Chapter 296: Starry Night In the Middle of Desert

Hanss invited Ethan to walk around and see the condition of Lion City during the time Ethan had been away.

While Ethan was gone, Hanss had used their resources carefully, focusing almost entirely on recruiting soldiers.

It wasn’t without reason.

“Seeing you come back covered in blood really worried me,” Hanss said honestly as they walked side by side through the city streets.

Ethan laughed lightly. “That blood belonged to enemy team members, not me.”

Hanss frowned. “But you were injured. I saw the cuts on your body with my own eyes.”

Ethan gave a small smile. Minor cuts were unavoidable. No matter how strong he was, he couldn’t completely avoid being injured in battles of that scale.

What mattered most to him was that his condition had improved.

His body had recovered, and the wounds had closed thanks to the priests’ healing, even though his stamina hadn’t fully returned to its peak.

The streets of Lion City were livelier than before. NPC workers moved back and forth, carrying supplies and reinforcing buildings.

Soldiers stood guard at intersections, their posture disciplined and alert.

Hanss glanced around with a sense of pride. “So… what did you find in the tropical region?” he asked, his curiosity clear.

Ethan suddenly stopped walking.

His hands clenched tightly at his sides as memories of what he had seen came flooding back.

“Star Shield…” Ethan said quietly. “They’ve been destroyed.”

Hanss froze. “What?!”

“Scavenger teamed up with several other cities and wiped out Star Shield. Gregor… is dead.”

Hanss stared at Ethan in disbelief. He never imagined that Star Shield would fall so quickly. Among the major forces, only Avalon and Trident Sea remained.

“What about Avalon? And Trident Sea?” Hanss asked urgently.

Ethan explained that Avalon was safe. He had met Kevin, the leader of Avalon’s alliance guild.

However, Ethan admitted that he didn’t know the condition of Trident Sea. During his time in the tropical region, he hadn’t had the chance to explore areas farther away.

Even so, Ethan hoped Trident Sea and their allied guilds were still fine. A ceasefire pact had been agreed upon, and no one was supposed to attack them—assuming Ethan’s message had reached them in time.

As they continued walking, Ethan told Hanss about his encounter with Arthur.

At the time, Ethan’s body and uniform had been soaked in blood.

He explained how the Eastern Alliance and the Redemption Sword Alliance had agreed to a ceasefire. It was all done to prevent mutual destruction and protect their respective alliance members.

Hanss hadn’t expected Ethan to meet Arthur so soon. Still, that meeting had been crucial for the surrounding regions.

Countless lives depended on the decisions made between them.

If war broke out, more lives would be lost.

If a ceasefire was maintained, temporary peace could exist.

“Then…” Hanss asked after a moment of silence. “What should we do now?”

They stopped in front of the military barracks, which glowed with steady light. The brightness indicated that soldier training was currently underway.

The sounds of drills, shouted commands, and clashing weapons echoed faintly in the background.

Ethan glanced at Hanss. “A long conflict is coming. The ceasefire only lasts until day twenty. When that day arrives, every city will go to war alongside their alliance members.”

“Twenty days?” Hanss repeated.

“That’s right.”

Ethan then explained about the transmigration tokens—critical items that allowed cities to relocate to safer areas.

He said that after day twenty, all cities belonging to the Eastern Alliance would migrate to the desert region. The desert would become the Eastern Alliance’s permanent territory.

Hanss nodded slowly. He had assumed that alliance members would scatter and fend for themselves until the event ended.

But reality was different.

Transmigration tokens were the best way to unite all alliance members in a single location.

“But will they really be willing to move to a barren desert?” Hanss asked. “That land is harsh and unforgiving.”

“They have no choice,” Ethan replied coldly. “If they refuse, I’ll label them traitors.”

His eyes hardened. “And traitors must die.”

Hanss nodded without hesitation.

A lot had happened while Ethan was gone, but Ethan explained everything clearly. Nothing he said confused Hanss. Everything made sense.

That was because Hanss knew Ethan well.

“Then… what will you do?” Hanss asked.

Ethan turned and gave a faint smile as they resumed walking back toward the town center, Hanss at his side.

“I’ll stay in the city. We’ll focus on recruiting soldiers and combat training.”

“I have to admit,” Hanss said, “the soldiers who arrived yesterday were a big help.”

“Even though it hasn’t been fifteen days yet, we already have eight hundred soldiers.”

“That makes our city the strongest in the desert region.”

Ethan nodded, pleased to hear that. Still, he knew it wasn’t enough.

LionArk needed more.

Eight hundred soldiers wouldn’t be enough to face a large-scale invasion from Redemption Sword, nor would it suffice if LionArk decided to invade the tropical region.

At the very least, Ethan needed between ten thousand and fifteen thousand soldiers for Lion City alone. Combined with other alliance cities, the number would grow even larger.

“We’ll take it slow but steady,” Ethan said. “We need to stay alert, but there’s no need to recklessly waste resources.”

“Build more military barracks. Increase recruitment capacity.”

“I understand, Sir Ethan,” Hanss replied respectfully.

Day gradually turned into night.

Hanss relaxed with his soldiers at the tavern, laughing and drinking, while Ethan stood at the northern gate alongside two city soldiers—NPCs assigned to guard duty.

No conversation occurred between them.

Ethan sat atop the gate, his eyes focused straight ahead.

The desert night wind brushed against his face, dry and cold.

“This event…” he muttered softly. “It forces every guild to kill each other.”

“Countless lives have already been lost. The administrators must be laughing as they watch this slaughter.”

Ethan fell silent.

He narrowed his eyes and let the wind wash over him, carrying grains of sand through the air.

The longer they stay trapped in this game, he thought, the more they become nothing but entertainment for the administrators.

He exhaled slowly and lifted his head, gazing up at the star-filled night sky.

It looks like… I need to start thinking about how this game should end.

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