Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Times Have Changed

The brief flare of light burst forth from the gun barrels, accompanied by the smell of gunpowder. Spherical lead bullets whizzed through the air, shattering shields, sending splinters of iron and wood flying. The agonized cries echoed throughout the street.

Against this new weapon, the once sturdy armor seemed useless, pierced like paper. Flesh and bone were mangled, and casualties began to pile up.

When Lolan Hill saw the round rods protruding from behind the shields atop the tower, her heart tightened. Then came the flash of light, the smoke filled the air, and row after row of her people fell, causing her to clench her fists.

It was as if a voice whispered to her, “Sir, times have changed.”

No, they haven’t, she thought to herself, then descended the stairs. Her red dress swayed rapidly with each step as she quickly pondered a solution.

Early flintlock guns had slow loading speeds and lacked rifling, making them inaccurate beyond 200 meters. Moreover, gunpowder technology hadn’t advanced enough to penetrate steel plates like in the future.

Lolan tried to reassure herself, but she was shocked by how fast technology had developed here. Guns were already in use and showed considerable combat power. Was this the inevitability of history?

After exiting the tower, she immediately ordered the personnel outside to retreat and secure the gates. They would defend from the building.

The Carites Guild had considered some defensive measures during its early establishment. There was a low city wall around the perimeter, about 6-7 meters high, with watchtowers inside for observation and firing.

The guild’s armed forces quickly retreated upon receiving the urgent command. Fortunately, the flintlock guns were front-loaded, slowing their reloading speed. After the first two volleys, the subsequent soldiers started moving back, reducing the number of injuries, as their accuracy was poor.

The Tisiphone family’s troops did not urgently pursue because they hadn’t finished loading, and running would scatter their formation and exhaust their strength, killing only a few more. So, they maintained their original pace.

The injured comrades from the Carites Guild were quickly dragged back by those behind them. Everyone began to regroup, pulling down the gates. Some archers and crossbowmen retaliated from the shooting holes in the city walls.

The Tisiphone family’s shield bearers easily deflected the returning arrows and bolts, continuing their advance. They were approaching the guild’s city walls, even setting up long ladders behind them, making the situation increasingly perilous.

The spacious hall inside the guild was temporarily converted into a medical facility. A few herbalists began urgently treating the wounded, cries and wails filling the air.

Voices echoed within the hall. In the courtyard stood over two thousand warriors clad in iron armor, and with those guarding the city walls of the商会, this was presently Karith’s main combat force.

These individuals had received some military training and were relatively battle-hardened and resolute. However, many more were ordinary people with no experience or preparation, suitable only for auxiliary roles. Putting them on the battlefield at such a critical time would likely result in immediate panic and retreat.

—

On the other side of Hope Lane, the Helius family and the Anemii family engaged fiercely.

Thanks to reforms implemented by Melu recently, the Helius family had taken steps to eliminate corruption and strengthen the control of the main household. Their armed forces had expanded significantly, and they had procured a batch of new weapons from Rourna. Although they lacked the arquebuses used by the Tisiphone family, their equipment was much improved compared to before.

At first, they were somewhat disoriented, leaving them vulnerable to the Anemii family’s sudden attack. But soon, the Helius family retaliated. As one of the oldest large trading guilds in Hope Lane, despite being somewhat bloated, they had accumulated considerable strength and treasures.

One by one, tree artisans dressed in leaf-like attire stepped out from behind the lines. Dusty wooden boxes were opened, revealing dried, yellow camellia flowers inside.

An ancient song began to be sung by these tree artisans, with a somber tone and a style that overlapped in a unique manner.

As these melodies played, the dried yellow camellia flowers rose into the air, layer upon layer, like a flower waterfall soaring towards the sky, then scattering and falling.

The scattered camellia flowers spontaneously caught fire, silently landing on the enemy. Seeing this, the Anemii family immediately fetched buckets of water to douse the burning comrades, but unfortunately, even when drenched, the camellia flowers continued to burn. The flames penetrated leather and iron armor, causing the enemies to roll in agony on the ground.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

A series of faint sounds sliced through the night, striking the tree artisans clad in leaf-like attire. Those struck fell instantly, their faces turning green, trembling uncontrollably, their pupils wide open as they succumbed to poison.

The Helius family was both shocked and enraged, immediately organizing their dense shields to protect the remaining tree artisans. But without the visual support, the descent of the camellia flowers in the sky noticeably slowed.

Facing the skyward fire of the Helius family, the Anemii family began using their own trump card. A refreshing scent wafted through the wind, causing many members of the Helius family to become paralyzed and lose consciousness, only to be cut down by the charging enemies, breaking through their formation.

But the camellia flowers in the sky started falling again, igniting the enemies, streets, and debris below, blocking the streets once more.

The flames burned the air, emitting a peculiar fragrance that permeated the street. Both sides paused momentarily, facing each other across the flames.

The head of the Anemii family, No

Yisi, dressed in exquisite golden armor, was riding a horse at the back of the team. Looking ahead at the burning flames, he sighed.

“Not surprisingly, the Helius family, who have been rooted in Hope Lane for nearly a thousand years, have such a trump card. It’s kept so secret that I haven’t heard about it before.”

“Pity.”

Fengnai stood on the ground, with a group of guards protecting her. She asked curiously, “Why do you say it’s a pity, Father?”

Nois lowered his body and touched Fengnai’s hair.

“Pity the times have changed. There won’t be a Helius family anymore.”

Shadows began to appear in the corner of the Helius family area. These shadows, aided by an insider, sneaked through a side door and rushed towards the main building of the商会, where core members of the Helius family were located.

“There’s a stab.” Before the patrol members could react, they were killed by the shadows with swords, their mouths covered as they fell.

These assassins rushed in, quickly entering the main building. The guards there tried to stop them, but it was too late. The emergency bell rang, and armed personnel began rushing over, but it was already too late.

Green poisonous smoke filled the hall of the main building, blocking those trying to rescue. The assassins charged up the stairs, breaking down doors and searching room by room.

During this period, Melu had been managing household affairs, while the former head of the family, Hes, had moved out with Bell to avoid suspicion. The only direct member of the Helius family still in the main building was Melu.

Some maids, seeing the sword-wielding assassins, screamed in panic and fell, bloodied faces.

In a small room usually used for storing cleaning tools and杂物, the head maid forced Melu into a low cabinet, trying to hide her.

“Let me out, Auntie Lige. They’re after me.”

Melu looked at the elderly head maid, whose forehead now had wrinkles and disheveled hair.

“Hush, don’t speak nonsense. Just stay alive.”

She closed the cabinet door and piled other杂物 in front of it to conceal it.

Melu hid in the cabinet, in complete darkness, only able to see a sliver of light through the cracks. Besides her own heartbeat, she could hear only the tense breathing of the head maid outside.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, followed by the sound of breaking doors, shouts, sword clashes, falls, and searches. The noise grew closer until the door of the杂物room was kicked open.

The head maid seemed to resist, then there was a dull thud as a body leaned against the cabinet door and slid down, blocking the last bit of the cabinet from view.

Melu held her breath, tears silently streaming down her face.

Thank you xFrostyFeetx and Tea Play, for your generous contributions~

(End of Chapter)