Chapter 22 Deceased Changes_1

A few short sentences.

It seemed like Gaven said nothing, yet also as if he had explained everything, at least in Zalanda's heart, she already had a clear answer.

None of these sentences expressed emotions directly, but the intense emotions hidden within were clearly felt by Zalanda, who was typically slow to such things, her entire body enveloped in this warm sensation until she felt like she could ignite.

What does he mean 'don't marry anyone before I return'? Pah! What does her marrying have to do with him?

Especially the part about the knight of the Tesser People, it struck a deep chord with Zalanda, as if igniting her entire being, a beacon appeared before her, illuminating a brand-new direction in life.

Zalanda didn't know how many times she had read the letter over and over again, as if to imprint every single word onto her mind, and then she carefully folded it and tucked it close to her heart.

When she faced the book in her hands again, Zalanda's attitude became much more solemn, even upon seeing the opening title—The Seven Books of Military Strategy (translated into Felen's common language), she wasn't too surprised by the odd name.

As Zalanda calmed her mind and began to read deeply, her initial surprise and confusion grew into shock, and she could no longer put down the manuscript in her hands.

There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes.

Not to mention, a book that accumulates thousands of years of wisdom from ancient people will evoke different feelings in everyone.

Especially for someone like Zalanda, who comes from a knight's family, from the time she could walk, she had been exposed to this world and began to join her father in military campaigns north and south as soon as she could ride a horse, especially in recent years when she was forced to carry the burden and had accumulated a wealth of practical experience.

The contrast with the military strategies in this book often led to epiphanies.

In some parts, she was so impressed that she slammed the table in approval, marveling at how strategy and tactics could achieve such effects.

Zalanda didn't realize that as she read with complete absorption, she unwittingly resonated and synchronized with the Magic Network, and both she and the book in her hands began to emit a faint glow, the ordinary words on its pages sparkling one by one with her thoughts.

If Gaven had been there and seen this scene, his jaw would certainly have dropped in astonishment.

What was happening before her was a resonance with the Magic Network—not with Zalanda, but with The Seven Books of Military Strategy, something unthinkable was unfolding.

When Zalanda finally forced the book shut, driven by her vast will, she realized she was drenched in sweat, unsure of how much time had passed.

There was definitely something wrong with Gaven.

At this moment, Zalanda felt one hundred percent certain that the military tome in her hands was the best proof that a young man, whom she'd watched grow up and taught most things to, couldn't possibly have written this out of nowhere. He was just using an excuse to run away, to flee from this place, to flee from her.

But the question was, if he had to flee, why bother doing so many thankless tasks? Leaving behind a military tome was like admitting there was a problem with himself, and more puzzlingly, why leave a letter saying he would return?

This plunged Zalanda back into confusion; she had to find that guy and figure out what exactly happened to him, whether he fled to Heaven or Hell.

That moment, Zalanda made up her mind.

When Zalanda emerged from Gaven's carriage, she realized it was already pitch dark outside, and all the key figures of Nort Castle had gathered around the carriage.

Zalanda said gravely, "Have all those who went after the assassin returned?"

"Not yet, Captain," Nola replied.

"Due to Young Master Gaven's oversight, which led to the escape of the Goblin captive and thus the ensuing tragedy, Gaven has taken responsibility and gone to personally hunt down the Goblin captive, vowing not to return until he has slain the goblin. In the meantime, I will act as the proxy Baron of Nort Castle and handle all related affairs," Zalanda declared solemnly, "No objections, I assume."

"None."

"We will proceed as directed by the Captain."

To everyone present, this appeared to be a natural, expected course of action, and no one raised an objection.

"Our most important task now is to move Nort Castle's men, women, elderly, and children safely to Darama. All else should be set aside. Therefore, I order the Militia that went after the assassin to return, and the bodies of Lord Rogan and Guard Commander Oster will be buried here in a funeral ceremony," she said.

"Nola, take your squad and choose a suitable spot to dig the graves, make sure they're large and deep," she instructed.

"Alger, you lead your squad to gather wood, as much and as quickly as you can."

"Everyone else, arrange for the convoy to prepare to leave, settle in Kami Village as soon as possible, rest for the night, and we'll set off at dawn. Move out!"

"As you command."

Zalanda issued a series of tasks in the blink of an eye.

The Nort Militia showed their efficiency once again; by the time the moon was close to its zenith, a massive grave almost one and a half men deep had been dug, and next to it, a gigantic open-air pyre had been constructed, with the bodies of Rogan and Oster already placed on it.

Zalanda nodded to a middle-aged man dressed in sacrificial robes beside her: "Priest Yaber, let's begin. The rest is in your hands."