After the Eye of the Midnight Sun members disappeared, none of the Magic Knights suggested pursuing them.
After all, the enemy possessed Spatial Magic, who knew where they had been teleported?
The most important task now was to stabilize the capital's situation and clear out any enemies who might still be lurking in the shadows.
Asta hadn't been captured as he was in the original story, so naturally, no one was foolish enough to suggest chasing after a Spatial Magic user who appeared and disappeared like a ghost.
"Immediately blockade the capital! Investigate all suspicious personnel!"
Nozel's cold voice broke the silence as he turned to several Silver Eagle members beside him and issued commands.
"Count the casualties, restore communications, and request reinforcements from headquarters!"
The Magic Knights immediately sprang into action, beginning to secure the surroundings, aid the injured, and once again becoming busy and orderly.
"How is Fuegoleon?" Nozel looked at Mimosa and asked, his voice betraying little emotion, but his clenched fists revealed his inner turmoil.
Mimosa, while maintaining her healing magic, replied with a heavy expression, "His injuries are too severe. My magic is already at its limit just for emergency treatment."
"He must be immediately sent to the capital's medical facilities to receive higher-level recovery magic treatment."
She choked, "Otherwise... otherwise..."
She couldn't finish the rest of her sentence.
But everyone understood what that meant.
Nozel's face darkened even further.
Ryoma looked at Fuegoleon, who was being carefully lifted onto a stretcher, feeling a touch of emotion.
The inertia of the plot was truly powerful. Even with his intervention, Fuegoleon still couldn't escape the fate of losing an arm.
However...
Ryoma recalled the original plot.
Patolli, or rather, William, whose body was controlled by an elf soul, merely cut off Fuegoleon's arm, took the magic stone, and then sent him back to his original location.
It was almost like having a fight, stealing something, and then returning the victim to their doorstep.
Though it sounded absurd, that was indeed what happened.
Could it be that William's consciousness had influenced some of Patolli's actions?
After revealing his secret identity to Fuegoleon, did a trace of reluctance and guilt ultimately arise within him?
Therefore, he left Fuegoleon, who had exposed a weakness due to carelessness, a glimmer of hope.
Ryoma shook his head.
These were all just his speculations.
However, Asta not being captured was good news.
After all, it wasn't certain Julius could arrive on time, so it was better not to leave too many unexpected situations to others. This would save a lot of trouble.
And there would be no need to worry about that research pervert named Sally dissecting Asta as a rare specimen.
Outside the capital's medical facility, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Fuegoleon had been sent into the highest-level treatment room, where several of the kingdom's top recovery Magic Knights were jointly performing rescue efforts.
Nozel, Charlotte, and other Magic Knights waited silently outside the facility.
Everyone's expression was grim.
The capital was attacked, and a captain was critically wounded.
This was undoubtedly the loudest slap in the face to the Clover Kingdom and all Magic Knights.
Just then—
Buzz!
The space in front slightly distorted, and a figure appeared out of thin air.
The newcomer wore the Wizard King's robe, symbolizing the highest honor, and had short golden hair. The sunny smile that usually adorned his face was now gone, replaced by a serious expression.
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone bowed in unison.
The Wizard King Julius had returned.
"What's the situation?" Julius asked.
Charlotte stepped forward and reported the situation to him, "Fuegoleon... is severely wounded and undergoing emergency treatment."
Her voice was somewhat low.
"Also, the necklace he was wearing around his neck... is gone."
Julius' brow furrowed. "Necklace?"
"Yes, it was a necklace inlaid with a red gem." Charlotte added.
"Indeed..." Julius murmured to himself.
His expression became more solemn than ever before.
"It seems their objective is far from simple."
"Your Majesty, have you discovered something?" Charlotte keenly sensed the information in Julius' words.
Julius glanced at her and, without concealment, directly stated his findings.
"I found one of their strongholds."
What?
Everyone present, including the usually silent Nozel, showed surprised expressions.
The Wizard King had actually pursued the enemy to their lair single-handedly.
"I found a stone tablet there." Julius' tone was very serious.
"The tablet has ten grooves, and many of them are inlaid with gems."
"And the gem from Fuegoleon's missing necklace is probably meant to fill another one of those grooves."
Julius continued, "I captured a few members who fled back from the capital. But at the last moment, their leader appeared."
"He used extremely powerful Light Magic to rescue several core members from my grasp."
Light Magic!
Hearing those three words, Ryoma's heart stirred.
It was Patolli after all.
Julius concluded, "Their goal should be to collect all the gems and then use that stone tablet to achieve some unspeakable purpose."
Silence once again fell over the surroundings.
Everyone was processing this astonishing news.
Attacking the capital and critically wounding a captain was merely to steal a gem. Their true objective might be far more terrifying and grand than imagined.
"Fuegoleon..."
Nozel, who had been silent, suddenly whispered the name. His voice was light but carried a bone-chilling coldness.
He slowly raised his head, his proud face now clouded with gloom.
He no longer listened to Julius' subsequent analysis and deployment.
"Your Majesty, please excuse me."
He gave a cold greeting, not even waiting for Julius' reply before turning and striding away. Silver mana surged uncontrollably around him, emitting a terrifying pressure.
Everyone present could feel the almost erupting rage within him.
Crimson Lions and Silver Eagles.
Fuegoleon and Nozel.
They had been rivals for years, each other's most desired goal to surpass.
Now, Fuegoleon had fallen.
Nozel's anger had long since transformed into overwhelming killing intent.
He vowed to avenge Fuegoleon!
To make the Eye of the Midnight Sun... pay for their blood debt.
Watching Nozel's retreating back, Julius did not stop him.
He knew that the sleeping lion had not been awakened, but the sleeping eagle had.
"Everyone, the upcoming tasks will be heavy." Julius turned to the remaining people.
"The capital needs rebuilding, the populace needs comforting, and at the same time, we must face an unprecedentedly powerful enemy."
"Cheer up, the Clover Kingdom needs us."
"Yes."
Everyone responded in unison.
Subsequently, Charlotte and the others bid farewell, returning to their respective duties.
The plaza needed clearing, defenses needed rebuilding, and countless other tasks awaited them.
Ryoma walked through the ruined streets of the capital, looking at the commoners crying amidst the rubble and the Magic Knights busy with disaster relief, feeling a mix of emotions.
The war was about to begin.