Mishe turned his head to look at Lucas, who remained silent. In a deep voice, he said, "You are not Persian or Roman, and I am giving you this opportunity. The Ashina will be your home in the future, and your loyalty should be given to me! Ariana is their Persian affair, and we won't interfere. However, her Stardust Amulet, I must obtain! Only you, being by her side, can make her unaware of the substitution. If we forcibly exchange it, she will report it to Cyrus! Once you handle this matter, there will be a place for you in the Ashina. As for your choices, it's up to you!"
Darya's fiery gaze cast upon Lucas, observing her reaction. At this moment, the girl couldn't articulate her thoughts clearly. She could only urgently think in her mind, "Quickly agree to my father, do you really want to die with that Persian woman?"
However, Lucas remained calm at this moment. He slowly shook his head, "I am with Ariana, in life and death. Sir, you underestimate me and yourself by doing this. How can a real man do such a despicable thing? Thank you for telling me so much. I will return to the dungeon. As for the arrangements, it's up to you."
Orhan let out a low mocking laugh, his expression full of sarcasm. Mishe propped himself up on the map, his gaze becoming more piercing as he stared intently. Darya stomped her foot abruptly, turned her head away from him, and Lucas turned around, preparing to leave.
Mishe loudly exclaimed, "Stop! You come with me!" With that, he strode out of the room. "Come with me and see for yourself what our people are going through!" Darya grabbed Lucas by the arm, pulling him along as they followed Mishe outside. Orhan, with a grim face, also trailed behind.
In just one day in the dungeon, Javanshir Fortress had transformed into its current state!
Once neatly organized streets were now filled with a chaotic crowd. Groups of ragged commoners carried their meager possessions, streaming through the gate of Javanshir Fortress. Urgently enduring the winter, carts were pushed, elderly were supported, and children were carried. Numbly, they moved forward. Some were covered in blood, others clutched lifeless bodies. The influx of people continued. Officers accompanied by their subordinates, sweated profusely as they settled these incoming refugees one household at a time at the gate. The residents of Javanshir Fortress, equally distraught, called out the names of their relatives along the sides of the crowd. When they found a survivor, they would collapse in tears. The officers maintained order on horseback. The entire outer city echoed with cries and wails. How did this fortress, in just one short day, become like this?
When Mishe appeared with them on the street, the crowd erupted in even greater uproar. People bowed down one after another. Tens of thousands of individuals huddled there, and upon seeing the towering and robust figure of Mishe, their tears flowed even more vehemently!
Watching this chaotic scene, witnessing this hellish scenario, Lucas's mind was in a daze. He couldn't utter a word. He felt like everyone's gaze was directed at him. It's because of you that Cyrus was led here! It's all because of you that so many civilians suffered! Mishe, in silence, led them down from their horses and onto the outer city wall. Looking out, it was the time of the blood-red sunset, casting a crimson hue on the frozen land. Columns of smoke had already risen on the horizon. What was burning were the homes of those civilians!
On the plains, an endless stream of people surged towards this place, an unstoppable flow. Few soldiers were covered in blood, with broken arrow shafts still sticking out of them. They guarded the crowd of refugees as they retreated towards Javanshir Fortress. A chill wind swept through, leaving Lucas shivering, his whole body cold.
Mishe's voice echoed in Lucas's ears, "Cyrus followed you and arrived. Along the way, he requisitioned troops from the towns in the Armenia area, initiating a sweep around the outskirts of our Javanshir Fortress... The civilians here had just settled down from the chaos of the war, not more than ten years ago! We were beginning to recover a bit... But now it has turned into hell again! Darya, why haven't I punished you these past two days? Because scenes like this should already make you understand where you went wrong! The burden borne by our Ashina is not just the honor and disgrace of our own lineage but also the safety of all the Turkic people!"
Darya's eyes were filled with tears, and she couldn't speak as she leaned against the city wall. The slender figure of the girl trembled violently. Orhan gently supported her shoulder, his eyes filled with pity. Mishe sharply looked at Lucas, "Do you still think you should live and die with Ariana? Look at these civilians! This kind of scene didn't just happen today, it has been continuing on this land for so many years! War is inevitable, but we cannot fight against such a fierce army for the sake of a Persian princess!"
Lucas's face turned pale. He just clenched his fists tightly.
"So, no matter what, I will hand over Ariana, even if her father is the once-mighty Prince Farid! I will also take the Persian sacred treasure and see how long their empire destiny can continue without it!"
Orhan's voice softly sounded beside him, "When the Abyssal Bracelet was lost, the Celtic was ruined by the Roman, and when the Sunfire Pendant was burnt, our Turkic Khaganate fell apart... My Lord, may the Stardust Amulet's loss also bring about the downfall of the Persian Empire..."