He clenched his fists. Although the fall of Risel City had nothing to do with him, it still stirred something deep within.
A subtle change took place in his heart without a sound.
Until now, he had always believed he had enough time to develop. But if one day Dawn City were to face a powerful enemy like the beastmen, how would he respond?
This thought tightened the relaxed strings in Li De’s mind that had been slightly slack in recent days.
“Once I return, I must accelerate the construction of Dawn City.
The Dawn Mage Tower has yet to realize its full potential. I need to push harder to unlock its value. Life-class mages with limited magical potential can already be put into production in Dawn City, and the second batch of Mage Apprentices must be recruited as soon as possible.
The potential of the newly seized population has yet to be tapped. Cultivating believers, allocating land, and selecting talents, all of these must be carried out urgently.
Also, the livestock farms need to be expanded to at least three, no, five. A minimum of three thousand Whispering Bats must be bred.
And it’s already been nearly a year since last year’s Embrace. It’s time to carry out the Embrace for the fifth-generation Bloodline Descendants.
The dwarven smithy must also be rebuilt. I can completely model it after the Crimson Mage Tower’s magic factory, opening a dwarven factory for forging weapons and turning the process into a production line.
As for these newly seized goblins, I need to construct an alchemical bomb production plant as quickly as possible. By the Months of Deep Winter, the Whispering Bats must be fully armed to form the true air force of Dawn City.
Then there’s the Blade of Kings, this army made up of humans. After more than half a year of training, they’ve gained a certain level of combat strength.
This year, I can expand the force to two thousand and train them to become Whispering Bat riders, capable of dropping alchemical bombs, so they can become a true army.”
In this short span of time, Li De had redrawn the future development plans of Dawn City.
Upon returning, countless tasks awaited him, each one capable of significantly raising the foundations of his city.
Li De shook his head and pulled his wandering thoughts back. Now was not the time to return to farming. The priority was getting the goblins safely out of the city.
Moreover, while the fall of Risel City was a catastrophe for the city itself, it could very well be a tremendous opportunity for him.
After escorting the goblins out, he would return. This fallen city still held immense treasures waiting to be unearthed.
Especially the high-level population he coveted most, once the restraint of the goblins was lifted, he could act freely and without limitation.
---
Most of the carts hiding goblins were pulled by beastmen warriors. The strength of Level 5 warriors far exceeded that of ordinary horses.
Along the way, they encountered some fleeing civilians and beastmen troops, but when those saw the massive convoy and the wolfman radiating immense power in the center, they chose to retreat without confrontation.
No one was foolish enough to provoke such a powerful beastmen army.
The entire process went far more smoothly than Li De had anticipated. He had originally expected a rough journey.
After nearly one sun-hour, the large convoy reached the northern gate, already under beastmen control.
“Stop.”
Just as they neared the gate's inner guard zone, a minotaur with an immensely burly build, two horns atop his head, and a ring hanging from his nose stepped in front of the convoy.
At that moment, Craig leapt down from the cart and strode forward.
“Craig Shadowhunter of the Lionmane Tribe.” Craig clenched his five fingers into a fist and pounded it against his chest.
Sensing Craig’s terrifying aura, the massive minotaur’s expression turned a little grim.
“Karlist Bloodhoof, of the Bloodhoof Tribe.” He also saluted with a chest pound.
After the greeting, both their expressions eased slightly.
“Warriors of the Lionmane Tribe, why are you leaving the battlefield at this moment?” Karlist asked in a deep voice. “Your people need support. You cannot become shameful deserters!”
Craig’s massive wolf eyes snapped open, glaring fiercely at Karlist with a murderous gleam.
“The Lionmane Tribe are warriors who never retreat. We will never be deserters! Is the Bloodhoof Tribe trying to provoke us?!”
Karlist shook his head. “Then why are you choosing to leave now?”
Craig’s murderous aura subsided slightly, and his expression grew heavier.
“Food on the Barren Plains has drastically decreased this year. The Lionmane Tribe no longer has enough reserves.
The Months of Deep Winter are nearly here. We need food, enough food to last through the winter.”
That statement silenced Karlist. His large bovine eyes dimmed slightly.
Survival, this was the most difficult subject on the Barren Plains.
Even he, a direct descendant of the Beastmen Prince’s tribe, faced food shortages for his people every year.
He couldn’t deny that the wolfman’s actions were for the good of his tribe.
“You could have waited until the city was fully occupied by the Prince’s forces.”
“And once the city stabilizes, how much food will be left for us?”
Craig shook his head, his expression solemn.
“We came for food. Over ten thousand members of the Lionmane Tribe are still starving and waiting for our return.
Behind the tens of thousands of warriors attacking Risel City are several million beastmen. This one city cannot satisfy everyone’s needs.
Warrior of the Bloodhoof Tribe, I believe you, too, are no stranger to hunger.
The Lionmane Tribe is doing this, for survival.”
Karlist opened his mouth, his huge eyes glaring at Craig, but no words came out.
For survival, those four words pressed on his chest like a mountain.
“You may transport the food out, but the warriors of the Lionmane Tribe cannot all leave. There is still fighting to be done here.”
In the end, Karlist relented a step. He saw the unwavering resolve in this formidable wolfman’s eyes and did not want to become his enemy.