Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Total Lockdown

Using the Tree of Life to counter the Tree of Life.

It seemed logical and simple, yet proved immensely challenging in practice.

With the nation’s magic veins controlled by the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array, finding uncontaminated soil for a sapling to grow became nearly impossible. Even if found, how could one hide the anomalies caused by its growth?

They needed not only suitable land but also assurance it could develop undetected.

Failure in either aspect would provoke the Array’s full assault, risking catastrophe.

The elven elder proposed planting the Tree of Life secretly in Autumn Ancient City.

Asreks family territory offered discretion, and Alice’s prior preparations had concentrated two count’s territories’ magic veins here—sufficient for early growth.

Yet Midi rejected this.

Such methods would never produce a Tree strong enough to shield a nation. "Secrecy" meant relying on luck—planting it and praying the Pretenders controlling the Array wouldn’t notice the magic fluctuations. Meanwhile, they’d remain powerless to act.

After twenty years of reincarnation, Midi refused to gamble his fate on chance. Passivity wasn’t an option.

Three days later, Royal Magic Academy’s abandoned camp.

Located a hundred kilometers from capital Hertonmar, this civil war-ravaged site lay neglected, overrun by bandits and monsters. Yet beneath it ran a main artery of the Dragon Sealing Array.

"Lord Midi, this is… madness." The elven elder and gardeners paled. "You’d plant the seed directly on Belmar’s Tree of Life roots?"

"Correct." Midi nodded calmly.

Behind him, the red-haired and black-haired girls stood equally composed.

Since any planting site risked exposure, Midi aimed to minimize growth time. The magic-rich dragon vein offered the solution—its constant energy surges could mask the Tree’s development.

"The Pretenders won’t expect us under their noses," he reasoned. "The Array’s weekly attacks create perfect cover. By escalating these assaults, we’ll hide our Tree’s growth anomalies."

"You propose provoking more attacks?" The elder frowned. "But how manipulate such cunning foes?"

"The Pretenders’ goals remain unclear. Queen Skadi hides behind the national defense array. But there’s another target…" Midi’s lips curled coldly.

Next day, Hamilton duchy’s Wisek County.

While most nobles nervously watched skies for the Tree’s wrath, Wisek’s inhabitants—commoners, soldiers, knights—kept eyes fixed beyond their walls.

Though bearing Hamilton blood, they stood branded as traitors of the Scroll branch. Most knew nothing of their leaders’ schemes, yet their labor had forged the destroyer cavalry’s weapons, armor, and diverted army funds.

When Domingo’s identity surfaced, every Scroll branch member—noble or peasant—bore the stain of betrayal.

Under normal circumstances, after uncovering the truth, the Golden Branch Legion would immediately intercept and slaughter the entire Scroll branch. Even if they desperately abandoned everything to flee, escape remained impossible – leaving aside the slim chance of breaking out, no other nobles including the Senator’s faction would shelter such traitors.

But now everything changed. Under the Dragon Sealing power’s suppression, all military forces including the Golden Branch Legion could only hide in shadows, not daring to take major actions. Meanwhile, the Scroll branch sat comfortably in their county town under the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array’s protection.

During the first few days, Scroll branch members remained nervous. But after two weeks of calm, their anxieties gradually eased. People started believing the Scroll branch might truly become rulers of the Belmar Duchy – not as Hamilton’s legacy, but purely through their own "Scroll" identity standing atop the nation!

These budding ambitions shattered when warning bells suddenly echoed over the county. "Enemy attack! Defensive positions! Block the roads!" Centurions shouted hoarsely upon seeing the approaching banner. "The Hawk Brigade! That cursed Hawk Brigade!"

On a nearby hill appeared a thousand high-level adventurers mounted on warhorses. Three hundred Nightblade Leopard Cavalry formed the vanguard, led by a black-haired youth with obsidian eyes. Beside him, a standard-bearer held aloft a fluttering banner depicting a winged sword – the Hawk Brigade’s emblem.

The Brigade’s legendary victory at City of Rainbow Light, where five thousand defeated ten thousand destroyer cavalry, was known throughout the duchy. With only a few hundred local guards remaining after losing their secret cavalry force, the Scroll branch trembled before this threat.

The county’s mysterious black-robed mage urgently sent magical messages to the capital. As Midi’s forces approached, the sky darkened with storm clouds gathering like brewing catastrophe. When purple-gold lightning began coalescing, Midi simply led his thousand riders circling Wisek County before withdrawing.

Seeing this fearsome troop retreat without combat, the Scroll branch cheered triumphantly. Even this mighty army yielded before the Dragon Sealing Array! Their ambitions solidified further.

The celebration proved brief. That afternoon, Scroll branch supply carts triggered countless traps on the highway, magical flames devouring most provisions. At midnight, mutated minotaurs lured by mysterious bait clashed violently with guards, both sides suffering heavy losses.

By dawn, the garrison commander dispatched all troops to clear traps. But Midi’s expert saboteurs had laid intricate devices – three days and dozens of casualties later, Wisek’s soldiers barely secured safe passage.

As if predicting their opponents’ limits, Midi returned on the fourth morning. His troops circled the county again, withdrawing before the sealing array’s lightning could strike. Seeing fresh traps covering the terrain, the garrison commander nearly collapsed.

Similar situations plagued other Scroll branch territories. The chaos mirrored post-Gran Forest fire conditions, when mutant monsters and bandits paralyzed transportation. Now the Hawk Brigade’s professionals targeted specific counties, creating far deadlier blockades.

Within a week, leaving city walls became impossible. Though the Dragon Sealing Array responded swiftly, it couldn’t match the relentless harassment. Guards cowered behind ramparts, helplessly watching traps multiply.

"The lightning can’t touch us," Midi murmured, gazing toward Hertonmar. "Soon the Pretenders must reveal their true power. When they overuse the Dragon Sealing force, we’ll plant our Tree of Life!" Confidence glinted in his dark eyes.