Chapter 96: Siege of the City

Harvest Month, 2nd.

At half past six in the morning, Gao De rose on time.

Since arriving in this world, he had developed the good habit of going to bed early and rising early.

Who would have thought this world had no “mobile phones”? After waking, he routinely performed thirty minutes of light exercise, then took a shower, and began preparing today’s breakfast:

A “world-altered vegetable porridge” made from wheat and assorted vegetables.

After finishing breakfast, Gao De checked his pocket watch—it was barely eight o’clock, still an hour before his work shift.

He decided to calculate what he would need to prepare for his journey to Shengxi En City.

After careful consideration, the best option remained traveling by water.

Although there was no direct waterway linking Baimai City and Shengxi En City, requiring passage through different river systems and land routes, with at least five or six city transfers,

factoring in season, current, wind direction, and stopover points, the entire journey would take at least several months.

But compared to land travel, it was significantly safer and less prone to mishaps.

Yet such a long journey clearly could not be undertaken on a whim—it required thorough preparation.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Just as Gao De was deep in thought, a sharp alarm blared abruptly, echoing throughout the entire city and shattering his concentration.

Hearing it, he was startled.

It was a citywide alarm.

“What’s happening?”

He opened his door and tried to observe the street.

He found that most people in nearby houses, like him, had opened their doors to look out.

Everyone was confused.

They had detected no abnormalities and could not understand why the alarm had sounded.

But the crowd’s confusion was quickly answered.

At the moment the alarm sounded, dozens of strange mechanical birds—like clockwork toys—had already launched from the city center.

They scattered in all directions, flying to every corner of the city.

Their wings glowed brightly as they skimmed low over every district and street at incredible speed.

From within these mechanical birds came a synthesized, mechanical voice, clear and cold:

“Near Hogan City, a new earth vein has emerged. Earth vein creatures have gone berserk and are attacking surrounding cities. A large swarm of ferocious bats is heading toward Baimai City.”

“All residents outdoors, return home immediately, close all doors and windows, and do not venture out until officially notified—failure to comply will result in full personal responsibility!”

“Additionally, all mages in Baimai City who possess offensive spells are hereby summoned to assist in defending against the ferocious bats.”

“All mage apprentices who participate in defense will receive five gold coins as compensation; first-circle mages will receive twenty gold coins.”

“Additionally, one gold coin bonus for every ferocious bat slain! Interested parties may immediately register at any city wall for deployment!”

The orders were concise and forceful, like an invisible spell.

First, they plunged listeners into tense silence; then, like startled rabbits, they scattered instantly, rushing home to shut their doors and windows!

Gao De stared at the suddenly empty street and the tightly shuttered windows lining both sides, and took a deep breath.

It had happened after all.

A new earth vein.

Even Baimai City, so far from Hogan City, was about to face an attack from earth vein creatures.

One could imagine the terrifying assault Hogan City, adjacent to the new vein, must already be enduring.

Standing at his door, Gao De hesitated for an instant—then made his decision.

He closed his door.

But not to return inside—he headed straight for the nearest city wall.

Yes, Gao De intended to answer Baimai City’s call and join the defense.

Leaving aside the logic of “when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold,” the compensation alone was more than enough incentive: as a mage, simply participating guaranteed five gold coins upfront, with extra rewards for slaying earth vein creatures.

Most importantly, the incoming earth vein creatures were a large swarm of ferocious bats—all the same type.

That meant he had a strong chance of acquiring a new essence during this defense. As for potential danger—venturing outside the city to hunt earth vein creatures, Gao De would have to weigh carefully.

Now, defending atop the city wall alongside a group of mages, with real mages at the front, the danger was already extremely low.

Gao De also did not believe that Baimai City, the largest city in the region, could be overwhelmed by a single swarm of earth vein creatures.

Such opportunities were exceedingly rare.

There was no reason not to join!

When Gao De arrived at the city wall nearest Kamengde District, he found a long line already forming at the staircase entrance.

All were mages rushing to join the defense—mostly mage apprentices—being vetted by Baimai City’s official staff and receiving their compensation.

The five gold coins were being paid out before the battle even began!

Clearly, the authorities meant business.

Gao De observed for a moment and saw the vetting process was extremely lenient.

Each person simply stepped forward, declared their mage rank to the registration clerk, and even without revealing their specific offensive spells, received five gold coins immediately.

Then, based on the clerk’s assignment, they were placed into squads.

Each squad’s captain was an official mage.

“Ferocious bats are expected to arrive in thirty minutes—mages wishing to join the defense, hurry up!” the lead official shouted.

Gao De no longer hesitated—he joined the queue immediately.

In no time, it was his turn.

“Name?”

“Gao De.”

“Mage rank?” The clerk asked without looking up.

“Second-rank apprentice.”

“Alright, report to Squad Seven.” The clerk handed Gao De five gold coins and directed him.

Five gold coins in hand, assignment complete—the entire process took less than ten seconds, swift and efficient.

Gao De tucked away the five gold coins and, following another clerk’s directions, joined a squad already gathered with over a dozen others.

It must be Squad Seven.

Coincidentally, his arrival completed the squad’s full complement.

Seeing the numbers were now complete, one of the men in uniform—a clear official mage—spoke: “Everyone, I am your squad captain from now on. Follow my orders. My name is Riluo.”

“Our squad, including me, has seventeen members: six third-rank mage apprentices and eleven second-rank mage apprentices. We are assigned to defend a one-hundred-meter stretch of the western city wall.”

“Any questions?”

“No questions,” everyone replied in unison, fully cooperative.

Though their captain was only a third-rank mage apprentice, five others in the squad shared his rank.

But his official status and the sharp aura he exuded completely commanded authority.

Besides, no one here was foolish—they knew this was no time for individuality; following an experienced leader was the safest course.

“If there are no questions, follow me!”

Riluo led the group along the inner walkway of the wall, ascending to the section they were assigned to defend.

On the wall, fully armed city guards had already prepared all defenses, awaiting the ferocious bats.

They were the true backbone of this defense.

(End of Chapter)