Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 2052: Declaration of War

The atmosphere within City Hall was tense.

It should have been a time of relief, perhaps even celebration. The ghouls had begun migrating east, beyond the mountains, leaving behind lands in and around the city with only territorial monsters that had always inhabited them.

For the adventurers, this should have been good news. Yet the mood inside City Hall was anything but joyful.

The tension was thick enough to be felt in every corner. No one really knew the reason. Or at least, no one among the adventurers knew.

The answer lay with the Councilors. The people who governed City Hall had begun acting strangely. They were more serious than usual. More solemn, grim.

Their usual composure had taken on an almost oppressive quality, as though they were carrying the weight of some grave revelation upon their shoulders.

They held a lot more meetings behind closed doors. They did not speak among themselves whenever those below the Council were around. And their expressions were always dark.

That alone was enough to spread unease throughout the entire City Hall.

If the ghouls were retreating, then why did the Councilors look as though something terrible had happened?

No one had an answer. But everyone could feel that something was terribly wrong.

If one were to point to when this oppressive feeling had begun settling in City Hall, then it would have to be the time right after Luca, Michael, Leah, and Meji had returned from their mission.

What was their mission? No one knew.

Why were two adventurers from their party missing? Again, no one knew.

Most importantly, the question that was still on everyone’s mind was...

Where was Councilor Bucca?

Luca stood beside the window in his private chamber, his posture straight and his hands clasped behind his back. He silently looked toward the main gates of the compound. Then his gaze shifted toward the horizon, toward the east.

Slowly, a frown formed on his face, and he couldn’t help but wonder: Where is he?

He couldn’t have failed his advancement now, could he?

It had been two weeks since he and Adam had parted ways after crossing the mountain pass.

Ideally, it should have taken around a week to complete the advancement to the Templar Rank. And the journey back to City Hall should have taken another week. So by now, Adam should have reached this place. But he hadn’t.

So Luca couldn’t help but assume the worst.

Knock! Knock!

"It’s me."

A familiar voice called out from beyond the door.

"Come in," Luca said without turning around.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Michael stepped inside.

"Any news?" Luca finally turned and stared at the youth.

"Nothing." Michael shook his head. "A few others and I searched the eastern perimeter. We found nothing at all. I didn’t dare go far. Those ghouls... they’re acting very strangely."

Luca’s eyes narrowed. "You encountered them?"

"Yeah." Michael nodded. "Two groups, actually. And they didn’t even fight us. The moment they saw us, they took a detour and went their way. That’s too weird!"

Luca’s expression couldn’t help but slowly turn dark.

He had expected several possible reactions from the Vampire King after Adam killed four of his Generals.

Perhaps Jacob would retaliate immediately. Perhaps he would gather his remaining forces and launch a massive assault against City Hall. Perhaps he would even abandon his current plans and personally hunt Adam down.

Luca had considered all of these possibilities, but none of them had happened.

Instead, something far stranger had occurred. The ghouls had begun migrating en masse. Luca had never anticipated such a development.

In fact, he couldn’t understand how the deaths of four Generals could have anything to do with it. And that was precisely what unsettled him.

The Vampire King had not reacted in any way that Luca had predicted. Instead, the entire balance of the secret plane seemed to be shifting.

"Luca."

The gentle, feminine voice drifted into the chamber.

Michael turned toward the door and saw a beautiful elf standing by it. He immediately lowered his head in greeting. "Lady Kesha."

Kesha cast Michael a brief glance, then turned toward Luca once again. "The Council is ready."

Luca’s eyes narrowed. "Is it about..."

"Yes." Kesha nodded. "Let us leave."

With that, she was gone.

Luca turned to Michael and said solemnly, "We’ll learn of the reason behind this change soon. Return to the security checkpoint downstairs. If you see any signs of Adam, inform me immediately."

Michael opened his mouth, and then closed it. There was a lot he wanted to say. But in the end, he simply nodded. "Alright."

***

A few minutes later, all five councilors had gathered in the meeting chamber.

Kesha and Gregor looked solemn. Umlo, the dwarf, stared daggers at Luca, who had just arrived.

Lastly, Aramen sat with his eyes closed. When he saw Luca take a seat, he finally began, "I’ve received word from... my sources. They’ve told me the reason behind the sudden migration of ghouls."

Sources, he says. Luca sneered, and he didn’t bother hiding it.

He knew very well that the "source" Aramen was referring to was none other than the monsters to whom he supplied maidens in the past.

"What’s with that look, boy?" Umlo growled. "If it weren’t for you and your brother, such a thing would never have come to pass!"

Luca turned to Umlo and spoke condescendingly, "Who gave you the right to address me? Know your place, dwarf."

"You—" Umlo was livid. He absolutely loathed how Luca looked down on him.

"Enough." Aramen’s words put an end to their bickering.

"So what’s the reason?" Kesha asked, her expression grim.

Aramen’s gaze landed on every councilor before settling on Luca.

"The Vampire King has taken the deaths of four of his Generals as an act of war," he said grimly.

He paused a moment before continuing, "Jacob de Vile has declared war on Adventurers’ City."

The words immediately cast a heavy silence over the room, and everyone’s—including Luca’s—expressions turned ugly.

"Within the next few days, his messengers will arrive at City Hall. He will formally declare war on behalf of the Vampire King and present his demands."

"How long do we have?" Luca asked. "For the war, I mean."

"Less than a month," Aramen said.

"On the day of the eclipse."