They don't want me to try anymore.

Just then, on the city wall, Luvia turned her head and stared at Richard with a complicated expression.

She said, "I have other matters to attend to. From this moment forward, Richard Tangley is in charge of security here! Hold on, victory is ours!"

…………

……

Chapter Seventy: Under the Leadership of Women and Foreigners...

Before Luvia could finish speaking, everyone looked at Richard, their faces full of hesitation.

Seeing this, she parted her lips slightly, wanting to say something, but... well, she couldn't think of the words for the time being.

Richard raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tsk tsk, that fits the stereotype of a strange, primitive aunt.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the old silver-rank butler seemed to have been startled by Luvia and had already run into the depths of the alley and disappeared from sight, so he took the initiative to step forward and continue Luvia's words.

"Gentlemen, I am Richard Targaryen."

“I know you don’t know me or trust me, but that’s okay, because I don’t need you to fight for me.”

I don't need to fight for you?

The remaining soldiers looked at each other, all wondering why Richard would say that.

Richard shrugged: "After all, I'm just a country bumpkin from Connaught, and all my money has been spent on women. She even cheated me out of a couple of silver coins because I'm an outsider. How can I possibly pay your wages?"

The soldiers burst into laughter.

Then Richard changed the subject, pointing at the giant fungal beast: "Just look at that big guy outside. Guess if it moves faster than our short legs? Can you really outrun it? Even if you can, what about your parents, wives, and daughters? And guess how long it will take to eat the entire city of Nion?"

The soldiers fell silent.

Richard raised his fist: "So, I don't want your loyalty, what I really need is your courage! Nyon is your home, your family, your property, your house, it's all fucking here. Shouldn't you muster up the courage to keep that monster out and protect everything you have?"

“I, a complete outsider with no connection to this place, dared to stay and confront that monster. What about you? Did you all just ignore it?”

Richard then pointed at Luvia and said, "We don't have any backers, so what are we afraid of!"

Those around were momentarily terrified, never expecting that the man in front of them would dare to joke about the Imperial Sword like that, and they all stole glances at Luvia.

When they noticed that the latter didn't seem to mind the joke at all, they immediately felt ashamed.

Yes, Nyon is my home!

If a foreigner and a woman have the courage to stay and fight, what reason do I have to run away? Besides, I might not even be able to escape.

Moreover, it would be one thing if it were destined to be a losing battle, but that woman is Lady Luvia!

With the sword of the empire at our feet, no monster can run rampant for long; ultimate victory will surely belong to us!

Seeing that morale was rising, Richard shouted:

"Stand firm at your posts, for your families, for your property, for your houses, and keep that piece of nonsense out! After the victory, forget about losing more silver coins; I'm willing to pay 100 gold coins to treat each of you to three days and three nights of impromptu fun at a brothel! You'll be so happy you'll forget who you are!"

"Roar!" "Good!" "Excellent!"

The remaining soldiers roared in anger, and even Daniel's henchmen straightened their backs.

Richard then took the opportunity to make arrangements, sending some men to the city walls to observe and guard against the approaching giant fungal beasts, while others set up roadblocks near the tower, preparing flammable materials and holy water to guard against possible counterattacks from the cultists.

Just then, several carriages came running up; they were Benjamin's priests, bringing the crucial mercury—but according to them, Benjamin himself was tied up with other cult leaders in the south and couldn't get away for the time being.

Richard expressed his understanding and then allowed the priests, who were only at the Black Iron rank, to join the defense.

Then, he gave Luvia a meaningful look and went into the tower.

Inside the tower.

Although the building is tall, it is not divided into layers. From the bottom to the top, it is a single, arched high wall covered with mysterious patterns and inlaid with at least a thousand high-quality magic crystals.

The apprentices glanced at Richard, then at Luvia with her cold expression, and said with unusual respect, "Sir, please tell us what you need."

"Two things. First, tell me how to activate this legendary magic circle. Second, use mercury to draw a new magic circle for me on the back. Here's the diagram; it's not too difficult..."

The apprentices received the array diagram and then split into two groups. One group drew the array, while the other group took out the manual and gave it to Richard, saying:

"This magic circle is called the Cross Protective Seal Array. The legendary mage designed it so that locals could operate it, so it's actually very easy to activate."

Richard glanced at the manual, got a general idea, and then pulled Luvia aside to a quiet place to talk.

Those outside probably wouldn't have guessed that at this moment, it was Luvia who was the most nervous, even her usual aloof expression faltered.

She began, "Richard, I know you may have some doubts..."

"It's ok."

Richard stopped the beauty from speaking and smiled, "None of that matters. We'll have plenty of time to talk about it later."

Lucia breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "In the future..."

"That's right. Right now, I still want to ask about your condition. Lady Luvia, this isn't your true form, is it?"

Luvia nodded: "My true form was led into a secluded illusionary realm while chasing a monster, and it will take at least two or three hours to return. The me in front of you is just a magical mirror image generated by equipment, so..."

She sighed and said, "I can only draw one sword now."

One sword is enough.

"Really?" Luvia pursed her lips and whispered, "If you can't hold on, there's no need to force yourself. I... I can cover your escape..."

"Ha, how can a man say he can't handle it?"

Richard looked up at the moving mountain outside the window, his eyes showing no hesitation.

at the same time.

On a street corner in Nyon, in a pointed-roofed wooden house.

The owner of the cabin had already been murdered, his body lying in the living room. The culprit, the former baron's butler, stood in the corner, facing the right angle, his hands clasped together backwards, speaking in a trembling whisper:

"My lord, why has that woman come to Nion?"

"What are you afraid of? It's just a deceptive illusion!"

"Mirror image?"

"That's right, Luvia's true form is still wandering around in the illusionary realm! Those humans' defenses are like a dilapidated house; now we just need to give it a good kick, and the whole structure will collapse!"

"But...but she's Luvia after all..."

"Stop making excuses. That student of Saint Goethe has already run into the tower where the magic circle was set up. Although he is not strong enough now, if he finds another way to activate the magic circle, all our efforts will be in vain!"

"...I understand. I will kill them at all costs!"

A few minutes later.

The cultists, who had regrouped and were as densely packed as cockroaches scurrying about during pest control in Shenzhen's urban villages, once again came to the foot of the tower.

The giant fungal beast, which was not too far away, also shook its body and sprayed out smaller fungal beasts that flew over, increasing the cult's military strength.

Facing them head-on was only a makeshift defensive line made up of a few hundred remnants of the army.

Richard stood in the center, gripping his staff tightly.

"bring it on!"

Chapter 71 Guess what's inside the dilapidated house?

At the start of the battle, only ordinary cultists and fungal beasts launched the attack.

"withstand!"

Give me the torch!

"We did it!"

Fortunately, the few hundred remaining soldiers, after regaining their morale, and the civilians who didn't have time to run cooperated with each other and successfully held the line.

But in the houses behind, the old steward, who was secretly observing, burst out laughing.

"Just as the envoy said, that woman didn't make a move at all!"

He grinned, his joy mixed with anger: "A mere bronze artifact and a mere mirror image scared me away, causing me to lose face in front of the envoy. This is absolutely unforgivable!"

As soon as he finished speaking, countless mycelia emerged from his body, enveloping his skin and causing his body to swell rapidly, eventually growing to about three meters tall, resembling a dark giant, no longer recognizable as human.

"Meet death!"

He roared with a sinister laugh, burst through the wall, and crashed straight down into the positions of the Nyon soldiers and civilians.

With a bang, seven or eight people were sent flying.

His hands then transformed into many long whips, sweeping across like scythes, knocking the nearby guards to the ground.

Some daring individuals attempted to retaliate with holy water, but were swept away as soon as they got close, unable to rise again.

"Damn it, what is this thing now!"

"Get out of the way!"

"Could this guy be that Silver guy from earlier?"