Chapter 17: The End and The Beginning (Part 3)

As the sun set, the golden splendor of the highland evening spilled over the city below. Asa had finally returned to Orford.

He gazed down at the clustered buildings and intersecting streets. The city had expanded more than tenfold since his first arrival, nearly matching the size of the empire's capital. Flames and smoke rose from the workshop street, and the lively sounds below echoed in the air, everywhere filled with vitality and energy. Along the city's edges and streets, new buildings continuously emerged, as if the city were a giant organism slowly writhing, constantly changing and growing.

The orderly streets were like veins, with the busy orcs bustling through them as blood. And undoubtedly, the heart of this city was the new city hall in its center. Its immense and conspicuous size was evident from the air, with people and orcs moving in and out, spreading life and energy to every corner of the city.

Although most of Orford's buildings were still the rough stone structures, there were several carefully crafted, unique constructions now. The new city hall was one of them. Its massive size could rival any building in other parts of the continent; it was still constructed entirely of stone, but the details were no longer as crude. The clean and straightforward architectural lines, the smooth outer walls adorned occasionally with simple yet grand and bold patterns, combined with the enormous volume and rugged materials, exuded a grandeur that matched the spirit of this city.

In front of the city hall, three massive stone tablets inscribed with laws, and a giant gallow still stood with unique character, together illustrating the city's distinctive style and authority.

Asa knew he would need to stay here for at least a year. From a certain perspective, this would be his temporary homeland. Whether it was the Kalendor Basin or the imperial capital, he preferred this rugged and vibrant city. It was neither oppressive nor sorrowful, and there were no political conspiracies. Although returning here was a way to fulfill his promise and considered a task, it gave him a sense of relief and liberation.

The wivern circled above the city hall a few times, roaring three times to ensure that those below would report this situation to the lord before flying out of the city. Asa was still the continent's most wanted criminal, so he couldn't afford to land ostentatiously.

On the edge of Orford, the wivern landed on a flattened mountaintop. Before long, two swift horses rushed out from Orford, heading straight for him.

As Lord Borugan's head appeared just over the mountaintop, he shouted at Asa, "Good! It seems our risky investment wasn't wasted after all; you finally returned!"

Asa smiled at him, "I've never liked owing anyone a favor. Besides, I can't think of anywhere else to go for the time being."

"Oh? Is it not because General Grutt was escorting you that you didn't escape?" The nimble dwarf flipped up onto the mountaintop.

"Absolutely not." Asa chuckled bitterly. If he had truly hidden from Grutt and escaped quietly, the ones happiest about it might be the three necromancers who had somehow tracked him down.

"Good! Haha." Lord Borugan pointed at him, laughing. "From now on, your head, worth five thousand gold coins, is valued at thirteen gold coins, six silver coins, and eighty-six copper coins each day. Every hour it depreciates by about fifty-seven silver coins, counting even the time you spend sleeping and using the bathroom. You're certainly the most expensive mercenary on the continent! Please remember your worth and ensure the quality of your work matches it!"

Asa smiled; he enjoyed the dwarf's straightforward personality. He asked with a grin, "You won't just capture me on the last day and sell me for five thousand gold coins, will you?"

"Rest assured." Grutt interjected calmly. "That Roland guy will definitely not pay that price because he knows you're not worth it. Even if someone does try to claim the bounty on you later, he and your paramour, the prime minister, will surely find a way to shirk the responsibility and help you escape."

Lord Theodorus walked up the mountain. He still moved with a light step, his posture straight, exuding the vigor of a young man. The golden sunset dyed his hair and beard a reddish-yellow, making him appear even more spirited. He looked at Asa and Grutt and smiled, "You've finally returned! I hope you bring me some good news. How did things go with the Einfast Empire?"

As Asa recounted the events, Lord Theodorus's expression fluctuated. Though he had guessed various possibilities, he had never anticipated such developments. The situation had turned so dramatically that not only had the main culprit been executed, but even the arrangements for the aftermath were completed so swiftly.

"I'm getting old," Theodorus sighed with a wry smile. "If I had truly stopped you back then, I would have wished for a regret pill for the first time in my life."

Asa smiled and replied, "You had your considerations. Caution isn't a fault. It was a judgment you made after weighing all the factors. And my insistence on going was just my reckless stubbornness."

"Reckless stubbornness indeed." Lord Borugan seemed to want to pat Asa on the shoulder but could only reach his back, so he patted it firmly instead. "I just wanted to help you stubborn bastard, which is why I strongly urged the mayor and General Grutt to assist you. I also knew that, from a rational analysis of interests, this plan was quite risky."

Theodorus chuckled. "Knowing it's risky yet proposing such suggestions, you've been remiss as my advisor."

Lord Borugan nodded. Fortunately, his neck was thick enough to support that big head's bobbing. "But fortunately, the outcome of this negligence was quite good. The duke is dead, and the empire hasn't fallen into chaos; your paramour has also secured the position of prime minister. Everything is ideal." He glanced at Asa with a grin. "Except for your crime and the burden you bear."

"It doesn't matter; I don't really care about that." Asa gazed towards the east, where the empire lay, and sighed. Stars had already begun to appear in the sky. Beneath that sky, he had shed and discarded far too much. He nodded, murmuring, "Right, it's all over there."

"By the way," Grutt said. "We encountered three flies on the way back…"

"Flies?" Theodorus paused.

Asa smiled and replied, "Just a little trouble, but we've already chased them away."

Upon hearing Asa and Grutt's account, Lord Theodorus's previously relaxed expression darkened completely, replaced by immense seriousness and worry. He slowly shook his head, saying, "No, that cannot be considered a minor problem."

"Sounds like it's a big problem," Lord Borugan added.

"Are you saying the necromancers' guild will seek revenge?" Asa nodded. "A group of top-tier mages will indeed be a significant trouble."

"I truly wish they were just mages." Theodorus sighed with a bitter smile and shook his head again. "What's coming next can't be described merely as 'trouble.' This is a problem, and a major one." He gazed southward, lamenting, "This issue was bound to arise sooner or later, and it seems we must face it earlier than expected."

"Let's just hope we can be quicker than they are," Grutt said calmly.

Theodorus nodded and looked at Orford below in the sunset. The golden city pulsed with life, so beautiful and grand. Yet the pressing question was whether it could continue to exist.

In the conference room of the Dehya Valley, two necromancers reported the battle to the acting guild leader. They had removed their skull masks, revealing the faces of Bishop Adela and Master Aiden.

Even though this was the sacred Dehya Valley, the absolute paradise and home for necromancers, Adela couldn't shake off the feeling of fear as he meticulously recalled that day's events. The overwhelming disparity in strength and the terror of facing death had left an indelible mark on his soul, one that haunted his confident and proud spirit.

The marquis closed his eyes for a moment in thought, then opened them and sighed, "We were too careless. If we had maintained a distance of over a hundred meters, with two people providing cover and one casting powerful spells, they would have had no chance to struggle."

Adela and Master Aiden both nodded slightly. It was true. No matter how powerful that person was, he was still just a human. If they had used tactics that fully leveraged their advantages from the beginning, perhaps the battle would have been much easier. But what should have been an easy victory turned into a complete mess, leaving both of their expressions grim.

"I'm sorry. This is my responsibility. As the acting guild leader, I must take full accountability for the failure of this mission and the death of the esteemed Nimbras," the marquis said, his expression darkening as he lowered his head.

The two were taken aback; it seemed that no matter how they looked at it, he couldn't possibly be blamed for this.

"As the acting guild leader, I failed to conduct a thorough investigation on the opponent before the three esteemed members went into action, and I did not provide you with appropriate advice. This is my dereliction of duty," the marquis apologized to the two necromancers, bowing slightly as if he had indeed committed a grave mistake. "I'm very sorry."

"Now that the esteemed Nimbras has died, this is a significant loss for the guild. Apart from him, the only ones capable of using the Puppeteer's Eagle Eye are Vadenina and Master Shante. Vadenina is no longer an option... and Master Shante is in such poor health that we cannot burden him further by having him create the Eagle Eye puppets. Therefore, I have decided that I will study the Puppeteer's Eagle Eye technique myself."

"Um... that doesn't seem quite suitable for you," Adela hesitated. The Puppeteer's Eagle Eye was undoubtedly a very useful magic. However, mastering this magic was extremely difficult, and if one's magical skills and talents weren't exceptional, it could adversely affect the magician's magical level. Nimbras had become the weakest in the guild because he practiced this magic. With so much talent in the guild, it seemed unnecessary for the acting guild leader to take on this task.

"No, this is something I must do," the young acting guild leader insisted.

Adela nodded, looking at the marquis with growing respect and admiration.

Master Aiden also nodded indifferently, but the light in his eyes was somewhat different from Adela's.

If only one person in the guild mastered the Puppeteer's Eagle Eye, that person would undoubtedly be the guild's only eye; there were things he could choose to show the others or hide from them. Although he felt some doubts and discomfort in his heart, Master Aiden knew that no one in the guild would willingly take on this spell, and he himself was even less likely to do so.

Master Aiden spoke, coldly addressing the marquis, "This person has already killed our members Aisri and Nimbras. This is an unprecedented disgrace in the history of the Dehya Valley. I want to ask you, what are your plans for the future?"

The marquis sighed and said, "Anyone who threatens the lives of our esteemed members must be killed."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"If three people can't kill him, then we'll send four," Adela took a deep breath. The originally gentle and attractive face had turned fierce with excitement, and his eyes, which were once as gentle as a mother's, now held a glimmer of aggression. He spoke slowly, word by word, "I will personally kill this guy."

"Why?" the marquis asked, looking at him.

"Because he is the enemy of the guild and the only one who can threaten us. We absolutely cannot let him go."

"No, it's because you're afraid," the marquis said in a gentle and calm tone. Even the most sensitive person would not find any sarcasm in his words. "You've encountered someone much stronger than you. He hasn't just destroyed your confidence; he has also made you deeply feel the terror of death. So you cover your fear with anger, thinking that by killing him, you can conquer your own fear."

Adela fell silent. Having been seen through, his gaze softened a bit but was also somewhat confused.

The marquis continued, "Compared to beasts, humans do not have strong physiques or sharp claws, and they tremble in fear when facing ferocious creatures. Yet it is humans who rule the world. Which is stronger, humans or beasts?"

Adela thought for a moment and nodded, beginning to understand the marquis's point.

"No one is without fear. A true strong person is not an ignorant fool who knows no fear but someone who understands how to deal with their own weaknesses. Our organization is the noblest, most powerful, and strongest organization on the continent. Every member is the most elegant and dignified, standing at the top of this world. Why should we waste unnecessary effort and spirit, risking our lives to compete with a beast in strength or who has sharper claws or who is more savage? Our strength is not demonstrated through direct brute force." The marquis smiled slightly, his light demeanor radiating confidence that was subtle yet irrefutable.

With the marquis's words, Adela nodded, his expression calming down completely, and confidence returned to his face. He smiled and nodded at the marquis, "Thank you. I understand."

"So how do you plan to deal with this person?" Master Aiden asked indifferently.

"To us, he's just a small pawn in our plan. Killing him would be a simple task, done effortlessly without any need to deliberate," the marquis replied casually. He walked to the conference table and pointed to a sand table for the two to see. The sand table displayed a miniature terrain of the Wilderness Highlands, and Orford City was merely a small protrusion like a block. "During this time, I've also been researching that orc city. I found that it is an area where our influence is hard to reach and control. There are no religions, and power and wealth have not yet been revered; vitality for development and creation fills that place, so we have no way to gain a foothold. However, in comparison to its development speed and potential, its influence is too great."

"I believe everyone remembers that the leader of this place is Theodorus, one of the few on the continent qualified to stand on equal footing with our extraordinary members. He is a friend of old Ronis, who has never been very friendly toward us. If this city were allowed to develop into an exceptionally large and powerful nation under his leadership, it would be enough to cause a complete upheaval in the entire continent's situation. Such a massive force, completely beyond our control, poses a true threat to us. So I have a suggestion..." The marquis extended his hand and gently pressed down on the marker representing Orford on the sand table. "Let's erase it from this continent." As his finger retracted, the model of Orford had turned to dust, scattering over the model of the wilderness.

"Of course, the murderer who killed our two members will naturally be resolved in the process. His threat can be seen as a projection of the true threat posed by that orc city-state. However, no matter how powerful a person is, in a war between nations, they are just a drop in the ocean, at most stirring up a small wave, only to be drowned in the surging tides."

"I see; my perspective has indeed been too short-sighted." Adela nodded, impressed. "I fully support your suggestion."

"I will immediately notify the members of my proposal. If everyone agrees, I ask that everyone puts in some effort in their respective fields and cooperate with each other. I believe that anything will be powerless in the face of our true strength."

Adela nodded with a smile. His smile was as confident and beautiful as ever, filled with the brilliance of sunlight and the gentleness of moonlight. "Yes, haha. I look forward to the magnificent scene of hundreds of thousands of troops surrounding that savage orc den."

The marquis looked at Master Aiden. "I wonder what you think of my suggestion, Master Aiden?"

"Well, fine. Let's do that," Master Aiden replied casually, glancing at the marquis and Bishop Adela.

"What about that bounty hunter with a price of five thousand gold coins on his head? It seems like he has mixed up with that orc city-state. Should we spread some rumors to give old Theodorus a bit of blame?"

"Such unfounded rumors would not have much effect. Even the Empire of Einfast might help him out," the marquis sighed and said, "I am truly astonished by that boy's tenacity and luck. But there's no need to worry too much; whether he hides in the orc city-state or elsewhere, he will not escape our grasp."