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"Great Master, wait for me."
The old militiaman turned and ran halfway down the street, calling out his hidden brothers. He clapped Weizti on the shoulder forcefully and instructed carefully.
"Wood, you stay here and go find Luwei. She’s in the dugout at home! Be careful!"
Puap also left a trusted aide. Ezpan sent Guzman to lead the team to protect them. Then, he hurried to the south of the city with a group of people. His Highness has entered the city and is now personally presiding over the South City gate!
The long breeze swept over the torch-filled South Gate. Xiulote stood atop the eight-meter-high city tower, gazing at the city’s endless lights of the sleepless night, his heart brimming with conquering passion and excitement! He watched as the dark green torrents swept forward relentlessly, occupying various parts of the city, demolishing all resistance, then planting the Alliance’s flags! 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
The distant sounds of battle cries and the gradually rising cheers. In the eyes of the young king, tonight’s picture was so beautiful, as if he had painted the masterpiece himself. A refreshing night breeze blew by, so pleasant, prompting thoughts of distant lands.
"The wind in May is so warm! After capturing the Capital City, the samurai should take a break. We must fully protect and provide relief to the people of the Capital City, maximally preserving our manpower! Next, spring farming is the first priority!"
"Your Highness is merciful!"
Bertade praised sincerely.
Xiulote smiled. He looked around, with hundreds of trusted aides gripping bows and sticks, firmly guarding the South Gate. Messengers were running back and forth, reporting the latest battle situations.
"Your Highness, General Olosh has sent word: most of the Tekos camps have been broken through, the surrendering enemies are like turkeys all over the hills, and captives number in the thousands!"
"Your Highness, Marshal Iskali has sent word: all four gates are now completely sealed, and not a single Divine Descendant of Tarasco shall escape! General Coyote at the East Gate is valiant and keen-eyed, having captured a prince! Truly the Chief Divine’s blessing!"
Upon hearing this, Xiulote was stunned for a moment, the visage of the Coyote Family Head appearing before his eyes. He nodded with a smile.
"Send him to the main camp for identity verification. If confirmed, record a major merit."
"Your Highness, General Etalik reports: the craftsman’s camp has been taken, with the capture of over a thousand senior craftsmen, including more than a dozen master coppersmiths! The recently occupied logistics camp has revealed large amounts of food, military supplies, and women!"
"Your Highness, General Kuluka reports: South City is under control, and the fire has been contained. The Spear Legion is heading toward the eastern and western parts of the city!"
"Your Highness, General Natali reports: the temple priests have ignited the flames, and the Temple at the top of the pyramid is burning. It is unlikely any priests have survived. Troops are currently plundering the Great Nobility in the city center, seizing many treasures, please send reinforcements!"
"Order Olosh’s troops to enter the Nobility district as soon as possible, and ensure the plunder is recorded clearly!"
Then, Xiulote frowned and demanded.
"The House of Wind, a temple with a history of hundreds of years, humble yet magnificent, famous throughout the world... why not extinguish the fire quickly?!"
"This... Your Highness, the temple priests have ignited tens of thousands of jin of Stone of the Dead... the thick toxic smoke has spread, enveloping the entire pyramid... the samurai had to retreat!"
"Igniting tens of thousands of jin of sulfur!"
Xiulote was shocked, looking into the distance. Under the dark sky, thick black smoke could be faintly seen rising from the center of the city. The smoke spread across the sky, obscuring the light of stars and moon, making the sky even darker. The flames at the top of the temple were hidden in the black haze, occasionally revealing a few piercing blue glows, like the arrival of the world of the dead.
"The priesthood tradition of Tarasco will end here... Well, let the Chief Divine reshape the faith!"
Xiulote shook his head. Then, something occurred to him, and he asked with a puzzled look.
"Where is the messenger from Toltec? Has the Chief Minister of the Palace of Wind been captured? What about the other members of the Tarasco Royal Family?"
"This... General Toltec has already taken the Royal Palace. He has sent out trusted aides, reporting that the Chief Minister might possibly be dead? The Royal Family members are still being hunted..."
"Might possibly? Being hunted?"
Xiulote’s gaze hardened, and the pressure of a mountain became apparent. The messenger "thud" knelt down, answering fearfully.
"General Black Wolf says he will personally ask for Your Highness’s forgiveness!"
The young king’s face remained calm as he nodded slowly. He looked towards the city, where a squad of spear militiamen bearing torches were approaching from the end of the street, quickly arriving before his eyes.
"General Ezpan requests an audience, with important intelligence to report!"
"Let him come up."
The group swiftly ascended the city tower. Ezpan, accompanied only by Chiwaco and Puap, came to ten paces before His Highness and knelt down respectfully to salute.
"Your Highness, a brand-new sun shines in the sky, soaring above the majestic Capital City. The Capital City of Tarasco has fallen, and you are the one true King in the hearts of all the people of Prepetcha in this vast lake region!"
At these words, Xiulote laughed heartily. He looked at Ezpan and shook his head with a smile.
"Stop there! There’s still much to do afterwards. What the people of Prepetcha think of me will depend on how this year’s spring farming goes! Ezpan, you didn’t come to see me just to offer a few congratulatory words, did you?"
"Your Highness is wise! I encountered several insiders from the city. They are the heroes who offered up South City gate, bearing Your Highness’s Jade Talisman. Now, they wish to report information about the Tarasco prince!"
"Oh?"
Xiulote looked interestedly at the two men in front of him.
The older Prepetcha man on the left was aged, with a face showing respectful smiles and yet a certain steadiness. His eyes were framed with weathered wrinkles, making him look much like an old farmer. The samurai on the right, who seemed to be in his thirties, appeared quite tense. With a fierce face and a bulky figure, he was at this moment bowing respectfully and also presenting the Jade Talisman in his hand.
