Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Are you still hesitating...
Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Are you still hesitating...
The people of Gratitude Village seemed different from those in other places. Blackwood never defended Nicholas, but after this great battle, it seemed they understood everything.
On this day, every household in Gratitude Village brought a Tribute Offering, asking Blackwood to let them enter the Silver Iron Forest.
"You all..." The people of Blackwood stood at the gate, looking at the scene before them, their eyes red with emotion.
The mayor of Gratitude Village had died in the war, and a young man named Marvin stepped forward. His father, Riley, had died in the battle, and Marvin had inherited his father's will. He had ridden a flying sword swiftly in the great battle, becoming the most outstanding hero of Gratitude Village.
"Gentlemen," Marvin shouted, "we want to pay respects to Lord Nicholas!"
"We don't believe that Lord Nicholas betrayed Gratitude Village or Blackwood, as the rumors suggest. My father told us that we must wait, that we were weak, and we needed to wait until we were strong enough."
"He understood, he had his moments of fear when he heard the Druids were coming. If he had resisted, our family would have been destroyed. When the Druids entered our village, I was still young. I saw my father knocked down by a Druid, even though he was stronger. I didn't understand why he didn't fight back."
"He told me he needed to protect me, the fool, and to protect my mother and brother."
"Perhaps my father and Lord Nicholas were similar. They both were waiting for the day when the town's bells rang. I went to see Lord Nicholas, only to meet Lady Helen. Maybe..."
"Maybe he and my father were the same, waiting for the day they could strike against the Druids, both enduring disgrace to protect us all."
Marvin clenched his fists, "Please, gentlemen, let us pay respects to Lord Nicholas. We are not only honoring him but also the misunderstood loved ones!"
On that day, a neat line of people continuously formed, orderly marching towards a statue deep in the Silver Iron Forest. Fireworks floated up to the sky above the forest, continuing day and night for three months.
Every household in Gratitude Village began to display a statue of a young man riding a donkey at full speed.
The people of Blackwood watched all this. Ethan was also watching. Their eyes brimmed with tears, their expressions relieved. Nicholas was ultimately too naive; he miscalculated. He wanted everyone in the Emerald Empire to think he was a traitor, but that wasn't true. At least the people of Gratitude Village, at least the people of Blackwood, knew everything he had done.
Soon, half a month passed, and the people of Gratitude Village were still paying their respects. Their understanding helped Blackwood slowly recover from the grief of Nicholas's sacrifice.
[Your descendants are paying respects to you in the Forebearer Hall.]
The scene shifted to the Forebearer Hall, where members of the first and second generations were kneeling. At this moment, his Psychic Position was at the top, followed by Boar Monarch Pete and Nicholas.
[Your descendant Nathan reports to you that after the High Priest Clark was defeated, all Druids are fleeing Cloudview County, heading back to the Endless Forest. Various major sects are regrouping and sending letters. In this chaotic era, with strong enemies still lurking outside Cloudview County and Duke's Mansion Martin uninvolved, the major sects hope Blackwood can take charge.]
"Take charge, huh?" Ethan squinted slightly. Nicholas's vision was for Blackwood to endure. He had done so much, and now Blackwood had finally shed the label of human traitor and was trusted again by the Emerald Empire. Now, Blackwood also had enough strength.
At this time, every border county of the Emerald Empire was in the midst of war, and the Druids from other counties probably had no spare capacity to attack Blackwood. If they could unite the forces of Cloudview County, then... the situation could be reversed!
What needed to be guarded against was no longer Cloudview County, but the Druids of the Endless Forest!
Ethan clicked on the icon of the Exploding Sky Serpent, and in an instant, a serpent-like mist appeared. This was the second form of the Exploding Sky Serpent, known as the Mist Serpent. As soon as it appeared, a message popped up in the event log.
[Your temple guardian beast requests that you give it an elegant name.]
After some thought, Ethan decided he needed to consult a dictionary for this task. He then had the Exploding Sky Serpent relay a message.
It sulkily said to Nathan, "The master says, 'To secure peace within, one must first manage external threats.'"
"Forebearer agrees!" Nathan nodded vigorously, bowing repeatedly, "Please rest assured, Forebearer, I understand your meaning."
In the hall were Luna, Julian, and Amelia. Lucas was still outside the family, having brought back celestial swordsmen from Starlight County. They were currently clearing out the remaining Druids in Cloudview County. Olivia, during her great battle with Luke, had not experienced the thunder tribulation, and was now contemplating the power of the mountains, rivers, and lakes.
"Forebearer says we need to secure our internal affairs first."
Luna's expression tightened slightly, "The head of the house, the only thing we need to be cautious about in Cloudview County is that one family."
"Martin!"
Julian's silver arm caressed his bald head, his teeth gritted, "That old man Michael has lived too long. Over the years, other county Duke's Mansions have been fighting, only Wind Duke's Mansion has been sitting by, otherwise, our Cloudview County wouldn't have been so powerless at the start!"
"I've heard about it too, damn it, the Emerald Empire also has a bunch of bastards, all the rewards issued by our Cloudview County went to Martin."
"Dad, just give the word, and I'll take the kids and smash his Duke's Mansion!"
Hearing this.
Nathan frowned deeply, pondering for a long time before finally sighing and shaking his head, "No."
At this, Julian's eyes widened, "Dad, are you still hesitating..."
"I mean, ruining Duke's Mansion isn't enough. I want Michael to feel like a thorn is in his side, to end his days in constant fear and die in disgrace!"
A fierce light flashed in Nathan's eyes, the root of all problems was Michael!
This schemer, sitting high above, wanted to destroy Cloudview County. Thirty years ago, he almost succeeded, and perhaps he even knew about the large-scale attacks in advance. Cloudview County was supposed to be protected by Duke's Mansion, but they just sat back and watched as everyone in Cloudview County struggled desperately.
Over these thirty years, Blackwood had endured humiliation, and Nicholas had gone through unimaginable trials, the shame of which could not even be washed away by the future.
Amelia had been quietly listening, and now she smiled, "Cloudview County is changing, Duke's Mansion..."
"Should change as well."