Chapter 173 Worrying Conditions in the North
Upon hearing this question, Vivian's expression suddenly grew tense, and she nervously clenched her palms.
"The situation right now at the border is rather unfavorable."
Observing the wrinkles and pallor on her face, it was evident just how precarious the situation had become.
"Mom, can you explain?" Arthur gently grasped Vivian's hand, aiming to provide comfort.
Feeling the warmth of Arthur's touch, Vivian immediately composed herself and released a small sigh.
"The news of the silent invasion in the northern region has greatly exacerbated the precarious situation, inciting panic and unrest among many, particularly along the border regions. This upheaval has significantly impacted the entire empire," Vivian wearily remarked, her forehead creased as fatigue weighed on her.
Her big brother, Emperor Alex, had sought her assistance in managing various imperial affairs because he, too, harbored concerns about his ministers.
Consequently, he had temporarily entrusted her with significant matters.
How could Vivian not feel weary and drained?
The stress had intensified when she received the sudden news of Arthur's fainting, rendering her anxious and sleepless.
Arthur, perceiving his mother's exhaustion, sighed and gently grasped her hand.
"Mom, I can see you're exhausted. Would you like to rest next to me?" He offered his mother comfort and solace.
It was a simple gesture aimed at allowing Vivian to relax and find respite from her responsibilities.
Startled, she observed the welcoming, unoccupied side of the bed next to Arthur, which seemed exceptionally comfortable.
Consequently, she nodded involuntarily.
"Very well," she replied. Following her words, she turned towards Arthur's right side and, with deliberate slowness, ascended the bed.
She settled her body beside Arthur.
"How is this?" Arthur inquired, orienting himself to face Vivian, his voice gentle.
"Ah, much better. I always find comfort in your presence, and it brings me great contentment," she replied, her eyes closing.
Before long, her breathing adopted a tranquil and unhurried rhythm, signaling her swift descent into slumber.
Arthur, gazing at her serene countenance, broke into a warm smile and tenderly caressed Vivian's cheek.
"Fate can be rewritten, and your survival until now, not succumbing as in the novel, is a testament to your exceptional strength, Mom," he whispered softly. It brought him immense relief to have altered Vivian's fate in the novel, even if only to a small degree.
Nevertheless, this didn't cause him to lower his guard or ease his vigilance; instead, it heightened his alertness to its zenith.
Vivian's current safe condition was only temporary, but her well-being was not the cause of the ongoing war between the Balka and Savaran empires.
This marked the peak of his vigilance, and he needed to closely monitor Maria Alvas, who might seize an opportunity to harm Vivian.
"Ugh, I'm extremely occupied and don't have a moment to unwind right now," Arthur grumbled as he shrugged his shoulders, expressing his irritation.
However, the weariness he felt was inconsequential as long as the safety of those he cherished was assured.
Subsequently, he withdrew his hand from Vivian's cheek and arranged the blanket and pillow to ensure her rest was undisturbed.
Then he promptly vacated the bed, made his way to the nearby sofa, and settled down with his legs crossed.
"Are you here?" Arthur murmured with his eyes closed, as if he were summoning someone.
"Yes, I'm here, and I have news to share." A woman's voice abruptly resonated in Arthur's mind.
"Go on," he replied in an impassive tone.
"While investigating a road route, I stumbled upon something of great significance. I discovered multiple headless corpses and dismembered bodies, but what's astonishing is that the casualties were the Balka Empire's auxiliary troops assigned to aid the Northern region!" The woman's voice conveyed this information in Arthur's mind.
This left Arthur wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Are you guessing that someone attacked the Emperor's relief force?" Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes with a serious expression.
"Not an individual, but rather a mysterious group," the woman's voice shared her perspective with Arthur.
"Group?" Arthur furrowed his brows, and a name instantly sprung to mind.
"The Light Eater Organization... could it be them?" While this was merely his conjecture, he felt an uncanny certainty, given the recent information about the Savaran Empire's collaboration with that group.
Additionally, aside from them, no other assassins' guild had the audacity to confront the Balka Empire's forces.
Upon hearing Arthur's statement, the woman's voice fell silent for a moment before responding.
"Yes, you've ascertained it accurately, as always," the woman's voice conveyed with a mix of admiration and dread.
Receiving the compliment, Arthur merely responded with a casual shrug, as the deduction had been straightforward.
"Then, were all the troops completely wiped out, or is there any hope?" This was the inquiry that Arthur was most eager to have answered.
Millions of barbarian troops were far from trivial and weak, particularly with the inclusion of the three mightiest generals from the Savaran Empire, each possessing abilities surpassing the mid-level elemental range.
The sheer strength of this combined force was truly beyond comprehension.
In the event the reinforcements dispatched to aid the North Region were completely annihilated, Duke Wilhem would undoubtedly face substantial challenges in repelling their invasion.
The barbarian army of the Savaran Empire was renowned across the human continent for its prowess.
A mere hundred of them could swiftly seize control of a human city, of course, without the presence of any elemental users, consisting solely of ordinary troops.
"No, most of them survived because it appears that the Balka Empire dispatched a top-level Elemental Saint to aid them." The woman's words resonated in Arthur's mind.
Upon hearing this, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, and everything seemed to be proceeding according to plan.
"Emperor Alex was exceptionally well-prepared, having the audacity to send a high-level Elemental Saint." Arthur's admiration for Emperor Alex grew, and with it, his sense of vigilance also heightened.
High-level Elemental Saints were exceedingly rare and possessed formidable power, justifying his reverence.
"Alright, I've comprehended the situation. Now, onto another matter: has the conflict in the north region commenced?" Arthur inquired in a subdued tone.
"Yes, the war has indeed begun, and the atmosphere is highly charged," the woman confirmed.
On hearing this, Arthur envisioned Duke Wilhem's solitary struggle against an army of millions of barbarian troops in the North.
However, the subsequent words that resonated in his mind caught him off guard.
"Fortunately, Duke Asvold has arrived, and the two of them are currently making their way to the border with the intent of annihilating the entire Savaran army!"
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