Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

449 Grevind Swarm

Goethe Legal Department, Truth Hall.

Sparks appeared in the light of magic and wisdom.

Spellcasters and scholars from all walks of life in Red Maple City sat in separate factions. They displayed their divine powers and used extraordinary spell techniques to absorb the locusts in the air to observe, analyze, and experiment in their own ways.

The naturalists observed the patterns, segments, and elemental characteristics. The druids tried to communicate with the principles of nature. The alchemist shone the Eye of Tracing and deconstructed analysis. The mages of the elemental school tested their magic resistance. Kang De stood on the floating platform. His voice resounded throughout the hall, attracting the other half of the people’s attention.

“They win with numbers. Their numbers can easily cover a large city. They devour civil buildings and gnaw on metal. They have the ability to dig in and can entangle and form larger forms to launch a surprise attack from the ground. They’re clearly controlled by a higher will, just like worker ants. The way they obtain energy is temporarily unknown. Their origin is unknown. I don’t know their origin.”

“But this is not important.”

Kang De looked around at the wise people of this country, “I’m here today not to seek the answer to the origin, but to fight. I seek your experience, history, and talent.”

“In other words, when such locusts attack a city from the sky and underground in tens of billions, how should they defend, intercept, repel, counterattack, stop the invasion of the insects, find the high-level individual controlling them behind the scenes, and severely injure and kill him?”

“Be it elemental spells, curses, magic devices, poisons, or divine techniques, as long as they’re useful, there’s no taboo. I need a complete battle plan and a list of the materials I need.”

The leaders of the sect sitting at the front exchanged opinions in a low voice.

Tina’s second sister, Stella, was also sitting at the table in the array of St. Covero University. She sat beside the principal and chatted with the leaders of the school in a low voice for a moment. The old people smiled back.

Then, she stood up and smiled at Kang De, but her posture and words were extremely formal.

“Your Highness Kang De, the Goethe people will respond to your request with all their might and let us break down this grand topic into a few small parts and hand it to people in their respective professional fields to formulate a plan. Due to the fact that you still don’t know much about the arcane power of Red Maple City, please allow me to propose a division of labor for you and your colleagues to refer to.”

Kang De bowed slightly. “Thank you, Mage Stella.”

Second Sister replied with a serious and reserved smile. It was a noble smile filled with wisdom.

She flew to the center of the hall. It was not beside Kang De, but the ground. Standing here, she had to look up at the spellcasters at the surrounding tables, but this did not affect her temperament and pride, because this was a humble and confident power. The Second Princess of Goethe’s gaze circulated as she calmly faced the gazes coming from all directions.

Her clear voice echoed in the hall.

“The request proposal for such a strange locust is defense and counterattack. Let’s dismantle the plan into defense and attack first.”

“The topic is ‘Emergency stratum defense measures for towns without regular magic fortifications’. It requires the rapid establishment of temporary protection from scratch. Using methods like soil hardening, controllable toxification, and temporary magic fluid change as a reference, the enemy is such an insect that has rapid digging and polymerization strengthening!”

Stella’s gaze looked in a direction. “Leave this topic to the Red Maple City’s Arcane Defense Team, the Land Defense Department of the Goethe Legal Department, and the National Civil Engineering Army to formulate and resolve. Nora Academy has the best Earth School inheritance in Goethe. Please provide technical support and suggestions!”

The leaders of the departments stood up and bowed.

Kang De, who was in the meeting room, also returned the greeting.

“Since it’s defense, there must be people who are threatened or even injured. In terms of land defense, please formulate a barrier plan and urgent countermeasures.”

The representative of the Sun Church stood up and bowed.

He was someone Kang De knew. He was Bishop Bela who had checked the Star Authority Divine Ring. Kang De had a deep impression of his bald head, nail hammer, and developed muscles that had stretched the bishop’s robe into a tight suit.

“Defense and counterattack are twins. Since they’ve dampened the enemy’s plan to carry out underground tactics, the battlefield will definitely be transferred to the ground. The sky is the domain of a spellcaster. If you want to fight a large-scale swarm, you have to use large-scale spells. Their individual strength is extremely weak and they’re flying insects. Then the power of frost, wind, and lightning is extremely suitable! Moreover, the spell strength required is not high. Tactical support-level spells that can change the weather and the battlefield environment can unleash huge efficiency.”

“Therefore, Druid Masters, please use the urgent plan of the Ministry of Agriculture to deal with the large-scale locust plague as the foundation and make program adjustments to the elemental resistance and biological characteristics of this locust. The instructors of the Sky Wrath Army of Darius, the Strategic Magic Department, and the St. Covero School of Atmospheric and Frost will provide technical and equipment support!”

The masters stood up to greet him.

“As for the final victory…”

At this point, Stella was not as confident as before. This came from the unknown.

“Your Highness Kang De, we can’t immediately suggest a plan to lock onto and find the high consciousness that controls the locust swarm, because we don’t understand the detailed situation of this locust yet and don’t know the form of its mental connection. The best psionic scholars, alchemists, naturalists, and royal consultants of Goethe will find the answer as soon as possible. If not, we’ll list all the plans. One of them will definitely take effect.”

She took two steps back and looked at the floating discussion seat above.

Kang De stuck his head out of the floating platform and looked down. “Please come up and talk, Mage Stella, because I don’t know how to lower this thing.”

Kind laughter sounded around him.

Stella also smiled and flew up. Her graceful figure drew beautiful lines in the air, and the corners of her robe fluttered gently. She floated in front of Kang De and blinked her left eye gently.

“How did it go?”

She asked in a low voice, her tone containing a trace of pride.

Kang De smiled. “Professional.”

Stella frowned slightly and glanced at Kang De. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she only sighed.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What?”

Kang De said, “I already have some clues about how to kill the person controlling the swarm. I’ve found his nest, but he captured many innocent civilians. If we rashly attack, there might be casualties. The underground is all his ears and eyes. If we appear, we’ll definitely be discovered. I have to confirm the situation inside first…”

Without thinking, Stella said in a low voice, “It seems that you have to study alchemy. The legal department is considering applying for the title of an alchemist for you from the Arcane Law Council. You must learn the basics at least—you can do this with a miniature golden beetle engraved with a linked vision…”

It was very real. What he needed to apply for was the title of an alchemist.

The title of a Forbidden Spell Mage was unnecessary.

However, this did not matter. Kang De shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”

When he rushed to Red Maple City, he killed an elf Great Alchemist, extracted his knowledge, and seized his results. They were many alchemical weapons in his knowledge.

He explained, “Metal and construction materials. The locusts will spontaneously devour these. Alchemical creations will be eaten. I have another train of thought, so I’ll tell you in private because I don’t know if this is a taboo in the Arcane World—the insects will directly eat the metal and soil, but they’ll bring the food back to the nest. Therefore, I need an eye and ear disguised as food to be transported down by the locusts.”

Stella’s expression changed slightly. “This requires a little taboo knowledge…—it can’t be mentioned publicly.”

Kang De asked, “Then there is?”

Stella gently pointed at the old man waiting at the entrance of the corridor, the person who led Kang De into the Hall of Truth, and called him, “My father’s Chief Arcane Magic Advisor, Agrael. As a monarch, he has to be wary of sneak attacks from all walks of life. His Arcane Magic Advisor has to be free of restrictions and know many explicit… knowledge.”

“He knows where the person and knowledge you’re looking for are.”

The princess urged, “Go, I know you’re very anxious… Tina has already instructed me on some things. I’ll help you coordinate and coordinate these wise people. After all, it’s not easy to let them perform their work efficiently and not argue and despise each other.”

“Thank you.”

...

Stella raised her eyebrows. “That’s all?”

Kang De looked at the other party and said seriously, “Yes, that’s all.”

The Second Princess was slightly stunned. She originally wanted to see what answer this man, who was not very good at talking, would hold back under such support. She did not expect such an answer.

However, looking at the other party’s calm and firm gaze was enough to shake her heart.

As one of Goethe’s most beautiful pearls, she had heard countless sweet words and self-absorption since she was young, but all her words added up were not as powerful as the sentence just now.

Yes, this was enough.

She slowly smiled. “Then I’ll remember it.”

He raised his fair hand and pressed the guardrail in front of Kang De. With magic power guiding him, the floating stone seat slowly descended.

Kang De glanced at Stella and cupped his hands around him. He raised his voice and said, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

People nodded at him in greeting. Most of these truth delvers and explorers were not good with words, nor did they pay attention to etiquette and communication. There was no unanimous response, and no one even spoke. A portion of them turned a blind eye to Kang De’s departure and words, but their attention was on the locust.

This already explained their attitude and stand.

...

In the corner of Nora Academy, a naturalist held the insect floating in the air and put on a monocle engraved with vision spells. The surprise on his face became stronger and stronger.

The old man was waiting at the entrance. When he saw Kang De walking over, he said, “Your Highness, it’s not bad, right?”

“Thank you, Mr. Agrael, and thank everyone,” Kang De said. “The top wise people of Goethe have run around to serve me. I’m honored and grateful.”

They walked towards the door side by side. The old man slowly said, “If Red Maple City is broken, all the civilization, history, memories, wisdom, and strength gathered in Goethe so far will be reduced to ashes. You protected these and everyone. Today’s assistance comes from the good deeds of the past. This is the justice of the world.”

He stopped in front of the door and bowed slightly to Kang De, “You already know my name. I’ve also noticed Princess Stella’s gaze. Does Your Highness want to use my knowledge and strength? Please feel free to ask. I believe that you’ll restrain and carefully use this dangerous and uncontrollable taboo like the Grand Duke.”

“Therefore, please speak, Your Highness.”

Kang De also looked at him and smiled, “I believe you must have grasped a dangerous power, but you can use it without hesitation. Your trust also flatters me.”

“This is not trust, but self-awareness.” The old man blinked, “This power is taboo, but it’s not dangerous, and there’s no need to prevent it from being abused. After all, which spellcaster dares to talk about the danger of strength and the need to restrain himself in front of the Great Forbidden Spell Master?”

Kang De laughed. “You’re a funny person.”

“I’m deeply honored by your evaluation, Your Highness. Many people think that I’m a pervert hiding in a room filled with a pungent smell and hung with living bones, stirring green mucus and laughing wildly.”

Agrael sighed. “Excuse me, what can I do for you?”

Kang De said, “I need something like a puppet that looks like a piece of pork but can actually allow me to share my vision, because those insects will eat all the puppets, but they will transport the food back to the nest. There are people they kidnapped there. I want to see what’s inside.”

The old man pondered for a moment and said, “Let me try… This will take some time.”

“Please.”

Agrael pushed open the door. Tina and the gorilla were already waiting. The old man tactfully retreated. He was the Grand Duke’s arcane magic consultant, so he did not have to worry about not being able to find Kang De.

Tina’s eyes were picturesque and her smile was gentle. Just looking at that beautiful face could calm people’s hearts and anger. Her smile was filled with tolerance and comforted their turbulent hearts.

She said softly, “I told you that Goethe will become your strength.”

Kang De nodded and said, “I never doubted it.”

The two of them looked at each other and smiled.

Not to be outdone, the gorilla shouted, “I’m the same! We’ll hit whoever you want!”

Kang De smiled and pinched her face.

Indeed, the gorilla was extremely ferocious. If he could bring her to Earth… Unfortunately, he could not.

At this moment, Tina naturally hugged his arm and guided the topic.

“Right, I’ve already told Second Sister that this matter is very urgent. We can only find more spellcasters to help, so we’ll definitely leak a little secret. For example, where does this strange locust come from? Or for example, no one can participate in this battle plan. Moreover, we have to use spell scrolls and magic devices to replace chanting magic… Everyone must be curious. There has to be an explanation.”

As expected, Kang De’s attention was attracted.

Compared to Tina, the gorilla was almost the difference between a husky and a border shepherd.

“Therefore, just as we discussed, Second Sister will slowly reveal the cause of this matter to the leaders of the schools and let them explain it to the others. We said that this locust comes from the fallen Cathay territory. Kang De, you can travel back and forth to the continent and the Easterners. While supporting Goethe in fighting Twilight, you’re also fighting the evil minions of Chaos in the fallen territory of Cathay… This can explain it.”

“I can’t teleport with living things, so I don’t need Goethe to support people. I only need resources.”

“Even the elves and the Cathay Imperial Court don’t know about the fall of Cathay, let alone us.”

The girl spoke tirelessly, her eyes shining with the light of wisdom and the cunningness of a successful liar.

She still did not know the truth.

However, she still cooperated with Kang De to lie, including this thought that she had thought of for a few days.

Kang De was touched and sighed, “Actually…”

Before he could finish speaking, Tina stretched out her finger and tapped Kang De’s lips. “Shh… I don’t want to know your secret for this reason. Tell me when you think about it.”

As for the gorilla watching from the side—although she was looking at this, she was magically not jealous this time.

—If you asked why, of course I, the gorilla, know everything! Big Gold Hair, do you?!

The secret that Kang De came from Earth and even the matters over there were exposed by the extremely lonely Kang De when the gorilla was still a gorilla on the Holy Seal Islands.

Kang De looked at Tina’s bright eyes and feelings and nodded gently. “I understand.”

“Do you want to rest?” Tina said. “We still have to prepare for a while.”

In fact, the Russians and his motherland knew about the show-off on Earth against the French president. The United Kingdom and the United States should have also received the news, so this show-off was done in front of the five permanent members. Apart from being exciting and satisfying, the benefits of pretending were also strategic.

This was called pretending to be suspicious and making the few countries suspicious. They did not know what huge commotion he was going to cause. Such pressure would be placed on Big Bob, buying Comoros and Kang De a certain amount of time.

It was very impressive to increase it through the time difference.

Therefore, there was relatively plenty of time.

He thought for a moment and shook his head. “Wait a little longer. There’s still the alchemical military…”

Before he could finish, the side door was suddenly pushed open and Stella ran out in a hurry, “Kang De! This professor said that such a locust seems to have appeared in the history of the continent. He’s seen it in ancient books!”

Kang De’s expression changed.

Following Stella out hesitantly was a scholar with delicate features. He was wearing one-sided glasses and his expression was a little cowered, especially when he saw Kang De, the “Great Forbidden Spell Master”, face to face. The pressure was extremely great.

After all, he was only a quiet scholar.

Kang De quickly stepped forward and asked, “Professor, are you sure?”

After the souls in Tacitus recognized the power of the Fire Thief, it had already made him mentally prepared. If this locust had once appeared on the continent… what did it mean?

“I…—I’m actually not sure.”

The professor stammered, “That ancient book was translated from ancient times. Due to the change of civilization, the continent was in a chaotic battle. Much knowledge and culture were lost and there was no evidence, so it’s almost a myth. I can’t be sure if it’s a story or a fact, but many characteristics recorded in it are very similar to this locust. They’re called the ‘Grevind Swarm’. The meaning is unknown. I only say that they once caused huge chaos…”

Kang De looked at Stella and Tina.

The two princesses shook their heads. Even someone as knowledgeable as Tina had never heard of it.

Stella added, “I’ve never heard of any of the school leaders.”

What she meant was that she did not believe it.

Kang De said, “Can I trouble you to bring that book over?”

The professor stammered, “Yes, but, but it’s not very useful. Your Highness, that book is an encyclopedia, more like a story. There’s no useful content. I can even directly recount it…”

Perhaps Kang De’s disappointed gaze and his kindness to Goethe made the professor gather his courage. He hesitated for a moment and said, “There won’t be any records of such a worm in Goethe’s large library, but if it really exists and has caused a disaster, there will definitely be relevant narratives and records in a few places. There’s even the specimen and details of this insect and the method to defeat them.”

Kang De asked, “Which places?”

“Places that record a long history and have not been destroyed by the flames of war, such as the All-Seeing Tower where the Arcane Law Council is, the Royal Library of the Empire, and some races and countries with long lives, stable civilization, and clear historical patterns, which is…”

At this point, he secretly glanced at Kang De. To a certain extent, scholars and mages were the most gossipy. Then, the professor whispered, “The dragons and elves.”