their cause, duties and ranks.

Everly was part of this giant that has sustained its structure for long centuries, as well as the selected representative overseer of this special trial.

She was also given the authority to invite whoever she deemed worthy to be part of the council.

Her pride was anything but small, especially in the presence of Lucen himself. A nameless old man throwing mockery at her was unacceptable.

"I’d advise a more caref—

"Everly, right?" Lucen cut her off. "I’d advise you to drop whatever you think you’re doing right now and swallow your words, for I won’t be seeking justice for you if you offend him."

Everly blinked; she opened her mouth to say something—

"Ah, Lucen, don’t scare the kid like that." Ed waved his hand dismissively. "It’s been a long time since I roamed the Tower beating people up."

Everly’s eyes ran between the two of them in confusion. "Um, Sir Lucen, may I ask who the esteemed guest of yours could be?" She asked; her tone changed entirely so did her gaze.

It wasn’t a common occasion where anyone would call Lucen by his name without any honorifics.

She thought he was someone from the kingdom since he was sitting next to the elderly king, Yutian. But turned out she was gravely mistaken.

After waiting for a few more seconds, she realized that Lucen wasn’t going to hold a conversation with her and wouldn’t explain anything either.

She turned back to Ed and nodded apologetically before taking a seat in between the two factions.

Ding!

At that moment, before everyone in the Fable Empire, Strand Kingdom and the Control Centre two new system windows came to exist.

Suspended high in the air for the common man to see without any hindrance.

The manpower of each faction was openly displayed before everyone without exception in real time.

Defence Troops

623 Ascenders

7350 Non-ascenders

Total Participants 7797

Everyone who saw this at first felt optimistic about the situation of Strand and defence efforts; it wasn’t hopeless.

Only for a moment, before their eyes fell on the other window.

Assault Troops

902 Ascenders

22000 Non-ascenders

Total Participants 23012

In the Control Centre, Yutian’s face contorted. He had expected a discrepancy but never this wide.

On the other hand, Hugh couldn’t help chuckling, while Kolee’s gaze was the same as usual.

"Why so many?" Ed frowned; he asked Lucen.

"Many reasons; one is that there were many old ascenders who stopped at the second and saw this as an opportunity to pass this trial easily on the Fable side," Lucen explained slowly.

"Another is the size and total population; it increases the number of troops as well as the resident Ascenders who joined the side of their homeland naturally." He added.

Ed leaned back in his chair. "I guess it didn’t work after all." He said regretfully, hinting at the ploy Lucen played by airing Moon’s fight to every branch in an attempt to sell his leadership.

"It actually worked; of this wave, over 60% went to his side." Lucen retorted, "But no matter how big a wave, it can’t compare to the historical number of ascenders over the years who are waiting for an opportunity like this to ascend."

Ed rested his face on his fist. "I guess it was bound to be a grind in the first place, regardless of anything.

His eyes fell on the screen where Moon was displayed, looking up at the two status windows.

Moon was now facing the new weird situation Fate Alert had changed itself into. There wasn’t anything attacking him; he wasn’t in any danger.

But the lowest possibility of death he was walking around with jumped from 30% to 43% the moment the trial officially began.

"This is insane."

"Should we be doing this at all?"

"Can we even win?"

"Even if each man killed two of the enemy in exchange for his life, they would still be winning."

"Should we run away, drop this trial?"

"Did we pick the wrong side?"

Now that he looked at the system windows of the troops, he was listening to laments. Some were wailing, crying, or even considering dropping out completely.

Some were even considering switching sides openly before it was too late.

Around Moon, everyone’s face started to turn ugly, with Dorbish and Talia being the only exceptions he could see.

Moon closed his eyes for a moment; he recalled a conversation he had with 9th Bro long ago.

"Bruh, this is a battlefield; everyone is almost dying here."

Moon slowly whispered his own words from back then, a reminder and a drive to himself.

This was but another battlefield, nothing more, nothing less.

’I guess a 43% chance is rather good; I always thought it was 50% at most.’ And he thought silently.

Moon opened his eyes again. "I guess this is not too bad, a grind but doable." He said casually, leaving everyone staring at his back.

"If boss says so." Basil shrugged, following Moon.

A few steps ahead, everyone started moving again. Yet Moon halted his steps.

"Lord Moon, I presume." A man stood in his path. The man had a bald head, a fat belly and seemed almost roundish.

His hands were clasped in front of his chest, and his head was bowed in respect.

His attire was brown, high-quality wool and leather, with a vest underneath giving him a hint of both wealth and formality.

"You are?" Moon asked.

"My name is Barry; I’m the acting minister of foreign affairs." The man introduced himself. "Most of the kingdom’s higher-ups were ascenders beyond the second floor mark and were transported from the kingdom after they delegated their work to us."

Barry introduced himself and briefly, yet swiftly, summarised the entire situation of the kingdom.

Moon nodded, "Thanks, Barry." He turned around. "This is Lady Talia, who will be the second in command." He proceeded with the introductions.

Behind him, a growl rang out, "And I’m Raiju, who gave up fighting for the leadership out of gratitude."

Now awake at last, Raiju was told that Moon carried him all the way here. Thus, he was grateful to Moon and also wary of the cat.

Barry took a step back, evidently startled or even afraid. He almost jumped when Raiju appeared, but his build didn’t allow for that jump to manifest into reality.

Barry nodded at Raiju with a very confused smile.

He pulled a handkerchief from his jacket and dried a few beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead.

He then turned to Moon. "Would Lord Moon please follow me?"