Earth's Greatest Magus
chapter-2227

Golden City

This was the day that the Karat faction would lead the Golden City fleet in their war efforts against the space pirates. The outskirts of the city were a spectacle of might, with forty warships arrayed in a formidable display. Over 1,000 magus and fifty grand magus from twenty-four factions had assembled, their combined presence a testament to the gravity of the mission.

The famous Karat Golden flagship stood prominently, an imposing presence on the ground, its grandeur unmatched. Alongside it, the Zodiac's Virgo ship, equally impressive, showcased the unity and might of the half-blood communities. The half-bloods demonstrated their solidarity by sending a contingent of 100 magus and half a dozen grand magus, led by Overseer Kurma himself.

Despite the grand gathering, the turnout was notably smaller than anticipated. Many factions had refused the call, wary of the ongoing conflict among the five great families. This internal strife led several groups to maintain neutrality, either by sending minimal forces or abstaining from participation altogether. The palpable tension and the conspicuous absences underscored the fragile alliances and the looming uncertainties that threatened to overshadow the mission.

As the allied forces conducted their final preparations, a massive crowd of over 50,000 Golden City citizens gathered just beyond the site. The atmosphere was charged with tension and defiance, as the protesters, organized by the radical group, the Golden Birds Union, voiced their opposition to Karat's actions. Their chants echoed through the air, filled with exaggerated and often untrue accusations about the campaign and the Karat faction, a deliberate attempt to tarnish their reputation.

The protesters, a diverse group of citizens, held up signs and banners emblazoned with slogans like "No to War!", "Karat's Greed Will Destroy Us!", and "Peace Over Power!".

Amid this chaotic scene, another blow came in the form of Minister Barty Grouch of the Magus Alliance. He arrived, his face etched with concern, to deliver unfortunate news to the assembled leaders of the allied forces.

"My apologies, I need more men to handle the city unrest... we could only afford five ships to support."

The announcement sent a ripple of unease through the gathered leaders. The realization that the Magus Alliance could not muster the support they had hoped for was a significant setback. The five ships offered were a mere fraction of what was needed, and the absence of supreme magus support further compounded their worries.

Minister Grouch continued, "I suggest postponing the campaign... give me a week or two"

"No, we will not," declared Grand Magus Xavier, his voice resonant with authority.

The veteran general knew that delaying the attack would be a strategic blunder. The additional weeks for the possibility of one unconfirmed supreme magus participant could not outweigh the pirates' increasing preparedness and the diminishing morale of their own troops.

"There are no supreme beings among the pirates," he continued, his tone firm and unyielding. "We don't need one as well."

Lord Hassa, supported Xavier's stance. He pointed out that his father's reluctance to engage with the pirates stemmed from a similar belief and also pointed out that extending the timeline would only play into the opposition's hands.

Emery seized the opportunity to share new intelligence, revealing a potential attack on one of Golden City's major facilities. This news added a new layer of complexity to their plans, causing a ripple of concern among the leaders. They understood that if such an attack occurred while their main forces were engaged elsewhere, it would severely undermine their campaign against the pirates. The opposition would exploit this to discredit them further.

With the increasing unrest in the city, the ruling councils and council candidates would be preoccupied with managing the chaos and leveraging the situation to promote their own images and agendas. Lord Hassa believed the capital building would become a critical hot zone in need of extensive protection.

This intelligence concerned Grand Magus Xavier. However, Hassa assured him that he would handle the situation at home, allowing Xavier to focus on the war effort. Turning to Minister Barty Grouch, Hassa firmly stated, "I am going to count on you! You are going to give me your full support."

Emery, though desiring to contribute more actively, faced his pressing issues. When the briefing was over, he informed them that he would not be personally joining the campaign.

With more than 50 grand magus participating, His presence in the battle would not significantly affect the outcome, and protecting his home was his top priority. To ensure the success of the campaign, Emery delegated command to Thrax to lead the Gilgamesh warship and arranged for Grand Magus Anpu and Fantasme to accompany him, among others.

Without needing further explanation, Lord Hassa seemed to grasp Emery's predicament. The Karat faction must have already been aware of the complications involving the Nephilim.

That noon, Emery witnessed the spectacular sight of 45 warships ascending from the ground, their imposing forms silhouetted against the sky. The scene was a blend of technological marvel and human determination, with many citizens watching, families and friends bidding farewell, and hoping for the fleet's safe return. Returning to Terra City, Emery gathered his closest advisors and briefed them on the unfolding situation. With the pirates' threat looming large and the Nephilim's unpredictable actions, he knew decisive action was required. He ordered the evacuation of all non-combat personnel from Terra City. The plan was to relocate them to Raven City, situated on the opposite side of the planet. This would ensure their safety while Terra City braced for any potential attacks. The evacuation was to last for the next two weeks, or until the forces combating the pirates had successfully returned.

Grand Magus Lilith was assigned to guard Terra Castle, along with Ronan, who was posing as a VIP guest from Terra City. Grand Magus Shena was tasked with protecting Magus Rosia, who would be engaged in critical activities within Golden City. Rosia's role was vital for Terra City, necessitating top-tier protection from Shena, whose formidable abilities were well-suited for this duty.

Since Emery needed to remain in Terra City, he sent Morgana to follow Rosia, Chumo to stay close to the Golden City enforcers, and Yuria to keep watch for the movements of the Croft and Qin factions. With the Khaos hub connecting them, the three would serve as his eyes and ears outside.

While waiting, Emery had something interesting to do. In addition to dealing with Ishtar, he still had one more captive to deal with. Grand Magus Rhyze, the Void Warden, must have something that could be beneficial to him. With the looming threat, Emery needed all the help he could get.