Arandelle entertained Griffith at an annex in the town of Hepu, and the servants brought him a set of clean clothes and a very hearty breakfast. It's just that Griffith, who is full of worry, eats absent-mindedly.

The teleportation circle of the mage tower was destroyed, and it was difficult for high-level combat power to come in a short time.

The garrison mage was killed. Conix is both the Extraordinary Commander who coordinates the search and vigilance of the Tsuruura, and a wizard who is well-versed in occult knowledge and the prevention and control of the dark arts. His death suddenly created a void in the chain of decision-making and intelligence.

Today, the Hanami Festival is held, and tourists from all over the world flock to Mt. Sogetsu in Tsurupo Town.

The previous group of cultists not only disappeared, but another group of cultists with other signs was discovered in today's encirclement and suppression.

It's not good...... Griffith gradually recovered from the tension of the battle and the exhaustion of healing his wounds, and began to realize that the situation was very critical.

"Are you preoccupied, has the situation become so urgent?" Across from him, Alaandelle nodded to the attendants, and immediately someone fetched a box.

Inside the box is a beautiful set of chain mail. This fine armor covers the upper arm, and when combined with the gauntlet, it can form a complete upper body defense. The hem of the chain mail hangs down to the knee, avoiding the fear of a leg stab while wearing the shin armor.

This is a piece of armor that is perfect for armored cavalry, and is a little better than the half-chain mail that Griffith wears on a daily basis.

"You're welcome, if it weren't for your decisive actions, the Hepu Mountain Road Race would be dangerous, I like it very much, I've participated in it before," said Arandelle, "and a half-body plate armor and helmet, which need to be adjusted to your size, can also be lent to you." But that's to be paid. ”

"Thank you for your kindness, I just did my duty, and I can apply for an official transfer of armor," Griffith said embarrassedly refusal, "Wait a minute, why are you preparing plate armor for me?"

"Today is an important day for the Hanami Festival, so be prepared and hope you don't need it," Alaandelle said in an impeccable and elegant tone, "You may need something else besides armor." Please go back to the headquarters in the city first, and if you need anything, please come to me as soon as possible. ”

......

Returning to the temporary headquarters in Neopolis, Griffith saw everyone surrounding an object.

It is an ominous lead box, measuring 20 centimeters in length, width and height. The lid of the lead box has been opened......

It is said that a deceased cultist was found at the scene holding the lead box firmly in both hands, as if trying to protect it from the hands of the enemy.

A cold, corrupt smell permeated the air, reminding Griffith of the empty black crate in the bilge of the equinox, but more terrifying, more evil.

"It's not a seal. Lead boxes are a common container used to seal hazmat goods," Amber said, "and while there's still an unsettling aura of dark magic inside, I'm pretty sure it's just a remnant of the real seal." ”

"Could it be the same thing as the empty box on the equinox?" Griffith didn't have much experience with this kind of thing, so he could only listen to Amber's opinion.

"I don't think so, the Huntress' training has allowed me to distinguish between different seals and magical attributes? Amber shook her head, "This box once contained a seal that hinted at calamity, plague, and death, most likely from a civilization in the Southern Continent. Its residual aura is already so powerful, and the body must not be something we can handle. We need reinforcements. ”

"Reinforcements are on the way," said Second Lieutenant Skortz? Master Winston has sent out a debriefing and the nearest fleet to us will arrive in the early hours of tomorrow morning, bringing with them two legion groups and a dozen official Extraordinaires. At present, there are two battalions of the city defense stationed here, a squadron of 120 men of the 9th "Hespena" regiment passing through the island, a few hundred policemen, and several artillery squadrons in the port. ”

"The extraordinary, we need the extraordinary?" Griffith shook his head and said, "It's hard for ordinary soldiers, even legionnaires, to deal with unknown seals. ”

The second lieutenant's tone was also a little helpless: "There are many extraordinary people in the fleet, and there are also mages. ”

"But they'll only arrive tomorrow morning. ”

At this point, the Finnish sergeant major received a note from the herald: "Hey, guys, there's news from the Echo Hub? A detachment of Transcendental commandos is coming at full speed, and will arrive tonight." ”

How did you come to a commando transcendent. It's ridiculous. Isn't this just stuck at the point where our power is weakened?, Griffith asked very depressedly, "What about the exact time?"

"I don't know, it didn't say. "Finland flipped the note over and read it twice?" I really didn't say it. ”

Griffith felt extremely anxious: "Why can't we send the transcendent sooner? even if it's just one? What the hell are the superiors hesitating about?"

"I've read some of the documents left behind by the stationed mage, and judging by the records, he and Winston have been at loggerheads over the selection of the Transcendental," Amber pulled out a document from the file on his desk, "and he accused the High Mage who had planned to be sent out of his friendship with Winston and had an unfair opinion. If he hadn't died, we wouldn't have known. ”

"What about the Winstonians?"

"He took his squad to reinforce the city and the council," said the lieutenant, "and took with him a squadron of legions and a battalion of the city guards. The defense of Tsuruura and another brigade were left to us. ”

A few hundred city guards alone could not stop the seals and the cultists with their secret whereabouts. Griffith was almost overwhelmed by a burst of blood.

At this time, a corpse with an unrecognizable face was carried into the command headquarters.

Judging from the mage robes stained with minced flesh and brains, the size and equipment of the deceased man is the garrison mage Conix.

His skull burst, and his teeth, eyeballs, and brain plasma mixed with blood were collected and placed in a small box in the form of a paste. The Finnish sergeant major was nauseated and ran to the corner and threw up.

"Lord Winston said please confirm with the chiefs, and if there is no problem, we will send Master Conix to be placed. Said the hired staff who brought the remains.

"We ...... We ......" the lieutenant opened his mouth, but was speechless.

"Confirmed," Griffith grabbed his pen and signed the certificate, waved the hired hands away, and turned to his fellow Extraordinary, "we need to contact City Hall, the cultists are likely to attack the Hanami Festival, and we need them to coordinate with Winston to participate in the defense." ”

"Makes sense, yes. The second lieutenant nodded, "The opinion of the town hall is important. We can report to the mayor. However, it is difficult for them to enforce a formal Extraordinary, let alone a spellcaster. ”

Griffith said solemnly: "If the town hall can't send reinforcements and can't coordinate Winston, we will use this reason to ask them to enforce martial law and stop the memorial." ”

"No way," the lieutenant shook his head, "the town hall will try to give us two or three more kittens to step up its patrols, but it won't stop the memorial." This is the signature of the island. ”

The air in the conference room was suffocated. Scoltz's brow was twisted together like two rags, almost dripping. Amber was silent, leaning against the wall and rubbing her long hair. Finland is still in the corner, throwing up and turning pale.

The squad's morale was running out.

I've got to pick myself up, I've got to cheer myself up...... Griffith rubbed his forehead and changed his tone:

"Well, even without the Extraordinary's reinforcements, we have an infantry brigade of troops, plus the patrol and security police, and our situation is not too bad. There are clearly powerful families in the town of Heura, and they may have extraordinary people who can cooperate with us. ”

"What are we supposed to do?" Amber cast an inquiring glance at the midshipman. The same goes for the higher rank of ensign and sergeant major, as if Griffith was not a small second-class captain, but a garrison knight on the island.

Griffith said:

"First of all, we're going to go to the town hall and get it.

"Then, regardless of the outcome, concentrate the troops, in addition to the necessary garrison, and concentrate the mobile forces in the vicinity of the Cangyue Festival in Hepu Town for unified command,

"This time, we're going to bring in the port's artillery. ”

"But the internal security regulations ......," Skortz opened his mouth hesitantly.

"It's urgent," Griffith said, "and of course we're going to report it to our superiors and ask for their approval." But, whether they agree or not, we need to mobilize bed crossbows and trebuchets. That cult apostle has proven that sufficient firepower is of great significance. ”

None of the three Extraordinaries present disagreed with Griffith's opinion, but they all had hesitation on their faces.

Griffith thought for a moment, and then added: "If the town hall has neither many reinforcements nor can it be stopped, then we will ask them to authorize the formation of the former enemy headquarters, and the second lieutenant, the captain of the city defense force, the sergeant major, Amber, and I will vote together, and the second lieutenant shall have the final say." When we submitted our report, it was co-signed by the five of us.

"I didn't tell them about using artillery, they authorized it anyway. ”

"Well, if we find out that we are making a big fuss after the fact, the superiors will also see that it was the city hall that agreed to authorize," Finland nodded, "This will not only eliminate the suspicion that we have exceeded our authority, but also make efficient and transparent decisions." I agree. ”

"Yes, then that's it," Scoltz finally made up his mind, "I'll go to the warehouse with Finland, and we should be able to find some trebuchets deployed in the Church of Grace, we have calibrated the shooting meter before, and it should work." Griffith and Amber go to the town hall to find help. ”

By the time Griffith and Amber arrived at Neopolis City Hall, it was already 8 a.m.

When the guards heard about their intentions, they immediately went to report it. Griffith and Amber waited together in the conference room, sipping some coffee that had become popular lately.

"When this is done, will you go back and see Iloti?" Amber asked, taking a sip of bitter coffee.

"Well, that's nature," Griffith quickly shoved a sandwich into his mouth.

"What do you think the cultists are planning?" Amber handed over the coffee so he wouldn't choke on himself, "They certainly didn't smuggle the seals here to celebrate the holiday." ”

Griffith's brow furrowed, and he said slowly, "I can roughly guess some." The nature of this seal is about death, calamity, and pestilence, right?"

"Yes, I can't be sure of the specifics, but I won't go beyond that. Amber said with great certainty.

"Today, tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world will gather for the festival and the fireworks display," Griffith said, "and their goal is likely to spread the plague and bring it around the world through the tourists." ”