Eric's deep voice echoed in the tent as he recounted Lind's appointment to the mission in a time of crisis, the annihilation of Greenburg, the capture of the Crystal Cannon and the devastating consequences...
Nazla sat upright in her chair, her knuckles turning slightly white from the effort, her lively silver fox ears standing up tensely, and a storm raging deep within her eyes.
"...My lord has been urgently summoned to serve under Earl Sutherland and to guard Grinburg." Eric's voice carried a hint of unspoken heaviness. "He is a thorn in the side of the Empire's northern defenses."
“Grinburg? And now?” Nazra’s voice was a little tense.
Eric was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "...It's gone. The entire fortress, along with that land, was completely flattened by the Orcs' Crystal Skeleton Cannon, leaving only a huge lava crater."
"What?!" Nazla stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair. Her beautiful face instantly drained of color. "Linde...?" She dared not ask any further, her heart feeling as if it were being gripped by an icy hand.
"You are alright, sir!"
Eric quickly reassured him, his tone resolute.
"Lord Linde not only held the last line of defense, but also led a counterattack in dire straits, snatching the Crystal Skeleton Cannon that destroyed Greenburg from the Orks! He severely damaged the vanguard of the Sass-Ork Allied Forces! Not only did the lord emerge unharmed, but he also made an unparalleled contribution! According to the latest frontline report, His Majesty has bestowed a reward, promoting the lord to Imperial Viscount and granting him the title 'Guardian'!"
Like a drowning person grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, Nazla's tense body suddenly relaxed, she let out a long sigh, and slumped back into the chair that her attendant had helped her up.
She touched her heaving chest, her eyes filled with a mixture of lingering fear and pride:
"That scared me to death... This Lind, he's always so... so thrilling!"
She complained, but the worry in her eyes and brows had turned into a bright smile.
"Viscount? 'Guardian'? Hmph, that's quite a fitting title for him."
Upon learning that Linde was unharmed and had made outstanding contributions, Nazla was completely relieved, and the shrewdness and assertiveness characteristic of a great fox merchant returned to her.
She clapped her hands lightly, and her trusted fox-woman, who was waiting outside the tent, immediately bowed and entered.
“Sir Eric,” Nazra said, pointing to the fox-woman, her tone leaving no room for doubt, “this is Alyssa, my Cloudclaw Merchant Guild’s most capable assistant. She is in charge of all the goods, funds, and personnel rosters brought by the caravan, as well as all subsequent trade dealings with Blackrock Territory, material transportation, and personnel placement. She will stay here to assist you in handling all matters.”
She paused, her foxy eyes flashing with a hint of cunning, "Of course, most importantly, we must ensure that Lord Linde's purse is as secure as his castle."
Alyssa gracefully performed a fox-like greeting to Eric: "Lord Eric, please guide me."
Eric looked at the capable-looking, sharp-eyed middle-aged fox-woman in front of him, and then thought of the huge caravan outside the camp carrying immeasurable wealth. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly:
"Your Highness Nazra, rest assured! Ms. Elisa, Blackstone Territory will fully cooperate!"
Nazra nodded in satisfaction, then stood up. Her cloak billowed without wind, revealing a decisive aura befitting a person in a superior position, completely different from her charming appearance.
"As for me, I won't wait for him here."
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Eric was somewhat taken aback.
“The caravan will stay, but I must personally deliver the other ‘gift’ I brought to him.”
Nazla's lips curled into a captivating yet sharp smile.
Fifty elite silver-rank orcs—they're not merchandise, they're warriors! Sharp blades! Linde is on the front lines now, and that's exactly when strength is needed. This blade must be delivered to him personally, and by the way…
She licked her rosy lips, a burning anticipation flashing in her amber eyes.
"...Look at this newly appointed 'Guardian' Viscount, how heroic he is on the battlefield. I... miss him terribly."
Eric, seeing the undisguised possessiveness and fighting spirit in Nazra's eyes, wisely swallowed his words of dissuasion.
This fox prince's resolve was clearly not something he could shake.
“Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare the fastest mount for you and the safest route to Ironrock Keep.”
Eric bowed.
Eric finally breathed a long sigh of relief when Nazra, leading fifty silent orc warriors exuding a fierce and bloodthirsty aura, rode away from Blackrock Territory and onto the road leading to the northern battlefield.
He turned to look at Alyssa, who had a shrewd expression, beside him, then glanced at the heavily guarded, mountain-like supplies on the opposite bank of the river, and couldn't help but sigh softly:
"My lord... not only are you skilled at leading troops into battle, but your ability to find allies is truly extraordinary!"
…………
The air in Iron Rock Fortress still carried the lingering smell of gunpowder, but a new tension, a mixture of burning metal and strange energy fluctuations, had been added.
Deep within the castle, a storeroom, temporarily reinforced and guarded by Holy Knights and heavily armored soldiers, became a temporary "Crystal Remains Research Institute."
In the center of the warehouse, the replica of the Crystal Skeleton Cannon, captured from the Orks, stood silently.
Its massive body is covered with battle scars: twisted cannon barrels, cracked bases, and exposed broken energy conduits.
The dark purple crystalline energy remaining on the surface of the cannon, like living stains, pulsed restlessly in the dim light, emitting a heart-palpitating radiation and a low hum.
The team of experts dispatched by the Alchemy Guild, led by Master Goodman who had gifted the gold potion, was busy around this dangerous behemoth.
They wore heavy, lead-gray protective suits and breathing masks with embedded filter crystals on their faces, moving with the caution of someone dismantling a volcano that could erupt at any moment.
Various sophisticated alchemical instruments were set up around: energy stabilizers, shimmering with runic light, emitted a deep hum, constantly neutralizing the dissipating magical radiation.
"The third node of the energy conduit has completely melted, and the internal crystalline matrix has experienced irreversible overload distortion..."
Master Goodman's voice came through the mask, carrying a hint of weariness and solemnity.
"The core power supply array... its structure was violently destroyed..."
Pris, clad in silver-white armor, stood a short distance away, his expression solemn.
He held up a fist-sized crystal emblem that radiated a pure and holy light.
The gentle yet powerful holy light spread out continuously like ripples on water, enveloping the entire work area.
"Pris, what do you think? Do you think this thing is related to the Shadow Abyss?"
Linde asked Pris, who was standing to the side.
Although Linde already knew from the deconstruction of the halo that this replica cannon did not use anything from the Shadow Abyss, he still intended to ask Priss for his opinion.
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