Including the three days of fighting Gulerton, it's been exactly a week.
However, the battle with Guleton affected the real volcano, something he hadn't anticipated.
Although the volcano did not erupt, the impact of this event reached the capital.
At this moment, Lia was still complaining from the side: "Others also said that Duke Reeves stopped releasing the magic array because his daughter went missing."
"That's ridiculous. Putting aside the possibility that war magic might tear his daughter apart, if the volcano erupts, wouldn't Erica, who's still on the mountain, die just the same way?"
Victor didn't speak, but he agreed with Lia's statement in his heart.
During that period, Erica climbed the volcano, which was undoubtedly a death sentence.
The difference is that, under the war magic, only Erica herself, who appeared on the mountaintop, died.
When the volcano erupts, all the mages and the residents below the mountain will be buried with Erica.
He didn't believe the Duke didn't understand this principle.
After saying that, Lia shrugged.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing."
"The Emperor's decree has been delivered to your doorstep. You will be summoned to the palace on the day of the audience."
"You came back at just the right time. If you had come back a day later, you would have missed it."
"Why?"
Viktor was somewhat curious, though he already had a guess in his mind.
"You want a reason? Fine."
"Who was the only accompanying mage who disappeared without a trace before the volcanic eruption?"
Just as I expected.
Viktor's expression remained unchanged even after receiving the answer.
Seeing this, Lia stopped asking questions, yawned, and walked to the door.
"It seems you already have a plan. I'm going to sleep now."
"I'll keep the door closed, so don't sneak into my room in the middle of the night just because we haven't seen each other for a while."
With a bang, the door slammed shut.
Victor: "......."
Am I the kind of bad guy who likes to knock on girls' doors in the middle of the night?
Upon closer reflection, he had indeed done it.
Maybe Gwen said something to Leah.
Victor didn't pay much attention to that; he was more curious about why the Duke would do that.
Suddenly, Vega's voice rang out out of the blue.
“If the volcano erupts, everyone there will die, including Duke Reeves himself.”
"Only that little girl, only she could survive."
"But if the magic array falls, she will definitely die."
Viktor narrowed his eyes and asked calmly:
"If I fail, the volcano will erupt, and then Gulerton will be released."
"Do you think a second-tier girl who is also seriously injured can survive the natural disaster caused by the Fire Calamity?"
Vega looked up, gazing intently at Viktor:
"She can communicate with calamities."
Upon hearing Vega's words, Victor was slightly taken aback; this time, it was his turn to be puzzled.
Vega quickly caught Victor's reaction, and it was pleased.
"This is the first time I've seen you so surprised."
Vega clearly knew something, because he was certain that Erica wouldn't die.
"Actually, I'm very curious about what the duke was born from."
"By the way, have you met that little girl's mother?"
Viktor fell even more silent.
In the game's storyline, this duke's daughter was also portrayed as an astonishing genius.
If nothing unexpected happens, she will be nineteen years old—that is, two years from now.
After Victor's death, she will enter the ranks of third-tier mages, breaking Victor's record of genius and becoming the youngest third-tier mage in the history of the empire.
This is precisely why, when the imperial regime changes and a new emperor ascends the throne.
Erica du Chrysler, through her talent, protected the Duke's family who supported the First Prince.
For now, these are the only plot ideas Victor can think of.
But when he heard Vega say that, it was the first time he had ever noticed it.
This NPC, who is quite well-known, has yet to have had her mother seen by any player.
There wasn't even a hint of it in the background story.
Is he dead? Or...?
There was so little information that Viktor could gather that he couldn't even begin to guess what was going on.
Vega was somewhat satisfied with his appearance; it turned out there were things Victor didn't know.
It opened its beak and began to chirp:
"So, what are you planning to do?"
"Tomorrow's audience will be attended not only by the Duke, but also by you. Perhaps you should first think about how to overcome this difficult situation."
"But no one can help you."
Viktor looked out the window, the moonlight falling on his cold, handsome face, which looked somewhat melancholy.
"Those who act justly will find many supporters, while those who act unjustly will find few. This is quite normal."
"In short, the Duke of Reeves is a remarkable father."
That's right, he stopped the grand formation, preferring to let himself and the mages perish in the natural disaster, and even abandon the innocent civilians.
He also wanted his daughter to live.
In addition, the Duke's actions were indeed infuriating.
"The emperor will not let his long-serving ministers feel disheartened, but he also needs to give everyone an explanation."
"The worst outcome would be nothing more than losing his title and retiring to his hometown."
"This is even without my involvement."
Upon hearing Viktor's last sentence, Vega responded with a rather intrigued "Oh?"
"You want to help him?"
"This is called providing timely help."
A shrewd, businessman-like glint flashed in Viktor's eyes.
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