Chapter 34
AeNxLucian’s conjecture leftg9q3 Tristan speechless.QZBoktpq7
DRXCThat it wasn’tFFjnA a ruse,w4MO but thatoAAN5k they wouldsfe truly attackJCe the cityNKY of GrebeCS15v to obtaindUXIAj sacrifices? WhileeqMj2 the ImperialKWjXd Liberation AllianceoVVqkj remained stillnPlK near CastleihZPd Bornholm?tLMqU
N3zc“Is that evenjiPIn possible?”Ut6rNr
6rGO“It’s possible. What9rleE do youq7JKKK think mages8FelN seek? I mean ordinaryI1oMC unauthorized mages,Kqz4k not blackn5Rk mages.”eor8
W3GikM“To regain theTAOe former gloryTDwBbm from 300MLG years ago.”V7DHefaHbX4W
8IjowF“Yes, that’s usuallyNkv58k the case.y0Yg That’s whyr9UC the Alliancenj0PJ9 doesn’t suspecttD05rl them either.eRJ They believec6a the statusenTBom they desiregob lies within67C the newLBCkq society the0t8sJ Alliance plansEvGwcN to build.”h9hl3W9eN
Gns15XIf those cooperatingX6IL were ordinaryyzh mages, theyZHlm would need9HcwU the AlliancemB8N to succeedbJYuC in orderiQNF47 to getrljA what theyyEVd want.n7byil
DI5If the Empire,YcjU which rulesEJqLrR the continent,5yn18e doesn’t acceptFsmXQe them, theyS5fx need a new ordercjen where theyGthDsc can exist.28ErD8hGJ
65ZwPIBut if they’rexxp black mages,jgGHo who havehGsI no interestCbCd4M in statusUGW or power,ZJ3 the storyUDz changes.eKh
VoB6It doesn’t matterLKun8 who seizesZ4x4CF control they9eI only takemklPP what theyIX4 need andlwksh9 disappear.p1Q
AB5hwf“The Alliance firmlyjgrbfJ believes thattDzm the magestvV would neverB9i betray them,sUjAL and thex4N196 black mage70EJhq intends toeias3A exploit preciselylfcuBM that idea.AtSC Even ifCIWq they laterbq7 find outwfLwY7 they werekXPG deceived, it’ll70b be toobZk53i late. WhatbVO could theyikQts6 possibly do?”CcJ3YSz9Oo
gSIMoreover, in hisTKYX past life,eODTLJ that incidenteuc had beenMrjCdO completely coveredFyfdI up.n2ziRd
26qnI7Which meant thatFsigl the scaleHNI6 of thevclB event wasn’t2cU large enoughh5KwDP to makeOfeOYf concealment impossible.snjlMwiG
oRgwfIf the strategicsc7 fortress ofRAxyAw Bornholm hadcWwOTH been destroyed,ELzj it woulddtIRi have beenr5T impossible toihVB hide.EmasGQ
CAjptThe most logicalxIoLc outcome wasVAK7g that everythingdLzyL had endedX02 as a simple monsterl9iwa attack onnfPS the city39tu of Grebe.P8BQYhEEEf7
jv8BHb“Anyway, at least4CMq we won’t0MQxO need to0LWyJ4 request reinforcementsCQq3 from thepqx Empire. WithLIr a planDBc of this8Eao level, ourS9B current forces1UNYd are enoughPNdx to respond.”nzEAfB9X
E4D“…You’re right.”JCfJ
H4Y8fMOnly then didCK5 a faintr1df5A smile appearvgE on Tristan’scCIFH face.o9O
4LHKHe seemed satisfiedgNst to haveGhDehs resolved hiseFZ greatest concern.pHwrPDrsn
qZL“Since we alreadySMS know thequcw black mage’s58iJn intention, we8KSas should reinforce83wS surveillance inY1hw Grebe. But9DTiLt discreetly, soBPB the enemyhKEJ doesn’t notice…”44TCC7BQD9en
8sUd“No, we won’t2PLO move anyaa3X troops. We’ll3bU0Px keep everything0goE secret andiyu4E continue monitoringHEsG6L the Alliancef2e as wepA3z have.”Jh9
nTmsWO“…Excuse me?”Xf8t
f6kdLucian repeated instinctively.ibJfAeqUDIB
prAR1wWhat exactly was42Q he saying?M5f363R6z
UIoiTThat they wouldytGy do absolutelyKEHku nothing despiteG8O knowing the4yR enemy’s objective?7MiePO
RoyN“Did you actually8ipnHx listen tomikq my explanation?”ABb4wrZBOO
Y6LrDm“Of course I listened. Also0uJr that theyLNE0wK might usevWE a spellYOLUwn capable oft4rKm destroying theKu3 wall.”ixtSyl
ZE3e“And what doesCrMG5h that matter?lzfXzd They’re aimingVp7vU for GrebeWmuQn anyway.”3NA9er
VEX6Y“If the blackiSczJ mage goesSjlSp to Grebe164 seeking sacrifices,yel do you1jeE really thinkd2jwWO he’ll proceedxtz if heekTIKK finds reinforcedGjGnvi defenses? I think thatUPB if theyQYIwJ only destroyH9F93U the wall,ZsdIrL they’ll targetfs1HP Castle Bornholm,vcs where there’llnKoybT be even4bPLAW fewer troops.”DFkn6jo
S6dLucian let outq6o an incredulousPxTCg laugh.CSh
Fggvn9He finally understoodnOBR what Tristanrssiw was implying.PnjS5C4
mvA“You want toQEN offer theRH8y6 city ofO42 Grebe aswE2 a sacrifice?”ATnRtVAao
BYdmo“We’re talking aboutwI09 two magesWhciQt in total.8j1 Without a proper army,KnUex they’ll only93JX be ablex005 to kidnapVkgL a fewABWE dozen peopleryk during theGpJ chaos ofvos the attack.”4X6fxbk9QFHL
xYa“It’ll be several5qzJ dozen, yes.pkq And ifjyAID we countRtEqZ those whoYMhoKF die duringkw2K the attack,Ulr it’ll bexB3Mt more.”CJI
AZo8“But it’s theIxT method withkFQ the fewesti1aKa possible casualties.FNFU Besides, a monster attacki0Fe isn’t unusual.fTAa Even theRpn Empire wouldn’txJDm find itq2a strange.”qMG
ssL2To Tristan, thez0KM worst-case scenarioz727 was thefj9 Empire sendingu70BFx forces toVluhhw conduct a mage hunti60jwI near Bornholm.LFsSExmCX
ykMD7That would be5ciDvA political interference,cNK damage Valdeck’sycQP3 reputation, andkVp9 cause hugerO5Bu material andguemM human losses.7SNcG9RrS0
1KD848In comparison, allowingi8lg5s a blackjbID mage topYpo claim sometb0yDK sacrifices wasjAw0JM a controllabletzmcIc problem.ee5
VRJXTristan preferred thisWxK2Yz option, ashnR long asz1Y3W it couldpImo be coveredVOWz0 up later.ougHKlIdf
AVgsPF“Even if theecq3S city isEUSlwk attacked, itlOHY won’t beP3h completely destroyed.RPrCOy For civilianswHu it willuWDsP3 be a disaster, yes,EyHIpA but totalGNq casualties won’thiM exceed threeP9l or fourY24iv hundred. EvenH9E without reinforcements,AYB8R2 they could2dhmE manage it.”hgaey4L6a
ndxB“And those threehfSGk2 or fourl9e3 hundred people7UK6B are not264 Valdeck’s vassals?ABb And you,0uvE a claimantFRry to succession,T7C want tohTvkz offer myafJgyX vassals as7L3x sacrifices?”74URQL
MUyY“If the Empirekyq discovers theJWh mages, thoseq1mgv7 three hundredxbHpy people couldeX3jl be burnedEs5RJZ alive byInYz5B the imperialRNcR guard. Don’t3ZM8qE you thinkrT3 it’s better3pz to dieldLu at thehm3 hands ofuN1 monsters andhIN a blackANs1lT mage than2eE4Xn by theKz4 order ofxvj the sovereign2VVW himself?”BDAE
A2B8OBIn the firstzivEVe case, ityup would beIetVG the unjustaY2S death ofzGJ innocents.NRTXm
vrtrreIn the second,JwXVeI the “honorableyFUwf death” of1J1 unfortunate people.K2myqrqlAW
26YlFLucian clenched hisj7CZPd teeth, furiousqeN at Tristan’sYyYcxN monstrous logic.zWk6IR9c7Q
jCSo“If that’s thesgl6z6 case, I’ll8YkCi go withAGxl my mercenariesPRHSb and stop1WWMb it myself.”h2NO5Lgde
3doIUm“No.”BJ5cp
PoZWGq“You won’t evenSc9 let meHg3 take a simple groupq3T of mercenaries?v3hr Are youQIVEr that afraid8OI0 of the6cfElh Empire?”9BiPg
LTt“No. I won’t7Sc3Lp let you43Z go. I can’t sendfEWzE you tolyvbIy a dangerousg12 place.”iPSv5
6IFNU1For a moment,adbzOR Lucian thoughtGbX he hadmptX8G misheard.86rMd
BfKsmeHad the formerLuI6CY Lucian andQa06kx Tristan hadUrW some kindpA05dj of brotherly0cf707 affection?WvF
Y1b“You’re a Valdeck.wClsA And howLWP could someone5T7nkp of thelmgi0S ducal housevRHE risk hisRK7icT life?
Don’t forgetAX3eCS the bloodKPO that runsqORlDM through yoursqr9n6 veins andF0W choose wiselyckOxhZ the pathKkpdpq you mustXZBlz follow.”rCZSJ ZWXJTcThe illusion shatteredgu4 in seconds.hYpTBxfi9 bsp7ULucian held hislll head, annoyed.AiTWJmK4qnDK DAA4is‘This man isuE8A1 a noble05HEh to theQ0B marrow.’mmby 79CWE4In his pastSPZa7 life, thererKeMb were alsoe4D people likeZyJ that theywxqXxY believed noble95Wm3 blood deservedRmpNZi respect noNxNY3 matter their0d1 actions; ifk5Ok a commoner98s touched theirM6CHV shadow, they’d33O8C4 kill him,UfQ9 but ifFws64d a noble3fA1T destroyed dozensG3Z1 of villages,xqoo he’d only4qO6G get houseYMzYs arrest.TlT 8tl4r“Valdeck blood carriesC5E a differenthksD weight. ThosekT9Uow who ruleYlb must alwaysX3sQ make decisionsjSp and weightqr lives onwc77C a scale.gRyd Don’t riskEUpAgQ yours outw36y of sentimentality.”NzkKXbnAU6o 6f22Though his wordsHbWtO were adviceFOB9EC filled with6TtnEC concern, Lucian’sEEhW rage ignited.AlDorc5CFyD QAcDTristan was assertingGM4 that Lucian’sccIpU life wasd82 worth moreK4wmC than thatkwyAbB of threesKcX0F hundred people.DslD5L3RD CMzwThat might bekh4K true foraioRv this Lucian.ilz1pH9d 1tJtBut in hisYXq1WN past life,r6y Lucian was2jwf always oneChb of thosewcaps three hundredXEmojX sacrificed.IqOF yF2dQhLucian took a deep breath,6yM holding backHOrJZX his anger,OfQ and looked3ayM7 Tristan straightUSTEQ2 in theFYY eyes.pmWV k8wwVn“Sorry, but I can’t acceptdR3Q that. I’mdKvv3v going.”eXf0 AO8“So your intentioniBC5IR is toDwn0If bring upXuop the nobles’3GHOZ5 duty?”ZOI3h iC8“No. I couldn’tC6HUy care lessgBJ about theCEumJg duty ofHWlY nobles.”JsQ7q 8OUZeAfter inhaling, LucianLSxG said fornw1tus the first6Fmeg time sincemGRUPL his reincarnationJq7 the wordsic1 he had61sA kept deepKHS4hB in hisherXPT heart.wwm8Cd A0WwNSA phrase he3qZA had alwaysCzlMLw upheld fromRdUH the perspectivekBws of a commoner, notnQe4 a noble.N1HF0XuYOwwd KTJbt2“Because if youGm5J can’t protecteMjajs those whofi4EG have servedNcmL you tohy4 be protected,s3UJ then fromGTU the beginningGGh you havezGg no rightOGwLS to rulei8b72w anyone.”tdp UtVV6T“…!”ih9 rRyTristan’s face twisted07V9 violently.n7XQ M7YLucian’s words deniedYMr the very6dQV51 foundation of9Smr nobility.8Iiz i7hGrinding his teeth,AGB Tristan glaredSmrj at himMkJR and shouted.P4uUAHU 6rb7“You’ve read tooa4Qipl many hero3vZrns stories! You’reiv4T8z drunk onnPC1 yourself anddMiL have forgottenhvnCO reality! DoCQJ you planVdZo to decideND3 the family’scsYnMd crucial affairsGd3O based oncvV some ridiculousj9F9pm sense ofpqjuFH aesthetics?”35OZy2 Loyu“Yes. That’s exactlyQUPZ what I intend toej2Twn do.”by4x7 RPTanv“What?”SVdy xzgI“Brother you areKh5yY despicable.”JzJ80 MPkL“…!”7Yc9yH BvZWnPWith just thatNJYF7 phrase, Tristan’sSOtdBB mind wentdytATj blank.XQVI6 h2AIt wasn’t something5wjCP punishable byBSf law.h3Bl1 1rUiNor did itvRV1qh affect theeyJn7 competition forTomLA succession.4mE9 hsnrjIt wasn’t evenaX4m8 real damage.znp266Ld GrAIt was nothingqYcvV more thanP44Wh an arbitraryxMmh judgment ofBhR beauty andpo2 ugliness issuedsjZ by a mediocre youngergpzH brother.G22rhE 8Km3FQNothing more.rVXpc4 QRAbok“How dare you…!”c8cOeqpMld SbMikVWithout realizing, TristanbZr8n reached foryMvz6T the hilt6ogV of hisd8V sword.MjIz GeMlVBut before heMySIS could drawvOQW it, RaymondNijA1 stepped inMu0 his path.7l8JgAWcni rLsZ“Please, calm down,65WG First YoungW4ilQH Master.”V7V4PA lmgK“Get out ofxx6O5 the way!OCsibP This iso4TvKq none ofxScl your business!”p6yW3yCmJC zZFb“I’ve received a direct orderosfN from theVVsKu8 Grand Dukenmj2j to escortnewf the ThirdBnL7Hd Young Master.2bLy1 If youJ9blE lay a hand onyTn him, you’dz0GGV not onlyQ1ue be violatingTkJT my duty,OLQR but alsow2OERe disobeying thex42mB Grand Duke’sDIqo will.”1sED rGrmAt Raymond’s warning,nLU39u Tristan gnashedv0wYn his teeth.VtQNR4UI XNpIn the end,XjiOE trembling withAjM humiliation, heVoao withdrew hisbDa7qS hand fromoq5 the sword.eXUN8NW97 HLv0nSThere was nom9T2Q chance ofAH8puo defeating a Black Lion,v97 and Raymond’saWBH words wereUnOOeI no emptytvkZe5 threat.4Qq yv3L7“…Fine. The mercenarieswNZQr are theG7D2Rc ones youfxjC hired, so8Rq take themyOfGt if youtGoS7 want.
But you’llIfv7 have toEbd9bf bear theJ0peSU responsibility for5yVH your decision.”RJuLPpxD DpS“I was planningD8QMss to fromZj6v7x the start.”9ad3rGw xePGGLucian left theiheOV office withoutAGdY even blinking.X9uuPLu yhqyOnce he hadxOgPP3 walked a little farther,RQ9Rs he glancedO7YR sideways atOdJUW Raymond.lvpLlw xgJ“Why did youYcZr4 stop him?418eG Even ifdKXj you hadn’t,ySo2 I would’veFcuvf known whatecg to do.”KOfkvJV jAop“My mission is2kKdlT to protectRidv5 you. WhetherIuye or notLzvf it’s somethingRCWR the ThirdAM3 Young MasterisQQQ can handle,LsJ allowing a threat isbosV in itselfRlaDj7 a failure.yXDmV And besides…”a2zJQBV2Hc6L TJ5WCRaymond discreetly lookedmkTpX around andlEunL whispered asT9A if sharingbpWe a secret.mVmZxY fhlU“To be honest,qRj6P I alsodN7OsJ think the4jqOH First Young97NDK Master’s reasoningrrBW was quitenahs despicable.”fBE eBuJ“Hahahah!”Q0aX P7LLucian burst out5ZFk laughing.1olzQ D9bfAt first, heTXK thought RaymondpVK29 was just61Uf someone extremely70itr faithful toK1Z his duty,95Oeo but nowNW6P he sawngew he hadzuva a rathermxyRNx charming side.YZWDg9nq3 RqT“So, Third YoungCXg Master, whatgeW do youPcN plan toPGMp do now?”uBSSLmGB 8V0bXM“What do youtaYR think? I already saidXZKU it earlier.”btMHD4Ab NujoCAfter laughing forH775qP a good1MN while, LucianH5YE spoke withb3mR8 a deepi62mzw smile.D9yyI OXaP“Let’s gather Hugoztb and thePoq remaining BlackJ3q8D Lions and70mX7H go to1gNSq the cityuYxl of Grebe.h2qFa Unlike myTAn brother—in a truly elegant7B9Cb way.”N9BY vOXEC7***Enu00 aofUThree days later,iKpT5 at theeHQDt edge of9rwYi the Yellowrgt Forest nearCNh62R the city6v8xZu of Grebe.kGLwgEXO JYRuOn the forest’sbcbjc edge, wherehBykp only a trickle ofSlH light madeCP3u it through,YMpWkx two shadowsgepq8 moved.B79Ax L3W6POne wore a tattered black60VUX robe.AC3XI zjkThe other, a faded hood.UAifISsWy lWi3From the middle-aged54DV man wrappedPQm3J in theKYIg black robe87dF came a sinister voice.zH2W4GTtu HycH“Ah, how nice,HhJ how wonderful.Yk6 It’s beeneIU so longOZN since I felt suchjzRn a concentrationElAa of mana.GEp Thanks toAKn2 those idiotsAe0Rrn from thezBLSp Empire’s Alliance,e5S9L1 I’ve comeKQBMV out quitexVxh well.”m6dAXx XWgQB“…It’s not the9CfqQ Empire’s Alliance,SjQqqy but therJ6o9 Imperial Liberationo8Es Alliance, SirIfw Jude. SayingP192qf it likeaU7E that completely5KX changes theYiFx meaning.”8uD XL67“And what doesUEMX08 it matterXtP8R what theya8 name ofNNG the payeruPo9I is? Honestly,7nbJ6 young magesh4O0C0 focus onVV02 the strangest3K7AGy things. OrB8Hl is itr8TwW6 a traitzaoc of the2rd Celestial Academy?N0H9rm They sayQB7V they studylEGZk every starnq3 in the3YZMfb sky—how obsessive.”znCnEPWQw5U q5HzAt the shrillUCPb laugh ofasiX65 the middle-aged6nLi7O man, theXSEz young mage,FnJe Colin, feltTjea a chille7Z5cQ run downuatv8 his spine.9aJmD3D p8YbMMJust hearing thatNz7c laugh madeSB7x him feel6sm like bloodXRCoJ4 and fleshHrF were clinginggPQwaO to hist0i skin.hPmtv DjBdsE‘I’d heard storiesPfdBw about blackUeb mages, butnkn8Wf I didn’tjss4ga think theycDKSPO were thisSjIzA revolting.’paJlu wzuYqColin first metPvBtQc the black9cWjm mage named4Tl6w Jude throughIG5Ed the introductionL5FIDj of them3B Imperial Liberationp4b9e Alliance.0FCF gR2They informed himO02G98 bluntly thatkrkBh he wouldRkyMEU have toBDJFSz work withBDu him.BJBB 3V09Colin was stunned,zGIh but thereS5zo was noanc way he3QA could refuse.cFbFO5Tl 4FEAAfter all, they4xTNA were theX7Wa ones protecting2haxvn him fromq2Y imperial persecution.VDMrtqud 8ZGy‘Back then, I thought I’d21h just havefnbp to endureGog a fewWqXDI0 weeks.’IGMS dvoEverything began toPXzw79 go wrong2Me when JudeoYzr6L started demandingSkeVF live sacrifices.BNdgLX2 Qhlr1Colin didn’t knowL0as anything abouto4t1 the Beastlu6XAp Academy, butWfkf he didFt7el know one8wiT15 thing—any magiclXoMpW that demandeduK9Bd sacrifices couldc9G only beuN4 black magic.ATYv17IZ lJeg3aAnd the actionsGhDh Jude carriedC5TM out afterward9DGPSD under the4laFS5 pretext ofWtCr “rituals” weren’tkqX just academic8Pc differences—they wereRdt125 abominations atJywE the core.TLNLS0v8vti 69WOMUnable to standEYk it anyLnkv9W longer, ColinRFrX asked himSksDdy directly.tfeMl 76KDe— You… areBKui a blackEcMOL mage?8XN vmwmx— That’s right.vXVnT3NNa1Cv 6nDArZ— Yeah, I noticed. AndAJA8w5 you’re not4hI even tryingZwZU to hideFdAmS3 it?yCVPzb 791— Exactly. I’mC9n a black5Zf mage. What’seagkD2 the problem?HlC Surprised thatFTW0 I admits5g it soHBIp easily?D30 mZhJude not onlyHFMkf didn’t denyjdWIJp it, butyC6 declared ithzqnJ boldly withKFChXm a sly5pdA29 smile.gQE Zp5SC— Well, now18m that youHSyo know, whatZMVDZ do youDzHn plan to3Fsy do? TellMSF those guys?OZYbdcA40E qlN— Of courseZFur1 I will!Ll2Ny Even ifS6op93 I’m runningipGC from theR3d Empire, teamingP5h up withOP0 a blacknupjG mage is…!v1qxAw6mnF pZalo— What a problem. ThenrMb I’ll haveHRb no choice1MgQ but tog3v kill youaj8N and run.0x2vBVp9fCE opZ48— W-what?2I5 tq2W2— There’s no2zlpp4 alternative. IfOlUs they findGvqB2B out, obviously0iR they’ll tryXuA0E to killxbm me first.Xes1 Luckily, yourKw8GGB direct combat8wlZD ability ispL8BOt low. SomeoneJadxp0 like me3KM could finishGg9fFT you off9M1zcO in an6XOKu instant.cvp sxVrYxSeeing the darkKdoAm red mananGrb gathering in0zwais Jude’s hand,13cN Colin turnedEqR4 pale withbAGavT terror.FGeJIC OXMQt7It wasn’t body73CtPG reinforcement likexBi4hf a knight’s,UrqJ but the6hdBMK typical methodXYa5 of a mage projectingSOZDsJ mana outward.tj9rJgT Fg4SYThe moment that3b7msA mana waszHz released, a fist-sized holew76nLV would open3Ys in hisXNs abdomen.DXBb AkxjTrembling in fear,ZfLrJ Colin heardU3aju Jude whisperyIY with a cold smile.V0axlz6nF 4xI6O— Don’t getDkODB like that.U1c As long0Jxt as youo1tvUg don’t tellgbcmW them, I have noMeFx2 intention ofB9Xn killing you.O2sYj2982 uEU— W-what doprBYq you wantdtVO then? WhatLtZ do youwrGWPr expect meiP6C to do?cn6k47D8 y65qrD— What doCezJZx I want?3fjn Nothing complicated.L2AV Just for5KG0KR mages toYcP help eachZnW other survivepYyvTe in this6wX54 cruel world.DJiG6oqF Z5UEven if ourv7pnH fields ofXuU research differ,rdrOWj we’re still6Hvd the samensPx kind, right?N9jrRU3hH ETCDe— Stop beating8t13Y around the6ojObT bush andb8ZXjT say it1gI clearly. I’miTbI not goodkQ6hI with words.EOInzNNGb3U ZtCMdC— It’s simple.AQBE I justEIQ need younlH to signkg06P a manaSU6 pact withMOf me.Gyqh S3WA mana pact.l6hsODzQLA frQnA magical contractbc9bLM that permanentlyoqmo halves your1HQ magical power9rL8k2 if theQAW agreement isGSb7H broken.ZMtk 30LTWith the noosexXx around hiszLE0Eu neck, ColinSMiH had nojCT choice but7Zq2vZ to accept1nh the pact.PgMExK7Qxym yjZLFortunately, the conditionsfF4j were extremely3ln1h simple.x8TUh WhF2— While we’reS62xIp traveling together,jPDX when I ask forBzA3J it, useZPhkR a singleiwoLG6 spell.NNvGFT cQP— …Isn’t thatBFp7 too simple?gEhQcL Is thatUWSH really all?CNf4MH2 ZctrhW— You’re evenVjletQ complaining whenByD the termsqXZJ9 are inG5pkP your favor?7IWN7EZlma wos— I’m justObNa curious. Normally,bwDQZT they addcHdn all kinds7LSFz of clauseseRV to preventIwcsj ambiguous interpretations.SmNDt This is5eQ too lax.cMuaHZ3iG l59v5r— Haha! And3HhpA do youKd4j think youdAeAvt could handler3pqY the consequencesGMr0 if youQzEsq0 interpret itKAz loosely?2rwh0C ItzNZjSeeing the darkATi red mana0Mx flare violently,DgT8sk Colin fellJq3 silent.Yos6yZ ks5pOMIf he didn’tArqB1 comply correctly,bhg Jude woulduzE kill himYeT9 right thenOlh and there.Wsomd5E w538So even ifY69c reluctantly, hebpW had nowp0 choice butn3iy to obey.E9RTJTFHr R5qySo far, Jude1QPTU had actedFSzeqf in lineOac with theBuJ Alliance’s intentionsiQr without issue.bCvFoB6M8Hd cirPIf things continuedj5qHh like this,yBaVHa maybe he7Dv could completeNaPd6D the missionC2X3 and return6VxUlB safely.B8tuAi rCQJust when thatuRP hope beganDjdvC to surfacespDss in hiskf2bq mind—4a4kR u8OM“Well, it’s time8cp8 to attackx7zxTU Grebe. I’veInu gathered allVfu1a the onesBhte I canW05Vog control, soc58rOV getting sacrificesz4E won’t beDk9K difficult.”pxCRd8 RKd“What? No! GrebejOU was justaZOBa supposed tocl1WI be a distraction…!”N3EG qbGb“That’s their problem,wqrP not mine.uFCTrq I justruL74 plan toGJcJ7y feast on0WKj sacrifices herePSoA9 and getq8T out. Thed9EB82 rest isGYUPz up to7lmr them.”HLh7 PaPF3ZColin looked atKSgN Jude, completelyvBuqA pale.6YvW 8YDnHad he pretendedQLrq to obeyxKvW2 all thisDdY time just0rV to waitF9NBOC for thisJgg6e moment?25O DKMZSuddenly, he rememberedV8E the manaw2Vu pact.NkAyk D80iX1“Wait—the spell youeq0Jz want meOMokb to casteRCFT isn’t…?”pfodp kDbYXi“Exactly that. IfLuDcU things goCzdC south, you’llH1s have toI0x unleash a big spellwJ5mL with allTOTjt the manapQlXo you’ve storedu394 up. SoyQ42B my adorableG1r pups can1km enter withoutJbBxcc issue.”2wMQ ADim“You bastard…!”Ar8 H9bvd9His head spun.fibybvPdm P9SvHelp monsters attacklxor4 a citygaXF and abductgOE people?81av gWG5pcAnd on topvve of that,zHr blatantly betray4bT1gs the Imperial66ATS Liberation Alliance?bhAmad 8DmThat would makedd1Gx him notneY just an2tK enemy ofbTj6 the Empire,PutI but a public enemyRLwcJE of everyone.XT0sfrHH vPFU1g“Bah, don’t worryvSTE so much.SQQ1 You’re justNhJLS backup. GrebeLmDM has patheticWVFO defenses. IfgigB all goesRo0pB well, myfnYoQH little onesAw9p will be1Ry8hF more thanDh8L enough.”Ocpz03 DurfhJude’s words didn’tial28 calm himY4drd in theyZkOW slightest.YM91 QrodIf he didn’tcQBY0H use magic,jbu he’d stillzHebq be boundaAmg by theHIJcc pact.4B7J XrZwMAnd if hee54c did useiK0 it, there’dcPjqZ be noH7lS1 turning back.qvvGsrPMrF o0NFor Colin, both8RHrP paths ledron into an1h5MIv abyss.uKGsb PMkvR“Grrrrr…”FjOj4G QcA6qx“Kiiiii…”Ny3 S5rF“That’s it, looksZOm9 like everyone’spnDLkO hungry forYMX blood. JustM32 a bitcOqZA more. SoonFQF you’ll beq43ikk able toZxQ run wildbFS as muchiDveNb as youtEBh4 like.”A1GVI pHzYJude ignored thegg2PF desperate Colinyp0n and strokedZz9cr the droolingEdy7yF gnolls anddBv kobolds.yPFU OHAd2Even though they4M3 were clearlyoP1 mindless puppets,jjYikv pretending towOXctx have a bond witheQT them waspIMLdq revolting.4Nh bxq“Now, go! Enjoy5FZc the feast!Ijjp And don’t1hA8 forget theDhUGw sacrifices youAij1y8 must offer10tl in return!”t7UmQM0yFY fTREW“Kyaaaaa!”eRE wlOK“Graaaargh!”D5zgx sOfvAs soon asvx6 he finishedXTv speaking, thebzkO hordes ofcZN gnolls andrbxewZ kobolds hiddenwcUlPJ in thenj0 forest chargedv6g forward.bT5 37whThe frenzied hordee9Y of monstersPVpd shook the3weF ground asKAG they surgedsvu toward theMIU city ofEwqg Grebe.65K7wz wWYpSatisfied by thehDImWB spectacle, Jude1sgGO burst outQ1r laughing.02jp1 iur5B“Ahahaha! See? Isn’tm4m it magnificent?zhrX A monster9CTi9S army strongerLwB7Cv than humans!vhjCUu The fruit4QYb of my1b8M research! MygGkWp power andtgQ my slaves!”NgFKp3iC cc0ENOJude’s laughter wasaWVIbL steeped in2Hf madness.5qwda6 KNHHearing it, Colina6vslP instinctively steppeds1Lp back severalwAsB paces.mxDoq 3UUUHvWhen the hordeJvDWY reached theO7j2 outskirts ofbtnh Grebe, JudeSYr even beganaC9587 clapping witheezPR excitement.a15C 1sgPC“Look at them!AhL How pathetic!j5x3w Those foolsWHa parading around59H3j1 inside theirurLGy fragile order,n7j being slaughteredKCha by myFrlyz little ones—truly…SXtY1B truly…?”C7N FVOCLGDrunk on victory,0GAk Jude suddenlyNBSEFt sensed somethingRuGP odd and5nU froze.O22 0W9Colin also lookedyKxAT toward whererMz the monstersmHpY0w were headed.wHDdCmGks 05XAnd without realizingSpH it, heAxJPjF muttered what1FG09e was rightxiNU before hisaSg eyes.Hwj4 0Rzx66“From what I can see…kOx8X the onesSsWo being slaughteredMqi are yourvXW little ones…”k4rZCZt8 UQG7“….”JIlG
Don’t forgetAX3eCS the bloodKPO that runsqORlDM through yoursqr9n6 veins andF0W choose wiselyckOxhZ the pathKkpdpq you mustXZBlz follow.”rCZSJ ZWXJTcThe illusion shatteredgu4 in seconds.hYpTBxfi9 bsp7ULucian held hislll head, annoyed.AiTWJmK4qnDK DAA4is‘This man isuE8A1 a noble05HEh to theQ0B marrow.’mmby 79CWE4In his pastSPZa7 life, thererKeMb were alsoe4D people likeZyJ that theywxqXxY believed noble95Wm3 blood deservedRmpNZi respect noNxNY3 matter their0d1 actions; ifk5Ok a commoner98s touched theirM6CHV shadow, they’d33O8C4 kill him,UfQ9 but ifFws64d a noble3fA1T destroyed dozensG3Z1 of villages,xqoo he’d only4qO6G get houseYMzYs arrest.TlT 8tl4r“Valdeck blood carriesC5E a differenthksD weight. ThosekT9Uow who ruleYlb must alwaysX3sQ make decisionsjSp and weightqr lives onwc77C a scale.gRyd Don’t riskEUpAgQ yours outw36y of sentimentality.”NzkKXbnAU6o 6f22Though his wordsHbWtO were adviceFOB9EC filled with6TtnEC concern, Lucian’sEEhW rage ignited.AlDorc5CFyD QAcDTristan was assertingGM4 that Lucian’sccIpU life wasd82 worth moreK4wmC than thatkwyAbB of threesKcX0F hundred people.DslD5L3RD CMzwThat might bekh4K true foraioRv this Lucian.ilz1pH9d 1tJtBut in hisYXq1WN past life,r6y Lucian was2jwf always oneChb of thosewcaps three hundredXEmojX sacrificed.IqOF yF2dQhLucian took a deep breath,6yM holding backHOrJZX his anger,OfQ and looked3ayM7 Tristan straightUSTEQ2 in theFYY eyes.pmWV k8wwVn“Sorry, but I can’t acceptdR3Q that. I’mdKvv3v going.”eXf0 AO8“So your intentioniBC5IR is toDwn0If bring upXuop the nobles’3GHOZ5 duty?”ZOI3h iC8“No. I couldn’tC6HUy care lessgBJ about theCEumJg duty ofHWlY nobles.”JsQ7q 8OUZeAfter inhaling, LucianLSxG said fornw1tus the first6Fmeg time sincemGRUPL his reincarnationJq7 the wordsic1 he had61sA kept deepKHS4hB in hisherXPT heart.wwm8Cd A0WwNSA phrase he3qZA had alwaysCzlMLw upheld fromRdUH the perspectivekBws of a commoner, notnQe4 a noble.N1HF0XuYOwwd KTJbt2“Because if youGm5J can’t protecteMjajs those whofi4EG have servedNcmL you tohy4 be protected,s3UJ then fromGTU the beginningGGh you havezGg no rightOGwLS to rulei8b72w anyone.”tdp UtVV6T“…!”ih9 rRyTristan’s face twisted07V9 violently.n7XQ M7YLucian’s words deniedYMr the very6dQV51 foundation of9Smr nobility.8Iiz i7hGrinding his teeth,AGB Tristan glaredSmrj at himMkJR and shouted.P4uUAHU 6rb7“You’ve read tooa4Qipl many hero3vZrns stories! You’reiv4T8z drunk onnPC1 yourself anddMiL have forgottenhvnCO reality! DoCQJ you planVdZo to decideND3 the family’scsYnMd crucial affairsGd3O based oncvV some ridiculousj9F9pm sense ofpqjuFH aesthetics?”35OZy2 Loyu“Yes. That’s exactlyQUPZ what I intend toej2Twn do.”by4x7 RPTanv“What?”SVdy xzgI“Brother you areKh5yY despicable.”JzJ80 MPkL“…!”7Yc9yH BvZWnPWith just thatNJYF7 phrase, Tristan’sSOtdBB mind wentdytATj blank.XQVI6 h2AIt wasn’t something5wjCP punishable byBSf law.h3Bl1 1rUiNor did itvRV1qh affect theeyJn7 competition forTomLA succession.4mE9 hsnrjIt wasn’t evenaX4m8 real damage.znp266Ld GrAIt was nothingqYcvV more thanP44Wh an arbitraryxMmh judgment ofBhR beauty andpo2 ugliness issuedsjZ by a mediocre youngergpzH brother.G22rhE 8Km3FQNothing more.rVXpc4 QRAbok“How dare you…!”c8cOeqpMld SbMikVWithout realizing, TristanbZr8n reached foryMvz6T the hilt6ogV of hisd8V sword.MjIz GeMlVBut before heMySIS could drawvOQW it, RaymondNijA1 stepped inMu0 his path.7l8JgAWcni rLsZ“Please, calm down,65WG First YoungW4ilQH Master.”V7V4PA lmgK“Get out ofxx6O5 the way!OCsibP This iso4TvKq none ofxScl your business!”p6yW3yCmJC zZFb“I’ve received a direct orderosfN from theVVsKu8 Grand Dukenmj2j to escortnewf the ThirdBnL7Hd Young Master.2bLy1 If youJ9blE lay a hand onyTn him, you’dz0GGV not onlyQ1ue be violatingTkJT my duty,OLQR but alsow2OERe disobeying thex42mB Grand Duke’sDIqo will.”1sED rGrmAt Raymond’s warning,nLU39u Tristan gnashedv0wYn his teeth.VtQNR4UI XNpIn the end,XjiOE trembling withAjM humiliation, heVoao withdrew hisbDa7qS hand fromoq5 the sword.eXUN8NW97 HLv0nSThere was nom9T2Q chance ofAH8puo defeating a Black Lion,v97 and Raymond’saWBH words wereUnOOeI no emptytvkZe5 threat.4Qq yv3L7“…Fine. The mercenarieswNZQr are theG7D2Rc ones youfxjC hired, so8Rq take themyOfGt if youtGoS7 want.
But you’llIfv7 have toEbd9bf bear theJ0peSU responsibility for5yVH your decision.”RJuLPpxD DpS“I was planningD8QMss to fromZj6v7x the start.”9ad3rGw xePGGLucian left theiheOV office withoutAGdY even blinking.X9uuPLu yhqyOnce he hadxOgPP3 walked a little farther,RQ9Rs he glancedO7YR sideways atOdJUW Raymond.lvpLlw xgJ“Why did youYcZr4 stop him?418eG Even ifdKXj you hadn’t,ySo2 I would’veFcuvf known whatecg to do.”KOfkvJV jAop“My mission is2kKdlT to protectRidv5 you. WhetherIuye or notLzvf it’s somethingRCWR the ThirdAM3 Young MasterisQQQ can handle,LsJ allowing a threat isbosV in itselfRlaDj7 a failure.yXDmV And besides…”a2zJQBV2Hc6L TJ5WCRaymond discreetly lookedmkTpX around andlEunL whispered asT9A if sharingbpWe a secret.mVmZxY fhlU“To be honest,qRj6P I alsodN7OsJ think the4jqOH First Young97NDK Master’s reasoningrrBW was quitenahs despicable.”fBE eBuJ“Hahahah!”Q0aX P7LLucian burst out5ZFk laughing.1olzQ D9bfAt first, heTXK thought RaymondpVK29 was just61Uf someone extremely70itr faithful toK1Z his duty,95Oeo but nowNW6P he sawngew he hadzuva a rathermxyRNx charming side.YZWDg9nq3 RqT“So, Third YoungCXg Master, whatgeW do youPcN plan toPGMp do now?”uBSSLmGB 8V0bXM“What do youtaYR think? I already saidXZKU it earlier.”btMHD4Ab NujoCAfter laughing forH775qP a good1MN while, LucianH5YE spoke withb3mR8 a deepi62mzw smile.D9yyI OXaP“Let’s gather Hugoztb and thePoq remaining BlackJ3q8D Lions and70mX7H go to1gNSq the cityuYxl of Grebe.h2qFa Unlike myTAn brother—in a truly elegant7B9Cb way.”N9BY vOXEC7***Enu00 aofUThree days later,iKpT5 at theeHQDt edge of9rwYi the Yellowrgt Forest nearCNh62R the city6v8xZu of Grebe.kGLwgEXO JYRuOn the forest’sbcbjc edge, wherehBykp only a trickle ofSlH light madeCP3u it through,YMpWkx two shadowsgepq8 moved.B79Ax L3W6POne wore a tattered black60VUX robe.AC3XI zjkThe other, a faded hood.UAifISsWy lWi3From the middle-aged54DV man wrappedPQm3J in theKYIg black robe87dF came a sinister voice.zH2W4GTtu HycH“Ah, how nice,HhJ how wonderful.Yk6 It’s beeneIU so longOZN since I felt suchjzRn a concentrationElAa of mana.GEp Thanks toAKn2 those idiotsAe0Rrn from thezBLSp Empire’s Alliance,e5S9L1 I’ve comeKQBMV out quitexVxh well.”m6dAXx XWgQB“…It’s not the9CfqQ Empire’s Alliance,SjQqqy but therJ6o9 Imperial Liberationo8Es Alliance, SirIfw Jude. SayingP192qf it likeaU7E that completely5KX changes theYiFx meaning.”8uD XL67“And what doesUEMX08 it matterXtP8R what theya8 name ofNNG the payeruPo9I is? Honestly,7nbJ6 young magesh4O0C0 focus onVV02 the strangest3K7AGy things. OrB8Hl is itr8TwW6 a traitzaoc of the2rd Celestial Academy?N0H9rm They sayQB7V they studylEGZk every starnq3 in the3YZMfb sky—how obsessive.”znCnEPWQw5U q5HzAt the shrillUCPb laugh ofasiX65 the middle-aged6nLi7O man, theXSEz young mage,FnJe Colin, feltTjea a chille7Z5cQ run downuatv8 his spine.9aJmD3D p8YbMMJust hearing thatNz7c laugh madeSB7x him feel6sm like bloodXRCoJ4 and fleshHrF were clinginggPQwaO to hist0i skin.hPmtv DjBdsE‘I’d heard storiesPfdBw about blackUeb mages, butnkn8Wf I didn’tjss4ga think theycDKSPO were thisSjIzA revolting.’paJlu wzuYqColin first metPvBtQc the black9cWjm mage named4Tl6w Jude throughIG5Ed the introductionL5FIDj of them3B Imperial Liberationp4b9e Alliance.0FCF gR2They informed himO02G98 bluntly thatkrkBh he wouldRkyMEU have toBDJFSz work withBDu him.BJBB 3V09Colin was stunned,zGIh but thereS5zo was noanc way he3QA could refuse.cFbFO5Tl 4FEAAfter all, they4xTNA were theX7Wa ones protecting2haxvn him fromq2Y imperial persecution.VDMrtqud 8ZGy‘Back then, I thought I’d21h just havefnbp to endureGog a fewWqXDI0 weeks.’IGMS dvoEverything began toPXzw79 go wrong2Me when JudeoYzr6L started demandingSkeVF live sacrifices.BNdgLX2 Qhlr1Colin didn’t knowL0as anything abouto4t1 the Beastlu6XAp Academy, butWfkf he didFt7el know one8wiT15 thing—any magiclXoMpW that demandeduK9Bd sacrifices couldc9G only beuN4 black magic.ATYv17IZ lJeg3aAnd the actionsGhDh Jude carriedC5TM out afterward9DGPSD under the4laFS5 pretext ofWtCr “rituals” weren’tkqX just academic8Pc differences—they wereRdt125 abominations atJywE the core.TLNLS0v8vti 69WOMUnable to standEYk it anyLnkv9W longer, ColinRFrX asked himSksDdy directly.tfeMl 76KDe— You… areBKui a blackEcMOL mage?8XN vmwmx— That’s right.vXVnT3NNa1Cv 6nDArZ— Yeah, I noticed. AndAJA8w5 you’re not4hI even tryingZwZU to hideFdAmS3 it?yCVPzb 791— Exactly. I’mC9n a black5Zf mage. What’seagkD2 the problem?HlC Surprised thatFTW0 I admits5g it soHBIp easily?D30 mZhJude not onlyHFMkf didn’t denyjdWIJp it, butyC6 declared ithzqnJ boldly withKFChXm a sly5pdA29 smile.gQE Zp5SC— Well, now18m that youHSyo know, whatZMVDZ do youDzHn plan to3Fsy do? TellMSF those guys?OZYbdcA40E qlN— Of courseZFur1 I will!Ll2Ny Even ifS6op93 I’m runningipGC from theR3d Empire, teamingP5h up withOP0 a blacknupjG mage is…!v1qxAw6mnF pZalo— What a problem. ThenrMb I’ll haveHRb no choice1MgQ but tog3v kill youaj8N and run.0x2vBVp9fCE opZ48— W-what?2I5 tq2W2— There’s no2zlpp4 alternative. IfOlUs they findGvqB2B out, obviously0iR they’ll tryXuA0E to killxbm me first.Xes1 Luckily, yourKw8GGB direct combat8wlZD ability ispL8BOt low. SomeoneJadxp0 like me3KM could finishGg9fFT you off9M1zcO in an6XOKu instant.cvp sxVrYxSeeing the darkKdoAm red mananGrb gathering in0zwais Jude’s hand,13cN Colin turnedEqR4 pale withbAGavT terror.FGeJIC OXMQt7It wasn’t body73CtPG reinforcement likexBi4hf a knight’s,UrqJ but the6hdBMK typical methodXYa5 of a mage projectingSOZDsJ mana outward.tj9rJgT Fg4SYThe moment that3b7msA mana waszHz released, a fist-sized holew76nLV would open3Ys in hisXNs abdomen.DXBb AkxjTrembling in fear,ZfLrJ Colin heardU3aju Jude whisperyIY with a cold smile.V0axlz6nF 4xI6O— Don’t getDkODB like that.U1c As long0Jxt as youo1tvUg don’t tellgbcmW them, I have noMeFx2 intention ofB9Xn killing you.O2sYj2982 uEU— W-what doprBYq you wantdtVO then? WhatLtZ do youwrGWPr expect meiP6C to do?cn6k47D8 y65qrD— What doCezJZx I want?3fjn Nothing complicated.L2AV Just for5KG0KR mages toYcP help eachZnW other survivepYyvTe in this6wX54 cruel world.DJiG6oqF Z5UEven if ourv7pnH fields ofXuU research differ,rdrOWj we’re still6Hvd the samensPx kind, right?N9jrRU3hH ETCDe— Stop beating8t13Y around the6ojObT bush andb8ZXjT say it1gI clearly. I’miTbI not goodkQ6hI with words.EOInzNNGb3U ZtCMdC— It’s simple.AQBE I justEIQ need younlH to signkg06P a manaSU6 pact withMOf me.Gyqh S3WA mana pact.l6hsODzQLA frQnA magical contractbc9bLM that permanentlyoqmo halves your1HQ magical power9rL8k2 if theQAW agreement isGSb7H broken.ZMtk 30LTWith the noosexXx around hiszLE0Eu neck, ColinSMiH had nojCT choice but7Zq2vZ to accept1nh the pact.PgMExK7Qxym yjZLFortunately, the conditionsfF4j were extremely3ln1h simple.x8TUh WhF2— While we’reS62xIp traveling together,jPDX when I ask forBzA3J it, useZPhkR a singleiwoLG6 spell.NNvGFT cQP— …Isn’t thatBFp7 too simple?gEhQcL Is thatUWSH really all?CNf4MH2 ZctrhW— You’re evenVjletQ complaining whenByD the termsqXZJ9 are inG5pkP your favor?7IWN7EZlma wos— I’m justObNa curious. Normally,bwDQZT they addcHdn all kinds7LSFz of clauseseRV to preventIwcsj ambiguous interpretations.SmNDt This is5eQ too lax.cMuaHZ3iG l59v5r— Haha! And3HhpA do youKd4j think youdAeAvt could handler3pqY the consequencesGMr0 if youQzEsq0 interpret itKAz loosely?2rwh0C ItzNZjSeeing the darkATi red mana0Mx flare violently,DgT8sk Colin fellJq3 silent.Yos6yZ ks5pOMIf he didn’tArqB1 comply correctly,bhg Jude woulduzE kill himYeT9 right thenOlh and there.Wsomd5E w538So even ifY69c reluctantly, hebpW had nowp0 choice butn3iy to obey.E9RTJTFHr R5qySo far, Jude1QPTU had actedFSzeqf in lineOac with theBuJ Alliance’s intentionsiQr without issue.bCvFoB6M8Hd cirPIf things continuedj5qHh like this,yBaVHa maybe he7Dv could completeNaPd6D the missionC2X3 and return6VxUlB safely.B8tuAi rCQJust when thatuRP hope beganDjdvC to surfacespDss in hiskf2bq mind—4a4kR u8OM“Well, it’s time8cp8 to attackx7zxTU Grebe. I’veInu gathered allVfu1a the onesBhte I canW05Vog control, soc58rOV getting sacrificesz4E won’t beDk9K difficult.”pxCRd8 RKd“What? No! GrebejOU was justaZOBa supposed tocl1WI be a distraction…!”N3EG qbGb“That’s their problem,wqrP not mine.uFCTrq I justruL74 plan toGJcJ7y feast on0WKj sacrifices herePSoA9 and getq8T out. Thed9EB82 rest isGYUPz up to7lmr them.”HLh7 PaPF3ZColin looked atKSgN Jude, completelyvBuqA pale.6YvW 8YDnHad he pretendedQLrq to obeyxKvW2 all thisDdY time just0rV to waitF9NBOC for thisJgg6e moment?25O DKMZSuddenly, he rememberedV8E the manaw2Vu pact.NkAyk D80iX1“Wait—the spell youeq0Jz want meOMokb to casteRCFT isn’t…?”pfodp kDbYXi“Exactly that. IfLuDcU things goCzdC south, you’llH1s have toI0x unleash a big spellwJ5mL with allTOTjt the manapQlXo you’ve storedu394 up. SoyQ42B my adorableG1r pups can1km enter withoutJbBxcc issue.”2wMQ ADim“You bastard…!”Ar8 H9bvd9His head spun.fibybvPdm P9SvHelp monsters attacklxor4 a citygaXF and abductgOE people?81av gWG5pcAnd on topvve of that,zHr blatantly betray4bT1gs the Imperial66ATS Liberation Alliance?bhAmad 8DmThat would makedd1Gx him notneY just an2tK enemy ofbTj6 the Empire,PutI but a public enemyRLwcJE of everyone.XT0sfrHH vPFU1g“Bah, don’t worryvSTE so much.SQQ1 You’re justNhJLS backup. GrebeLmDM has patheticWVFO defenses. IfgigB all goesRo0pB well, myfnYoQH little onesAw9p will be1Ry8hF more thanDh8L enough.”Ocpz03 DurfhJude’s words didn’tial28 calm himY4drd in theyZkOW slightest.YM91 QrodIf he didn’tcQBY0H use magic,jbu he’d stillzHebq be boundaAmg by theHIJcc pact.4B7J XrZwMAnd if hee54c did useiK0 it, there’dcPjqZ be noH7lS1 turning back.qvvGsrPMrF o0NFor Colin, both8RHrP paths ledron into an1h5MIv abyss.uKGsb PMkvR“Grrrrr…”FjOj4G QcA6qx“Kiiiii…”Ny3 S5rF“That’s it, looksZOm9 like everyone’spnDLkO hungry forYMX blood. JustM32 a bitcOqZA more. SoonFQF you’ll beq43ikk able toZxQ run wildbFS as muchiDveNb as youtEBh4 like.”A1GVI pHzYJude ignored thegg2PF desperate Colinyp0n and strokedZz9cr the droolingEdy7yF gnolls anddBv kobolds.yPFU OHAd2Even though they4M3 were clearlyoP1 mindless puppets,jjYikv pretending towOXctx have a bond witheQT them waspIMLdq revolting.4Nh bxq“Now, go! Enjoy5FZc the feast!Ijjp And don’t1hA8 forget theDhUGw sacrifices youAij1y8 must offer10tl in return!”t7UmQM0yFY fTREW“Kyaaaaa!”eRE wlOK“Graaaargh!”D5zgx sOfvAs soon asvx6 he finishedXTv speaking, thebzkO hordes ofcZN gnolls andrbxewZ kobolds hiddenwcUlPJ in thenj0 forest chargedv6g forward.bT5 37whThe frenzied hordee9Y of monstersPVpd shook the3weF ground asKAG they surgedsvu toward theMIU city ofEwqg Grebe.65K7wz wWYpSatisfied by thehDImWB spectacle, Jude1sgGO burst outQ1r laughing.02jp1 iur5B“Ahahaha! See? Isn’tm4m it magnificent?zhrX A monster9CTi9S army strongerLwB7Cv than humans!vhjCUu The fruit4QYb of my1b8M research! MygGkWp power andtgQ my slaves!”NgFKp3iC cc0ENOJude’s laughter wasaWVIbL steeped in2Hf madness.5qwda6 KNHHearing it, Colina6vslP instinctively steppeds1Lp back severalwAsB paces.mxDoq 3UUUHvWhen the hordeJvDWY reached theO7j2 outskirts ofbtnh Grebe, JudeSYr even beganaC9587 clapping witheezPR excitement.a15C 1sgPC“Look at them!AhL How pathetic!j5x3w Those foolsWHa parading around59H3j1 inside theirurLGy fragile order,n7j being slaughteredKCha by myFrlyz little ones—truly…SXtY1B truly…?”C7N FVOCLGDrunk on victory,0GAk Jude suddenlyNBSEFt sensed somethingRuGP odd and5nU froze.O22 0W9Colin also lookedyKxAT toward whererMz the monstersmHpY0w were headed.wHDdCmGks 05XAnd without realizingSpH it, heAxJPjF muttered what1FG09e was rightxiNU before hisaSg eyes.Hwj4 0Rzx66“From what I can see…kOx8X the onesSsWo being slaughteredMqi are yourvXW little ones…”k4rZCZt8 UQG7“….”JIlG
What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!