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Chapter 956 Grade Two Runaway Cities, Wrapping Up the Discussion
?The leaders behind him sighed, already aware of the situation.
Eleanora and the leaders accompanying her couldn't help but frown deeply, their brows furrowing with concern. They knew something was amiss, a sense of unease lingering since they were offered the deal to fetch a Divine Artifact.
Even though they weren't surprised that it involved another Grade Two Runaway City, they were still wary, as they barely could stand against a single Grade Two Runaway City and would surely be overwhelmed by facing two.
Meanwhile, the gods' chosen on each side, their hearts pounding with uncertainty, listened with rapt attention, fully aware that the outcome of this conversation would directly shape their future.
Seig and the others frowned, their minds racing as they tried to piece together what was happening. Clearly, they had been played, and a much greater power might have been orchestrating their strife.
Only the Vylkr warriors remained oblivious to the unfolding events, bearing no interest in them. Regardless of the source, they were prepared to face any dangers they encountered. Their only interest lay in the enormous moving contraptions--the Runaway Cities.
As warriors who had spent their lives deterring the Vylkr vines from encroaching on their home, they could all admit that such innovations would have been helpful in their previous predicament.
However, the need for such intriguing innovations had become obsolete with the Aegis of the Arctic Deity's protection and part of their territory now floating in the sky.
Orion nodded, having expected that more was happening behind the scenes. Lakul's words didn't surprise him; they only piqued his curiosity further. Now that he had ventured into the outside world, he decided it would be best to actively investigate and uncover the truth.
Even if he wanted to remain uninvolved, he couldn't. The arrival of the Wanderlust Traveling Tortoise Runaway City and the Sleeping Fox Runaway City made it clear that others would soon follow.
"Do you have any information about the Wandering Wolf Borough Runaway City and the Journeying Jaguar Runaway City that might help us understand more?" Orion asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Seeing that the mysterious figures before him were unmoved by his accounts of two Grade Two Runaway Cities, Lakul's heart sank. He could only conclude that they were either unafraid of the power a Grade Two Runaway City possessed or were oblivious to it.
The former meant he was in a dire situation than initially expected, while the latter suggested he could align himself with a powerful, reclusive figure.
"Unfortunately, we can only describe the structure of the Grade Two Runaway Cities to you, along with the main races inhabiting them and the names of their two rulers. A Grade Two Runaway City is powerful, making it nearly impossible to gather detailed information," Lakul replied, shaking his head.
"We are unaware of its inner workings, except for what they want others to see. Any Grade One Runaway City foolish enough to send a spy into a Grade Two Runaway City should be prepared to never hear from them again or face their wrath."
Orion furrowed his brows and nodded. "Tell me what you know, then."
"The Wandering Wolf Borough Runaway City is ruled by Emperor Silverfang, while the Journeying Jaguar Runaway City is ruled by Empress Lysendra," Lakul began, explaining everything he knew about the two Grade Two Runaway Cities.
As mentioned earlier, his knowledge was limited, and he concluded his explanation within ten minutes.
Orion took his time absorbing the information before asking, "If the two of you were to face any of the Grade Two Runaway Cities, how confident are you in winning the battle?" His gaze flickered between Lakul and Eleanora.
"If we were to face them with our previous Runaway Cities, our only chance would be to give everything we have and hope we can push them back," Eleanora responded thoughtfully.
"Hope?" Orion muttered, furrowing his brows in deep thought.
Despite their enormous Runaway Cities that made them seem like mere specks of dust compared to their several thousand gods' chosen, they could still not acquire a decisive victory. They could only hope to push their enemies back.
A Grade Two Runaway City seemed far more powerful than he had assumed. However, he wasn't overly concerned. As long as they continued to grow stronger, he believed they would eventually be capable of defeating the Grade Two Runaway Cities, just as they had done with the Grade One Runaway Cities earlier.
Nevertheless, Orion remained cautious and didn't fully trust the two former rulers before him, taking everything he had learned with a grain of salt.
"Yes, if either of the Grade Two Runaway Cities chooses to confront us head-on, while victory might not be assured, they risk being attacked and swallowed up by another Grade Two Runaway City," Lakul responded, smiling wryly.
"Just like how you swallowed the Four-eared Lone Rabbit Runaway City?" Orion asked, narrowing his eyes at Lakul.
Lakul's wry smile slightly faltered. "Unfortunately, the Four-
eared Lone Rabbit Runaway City is no longer under my control; it's in the hands of the Wandering Wolf Borough Runaway City. We thought they were satisfied with it, but we have doubts, as the power of a Divine Artifact is much more extraordinary than any Grade One Runaway City," he responded, shaking his head.
"And what about my forces? How would we fare if we attacked a Grade Two Runaway City?" Orion responded.
"You would fare much better than us, Great Warrior, but we are unaware of the kind of forces you command, so it's hard for us to decide," Lakul swiftly responded.
Orion nodded, already anticipating such a response and deciphering the hidden meaning in Lakul's words.
"This concludes our discussion. I will send someone and a few others later to replace you and serve as the new rulers of the Sleeping Fox Runaway City and the Wanderlust Traveling Tortoise Runaway City. You should take this opportunity to acclimate yourselves to the environment, as it will be your new home from now on," Orion declared, rising from his seat.
The two leaders also stood up.