Path of Light.

Chapter 964, 959. Mu Lin
Archmage Graemus and Miss Opeia were in a cabin on the third deck of the magic airship, which offered the best view of the entire ship and was located above the captain's cabin.

Besides the bed, there was a round table in the room, and a sofa in the corner.

Miss Opeia sat languidly on the sofa, and said with some wistfulness to the Great Wizard Graemus sitting beside the round table:

"I never expected that the first to take this step would be a half-elf."

Archmage Graemus gave a helpless smile:
"It's less about being a half-elf and more about Mr. Roy's insistence."

"The Magic Guild has known for a long time that the situation in Durag is deteriorating, but what good has that done?"
The grey dwarves control the sea lanes and plunder elven ships all over the west coast.

The high-ranking members of the Magic Guild reported the situation in Durag to the Elf King several times, but unfortunately, the Elf King had no intention of intervening...

Miss Opeia held a glass of Tree of Life sap in her hand, took a small sip as if drinking wine, and said:

"The higher-ups of the Magic Guild are worried that the Nakhmar demons will cause irreparable damage to the Eastern Continent, but the Elf King doesn't want to concern himself with anything outside the Elf World."

Grand Magician Graemus said:

"In fact, if we hadn't sealed the Dark Portal at Gorfitor, the Dark Legion might have broken out from there, marching north into the Darkmoon Elves' Evernight Forest, or south into the heart of the Silvermoon Elves' kingdom. The flames of war might have already ignited in the elven world..."

"Roy wants to lead a group of half-elves into the Villaria Valley, ultimately to secure a place for the half-elves to live in the prime plane."

Miss Opeia said:

"None of us elves have a very direct understanding of the Knee of Durag, having not ventured into the Valley of Villaria, so I do not wish to judge this matter."

Archmage Graemus chuckled: "It seems you don't think much of Roy's decision."

Miss Opeia didn't argue, stating bluntly, "After all, he's the Black Riders of the Nakma! I really don't know how he managed to convince those Aries Orcs..."

Archmage Graemus pondered for a moment, thinking that although Opeia didn't think much of the matter, she was still willing to come and help, probably because she wanted to see Roy.

His thoughts drifted somewhat, and he said casually:

"He was a half-elf who looked very much like a human. Orcs are quite friendly towards humans."

Miss Opeia looked at her reflection in the wine glass. Her exquisite face was flawless. She still couldn't understand why Roy didn't like her face!
……

Chief Grop and a group of Aries orc warriors lived on another magic airship, where the airship's kitchen surprisingly provided them with whole wheat scones and boiled beans.

These white sheep orcs are not picky eaters when it comes to meat or vegetables, but they ultimately prefer vegetarian food...

Resources are scarce in the Black Gold Mountains. They eat whatever is available in the forests and mountains. Their most common food is moss cakes, a specialty of the Black Gold Mountains, which have a unique mossy aroma.

Some Aries warriors were seasick, so they locked themselves in their cabins and didn't even dare to go out onto the deck...

The magic airship sailed above the clouds. Chief Grop pushed open the window of his room, and a biting wind blew in, causing the furnishings in the room to sway and tilt.

The Aries orc warriors are accustomed to living in cold regions and are not afraid of the severe cold.

Opening the window can also help clear their drowsy minds...

“I can see the Black Gold Mountains north of the Kangamore Forest. This mountainous area is a place we have never been to before.”

A white ram orc warrior leaned against the window and looked down, seeing through the gaps in the clouds a range of undulating black mountains...

"Great Chieftain, do you really think the Nakma demons will cross these treacherous mountains and invade the Mensa Plains?"

The Aries orc warrior looked at the vast, boundless mountains, his heart filled with doubt, and asked Chief Grop.

Grand Chief Grop sighed and said:
"Perhaps not in the short term."

They haven't completely conquered Durag's Knee yet. Once they've fully absorbed Durag's Knee, they're destined to invade the Mensa Plains.

Because the eastern front of Drag's Knee is being resisted by a coalition of dwarves and orcs against the Nakhmar demons, it means that they need to completely pin down this coalition on the eastern side of Montenemz Rift before they can free up their forces to enter Kangamor Forest from the western coast.

"And once the Nakmal Demons launch their offensive, we who live in the Kangamor Forest will face the Nakmal Demons' Black Knights head-on."

These Aries orc warriors were the best of their respective tribes. They gathered around Grop, forming a major force of the Aries tribe with Grop at its head...

A white sheep orc warrior said to Grop:
“Many people in the tribe say that once we leave Kangamor, we may never be able to come back.”

Gropp asked him, "Are you scared?"

The Aries orc warrior laughed frankly, "What's there to be afraid of!"

The other Aries orc warriors echoed this sentiment:
"Exactly! Maybe this time I can still carry two Nakma demon heads on my waist and return to Kangamor."

The Aries warrior stopped smiling and said to Gropp:

"I hope that one day, my ashes can be scattered in the fire at Valhalla, and my name can be written on that stone tablet."

Grop patted him on the shoulder and said:

"Valhalla is not so easy to enter."

The Hall of Heroes houses the spirits of the orcs' ancestors, and its stone tablets record the most outstanding warriors of the orc tribe throughout history, who have been worshipped by the orcs of the Mensa Plains for thousands of years...

Gropp's current status is only halfway into Valhalla.

……

In the captain's cabin of the Black Pearl, Rodhart reported to Roy:

"This time we've transferred 30,000 highland headhunters from the highland city, and they're currently undergoing reorganization on Kui Island."

They will then be sent to the Nantali Islands for three months of training.

Half of these highland headhunters were withdrawn from the outer defense line of Sun Island Bay, and the other half were drawn from the road-paving teams on the Pagesto Plateau.

Roy sat on the sofa, looked at Mulin across from him, and asked her:

"How's the road construction on the Pargisto Plateau going?"

Mulin came with the No. 43 and No. 44 magic airships. Roy had conscripted nearly 30,000 highland headhunters from the Padestor Plateau, and Mulin personally escorted these highland headhunters to Que Island.

On Quel'Thalas, she heard that Roy was negotiating with the Northern Fleet of the Grey Dwarves, so she boarded the magic airship No. 43 and traveled to the Nantari Islands. Just then, Roy returned from Eagle's Nest in a magic airship, and Mullin accompanied him to Drag's Knee.

They were sitting in the captain's cabin, discussing the situation on the Pagesto Plateau:

Mulin introduced to everyone:

"Currently, there is a major road running north to south across the plateau."

More than ten road construction teams are currently repairing roads between various mining areas.
Although the plateau is full of mountains, the valleys between these valleys are flat and easy to build.

The plateau is just too vast; I don't know how long it would take to build the road network the boss envisioned.

Roy, knowing the situation on the Pagesto Plateau, said:
"I was worried that if so many highland headhunters were crammed into the prisoner-of-war camp in the highland city, it would be difficult for the mixed-race elf guards of the highland city to suppress a riot."

They then reorganized these highland headhunters into road-building teams and began constructing roads from the Kassar Mountains toward the Sudaso Mountains.

Their operations then extended to the Kartim Mountains in the western part of the plateau and the spinel mines in the southern part; it seems they're doing quite well now.

Speaking of this group of highland headhunters, Mu Lin looked smug, considering it her most successful achievement in governing the highland city.

"Of course. We have established a pasture on the plains, mainly for raising bison and argali sheep from the northern plateau. These bison give birth to three calves every two years, and the herd size can almost double every year. This can basically guarantee the meat supply for the plateau hunters. What could they possibly be dissatisfied with?"

Roy turned to her and asked:

"Then tell me, as the governor of the Pagesto Plateau, why did you suddenly come here this time?"

Mulin responded without the slightest fear:

“I want to come and see the eastern continent of the main plane. Also, you suddenly want to mobilize 30,000 highland headhunters to Kui Island. I have to come here no matter what. What’s going on, Gaoming?”

Roy knew that this matter was so trivial that it was impossible to avoid mentioning the half-elfs Mullin, Resander, and Captain Tiprado, so he felt it necessary to explain the whole thing clearly. He then said to Mullin:
"This time, the mine guards suddenly intervened in the battle at Durag's Knee."

Actually, I've always been a little worried about what the half-elves of the Partington plane would think after hearing this news.

They might think I'm being autocratic, especially since I'm going to enter Durrag and fight the Nakhmar demons.

The grey dwarves who lived at the Knee of Durrag had all fled.

The half-elf, at this crucial moment, chose to face the challenge head-on…

"Haha, you have such concerns too? Aren't you afraid that the mine guards will collectively oppose your decision?" Mu Lin asked him.

Roy frankly stated:

“The mine guards are different. They have been through so many battles and are already elite warriors who have been baptized in blood and fire. I have enough confidence in them. I’m just worried that the half-elf people of Partington plane will not understand.”

Mulin didn't answer, but continued to ask:
"Besides the mine guards, you've also mobilized 30,000 highland headhunters, as well as that group of Aries orcs. How many troops do you plan to deploy at Durag's Knee this time?"

Roy said:
"The first wave of allied forces entering the Villaria Valley would need to number around 100,000 to have any chance of holding Precitus."

Mulin pressed her hand to her forehead and asked with a hint of helplessness:

"Where are the supplies? So many supplies, such a long distance, and you're relying on dozens of magic airships to transport them back and forth?"

How long do you think Padeston City can hold out?

In the past, the largest source of income for the Partington plane was magical herbs.
There was also magical metal sold to the Silvermoon Elf Kingdom through the military channels of the 17th Silver Pegasus Legion.
All trade in the Partington plane has now been suspended.
What do you plan to use to keep these forty-odd magic airships in normal operation?

Do you know how many magic crystals these magic airships burn in a single day?

The captain's cabin fell silent...

On average, a magic airship needs to burn nearly fifty magic crystals a day. With more than forty magic airships flying in the sky every day, it is a huge expense.

Captain Rodhart had also mentioned to Roy that the daily expenses of the magic airships were too high and hoped that he could reduce the number of magic airships. However, Roy felt that these magic airships were the biggest advantage of the mine guards.

Upon hearing Mullin bring this up, Roy responded:
"Our current trade with the orc tribes is already helping me share the cost of magic crystals consumed by the magic airships. I also plan to provide supplies to the gray dwarves who are migrating south after the sea route to the south is opened. Of course, these will not be free."

“I know what you’re thinking. Someone must be asking you to plead for them. Those imperial merchants on Que Island are a bunch of shameless slave traders. I plan to sentence them and then send them to the prisoner-of-war camp in the Highland City to serve their sentences. However, the specifics of how to sentence them will have to wait until those half-elves adrift at sea successfully arrive at Que Island.”

"Now, making them work in the shipyard is already being kind to them."

Mullin frowned and asked Roy:
"Are you planning to send them to a prisoner-of-war camp to be locked up until they die of old age?"

“Since they violated the laws of the elven world, all punishments should naturally be in accordance with the laws of the elves,” Roy insisted.

Mulin said with some reluctance:

"But they are different from us. Their lifespan is only one hundred years. Even if they become strong, their lifespan will not exceed one hundred and fifty years. We elves can probably live to eight hundred years old."

“Lifespan is not an excuse for them to evade punishment…” Roy shook his head.

Mulin hesitated for a moment, then said:

“I know I’m definitely not the first person to suggest that the punishment for these imperial merchants could be replaced with ransom, just like it was for prisoners of war.”

Roy nodded.

In fact, Commander Flint brought up this matter more than once, and Commanders Jeroin and Dicas also had the same idea, but Roy had always avoided it and never formally discussed this group of imperial merchants.

He hesitated for a moment before saying:
"I just want to convict them first."

The standards for judgment applied by each imperial merchant will also be different.

Furthermore, those Imperial crew members who have committed no wrongdoing will be judged on the lightest terms, while those crew members with the blood of half-elf on their hands will receive the minimum sentence.

As for the imperial merchants, I hope they will spend about a year doing hard labor in the shipyards, and during this time reflect on their actions before deciding how much ransom they are willing to pay in exchange for their freedom.

Since they chose this path themselves, they must now pay the corresponding price.

After all, deploying so many magic airships to capture them along the entire western coast of the eastern continent incurs certain expenses, which we should recoup from them.

Roy smiled at this.

(End of this chapter)