Chapter 635 - Gandolf's Speech (Patreon)

The following day.

During Anda’s return travel, Layla continued to update her on the ongoing situation, especially the details of the hunting operation. After all, Anda would take charge of it the moment she arrived.

“We already have a lot of recruits willing to take supporting roles, but the problem is still the combat positions. Not many cultivators are willing to head into the battlefield directly. I even heard some people in the crowds questioning why they should fight for a bunch of mortals. Can you believe that?” Layla informed her with a clear note of complaint in her voice.

“Hmph. What a bunch of complete idiots. This isn’t just about the mortals. Do they honestly think their own lives are safe? Do they believe that if things get worse they can simply climb onto their airships and flee the continent? Out there, one strong wind could smash any of those airships to pieces. They sit around waiting for danger to knock on their door, and by the time it does it will already be too late.” Anda’s voice carried sharp irritation.

She hated how these people refused to see the threat that would eventually reach them unless it was already happening right in front of their eyes. Most of them would simply wait and watch, and then, without realizing it, everything would already be over.

“How many combatants do we have now?” Anda asked.

“So far, those who signed up are mostly a group of righteous cultivators and our family’s firm supporters. The number still has not passed nine thousand. Today only about a hundred came to register. Looking at the trend, I don’t think we can reach the fifty-thousand target by next month. We might not even reach ten thousand.” Layla informed her with a sigh.

Fewer people meant fewer squads could be formed, which in turn meant a smaller area could be covered at any one time. She knew the target number had not been chosen at random.

The fifty thousand had been calculated with the current rate of the Red Eye Phenomenon’s spread in mind. Only with that many combatants could the hunting teams clear crazed beasts faster than new ones appeared. If they fell short, the overall numbers of crazed beasts would keep rising no matter how hard the existing squads worked.

“Not even one-fifth of the target? Pretty depressing. I can assume the same thing is happening everywhere else too.” Anda responded.

“That seems to be the case. Sister Rina told me Holy Cat City has a similar problem. More people signed up on her side because of her long-standing prestige and influence, but she also doesn’t think the target number can be reached. I wonder how we’re supposed to achieve this without mandatory conscription.” Layla said.

“Sigh… I feel bad for our husband. He’s doing everything he can for everyone, and yet they don’t even want to save themselves. Maybe we should just pick up those related to us and leave the continent. Why bother with these idiots? If they want to sit around and die, let them. I’m tired of watching people refuse to lift a finger for their own survival.” Anda complained.

Layla smiled to herself and shook her head. Her Big Madam was as extreme as ever. On this particular topic, however, she would always side with Leyvi rather than Anda.

After more than two decades as City Lord, she had grown responsible for the lives of millions. She had watched the territory grow, settled disputes, and seen ordinary people struggle and hope under her protection. They were her people. Walking away and leaving them to their fate simply was not something she could do, no matter how frustrating their shortsightedness became.

“They should consider themselves lucky that Leyvi isn’t like me. After this crisis is over, I’m going to make sure everyone knows who saved their lives. All the ladies should offer their bodies to him as thanks.” Anda continued rambling.

“Big Madam, it’s not the ladies you need to convince. It’s our husband. If he doesn’t want them, even a thousand Holy Maidens won’t change a thing.” Layla chuckled.

“Hmm, true. He’s always like that. Right now he’s using Barbara as his shield to reject any new recruitment. Once their marriage is done, that excuse will be gone. I’ll make sure he ends up with a few more.” Anda promised herself.

Layla chuckled quietly to herself. This was a dilemma probably only her husband ever had to face.

“Oh right, is there anyone from our family who wants to join the hunting operation?” Anda asked after the thought crossed her mind.

“Yes. Val, Ava, and Nala have registered for combat roles. Selene registered for a support role.” Layla replied.

Currently Bodo and Cempaka were away from home. The two had been following Tasya to her culinary institute under Anda’s order to protect her. If they had been here, they would almost certainly have joined the hunting operation as well.

“Nala wants to fight too? How long has it been since she last fought? I’m not sure she will be alright.” Anda’s concern was clear in her voice.

She was not worried about Val and Ava. The two were incredibly strong and sparred constantly, so they had never lacked practice.

Nala was different. She had carried Leywini for a full ten years. After the birth it had taken another entire year before her strength returned enough for her to cultivate again. Even then, nearly all of her time and energy had gone into raising her daughter. As a result, her cultivation had remained largely stagnant and neglected for many years. Anda could not help wondering whether Nala still possessed the combat instincts and physical readiness she once had.

“Do you want to stop her, Big Madam?” Layla asked, looking at the celestial cloud.

It was silent for a few moments before Anda’s voice returned. “Let her be. Just make sure to help her regain her peak performance again.”

Anda knew Nala’s decision came from her deep desire to protect her daughter and the rest of the family. How could she forbid it? All she could do was ensure Nala was as prepared as possible before she stepped onto any battlefield.

“Don’t worry. I already put her under an intense training regime to regain her form. She also has to go through daily spars to rebuild her combat sense.” Layla reassured her.

“I knew you would already have taken care of it. You’re our family’s best manager, after all.” Anda’s chuckle carried both fondness and quiet relief.

Just as Layla was about to reply, something unexpected happened.

An aura so powerful that she had never felt anything like it suddenly reached her. She could tell at once that it came from above. For a brief moment she thought it was an enemy attack, yet despite its overwhelming presence the aura carried no oppressiveness. The panic that had started to rise in her chest quickly settled again.

Layla rushed out to the balcony and looked up. A massive luminous avatar floated high above the city.

“Protector Gandolf!” she exclaimed, recognizing the figure at once.

What was going on? She could not understand why a Protector would suddenly appear like this and reveal himself so openly to the public.

Everyone else, whether inside the city or still waiting outside the gates, saw the huge glowing form of a long-bearded old man hanging in the sky above Bara City. Unlike Layla, who had met Gandolf before, the vast majority of people did not know his face. Many of the mortals simply stared upward in awe, some whispering that a god had descended.

The avatar’s voice rolled across the entire city, clear and steady, reaching every ear without the slightest strain.

“People of Bara Territory, listen well. I am Gandolf, one of the twelve Protectors of Cloud Continent. I have come today because the danger we face is no longer something that can be hidden or delayed.”

The glowing figure paused, giving the words time to settle.

“A strange phenomenon has begun turning demonic beasts into mindless killers that hate every human they see. We call it the Red Eye Craze. It is spreading faster than we first believed. If it is not stopped, every city, every village, and every last human on this continent will eventually fall. This is not a threat that only concerns mortals. It concerns every single one of us.”

The avatar’s gaze seemed to sweep across the crowds below.

“Some of you still believe you can simply wait and watch. Some of you ask why cultivators should risk their lives for people weaker than themselves. I will tell you plainly. When the crazed beasts grow numerous enough, no airship, no formation, and no personal strength will be enough to save you. There will be nowhere left to run.”

Another short pause followed.

“The hunting operation is our best chance to slow this disaster and buy the time needed to find and eliminate its true source. We need cultivators willing to fight. What we lack is numbers. With enough numbers, this crisis can definitely be solved. You are not fighting alone. We Protectors will also be fighting with you.”

The luminous face of the old Protector looked down upon the city with quiet gravity.

“I ask every cultivator who hears my voice to consider this carefully. Join the hunting teams. Protect your homes, your families, and the future of this continent. If we fail to act together now, there may be no later chance left for any of us.”

The massive avatar remained in the sky for several more heartbeats, letting the final words hang over the city, before it slowly began to fade.