Chapter 165: Tidecrown’s Troubles

Elara’s news excited everyone.

"Sometimes I wonder if you have some special bloodline," Darian said.

"So do I." Elara spread her hands. "Here’s something else you haven’t heard. The day before Glory Battlefield opened, I killed a Legendary monster that invaded my Domain. It even dropped a piece of Legendary equipment."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Even Cassian could only marvel. Region Fortune combined with Elara’s unusual origin was a remarkable thing. If their Fortune rose again, could a Mythic monster appear next?

Nessa came up to him with the Blood Chalice in her hands.

"Thank you, Cassian!"

He accepted it and checked the contents. Twenty-two thousand three hundred and twenty-eight Blood Essence remained. She had been careful with it.

The others understood at once. So that was how Nessa had earned a Bronze Battle Name. Cassian had quietly given her another powerful advantage.

Tobias looked at her pretty face and shapely figure, then sighed.

"Beauty really does win every argument. What chance do the rest of us have?"

Cassian turned toward him, smiling.

"What was that, Tobias? I didn’t quite hear you."

Tobias recovered with admirable speed.

"I said you’re so handsome, Boss, you must be right whatever you do."

Cassian nodded in satisfaction.

"A narcissist and a flatterer," Darian muttered. Then he looked at the chalice. "Legendary summoning equipment? Two hundred million Aether. Will you sell?"

Two hundred million, without even reading its description.

Cassian was tempted. After a moment, he shook his head.

"Ask again when I’m short of money."

The Blood Chalice and the Undead Dragon Flute did not need to occupy an equipment slot. He could call on their troops when he needed them, without using Domain population or spending Battle Essence to raise permanent recruits.

The Chalice still needed its stored Blood Essence, and its summons were temporary. Even so, equipment like this was worth keeping. Against a powerful Lord descending from an older sector, those extra troops might be just enough to turn a close fight.

Mira studied Nessa more closely.

"Nessa... there’s something different about you."

"You’ve only just noticed?" Nessa proudly showed them her Aptitude.

[Aptitude: B]

"B-grade?" Tobias stared. "When did that happen?"

"In Glory Battlefield," Nessa said.

Elara patted her head.

"You’ve done well."

Nessa beamed.

"I’m the pride of the Fenwicks now!"

"Then keep working," Darian said with a laugh. "You can’t stop here."

"Don’t talk to me like a child!"

"Then stop behaving like one."

"Someone help me!"

Cassian watched his friends laughing and teasing one another.

Everyone had come back with a full haul. Even Tobias and Rowan had exchanged for several Epic equipment sets. But sharing a battlefield with the stronger races had kept them under constant pressure. Even Darian had not dared relax.

Without Cassian, Lyra would never have made it home.

Now they were safe again. A little noisy fooling around was a good way to let the strain go.

A little over ten minutes later, the food arrived. They took their places around the table.

Seraphine stared at the small bowl of porridge before her. Aether rose from it in a faint mist.

"Legendary Moonrice? The Realm has only been open for two months. Did you grow this in your own fields, or find it in a Chest?"

Legendary meat was one thing. Several of them could now kill monsters of that Quality. Legendary plants usually needed decades to mature, sometimes more than a century. Producing them this early was another matter entirely.

"A batch was harvested recently," Cassian said with a smile. "Take two grains each when you leave."

These were more of the grains changed by the Aether Vein, kept for the meal from the recent harvests.

The rice would help his friends grow stronger. With the Agriculture Ranking ahead, it would give them confidence too. He could afford to be generous.

Tobias was the first to see what the rice meant for the Ranking.

"How much Agriculture Index would one Legendary grain be worth? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand?"

The others caught on at once.

Only an hour had passed since Glory Battlefield ended. Already, excitement over Cassian’s victory was giving way to thoughts of the second Marches Ranking. There was always another prize ahead.

"Legendary crops, and Fortune in every Region." Seraphine laughed. "Surely the top ten is secure."

"We exchanged for so many good fields and seeds," Elara said. "If we push hard, the top three might be possible."

"Very difficult," Mira said, shaking her head. "At least ten Marches are almost full, with a million Lords each. We have forty-six thousand. They outnumber us more than twenty to one."

As Civil Deputy, she knew Riftward’s figures inside out. She kept track of the other Marches in Tidecrown too. No one at the table knew those numbers better.

"You’ve remembered it wrong," Gareth said with a smile. "We have forty-eight thousand—"

He stopped. His expression changed.

"Damn it. Lords have already started leaving?"

A Warden could see departures and population figures for his own Region. Gareth had no view of the whole Marches.

"Yes." Mira sighed. "The Jade Court’s declaration has had an enormous effect. I just checked our Registry. In the hour since Glory Battlefield ended, we’ve lost two thousand Lords."

She looked around the table.

"By my estimate, our chance of reaching the top three is under ten percent. If we keep losing people, it will approach zero. And we’re doing better than most. Westmere and Evenfall have already lost tens of thousands."

It affected more than the Agriculture Ranking. The Crown’s allies in the Sunspire Federation and the Dawn Coast Confederacy were becoming evasive too. That would make the coming struggle for the Governorship harder still.

The threat of Lords descending from older sectors hung over every Crown Domain. Mira’s report drained the cheer from the table.

"Are they all cowards?" Tobias demanded. "An enemy turns up, and they run?"

"That’s not fair."

Cassian cut him off, his expression serious.

"They stayed after the Boundary War and stood with us against the Black Banner. That alone took courage. They deserve credit for it."

He meant it.

Even if he announced that he could hold off the older Lords, who would believe him? He would have to expose the Fountain of Life, his Dawnwings, the full strength of his Stormlance and Crystal Maidens, his Legendary Carriers—all the things his enemies had yet to measure properly.

No sensible Lord would give an enemy that much information. And even Cassian would not claim that he could defeat every veteran who might descend.

Nessa, who had been watching the Province Channel, suddenly spoke in disgust.

"The Black Banner bullies are at it again. They heard our people were leaving, and now they won’t stop boasting. Especially that Kelshore!"

Cassian opened the Channel.

Sure enough, the mustached Black Banner Commander was enjoying himself.

[Kelshore: A few little victories, and you Crown Lords thought you were invincible. Without the Jade Court behind you, you’re nothing but homeless dogs.]

[Kelshore: Cassian, come out! Your own troop line, your invincible fleet, your Gold Battle Name—how impressive. Perhaps your Agriculture Index can match a thousand Lords. Can it match ten thousand?]

[Kelshore: You made such a show of leaving the Jade Court. Now tuck your tail between your legs and leave Tidecrown while you can. Once the Black Banner takes the Governorship, or our veterans descend, it will be too late to run!]

No wonder Nessa was angry.

Crown Lords flooded the Channel with curses. Some cursed him and then relocated out of the Province. His insults were ugly, but the danger behind them was real.

"He sounds crude, but he’s baiting you," Elara said gravely. "He’s afraid you’ll actually leave Tidecrown."

The others understood. Killing Cassian was the point. If he moved deep into Crown territory, reaching him would become much harder.

Cassian smiled.

"Let him talk. You can all get on with your farming."

Darian suddenly took out a golden token and tossed it onto the table.

"Take a look at this."