"Shhh, shhh, shhh! Don’t talk about this, just let it rot in your stomach."

Dasaen shuddered.

He now more or less counted as a media worker, very good at sensing where the red line was. After giving Vomit Mud Sauce a few warnings, he walked away.

He was having a great time playing the game and didn’t want to get dragged into things he shouldn’t be worrying about.

A few minutes later, as a sharp horn blared out, the players holding a "social mixer" on this position all got to their feet, quickly forming one square formation after another by guild. Some had many people, some had few, it all looked a bit messy, but that didn’t matter. In any case, once the charge began it would all turn into the scene of a pack of unleashed wild dogs sprinting forward, the kind you couldn’t hold back even if you tried.

When they saw Sir Morphy and the vampire Commanders on the position, all fully armed, step up onto the platform at the front, the players quickly quieted down.

Over the noisy position, only the sound of each guild’s battle flags whipping in the wind remained. The atmosphere instantly turned grim and killing, and everyone standing in the players’ formations could feel that "black cloud presses down on the city, the city is about to fall" sense of pressure from ancient verse.

The Blood Inquisitor following at Murphy’s side cast an Amplification Spell on the Governor so that everyone present could hear the war declaration he was about to make.

Murphy took his place at the front of the platform. He noticed that many players had turned on their recording function, and the camera-consciousness that came from long-term "NPC roleplay" was instantly activated. His already straight, upright posture became even more strikingly handsome as he stood there.

Heaven was cooperative too. A gust of wind blew past and sent Murphy’s blood-red cloak billowing behind him like a classic scene from a movie.

Without a helmet, black hair fluttering, he looked out at his cutest little players. He took note of all the different emotions in their eyes.

Embarrassing to say, with the number of players growing, there were many people in this formation whom Murphy was seeing for the first time. Not that he could be blamed: Murphy had real work to do and couldn’t spend every day playing the wooden post who just stood there waiting for players to come pick up quests.

That made Handsome Murphy start reflecting on whether he’d gotten a bit "out of touch with the masses."

"My warriors..."

Murphy spoke, opening with the classic NPC way of addressing players. He said:

"You are about to set out to destroy the Wolf People’s evil arsenal. Even on this ever more dangerous position, this is still the most dangerous job. Only those with fearless wills can stand here without changing expression, and only those true heroes who are genuinely willing to give everything for peace and the future can shoulder such a duty.

I am ashamed that my own courage, compared to yours, is as humble as a firefly under the Fierce Sun. While you risk life and limb for this land, all I can do is remain here and pray that your operation is completed in victory.

But I give you my word!

My warriors, Immortals from another world, rightful Heroic Spirits of Transylvania! I, Murphy, hereby make you this promise! After you leave, this position shall be taken over by me!

I will stand here with my Soldiers and resist every evil foe that cuts its way out from the front. I will fight them to the death and not retreat a single step. We will fill this land of suffering with the blood and corpses of our enemies, and with that blood nourish the seedlings of hope we are protecting.

I will be here, waiting for your return.

And when that time comes, I will continue fighting at your side until final victory is fully achieved!

But I must confess to you that the factor that compelled me to make this decision is not my identity or my position—it is you! All Transia People should, as I have, learn from you the true meaning of the word ’courage.’

When I look back on the past in the days to come, I know there will inevitably be countless voices of praise exalting me as a hero of this land.

But my friends, my warriors, you...

You, and only you, are the true heroes!"

Murphy’s voice was filled with emotion. He activated the mind-sense of his Desire Ability, making it easier for the players present to perceive what he felt in this moment.

This was absolutely not an NPC droning out a dry, stiff proclamation.

In the players’ hearts, it truly felt like a friend of theirs was swearing to guard the position they were leaving behind, and was waiting, full of expectation, for their glorious return.

It didn’t even feel like a quest anymore, no longer a simple task-and-reward relationship—perhaps it had never been from the very beginning.

Many veteran players praised Sir Morphy as a main-story NPC with a very human touch, but for the newbies, this was the first time they truly came to know this legendary figure’s lifelike, almost living, side.

"In your world, there is an old saying: ’When two paths meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins.’ Now, it is time to bare my blade as Governor of Transia to the Wolf People.

You, warriors.

You are the first deadly blade that the Transia People bare in this decisive battle!"

Murphy raised his hand and swung it forward, roaring:

"Go forth! Do not trouble yourselves with the bitter fruit of failure; in this moment you need only draw your blades and advance! Make them bleed, make them suffer, make them fear, make them rout! Glory to you, glory to Transylvania!

I declare that our three-day miracle begins here!"

"Heroic Spirit Battalion, move out!"

Beside him, Five-to-Wheel let out a howl at the top of his lungs. The players raised their weapons high and shouted all sorts of random slogans, then marched out of the position, full of swagger.

The vampires soared into the sky, the Shamans slipped into the earth, and the foreigners advancing along the ground had fire in their eyes. With cruel smiles on their faces, they were determined to deliver that bitter taste of defeat back to those bastard Wolf People who had screwed them over once already.

No one would doubt the rage and resolve that had been stoked in them, nor would anyone doubt the supreme terror this army would bring to the enemy when it showed its Calamity side.

Watching his warriors leave the position, Murphy put on his war helm. He turned back and asked Bonnie behind him:

"How long until Nifytelli gets here?"

"She’s already on the way."

Bonnie replied:

"Per your orders, she’s bringing the Banquet of Thousands of Souls’ spellcasting core and that batch of not-yet-fully-formed ’mechanized elite units.’"

"Very good. Then let’s begin our operation as well."