282: Chapter 276 It wasn't me who lifted the ban.

It was another early morning.

As the morning sun rose, its golden light dispersed the darkness that shrouded the sky, spilling across the Royal Capital.

In families with fields to till, the male heads of the household woke early, just as they had done on countless identical days, picking up their farming tools and hurrying to the outskirts with their half-grown children.

Farm women living in the suburbs also rose early, carrying bamboo baskets and gathering in small groups, chatting about village gossip while heading to the Royal Capital for the early morning market.

They met at the city gates, one group entering while the other left.

Those entering had excited faces, looking forward to a spirited round of bargaining with the vendors, while those leaving were full of joy, hoping that the wheat from the previous night had grown even more lush.

The two sides passed each other, together creating a scene of prosperity before the city gates.

Reasonably speaking, it should have been like this.

But today was slightly different.

They still crossed paths at the gate, but there was no joy to be seen.

Everyone, including the Guards watching the city gates, had heavy expressions, as if a great disaster was about to strike.

There were two reasons for this.

First, all the Lake citizens living in the Royal Capital discovered that a large number of legions had suddenly arrived in the vicinity.

There were many, more than they had seen in their entire lives.

The legions did not march into the Royal Capital, but instead set up camp in their own designated areas, minding their own business.

If it were just the arrival of the legions, people might be nervous, but not to the point of panic.

The real key lay in the second reason.

Bishop Jarvis, who was responsible for managing the church in the Royal Capital, had publicly announced a few days ago that the ban on violence in human settlements would be lifted in a few days.

Once the news broke, the ones with the most violent reaction were not the commoners; on the contrary, it was all the Professionals, regardless of their strength.

The reason why it was them was not complicated—fear.

Professionals had long grown accustomed to the safety within the city.

No matter what kind of big shot they offended in the mazes or the wild, as long as they entered the city, their lives would be guaranteed.

Furthermore, they could trade treasures within the city without any worries, never fearing that others would use their strength to rob them.

And why were those Magic Families that stood above the Adventurer Groups also afraid?

They should be at the top of the food chain.

Actually, it was for the same reason: the fear of being robbed.

Weak Magic Families feared being robbed by powerful ones.

As for the powerful Magic Families, they feared being carved up by slightly weaker families joining forces.

This group of Professionals gathered outside the cathedral, collectively requesting the church to retract the decision, and even sent letters to the Holy Mountain.

The Holy Mountain was also bewildered upon receiving the news—we didn't give that order, did we?

So they hurriedly used a long-distance teleportation array and sent someone to the Royal Capital church to question Jarvis.

When the envoy arrived, the Professionals outside the cathedral were very excited, clearing a wide path and respectfully watching him enter.

However, half an hour later, the envoy emerged with a dark face, walking through the crowd without a word and returning straight to the Holy Mountain.

Everyone was stunned.

The scene remained silent for a long time until someone finally snapped out of it.

They understood that the fact was already irreversible, and the most urgent thing now was to prepare in advance for 'a few days later.'

The crowd suddenly dispersed.

Zhang Mu, who was watching the spectacle from the side, saw everyone scatter and patted his pants before returning to the hotel.

Instead of going to his own room, he entered Mihe's room.

Looking around and seeing no one, he didn't know what the two were busy with.

Zhang Mu didn't just wait; he simply went to 'The World' to see how Domit and Geoffrey were progressing.

Opening the light gate and stepping through, he first went to the research lab.

Geoffrey was still his usual self, standing at a table, looking down at something.

Walking silently behind him, Zhang Mu leaned his head forward and saw a design drawing for a magic guidance sniper rifle spread out on the table.

He patted his shoulder to say hello.

Already used to the City Lord's ghost-like appearances, Geoffrey wasn't startled and turned around to greet him.

Waving his hand to indicate there was no need for formalities, Zhang Mu then asked if the latest model of the magic guidance sniper rifle had been successfully developed.

Geoffrey gave him some good news.

The second generation was already in production, and thanks to the tireless day-and-night efforts of the military factory workers, enough sniper rifles had been manufactured to arm a squad, forming an initial combat capability.

As the most advanced model currently, the second-generation magic guidance sniper rifle had its skill tree points allocated strangely; it wasn't a well-rounded development.

Following Zhang Mu's requirement to 'pursue ultimate lethality at all costs,' Geoffrey had discarded most of the functions a magic-conducting weapon should have.

For instance, defensive arrays, kinetic firing modules, enemy-seeking functions, stealth capabilities, and even endurance.

Such a great sacrifice naturally resulted in terrifying power.

Inside the almost hollowed-out interior of the sniper rifle, an energy storage crystal of equal volume was stuffed in.

To pursue ultimate lethality, Geoffrey had made improvements to the firing method.

He changed it from intermittent firing to a one-time burst.

After the prototype was finished, Geoffrey tested it personally; one shot was enough to kill a High-level Magician.

The power was pleasing, but the flaw was equally obvious: it could only fire one shot.

After firing, because the gun's material could not withstand the massive amount of magic power, at best the barrel would backfire, and at worst the entire body of the gun would explode into fragments, potentially affecting the user.

Of course, if it were only like this, it still wouldn't be effective in the upcoming battle.

After all, they were facing a Saint-level.

So Geoffrey drew inspiration from the essence of arrays, manufacturing the firearms for the seven members of a special squad into different styles according to the magic nodes of an attack array, and then forming a gun array.

By his estimation, a single shot from the seven people successfully forming the array could bring a bit of... trouble to a Saint-level.

Hearing this, Zhang Mu was not dissatisfied.

To achieve this level in two months was already a testament to Geoffrey's genius.

How long does a Saint-level practice for?

The answer was uncalculable.

Because most Professionals can never reach Saint-level in their entire lives.

Seven ordinary people with seven sniper rifles being able to make a Saint-level take notice was quite good.

After checking there, Zhang Mu turned and went to where the First Army Soldiers were training.

In the boundless pure white space, the First Army Soldiers were gathered in a circle, watching Domit lead seven Soldiers as they familiarized themselves with the gun array.

The method was very simple.

Form the array, disband it, then form and disband it again, in an infinite loop.

Boring and tedious endless practice, all to shorten the time it took to form the array by even 0.1 seconds.

Zhang Mu didn't reveal himself to interrupt; he watched from the shadows for a while before opening the light gate to return to his room.

As soon as he came out, he saw Soren and Mihe pushing the door open and entering the room side-by-side.

"City Lord," seeing him there, Soren asked, "The siege plan for the City Lords has been properly negotiated."

Due to the unique situation of the Saul Continent, High-tier Professionals rarely had experience in coordinated multi-person combat.

Moreover, this time it was hundreds of people teaming up to gang up on one person; if they didn't coordinate properly, errors like hitting teammates were very likely to occur during the battle.

Then it would be a huge joke.

And to prevent the King and Andre from noticing their movements, Zhang Mu had instructed everyone to use mobile phones to communicate.

Not wanting to reveal the method to unlock the phones, he had Soren take responsibility for traveling between the City Lords to help pass the phones along.

Zhang Mu walked to the balcony and leaned his head out the window, looking down at the Professionals rushing through the streets.

"The ban is about to be lifted. Mihe, send Soren and the other two out of the city tonight."

"Understood." Accepting the order, Mihe said doubtfully, "I contacted a few friends in other countries, and they also heard Jarvis's announcement.

Jarvis is strong, that's true, but he shouldn't be able to transmit his voice into everyone's ears, right?"

Soren, on the side, added, "After the Guards watching the hotel were withdrawn, I took the time to go to the church. Even the official Believers right next to Jarvis couldn't hear it,

but the followers who worship the god could hear it very clearly."

Turning back, Zhang Mu scanned the two of them: "Speak plainly."

"The god should exist," the two spoke in unison.

"Meaning I'm looking for death?" Zhang Mu laughed.

Soren's personality was upright; following the hierarchy, he just lowered his head and remained silent.

Mihe had no such scruples: "Pretty much."

"If it's looking for death, then so be it. Are you afraid?"

The two were silent, but their eyes were fearless.

Zhang Mu saw clearly: "Then that's that."

Having said that, he took a stack of papers from his pocket and gave them to Mihe. "I've found all the magic nodes of the Blood Sacrifice Array; these are the maps.

When the time comes, Mihe, don't participate in the siege. Lead the First Army to destroy the magic nodes."

Tucking the map into the wide sleeve of his robe, Mihe asked doubtfully, "If it's leading troops, wouldn't Domit be more suitable than me?"

"He has other things to do." Zhang Mu activated the Shadow Technique and his figure vanished from the spot, saying at the last moment, "Go get busy."

Passing through the wall into the air outside the hotel, he flew straight toward the palace.

He wasn't idle on the way, pondering in his heart exactly how many days Jarvis's 'a few days later' meant.

Tsk, troublesome, not even giving a definite time.

Unable to figure out a result, Zhang Mu put it aside for now and went all the way to the palace.

Entering the main road from the open front gate, he looked left and right to identify the direction and strode toward Avril's palace.

He wandered around for a bit without finding the bedroom, and finally only found it by following behind Mora, whom he happened to encounter.

Passing through the door silently and invisibly, he immediately saw Avril lying on the large bed, covered with a thin quilt.

Her ice-blue long hair was pressed behind her back, with only a few strands playfully scattered on either side.

She was sleeping very soundly, her Ice and Snow-like eyelashes quietly covering her eyelids.

Zhang Mu stood by the bed, gazing at the woman's exquisite features.

'Why does it feel like Senior's... hair color is a bit whiter?'

Thinking it might be the influence of ice-attribute magic, Zhang Mu shook his head and didn't think more about it, instead recalling bits and pieces of their time together.

Their time together hadn't been very long.

Before facing the Magical Beast Tide, their experiences couldn't be called soul-stirring either.

Thus, the review ended in a moment.

Zhang Mu suddenly laughed.

There isn't always so much romance; liking someone is just liking someone.

Taking one last look at the sleeping Avril, he turned and left.

Jarvis is up to something in secret; before the ban is lifted, I must keep a close eye on him.

Thinking this, Zhang Mu quickened his pace toward the church.

...

Andre's carriage once again stopped at the bottom of the stone steps in front of the church.

Stepping down from the carriage, he looked up at the beast-shaped relief above the main door with a dark gaze.

Since returning last time, he hadn't come back once for over ten days.

Seeing that the news was already public, yet Jarvis still stayed huddled in the cathedral without contacting him, he had come to scout the situation.

He also wanted to check on the Bishop's mental state.

He hoped he had returned to normal.

Taking a deep breath, Andre stepped onto the stone stairs, but the voice of his butler suddenly came from behind: "Your Highness."

He looked back: "What is it?"

"You..." The butler, who was usually taciturn but spoke directly when he did, was uncharacteristically hesitant today.

A few seconds later, the butler seemed to have made an important decision in his heart and slowly spoke: "Your Highness, you have changed a lot."

A bit impatient with his hesitation, Andre was about to get angry, but hearing this, he was suddenly stunned. His anger vanished, and he subconsciously asked, "What did you say?"

Probably because it was already out, the butler's speech became smooth: "You have changed a lot."

After a moment of silence, Andre was expressionless, his tone ambiguous: "In what way?"

"Everything."

"What changed?"

"You have become weak."

After staring at the butler's dark face for a long time, Andre waved his hand: "I understand. Return to the palace first."

"Yes."

Become weak?

Andre turned and continued up the stone steps, complex emotions seemingly rising in his eyes.

He only came to his senses when he reached the front of the main hall. He tucked away the mess in his heart and pushed the door open.

Jarvis's back was turned as he stood before the statue of god, in the same posture as their last meeting, holding his pure white staff, his head slightly tilted up, his gaze falling on the featureless face of the statue.

It was as if, as if he hadn't moved a single step for over ten days.

Andre stood behind him, feeling a strange atmosphere emanating from Jarvis, and couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end.

Fortunately, he soon turned around with a warm smile on his face, just like usual.

The uncomfortable sense of strangeness was dissipated by the smile, and his gradually oppressed heart breathed a sigh of relief. Andre also smiled: "It seems Bishop Jarvis's strength has improved?"

"It seems so." Jarvis raised his staff, examining the translucent, milky-white crystal at the tip. "The god... the god's grace... um, grace..."

He seemed to be telling others, yet also talking to himself, his eyes full of longing.

Andre's just-relaxed nerves tightened again.

This guy couldn't really be...

Fortunately, Jarvis immediately snapped out of it, showing a benevolent and loving smile: "I apologize, Your Highness Andre. Please forgive my rudeness. To behold the god is the lifelong honor of us Believers."

Beholding the god? Did he really see a god?

Andre was uncertain, but he wasn't stupid enough to ask it on the spot. While pondering in his heart, since he remembered that he hadn't been quite normal during their last meeting, he had probably recovered.

His most reliable support was guaranteed, and the haze that had shrouded his heart for half a month dissipated quite a bit.

Andre said in a relaxed tone, "Mr. Bishop, the magic nodes of the Blood Sacrifice Array have all been deployed. When do we act?"

The time to act was the moment the ban expired; in other words, he was asking exactly which day 'a few days later' was.

Jarvis turned around, facing the statue: "I don't know."

Stunned, Andre asked doubtfully, "Then who does?"

"As far as I know, the Holy Mountain isn't clear about this either. Could it..."

A chuckle interrupted him: "Heh heh... don't be anxious, it won't be long now."

Andre silently watched Jarvis's back, truly not understanding what the hell he was up to.

"In that case, I will return to the palace and wait for your news, Mr. Bishop."

"Alright."

Seeing that he really had no intention of explaining, Andre helplessly returned to the palace.

However, before he even got out of the carriage, he suddenly received a notice from the Inner Palace Guards—the King summoned him.

Father is awake?

Andre's eyes were filled with fear.

How is that possible?!

The Blood Sacrifice Array hasn't been activated yet; where did Father get the life energy to wake up?

Is it Blova and Pestoya?

Thoughts raced through his mind, but his movements were not slow at all as he immediately got up and followed the Guards to the Inner Palace.