City of Desire: Chapter 1031 To Panar (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

I opened my eyes and saw Eva looking at me, with somber, worried eyes.

“I wish you wouldn’t leave,” she said, and I could see she was worried. I didn’t reply immediately and pulled her to me, feeling her skin against mine.

“You know, I have to,” I replied and took her lips.

I am going to Panar; that is where I will fight Viremont and end his offensive. It is a massive risk, because if he captured me there, it would be the end of my dominion.

Still, if I had let him come all the way to Greltheaven. Then, even if I finished him, others would keep coming at me.

We stayed in bed for a couple of more minutes before I went to shower. When I stepped into the living room, she was cooking something behind the stove.

I sat down in front of her and watched.

I am leaving for Panar today and have a lot of work, but seeing her makes me feel calm and peaceful. I need it, because the next few days will not be.

Soon, she finished and sat beside me to eat breakfast.

“How are things going with the store?” I asked. Less than a month remained before the opening of the legacy. That is not much time.

For the past few weeks, I barely had time to check on it; most of my focus was on the coming storm.

The only thing I did about the legacy was look at it through my skills when I had a few minutes to spare and send a note to Caena if I noticed any problems.

I did it only twice; they are doing a good job, and that made me quite relieved.

“Quite hectic actually, there is so much to do and so little time,” she replied. I could feel stress and worry on her face.

 “Thankfully, my people are capable, and our inventory is sufficient. Though, given the performance of the stores, I would have liked it to be more than sufficient.”

I smiled at that; we are doing everything we could with the time we have.

The sheer number of people working on the legacy, and the number of skills activated inside, is mind-boggling. I wish Caena’s spell could copy skills as well, but that’s not possible unless I get a legacy skill that does that.

“The artisans who were coming from Oton, have they arrived yet?” I asked.

Artisans’ Garden is rapidly expanding, attracting talent from across the continent and the world. We need to expand because of the massive demand for the mist goods.

It is not just stores, but also for our own needs.

Like the things we need for the tower, the weapons, and many other things, we make in there; like custom orders from other legacies and important people.

“They have reached Inam,” she replied. The meaning is clear: they are waiting for the war to be over.

It isn’t just her craftsmen; many others are affected. Not just craftsmen, but also alchemists, merchants, and many other people and investments are on pause because of it.

That is why simply defending this attack and winning wouldn’t be enough.

If we managed just that, the next attack in a few months would create a similar effect. No, I want something that will give me at least a year.

Soon, I finished breakfast and got up.

“Good luck—and please come back safely. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you,” she said softly, her eyes welling with tears.

“Don’t worry, I will let nothing happen to me before I see your masterpiece.”

She laughed, then drew me into a long kiss. I held her close and kissed her deeply, wanting to etch it into my memory.

I don’t know what will happen. Whether I would return in victory or in shackles, but I am glad for her support. She could have easily left; I had asked her to for her safety, but she stayed.

Finally, I let go and looked at her.

“I hope it will be ready by the time I return,” I said to her as I walked toward the door.

“It will.”

The day passed by, and before I knew it, it was evening and time to leave for Panar.

“Take care of the city, Stone,” I said as I mounted the ashen horse. It’s not Tempest; he will not be with me. I wish he could, but we are using every powerhouse we have, and he is a powerhouse, monster as he may be.

“Rest assured, my lord. Nothing will happen to it.”

That I am sure; there are a few things that could change things, but they are not in the region. Though unexpected things could happen, I have kept a backup.

I smiled and turned to the woman beside me.

“Ready?” I asked Leila; she nodded.

A moment later, we rode toward the gate, with Leila and a group of people hidden in cloaks. This is not only for the effect but also necessary; some of them are going to be instrumental in winning the battle in Panar.

Their identities need to remain secret.

Soon, we reached the city gates and rode out of them. The moment we did, I activated Lightning Gallop and Fleetbound Synchrony, and the others activated their skills too.

In a few seconds, we began to ride genuinely fast, with the hooves of my Ashenmare turning red, like burning charcoal.

It would have been faster if I had been riding Tempest.

I looked around in the night sky. It is a wasteland, but it’s not empty. I could see carriages and riders on the road. Today is the last day; from tomorrow, we have banned land movement.

Only the river route would remain active.

“I am surprised that you have decided to fight in Panar,” said Leila, after nearly an hour.

“Why?” I asked back, turning to her, and she gave me a look. When I didn’t say anything to that, irritation appeared on her face, and she opened her mouth.

“Greltheaven is your most important city. You are lord and the master of legacy.”

“So, it’s obvious staying in Greltheaven is a safe choice. If Viremont got into Panar, then the whole dominion might collapse,” she said straightforwardly.

She wasn't the only one thinking that.

“You are right; fighting from Greltheaven is much safer for me personally, but as I told you before.”

“The victory needs to be so decisive and symbolic. Without it, it wouldn’t take long for another one like Viremont to come to the region with ambition to conquer me,” she sighed, hearing that.

“You are taking an awfully enormous risk for it,” she said, and I sighed.

It is a massive risk, but what choice do I have? If I don’t do this, they will keep coming. I want peace at least for a few years. So, I could develop my dominion.

The past year and a half of peace had helped me tremendously.

If I can achieve what I wanted, the result would be even better. So, I have to take the risk. Also, this is personal, after what Viremont had done.

I want to make him pay for it myself.

…

Count Viremont

“Well, this is unexpected,” said Loxley as everyone tried to digest the information they had just received.

“Silver is coming personally. I had not expected that.” Nobody did.

I did not expect it, and the information I had received also hinted that he would fight from Greltheaven, but he is coming to Panar with his sister and a group of cloaked riders.

“This is great news for us. Far better than fighting him in Greltheaven,”

“As long as we capture him within Panar, the whole dominion will be ours,” I stated, and could see a smile appearing on the faces of the people across the table.

Many had reservations about fighting in Greltheaven because of what happened to the undead, despite my assurances.

This would make it much simpler. We could get it all.

“Do we know who these cloaked figures are?” asked Viscount Mireville after breaking the silence.

“Half of them are his officers and mercenaries; we do not have information on the other half,” I lied. We do not have information on any of them, but I can’t say that.

I need to show confidence and control. The doubts wouldn’t help.

“Is there any Lv. 40s among them?” he followed. “According to intelligence, there is not, but we shouldn’t underestimate Silver.”

“There should be at least one, Lv. 40,”

I didn’t lie in the other half, given Silver’s capabilities. It should be expected at least. I fully expected surprises and was prepared for them.

“That is not much. Give me a team of Lv. 40’s and I will capture Silver,” said Loxley.

I shook my head at that.

“It could be a trap, and confronting him in the open is too risky. Silver is known to have powerful riding skills, and I won’t risk letting him escape.”

“Let him come to Panar; we’ll capture him there.”

He has presented us with an amazing opportunity. I would do nothing to spook him back into his hole.

I have been advised that if I get the opportunity to fight Silver outside Greltheaven, I shouldn’t hesitate to use it. Capturing him will make it much easier to conquer Greltheaven and his other cities.

And I will.

…

Marchioness Arenthal

“Quite surprising, isn’t it?” asked Kadira.

I didn’t reply immediately and looked at the city; ever since I conquered it, I would come to the roof of the city hall and observe it.

Even now, it feels strange, a little lifeless. I am used to greenery; there is barely any.

I will have to work on that.

Though it’s not going to be cheap; plants in Renwell are an expensive affair. Well, at least it will not cost me as much as it did Silver in Greltheaven.

All old cities are built on a green spot; there is far less resistance against the plants than in wasteland.

“It is, but it shouldn’t be. Silver doing this means he has confidence in his abilities. If not victory, then at least to defend; that will be costly to Viremont.”

“Do you really think he will defend against the Viremont?” she asked, and I nodded after some hesitation.

“Then joining him would have benefited us a lot. Instead of staying out,” she and I laughed.

“He has enemies, far stronger than we could go against. For our safety and security, it is best to remain on the sidelines. We don’t want to be caught between Silver and those powerful people who want his city and the legacy.”

I could tell she had questions. I wanted to answer them, but I barely understood the truth myself.

I had uncovered it by sheer accident, and the revelation shook me to my core. That was why I stayed out, despite knowing that joining either side might benefit me in the short or medium term.

I was no longer a mercenary.

I had put down roots. Short- and medium-term gains still mattered, but my house's long-term future came first. That was why I remained on the sidelines, despite wanting to take the gamble.