Chapter 165 144. Monster Tide outbreak, Rock-level Squad assemble!
In the Inner City District, lights twinkled charmingly in a mansion where the chief, Klay, was dedicating himself to the birth of his third child.
"Deadbeat, don't even know to take it slow~"
Minutes later, JieLi lay on Klay's greasy, bulging belly, her face showing she still hadn't had her fill.
But Klay, holding his wife, turned the conversation to another man.
He couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's past midnight, all is well in White Dove City, that 'Glorious Adventurer' sir should have nothing to complain about now, right?"
"Hmph, why talk about him, Klay, let's do it again, I'm still energetic."
JieLi's eyes burned with desire.
Just as Klay's legs turned jelly, caught between advancing and retreating, a mournful blast from the Magic Conch outside saved him.
"What's going on, a citywide alert?"
JieLi felt it strange, "When was the last time there was a citywide alert?"
"I've never experienced it," Klay said as he opened the window to look out.
The magic lamps on the city center's bell tower had turned into a glaring red.
The light flickered, accompanied by the shrill sound of the horn.
"I'm Kami, reporter from White Dove Morning News——I repeat, I'm Kami, reporter from White Dove Morning News..."
"Damn it, stop flaunting your name at a time like this!"
An irritated male voice came from the horn, resonating throughout the city.
It seemed as if the man had snatched the communicator from Kami's hands, and said solemnly,
"Adventurers of White Dove City, I have a terrible announcement to make. All adventurers above level 10, grab your weapons and assemble north of White Dove City, a blood battle for survival is about to begin."
"What the hell is going on?"
Klay scratched his head in confusion, thinking the matter had nothing to do with him. He closed the window, planning to go back to rest, when
a heavy male voice came through the Magic Conch——"A Monster Tide has erupted at Breeze River Beach!"
As the words dropped, Klay and his wife JieLi both froze in their steps, their hearts skipping a beat.
The two exchanged glances, their faces filled with disbelief.
The Monster Tide... had it really erupted?
In the middle of the night, at the Adventurer's Guild in the Inner City District. Discover exclusive tales at empire
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"That, President Velen, Breeze River Beach, uh... seems like, a Monster Tide has erupted..."
In front of a Magic Mirror for long-distance communication, Klay ceaselessly wiped his sweaty face with a handkerchief.
Behind him stood his equally anxious wife, JieLi.
When news of the Monster Tide breakout came, both of them nearly passed out with darkness clouding their vision.
Lin Da had twice requested to meet with the president, and they had suppressed those requests. For this, the couple was unquestionably to blame.
If exposed, the lightest outcome would be the Kreivs being ousted from their positions.
If matters were more severe, they would be taken to court, facing a grave trial!
The use of this Magic Mirror was costly, starting at hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins depending on the distance.
Klay had concealed the news before due to concerns about the cost of the Magic Mirror and the president's punishment,
but today, the distance between the president and White Dove City was even greater, the use of a Magic Mirror would cost at least a million Gold Coins.
But Klay, to mitigate his own punishment, would bear all the coins necessary to contact President Velen immediately!
"What? 'Seems like' it erupted? Klay, clear this up for me, is there a Monster Tide or not?"
In the twenty-centimeter radius Magic Mirror, the image of a man with sharp-cheekboned middle-aged man appeared.
President Velen, with a square face, golden short hair, and a fuzzy beard on his chin, spoke with a face full of rage,
"Describing something as serious as a Monster Tide with 'seems like'? Klay, is there one or not?"
"Uh... yes, there is! And, it will approach beneath White Dove City in no more than a day."
Klay forced out a smile uglier than a cry, with sweat streaming down his forehead, drenching his handkerchief.
"Go inform Mayor Adel, I will return as soon as possible! Listen well, you must keep the Monster Tide at least ten kilometers outside of White Dove City, the city walls must not be damaged! Otherwise, you, me... all of management, will end up in prison!"
Velen roared as he donned his coat.
"Yes...!"
Before Klay and JieLi could even catch their breath, a staff member banged on the door, saying loudly,
"Chief, a message from the city hall, Mayor Adel is on his way, he'll take over command of the Adventurer's Guild!"
Sss——
Klay and JieLi both shuddered at once.
About the matter with Lin Da, Adel was in the know.
When the blame came down, the first to suffer would be them.
The two descended the stairs with their hearts in their throats.
Most of the guild's staff had gathered in the hall, waiting for Mayor Adel's command.
Seeing Klay and his wife, who looked like frost-bitten eggplants, everyone couldn't help but wonder — were this couple really such responsible people?
The Monster Tide had erupted, and those most concerned should have been the higher-ups and the adventurers; these back-office staff were the safest.
Facing inquiries from colleagues, Klay could not even muster a forced smile.
The couple walked to the front like death-row inmates entering the execution ground, shivering all over.
While others were considering how to dispatch adventurers, only the Kreivs' minds were a blank, thinking only of how to plead with the mayor.
Soon, a carriage from the city hall arrived at the doors of the guild.
It was followed closely by a dozen more.
Two people stepped out from the leading carriage adorned with White Dove City's emblem.
One of them was Mayor Adel.
The elderly man's face was grave, his hand resting on a ceremonial staff, emanating an aura of authority that demanded respect without anger.
The person by his side was not the Mayor's assistant.
But rather, a young man in his twenties.
The young man was tall and clad in a dirty brown explorer's outfit; his boots were caked with mud. Frowning, he murmured to Mayor Adel.
And the Lord Mayor, as if he had become the young man's assistant, nodded continuously, uttering "Understood," "Will have it done immediately."
The identity of the young man was not unfamiliar; some who didn't recognize his face knew the emblem on his chest signified the Glorious Adventurer.
In White Dove City, there was only one person of that age with that emblem.
Eye of True Knowledge: Lin Da!
The young man discussing strategies to manage the Monster Tide and devising plans with the mayor was none other than Lin Da.
In the days prior, Lin Da had stationed himself at Breeze River Beach to observe the terrain, study the habits of the Murderous Crabs, and predict the potential scenarios after the Monster Tide erupted.
According to the messages brought back by the Valiant Adventure Team, the number of Murderous Crabs was around what he had estimated, between 50,000 to 100,000, spreading towards the Barren Plains and the Man-Eating Swamp.
Lin Da, holding a map, was in a rush; he discussed with Mayor Adel while they walked:
"These locations require the largest number of adventurers to defend. If the Murderous Crabs find a large number of lower-level Magical Creatures to feed on, they will reproduce rapidly... in three days at most, the number of creatures in the Monster Tide could double."
"Double?" Mayor Adel's expression shifted, his fist clenching in regret: "If only I had heeded your advice earlier and organized adventurers to station at Breeze River Beach..."
"Lord Mayor, let's focus on resolving this crisis first. It's not too late yet; we have a good chance," Lin Da said, shaking his head; what was needed now was to steady people's hearts.
As the two passed by the managers lined up in wait, no one noticed the trembling Kreivs.
Klay was so panicked that he almost couldn't stand on his feet, barely resisting the urge to throw himself to his knees and cling to Lin Da's legs, begging for mercy!
Klay truly hadn't known that a Monster Tide would erupt!
Had he known this would happen, not for a hundred Gold Coins would he dare obstruct Lin Da's meeting with President Velen.
Klay had only felt that Lin Da hadn't shown him the respect due to a Guild official, so he gave him a little bit of trouble...! Heaven be his witness, Klay could never have imagined such a small hindrance would lead to such catastrophic consequences.
"No... It wasn't on purpose!" Klay screamed hysterically in his heart, his face ashen with panic.
Heavy and resolute footsteps passed before him, and he numbly looked up, his eyelids twitching violently at the sight—those were the captains of several Rock-level Squads.
With grave expressions, they followed Lin Da and Mayor Adel up to the temporary war room on the fifth floor.
"Damn it, you'll be dealt with after this is over. Until then, work to the bone!"
Kafni, too, was among the crowd, landing a fierce kick into Klay's stomach, causing a sour taste to rise in his mouth and bending over in agony on his knees.
Under the astonished gazes of those present, Klay did not resist, tremblingly lowering his head: "I... I will work as hard as I can. Please, you must plead with the mayor on my behalf!"
"Dream on!" Kafni retorted disdainfully, turning her mouth away and headed straight to the fifth floor with Monica.
Now, the ones who could turn the tide and extinguish this Monster Tide were the Phoenix Tail Flower Team!
For three days, Lin Da's efforts were all seen by Kafni.
He delved into the muck, studying the crawling speed of the Murderous Crabs, and testing the combat data between different individual crabs... His usually neat appearance was obliterated, having completely forgotten to wash and groom in these three days.
While such behavior indeed fitted a hero, as far as Kafni knew, not all heroes devoted themselves so thoroughly.
She had heard from her seniors in the Divine Realm that many heroes would rob ordinary people's homes to amass top-tier equipment, committing all kinds of evil without caring even about the life or death of the Princess they were smitten with.
How could they be, like Lin Da, concerned about the welfare of the average citizens and adventurers of White Dove City?
Kafni could tell that Lin Da genuinely wanted to resolve this disaster and save the common people and adventurers of White Dove City!
"It seems, I didn't choose the wrong person."
Kafni muttered inwardly, her eyes following the tall figure heading up the stairs, feeling a strong sense of pride welling up within her.
Fortunate for choosing Lin Da as the hero and proud to be a member of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.
...
On the fifth floor, in the war room.
At the very front, there was a large Magic screen.
It displayed a bird's-eye view map of the area around the Breeze River Beach, with red circular icons representing the Murderous Crabs.
Lin Da stood on the platform, a long rod in hand, tapping the screen, adding red circular icons.
"This is the current layout of the Murderous Crab Tide."
Lin Da's eyes were sharp as he looked at the dozens of adventurers below.
These were the strongest adventurers in White Dove City, and they were key to resolving this crisis.