Crisis

Fourth day since departure, Glin has finally reached the edge of the mountain range known as 'Kisan Mountains.'

Kisan Mountain Range stretches far to the north, and is the start of the real deadly path for Adventurers. In its vastness, it can be said that countless of treasures are hidden in this place. But, the number of deaths here can also be said as one of the largest. A lot of newbies had fell and became the nourishment of the plants and animals in this area.

Meanwhile, Glin was not bothered by it. For him, this was only the start. The first destination—Black Mist Basin—was still a bit more than two hundred kilometers away, and that's not yet the 'traveling distance.'

"Hateful creatures! Why are these wolves here?!" Timothy complained.

It has been only a day since the time they encountered a Night Wolf before the Kisan Mountains, but they've already met another two. Timothy almost died in the second, while Xanus' leg was injured on the last Nigh Wolf encounter.

"It seems like there's a new population of Night Wolves in the Kisan Mountains and nearby places. The three we've met are probably the hunter-types," said Xanus. He sank on a rock and his face was weary as he glanced at a serious wound on his hip. He has lost a lot of blood from it. Fortunately, the fight was ended soon with the help of Glin and the other four.

Gayne nodded, "this getting really bad. Let's hurry."

Glin didn't mind encountering a few more Night Wolves. What made him pleased for the meantime was that every Demon Beast Crystals went to his bag. After the three pieces he acquired from the first Night Wolf, he acquired another nine pieces from the last two. He was still confident to deal with a few more wolves with the team's help. However, the team's suffering will not be avoided in that case, so he secretly agreed with the leader, Gayne.

...

Stonewill city, House of Valarian…

At the meeting hall, the officials and the house head held an urgent discussion about the current state of the family's business. Almost everyone present didn't look happy about the news.

"Third Elder, how was the estimated loss from yesterday's demon beast invasion?" asked Lord Darius solemnly.

"It is estimated that we've lost about 1800 golds in total. This includes all the cost for 25 hectares of the plantation of different varieties of plants, five buildings destroyed, and also four tons stock of dried Purple Grass from the previous harvest was wasted. Also, two of our most-skilled plantation experts, twelve guards, and 23 peons, died from the demon beast tide," a tall man in his late forties, reported. He was the Third Elder of the Valarian family.

"We suffered a big loss this time. 1800 gold coins… and we still have to pay the compensation for the families of our deceased workers," a white-haired old man, the First Elder of the family, sadly added. "Lord Darius?"

"Recover anything that can be recovered," sighed Lord Darius. Soon, he glanced at the Fourth Elder, Theian. But Theian was quiet and idle, as if he had something else running in his mind.

"Fourth Elder, you have anything to suggest?" Lord Darius hesitated at first, but finally continued to ask Theian.

"Me?"

Everyone glanced at the Theian and the House Head, a bit surprised. In fact, Theian himself was also surprised.

Usually, since Theian was thrown out of his position as the house head, Lord Darius, and the First and Second Elders, never asked his opinion. It was because when they overthrew him on the position, they added that Theian can't properly manage the house.

"Yes," Lord Darius was calm.

Silence.

"Didn't we have watchmen in the woods north and northeast of the farmlands?" Theian said first.

Hearing him ask, the First Elder suddenly turned gloomy as everyone switched their glances to him.

"That… we do have, but not many. The City Lord was complaining why there was a small number of Adventurers going to the Great Woods these previous months, so I sent people from our watchmen. Only two watchmen were left on the northeast side while four on the north side," the First Elder reasoned out.

"And because of that, our watchmen failed. The attack of the demon beasts started northeast of our farmlands and the two watchmen died in the woods, unable to report the sighting of a large Night Wolf horde," the Third Elder added, calmly blaming the white-haired first elder.

The First Elder was still going to retorted but Theian quickly spoke, "we should've prioritized our safety. About the lack of adventurers going to the Great Woods, don't we have eleven talented young mages in the royal capital who are about to graduate from the Tower of Light next month? We shouldn't…"

"Fourth Elder, Third Elder, you shouldn't blame everything to the First Elder. He is only thinking about our house's future," the Second Elder, a short-faced man wearing elegant green robe, suddenly jumped on his feet and inserted with a loud voice. He finally revealed his side in the situation.

"Then who else is managing our house's human resources whom can be responsible for this? Who among us is not concerned about the house's future? Second Elder, the safety and future of Valarian Household and its 'image' are absolutely not the same thing," the Third Elder smirked and quickly asked after the Second Elder's words. After he said this, the Second Elder was unable to say again.

The First Elder was even more gloomy, and angrier deep inside while gritting his teeth. Indeed, there was no one else to blame other than him; and the Third Elder used this fact to orally attack him in front of the Valarian's most important figures other than the elders. He never expected it, just like the Night Wolves attacking the farmlands.

Shortly, the entire meeting hall became boisterous as the people present started discussing the issue.

"Silence!"

But the House Head suddenly stopped the noise.

"What's done is done. What we need now is a good solution for this problem and our loss."

"Fourth Elder, do you still have something to say?" Lord Darius turned his glance Theian.

"My lord," Theian stood seriously, "allow me to manage the farmlands."

When all the people in the room heard this, they were shocked. The Fourth Elder himself was going to manage the farmlands in the north of Stonewill city! Originally, the farm was only managed personally by the people below the elders of the house so it was quite a surprise for most people in the chamber.

Even the Third Elder who was closed to Theian didn't expect him to say it. He didn't understand at all but he still smiled, hinting his support.

"Seriously? Then who's going to take over his job?"

"Right, who's going to manage our house's inventory?"

"He's not joking right?"

"Fourth Elder, managing the farms is for people under me. Are you saying you're going to work under my supervision?" the Second Elder asked with an arrogant smile, as if looking at a fool man.

"Don't be so ambitious, old man," Theian retorted, raising his chin but calm.

When he heard Theian and his address to him as "old man," the Second Elder's face turned red. He was already clenching his fists under the table. However, Theian didn't seem to care about his reaction and just turned back his glance at the House Head. The calmness and serious actions of the latter made him even more angered deep inside him.

For a moment, the people calmed back, looking at Lord Darius' solemn face. They knew that the current house head wasn't really in good terms with the former house head even though they talk normally and sometimes smile at each other. The two hated each other but both are good actors.

Lord Darius was still trying to read Theian's mind but he just couldn't understand him.

"Fourth Elder, are you sure you want to take over the job and manage the farms?"

"Yes, my lord. In fact, I believe I can handle the situation there. Besides, I'm not feeling comfortable here and I feel like I'm already getting dull."

"My lord, what Fourth Elder said is true. With no doubts, he's the best Plant Mage in the house so I also believe that he can handle the farms," the Third Elder inserted and smiled.

Lord Darius narrowed his eyes but he soon also smiled.

"But if you'll go there, someone else will take over your position."

"Fine."

Lord Darius was secretly taken aback. But he soon nodded. "I understand that you and the Second Elder are not in good terms, which might cause problems in the future. So in the future, you'll report directly to me."

"My lord is really understanding. However, I'd still like to also report to the Second Elder and the others if possible. I don't want others to say that I'm cheating you and ruin my reputation," smiled Theian.

"Good, good," Lord Darius smiled insincerely.

After the meeting of the officials, the news about Theian's resignation quickly spread like wildfire. Many people in the house couldn't understand why he gave up his position and volunteered to manage the distant farmland in the north of Stonewill city instead. However, there were also some who were pleased: the ones who worked in the farms.

...

In Lord Darius' personal room…

"My lord, why did you agree to Theian?"

"Right, my lord, there must be something he's onto. Otherwise, why would he give up his position as an elder."

The First and the Second Elders inquired curiously.

Lord Darius sighed and sat on a rocking chair, sipping tea. "Right now, I have no choice but to make use of him. I can't read his mind at all."

What they didn't know, Theian wasn't really thinking about any plan against them. He was only escaping from his duty and was hoping to relax himself while away from the house. Everyone couldn't guess it because they thought Theian's position in the Valarian house was very important to him.