The black sun hangs high

Chapter 467 Vaan's Muffled Thunder

Don't work yourself to death!

Upon hearing this, Felix laughed instead. He tapped the table with his finger and said, "I will certainly pass on your advice to Mayer... but I still want to ask, is your advice, especially the one for me, based on our friendship or on some omens you have caught?"

Hughes looked directly at him: "What if I said it was a 'premonition'?"

"That would be best."

Felix's face suddenly broke into a smile: "Since I might be worked to death in the future, it means that the cause we are undertaking will definitely enter a new stage in the future, and a stage with a greater impact. This should be good news!"

Even if this 'new phase' might lead to demise?

"That's just my demise."

Felix smiled and shook his head: "Shug, I've seen countless sacrifices in my work these days, not just among the members of the Dawn Order, but also among the many soldiers who joined the army without really knowing what was going on, and ordinary people who followed us for the sake of their children and families..."

Felix didn't follow up on those words, but instead jokingly tugged at his beard: "Look at me now, I'm sure I can walk faster than everyone else."

Seeing that Hughes finally stopped arguing with him, Felix quickly changed the subject: "Alright, I've finished speaking... So, is there anything you need me to convey to Miss Verin?"

Upon hearing this, Hughes remained silent for two seconds.

But he finally nodded and looked up at Felix: "Tell her to be extra careful, and if possible, it would be best to retreat to a relatively safe rear area... I'm not referring to the rear of the Dawn Society, but to the Vaan Magic Academy."

"You're very direct."

“You know, I’ve always been very direct, and in some ways, I don’t mind being a little selfish.”

Hughes smiled and said, “It’s important to note that it’s not that I lack confidence in our organization’s arrangements and capabilities, but rather that I simply don’t want her to get into any bad situations. After all, right now, I can’t directly interfere with those matters, and if an emergency occurs, I can only watch helplessly.”

Felix replied earnestly, "In fact, the Dawn Sword has already made the corresponding arrangements, but the current situation is tense, and it is not easy to transfer personnel out from the heart of Saint Steel."

"Yes, I know."

So, Hugh pointed to the cane that was still shimmering with a strange light: "These words that you need to convey to her are actually a supplement to this matter. At a time when Merlinle is reducing his support for the Dawn Society's magic, I suggest that the organization should further strengthen its ties with the Vaan Magic Society. Such matters must be handled by sufficiently professional scholars within the society, and she is very suitable."

After hearing this, Felix nodded seriously: "Then I will submit a request directly to Professor Mayer, and then expedite the execution within the Dawnblade... So, besides these words, is there anything else you need me to convey?"

Hugh waved his hand gently: "That's all."

Felix raised an eyebrow: "Really gone?"

"The rest of the words are not suitable to be conveyed; it is better for me to say them to her in person."

"Oh……"

Felix made a meaningful sound, then leaned forward slightly and asked tentatively, "So, how far have things progressed between you two? Well, I'm just asking out of curiosity as a friend."

Faced with this question, Hugh was a little helpless. Seeing that Felix didn't seem willing to let him off easily, he replied, "If possible, I would like to hold a wedding in St. Steel, which has been liberated."

"Okay, okay, I understand."

Upon hearing this, Felix's face revealed a meaningful smile: "Could I convey this message to Miss Veraine for you?"

“If she really doesn’t want to leave Saint-Stirney, then talk to her.”

After saying these words, the two fell silent.

Felix felt somewhat drowsy, and based on his limited understanding of magic, he knew that this was probably a sign that he was about to wake up from this dream.

So he relaxed and started talking about other, lighter topics.

"The professors are preparing to publish your manuscript. In addition to the countries in the plateau and plains, they will also try to promote it in newspapers in Saint Steel... Do you have a title in mind? If not, the professors will have to come up with one for you."

"Then let them come. I really didn't expect this."

Hughes snapped his fingers with a smile, and the illusions constructed with magic began to fold and dissipate. Before long, the wide deck of the ship and the endless sea in the distance reappeared.

Only then did Felix notice that above him, a strange light had divided the sky above the giant ship into two parts.

One part was gloomy, and within these surging shadows was a distinct and terrifying outline, which was the black celestial body that had plunged the entire Vaan into fear.

On the other side of a slightly blurred boundary, there was an extremely clear blue sky, where Felix saw slowly drifting clouds and seabirds soaring high in the sky.

Naturally, he also saw the bright sun hanging above these agile and nimble figures.

It was so bright that even in this artificial dream, it could still clearly transmit its heat.

And now, the giant ship he was on was sailing in the direction from which the sunlight was shining.

In a daze, Felix raised his hand and pointed towards the light: "Is that our destination?"

"Yes." Hugh's voice remained steady, but when it reached Felix's ears, it carried an added air of etherealness and remoteness.

“Felix, we can’t let future generations of children forget what the sun looks like, right?”

"Of course not..."

The moment he uttered those words, Felix's image vanished without a trace in this vast dream, along with the metal cane that served as a spiritual medium. Thus, Hugh became the sole passenger on this giant ship once again.

"You're really suspicious. Even with him, you have to use the power of the Root of Fate to confirm it?"

Theseus's voice echoed in Hugh's mind: "I thought you had complete trust in these comrades..."

As Theseus asked his question, Hughes appeared at the edge of the deck. He turned his gaze to the sea, and the strange shadows that had been trying to peek out from under the sea immediately shrank back below the surface.

Unlike in the past, he is now truly able to influence and change this strange dream. The bizarre creations that symbolize many ominous forces and omens can no longer affect the ship's voyage as they used to.

Hugh replied softly, “Although every step we take and every plan we make is risky, in some ways I still hope to be more cautious.”

"It sounds like you're already mentally prepared?"

A subtle ripple came from the depths of the spiritual ocean, which was Theseus's meaningful laughter: "That's the Dark Abyss Palace. Even if you change your mind at the last minute, I won't mock you."

"Enough with the nonsense, let's get back to work."

……

A muffled rumble of thunder echoed from the sky.

The heavy, loud noise caused all the soldiers and officers in the city of Corlos to stop what they were doing. Some of them reacted particularly strongly. These soldiers, who had just been withdrawn from the front lines, instinctively either looked up to look at the sky or left their current positions, trying to find reliable cover nearby.

When they realized that the sound was just a harbinger of an approaching thunderstorm, they relaxed and returned to the carefree atmosphere created by the city of Corlo.

Their time is equally valuable.

Many of them are already complaining that their "vacation" is too short. Some well-informed individuals have learned through their families that a significant portion of the army will be transferred to coastal areas via the limited number of trains available in the country to support the front lines that are being heavily compressed.

Yes, the flames of war are also spreading rapidly along the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Saint Steel.

The Northern Navy, loyal to the Saint Steel royal family, had serious disagreements and frictions with the Black Sun Society, which actually controlled the Northern government. The most important reason for this was the lack of strength on multiple fronts.

In the original plan proposed by the Black Sun Society, it was not only the warships of the Saint Steel Navy that would participate in the naval battle.

Through numerous battles on land, the Black Sun Society concluded that ancient creations summoned through ancient rituals or modified with magic are significant forces capable of genuinely influencing the course of war and the battlefield situation.

Therefore, they decided to replicate this model on a broader front.

In the original plans, Saint Steel's navy should never have been a weakness in the North. On the contrary, with the alliance with the offspring of the sea god Calron, the Northern navy should have become a terrifying force capable of easily tearing apart the allied fleet. However, things did not go as planned, and the Black Sun Society made a very serious misjudgment of these offspring of the sea god Calron.

They had never imagined that the children of the sea god, who seemed to stand firmly against the beings of Vaan, would also harbor hatred for those dark eyes that were peering into Vaan.

It was under these circumstances that the sons of Caljun, who should have joined the war immediately, chose to remain neutral and stand by. They neither joined forces with the allied fleet nor, as agreed, made contact with Saint-St.'s army.

Using their control over the ocean, they roamed around every battlefield, learning about the knowledge of Vaan and observing the course of this massive war.

For the allied forces, the choices made by these dangerous offspring of the sea god were entirely in their current interest, so the soldiers on the front lines could only ignore the constant warnings from the Vaan Magic Society in the rear about these subtle "observations".

Although each warship is equipped with a considerable number of spellcasters, their main duty is still to operate and maintain the weapons and protective rituals on board the ships, rather than to drive away those "onlookers." Moreover, the fish and sea creatures that have been mutated under the influence of the "Color of Life" have always behaved extremely conservatively—they perfectly abide by the previous agreement and never interfere with or obstruct the allied fleet in any way.

However, some reports indicate that after fierce naval battles, large amounts of strange colors symbolizing Caljung would surge with the waves, carrying away the bodies of the dead, the wreckage of ships, and fragments of weapons.

The gaze of the black sun did not freeze time in Vaan.

On the contrary, the increasing exposure of contradictions and the conflicts that are gradually spreading throughout the world have made "change" itself a spectacle that can be captured by people's senses.

On land separated by an ocean, branches of the Black Sun Society used similar methods to gain control of local governments. These malignant tumors rooted in the vast land are constantly expanding their roots. Under the pressure of these forces, warlords who had previously fought each other due to the collapse of the ancient empire were forced to unite, and many institutions and organizations under the Legal Committee disintegrated in this brutal millstone.

However, Merlinle had neither the time nor the energy to deal with his loss of power on another continent.

The looming threat and a series of unexpected events are constantly impacting their status in magical affairs in Vaan. The chaotic situation and frequent small-scale conflicts have forced a considerable number of the spellcasters sent out to make decisions on their own without orders from the Legal Committee.

In this process, the authority that was once exclusive to one place began to spontaneously spread to other places, and gradually showed a trend of combining with the state, government, and race.

The Legal Council observed these phenomena but was powerless to do anything about them. As a result, the elite spellcasters could only accelerate the war as much as possible. With the Legal Council's oversight power beginning to crumble, they had to further demonstrate their control and try every means to concentrate all available resources on the most important battlefields.

However, amidst this chaotic situation, the Kingdom of Wotel, which should have been the main force on the front lines, found itself in an extremely awkward predicament.

In the rear of this highland nation with its formidable military, a terrible and critical upheaval is brewing.

(End of this chapter)