"Masi, where is Patriarch Rabio?"
After they let go, Valen pressed down the smile on his face and turned to look around. Not seeing that familiar figure, his expression stiffened.
The excitement in his heart instantly turned heavy, and an uneasy premonition rose.
"Why didn't Patriarch Rabio come back with you?"
Masi shook his head slightly and lowered his voice.
"Grandmaster Valen, Patriarch Rabio is fine. Before the Vampires arrived, he left Dwarven Valley through the abandoned mine tunnels.
Right now, he's probably already on his way to find the Copperhammer Clan."
Hearing this, Valen let out a long sigh of relief.
Thank goodness their king was safe, otherwise, the Dwarf clan really would have fallen into decline.
Snapping back to his senses, he immediately asked,
"Were there many casualties among our people? And those damn Beastmen, what happened to them?"
Speaking of this, Masi shook his head, his expression quite complicated.
"Most of the clansmen are all right. Not many warriors died.
As for those Beastmen…"
Masi turned to glance at Betty not far away, who was leaning on her giant sword, chatting with the residents like some neighborly girl, and his tone became very odd.
"Those damn Beastmen were defeated by the Vampires. At least more than half were wiped out!"
Valen's body trembled as he looked at Masi in disbelief.
"More than half wiped out?? The Lionmane Tribe had over ten thousand Beastmen soldiers!
Their king, that cursed Lion warrior, even defeated Patriarch Rabio in single combat!
The Beastmen led by such a powerful king were actually exterminated by the Vampires?!"
At that moment, Valen's mind conjured the image of Li De's face, wearing that faint smile. Right now, that handsome visage seemed only more and more mysterious.
It was as if a dense fog had settled over him.
Just how strong was this Vampire? What sort of power was hidden within this city?!
Valen felt only a deep sense of helplessness.
Being targeted by such a powerful, enigmatic force, was this good or bad for the Dwarves?
His eyes were full of bewilderment. Although Li De hadn't harmed the Dwarves, he didn't dare to be sure what this Vampire lord's true intentions were.
The Dwarves no longer had the strength to resist such a formidable and mysterious presence.
"Masi, when Lord Kachar brought the Dwarves to Dawn City, what did he say to you?"
"Lord Kachar? You mean that Vampire king?" Masi looked at Valen. After Valen nodded, Masi's eyes flickered slightly, betraying some unease.
"That Vampire said that if he were me, he wouldn't resist the Vampires outright but would instead bide his time and wait for Patriarch Rabio to rescue us.
Or search for the Vampires' weaknesses inside Dawn City, rather than risking getting hanged by defying the Bone Dragon's watchful gaze."
Bone Dragon??
This Vampire even had a Bone Dragon under his command??
Valen's eyes grew incomparably complex. He wasn't especially surprised by those words, given the wisdom of this city's master, saying something like that wasn't strange.
But the fact that there was a Bone Dragon in this city…that was simply beyond the limits of his imagination.
"I understand. Masi, don't act rashly in this city. Lord Kachar…is far more cunning than we thought.
And also far harder to deal with."
Masi looked at the most respected Valen in the Brutehammer Clan, seeing such profound apprehension on his face. He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately closed it in defeat.
Patriarch Rabio…maybe only you can save the Brutehammer Clan.
Li De had brought the use of propaganda, this weapon, to its absolute pinnacle in this backward world of ideas and public opinion.
Before every war, the Propaganda Department would publicize the necessity of the campaign: what they would gain if they won, what they would lose if they were defeated, and what would happen if they didn't fight at all.
The conclusion reached in the end was inevitably that they had to fight.
After winning, the Propaganda Department would select some outstanding heroes to promote, turning them into idols admired by all.
The spoils of war were also described in rich detail, and a portion of them, those of minor value and little importance, would be distributed as benefits to the residents.
But at the same time, the Propaganda Department never concealed the hardships of war. The fallen warriors were solemnly mourned, ensuring everyone understood how difficult it was for the Saintlight Vampires and knew that the armies of Dawn City waged war for them.
After this set of combined measures, Li De had secured the hearts of the entire city.
To the point that, in the future, if anyone dared slander the Vampires for launching wars beyond Dawn City, these residents would be the most steadfast in refuting them.
The power of the people was limitless, one had to make the enemy drown in the boundless ocean of the masses.
"My people, the Saintlight Vampires are your protectors, the guardians of Dawn City. Every war we wage is for the future of Dawn City.
For the future of every resident.
Weakness is the original sin!
If we do not seize more resources to grow stronger, then one day, when others break into Dawn City, the ones who will suffer will be each and every one of you.
Do you wish to see Dawn City conquered by other forces? To see others come and seize our lands, ravage our wives and children, occupy our houses, and steal our wealth?!"
Li De's tone carried powerful charisma.
In an instant, the already fervent atmosphere rose to an even higher pitch.
"No!!"
"No!!"
All that they had was given to them by Dawn City. No one wanted to lose it, so Li De's words carried an irresistible force.
They struck straight to the heart.
"My people, everything the Saintlight Vampires do is for a better Dawn City.
All to make our lives better.
In the future, I will grant you safer, more prosperous lives.
Everything, for Dawn City!!"
The short speech made the residents who had stayed up all night erupt once again.
Given Li De's prestige, he no longer needed to deliver any lengthy declarations, he only had to ignite the emotions of the residents, and that was enough.
After Li De stepped down from the platform, he quietly opened his attribute panel. Seeing the number of believers rising in a torrent, the corners of his mouth curled into a broad smile.
This was well worth it.
---
Under the coordination of the various City Hall departments, the patrol squad began arranging the Dwarves.
At this moment, Valen Brutehammer, the Dwarven Grandmaster Smith whose restrictions had been partially lifted because he had forged weapons for Kosso and Castro, approached Li De with a complicated expression, stopping him just as he was about to leave the square.
But before Valen could get close, he was stopped by the Vampires.
Li De didn't mind. He waved a hand for the Dwarf to come over.
Valen had long since been relieved of his weapons and equipment, and he was only Level 14. He posed no threat to Li De.
Valen looked gravely at Li De, who stood there calmly.
He had had a premonition that this mysterious and powerful figure might soon accomplish everything he claimed.
But he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, so abruptly that he had no time to react.
Most importantly, the Beastmen, so powerful they left Dwarves suffocating with fear, had been completely defeated by the Vampires.
It was simply unimaginable.
Li De's strength made Valen feel enormous pressure as he faced him again.
He no longer possessed the calm acceptance of life and death he had once felt.
Now, Li De's hand didn't just hold his life alone, half the Dwarven race's fate was in this man's hands.
And the mithril vein had also been discovered by him. Valen no longer held any cards.