The story begins the day before the human attack on the orc camp. Under the magic recording of the memory crystal, people could clearly see a mage wearing a cloak and a golden mask stealthily infiltrating the orc's front-line camp. Unexpectedly, this golden-masked mage was not attacked by the Bloodflower Axeman or the Shaman Witch King but was instead invited into their tent.
The magical recording secretly captured all of this, and everyone who saw the recording thought they were going mad. Because this golden-masked mage began negotiating with the orcs.
He offered food, gold, magic crystals, and women in exchange, negotiating with the orc leader, the Bloodflower Axeman Guleide. He said the higher-ups agreed to give the orcs ten thousand tons of food, three thousand pounds of gold, a thousand fifth-level magic crystals, and five hundred women, on the condition that the orcs retreat. The Bloodflower Axeman was tempted by the offer, but Guleide still flatly refused.
“I know you're short of food, and you can't last much longer. If you agree to my boss's terms, you can get the resources you plundered without sacrificing a single soldier, achieving your invasion goals. Why not take it?” the golden-masked mage persuaded.
“No, we orcs value honor! Even though we would have the resources, our honor is not fulfilled,” Bloodflower Axeman Guleide shook his head.
“Don't you want to claim some heads to present to your Lionheart King? That's easy, we'll send out a thousand slave soldiers to a designated location for you to kill. You can take their heads to appease your Lionheart King. I know you're intimidated by the majesty of the Lionheart King, but with our help, defeating him and seizing the orc throne is also very likely. We humans have more powerful beings than you orcs, and we are adept at strategy and assassination!” the golden-masked mage enticed.
“Hey, don’t think just because you assassinated the miraculous boy Rody you can boast to the heavens! Our Lionheart King is one of the three great Axe Saints, and the Queen is also an Axe Saint. The combined power of two Axe Saints can flatten a nation. Do you think mere third-rate assassins can harm the Lionheart King? What a joke! Among the eight marshals, six Axe Kings are from the lion and tiger tribes. Just based on that, we're a hundred years away from challenging the Lionheart King! Stop persuading us to do the unthinkable, we orcs don’t daydream!” the leading Shaman Witch King scoffed, rolling his eyes dismissively.
“Messenger, you’d better say something useful. Anlinnaf Witch King is right, stop talking about being disloyal to the Lionheart King, otherwise, we'll tear you to pieces!” Guleide was also very angry, as he himself was a lion orc.
“Forget it, talking to this guy is useless, let’s cook him!” one of the Bloodflower Axeman drooled.
“Right, right, right, we haven’t eaten for so long!” the other Bloodflower Axemen eagerly agreed.
“Wait a minute…” the golden-masked mage, scared, quickly produced a large amount of meat and wine from his storage ring, diverting the hungry Bloodflower Axeman's attention. While they feasted, the golden-masked mage took the opportunity to persuade them, not only including lucrative conditions but also military intelligence about Rody City. He even said that if the orcs agreed to retreat, the Human Justice Alliance of the Saint Song Fortress would definitely not assist Rody City. When the orcs kill the miraculous boy Rody, the Alliance would additionally gift the orcs a thousand pounds of gold and five hundred fifth-level magic crystals.
Finally, with his excellent eloquence, the orcs agreed to retreat and vacate the camp, cooperating with the human army to stage a show, but with the original terms doubled.
The two sides signed a divine covenant in a friendly conversation. The orc leaders swore by the Beast God to retreat, allowing the human army to burn the camp tents and chase them, staging a grand defeat. The Human Justice Alliance, in the name of the God of Light, swore to provide twenty thousand tons of food, six thousand pounds of gold, two thousand fifth-level magic crystals, and a thousand women. They also agreed to send out a thousand slave soldiers for the orc elites to kill, to answer to the Lionheart King.
Thus, the story of the following night unfolded. The memory crystal recorded everything, and the content matched closely with what the Saint Song Alliance announced to the world.
The content showed human troops stealthily approaching the camp, then setting fires everywhere, burning tents, with deafening shouts and killing noises. Of course, in the memory crystal of the orcs, there wasn’t a single soldier in the camp, only ten Bloodflower Axemen and ten Shaman Witch Kings waiting for the golden-masked mage. The golden-masked mage, leading several similarly dressed iron-masked mages, arrived first, and after a brief conversation, paid the gold and magic crystals.
“What about the food and women? Are you playing with us? You humans must know, our soldiers are still starving. If we don't see the food, we won’t retreat,” Guleide said.
“Just one roar from me, and five thousand orc warriors will turn you all into cooked meat in the pot!” Anlinnaf Witch King even threatened.
“The food and women are in another place, it’s inconvenient to talk here. Come with us! Not a single grain of food or a single woman less, I assure you’ll be satisfied!” the golden-masked mage said this as brave human knights were escorting half-orc slaves or captured wild men into the camp, slaying them mercilessly. Some mages, using memory crystals, captured the angles perfectly, showing human knights killing orc warriors, soldiers cheering while tossing orc heads.
“You can only act, what else can you do?” Guleide spat, seeing knights wiping blood on themselves for a heroic photo shoot.
“Don't mind them. Humans and orcs have different ideals. We seek peace, you seek resources. Please lead your soldiers to retreat as per the contract! Once you withdraw fifty kilometers away, we will provide the food and women. Of course, please leave some items behind, make it look like a rout…” the golden-masked mage requested.
“You're bluffing, how could our brave soldiers be defeated! Impossible, we must maintain formation in our retreat, otherwise, we fight!” Some Bloodflower Axemen firmly disagreed.
“Wait, fighting is not an option. Hurry up the retreat, and leave the rest to us,” the golden-masked mage persuaded: “Think about it! Orc leaders, food and women are right ahead of you, don't you want to get them quickly? With gold and magic crystals, the Lionheart King won’t blame you, and with women and food, you can return to enjoy a good life, why suffer and bleed under Saint Song Fortress?”
“Retreat is fine, but if we don’t see the women and food fifty kilometers away, those show-off soldiers will all become our dinner!” Guleide agreed.
So, the orc soldiers ran far ahead, with the Human Justice Alliance’s troops slowly chasing behind. The leading troops occasionally dropped orc flags, beast-skin clothes, ropes, wooden clubs, and damaged axes prepared in advance, even blood-stained half-orc claws, then the mages in the army took many photos. People saw these items in newspapers, never imagining that the trophies of human victory were captured in such a manner.
The human army pursued for thirty kilometers, then stopped. The knights busied themselves wiping blood, taking imposing photos.
All the participating soldiers were given gold coins and wine, celebrating the victory.
Guleide and the other orc leaders were present the whole time, waiting for the promised food and women from the golden-masked mage. Some Bloodflower Axemen repeatedly threatened that if the delivery wasn't quick, they would kill those proud knights, as they couldn't stand the nauseating photoshoot. One of the Shaman Witch Kings secretly recorded everything, the orcs had planned to shame humanity from the start, documenting everything.
In the middle of the night, while the human coalition celebrated their victory, the golden-masked mage led the orc leaders to a valley.
Inside were carts full of food and women in cages.
There were also about a thousand slave soldiers escorting the food and women, completely unaware of what was happening, and were surrounded by thousands of orcs, fainting from fear.
“Kill, kill these incompetent humans!” Some Bloodflower Axemen showed a bloodthirsty desire for slaughter.
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“You fool, get out of the way! What do you know? This is a disgrace to all humanity. If we kill them, there will be no evidence left. We must use them to shame humanity, to shame the miraculous boy Rody who defeated us time and again... If you don’t understand, just get out of the way! The Lionheart King has already said, we'll take the food, but these slaves and women are to be used in an exchange with Rody!” Anlinnaf Witch King scolded.
“Miraculous boy Rody, this is our grand gift to you. Hahaha, if you want these women and slaves back, it's simple. Just promise us that you won't rescue the Saint Song Alliance, and we'll return a thousand slaves to you. Promise us that you won't be the commander of the Human Alliance, and we'll give you another thousand women! Think about it, miraculous boy Rody! Our demands aren’t much, we always respected and feared you. But if you refuse, we'll mercilessly eat these slaves you abandoned and violate these vulnerable women. Now, the lives of more than two thousand humans are in your hands. Think carefully, miraculous boy, we hope to hear your agreement... Finally, congratulations on defeating the demons, although we warned them early, but the self-proclaimed clever demons, as expected, were defeated by your hands. Haha, we are delighted that after patiently waiting, we got the opportunity to negotiate with you, all thanks to the Saint Song Alliance! Let human stupidity intensify! This is what we most love to see…” The voice of Guleide Axeman, like countless slaps, each word struck harshly on the faces of all human viewers, causing pain from their faces to their hearts, and into their souls.
Such disgrace had never occurred in human history.
Humans can lose battles, die in battles.
But they cannot shamelessly beg orcs, deceive themselves, allow clumsy orcs to perfectly use their schemes against humans, and especially cannot trade their dignity and kin for superficial honor.
Betraying the dignity of all humanity for apparent victory, such acts of deceiving the world and faking cannot be forgiven, let alone when such false glory, touted and celebrated, is built on the lives of a thousand slaves and a thousand women. Trading food for retreat, gold and magic crystals for temporary peace, slaves and women for false honor, using intelligence and plots for persecution... All these shameless actions left the viewers feeling as if the world was falling apart, completely dumbfounded.
...
Throughout the night, the people of Camalon protested against everything that happened in the Saint Song Alliance.
People tore the magic newspapers that published the victorious images of Marshal Troski in golden armor, made effigies of Troski for people to beat and burn, and even the flags of the Justice Alliance were trampled by millions before being thrown into the fire. Enraged, people howled to enlist in the army, to attack the Saint Song Alliance, to raze the once-prideful fortress to the ground!
Overnight, the Fortress of Saint Song became the city of shame for humanity.
The soldiers inside, who deceived the world, also became objects of hatred.
The great sages of the Rody Academy, sitting in front of the ‘Twin Stars’ statue of Rody and the Black Night Prince, wept uncontrollably. Even in the most desperate times, these sages never lost faith and hope in humanity, always smiling and encouraging others. But at that moment, they felt utterly disgraced by humanity's loss of dignity, weeping for the fate shamelessly betrayed by the superiors...
Almost simultaneously, protests of varying degrees erupted in different countries, with angry mobs smashing shops and setting fires.
Houses of knights recognized in the videos were destroyed, and many related to the videos – families, shops, embassies, even temples – were all targeted by the furious public.
“I deeply apologize to the world, for having a shameless son. From today, he is no longer my son. If I see this ugly and sinful guy again, I will kill him myself! The pride of my family for five hundred years, he ruined it overnight... I offer a reward of a hundred gold coins, whoever kills Dereklo and brings his head, I'll immediately give them a hundred gold coins, and even gift them my sword, a true honor sword stained with orc blood.” Old knight of the Stine family, spitting blood in anger, issued a death bounty for his son in the magic newspaper.
“Seeing today's news, I feel like I must be drunk or maybe, I'm going mad!” the usually abstinent Federal Chief Justice announced his resignation.
“Retreat, if anyone dares take another step towards the Saint Song Alliance, I'll chop off his legs! I'd rather cut off my soldiers' legs than see them recognized as soldiers of the Saint Song Alliance, which is more disgraceful than a brand on a mule's backside. Damn it, how could I believe the envoy's persuasion and send my soldiers to support the Saint Song Alliance? I must have taken the wrong medicine…” Queen Mire made her first public apology.
“I can’t believe it, it hurts my heart!” The saint decided to no longer go to the Saint Song Alliance to save the wounded and dying.
“No more explanations, I've had enough! How much longer do you intend to fool me? Before my people attack my palace, get out immediately, or else, I'll tie you up and throw you in the square to let the angry people tear you apart! Although I really want to do this, as a king, and you as envoys, I will spare your lives… Get out now, I never want to see you again!” King Noren furiously waved his sword, chopping half of his throne to show the shame of listening to slander.
“I'm speechless, there are people in the world more shameless than me!” exclaimed the leader of the anti-human terrorist organization, Nuladeng.
“This is crazier than a nun getting pregnant!” exclaimed the elderly mother superior of the Sister Baptism Association.
“Saint Song Alliance, it was a pleasure working with you!” Orc Guleide sent a public magical signal.
“Well done, this is the first piece of good news I've heard since Rody defeated me. Keep it up, Troski, you're cut out for this job!” The demon Ghost Eye Demon Marshal sent a sarcastic congratulation via the underground thief guild.
“A day ago, I was a guilt-ridden deserter. My wife was constantly in tears due to my cowardice and neighbors' accusations. Today she kissed me passionately, saying it was the most brilliant and correct decision of my life. My neighbors came to shake hands and embrace me in the middle of the night. I'm happy that everyone's opinion of me has completely changed, but honestly, I feel like crying!” Baron Yawen, who avoided military service by paying a large sum of money following his mother's advice, expressed his feelings.
“Look, our iron-fisted Marshal has also dispatched troops, haha, he's victorious! He defeated the orcs, killing more than a thousand half-orc slaves and wild men, no, orc elite axemen, right in front of ten Bloodflower Axemen and Shaman Witch Kings, look how imposing! And look, there, the human justice army driving the orcs into a rout, discarding armor and weapons, let's cheer, all these clubs, beast skins, and broken axes on the ground, these trophies, how proud we should be! As for the slaves and women, let's ignore them! Rody will rescue them, we don't have to worry about that, and the food too, what's twenty thousand tons? Just a trifle, Troski handed out forty thousand tons to beggars the other day with a flick of his hand. In his eyes, orcs are even less than beggars... What? You want to ask who the golden-masked mage is? No, how could such a person exist in the world! You must be mistaken, I dare say, he's definitely not Cardinal Saint Duri, no, of course not, just because he looks a bit like him and sounds like him, can you confirm it's him? This is obviously insufficient evidence, if you can find this golden mask in Saint Duri's bedside table, then I'll believe you! However, I guess Cardinal Saint Duri wouldn't be so foolish as to keep the golden mask in his bedside table!” Dennis Free Union Express sarcastically commented and boldly speculated that the golden-masked mage was Cardinal Saint Duri.
“This is a slander, an evil defamation against me and the temple, I protest!” Cardinal Saint Duri personally protested.
“Would the Bishop please open his bedside table…” This was the rapid response of the Dennis Free Union Express after being warned by the temple.
“Marshal Troski, it seems you should say something.” Naples Report.
“Despicable orcs used illusion magic to fake this farce, aiming to undermine our confidence in the Saint Song Human Alliance. They were defeated by the justice army and are now trying to save face with this tactic. Only fools would believe such nonsense!” Redlands Nobility Report.
“We are all fools, compared to Marshal Troski, we would rather believe in orcs,” declared Ivan Yef, the 'lowly servant' of the Black Night Prince.
“Alright, I need to write a poem to celebrate the great victory of humanity, especially the peace hard-earned by the golden-masked mage. Ah, he came gently, just as he left gently, waving his sleeve, not taking a single cloud with him... Let me dedicate this poem with a sincere heart to Cardinal Saint Duri, who does good deeds without seeking fame, may his divine light continue to shine on the land of humanity,” poet Warrenburn sarcastically remarked.
“A duel, I want to duel with that dog of a Cardinal Saint Duri, no one stop me!” the most polite sage of Landon cursed barefoot in the street for three hours.
“Don’t mention Saint Song, Troski or Saint Duri to me, I feel like vomiting just hearing it,” King William II erupted in anger.
“We are fools, la la la, send our sons and women to Troski's house, let him pack them off to orcs for peace, haha, we are all big fools, la la la!” Morning Newspaper of Mesbustania.
“Today, I first rushed into the editor's room and punched him hard, because this guy, who curses me every day, actually made me publish the victory news of Saint Song, and I really did it for the damn salary. That damned guy, before he woke up, I wrote down my anger, but it was hard, I broke five quill pens, tore up ten drafts, smashed three desks, and even threw two ink bottles downstairs, finally calming down a bit. If I had a sword in hand, I'd have to kill someone first to be completely calm. I want to curse everything about the Saint Song Alliance, but me, known for my sharp tongue, couldn’t find the words, because all the curse words I know can't describe and accurately portray that ugliness and conspiracy. Now, I suggest everyone watch the video of Rody's victory when he was seriously injured by assassins, or look at the Black Night Prince's sincere farewell before death, maybe you'll find their sorrow and sadness mirrored in our own eyes...” acerbic journalist Simpson.
“I'll give half of my fortune to fight orcs; I'll give all of it to fight demons, along with my most beloved son; to fight Troski, I'll give my old life!” declared the disabled hero, old warrior Dono.
“We don't criticize Troski, no, we won’t do that, because we are busy sharpening knives now,” Camalon People's Express.
The orc's secretly filmed video caused a sensation across the entire human continent. Overnight, the Saint Song Fortress plummeted from heaven to hell. Marshal Troski, who had earlier issued victorious statements with great pomp, now hid away, fearing that showing his face would lead to being torn apart by the people.
No one from the Saint Song Fortress dared to come out and explain, and of course, no one would believe them anymore. Deserters from the Alliance were occurring almost every moment, and even angry soldiers rebelled, leading to bloody conflicts.
Nations announced they would no longer support the Saint Song Fortress and began withdrawing their troops. Food and military supplies were also cut off. Except for a few countries like Galle and Redlands, most nations completely lost confidence. Many kings demanded that Troski immediately resign and hand over the soldiers and officers involved in the false victory report to face the people's trial.
Camalon and Mire decided to build a second line of defense at the Kast Fortress, located more than five hundred kilometers behind Saint Song, receiving support from many countries. However, the Kast Fortress only protected countries on the eastern continent, such as Mire and Camalon, and not western countries like Noren, Galle, Redlands, and Great Frey. This caused many countries to worry that if Saint Song fell, orcs and demons would invade, bringing a great catastrophe to the entire western continent.
“Queen Mire is said to be abandoning Saint Song and holding the Kast Fortress. Your hometowns of Mesbustania and Felik are on the western continent. If they are invaded by orcs, will you send troops to help? Will you agree to the orcs' terms and rescue the thousand slaves and women? What do you think about the ‘Night Visit Gate’ scandal of Saint Song?” Almost all magic reporters rushed to Rody City to interview the miraculous boy Rody, to see his attitude, whether he would resist the orcs, whether he would agree to the orcs' terms and not assist the Saint Song Fortress.
“We are troubled enough, leave us alone!” Stanley barked furiously like an enraged bull.
“Why should we clean up Troski's mess? Look, how brilliantly the Marshal plays his role, and how pathetically we play the nanny,” Tommy scoffed.
“Don’t worry, we will try our best to rescue the slaves and women. As for the orcs' conditions, they are laughable. I don't have to be the Grand Marshal of the Human Justice Alliance to resist invasion. I care not only for my homeland but for any country in the world... As for Saint Song, I have nothing to say,” Rody did not criticize or accuse.
Because he was now the backbone of everyone, the only hope, and couldn't afford to be as agitated and fiercely condemnatory as everyone else.
What people wanted to hear was his attitude, the kind of talk that stabilizes people’s hearts.
“You're asking about the 'Night Visit Gate', that kind of thing? It's their usual trick, we've long been tired of seeing it,” Chris casually dropped such a comment, causing a stir among the crowd. It seemed that there were many more scandals within Saint Song and the temple that had not been exposed.