Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 2169: Absolute Confidence

The Mayor took a long look at Torren, his expression calm at first before it hardened.

”I have been overseeing the welfare of this city even before your father was born,” he said. His voice turned cold and frosty. ”Do not think for even a moment that I would ever put the safety of this city and my people in danger for any reason.”

After delivering the warning, the Mayor’s face returned to its usual composed state. He continued explaining in a clear, steady tone.

”As all of you have already heard, Grey has the ability to stop both Gnomes and Necromancers from using their puppets. That means as long as he is present on the battlefield, the Gnomes will not dare bring them out. However, I will be honest with every one of you. The Gnomes still have no knowledge of Grey’s presence here. As long as we take proper advantage of that fact, we can strike their Peak Sovereigns hard at the very beginning of the battle.”

As the Mayor laid out the reasoning, the gathered experts slowly began to understand the plan. It was straightforward. Only their side knew that Grey Dawson would be joining the fight. The Gnomes remained completely unaware. Once the human forces appeared and launched an attack, the Gnomes would almost certainly summon their puppets out of habit. That single moment would give Grey the opening to use his well-known ability and hand the human side an immediate and decisive advantage.

A sharp glint flashed through Torren’s eyes as he listened. He would never deny that he disliked Grey Dawson, but he hated the Gnomes far more. The Archibald Family’s territory sat not far from Cinderloch City. According to historical records, the first Mayor of the city had maintained close ties with the Archibald Family, which was why the family still paid special attention to this place and had even sent one of their top experts to help defend it.

Torren was willing to accept the plan as long as it protected the city. Once the region was properly secured, he would finally be able to return to his family without lingering concerns.

The eyes of many others present also began to shine as they processed the Mayor’s explanation. When they considered the situation from the Gnomes’ point of view, it seemed almost certain that the enemy would bring out their puppets the moment they came under serious attack. As long as news of Grey’s arrival had not yet reached them, the human forces stood a real chance of achieving a resounding victory. The mere thought of it sent a wave of excitement through most of the crowd.

For months they had been constantly pushed back and forced into a defensive position. The possibility of not only fighting back against the Gnomes stationed in the region but actually wiping them out left many of the experts exhilarated.

The obese man, still managing his rising excitement, raised an important question that a number of people had overlooked.

”With rumors of Grey already spreading around the city, don’t you think the Gnomes would have been informed by now?”

The Mayor had expected this concern. He replied calmly, ”The number of people who knew about his appearance was limited from the start. The Necromancers never had the chance to contact the Gnomes, so the likelihood that the enemy already knows remains very low.”

He swept his gaze across the faces of everyone present and added with quiet firmness, ”Even if they somehow became aware of his presence, it still would not change the final outcome of this attack.”

The Mayor’s eyes turned sharp and determined.

”We will be victorious, no matter what.”

Hearing the absolute confidence in the Mayor’s voice, many of those present felt their blood begin to boil. Charging into battle behind a strong leader was one thing. Charging into battle behind a leader who was certain of victory was something else entirely. A large number of the experts gathered in the courtyard had fought for decades or even centuries. They knew what true confidence looked like on a commander’s face. The certainty the Mayor now displayed was something he had rarely shown in previous defensive battles against the Gnomes.

As that realization settled over them, many eyes turned toward a single figure standing quietly to the side, the back of the young Grey Dawson. His presence alone had elevated the Mayor’s confidence to this level. Several experts could not help but wonder what exactly had occurred during the battle against the Necromancers hours earlier to produce such a change.

From the Mayor’s words, it was clear that his certainty did not rest solely on Grey’s ability to suppress puppets. That left many of the gathered experts confused. They could see no obvious addition to their ranks beyond Grey and the companion standing beside him. What else could make the Mayor so unshakably confident of victory?

Despite the lingering questions, none of them truly doubted the Mayor’s judgment. He had been born in this city and had protected it for hundreds of years. Everyone present knew he would never deliberately endanger the lives of its people or the future of the region.

When the Mayor finished the main announcement, he instructed those present to remain in the courtyard and make their final preparations before departure.

Grey and Reynolds showed little interest in the shifting reactions of the crowd. Once the Mayor concluded his speech, the two of them returned to discussing their own plans in low voices, including what they intended to do after the coming battle.

A few members of the Pyrmond Faction who had met Grey in earlier years walked over to exchange brief greetings with him and Reynolds before returning to their places. Grey was well-known within the Pyrmond Faction, in truth, he was already regarded as something of a legend. The Faction’s recent rise in strength and influence was closely tied to the critical victory he had helped secure against their rival faction years ago, a victory that granted them access to a small world rich in resources. Those resources had since been used to train new generations of talented members. The Faction Leader had made certain that everyone understood the role Grey had played, and that recognition had only grown over time.

The atmosphere in the courtyard gradually shifted from discussion and surprise to focused preparation. Weapons were checked, elemental energy was quietly circulated, and small groups formed to discuss basic coordination. The morning light continued to climb higher in the sky, casting clearer shadows across the stone floor as the final hour slipped away.

Two hours passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.

When the time came, the assembled force of experts began to move out in an orderly fashion, leaving the Mayor’s courtyard behind as they marched toward the Gnomes’ camp under the brightening sky.