Chapter 505-An Extremely Risky Plan
Chapter 505-An Extremely Risky Plan
"As you can see on this map, I plan to reinforce the Defend Wall and expand its defensive coverage beyond what it was previously. We need to ensure that the Defend Wall is not just impervious to breaches by the Dark Faction, but also capable of thwarting any of their offensive maneuvers. The previous thickness of the Defend Wall has proven insufficient for absolute security. Therefore, we will use these magical materials to substantially increase its thickness. If the Defend Wall is sufficiently thick, then the actions of the Dark Faction will undoubtedly fail," explained Duke Arsena.
On the map hanging in the Duke's study, a much more majestic Defend Wall was depicted, replacing the original one.
Neither the general of the Defend Wall nor John immediately responded to Duke Arsena's suggestion, as they were both deep in thought.
In the eyes of the Defend Wall's general, the strengthening of the wall was undoubtedly good news. However, if they were to follow Duke Arsena's plan, it could potentially require a significant amount of time and resources. He wasn't sure if they could avoid interference from the Dark Faction during this process, especially considering the close proximity of the Defend Wall to the Dark Realm. If the Dark Faction decided to disrupt the construction, they would have no time to prepare. This was a key reason why the Order Faction had previously struggled to defend effectively against attacks from the Dark Faction.
John's thoughts were simpler. He was pondering over how much magical material would be needed to rebuild the Defend Wall according to Duke Arsena's plan. He considered that if these materials were used in the construction of Storm City instead, they could ensure that all the city walls had powerful magical defenses. John felt that rather than strengthening the Defend Wall, it might be more beneficial to fortify the walls of Storm City, which could at least withstand attacks from the Mystery camp.
Neither of them spoke first, which evidently made Duke Arsena a bit impatient. After waiting for a while, the Duke asked directly, "What are your thoughts? Do you think my plan is unfeasible? Or do you believe that the current strength of the Defend Wall is sufficient?"
Faced with Duke Arsena's question, the Defend Wall's general was the first to respond: "Of course, it would be very pleasing to me if you decide to reinforce the Defend Wall. However, my concern is about potential interference from the Dark Faction during the reconstruction process. If we are disturbed by the Dark Faction, how should we handle it? After all, we no longer have enough powerful masters at the Defend Wall. Mystery Protector has also returned. Without the assistance of Mystery Protector, we don't have enough confidence to withstand an attack from the Dark Faction at the Defend Wall."
The general's concerns were indeed valid. Hearing this, John realized the purpose behind Duke Arsena's decision to seek him out. Arsena might be hoping for John to protect the Defend Wall during its reconstruction. While this quest might not be particularly challenging for John, it would consume a significant amount of his time. Duke Arsena has always been a very fair person, so if John chose to accept this quest, the Duke would certainly offer him some additional rewards.
However, before Duke Arsena explicitly made this suggestion, John thought it best to continue keeping silent. He decided to wait and see what Duke Arsena's exact thoughts were.
Duke Arsena clearly agreed with the general's concerns. After nodding in acknowledgment, he directly addressed the general, "You don't need to worry too much about this. I will definitely send someone to assist you, and that person is none other than the one standing before you."
Just as John had anticipated, Duke Arsena wanted him to ensure the safety of the Defend Wall during its reconstruction. The general then turned his gaze towards John, recognizing John's strength but uncertain whether he would accept the quest.
"If your Grace needs my help at the Defend Wall, there's no issue at all," John replied. "However, the reconstruction of the Defend Wall will likely take a considerable amount of time. For an adventurer, time is the most precious commodity. If I spend a lot of time at the Defend Wall, other adventurers may catch up to my level."
John's concerns were also reasonable. Both Duke Arsena and the general understood that competition among adventurers was fierce. Every adventurer aspired to reach the highest level, and the intensity of competition between adventurers often even surpassed that between the Order Faction and other hostile camps.
"I am well aware that your time is valuable, which is why I'm not just planning to have you defend the Defend Wall. In fact, with the presence of the general, I believe there won't be major issues with the wall's defense. I have come up with a new plan, but it is somewhat perilous. If you are willing to hear it, I will tell you. If not, then I will not divulge this plan," said Duke Arsena, introducing a new dimension to the discussion.
Duke Arsena's words left both John and the general feeling a bit puzzled. They were both very familiar with the Duke and knew him to not be a man of indecision. If Duke Arsena had indeed devised a plan, it would be typical of him to state it directly.
"You can share your plan. If I think it's not feasible, I will share my opinion with you," John said, not perceiving any particular anomaly. He was eager for Duke Arsena to reveal his plan, ready to act promptly if it proved beneficial.
"The plan is quite straightforward," Duke Arsena began. "Since the Dark Faction continuously poses a great threat to us, why don't we pose a significant threat to them? Our top warriors are no less powerful than those of the Dark Faction. We could directly venture into the Dark Realm and eliminate those Dark Faction entities that threaten us."
This proposal left both John and the general at a loss for words, as they had not expected Arsena to suggest such a risky plan. Venturing into the Dark Realm was fraught with high risk for any member of the Order Faction, given the immense dark power present there. Engaging in combat with members of the Dark Faction within the Dark Realm was almost guaranteed to be unsuccessful. Even though John possessed the Book of the Astral Realm and had the highest level among all adventurers, he felt it was absolutely too risky. If he were to fail in combat within the Dark Realm, there was a high chance he might never recover his equipment.
John and the general needed to carefully consider their response to this unexpectedly bold strategy proposed by Duke Arsena.
"Are you truly certain this plan will be successful? Venturing into the Dark Realm will greatly affect our own strength. Moreover, I believe that no matter what success we achieve there, it won't pose a significant threat to the Dark Faction," John stated frankly. He thought Duke Arsena's current plan was overly reckless and felt the need to oppose it.
Duke Arsena didn't seem too surprised by John's objection, as he himself had been quite astonished when he first thought of the plan. The general's attitude differed greatly from John's. After contemplating for a while, the general turned his gaze towards John, his reaction indicating that he indeed hoped John would venture into the Dark Realm. In the general's view, as long as John could fight in the Dark Realm, the Defend Wall would be completely secure.
This situation presented a challenging decision. On one hand, the general saw a strategic advantage in John's potential involvement in the Dark Realm, while on the other, John was acutely aware of the risks and the limitations of their capabilities in such a hostile environment. The dilemma lay in weighing the potential gains against the considerable risks involved in executing such a daring plan.
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