Lords of the Heavens

Chapter 407 A Sudden Turn for the Worse (Bonus Chapter 310 for those who check in for the monthly card to support the Alliance Leader)

"I understand!"

Li Wei nodded and immediately summoned all the free people, including the soldiers, to harvest the crops. Otherwise, they would all be wiped out when the radiation storm hit.

This is also why winter wheat cannot be grown in this world. During a radiation storm, unless one hides in a basement more than ten meters underground, any life form in its growth stage will be subjected to unknown mutations.

Similarly, this is why, after the exploration mission ends, it is impossible to freely cultivate and farm in areas outside the magic shield.

Ultimately, the pioneering mission remains a limited challenge, and this limitation determines that November is the peak season for radiation storms each year.

However, without this restriction, radiation storms could occur anytime, anywhere, all year round. They might not be very large, but they would be absolutely impossible to prevent.

The only place where crops can be grown is within the radiation zone of the magic mine.

Sigh, I thought we could make it to the third year.

Li Wei smiled bitterly to himself. If he could hold out until the third year, he would dare to cultivate a thousand acres of land outside.

But now, you can forget about it.

As for land within the legal territory, although tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of acres can be cultivated, it must be used for long-term, sustainable development.

Just half a day later, Qin Yu and Hathaway hurriedly arrived at the riverside fortress.

After finding Li Wei, who was busy harvesting corn, Qin Yu said directly before Hathaway could speak: "Li Wei, I'm glad we were able to cooperate. It gave me the experience of successfully building a one-star mage tower, which is a very good resume and very important for my future development. However, as you can see, some people messed things up. Now, a larger-scale radiation storm is coming, and there are even other unpredictable dangers. So, withdrawing in time is the wisest choice for me."

"Here are 50,000 gold coins as a token of my gratitude and apology. Good luck!"

After saying that, without waiting for Li Wei to say anything, Qin Yu took out a termination item card and immediately relinquished his position as a staff member, returning to his original role.

That was a really satisfying walk!

However, Li Wei wasn't too surprised; this was just how things were, and it couldn't be forced.

He looked at Hathaway again, only to find that she also had a gloomy expression.

"You want to leave too?"

"I'm not leaving! Where am I supposed to go! At this point, we're just a pair of star-crossed lovers, so let's just tough it out. Besides, that Anna just used her contract termination card and returned on her own. That bitch didn't even come to say goodbye to you!"

"What are you talking about? What does she have to do with me? What kind of logic is it for her to say goodbye to me?" Li Wei looked innocent. You can eat whatever you want, but you shouldn't say whatever you want.

"Pretend! Keep pretending, stop acting like a big shot. All men are like this. Besides flirting with your Aunt Yue every day and practicing your 'Tender Love Sword Technique,' you're also exchanging letters with this red-clothed bitch every day. Do you think I don't know? And what happened? You thought that bitch loved you, but when disaster struck, she ran away faster than anyone else. At least Qin Yu came to you to say hello and give you a thank-you gift!"

"Li Wei, Li Wei, use your brain! Just watch, the only one who will stay with you until the end is me!"

Hathaway punched Li Weiwei in exasperation, but in reality, she was as proud as a peacock, practically screaming "Come and praise me!"

The fact that Qin Yu was so frightened that he packed his bags and ran away shows how serious the situation was, especially since a mage tower had just been built here.

Therefore, it is something that most people would not dare to do, to stay and stand shoulder to shoulder with Li Wei at this time, risking the possibility of mutual destruction.

In short, Hathaway believes she has done enough in this regard.

Otherwise, given her status as a second-tier spellcaster, she could have done quite well as a mercenary.

Li Wei smiled at her, said nothing, and gave her a big hug.

Indeed, Hathaway didn't back down, which is great. Although there was a gamble involved, four parts of it was due to having no other choice, and only the last three parts were due to the feelings both parties invested, it was still very commendable.

At this moment, Hathaway added, "My plan is to abandon my territory, dismantle the magic mine, and bring all the personnel here. With Qin Yu gone, the Riverbank Fortress, this three-star magic mine, cannot be left unattended. Now, our priority is not the city-building mission, but to protect our core assets. Once this radiation storm breaks out, it won't stop for several months."

"The storage capacity of a three-star mine is five hundred units. Add a mage tower, and that's three thousand units. Even if we can't build a city in the end, and even if you don't become a powerful viscount, with these two magic mines and these three thousand units of magic, and if we hurry up and forge enchanted equipment and enchanted machinery, it will be a first-class three-star territory in the future, and you will be a powerful baron. If things don't work out in the future, we can always apply for a four-star territory mission again."

"Li Wei, don't do anything foolish. With such a great upheaval happening, human strength is no match for it." Hearing this, Li Wei shook his head slightly and smiled.

"Actually, the situation isn't that bad. Qin Yu is gone, so be it. She's not on our side anyway. If she doesn't leave now, I might not be able to get rid of her in the future. You don't need to give up your territory. The problem isn't that serious. You have to trust me."

As he said this, Li Wei directly traded 100,000 gold coins to Hathaway, "Go upgrade your magic mine, all the way to three stars. The exploration cards you have will be very important in the future."

"As for me—I can still use the method of forcing growth to quickly cultivate a first-tier spellcaster."

"what?"

Hathaway was taken aback and almost thought Li Wei was talking nonsense. It seems that her second aunt's secret-keeping skills are very impressive.

"I don't quite understand. You managed to train a spellcaster from among the free people in less than two years? I don't believe it. I consider myself a genius in this field, but it still took me a full ten years, with Lord Night Owl's guidance. You couldn't have done it. If there were such a genius among the free people, he would have become the second Duke of Frost long ago. Duke of Frost is the real magic genius, the one who made King Locke take notice of his talent!"

Hathaway still didn't believe it.

“Li Wei is right. Isabel is certainly not a genius spellcaster. In fact, her potential in this area is less than one-tenth of yours, and less than half of Widow Yang’s. If she grows up, she will at most be about the same as that Anna in red. However, she should be fine for managing the three-star magic mine and dealing with the radiation wave.”

At that moment, about thirty meters away, a 'farm woman' who was harvesting corn suddenly stood up and spoke.

Hathaway looked over in surprise, stunned for three or four seconds before finally recognizing that the peasant woman in front of her, dressed in ordinary clothes, holding a sickle, covered in dust, with grass and corn cobs on her body, and most importantly, with a face swollen like a pig's head and one eye blind, was actually Li Yue.

My God, is this the cool, always black-clad, long-sword-wielding, aloof, gloomy, snow-white-skinned, and youthful-looking Poison Scorpion Li Yue?
"No, no, Sister Xiaoyue, what's wrong with you?"

"Of course, it was practicing the 'flirting sword technique' with Li Wei, and then getting beaten up by him."

At this moment, Li Yue's expression was almost unreadable. Oh, and she was even missing a front tooth. Damn it, Li Wei, you scumbag, you really went too far.

"Sister Xiaoyue, let me heal your wounds. Does it hurt a lot? Don't worry!" Hathaway rushed over in a hurry. This was really embarrassing.

As for Li Wei, he didn't care. Hmph, woman?

Get to work!

Early the next morning, a total of thirty electric trucks, escorted by one hundred and fifty soldiers and personally escorted by Zhao Xuanxuan, Thomas, Benjamin Santiago, and others, arrived at the riverside fortress.

Because this truck was carrying a full twenty enchanted three-star giant crossbows and ten enchanted catapults!

This wave almost emptied out all the defensive equipment in the main city of the territory.

But this is not a problem, because there is a mage tower in the main city of the territory, and the area within a radius of forty kilometers is a battlefield with absolute control by our side.

In particular, there are two fortresses in the north and south, which prevent the enemy from getting close enough to bombard the mage tower.

Even if a radiation storm breaks out next, it won't delay the construction of the level 4 city wall.

Therefore, these defensive siege weapons should be transported here first.

“Li Wei, Second Aunt said that Qin Yu, that bitch, should just leave. She’s always seen that she’s no good. She’s greedy for small gains and afraid of losing her life when it comes to big things. What kind of person is she? She’s not even as good as Hathaway. She should get lost as soon as possible to avoid trouble in the future.”

At this moment, Zhao Xuanxuan stepped forward and first vividly relayed her second aunt's words to Li Wei before saying, "I originally wanted to come to Black Mountain Fortress to take charge, but my second aunt wouldn't allow it. She said this was a rare opportunity. When the radiation storm erupts, magic absorption is the greatest benefit. As an enchanted blacksmith, it would be a huge regret if I couldn't play a role at this time."

"However, my second aunt also said that the pressure on your side is indeed quite high. The attacks from the mutated creatures are nothing compared to the small groups of barbarian troops that are most afraid of invading. Therefore, we must strengthen the long-range attack and suppression capabilities of Black Mountain Fortress. As long as Black Mountain Fortress can be held, we can protect Riverside Fortress. Only by protecting Riverside Fortress can we protect Hathaway's Barondom."

"So, she wants you, Thomas, and Sister Xiaoyue to personally guard Hathaway's Baron's territory, which is our only weakness and also the place the enemy is likely to attack."

"As for the three-star magic mine at the Riverside Fortress, it is under the responsibility of Isabelle. However, there is a set of magic structures that Hathaway needs to install at that magic mine. In this way, the magic mine can continuously supply magic to the enchanted crossbows and enchanted catapults in Black Mountain Fortress and Riverside Fortress."

"In addition, Javier, Benjamin, Santiago, Sith, Paul, Jocelyn, plus thirty heavy cavalrymen and three hundred veterans will be transferred here. Mark, Grant, Javier, and Duan Bowen will each lead one hundred soldiers to guard the north and south fortresses respectively."

"With the support of the mage tower, this is no problem at all."

(End of this chapter)