Chapter 316 313: New Rule!

Chapter 316 313: New Rule!

As the cold truth set in, the expedition party was struck with the harsh reality of their situation.

Winter, the most dreaded time of the year in Victoria Kingdom, was just around the corner, and they were utterly unprepared.

Their hearts sank.

Their despair wasn't unfounded.

What was the hardest time of the year?

If you asked any citizen in the kingdom this question, they would unanimously agree that winter was the most challenging time of the year.

Eldrich's winters were abnormal. The days would dwindle, giving way to extended hours of darkness, creating a perfect playground for devils to wreak havoc across the Victoria Kingdom. Confrontations with these menacing creatures in the days of winter were inevitable, and everyone had to be on their toes, prepared for the worst.

But during winter, the dark days and devilish disturbances were not the only worries.

There was a much graver threat that loomed in the form of a potential invasion.

If the temperatures dropped low enough in the northern regions, the Emerald Ocean that served as a natural barrier between the Victoria Kingdom and the devil realm would freeze over, creating a pathway for the devilish hordes to invade!

The kingdom still bore the scars from a decade ago, when the Durcalians had traversed the frozen expanse and launched a brutal attack. It took the mobilization of the entire kingdom's forces to fend them off and ensure the survival of the realm. The aftermath was bloody; countless lives were lost, painting the forests red with the blood of the fallen

Aware of these looming threats, the citizens of the frontiers would commence their preparations before the arrival of winter, spending all their wealth to procure necessities that would increase their chances of survival during winter.

Moreover, this ritualistic preparation was done for one more reason. It was crucial because prices would skyrocket during winter, with essential items doubling or even tripling in cost.

Now, most of the members of the expedition party had ventured into the lesser dimension with the goal of acquiring treasures to sell, thereby gathering the funds necessary for their winter preparations. However, the harsh environment of the dimension proved to be more challenging than anticipated, and their haul was minimal.

But they still remained positive.

Back then, they believed there was ample time to prepare, but the revelation that winter was mere weeks away left them in a state of shock.

They would have to face the dangers of winter unprepared.

No doubt, the chances of them dying were high, as high as a mountain!

Devastation was evident on their faces as they grappled with their new reality.

"What are we going to do? How are we going to survive the winter with so little time to prepare?" they questioned amongst themselves, panic lacing their voices.

Feeling the weight of the situation, one of them exclaimed with trembling lips and tears in their eyes, "No one told us there was such a disparity of time between the lesser dimension and our world. It's unfair. You should compensate us!"

Accused wrongly, Ilyan immediately spoke up to defend himself and his group.

"You've got to understand, placing blame on us for this unforeseen circumstance just isn't fair. Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, saw this coming. Our extensive research and studies, spanning centuries and generations, have all pointed towards a consistent pattern in lesser dimensions – the time disparity has always ranged from 1 day to a maximum of 3 days when compared to the time flow in our world. There hasn't been a single recorded incident, not one in all our lengthy annals of history, where the disparity stretched as far and wide as it did in this lesser dimension. This occurrence, it's an anomaly, a first of its kind, and it caught us all off guard."

With that, it was clarified that the side who held the expedition wasn't at fault.

The expedition party understood that Marshall and the other officials of the frontier weren't in the wrong. It is just that they were too unlucky. They stopped resenting them.

However, the panic in their heart wasn't quelled.

The winter was approaching, bringing with it an air of uncertainty and danger. And they were completely unprepared.

What happens to a person who is unprepared in the face of danger? In a dire situation, such a person would die ten out of ten times.

Thinking so, their panic only intensified.

Their minds raced, overwhelmed by the gravity of their predicament.

The chilling thought of defecting crossed some of their minds.

While they were well aware that defecting carried severe penalties, it offered a glimmer of hope—a chance at survival.

If they managed to escape undetected and start living undercover, they would lose all privileges that their current identity provided them but they would make it out alive.

On the other hand, facing the winter unprepared was akin to walking willingly into the jaws of death. They would certainly die.

What to do?

Amidst the tumultuous storm of thoughts and fears, silent glances were exchanged within the group.

Each glance was heavy with words.

Wordless communication flowed between them as they weighed their limited options.

It was at this moment that Marshall's gaze swept across the crowd, piercing through the veil of panic. His eyes, sharp and discerning, seemed to delve into their very souls, reading their innermost thoughts and fears.

"Worry not, the frontier provides for its brave warriors. Since you've returned victorious from the expedition, great rewards await you." Recognizing the signs of despair and contemplation of defection, he spoke up to reassure them.

The expedition party exchanged confused glances. What was Marshall talking about? What rewards? At the thought of rewards, their eyes brightened. Their minds, previously clouded by panic, now buzzed with curiosity.

Marshall turned to Ilyan, "Ilyan, please explain the newly implemented rule to them. They deserve to know."n(.0vεLbIn

Following his command, Ilyan, with a composed demeanor, began explaining the newly implemented rule that had been set in place a few months ago to the expedition party.