The Mythical Path of a Princess from a Destroyed Kingdom

Maginus received the faith but did not keep it for herself. Instead, she channeled the power of the faith through the statue, transferring it to Mia nearby to enhance her strength.

As night fell, Mia, driven by both murderous intent and the will to survive, walked in the shadows, her body enveloped in shadow elements, moving with ease among the night patrol guards.

She arrived near a wealthy businessman's estate, and even though she had rehearsed the assassination scene many times, she still felt nervous when she was actually there.

Mia recalled the memories Maginus had instilled in her, and only after calming herself did she rush toward the manor wall. As she stepped out of the alley, a black mist formed by shadow elements enveloped her.

Since being corrupted by the shadow element and escaping danger with the life force given to her by Maginus, Mia has gradually mastered the body altered by the shadow element and learned a special skill.

Upon entering the shadows, her mental and physical state experienced a slight improvement, which was passive and did not require her to activate it.

When she emerges from the darkness, she can remain in shadow for a few seconds to maintain her attribute boosts and continue to hide. In addition to making her figure invisible, it also reduces the accuracy of attacks from others.

In theory, as long as Mia keeps running in and out of the shadows, she will be difficult to hit by ranged attacks and will also be able to benefit from attribute bonuses in the sunlight.

Mia used both hands and feet to gently climb over the manor wall. Not wanting to kill anyone indiscriminately, she ignored the drowsy guards and looked at the second-floor bedroom, doubting she could climb up. She went to the kitchen window and pried it open with a wire.

Pushing open the window and entering, Mia easily approached the enemy who had killed her parents, her expression dazed as she gripped the dagger.

Is it really that simple? I thought it would be very difficult...

laugh.

A smile spread across her face as she raised the dagger and plunged it in.

Things ended more simply and sooner than expected. After Maginus and the other sisters reunited, they withdrew most of their attention and were about to leave when a strong wave of faith emanated from a connection to a certain statue. Most of the messages were prayers for Maginus to save them.

He immediately turned his gaze toward the statue, where his followers were fighting with other gang members, likely due to a conflict between the statue's owner and other gangs.

Where did the holder go? No, the more important question is, where did Melu go?

Sensing her surroundings, Maginus found Meru hiding silently in a corner. The soon-to-be archbishop, nourished by life force, had finally gained some baby fat and was nervous but not afraid in the face of danger.

She crouched down with her hands behind her head, and Maginos conveyed a message to her:

Melu, take my statue and leave immediately. It's time for you to begin your ascetic practice.

Upon receiving the message from the God of Death, Melu, who had been preparing for a long time, felt a surge of excitement. When everyone's attention was turned away, she rushed out and hugged the statue, then ran wildly towards the window.

"Hey kid, stop right there!" "Don't chase him, he's just a kid!"

Calls came from behind. Melu nimbly vaulted over the broken window and ran wildly across the grass, her worn-out straw sandals cracked, leaving her bare feet on the ground.

Still, people were relentlessly pursuing her. Melu climbed over several dilapidated houses and came to the back of a low tree. She rolled on the ground, moved aside the stones piled up under the tree, pulled out the package, and drew out the exquisite longsword inside.

Half a year ago, she only had the desire to eat. After receiving the power from Maginus, her faith in her began to grow significantly. She also relied on the power to slowly learn how to steal in order to live a better life, and she even knocked out a few people.

We haven't killed anyone yet, but it looks like we'll have to resort to bloodshed now.

Realizing she was about to kill someone, Melu felt only a little fear and disgust, but mostly a violent rage.

Maginus felt that this was also the reason why Meru was able to become his archbishop. Meru was very similar to him; they were both the type who could risk their lives and do anything to achieve their goals.

The pursuing gang members stepped over the low trees, and Melu, wielding a longsword, charged forward with all her might. The blade slashed deeply into the pursuer's chest, not splitting it open, but enough to kill him.

Maginos was quite satisfied with the performance of her three followers. Looking at the other end of each thread, she decided to send a mass message to her carefully selected followers.

They all headed towards Netheril at different times, with those farther from Netheril departing earlier and those closer departing later.

Chapter 484 Infrastructure

After dealing with the mess involving the believers, Maginus coldly watched as the gang members were captured or killed without offering any assistance. Although the noisy chatter had some effect on her, it was a minor matter.

The scenery of the dreamscape began to dim, and Maginos fell into a deep, dark sleep.

After resting for about three hours, she regained her energy, opened her eyes, sat at her desk, reviewed the transfer orders and intelligence, and recalled what tasks needed to be prioritized.

My Lord, the simple puzzle lock is almost finished. Would you like to come and take a look? Oh, and don't bring the cat.

A serious voice reached her ears; Rachel had sent a message, informing her that besides having her read, Maginus had given the book spirit another task.

The safety of the castle and even the entire Windward Territory is essential. It is impossible for Maginus and the immature Book Spirits to complete the entire Maze Lock, not even a small part of it.

So Maginus asked her to simplify the Enchanted Lock as much as possible, or to use other spells to achieve a similar effect, in order to protect her temporary base.

“I didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

"After all, you only asked me to find a replacement for the Enchanted Lock. It is actually quite easy to work backwards from the Enchanted Lock and downgrade it. There are too many alternative spells that can achieve similar effects, and they are much simpler to combine than the Enchanted Lock."

Rachel presented her revised plan to Maginus, the most important of which was the Holy Abode, which, when combined with spells such as Magic Alert, Arcane Wave, and Dimensional Anchor to distinguish friend from foe, could create an effect similar to the Enchanted Lock.

It's more accurate to say it's similar than actually quite different; it's barely usable given Maginus's current condition.

After putting away the plan scroll, Maginus and Rachel said goodbye and left the study. After the "master" closed the door, the serious expression on the book spirit's face collapsed, and she slumped onto the bed, picking up a book to flip through.

"There are still too few spellcasters, especially powerful spellcasters. There probably aren't many people willing to come to me now. Even the lowest level of magic lock has been postponed."

"Once the area becomes larger, we need to find a way to mass-produce spellcasters. Mage apprentices are very useful, and we can also find truly talented people among the students. This matter will probably require cooperation with believers of the God of Knowledge and the Mage Association."

As Maginus moved through the corridors, considering increasing the number of spellcasters, he pushed open the basement door and entered the treasury of the Grand Duke of Denan.

Not to mention the mountains of gold and gems, there are also many rare metals and magical equipment. For at least two years, Maginus will not have to worry about his wealth being depleted due to the town's development.

"Talent is the most important thing."

Maginus, who had entered the management simulation training stage, sighed, casually picked out a few of the weakest magical equipment and left, handing them over to two mid-level players waiting in the hall.

"Sir, what are you..."

"War is about to break out. Change to better equipment. Your original weapons and equipment can be given to the soldiers you are good at."

After thanking him and accepting the magical equipment, Joseph, who had previously been in charge of selecting the officers, asked:

"So when do you plan to start a war? We are already prepared. Or rather, if we don't start soon, many people may start to complain."

Despite his tall stature, he possessed a shrewdness disproportionate to his size. Through his written test, Maginus discovered that he had a very organized approach to planning for the future, making him a true "general" in the army.

His identity is also very simple: he is a distant relative of Dai Nan, and he has climbed to his current position through his own hard work and talent.

Maginus didn't know if he resented her for killing Denan, but even if he did, she didn't care. She could just kill him when he showed any signs of rebellion.

"Let's wait another two months. Do you have any ideas about where to attack? I've chosen a place, but it still depends on your decision."

Unfolding the map, the two mid-ranking generals gazed at the noble territory chosen by Maginus, exchanged silent glances, and expressed their true thoughts to Maginus:

"It's the best choice, and that was also Grand Duke Dainan's previous plan."

"Does the Grand Duke of Dainan still have a backup plan for his original plan to conquer cities and seize territories?"

Upon learning that he had discussed the matter with two generals, Maginus decided to take it into consideration. Joseph pointed to the map and analyzed it step by step, and the three of them discussed the future development of Windward Territory.

"Shelter from the Wind Monthly Report! Shelter from the Wind Monthly Report! The Grand Duke of Denan colluded with the devil, and the new lord, with tears in his eyes, killed him! The slum gangs have been wiped out, and the lord will cooperate with the church to deal with the orphan crisis!"

Bell, an orphan living in the slums, and his companions would shout in the streets, waving more expensive newspapers, and sometimes caravans from afar would buy a copy out of interest.

There have been many changes to the windproof collar recently.

Bell felt this most deeply. If he had followed his original life trajectory, he would probably have begged with the "help" of the mob, or if he had the talent, he could have done some petty theft, or if he was good-looking, he could have worked in the red-light district.

If none of these methods work, as he grows older and loses his original frailty, he may have to continue begging with a disability, and then die from worsening wounds or hunger and cold.

While Bell was filled with anxiety about the future, an unexpected event occurred: the gang he was staying with was completely destroyed overnight, and a new gang was built on the original ruins.

Just when he thought he would continue to live according to the original plan, members of the Church of the Three Gods came to the slum as usual. This time, however, they brought not just food and treatment, but an opportunity to become self-reliant.

Delivering newsletters, helping out at the city walls, cleaning the streets...

The church warriors and those who looked like soldiers provided jobs for these children and some disabled people. After work, in addition to hot food, they also received some money, not much, just a few copper coins, but it would definitely add up to a considerable amount.

Those who were used to bullying the weak were arrested and never seen again. The new gang also changed its arrogance and consciously shrank back, abandoning some of its original businesses for fear of attracting attention.

After distributing the tabloids, Bell returned to the slums, where the stench that had surrounded the area had dissipated somewhat thanks to the other children's cleaning efforts.

Walking back to the abandoned courtyard where we had stayed, we saw many older children working with craftsmen to repair it, while warriors from the Church of the Endless Light stood by.

"Sigh, I wonder what the new lord is trying to do with all this."

"Who cares? Anyway, it's the lord who's paying for it, as long as our salaries arrive on time."

The new lord... Will the future be better under his leadership?

Bell didn't know, but at least he had some hope that he wouldn't become disabled.

Chapter 485 Shifting Positions, Cat Playing with Mouse

"Your Majesty, why have you suddenly condescended to come to the army?"

"Go and investigate the situation on the ground. Have you already spread the news that war might break out? What are their opinions?"

Maginus, cloaked, walked with Joseph through the military camp. The soldiers were still drilling, and the cooks were already busy preparing food. They were not stingy with the food, and the soldiers' physiques showed that they usually ate very well.

"...To be honest, most soldiers just want to collect their pay and have no desire to fight. The atmosphere is not good right now."

Joseph spoke frankly, and after spending some time with her, the high-ranking officials of the Shelter Territory found that Maginus was not as frightening as the rumors suggested. Apart from her sharp eyes and inexplicable aura, she was no different from an ordinary person, just like a beautiful female noblewoman.

He didn't kill people randomly, nor did he ask them to do anything difficult. In fact, he might be even more amiable than Dai Nan.

"They listened to my opinion, but I didn't offer them any verbal encouragement."

"No, I really don't understand why you won't let us do that."

"I'm just asking you to postpone it until I have some free time. If you want me to boost your morale now, how long will it take to prepare?"

"Now?" Joseph paused, then immediately replied, "No problem, we can start right after training ends."

"Okay, I can wait. Just let me know when it starts."

As the Windward Territory entered a state of war preparedness, Maginus gradually gained more control over it, focusing more on the people's livelihood, while issues such as taxation and the nobility remained unresolved.

There's no need to solve this now; she'd rather gradually consolidate control. Internal strife is detrimental to development; a united front against external threats is the best approach.

Maginus came to the camp today to buff the soldiers. Killing aura has always been used to incite others to kill her, but it also has other uses. A small amount of killing intent without a specific target can also increase morale.

As the training concluded, another mid-level fighter, slightly weaker than Joseph in combat ability, stood on the high platform, coughed lightly, and announced in a loud, passionate voice that the war would begin in a few months.

Even with his exceptional ability to boost morale, he wasn't very hopeful that he could inspire his soldiers to pursue a better life. However, to his surprise, the speech was a great success.

Looking at the soldiers below, their faces red and necks thick with anger, shouting in unison, even Joseph, a mid-level soldier himself, felt a surge of adrenaline. He sensed something, his gaze secretly glancing at Maginus, who was in the shadows, before turning away with a hint of shock.

The soldiers didn't know why they were so excited, but in their extremely excited mental and physical state, they did listen carefully to what the general said.

If it can truly bring a better life to my family and myself, it's worth taking a little risk. I might not even die, right?

Many people fall into a peculiar gambler's mentality, and Maginus takes this opportunity to screen those who can remain calm enough under her influence.

As a result, she actually found quite a few promising talents. Some of them were extremely irritable, and even a little bit of killing energy would make their veins bulge. Others noticed something was wrong and looked around.

These people probably all have special qualities, but because they have no money or power and don't know how to develop their own characteristics, they are buried among ordinary soldiers.

The one who is extremely irritable could be made a berserker; the one with keen senses and no red temperature might have strong mental fortitude, so we could try making them spellcasters.

Maginus noted down the personnel according to the army's arrangement and handed the list to a nearby sergeant to select the best ones.

"There's still some time. Once the war starts, hehehehe, I'll let them slowly experience the path to death..."

Seeing the agitated soldiers, Maginus clenched his fists and smiled sinisterly.

"Magnus Imperius is estimated to make his move in about a month. What should we do?"

"Surrender. We never besieged the capital. We only surrendered to Ebes after we could no longer resist."

While Maginus was dealing with the affairs of the Windward Territory, a huge uproar had already broken out outside. Almost every lord knew immediately that Maginus had taken control of the Windward Territory.

Upon learning this, fear naturally arose in their hearts, as they worried that Maginus would come and kill them all.

Therefore, the lords held many meetings, but they could not come up with a feasible solution. The most feasible option, just like when they faced the allied forces, was to surrender to Maginus.

"Where is Ebeslut? Has she not contacted you?"

"To put it bluntly, everyone here is a fence-sitter. He probably anticipated our choice long ago," the carefree lord shrugged. "He's probably discussing plans with those lords who have a blood feud with His Majesty Maginus."

Is it a bit too humble of them to call everyone "Your Majesty"?

Some people inwardly scorned the lord, but verbally agreed, saying, "Since that's the case, let's just go back to being opportunists and wait for His Majesty to attack before handing over the surrender document."

These noble lords, who only cared about themselves, had already made their decision, while on the other side, nobles who would never reconcile with Maginus gathered under the leadership of Ebes to discuss countermeasures.

"Aren't other countries sending reinforcements? You know, once we're all dead, they'll be next!"

"How can we recruit more people? The Blood Lake incident happened only two years ago, not some ancient legend. If you're not strong enough, you'll just be easy prey for Maginus!"

The most anxious group argued, but none of them said they would surrender to Maginus. They couldn't surrender; given Maginus's past behavior, death was all that awaited them.

"stop fighting!"

The leader, Abes, roared and took a deep breath to signal his preparations:

“I have spent a lot of money to hire a legendary figure to guard the capital, and he has agreed that he will help defend Maginus wherever he appears on the battlefield.”