Chapter 876: Exchange
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After all, if Heron really wanted to rig the draw, he definitely wouldn't have let himself get stuck with the toughest bone to chew.
Then, one by one, the leaders of each faction stepped forward, drawing lots to determine which fortress they would attack.
Those who drew a good lot were naturally delighted—like Pearl Fortress, which is easy to conquer yet yields high points. The lucky ones couldn't help but show their joy.
But those who drew the toughest bones, with few points to gain, naturally couldn't put on a happy face.
Leon Merlin drew a place called Hope Fortress. The challenge wasn't too great, but it was still guarded by powerful Blazeforge Orcs. Hope Fortress didn't have a major impact on the overall situation, and the points for capturing it weren't high, but not too low either.
It was a middling choice—neither the best nor the worst. All things considered, it was a pretty decent draw.
Getting this, Leon felt his luck was pretty good. After all, with so many people here, there were only a handful of fortresses that were easy to take and offered high points. Drawing one wasn't easy.
At that moment, Rivigru also began his draw. The names of the fortresses spun rapidly inside the Crystal Orb, finally slowing to a stop and revealing Radiance Fortress and its location.
Rivigru's expression changed drastically, his face turning so dark it looked as if ink might drip from it.
The onlookers around cast Rivigru a glance, some with a hint of schadenfreude.
Rivigru looked up and saw Leon Merlin's calm face, and his anger flared. He slammed the table hard and roared loudly.
"I refuse to accept this! There’s definitely foul play here! Foul play!"
Everyone was shocked by Rivigru’s outburst. The lottery was supposed to be pure luck—the Lucky Crystal Orb couldn’t possibly be rigged, it was a completely random alchemical array.
All the alchemical arrays were out in the open; no one here was blind. Any change in the array would cause it to fail entirely—there was no way it could have been tampered with.
Besides, Lord Heron drew first and got the strongest fortress for defense—how could there be foul play?
Rivigru gritted his teeth and pointed at Leon Merlin.
"I refuse to accept this! There’s definitely foul play here. It must be you, damn Merlin! I knew you’d take revenge on me. Why did all those people draw before, and only I ended up with such a lousy lot?
The Rock Fortress might be strong on defense, but its counterattack power is weak. For Lord Heron’s Black Tower, it’s not a challenge at all—they’ll rack up plenty of points.
And why didn’t anyone else draw it, but I did? Why did you, Merlin, get the best fortress—except for those few top ones—while I got the worst?
There’s definitely foul play involved. You’re trying to take revenge on me, sending the Gru Family to die at Radiance Fortress!
Rivigru gnashed his teeth, slandering Leon Merlin, his eyes burning with fury.
Leon Merlin frowned, replying coolly.
"Nobody can control the Lucky Crystal Orb. That’s basic knowledge—I don’t need to teach you, do I? This is destiny’s arrangement. Blame your own luck."
Rivigru glared, refusing to back down and kept shouting.
"Damn it, don’t think I don’t know—you’re an alchemist, and you sat so close. You must have done something. Don’t think I don’t know you’re close with Lord Joy and Lord Heron. That day, we all left, but you were kept behind by them.
Whatever tricks you pulled, Lord Heron would help you. You just want revenge, using this lottery to ruin the Gru Family!
As Rivigru said this, Joy and Heron both showed a trace of displeasure.
They could tolerate suspicion, but this kind of wild accusation—almost like dumping a bucket of filth—was already an attack on their character. To put it bluntly, it was questioning whether Cloudspire Tower and Black Tower would betray their own allies.
That was a serious accusation. Even though the target was Leon Merlin, it dragged Cloudspire Tower and Black Tower into the mess.
Leon Merlin’s brow furrowed slightly, his eyes narrowing. If Xiu Ban were here, he’d realize Lord Merlin was getting angry.
The crowd looked at Rivigru as if he were an idiot. Even those who usually tolerated his antics quietly edged away.
Has this fool lost his mind? Accusing Merlin is one thing—the Merlin Family barely brought anyone for the offensive, and none of their famed powerhouses are here.
But dragging Lord Joy and Lord Heron into it, questioning their integrity? That’s like doubting the two strongest forces in Andalusia: Cloudspire Tower and Black Tower.
He’s courting death! Offending three of the Seven Great Powers at once, two of them the strongest...
But Rivigru had thrown caution to the wind. All he could think about was being set up—Radiance Fortress was a meat grinder. Even if they won, half his men would be lost, and with such losses, there’d be no hope of scoring more points in the coming offensive.
Even if they finally beat the Odin Kingdom, the Gru Family would be left with scraps—remote, resource-poor territory.
Just as someone was about to try and talk sense into Rivigru, he blurted out something that made everyone’s face change.
"If you want to prove there’s no foul play, if you want me to believe it, then swap your Hope Fortress with my Radiance Fortress! If you refuse, that proves you cheated, that you’re all out to get me and the Gru Family!"
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Rivigru’s words didn’t just make Joy and Heron’s faces darken—even the Sword Saint of Canglan looked displeased, opening his eyes and glaring at Rivigru.
In an instant, a wide gap formed around Rivigru. Those who’d considered intervening out of old friendship now looked angry.
Damn idiot. Doesn’t Rivigru know what he’s doing? He’s wrecking the rules of the game. Does he want to see everything collapse?
Can’t he see what time it is? Odin Kingdom’s score keeps climbing, and he’s still wasting time with this nonsense. Is he a spy, trying to drag us down?
Damn it, just because you drew a bad lot doesn’t mean you’re the only one. Should we all cry foul?
Do you even know who you’re accusing? You don’t think before you speak. You’re questioning Lord Heron—did you forget his fearsome reputation? Think he’s gone soft since becoming Black Tower’s Speaker?
Questioning Lord Heron about cheating, right in front of Prince Canglan, who’s known for his ironclad fairness? You think Prince Canglan is blind? That someone could rig the draw in his presence?
Don’t be ridiculous. That’s an insult to everyone’s intelligence!
Even Rivigru realized he’d gone too far. The crowd was furious.
"Rivigru, are you questioning all of our intelligence?"
"You’re ruining the rules, stalling for time—are you trying to help Odin Kingdom?"
"Damn it, Rivigru, drop your filthy schemes and apologize—now!"
Leon Merlin squinted at Rivigru, not even interested in dealing with him. Killing a fool like this would only lower his own intelligence.
Heron frowned at Rivigru, speaking with a breezy indifference.
"Rivigru, I didn’t quite catch what you said. Care to repeat it?"
Joy and the Sword Saint of Canglan, familiar with Heron, exchanged glances. They knew Heron was angry now—this was Rivigru’s last chance.
But Rivigru, shameless to the end, clenched his jaw and stubbornly held his ground.
"Unless Merlin swaps his Hope Fortress for my Radiance Fortress, I won’t accept it. It’s all foul play, that damned Merlin rigged it to ruin the Gru Family!"
Leon Merlin was so amused he nearly laughed, watching Rivigru from his chair. This time, the Sword Saint of Canglan, who’d been silent, stood up.
The Sword Saint of Canglan radiated a cold aura, his gaze locked on Rivigru, voice brimming with discontent.
"Rivigru, as commander of the Andalusia Kingdom coalition, I order you to return to the Northend World. Take your Gru Family and leave the Blazeforge Realm at once. If a single Gru remains here after a day, don’t blame me for what happens next!"
The Sword Saint’s voice was filled with fury, issuing a direct order to punish Rivigru. Forcing the Gru Family out of Blazeforge Realm—there could be no harsher penalty.
Rivigru was stunned by the Sword Saint’s personal decree, as if doused with cold water. Panic flickered in his eyes.
At that moment, Leon Merlin, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke up.
"If you want to swap, then swap."
Leon Merlin’s sudden words shocked everyone. Even the Sword Saint’s iron face betrayed surprise.
Rivigru was overjoyed, his face lighting up as he eagerly accepted.
"You said it yourself—no one forced you!"
"Everyone heard it—Merlin agreed to the swap himself. Hope Fortress now belongs to the Gru Family, and Radiance Fortress is Merlin’s!" (For more fresh content and 100% prize draws, follow the official WeChat platform for 'Throne of the Last Age'! Open WeChat, tap the '+' in the top right, add 'qdread' as a friend, and follow now!)