"...At times like these, the most important thing is to stabilize public morale, which is why we must continue with the planned celebrations! Isn't that right?"
"We're about to face danger, how can we afford to waste our energy on irrelevant things?" The aged voice trembled even more from the intense emotions. "The most important thing right now is to prepare the forces to defend against the crisis. Those events that are merely commemorative or for entertainment can be held anytime, not now!"
Heavy, anxious footsteps echoed inside the house, interspersed with a couple of painful coughs from an elderly person.
There was no other sound in the room for a moment, except for the clear chimes of the pendulum clock, which continued to faithfully perform its duty.
Looking back at the not-quite-closed carved door, and listening to the faint conversation coming from inside, I couldn't help but lower my voice and ask the old butler who was still standing by my side, "What's going on inside?"
A few minutes ago, led by the old steward, I entered the city lord's mansion. After several turns along the winding wooden corridor and sitting down in the meeting room, I heard a fierce argument coming from behind me, supposedly from the city lord's office.
It was probably built by fairies manipulating the trees. The interior of the mansion was not as ostentatious as the exterior, but its luxurious atmosphere could still be seen in many details, from the small gold and silver decorations to the artistic chandeliers hanging overhead like fine rain. Even the corners of the house were covered with soft fabric, almost revealing no trace of its true nature.
The only downside seems to be that the sound insulation isn't very good.
Although it was confirmed that cotton lint was stuffed along the edges of the door, this also increased the possibility of the door being difficult to close. Right now, the door separating the office and the living room is in this awkward situation; if the people inside speak even slightly loudly, I can easily hear every word.
And the topic they were just talking about... seemed to be the sword-fighting tournament that would be held later inside the Sacred Tree Fortress.
I had almost forgotten about this.
It was called a contest, but it was ultimately just a small celebration held in the city to commemorate past successes. Apart from promising the winner to help complete any request and bringing a moment of joy, it was practically meaningless and might even have weakened the city's defenses.
But now, with a massive crisis looming, why continue with these celebratory events?
Beside him, the old butler smiled gently and said in a calm tone: "It must be the young master who took office in recent years and old Moore, right? Although they both want to contribute to the city, their ideas are different after all, and such quarrels have happened several times already."
"No need to worry, this is just a common occurrence. Although the young master has just taken over the position of city lord from his father, he always weighs things carefully and takes responsibility for the consequences of his choices; Old Mor is also a veteran who has served the city for many years, and naturally he has his own ideas and inclinations. The two of them compete and cooperate, but they are both for the sake of this city. This is a good thing."
"Of course, the young master will not easily be impolite to the distinguished guests he has invited."
Just then, the footsteps that had been pacing back and forth suddenly stopped, and a slightly younger voice sighed before slowly speaking again: "Old Mohr, I know you're an old man who has watched this city grow from my great-grandfather's generation. I understand your feelings for this city, but my love and expectations for it are no less than yours."
"I cannot let down the residents of the city who have high hopes for the upcoming festival. The children's purest and most fervent eyes tell me that they are looking forward to that unique day. Even if it is the wrong choice, even if it may weaken our ability to withstand the crisis, I still want to satisfy every heart that is truly looking forward to it."
"You need not worry. When the crisis comes, I will be the first to rush to the city wall and face the surging tide. The tide may break our dikes, but it will not break our backs. We will fight to the last moment. Even if we are ultimately reduced to ruins, our descendants will rise again from the ruins of the city, just as they did in the past, and rebuild the city wall that shelters all living beings."
He took a deep breath: "And now, my invited guest is about to arrive. Would you please leave first, my dear Professor Moore? I am very grateful for your contributions to this city over the years, and I hope that I will continue to rely on your wisdom in the future."
Another moment of silence. One could almost imagine the silent eye contact between the young man and the old man inside, one trying to express sincerity with his eyes, while the other was filled with worry.
An old cough sounded again, accompanied by a rustling sound as he scraped the floor: "You... sigh! You!"
The door, carved with a colossal tree that blots out the sky, slowly opened inwards. An old man emerged from it, sighed, and after noticing someone outside, cast a casual yet desolate glance in their direction before dragging his feet, shaking his head, and slowly walking away.
The old man, dressed in tattered clothes, had a hunched back, walked slowly and unsteadily, as if something had gone wrong. He also had a slight limp and could only move forward with uneven steps. His ten fingers were abnormally curled up, and his fingertips had thick calluses.
"Old Mor was one of the most talented mages of his generation."
The old butler watched the old man's figure disappear down the corridor, and sighed, "However, compared to studying the intricacies and mysteries of techniques, he preferred exploring the growth patterns and varietal evolution of trees and plants. His only hobby was wood carving. This is one of the reasons why he went straight here after graduating from the academy."
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