Chapter 298: When one falls, a thousand take its place

Kevin fell silent and lowered his head. One by one, every member of his team followed suit, mirroring the same posture. No one dared to meet Ethan’s gaze.

Standing before them, Ethan could no longer restrain the anger boiling inside his chest.

A powerful aura erupted from his body, overwhelming, dominant, and terrifying. The pressure spread outward like an invisible tide.

The wind suddenly howled through the streets, kicking up dust and startling everyone nearby.

Soldiers stiffened, civilians froze, and even seasoned commanders felt their breathing grow heavy.

“Noah!” Ethan roared. “I will not let you get away with this!”

The words echoed through the air, carrying a fury so intense that it sent chills down spines.

Ethan slowly forced himself to calm down. He clenched his fists tightly, then loosened them, drawing in a deep breath.

He had anticipated betrayal—alliances were never built on absolute trust—but he had never expected it to come from a Permanent Member of the Eastern Alliance like Trident Sea.

Anyone else, maybe.

But Noah…

“Does anyone else know about this?” Ethan asked coldly. His voice was low, controlled, but dangerous.

“No one, Sir Ethan,” Kevin replied quietly.

“That’s for the best,” Ethan said as he turned his back on them. “Return to your city and continue recruiting city soldiers. Act as if nothing has happened.”

Kevin cleared his throat and nodded. Without another word, he bowed slightly and led his people away from the area.

Ethan remained in the city center. Hanss and Laura stayed with him, standing close by.

They could both see it clearly. Ethan’s expression had hardened completely—sharp, serious, and cold.

His eyes were narrow, and his hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale.

“Sir Ethan…” Hanss hesitated before speaking. “What should we do about Trident Sea?”

Ethan did not answer immediately. He tilted his head upward, staring at the sky.

White clouds drifted slowly overhead, carried by the desert wind.

He watched them carefully, as if searching for clarity among their shifting forms.

After a long moment, Ethan finally spoke and turned back toward them.

“Your focus does not need to shift because of Trident Sea’s betrayal,” he said evenly.

“When the time comes,” he continued, his voice calm yet absolute, “I will destroy them myself.”

Hanss and Laura exchanged uneasy glances.

When Ethan spoke like that, worry inevitably surfaced. They feared he might act recklessly—charging alone into the tropical region to seek revenge against Trident Sea.

The ceasefire had officially ended, and the risk of being attacked, or launching an attack, was higher than ever.

“Ethan,” Hanss said firmly, abandoning formalities for once. “Don’t act rashly. We still need you here.”

“I know,” Ethan replied after a pause. “I’ll try to calm myself. And for now, I won’t move against Trident Sea.”

Those words brought visible relief to both Hanss and Laura. They were glad Ethan was beginning to consider strategy over brute force, unlike the impulsive actions he had taken earlier in the event.

Not long after, Ethan returned alone to the northern gate. He sat there in silence, overlooking the vast desert filled with cities.

His mind churned relentlessly, thoughts colliding one after another. His eyes were sharp, focused, yet heavy with exhaustion.

Less than a month had passed, yet the situation had already become dangerously complicated.

The Eastern Alliance had lost two Permanent Members. Only LionArk and Avalon remained.

Losing Star Shield had dealt a heavy blow to Ethan. Now, Trident Sea’s betrayal cut even deeper.

Noah… you were my friend.

The pain twisted into something heavier—sadness mixed with despair.

In the Tropical Region, especially within the Blood Ink River Alliance, there were several S-rank guilds.

By comparison, the Eastern Alliance had only one S-rank guild: LionArk.

Pessimism crept into Ethan’s heart.

Can we really win this event with just this much strength?

Laura approached quietly and found Ethan sitting there, unmoving, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

At a glance, it looked like he was admiring the desert scenery, but she knew better. Ethan was deep in thought, not enjoying the view.

“Commander of Unit Six reported that they’re returning,” Laura said softly. “The other units will be back as well.”

Ethan turned his head slightly and offered a faint smile. He did not stand, remaining seated on the edge of the northern gate.

“Thank you, Laura.”

She nodded, but instead of leaving, she stayed where she was.

“Sometimes,” Laura said after a brief pause, “what we plan never goes the way we expect.”

Ethan stiffened and glanced at her. She stood beside him, her eyes still focused forward, watching the dozens of cities belonging to the Eastern Alliance spread across the desert.

“That alone can make us sad and disappointed,” she continued. “Our hopes crumble, and despair starts to take root.”

“But if you keep staring at disappointment from too narrow a perspective,” Laura said calmly, “you won’t be able to see the greater hope that still exists.”

Ethan followed her gaze. He was no longer looking at sand and wind, but at the rows of cities standing firm—cities that had chosen to follow him.

“If you give in to despair because of everything that’s happened,” Laura went on, “what will become of them?”

“What will happen to the alliance members who placed their trust and hope in you?”

“They are far better than Trident Sea,” she said with quiet confidence. “Even the strength of just two cities is already enough to rival that traitorous guild.”

“Losing Trident Sea,” Laura concluded, “is not the end of everything.”

Her words struck deep.

She’s right.

All this time… I’ve been too focused on the status of Permanent Members and ignored those who stayed loyal.

Emotion welled up in his chest. Slowly, a genuine smile spread across his face. His eyes softened, reflecting sincerity and resolve.

If Trident Sea truly intended to betray him, then Ethan and the entire Eastern Alliance only needed to prove one thing—Noah had made the wrong choice.

“You’re… a lot like Ashley,” Ethan said quietly. “Especially when you lecture me.”

“Haha!” Laura laughed. “I’m part of your team—Team LionArk. No member wants to see their captain drowning in despair.”

Ethan fell silent for a moment before exhaling deeply.

“Thank you, Laura,” he said sincerely. “You cleared my mind and reminded me of what truly matters—something far more important than that damn Noah.”

“Of course, Sir Ethan,” Laura replied with a smile. “I’m your aide. Helping you is my duty.”

She bowed lightly and turned to leave, but her steps halted when Ethan called out to her.

He opened his inventory panel and pulled out five bottles of wine. Laura’s eyes widened as she instinctively caught them.

Even at a glance, it was obvious—they were the finest wine currently available in the city.

“What’s this, Sir Ethan?” she asked.

“Wine,” Ethan replied casually. “I have plenty in my inventory. It wouldn’t be fair if only the captain got to enjoy it.”

“Gather all the team members in front of the town center,” he continued.

“Dump the rotten drinks from the tavern. Tonight, we relax—clear our heads… and release the tension.”

Laura smiled as she held the bottles. “I think… five bottles won’t be enough.”

“HAHA!” Ethan burst out laughing.

“You little blackmailer!”

“At the very least,” Laura said cheerfully, “we’ll need ten to fifteen bottles to get everyone properly drunk.”

Ethan sighed and reopened his inventory, pulling out ten more bottles. Laura beamed and happily carried them away.

Good thing I bought a hundred bottles before the event started, Ethan thought.

Maybe… this really is the right way to relieve some stress.

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