Chapter 78: Chapter 73: Tonight Is a Bountiful Night

"Huo Nan, give me an explanation."

Back at the command center, Yan Zhen dismissed the Centurions, leaving only Huo Nan and Dai Long behind. He then turned to Huo Nan, his expression grave.

Huo Nan said expressionlessly, "I am one of the commanders of this operation. As long as it doesn’t affect the overall plan, I have the authority to change a Wizard Apprentice’s defense zone."

Dai Long frowned. "Don’t try to brush us off with that excuse, Huo Nan. You know as well as I do that Pei Ze is no ordinary Wizard Apprentice. He has Lord Mo Weng backing him!"

Huo Nan’s lips twitched, and he said with a stony face, "You may be afraid of Mo Weng, but I’m not."

Yan Zhen and Dai Long exchanged a look, both understanding at once.

After a moment of silence, Yan Zhen sighed and shook his head. "You were too impulsive. The conflicts between Wizards are not something we can meddle in."

Huo Nan’s expression shifted slightly. He snorted coldly and said nothing.

Yan Zhen shook his head and turned to leave the room.

Dai Long gave Huo Nan a complicated look. "I don’t know what they promised you... but you’d best be prepared for the consequences."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

In an instant, the room fell silent again, leaving Huo Nan standing alone, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Outside the window, the clouds drifted slowly, revealing a moon like a silver plate.

The bright moonlight shone through the window, casting a thin, white, velvety layer across the floor.

In the silence, a wisp of moonlight slowly rose from the floor like mist, gradually coalescing into the robed figure of a person.

Huo Nan seemed to sense something and spun around. His tense body relaxed only after he saw the newcomer’s face clearly.

He bowed slightly, his tone respectful as he said, "My lord."

The figure grunted in acknowledgment and asked coolly, "How are things progressing?"

Huo Nan replied respectfully, "I’ve assigned Pei Ze to the most dangerous area, Zone 28. I have also instructed my confidants in the City Guard Army. They will pretend to lower their guard, allowing more heretics to break through in Pei Ze’s direction!"

"If all goes according to plan, with Pei Ze’s strength, there’s no way he can hold back that many heretics!"

"He’ll either die fighting in Zone 28, or he’ll hide and let the heretics break through. But if he does that, I can execute him on the spot for desertion!"

"Good." The figure nodded in satisfaction. "Get it done right. I don’t want any surprises. You know the consequences if there are."

Huo Nan’s expression tightened, and he quickly said, "Yes, my lord! I guarantee I won’t disappoint you!"

After hesitating for a few seconds, Huo Nan couldn’t help but ask, "My lord, Pei Ze is still the top first-year student of High Tower Academy and Mo Weng’s disciple. If he dies here, won’t High Tower Academy and Mo Weng..."

The figure glanced at him and said coolly, "No matter how outstanding his aptitude is, a Wizard Apprentice is still just a Wizard Apprentice."

"No one will offend an Official Wizard for the sake of a dead apprentice."

"You don’t need to worry about High Tower Academy; I have my ways of handling them. As for Mo Weng... our Pei Family already has more than enough enmity with him."

Seeing that Huo Nan still looked worried, the figure pondered for a few seconds before offering him some reassurance.

"After this is over, you will resign from the City Guard Army. The Dawn Council is currently developing a new plane, and I will arrange a new position for you in the Plane Conquest Army."

Huo Nan was overjoyed at his words and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, my lord!"

The figure gave a slight nod. The next second, its form blurred and flickered, then vanished into the void as if it were melting ice.

Huo Nan straightened up, a fiery glint in his eyes.

’Once this job is done, I can go develop my career in the Silver Light Legion!’

’The key is that I’ll be able to participate in developing a new plane. If I’m lucky enough to get enough resources, I might even be able to break through to the Legendary Realm!’

’The future is bright!’

...

As the encirclement operation officially began, the entire City Guard Army garrison started to operate like a precision instrument. Large numbers of fully armed soldiers surged out from the garrison, spreading out in all directions in an orderly fashion.

The Wizard Apprentices and Knight Students also mingled with the flow of soldiers, heading toward their respective defense zones.

Looking down from high above, countless streams of people, like ants, swarmed out from the central garrison, rapidly spreading across the entire Outer City North District.

「About half an hour later.」

Pei Ze, leading Su Ya and Peng Yan, arrived at Zone 28, the area marked on the map.

Standing at the edge of the district and looking at the countless residential buildings shrouded in the dark of night, a faint glint flashed in Pei Ze’s eyes.

Behind him, Su Ya’s expression was heavy, her eyes filled with unconcealed worry.

Peng Yan, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed. He stood behind Pei Ze, craning his neck to see what he was looking at, apparently quite curious.

A moment later, Pei Ze turned around, catching Su Ya’s worried expression. He smiled and said, "Don’t worry. If there’s any danger later, I’ll cover you so you can run first."

Su Ya gave a wry smile. ’How can Pei Ze still be in the mood to joke at a time like this?’

Peng Yan, however, took Pei Ze’s words seriously. He shook his head like a drum-shaped rattle and said in his booming voice, "How could we do that? Our duty is to protect you, my lord. How could we let you cover us instead?"

"If there’s danger, you must escape first, my lord! I’ll cover the rear!"

Pei Ze was struck speechless for a moment, then laughed.

Su Ya shot Peng Yan a look. ’This simpleton can’t even tell when someone’s joking.’

Seeing Pei Ze fall into contemplation again while gazing into the night, Su Ya and Peng Yan tactfully stopped bothering him. Instead, they checked their equipment one more time, preparing for the battle ahead.

The night was quiet, and time ticked by, second by second.

Because the City Guard Army had sealed off all the major intersections in the North District ahead of time, the streets were completely deserted, and a dead silence hung over the area.