As night falls, the hustle and bustle of Iron Rock Fortress subsides.
Thinking about setting off back to Blackrock Territory tomorrow, Lin De felt a rare sense of ease and anticipation.
According to his estimate, the main structure of his church and castle should be completed soon, and the craftsmen, scholars, and even some managers sent by the count to assist in the construction should arrive in the territory by now.
"Although it's a bit slow... it's understandable."
Linde lay on the bed, feeling the soft fabric beneath him, his thoughts drifting away.
Carrying a large number of people and supplies, traversing the heart of the empire, the speed was naturally not comparable to his previous rapid march.
However, the experiences of the past six months, from a frontier baron to a war hero, from eradicating a cult to delving into the Shadow Abyss's lair, have been far more dramatic and thrilling than anything he had ever experienced in his previous life.
He habitually activated [Activated Vision], and invisible perceptual ripples spread out from him, covering the core area of the castle.
This was supposed to be a routine vigilance and information gathering, but tonight we sensed some unusual activity.
"Hmm?" Linde frowned slightly. "In the middle of the night, the energy activity and personnel movement inside and outside the castle... are even more active than during the day? And there are significantly more of them..."
Just as he was wondering, a rapid but restrained knocking sounded at the door, accompanied by a soldier outside who tried to lower his voice but couldn't hide his nervousness as he reported:
"Sir! Urgent military situation!"
Startled awake, Nix grumbled in dissatisfaction and shrank back under the covers.
"Speak," Linde's voice came through the door, calm and even.
"A group of orcs has arrived outside the city! There are quite a few of them, and they're carrying a banner! They... they say they belong to you! The city's garrison officers dare not act on their own authority, please give your instructions!" The soldier's tone was filled with disbelief.
"Orcs? Subordinate to me?"
Linde was also taken aback; this information was completely unexpected.
When did he acquire an orc army? And even ordinary orcs could never make the Ironrock Keep garrison so nervous.
Despite his confusion, Lind immediately stood up. Nix was also fully awake, rubbing her eyes, and instinctively turned into a shadow, merging into Lind's feet.
Linde quickly dressed and, led by a messenger, strode toward the city gate.
As they drew closer to the city gate, the perception of the activated halo became increasingly clear.
"Such a strong life force...and..."
A glint of light flashed in Linde's eyes. In his [Activated Vision], dozens of exceptionally powerful and savage life signals were gathering outside the city gates! Each one was like a burning bonfire, radiating a surging blood aura far exceeding that of ordinary human soldiers—the aura of a Silver-rank warrior!
These auras are wild and rugged, carrying the fierceness unique to orcs, yet they also subtly reveal a tenacious quality "activated" by some kind of power, making them seem more resilient and explosive than ordinary orc warriors.
"Strange...dozens of silver-level...this scale..." Lin De's mind raced as he continued walking.
Climbing the tall city tower, a cold night wind rushed towards me.
Torches illuminated the city walls, and the defending soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, bows and crossbows were nocked, the atmosphere heavy and tense, their eyes fixed on the area outside the city illuminated by the firelight.
Linde walked to the crenellations, his gaze passing over the city wall and landing on the area where darkness and firelight intertwined.
About a hundred meters below the city, a group of nearly a hundred people stood solemnly.
Most of them were burly, muscular orc warriors, dressed in simple but sturdy leather armor or protective gear inlaid with metal plates, wielding heavy weapons such as giant axes, warhammers, and spears. Their eyes, in the firelight, flashed with vigilance and a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
The group included a small number of orc servants pushing makeshift carts loaded with bags and supplies.
At the very front of the procession, a figure stood proudly alone on the edge of the torchlight.
With just one glance, Linde knew who it was; it seemed his little sweetheart had brought him a surprise.
"Open the city gates! Open them only halfway!"
Linde's voice, firm and decisive, shattered the tense silence on the city wall, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Let them in! They're our own people!"
The order was given, and the gear winch creaked heavily as the heavy iron-clad city gate slowly opened, barely wide enough for a few riders to ride abreast.
The soldiers on the city wall looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment and curiosity—when did the priest acquire such a… conspicuous “one of their own”? And leading a squad of menacing orcs?
Nazra didn't act immediately, but simply watched the city gate open. Only when the gap was large enough for her to pass through did she gently raise her hand and make a simple gesture to the orcish troops behind her.
Like a pack of wolves following a command, the beastmen moved silently and orderly, their heavy footsteps thumping rhythmically on the cold earth.
As Nazra's figure finally emerged from the shadows of the city gate and stepped fully into the firelight illuminating the inner walls of Iron Rock Fortress, Linde quickly descended the steps of the city tower and stood at the entrance to the inner wall.
Between the two, a few steps apart, were countless pairs of eyes filled with surprise, curiosity, and inquiry.
Their eyes met.
There were no superfluous words, no polite small talk.
All the longing, worries, and the feelings that had quietly grown amidst the flames of bloodshed and then surged wildly during the separation erupted like a volcano the moment their eyes met!
Nazla's lips curved into a smile that could captivate all beings, her eyes gleaming with a wild cunning and undisguised longing.
She suddenly quickened her pace, almost running towards Lind!
Linde also stepped forward, and under the suddenly wide-eyed and almost dropped-jawed gazes of the surrounding soldiers, and the calm and unwavering eyes of those tall orc warriors—
Like a burning silver flame, carrying the coolness of the night wind and the dust of a long journey, Nazla crashed hard into Linde's arms!
"Linde!"
Her voice trembled slightly, and her arms, like the most resilient vines, instantly wrapped around Lind's neck, holding him tightly.
She buried her face in the fabric of his neck and shoulder, taking a deep breath as if to confirm that this familiar scent was not a dream.
Linde hugged her back just as tightly, his arms encircling her slender yet powerful waist, almost as if he wanted to meld her into his own body.
The unique, crisp scent of her hair, a blend of sunlight, grass, and a hint of gunpowder, lingered around my nose, dispelling the cold night air of Iron Rock Fortress.
He lowered his head, his cheek brushing against the sensitive, trembling fox ears on the top of her head, feeling the strange sensation of the soft fur. His deep voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Nazila! What brings you here?"
"Meow?"
The shadow beneath Linde's feet twitched slightly. Nix seemed to be startled awake by the sudden, enthusiastic embrace, curiously peering out to sense it before shyly retreating back.
"Let's...go inside and talk..."
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