A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and the warm atmosphere in the lord's manor slightly diluted the lingering, cold majesty that Linde possessed, which originated from the source of light and darkness.
But he knew that relaxation was only a brief respite; the pieces on the chessboard had already been placed, and it was time to make another move.
He informed his family and key advisors of his decision to travel to the orc kingdom.
Alice meticulously prepared travel gear for him, knowing her husband was no longer an ordinary man, yet her concern remained. Nazra, relying on her fox bloodline, described in detail the personalities and possible stances of several orc kings within the royal court, especially the cat and dog tribes, who were not always on good terms with the fox tribe. Leonis silently checked his personal sword—though Lind might never need it, it was her way of showing support.
Astaire dispatched a small squad of his most elite Crystal Knights as a public ceremonial escort, while Narosh arranged for several of his most capable Shadowbinders to infiltrate the royal court area in advance to ensure smooth intelligence flow.
For this trip, Lind did not choose to travel on the overly awe-inspiring giant ship of the Iron Sky, but instead opted for a relatively "traditional" method—a well-equipped procession of carriages and horses, to show a superficial respect for the Orcish Kingdom.
Of course, if needed, he can open a spatial rift at any time and arrive instantly.
Before leaving, Linde called the four children to his study alone.
He looked at his children, each with a distinct temperament, and calmly began to speak:
“While I am away, the daily affairs of the territory will be decided jointly by your mother and Aster. What you need to do is observe and learn, but do not interfere without permission. Especially you, Roy, put away your curiosity and prioritize stability.”
His gaze finally settled on Lillian and Allen:
"Lillian, you can assist Alice with some internal affairs paperwork; Allen, go to the Astaire army and learn about command and control, but you are not allowed to interfere with their orders without permission. Understand?"
"Yes, Father!"
The four children responded in unison, their eyes showing both their reluctance to see their father leave and a solemn sense of responsibility.
Linde nodded and said no more. He turned and stepped into the carriage.
The convoy drove out of Blackrock City and headed towards the territory of the Eastern Orc Kingdom.
The scenery gradually changed along the way.
The exquisite fields and estates of human kingdoms have been replaced by rugged wilderness, vast deserts, dense primeval forests, and rolling hills.
A wild and primal atmosphere began to permeate the air.
The deeper Lind ventured into the heart of the orc kingdom, the stronger the power of faith originating from the God of Beasts became.
It was a complex aura mixed with power, wildness, tribal glory, and nature worship, quite different from the relatively unified and orderly faith of the Holy Church.
Through the subtle perception of the [Deconstruction Aura], he also sensed the gazes lurking in the shadows—agile scouts from the cat race, loyal trackers from the canine race, and even the sharp eyes of the winged race occasionally sweeping across the sky. Clearly, the five high-ranking orc clans had all learned of his arrival.
Several days later, the caravan arrived at the political center of the Orc Kingdom—the Court of Ten Thousand Beasts.
Royal Court was not a city in the traditional sense, but a vast settlement built in a huge valley, consisting of countless megalithic fortresses, totem poles, animal skin tents, and caves carved into the mountainside.
It is full of a wild and majestic sense of power.
The highest peak in the center is carved into the shape of a roaring beast's head; that is where the Beast God's main hall is located, and also where the five Beast Kings hold their meetings.
It is more accurate to call it a sacred place than a royal court.
The fox clan's envoys were already waiting at the valley entrance, led by a trusted confidant of the fox lord, Zahira Adan.
The envoy was respectful, but Lind could sense a subtle tension and anticipation mixed in with it.
Guided by the fox clan envoys, Lind's caravan passed through bustling streets filled with various orc races and arrived at the fox clan's residence in the royal court.
That evening, the fox lord Zahira Adan secretly received Lind in a large tent filled with fox clan characteristics and a fragrant bonfire.
Zahira was an unusually young fox-fox male, who looked to be no more than twenty years old in human years. He had short, fiery silver hair that made his fair skin stand out even more.
His face combined the exquisite features of the fox clan with the handsome features of a young man. His pair of emerald green eyes were like the finest jade, clear and lively, yet his high position forced him to develop a composure and prudence far beyond his years.
He wasn't wearing elaborate and heavy formal attire, but rather a well-fitting dark-colored outfit embroidered with the secret patterns of the fox clan, which both highlighted his status and revealed his youthful vigor and unwillingness to be bound.
Although he was trying to maintain the composure of a clan leader, Lin De could keenly sense that beneath this deliberate calmness lay a sense of urgency to prove himself and solidify his position.
"Lord Linde, I have long admired your name."
Zahira's voice was clear and bright, carrying the vitality unique to young people, but he deliberately softened his tone to make it sound solemn. "Thank you for coming in person. How is Sister Nazla?" He chose to use "sister" instead of a more formal title, trying to build rapport while maintaining politeness.
"She is doing well and often thinks about her hometown."
Lin De nodded slightly and cut straight to the point, "Lord Fox, you must already know the purpose of my visit. What exactly is the reason for the invitation from the God of Beasts?"
Zahira dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two of them in the tent.
His expression turned serious, and a solemnity that seemed incongruous with his youthful face flickered in his emerald eyes:
"The oracle was vague, but its direction was clear. His Majesty Uranus sensed a violent fluctuation in the continent's primordial power, especially the imbalance and reshaping of light and shadow. He wants to know, what is your attitude towards this continent, towards the gods, and... towards the orc race, that caused this change?"
He paused, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and his tone carried a subtle hint of anxiety and a desire for validation characteristic of a young decision-maker:
"The royal court is not a monolithic entity. Cat King 'Shadowclaw' Case considers you a huge threat and advocates uniting with other gods to eliminate you; Dog King 'Loyal Guard' Hark is more inclined to wait and see; Rabbit King 'Spirit Ear' Momo and Feather King 'Sky Soaring' Ling have ambiguous attitudes."
However, my personal opinion, as well as the mainstream opinion within the Fox Clan, is naturally that we hope to maintain and even deepen our friendly relations with you and Blackrock Territory.
Ultimately, however, everything depends on His Majesty Urano's will, and... whether you can persuade Him, or gain His recognition of your strength.
He laid out his situation completely, showing honesty and also implying an intention to seek support.
Linde showed no surprise upon hearing this.
"manner?"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Linde's lips. "My stance is simple. Order should be defined by power. If the age of the Old Gods has passed, a new order should naturally be established. If the orcs can recognize the situation, they can find their own glorious place in this new order. As for threats..."
He looked calmly at Zahira, and his deep purple eyes made the young fox lord feel a pressure as if he were being stared at by an endless abyss, as if all his thoughts had been seen through.
"That depends on their own choices, and also on the wisdom and courage of young leaders like you."
Zahira felt a chill run down his spine; Lind's confidence and insight far exceeded his expectations.
This was not arrogance, but a calm statement based on absolute strength, which seemed to contain a hint of scrutiny and expectation towards him, the young fox lord.
"I see."
Zahira took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and her fighting spirit rekindled in her emerald green eyes.
"Tomorrow, the five Beast Kings will hold a formal meeting at the Temple of Ten Thousand Beasts to welcome your arrival."
Things won't be peaceful then. Elvis Keyes will definitely cause trouble. I'll do my best to mediate, but... ultimately, you'll have to deal with it yourself.
"It's alright."
Linde picked up the bone goblet on the table and took a sip of the slightly spicy mead. "I'm also eager to see the prowess of the other orc kings, and your performance in the royal court."
......
The next day, at the Temple of Ten Thousand Beasts.
The five orc kings each sat on a different stone throne beneath the statue, each symbolizing their respective clan.
The young red-haired fox lord, Zahira Adan, sat among them. Although he stood tall and tried to maintain the dignity befitting his status, he still appeared somewhat immature and frail compared to the other four beast kings, who possessed a more powerful aura and were clearly older.
His gaze kept sweeping over the entrance, a hint of nervousness mixed with anticipation.
To his right is Rabbit King Momo, an elderly rabbit-man who looks gentle and wise, with long ears that tremble slightly as if listening to everything.
To the right is Yu Wangling, a haughty harpy with two wings on his back (in a folded state) and sharp eyes.
To Zahira's left is Hack, the Dog King, a strong, middle-aged dog-man with a resolute face and upright posture, who seems ready to serve and die for his country at any moment.
On the far left, and with the sharpest aura, is Elvis Presley.
He was agile, with eyes like those of the most dangerous predator. His fingertips flicked out and then retracted silently, staring at Lind as he slowly walked into the hall with undisguised scrutiny and hostility.
On both sides of the main hall stood elite warriors and shaman priests from various tribes, creating a solemn and tense atmosphere.
Linde walked into the main hall alone, facing countless gazes that were filled with curiosity, hostility, or awe. He walked with composure, as if strolling in his own courtyard.
He didn't emanate any powerful energy fluctuations, but wherever his invisible aura passed, many orc warriors instinctively felt a chill and involuntarily took a slight step back.
"Human Lord, Lind Truk!"
King Elvis spoke first, his voice sharp and provocative, "What is your purpose in trespassing into the King's Court of Beasts? That nauseating aura of light and darkness emanating from you is a desecration of His Majesty Urano!"
Linde stopped and glanced indifferently at Case. He did not respond directly to his provocation, but instead looked at the Beast God statue at the end of the hall and nodded slightly as a greeting.
Only then did they turn their attention to the five beast kings.
"I have come at the invitation of the Fox Lord, in response to the divine decree of the God of Beasts."
Lind's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the whispers in the hall, reaching the ears of every orc, "As for my aura... King Keith, power itself is neither good nor evil; only the being who wields it determines its use. Are you questioning His Majesty Urano's judgment in selecting guests?"
With a single sentence, he casually shifted the blame to the Beast God, causing Case's face to stiffen.
Dog King Hack said in a deep voice:
"Lord Lind, the oracle mentioned a change in the continent. As the one at the heart of this change, could you tell us what impact your existence will have on the orc race?"
Rabbit King Momo's long ears twitched, and he added gently:
"We yearn for peace and development, and the cooperation between Blackrock Territory and the Fox Clan is a good start. But when a greater storm comes, we will need more than just trade."
Feather King Ling snorted coldly:
"Words are no substitute for sincerity and strength. Humans, what makes you think you are qualified to speak with His Majesty Urano? And what makes us orcs place our fate on you?"
Linde remained unmoved despite the barrage of questions.
"Impact? It stems from choice."
He looked at Hack and Momo, “Blackrock Territory is willing to coexist with all intelligent races that uphold order. But if you choose to be my enemy, that is another matter.”
His gaze finally settled on Feather King Ling and Cat King Keyes: "As for qualifications..."
Linde slowly raised his right hand, palm facing up.
In an instant, the light in the entire Temple of Ten Thousand Beasts seemed to dim for a moment! It wasn't darkness that descended, but rather an ultimate "presence" emerged from his palm—a warm, peaceful, and infinitely vibrant pure light quietly bloomed, like a miniature sun!
However, at the very moment when the light reached its peak, at the center of the ball of light, an extreme "nothingness" that seemed capable of devouring everything quietly emerged and rapidly expanded!
Light and darkness, life and death, two diametrically opposed forces of law that should have annihilated each other, coexisted harmoniously in his palm in a way that defied common sense and was extremely stable, forming a slowly rotating, chaotic yet profoundly mysterious vortex of light and darkness!
There was no powerful energy impact, but the very existence of the vortex seemed to be explaining the underlying rules of the world!
"Buzz—"
All the totem poles in the main hall emitted a deep hum, a phenomenon of resonating with divine power!
All the shamans present changed their expressions drastically. They felt that the connection between their own faith power and the natural elements became sluggish and unstable in the face of that small vortex!
The five orc kings suddenly stood up, their faces filled with disbelief and shock!
The provocation in King Cat's eyes had long been replaced by horror. King Dog Hack clenched his fists, King Rabbit Momo's long ears stiffened, King Feather's arrogance turned into solemnity, and even Fox Lord Zahira, although she was mentally prepared, was shocked by the direct display of the law and her heart raced.
Linde calmly looked at the vortex of light and darkness in his palm, as if it were just a little trick.
"This is my qualification."
He withdrew his power, and the hall returned to its original state, but the turmoil in the hearts of all the orcs was difficult to quell.
"I am not here to beg, nor to declare war."
Lind's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable authority: "I have come to inform you that the tide of a new era has begun to rise. The future of the Orcish Kingdom depends on your choices today, and... the ultimate will of His Majesty Urano."
He looked up, his gaze sharp as he stared directly at the statue of the beast god.
"Now, may I speak with the real decision-makers?"
As he spoke, the eyes of the enormous beast god statue suddenly shone with a crimson light like molten lava! A vast, ancient will, filled with endless wildness and power, slowly descended upon the entire temple, like an awakened primordial beast!
Uranus, the god of beasts, turned his gaze to this human lord who wielded both light and darkness.
The real dialogue has only just begun.
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