A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 176 Innocence

"We have failed. Our efforts for peace have failed. They have forged a false image of peace with the blood of orcs! They have fabricated glory with the sacrifice of their warriors!"

Inside a run-down beer hall, Pease's impassioned speech resounded throughout.

"But we will not yield. Defeat is only temporary, but our efforts for peace cannot be erased!"

"We will fight in the streets, we will fight in our homes, we will fight everywhere!"

"Until my body perishes, until my body decays, even in death, I will utter those words!"

Long live peace!

Suddenly, someone in the crowd below shouted loudly in response.

Long live peace!

Then came shouts that grew louder and louder, and the fervor gradually infected the people.

Pice's demeanor was frenzied, his expression focused, and his behavior seemed less like a discussion of peace and more like a discussion of war.

Most ordinary people are easily swayed, and because of Jiang Shuzhou's suppression, they have harbored a lot of resentment.

And Pyth's words struck a chord with them, and with a little bit of the bard's magic, this created a frenzied scene.

Piss smiled. Soon a new storm would arrive, and he had to thank that mage for his suppression. Otherwise, how could he have made such progress?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Why is the firing rate so slow!"

"You expect me to give the order before you fire? Are the guns you're holding just sticks?"

Jiang Shuzhou was reprimanding his soldiers. He was very dissatisfied with their suppression operation that afternoon, and he even canceled the planned blockade of public places that evening.

Given this performance, it's unlikely that Jiang Shuzhou's plan will be perfectly executed; these civilians might easily break through with a simple charge.

It serves Kenos right that he can't catch anyone.

In order not to affect morale as much as possible, Jiang Shuzhou canceled the plan.

Compared to the Mahabray soldiers who dared to directly clash with demons, the quality of Kenos's garrison was clearly less than ideal.

But it's not a big problem. Hamlet's lord's guards will arrive tomorrow, and they'll surely give them an unexpected surprise!

As for these soldiers?

"You all need to return to your units. Half a month's allowance will be deducted from each of you."

Jiang Shuzhou had no intention of getting involved in such a shameful thing.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers breathed a sigh of relief. Although half of their subsidies had been cut, the fact that they didn't have to fight their own people greatly reduced their stress.

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Shuzhou drove away the soldiers and turned to meet up with Jess, who had been presiding over the ceremony the whole time, doing everything he could to save lives.

Jiang Shuzhou would still respect people with a saintly heart who sacrifice themselves to illuminate others, as long as it doesn't affect their interests.

From what we can see, Jess is merely somewhat merciful; he still has principles and a sense of camaraderie.

For example, he never asks why people always walk in vertically and leave horizontally in Jiang Shuzhou's laboratory.

That's what tacit understanding is.

"I understand you, but the battlefield is dangerous. Any act of mercy could lead to death. As your teacher, I naturally don't want you to..."

Upon entering the command center, Jiang Shuzhou heard Jess earnestly admonishing the students.

Good grief, Jess is actually advising others not to be soft-hearted. Is the sun rising from the ground?

"Navis, you're here! Go and try to persuade them!"

"What is it?"

Jiang Shuzhou was prepared to listen and assess the diversity of the human species.

"We plan to give those orcs some food so that they can eat their fill and won't attack us, thus preventing our soldiers from being sacrificed."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuzhou couldn't help but gasp several times.

Good grief, what's the difference between this and surrendering?

No wonder the academy sends these students to the battlefield. If they weren't allowed to experience the battlefield and correct their outlandish ideas...

If this group of people gains a voice in the future, won't the Mage Alliance be torn apart by them in no time?

"Well said, but what's the price?"

"Who will pay the price? Do you have money? Do you have supplies? Do you have anyone who listens to you?"

Jiang Shuzhou asked four questions in a row, leaving the other person speechless.

"Do what you're capable of, especially since there's no benefit to it. You might feed one tribe, but what about the entire orc race?"

"With so many orc tribes, can you feed them all?"

"There will always be orcs who choose to attack the fortress because of hunger, and people will always fall. You can't save so many people."

"With great power comes great responsibility."

However, some people just won't listen to advice.

"But……"

"Kent, stop talking..."

Katniss had to speak up to remind her.

"but……"

Kent still wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Jiang Shuzhou again.

"Kent, deduct five points."

Kent becomes able to understand human language when his own interests are harmed.

He immediately shut his mouth.

"Alright, take it or leave it. Anyway, Professor Jess and I are the ones in charge here. If you want to do good deeds, go ahead and try it. Dying will just eliminate a competitor for others."

After Jiang Shuzhou finished speaking, he sent all the other students out of the command center, leaving only Katniss behind.

"Katniss, do you know why I kept you here?"

"Ahem, well, Professor Weiss, I have something to attend to, so please excuse me."

Jess coughed and immediately prepared to run away.

No, what do you mean? Am I that repressed?

"It's serious business, Jess. Is that how you see me?"

"Ahem, you're so young, I thought..."

"Young? Isn't Professor Nevis over eighty years old?"

No, didn't I already show my face in the trials?

"Who said I'm eighty? I just turned nineteen!"

"what?"

Katniss felt a little numb; she couldn't believe that Professor Navis was only nineteen.

Some people are still studying in school at nineteen, while others are already ruthless killers at nineteen, fighting as easily as drinking water, and can also publish a lot of papers in the process.

"Sorry, I thought the one in the trial was you when you were younger..."

"Never mind, that's not important. What's important is that there are peace doves here, and I need your help."

Jiang Shuzhou recounted the entire incident to Jess and Katniss.

"So what do you need me to do?"

Katniss was puzzled, after all, she was just a magic apprentice and couldn't be of much help.

"I need you to help me mark the magic map with the hounds."

Jiang Shuzhou planned to leave the pass and meet with the orc tribe to take some prisoners of war, but the map Kenstron provided was clearly not very accurate, so he wanted someone to help him mark it.

"You'll be well rewarded. You'll get a thousand gold coins for every tribe you mark. How about it? You agree or not?"

This is both an opportunity and a danger.

"Okay, I agree!"

A thousand gold coins was no small sum, and Katniss readily agreed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

High in the air, the clicking and clattering of metal scraping together mingled with the howling of dogs.

Five airships sailed toward Kenos.

Jiang Shuzhou's private army has arrived.