62: Chapter 62 I Choose to Go to Yuntai Town

"It's starting!" someone whispered.

Almost at the same time, ten streams of "selection request" spiritual power surged into the two golden markers in the Inner City—everyone wanted to snatch those two prime spots.

However, in the next second, a cold system notification popped up:

[Selection Order: Sequential based on current ranking]

[First Place: Jiang Ruowei (No. 01), please choose]

[Second Place: Qin Ce (No. 02), please wait...]

"What?!"

"Choosing by ranking?!"

"Then doesn't that mean..."

Exclamations of frustration rose from all sides.

The faces of the team captains with lower rankings instantly fell—to avoid Qin Ce's brilliance, they had been passively avoiding battles in academy missions, resulting in slow point growth.

Now, retribution had come: the era of military merit had begun, yet they had lost their priority selection rights because of their past rankings!

Jiang Ruowei was not surprised by this at all.

She didn't even spare the map a second glance, directly raising her hand and lightly tapping one of the golden markers in the Inner City.

It was an area located in the northwest corner of the Inner City, backed by the City Lord's Mansion, with the wide Central Plaza in front, and five heavy energy turrets on the walls. Fortification Rating: S.

[Jiang Ruowei (No. 01) Choice: Inner City · West Plaza Defense Sector]

[Remaining Inner City Slots: 1]

Having made her choice, she withdrew her hand and turned her calm gaze toward Qin Ce.

Waiting for his choice.

The eyes of everyone present focused on him.

...

There was only one slot left in the Inner City.

By all logic, Qin Ce, as the runner-up, should have taken it without hesitation to defend the core area alongside Jiang Ruowei. This would maximize his military merit gains and maintain his advantageous position in their previous "bet."

Because of the unexpected beast tide, the competition between the two had been pulled back to a new starting point.

However, Qin Ce looked up at Wei Ming.

"Teacher," his voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet training ground, "are the town fortresses and townships on the outskirts relatively weaker in defense? Are they also more dangerous when facing a beast tide?"

Wei Ming was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "The level of danger certainly isn't as high as the main city's core area; high-tier fierce beasts will prioritize attacking the Inner City. However, the outer defenses are weak, lacking heavy city defense weapons, and the stationed personnel are mostly ordinary troops and low-rank Beast Tamers, so..."

He paused, then spoke the truth: "In terms of survival probability, the outskirts are indeed more dangerous. Because once the defense line is breached, it's difficult for reinforcements to arrive in time."

Qin Ce nodded, his expression unnaturally calm.

Then, he uttered the words that left everyone stunned:

"I want to defend Yuntai Town."

...

Dead silence.

At this moment.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

A few seconds later, a cacophony of discussion erupted:

"Choosing Yuntai Town?"

"Yuntai Town! Where is that?"

"It seems to be a small town on the outermost edge to the southeast."

"Is he crazy?! Giving up an Inner City slot to defend the outermost town?"

"That place doesn't even have defensive equipment. Without the support of defensive weapons, how much combat power can one person have?"

"Didn't he just make a bet with Senior Jiang? How is he going to earn military merit on the outskirts?!"

"Is this guy truly stupid or just acting?"

Even Wei Ming was stunned.

"Qin Ce, say that again?" Wei Ming's brow furrowed, doubting his own hearing.

"I choose to go to Yuntai Town to assist in its defense," Qin Ce repeated, his tone unwavering.

Wei Ming opened his mouth to speak but saw an unquestionable determination in Qin Ce's eyes.

Jiang Ruowei frowned slightly. She stepped forward, her voice cold:

"Qin Ce, think carefully. Choosing the outskirts means your military merit gains will only be a tenth of what you'd get in the Inner City. Moreover, the direction of Yuntai Town isn't the main axis of the beast tide; the level and density of fierce beasts will be much lower—no matter how well you defend it, your military merit won't catch up to mine."

She paused, her tone becoming serious:

"Do you want to just forfeit this bet?"

Qin Ce turned to look at her. There was no wavering in his eyes, only an almost stubborn calm.

"I will fulfill the bet. But some things are more important than a bet."

...

"Yuntai Town..."

A piece of information suddenly flashed through Wei Ming's mind. He stared into Qin Ce's eyes and asked slowly, "Is it because your family is there?"

Qin Ce nodded. "Yes."

He paused, his tone calm as if stating simple facts. "The permanent defense force of Yuntai Town consists of a Low-grade Gold garrison officer at most, with three Silver Rank deputies and a regular force of fewer than two hundred men. The walls are seven meters high, equipped with six old-fashioned ballistae and two Energy Towers—all of which are twenty-year-old models."

"With such defenses, how long can it hold against a four-star beast tide?"

Wei Ming fell silent.

Qin Ce continued, "My mother is an ordinary person working at the town's Garment Factory. My sister is seven years old and hasn't awakened her spiritual power yet. It's just the two of them at home, and they live on the west side of town, very close to the wall but without any defensive weapons."

He looked at Wei Ming. "Teacher, if the beast tide really spreads to the southeast, what do you think their survival probability is? Who will the town prioritize protecting? The noble properties in the inner town, or the civilian residences in the west district?"

Wei Ming opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

"I am the only Beast Tamer in my family, their only hope."

Qin Ce's voice was soft, yet it struck the ground like a hammer. "If even I can't stand in front of them, then what exactly did I train all these skills for?"

"Qin Ce," Wei Ming finally spoke, his tone carrying the weight of weary persuasion, "you have to trust the government, trust the military. Fengling City has been established for a hundred years and has experienced more than one beast tide. We have complete contingency plans; we won't allow any civilian area to be easily abandoned—"

"Do you believe that?" Qin Ce suddenly asked back.

Wei Ming froze.

Qin Ce looked at him, his eyes devoid of anger or accusation, containing only an almost sorrowful clarity. "Teacher, do you truly believe that in a moment of life and death, those who draft the 'plans' will place civilian lives on the same level as nobles, core resources, and the city's lifelines?"

"If that were true, why are so many people fighting so hard to be first in points?"

The meeting room was dead silent.

These words were too sharp, too blunt, piercing through the veil of 'the big picture' that everyone had been tacitly maintaining.

"Qin Ce!"

Jiang Ruowei finally couldn't hold back. She turned and walked back, her voice tinged with frustration at his lack of ambition. "Calm down! Now is not the time to discuss fairness! With the beast tide imminent, resources must prioritize key defense sectors. That is the most basic military logic!"

"This isn't about 'the big picture'; it's about the optimal solution under limited resources!"

...