Chapter 23: Modo! Modo!
Leaffall City, Agate River.
Soren stood on the deck gazing into the distance, turning to look at the Scarface behind him and said slowly, “What are the movements of the Half-Orcs?”
Scarface slightly bowed and replied, “Your Excellency, they have been quite obedient lately.”
Soren nodded in response, saying in a deep voice, “Have the scouts keep an eye on the Half-Orcs’ movements, and report any unusual situations directly to me.”
“Yes.” Scarface answered and stepped back.
The Half-Orc Army had suffered two consecutive defeats, and Eugene’s actions had become more cautious.
The first defeat came at Leaffall City, where Soren’s avatar summoned the Ancient Brass Dragon to brutalize them, forcing Eugene to retreat and regroup. That night, when he tried to attack Soren again, he returned empty-handed and heavily damaged. The impact of these two successive failures was serious for the Half-Orcs; their morale had likely plummeted significantly. The recent silence from the Half-Orcs probably indicated their fear of being heavily battered once more, as three consecutive defeats might break the morale of the Ironblood Legion.
Eugene needed a victory to uplift his warriors, but Soren would not grant him such an opportunity!
…
Half-Orc Occupied Territory, Agate River Bank.
Teams of Half-Orc laborers were hard at work, chopping down trees in the forest under the supervision of foremen, followed by transporting logs back. The area near the Half-Orc Army’s camp was busy, with many Half-Orcs engaged in work, and the foundation’s outline had already been established. Relying on their inherent physical strength, the Half-Orcs worked efficiently; in just half a day, a rough outline of a fortress had emerged.
However, this was just the beginning; judging by the completed foundation, the scale of the fortress would be much larger!
Leaffall City.
The atmosphere in the council hall was heavy; many nobles were discussing animatedly. One person spoke up, “What? The Half-Orcs are building a fortress across the river? What do they plan to do?”
Everyone present was filled with anxiety.
If the Half-Orcs truly established a large military fortress across the river, it would be very difficult for them to reclaim lost territory in the future.
Even if reinforcements arrived, the situation could quickly become one where the enemy was on the defense while they were on the offense. But with the half-elven army attacking a fortress built by Half-Orcs, one could easily imagine the terrifying casualty rates they would incur. Once such a fortress was up, it would be like a spit of spit for the Half-Orcs. The Shaman was also a spellcaster; although the construction quality of the Half-Orcs’ fortress might not be impressive, its durability would certainly not be inferior to that of other races. If this fortress was truly established, it would be at odds with Leaffall City.
“This might be a good thing,”
an elder sitting on the right glanced at the others. His territory was near Leaffall City, and even if the land across the river was reclaimed, he would not benefit much, so he calmly said, “This way, the Half-Orcs probably won’t launch an attack in the short term.”
“We can hold out until the Earthwalker reinforcements arrive!”
…
The Half-Orcs seemed to have finally learned their lesson.
Having suffered two consecutive heavy blows under Soren’s command, Eugene’s plan to decisively crush the Half-Elves was thoroughly abandoned. Now, building a military fortress across the river was undoubtedly the wisest course of action; it could consolidate their rear base while allowing maneuverability. Soren didn’t believe that Leaffall City currently had the strength to attack the Half-Orcs’ military fortress, as the casualties required would be unbearable for anyone.
“Eugene intends to advance step by step!”
Soren gazed at the distant river, murmuring, “If the military fortress is really built and positioned across Agate River, it will be impossible for the half-elves to reclaim the lost territory without fighting for decades.”
“What a pity.”
“Eugene hasn’t factored in that under the Saint’s Cataclysm, a fortress is akin to a paper construct for certain existences!”
…
Overseas Islands, Modo Harbor.
A towering lighthouse appeared before them. The voices of excited sailors startled George; in just a few days, he had become closely acquainted with the merchant guards, so he quickly realized they were nearing Modo City.
A gentle sea breeze blew towards them.
In the distance, flocks of seabirds could be seen under the blue sky, with flying fish occasionally breaking the surface of the sea.
For George, who had lived inland his whole life, everything before him was so fresh and shocking. He felt a broader expanse of terrain and even developed a sense of yearning for life at sea. In contrast to his past limited life near a single town, where he hardly ventured beyond to Leaffall City, everything he witnessed on this journey at sea completely overturned his understanding of the world. For the first time, he realized the world was so vast, filled with many things he had never even thought of.
The commoners of this world have a very small perspective.
There were many people like George; soon, others came up to the deck, all faces filled with wonder as they gazed ahead.
The silhouette of Modo City appeared.
It was a massive natural harbor that had been enlarged post-construction. In the distance, white sails could be seen, and a large number of ships docked near the harbor. Even before approaching, they could hear the sounds of dockworkers shouting as they busily carried goods, and occasionally, a ship would hoist its sails. Just the first glance at this place made George feel its prosperity and wealth; everything here was a sight he had never seen in Leaffall City.
Moreover, there was no trade as prosperous as this in the entire inland region!
Trade is wealth; trade is vitality. The prosperity of White Horse City stemmed from trade, while its decline was due to trade being disrupted.
“We’re almost there.”
After spending some time together, the Guard Captain had grown quite familiar with George. He glanced at the young man beside him, smiling, “Once we reach the docks, arrangements will be made for you.”
George smiled and nodded, reaching into his pocket to check how much money he had left.
Throughout this journey, they had been well taken care of, so George planned to treat the Captain to a drink at a tavern once they reached Modo City. He wasn’t sure how the church would arrange for himself and others, but if he could build a good relationship with this person, perhaps he could become a merchant guard; he was somewhat confident in his abilities.
However, the Guard Captain smiled and politely declined, saying, “After we drop you off at the harbor, we will leave immediately.”
“This time, many merchant associations are taking notice.”
“I heard a fleet from Arendelle that had initially planned to head back with their goods immediately unloaded them at Shipwreck Bay the moment they heard Lord Soren’s call to arms and then immediately set sail for Fury Sand Island. A single trip for you could increase the business association’s profits by at least 20-30% this year. The remuneration we receive will also be quite a bit more.”
“So, the fleet won’t be staying here; they will return to Fury Sand Island today.”
Avoiding a year’s worth of ‘taxes.’
This matter held considerable allure for the merchant associations. Under Soren’s control, all shipping routes were monopolized, and the protection fees that associations had to pay were significant. Waiving a year’s worth of fees would suddenly increase profits tremendously; otherwise, it would be impossible to attract so many people. If it weren’t for the nearby associations of Shipwreck Bay, City of Wealth, and Taro Port being able to make it, other fleets would likely want to come to profit as well. This way, they built a personal favor with His Excellency while also gaining tangible benefits.
Why not seize such a good opportunity?
…
Modo Harbor.
Numerous large ships docked near the harbor, and a steady stream of people flowed all around.
“Slow down, sister!”
George helped a young woman carrying a baby down the gangplank. Soon, a stern-looking enforcement team came to escort them. Their destination was not the harbor but Modo City ahead. Many onlookers curiously surveyed their surroundings. The first impression of this harbor was not one of chaos or prosperity, but rather of cleanliness and orderliness. In comparison to the cities they remembered, this place was exceedingly clean and orderly; the ground showed little litter, and there was no obvious foul odor typical of crowded areas.
The air only carried the faint briny scent of the sea.
“Sister, look! It’s the temple! How magnificent! How grand!”
The most striking buildings at Modo Harbor were undoubtedly the Temple of Wealth and the Ocean Temple. It seemed these two churches had started to compete with each other recently. The Temple of Wealth dazzled with its gleaming adornments, with gold paint covering its outer walls. The Temple of Wealth clearly held an edge in opulence. However, the Ocean Temple also had its advantages, possessing many underwater treasures, making it easy to obtain luminous pearls and corals. During this time, both temples had been covertly and overtly vying to outdo the other, with fierce competition for believers.
Crossing the harbor led to a well-paved stone road.
Many were secretly observing this group of long-distance refugees, and the half-elven characteristics were quite apparent. Yet barely anyone disturbed them; they merely watched with curiosity from a distance.
Among the escorting team, George saw the legendary evil Drow.
Or one could say, Half-Drow.
These supposedly evil beings displayed cold expressions and ignored everyone else, just strictly and even harshly executing their tasks, hardly engaging with anyone. George couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but in the eyes of these Drow warriors, he sensed a glimmer of panic—not fear, but a hidden disarray. This concealed emotion made them excessively serious and strict as they executed commands, as if worried about being replaced.
Modo City finally came into view.
In the distance, cleared land was visible, with fields of lush green crops, and this vibrant scene gave them renewed hope for the future.
But!
Suddenly, a bit of chaos erupted ahead, with the terrified cries of women and children, prompting George to instinctively grip the hilt of his sword and prepare for battle.
“Roar!”
A deep dragon’s roar reverberated in everyone’s ears.
On the walls of Modo City, a massive figure appeared, its cold gaze sweeping over the minuscule humans below, and then it suddenly flapped its dragon wings and soared into the sky!
The nearly ten-meter wingspan of the Bipedal Wyvern circled above them before flying towards the sea.
George’s legs trembled slightly.
The earlier scene shocked him. Many around him were frightened to tears; compared to this giant Bipedal Wyvern, the Half-Orc’s wolf mounts seemed like puppies.
The guards showed no signs of agitation, as if they were already very familiar with this Bipedal Wyvern.
Soon, the group was calmed down.
They entered Modo City through the southern gate. George couldn’t help but look back in the direction the Bipedal Wyvern had flown away, his heart filled with excitement as he murmured, “Is this Modo City?”
…(to be continued ~^~)
