Chapter 678: Hollowed Out

Late at night.

Seven hundred kilometers east of Xuan Shui City, a village named Chuck.

Chuck Village faces the Delnbyr River, which plunges straight into Sword Bay, and backs onto the complex terrain of the Grey Peak Mountains, making it an absolutely defensible stronghold and an excellent base for guerrilla warfare.

Inside the village, an abandoned, damp wine cellar.

Twelve chairs surround a worm-eaten wooden table, the single candle on top flickering unsteadily.

Carter, the former Grand Commander of the Conscription Legion, sat in the main seat, his face etched with exhaustion and grief.

He scanned the faces gathered around the table.

Three months ago, this underground resistance organization had nearly a hundred active members. Now, including the sentries on guard outside, only forty-seven remained.

His knuckles rapped the table.

"The Seventh General Assembly of the Wing of Light begins now."

Carter's voice was low, like an echo from the depths, "First, let us observe a moment of silence for our fallen comrades."

He closed his eyes, those young faces appearing in the darkness, followed one by one by the expressions they wore when they died.

Although he had seen such scenes countless times during those years in Aethelorn, watching these young men he had personally recruited lose their lives, he could not remain calm no matter how hard he tried.

—All because of that foolish raid.

"Silence ends."

A cold voice abruptly pierced the silence; a tall young man with blond hair swept his blue eyes over the crowd.

"Carter, what needs discussing is how to exact revenge, not wallowing in sorrow."

Carter's expression remained calm as his weary eyes turned toward this young man.

—Renato Viller.

One of the Wing of Light's earliest recruits, a former knight swept up in the purge after the Yige Sect seized power; his parents and family all perished in that purge.

A radical filled with rage.

It was he who led the operation to attack the Yige Sect branch church in Xuan Shui City.

"Revenge?"

Old Boggs coughed, "Last time we listened to your 'lightning tactics,' how many did we lose?"

Renato stood up abruptly, the chair scraping a harsh sound against the floor.

"But our results were remarkable, weren't they! Many more people now know of our Wing of Light; we even made the headlines of the bardic newspapers! Our actions should be even more intense! Target the major facilities in major cities!

Instead of hiding like turtles in some backwater corner! I am not targeting you, Carter, just stating what we have always thought!"

Several young members nodded in agreement.

Carter shook his head silently.

Where there is an organization, there are factions and differences of opinion; at all times, it is a time to seek common ground while reserving differences.

Although Carter had Rod's financial backing, money was never the reason these people joined in the first place.

Moreover, in such an organization, those who entered with sufficient reasons are always the main force.

He had to admit his mistake.

He had underestimated the members' inner urgency for revenge.

Carter spoke slowly, "We are not an army, at least not yet; in the darkness, until"

"Until when?"

Another of Renato's followers spoke up, interrupting him, "You say to wait for the right moment, Carter, but the Yige Sect slaughters every day and conducts various cruel experiments on civilians under the guise of resisting the alien dimension!"

The temperature in the wine cellar seemed to rise suddenly.

"Renato has a plan."

Glen, formerly a blacksmith, suddenly spoke, "We should listen."

Renato turned to Carter, a strange smile hanging on his lips.

Carter's face showed no change; he had seen that smile too many times, usually right before someone made a foolish decision.

The agreement of several radical young men also made Carter realize.

Even with the support of a behind-the-scenes backer, an organization concerned with ideals and principles could still be hollowed out.

Sorry, Mr. Rod. It is my problem. I always treated this like a legion.

Carter pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The Feast of the Holy Descent."

Renato unrolled a parchment displaying a complex map of the Silvermoon City sewers, "One month from now, the church in Silvermoon City will hold a festival; local priests, fathers, and bishops will gather together. We can wipe them all out in one net!"

A sound of sharp intake of breath echoed through the wine cellar.

Carter felt his blood freeze in his veins: "Are you mad? That is suicide! And there will be a huge number of believers in the church then!"

"Necessary sacrifices," Renato said coldly.

Another follower said, "If we continue according to your way, Carter, soon there will be no innocents left."

"Let us vote."

Glen said, avoiding Carter's gaze.

"Those in favor of Renato's proposal, please raise your hands."

Familiar arms rose one by one, occupying an absolute numerical advantage.

Carter shook his head; unable to stay there any longer, he grabbed the longsword hanging on the wall.

As he pulled open the heavy wooden door of the wine cellar, Renato's voice came from behind: "Sometimes, Carter, you must use darkness to fight darkness."

Carter did not answer.

Outside, darkness enveloped everything; with a grim face, he saw two familiar figures approaching from a short distance, escorted by the sentries.

The cat-girl Kou Yi He Fa and the mage Doris.

The contact for the assistance of the Alliance of Heroes with the Wing of Light.

"Yo, Uncle Carter." Doris waved.

Kou Yi He Fa felt a bit awkward; her hearing was sharper: "Your internal situation won't lead to a split, will it? I've seen many organizations do that."

Carter shook his head: "No organization is united in ideology from the start. Failing to balance and adjust was my mistake. Even if we develop another organization, the same problem will arise. Fleeing as soon as a problem appears would likely let down that my lord's expectations."

"Silver Moon City is not as loose as Xuan Shui City, especially given your past record."

"I will do my best to salvage it. Moreover, optimistically speaking, trying other strategies might also help the future path."

Carter smiled bitterly.

Doris didn't quite understand, but she put her hands on her hips and said: "I don't know much about paths and hearts, but as long as it involves fighting, with that guy from the Far West Forest around, there won't be any problems, right? Carter, you must learn to ask for help."

The next day, Dimia successfully advanced to the Seventh-Rank Legendary Mage.

He came to the forest early in the morning, overjoyed, saying he wanted to test spells on the Death Desert.

Since the Witch Young Lady entered the Cutting-Through Labyrinth, her visits deep into the labyrinth have decreased significantly; even normally, she contacts Rod via the 【Chain of Far Speech】.

But this time she was so overly excited that she obviously ignored the habit of a certain succubus eating breakfast in bed.

At that moment, she pushed open the door of the ranger's hut with Sharon.

Tally was tilting her head back to eat an egg dumpling; a huge one lay on her face, terrifyingly occupying most of her small face.

Dimia was so frightened that her face lost all color; she immediately panicked and fled.

Only the open door, the awkward Rod, the voraciously eating Tally, and the sneering Sharon were left behind.

Fortunately.

One hour later.

After the Witch Young Lady returned, blushing and apologizing, the trial casting of the legendary spell could finally begin in earnest.

(End of this chapter)