8mi Chapter 268 The Dust Settles
Chapter 268 The Dust Settles
Chapter 268 The Dust Settles
Upon seeing the elves surrender, the orc warriors erupted in thunderous cheers. However, under the restraint of their respective leaders, they refrained from any rash actions, instead quickly and orderly taking over the defenses and confiscating weapons.
August stood on the slope, scepter in hand, his silver hair and cloak fluttering in the rising evening breeze. He gazed at the battlefield, which was quickly calming down, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
The throne is within reach, but the road ahead is far from smooth. Appeasing the orc allies, reorganizing the old elven forces, purging the stubborn nobles, implementing new reforms, and fulfilling the promises made to Leon and all those who helped him—the list of tasks is long and complex, and this is only the beginning.
But at least for this moment, he held the most crucial key. Having gathered his thoughts, he loudly announced to the cave masters guarding him, "Gentlemen, follow me into the city!"
The chaos within the holy city was gradually subsiding. The shouts of battle and explosions in the distance had thinned considerably, replaced by the rough shouts of orc warriors and the commands of their ranks.
Li Ang and his two companions headed towards the North Gate. After walking just two streets, they encountered August's entourage at a wide intersection.
At this moment, August had removed his iconic bird-beak mask, revealing his true form as an elf. In his hand he held a golden trident, the Scepter of Judgment, the gem at the top of which emitted a warm glow.
Behind him followed a mixed group. On the left were elite members of the self-defense force, mainly composed of bear-men, tiger-men, and lynx-men. They all stood tall and proud, bearing more or less injuries, but their eyes were bright and their morale was high. On the right were surrendered elven guards, who now hung their heads, their weapons confiscated, and slowly moved forward under the guard of orc warriors.
The two teams present a stark contrast, symbolizing the dramatic shift in the power structure of Avalon.
August spotted Li Ang and his two companions approaching immediately, so he quickly stepped forward, and the group behind him stopped as well.
"Your Excellency Li Ang." August stopped a few steps away from Li Ang and bowed respectfully.
"As the Elf King August Starseeker, I thank you for everything you have done for me and for us."
On behalf of all my fellow citizens of the Lost Nest, and on behalf of the future newborn Avalon, I extend my sincerest gratitude to you.
Li Ang smiled and shook his head slightly: "Don't say that, August. Without your cooperation and sacrifices, I wouldn't have made it this far."
August didn't dwell on the matter. His gaze shifted to Eve behind Leon, his eyes softening. "Eve, I'm so glad you're alright. I'm sorry you suffered."
Eve looked at her cousin, whom she had never met, who had secretly delayed the ceremony after her capture and ultimately joined forces with Leon to rescue her, and her feelings were somewhat complicated.
She bowed slightly: "I am the one who should be thanking you, Your Highness August. Without your intervention, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it to Leon's place."
Although her attitude was polite, it was still somewhat distant. August seemed to be used to this distance and simply nodded gently.
"Lord Li Ang," August looked at Li Ang again, his tone becoming serious.
"The city is still in chaos, and there are many things I need to handle: the resettlement of the guards, the restoration of order in the city, and negotiations with the remaining noble forces—there are countless things to deal with. I'm afraid I won't be able to properly entertain you for the time being."
He turned to Sherry, and after confirming that she was not seriously injured, he instructed, "Sherry, take Lord Leon and Ms. Eve to my manor to rest and entertain them well for me."
Shirley straightened her back: "Yes, Your Majesty."
August then said to Leon, "There's a library in the manor containing some books and notes I've collected privately, including some about ancient magic, Titan legends, and—the End. You're free to browse them. I'll talk to you in more detail after I've finished these trivial matters."
Li Ang's heart stirred. The records about the End were exactly what he needed, so he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go take a look first. You go ahead and do your thing."
August said no more, nodded to the two, and turned to walk back to his group. Sherry watched August leave, then gestured to Leon and Eve: "Gentlemen, please follow me. His Majesty's manor is not far from here."
Led by Shirley, the three traversed most of the city and arrived at the western side of Avalon. The architecture here was more elegant, with neatly trimmed ornamental trees and flowers lining the streets, clearly indicating it was a noble residential area.
August's manor is located on a gentle hill and covers a large area. Large vineyards are planted around the manor, with vines spreading along the trellises and bunches of green and purple grapes hanging on them, glistening in the sunlight. At this moment, some orcs are working in the garden.
As Sherry led Leon and Eve through the paths between the vineyards, the working orcs stopped what they were doing and looked over curiously.
"Sister Shirley, you're back!" A young rabbit-woman peeked out from behind the trellis, her long ears twitching happily.
"Lieutenant Shirley, how is His Highness doing?" A bear-man uncle who was inspecting grapes straightened up and asked in a loud voice.
"And these two are—" An older fox-man squinted as he sized up Li Ang and Eve.
Sherry waved to everyone, a rare relaxed smile on her face: "I have good news for you all. Everything is going well with His Highness. The Elf King has been killed, and His Highness is taking over the city."
As soon as Shirley finished speaking, a deafening cheer erupted. They had waited far too long for this day.
When the cheers subsided slightly, she turned to Leon and Eve and introduced them with a hint of pride: "These are my companions who work in the manor. Some of them were transferred from various dens, while others were originally working here. His Highness implemented a new employment system in his territory a long time ago. Orcs here are not pets or slaves, but employees who exchange labor for remuneration."
Li Ang could sense that although these orcs were curious, their eyes did not show the wariness and timidity common among the inhabitants of the underground lair. Instead, they appeared peaceful and confident.
Their eyes were full of trust when they looked at Shirley, and more curiosity than fear when they looked at themselves and Eve.
Then Sherry turned to the orcs and solemnly introduced them: "Everyone, this is Lord Leon, a human from the outside world. He is our most esteemed ally and friend, and the greatest contributor to His Highness's success this time. And next to him is Lady Eve, Lord Leon's mentor. Everyone must treat him with the highest honors and not be impolite."