Zhang Bo was truly excited.
However, despite Zhang Bo's exhilaration, Shen Mu calmly stood on the balcony, gently stroking the edge of the railing in front of him, ensuring the smile on his forward-leaning face would not be noticed by Zhang Bo.
Time was passing minute by minute, and in Shen Mu's mind, the Green Leaf Group's raid was about to commence.
That's right, Shen Mu knew the exact time the Green Leaf Group's forces would arrive for the raid.
Because in his mind,
The countdown dialogue box for the war's start was being displayed by the Mount & Blade System.
【7th Round Mission: Resist the Decapitation Force.】
【Countdown: 00 Hours 03 Minutes 25 Seconds】
【Introduction: You chose to feign ignorance of Zhang Bo's betrayal and decided to follow Zhang Bo's arrangements, transferring all troops from the Castle Main Building. Now, the Castle Main Building is severely understaffed. If you can resist and defeat the Green Leaf Group's forces, which will suddenly appear in your Castle District using special means, you will receive the highest evaluation and the greatest reward.】
【Mission Reward: 10,000 dinars. And treasure chests and other rule-based rewards based on evaluation.】
In Shen Mu's mind, the dialogue box appeared with his thoughts.
It perfectly reflected Shen Mu's plan.
This was already the 7th round of this temporary mission.
Even Shen Mu hadn't expected that the temporary mission he initially received would progress round after round to the seventh.
It should be noted that the highest number of temporary mission branches before was only three rounds.
That had already provided Shen Mu with ample rewards.
Making him extremely satisfied.
But he hadn't expected to now receive a temporary mission with even more rounds.
At this moment,
Just based on the number of these temporary missions, wouldn't he be able to earn higher rewards, allowing his Mount & Blade Soldiers to achieve stronger promotions, and also allowing himself to receive more rewards and become stronger?
Shen Mu was extremely confident about resisting Zhang Bo's so-called conspiracy.
Even the Holy Tree Knights beside him had already sensed the current troop shortage and felt that Shen Mu could no longer remain in this Castle Main Building; more troops needed to be around Shen Mu to prevent any special circumstances.
These Holy Tree Knights had already felt a subtle unease.
However,
The reason Shen Mu dared to do this was entirely because he was extremely confident.
Despite Zhang Bo's seemingly hidden plan, and despite Zhang Bo's apparent smugness—even Shen Mu had noticed his impatience and arrogance.
Even the Holy Tree Knights beside him had subtly sensed something amiss with Zhang Bo's state.
He seemed somewhat abnormal.
Although these Holy Tree Knights attributed his demeanor to side effects from divination,
They also positioned themselves between Zhang Bo and Shen Mu to guard Shen Mu's safety, preventing any direct contact that Zhang Bo might attempt with Shen Mu at any moment.
After all, it was clear that they were on a high balcony.
If Zhang Bo were to suddenly have any ill intentions and lunge, then Shen Mu, the savior on whom the entire Mount & Blade World's safety depended, would truly die.
Falling from such a high building, a distance of over ten meters, would surely result in death.
Unless there were special circumstances.
Not to mention these Holy Tree Knights from the low-magic Mount & Blade: Warband - Pendor World.
Even the Eden Garde Believers from high-magic worlds, who are healing units, would be powerless against an ordinary person falling from such a height.
This included Shen Mu, despite his possession of the power of rules.
Of course,
Whether Shen Mu could survive through the Mount & Blade System's special rescue was unknown.
But Shen Mu's own recovery effects and defensive spells were also completely ineffective against him falling from a height of over ten meters.
Therefore, these Holy Tree Knights truly took Shen Mu's safety very seriously.
They would absolutely not allow Zhang Bo, this individual who had fallen into a state of excitement and special emotions, almost a madman or lunatic, to have any chance of harming Shen Mu.
When mental pressure is high, many unconventional things can be done.
To prevent this from happening,
Preparation in advance,
Is a very good choice.
“However, I always feel that this temporary mission seems to involve a lot.” Shen Mu frowned slightly, and a hint of solemnity appeared in the depths of his originally calm eyes.
What Zhang Bo said was not entirely unreasonable, because the two entities outside who had used special extraordinary power had not yet appeared.
Since they haven't appeared,
Then it is very likely that they will strike in the dark and ambush his troops.
Although his troops are of high quality and fully armed to the teeth, how could they, a group of ordinary people, possibly resist powerful extraordinary forces?!
Even Shen Mu himself was, in essence, merely an ordinary person with special powers.
The reason Shen Mu possesses so many special powers now is entirely due to the Mount & Blade System's enhancements; in a true sense, Shen Mu's physical body still retains the template of a Holy Tree Knight.
Look at these Holy Tree Knights; although their combat power is strong and their combat skills are superb,
Essentially,
As just mentioned, they are merely ordinary people.
Their ability to inflict additional damage on evil creatures is entirely thanks to the armor and weapons they wear, which are partially mixed with mithril, allowing them to exert special effects.
If the Holy Tree Knight suits, which are mixed with mithril and currently worn by these Holy Tree Knights, were stripped off,
Even if they were replaced with the heavy armor worn by Swadian Knights,
They would no longer be able to cause special damage to evil creatures.
“Heh.”
Shen Mu saw the Holy Tree Knights already standing between him and Zhang Bo, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
These were his Mount & Blade Soldiers, Mount & Blade Soldiers completely loyal to him.
However, at this moment,
The countdown was getting shorter and shorter.
Finally, it reached the last minute, then slowly, the last thirty seconds.
Entering the final stage.
Zhang Bo stood at the edge of the balcony, also craning his neck to look outside, clearly seen to be constantly glancing towards the direction of the library.
The direction of the second-floor library of the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower.
Nature-type artifacts, including Holy Light-type artifacts, and the Magic Crystal Ball that Zhang Bo himself previously owned, were all stored in the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower.
They were still being researched by those Eden Garde Believers.
“Hmm, good.” Zhang Bo looked at the Holy Light Torch Tower, towards the direction of the library, and felt a sense of relief.
Earlier, the message he had conveyed was that if they truly entered the Castle District and encountered those Human Mages, they should simply control them. Unless absolutely necessary, they should never harm them.
After all, although those Human Mages could cast powerful spells, in close-quarters combat, when facing agile and nimble Wood Elf warriors or Sword Dancers,
They could only admit defeat.
At that time, if these Human Mages didn't want to die, they would have no choice but to surrender.
Moreover, according to news from the Spiritual Realm, in terms of conventional counter-situations, low-level spellcasters, once approached by melee combatants, could be said to lose their ability to resist. Unless by chance, or if no special circumstances occurred, they absolutely could not escape the attacks of Human Melee Combatants of the same level on their own.
What's more, the Wood Elf race itself excels in archery and close-quarters combat abilities.
Whether it's long-range shooting,
Or close-quarters assassination,
They pose a strong threat to spellcaster units.
Therefore, Zhang Bo was extremely confident in these Wood Elf Soldiers, believing they could easily hold those Human Mages hostage with the help of these Wood Elves.
At that time, once he went over and signed the contract, everything would be settled, and the deed would be done.
That would be perfect.
“Faster, faster.” Zhang Bo was truly excited now, staring intently at the direction of the library, just wanting to see the figures of Wood Elves rush out from inside, like a surging tide, pouring into the surrounding city walls and towers, as well as the barracks and various buildings, including the Castle Main Building where he was currently located, to take control of everything.
At that time, he would be able to enjoy the most glorious moment as a spy: when the faction he had infiltrated was defeated, and he became a prisoner, a loser.
However, Zhang Bo's increasing excitement and exhilaration made Shen Mu, who was still occasionally observing him from the corner of his eye, smile with growing mockery.
Because he discovered that Zhang Bo did not know the exact time of the plan.
Or rather, Zhang Bo knew the time,
But,
He definitely hadn't, like Shen Mu with the Mount & Blade System, gone through the Mount & Blade System's scan to determine the exact time of arrival, and then precisely pinpointed which minute and second those Wood Elf decapitation forces would rush in.
Now, the countdown had reached five.
Then it reached four.
Then three.
Two.
One.
“They’re here.” The smile at Shen Mu's lips curved even higher, and as he looked towards the library, the solemnity that had originally appeared in his eyes was now replaced by a look of triumphant scheming.
Because at this moment, as he silently watched the countdown in the dialogue box in his mind reach zero,
Shen Mu communicated with the system in his heart: “Open the previous rewards.”
'Buzz!'
And so, from his glabella, surging streams of white data emerged.
Following the direction he confirmed in his mind, his gaze also briefly swept towards the west, where there were the fewest Skeletons and only a few wisps of black mist, a scene completely different from the solid black clouds in the direction of the eastern city gate—the western city gate!
And a portion of the white data stream flowed directly behind Shen Mu, and through the entire Castle Main Building beneath him.
Subtle changes were beginning.
“This… what!?”
Zhang Bo's eyes suddenly widened at this moment, staring at the white data stream emerging from Shen Mu's glabella, and his face instantly showed expressions of surprise and astonishment.
He watched as these white lights, piece by piece, rushed into the sky, then spread towards the west outside the city.
And spread into the Castle Main Building beneath him.
At the same time, a faint, special, throbbing sensation appeared in Zhang Bo's heart!
But Zhang Bo didn't know what these white lights were, nor what purpose they served, nor what changes they would ultimately bring.
Zhang Bo knew nothing.
Now, as a Prophecy-type Mage, Zhang Bo suddenly had a bad premonition.
It was as if his heart was completely gripped by a large hand, and even if he wanted to breathe, he found it difficult to truly do so, as if he were a creature deprived of oxygen, a fish taken from water to land.
Zhang Bo couldn't breathe, and even his scalp was tingling.
“This is bad.”
This feeling had already appeared in Zhang Bo's heart, leading him to utter these two words.
It made his whole body feel as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.
Because even though Zhang Bo didn't detect any energy or extraordinary power in these patches of white light, as a Prophecy-type Mage, as a spellcaster with the most mysterious sixth sense,
Zhang Bo sensed that within these white lights, there was hidden, or rather, not hidden at all, but openly, a power that contained time and space, and... the level of rules!
“How is this possible!?” Zhang Bo's heart trembled, his hands and feet shook, so much so that he instinctively had to reach out and hold onto the railing on the balcony to stand steady.
But even so, his body was still shaking rapidly. He now sensed that something was wrong.
He realized,
That he seemed to have completely underestimated Shen Mu, this Blue Star Human, this Spiritual Realm Lord who had rapidly developed Deherim in a short period of time.
This truly caught him by surprise.
“Kill!”
And just then, from the direction of the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower, a sudden roar of battle, like a mountain collapsing and a sea churning, erupted.
Zhang Bo's face was covered in cold sweat as he instinctively looked down towards the library, watching figures dressed in green attire, even vine armor, surge out from the second floor of the library like a tide.
And they began to rush towards the surrounding stables, barracks, warehouses, as well as the top of the city walls and the towers.
Without the slightest hesitation, a massive wave split off and surged towards the main gate of the Castle Main Building, raising their weapons, still full of excitement, looking up at Shen Mu, Zhang Bo, and the 5 Holy Tree Knights on the third-floor balcony.
Each of them wore a cruel smile.
Zhang Bo could even see that leading the charge was the head of the Green Leaf Group's Security Department, leading a group of his security guards and their Wood Elf followers.
In the most violent, most direct manner, they charged towards the Castle Main Building.
With a powerful kick, they kicked open the main gate of the Castle Main Building!
The Green Leaf Group's decapitation force, these Wood Elf attackers, had finally arrived! (End of Chapter)
