Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

Just then, the Naga girl swam slowly towards them. Her tail traced a graceful arc on the ground, as if she were swimming freely in water. Although her face was somewhat unfamiliar to humans, the noble aura she exuded from within was impossible to ignore.

She approached Link and the others, glanced at Link first, and then asked softly, "Which of you is the lord of this human city?"

The old city lord hurriedly stepped forward, his expression and tone revealing obvious apprehension: "I am... May I ask what brings you all to our small city?"

The Naga girl replied calmly, "We're here to capture traitors. The traitors are those two Naga sea monsters. As you can see, we are all Naga from the deep sea. As for the details of those traitors, we cannot tell you in detail. We've come here to take them back."

Her tone was very flat and indifferent, as if she didn't care at all who was standing in front of her, nor about the rise and fall of this city.

Upon hearing this, the old city lord lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then clenched his fist tightly and said in a low voice, "Hmm...we understand, please go ahead...as long as you don't disturb the peace of our Hailin City."

However, at this moment, Kuokas, who had been standing beside the old city lord, could no longer contain herself. She shouted angrily, "Stop! Do you know how much harm your Naga people have caused to our Hailin City? Now you actually think you can just take them away so easily? Do you want to let this go?"

Her voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if she wanted to vent all the resentment in her heart.

Seeing this, the old city lord hurriedly grabbed Kuokas's arm and scolded, "Shut up! Stop talking and get out of here! Do you know who you're talking to? These are royal guards of the Naga race, not people we can afford to offend!"

As he spoke, he smiled ingratiatingly at the Naga girl's retreating figure and said, "I'm sorry, she's just being immature. Please don't take it to heart!"

However, the Naga girl seemed not to have heard their conversation, and simply stood there quietly, waiting for the old city lord's response.

Just then, Link narrowed his eyes, raised his hand, and blew a whistle.

"call--"

Suddenly, a powerful wind pressure and aura erupted from the forest outside Hailin City. The merfolk guards who had been standing beside the Naga girl were on high alert and rushed to protect her.

Their eyes were filled with vigilance and hostility, as if they might pounce on Link and his group at any moment and fight them to the death.

Link, however, remained fearless. He gripped his greatsword tightly until the steel dragon soared into the air and landed in front of him. Only then did he climb onto the dragon's back and say in a deep voice, "Miss Naga, I regret to inform you, as a human dragon knight and lord of the North, that I will not allow you to leave like this today!"

"this--"

The Naga princess stared with her beautiful eyes, and only now did she truly look at the young human before her.

"It is because of those two Naga traitors you mentioned that this city of Hailin has become what it is today. If it weren't for the soldiers and civilians of this city holding on until now, perhaps this place would already be a ruin. Now you want to take these two Naga sea monsters away with just a few words? I cannot agree to that!"

His voice was strong and resonant, filled with an undeniable firmness.

The old city lord quickly explained, "Lord Link, this is none of your business, so please stop talking! This is an internal affair of the Naga race, and we have no right to interfere."

However, Link shook his head and said firmly, "Originally, this was none of my business, but now that I've brought men here, it's my business. Besides, my soldiers have suffered considerable losses in the battle against those fishmen. I can't just stand by and watch you take the traitor away while the people and soldiers of this city suffer an undeserved disaster."

With that, he raised his greatsword, pointing the blade at the Naga princess. The steel dragon seemed to sense Link's meaning, letting out a deafening roar as if it wanted to devour everything around it.

Perhaps sensing the destructive power contained within, even the Naga siren Beli, who was caught in the net, swallowed hard.

She stared at the human before her with disbelief in her large eyes, as if she couldn't believe that he dared to so boldly challenge the authority of the Naga race.

Link, however, remained unperturbed. He continued, "As the King of the North, I received this request for aid and personally led my army to provide support. I expect a reasonable explanation for the current situation! Why did the Naga traitors attack this city? And why have they been attacking for almost a month?"

His question hit the nail on the head, leaving the Naga girl with no way to avoid it.

The merman guarding her raised his trident, intending to defend the Naga, but the Naga girl immediately interrupted him: "Shut up! You have no right to speak here!"

She gave Link a deep look, then thought for a moment before opening her mouth slightly and saying, "We Naga are born with the ability to control those murlocs, just like the social hierarchy in your human society. The two of them are important figures in our race, holding some important secrets and power."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "I won't tell you about these secrets concerning our Naga race. After they betrayed the Naga, they also took the murloc troops that originally belonged to them. We immediately sent people to hunt them down, but we didn't hear anything until recently. We finally discovered their trail and tracked them all the way here."

Link frowned upon hearing this. He asked, "Then why did they attack this city? And why did they attack for almost a month? You Naga people have lived in the sea for generations, so it's impossible for you to be interested in our land. But this time you suddenly attacked Sealink City, which is really strange."

The Naga girl shook her head and said, "I don't know about these things either. I don't understand why they are so obsessed with attacking this city. And if they hadn't stayed here for so long and forcibly controlled the merfolk in this area, we wouldn't have discovered them so quickly."

Link paused for a moment upon hearing this. Then, he pointed to the scene of destruction caused by the battle and said in an icy tone, "You must have seen those dead humans on your way here, right? Your own kind were cruelly murdered. As the King of the North, I think this deserves a satisfactory answer."

His eyes gleamed with unwavering determination, as if there was no room for doubt.

The steel dragon bared its teeth and roared menacingly at the Naga girl.

The Naga girl remained silent for a long time, and the air seemed to grow cold.

She took a deep breath and then slowly said, "Indeed, we also bear some responsibility for the losses here. I apologize and mourn for the sacrifices. But we must take those two Naga and those murlocs back. This is an internal matter of the Naga race and should not be interfered with."

As she spoke, she raised her hand, and a ring on her finger flashed with a bright light. Suddenly, a pile of colorful crystals, jewels, and monster materials appeared before everyone. The crystals shimmered with an alluring light, and the jewels radiated a captivating brilliance, making it clear at a glance that they were incredibly valuable.

“These,” the Naga girl said calmly, “are our way of offering compensation as an apology. These are monster materials produced by sea monsters, and some treasures such as pearls. We hope this can make up for your losses, and we also hope that you will not pursue this matter any further.”

However, Kuokas remained furious. She shouted, "Do you think this little bit can make up for our losses? The disaster your Naga race has brought to Hailin City cannot be measured in money!"

As she spoke, she was about to rush forward to confront the Naga girl. But Link immediately stopped her. Link glanced at her, signaling her to calm down.

Then, Link turned to the Naga girl and said, "Well, we accept your apology. However, I hope this is the last time. If something like this happens again, I will definitely not let it go."

As he spoke, he glanced at the old city lord beside him and asked, "What do you think, Lord Hailin?"

Upon hearing this, the old city lord quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, yes. We accept your apology. We hope you will behave yourselves in the future and not cause us any more trouble."

Seeing this, the Naga girl nodded slightly. Then, she turned to her merman guards and said, "Let's go. We're in a hurry to get back and report."

With that, she led her subordinates, the two Naga sea monsters, and the controlled merfolk away slowly. Their figures gradually disappeared from everyone's sight, leaving behind only a pile of colorful crystals, jewels, and monster materials, shimmering alluringly in the sunlight.

Not long after, with the departure of the Naga girl, the merfolk that had surged in like a tide gradually disappeared from this seaside town. They slowly retreated back into the sea, as if they had never existed, leaving only a mess and lingering fear in people's hearts.

Kuokas was still overwhelmed with emotion. Her eyes widened and her hands clenched into fists, as if she were trying to grasp something that she could not hold onto.

"Are we just going to let them go like this? Because of their unprovoked attacks, how many families have been torn apart, how many wives and children have been separated? Some of our relatives and friends are now lying under these ruins forever, while others are still groaning in pain on their sickbeds. And we're just going to let them go like this? Why should we!" Kuokas's voice trembled slightly with anger and resentment, his eyes filled with incomprehension and rage.

Link stood silently to the side, looking down at the monster materials and scattered jewels on the ground.

There were quite a few of these items. Judging from the sheer number of them and the way she could casually produce such treasures, Link was even more convinced that the girl's identity among the Naga must be extraordinary.

He sighed softly, understanding Kuokas's feelings, but also knowing that now was not the time to act impulsively.

“Kuokas, to be honest, if they want to leave, there’s no way your Hailin City can stop them with its current strength.” Link’s voice was calm and powerful as he tried to calm Kuokas down. “Forcing them to stay will only increase casualties. We can’t let more innocent people sacrifice themselves because of this pointless war.”

The old city lord sighed as well. He patted Kuokas on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Lord Link is right. Those guys are people we can't afford to offend. I suspect this Naga girl is very likely a member of the Naga royal family. You should have seen those trident-like murlocs. Those who can speak are not ordinary murlocs; they are Naga murloc guards, the most reliable and loyal subordinates of the Naga. They generally only obey the royal family's orders. The fact that she has brought so many murloc guards here shows how noble that girl's status is."

Kuokas listened to the old city lord's words, and although her anger was still hard to quell, she knew that what the old city lord said was true. She gritted her teeth and suppressed her resentment and anger.

The old city lord seemed to see through Kuokas's thoughts, and he slowly continued, "You don't know, but several hundred years ago, before the human kingdoms of today existed, there was a port city on the coast of our northern border. That city was extremely prosperous, and at one time it was even the largest city in the north. They had tens of thousands of troops, mostly a powerful navy with an unmatched fleet of ships and warships. The lord of that city was incredibly wealthy and powerful, and almost no one dared to oppose him."

At this point, a hint of nostalgia and awe flashed in the old city lord's eyes. "Back then, they made a living by digging for treasures in the deep sea and hunting sea monsters. You should know that besides delicious fish, this sea area also contained many rare and precious treasures. Look, this red coral is worth at least several thousand gold coins. And this is just one of them. It is said that there are many more precious treasures in the deep sea, but no one dares to explore them easily."

The old city lord took out a red coral from the pile of jewels. It looked as if it were formed from fresh blood. The coral shimmered with a captivating luster in the sunlight, making one want to reach out and touch it.

Link carefully examined the red coral, and couldn't help but sigh at the Naga's generosity, or rather, their contempt for humans, leaving such a treasure behind so casually, as if they didn't care at all.

He asked, "Why have I never heard of a place like this in the North? A city like this should have left a significant mark on history."

Kuokas also looked puzzled. She tried to recall the details but couldn't find any relevant information. She had never heard of such a city in the history of the North.

The old city lord sighed and slowly said, "That's because they were completely destroyed. Back then, they were incredibly wealthy and powerful, and they didn't even respect the empire that ruled them. Their lord was an extremely greedy and arrogant man. Once, his fleet captured a beautiful Naga fish-woman in the deep sea. The fish-woman possessed an exquisite face and graceful figure, captivating the lord at first sight."

"So he ordered his craftsmen to build a huge pool in his palace, where he kept the Naga as pets, raising them in it and playing with them day and night. But he was still not satisfied with that, so he began to order his fleets to capture Naga while they were digging for treasures at sea. And to encourage the fleets to actively capture them, he also issued a huge reward, which is said to be more than a million gold coins."

At this point, the old city lord's tone became heavy. "Those fleets, driven by the bounty, went mad, capturing beautiful merfolk. Soon, this thoroughly enraged the Naga. Rumor has it that they warned the lord to immediately stop this behavior and demanded the release of all the imprisoned Naga. But that arrogant lord, oblivious to the danger, refused the Naga's warning and even continued to provoke them, persisting in his capture."

"Then, disaster struck. On a stormy night, the Naga royal family, with an army from the deep sea, launched a war against humanity. The war was exceptionally brutal. The Naga army surged in like a tidal wave, possessing powerful magic and bizarre fighting methods, catching the human army completely off guard."

Upon hearing this, Kuokas couldn't help but interject, "So what was the result? Humanity lost?"

The old city lord nodded and said sorrowfully, "Yes, we lost. The Naga army is not as simple as the ones that attacked us this time. Rumor has it that they also possess enormous mounts with dozens of tentacles, each tentacle larger than a house, and incredibly large sea serpents hundreds of meters long. These are powerful monsters from the depths of the sea, summoned by the Naga to eliminate those humans who dare to provoke them."

"Just like that, overnight, that once prosperous city was completely reduced to a swamp of ruins. Everyone in that city, regardless of age or gender, perished in the war. Only a few escaped, but they too lost their homes and loved ones, and were forced to wander the world ever since." The old city lord choked up as he spoke.

Kuokas had calmed down; she was no longer as agitated and angry as before. She simply clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with unwavering determination. She knew that although the war was over, the feud between humans and the Naga was far from over. She secretly vowed that one day she would avenge those who had died.

Seeing Kuokas's expression, Link knew she had come to her senses. He gently patted Kuokas's shoulder and comforted her, "Forget it, Kuokas, let's just consider this a thing of the past. After all, they still left behind the compensation, didn't they? As long as people are still alive, everything will be alright. What we need to do now is rebuild our homes and bring Hailin City back to life."

At this moment, Claudia and the others also came over, asking anxiously, "Lord Link, are you alright?"

Link chuckled and said, "It's alright, it's all over. You all go and assemble the troops quickly, check on our losses. Also, check on the wounded soldiers, and do everything you can to treat them."

"Yes, sir!" The men saluted and turned to leave.

Link turned to the old city lord and said, "Old city lord, I think you should hurry up and arrange for the reconstruction of the city. After all, life goes on, and we can't keep dwelling on the pain of the past."

The old city lord nodded and said, "I understand that. But I'm old and not as capable as you young people. Kuokas, go to the inner city and call everyone out. Tell them everything is safe and to go home and pack up quickly. Also, take a look at our losses this time. Oh, and also, organize these things." The old city lord pointed to the pile of materials and jewels on the ground.

"Yes!" After receiving the order, Kuokas led the soldiers of Hailin City to carry it out.

At this moment, the old city lord looked at Link and invited, "Lord Link, come, let's walk and talk!"

Link nodded and said, "Okay."

The two walked side by side, and the old city lord asked, "Lord Link, I remember you just said that you came from Winterfell and were appointed King of the North by Her Highness Safina, is that correct?"

Link nodded and said, "That's right, that's correct."

Upon hearing Link's words, the old city lord's face showed a hint of reminiscence and guilt.

He slowly said, "I used to have some connections with Princess Safina. When her sister was building the Chamber of Commerce branch in our Hailin City, I met Princess Safina once. Unfortunately, I almost cut off all contact with the outside world because I was afraid of getting involved in the kingdom's politics. Our Hailin City is located on the remote coastal border, so it has remained very peaceful until now."

At this point, the old city lord looked at Link and said apologetically, "I've heard about your predicament, and I've also heard about the affairs of the First and Second Princes. I'm sorry, I don't have the ability to help you. I..."

As he spoke, the old city lord lowered his head in shame. Seeing this, Link quickly comforted him, "It's alright, old city lord. All that is in the past. Our Northern Territory is not to be underestimated now. Moreover, it is our honor to be able to form an alliance with Hailin City this time. In the future, we must support each other and jointly resist foreign enemies."

The old city lord felt somewhat comforted after hearing Link's words.

He looked up at Link and said, "Lord Link, I'm really glad you think that way. From now on, Hailin City and the Northern Territory are one family. Let's work together to become more prosperous and powerful."

The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the city gate of Hailin City. Although Hailin City was still in a state of devastation, people had already begun to rebuild their homes from the ruins.

Link watched all this, his heart filled with hope. He knew that as long as everyone worked together, Hailin City would surely be able to regain its vitality.

The old city lord watched all this, his heart filled with countless emotions.

145. The cruelty of war

Link and the old city lord walked side by side on the streets of Sealin City. Their conversation was deep and detailed, and the topic inevitably touched on the current chaotic situation within the kingdom.

The old city lord frowned, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness: "Link, you don't know this, but the kingdom today is no longer the monolithic entity it once was. The nobles harbor ulterior motives, the subjects are all scheming, and everyone is eyeing that supreme throne, plotting their own schemes."

Upon hearing this, Link was deeply moved. He sighed softly, his gaze profound: "Heroes emerge in times of chaos. This may well be an opportunity. Chaos provides us with the space to display our abilities and the chance to rise to power."

His eyes gleamed with a burning light, as if he could already see a glorious future.

Upon hearing this, the old city lord smiled slightly, a smile that contained both admiration for Link's ambition and concern for the unknown future.

He patted Link on the shoulder and said gently, "You've come from afar, and you must be tired from your journey. I'll have Kuokas arrange for your soldiers to rest properly later. You are our heroes, and we can't treat you unfairly."

Link nodded and said politely, "Thank you so much! Your thoughtfulness and consideration, Old City Lord, makes us outsiders feel incredibly warm."

The two continued on their way, and the streets along the way gradually became more lively.

After confirming their safety, the residents of Hailin City poured out of their hiding places and rushed back to their homes. Some wanted to check on their families, some wanted to find traces of their relatives, and some could only collect the remains of their loved ones.

Watching these scenes of joy and sorrow, Link and the old city lord felt extremely heavy-hearted.

The old city lord stopped, looked at the bustling crowd, shook his head helplessly, and sighed, "The calamity that Hailin City has suffered this time is far too severe. The population has decreased by at least half, houses are dilapidated, and farmland is barren. When will it ever recover?"

Seeing this, Link quickly stepped forward and gently comforted him, "Old City Lord, you are getting old, don't worry too much. Everything will get better slowly. At least Hailin City is still here, we are still here, and there is still hope. As long as we work together, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome."

Upon hearing this, the old city lord's eyes flashed with a hint of relief. He patted Link on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Good, we persevered. I should be happy. Look at this old codger of mine, still so sentimental. The inner city is just ahead, and my city lord's mansion is inside. Let's go inside and rest for a while."

Just as the group was about to go inside, a familiar figure rushed over – it was Kuratia.

She was covered in sweat and looked anxious, but when she saw Link, she immediately smiled with relief. She quickly walked up to Link, gave him a crisp military salute, and said, "Sir, I have compiled the casualties and losses for our troops."

Upon hearing this, Link immediately suppressed his smile and said seriously, "Excuse me, old city lord, please wait a moment."

After saying that, he turned to Kuratia and asked with concern, "How is it? What are the casualties?"

The old city lord smiled, waved his hand, and said, "It's alright, these matters are important, you go first." After saying that, he stopped and patiently waited for Link and Kuratia to begin their conversation.

Kuratia took a deep breath and reported, "Sir, we lost nine soldiers this time, and twelve others were seriously wounded beyond repair, but thankfully, they survived. We have used up all our explosives, and we have twenty usable muskets left, but less than a hundred rounds of ammunition."

"Nine people?" Link felt a pang of pain in his heart upon hearing this number and let out a deep sigh.

In just one close-quarters conflict, nine brave soldiers were killed.

Indeed, casualties were inevitable in close-quarters combat with cold weapons in ancient times.

He closed his eyes, and the images of those soldiers fighting bravely flashed through his mind, filling him with regret.

The old city lord was also shocked when he heard the numbers reported by Kuratia.

He never expected that such a fierce battle would result in only nine deaths.

In his view, this number was simply unbelievable.

It should be noted that in previous battles to defend Hailin City, the number of casualties was often in the hundreds or thousands.

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of fighting power and discipline Link's army possessed that enabled them to maintain such a low casualty rate in such fierce fighting.

If he knew how generously Link treated and respected the fallen soldiers, he would probably be even more surprised and impressed.