Chapter 553 The Ancient Covenant is Awakened by the Demon King
The county of Spinor was hit by the heaviest rain since June, the torrential downpour seemingly trying to wash away all the sins on the earth.
Although Eileen's team did not find any human traces in the cave, there is no doubt that it was not something the ratmen could have accomplished alone.
This was a huge blow to the hero.
Whether in a spiritual or religious sense.
Instead, the Demon King comforted her, urging her not to give up her yearning for the Holy Light. He said that if she were truly defeated by evil, then evil would have achieved its goal.
“I think Lady Antony is right. Whatever you see in Twilight City, please keep the light in your heart... The same goes for the Ten Thousand Mountains.”
The inn in Jackdaws.
Eileen, sitting on the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest, raised her face, which was brimming with tears. Her emerald green eyes, veiled in a layer of gray, were truly heartbreaking.
"If you hold onto the light, will the light come?" she asked in a hoarse voice.
Luo Yan, who was standing by the window, did not answer immediately.
Rainwater slid down the window, leaving long, silent streaks on the glass.
He thought for a moment and then told the truth.
"Won't."
Eileen tightened her arms around her knees slightly and didn't ask any further questions.
Looking at his lowered forehead, Luo Yan continued speaking.
"But if everyone takes evil as an axiom, then they will naturally live in a world that they firmly believe in."
From the perspective of the virtual realm, this cycle of reincarnation is probably permanent.
The cruelty of the masses lies in the fact that the fantasies or curses people have about others often have only 60% of their power, but they will backfire on themselves with 12% of their power.
The plight of the Ryan people is not because the goblins of the city believed that humans really did take out the demons' intestines every day and force them to eat them back.
The fate of the Ryan people is determined solely by their own spiritual world.
The history of the continent of Os has proven this countless times, but few people have pieced together these scattered fragments to ponder them.
In the parlance of this world, this is called "the thoughts of the masses," while in another world there is a more common term: "karma."
This is why demons don't suffer any karmic punishment when they deal with goblins, but when they arrive in Thundershire, Reggie Dragon is quickly killed by the Chosen One with a single spear thrust.
Similarly, if King Ryan had only acted recklessly in Roland, the karmic winds probably wouldn't have blown so fiercely.
Even if copper coins were abolished, and the tribes reverted to a barter-based society, the people of Roland City would have no choice but to accept it, just like the goblins of Blackwind Keep.
However, what he shouldn't have done, by all accounts, was that Theoden Devallo did something similar to what Dragon did—
The old, blind captain, in a daze, confidently sailed his small boat downstream on the Benliu River.
The people there were thinking about completely different things, and the karmic winds were certainly not blowing in a way he was familiar with.
From a mortal's perspective, it was an irreconcilable conflict between feudalism and republicanism. However, from a divine perspective, it had nothing to do with either.
That is merely the coldest and most ruthless cause and effect in the universe.
What's even more ruthless is that only true deities can see the full picture of cause and effect.
People caught in the rain can only curse the "injustice" of fate again and again, wondering why they must be punished for their kind lives. Sometimes they gloat that they are not the ones suffering this time, and sometimes they lament when the sky will clear up.
Sir Dickbin, for example, is a case in point.
Standing on the training ground, soaked to the bone, he felt extremely wronged.
He was merely acting in accordance with the king's orders, yet he was sent to the Ryan Battalion of the Mountain Corps, to stand alongside a group of lowly peasants and be reprimanded.
The rain washed away his expensive whale oil hair wax, turning his meticulously styled hair, which could remain impeccable even in the gale, into a clump of sticky seaweed, which awkwardly clung to his forehead where the powder had been washed away.
Sir Wesley, dressed in military uniform, walked ahead of him with his hands behind his back, like a griffin surveying its territory.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
The pair of mud-covered leather boots deliberately lingered in front of Sir Dickbin for two seconds, until a few suppressed chuckles came from the surrounding area.
Sir Wesley watched the increasingly red, sour face, a cold smile playing on his lips, before shifting his gaze and continuing on his way.
His intention was not to humiliate the guy, but to make him see his face clearly imprinted in the mud, so that he could be braver after knowing shame.
"Welcome to the Ryan Battalion of the First Mountain Legion of the Duchy of Campbell. You are all Ryan people, so you should be familiar with each other and know why you are standing here..."
"Right in the mountains before you, the people of the Holy Light are being ravaged by the swords of foreign races. They slaughter your brothers and sisters like livestock, disemboweling them in an appalling manner and locking your wives and daughters in cages!"
"No matter what gentle words your mother Dickbin uses to stroke the ratmen's ugly fur and argue that you're asking for trouble, here, such barbaric behavior is no different from chaos!"
A commotion arose in the crowd. Several young men who had run out of the rat hole had red eyes, burning with hatred, and wished they could rush forward immediately.
It's hard to say who they'll charge at; the rat-men are still a bit far away.
Sir Dickbin felt a chill run down his spine, swallowed hard, and finally forgot about his messy hair for the time being.
“I don’t want to talk to you about honor, because your king has already sold the virtues of chivalry for a good price. And I don’t want to talk to you about loyalty, because you are not His Majesty the Grand Duke’s subjects, at least not yet.”
"but--"
Wesley abruptly changed the subject, raising his voice.
"Here, at least for this moment, I will look at you with more respect! Because you are not slaves who cannot live without your master, nor are you beggars who desperately wait for our Majesty's charity, but a group of men who are trying to reclaim their dignity!"
"Are you willing to join us in picking up rifles and proving to those rats who trample you underfoot that you are different from those cowards? You are men with backbone! Not earthworms crawling in the mud!"
"The army of the Duchy of Campbell doesn't accept spineless bastards!"
As the impassioned voice faded, the entire training ground fell into a deathly silence, with only increasingly heavy breathing echoing in the rain.
Something seemed to be ignited in those numb eyes.
That was the fighting spirit that had been repeatedly suppressed and extinguished!
Sir Wesley was pleased with their expressions.
Even Sir Dickby, whose eyes were glazed over, seemed to have moved beyond mere fear, though he was shivering like a drowned rat.
There's also a kind of bewildered confusion after being hit.
That's enough.
No one can become a good thing in a day.
Sir Wesley didn't look at them again, turned around and looked at the young officer standing at attention behind him.
That was Raman, an instructor from the Ryan Battalion of the First Army Corps, who had distinguished himself in the winter coup and risen from private to sergeant.
It is said that this young man used to be a carpenter, and Sir Wesley hopes that he can carve these rain-soaked and rotten pieces of wood into something useful.
"Raman, I'm leaving him to you."
The military boots made a crisp snapping sound in the mud, and Raman gave an impeccable military salute, startling the dazed Sir Dickby.
"Yes, sir!"
...
"By Saint Sith... how could these beasts do such a thing!"
The tranquility of the streets in Thunder City at dawn was shattered by a curse.
A worker, who was about to go to work at the factory, clutched the newspaper tightly in his hand, staring incredulously at the headline.
A photo of a magic trick was featured on the front page.
Although the editors blurred the details of the horrific scenes at the camp outside Raven City and in the rat hole in an effort to accommodate readers' psychological tolerance, the overwhelming sense of death and the cruel descriptions still suffocate anyone with a conscience.
The children of the rushing river were treated like animals, whipped by rats, like sardines on a slaughter line; even their embryos were used as a profane medicinal ingredient.
If we don't kill all these beasts, we'll be unworthy to be children of the Holy Light!
Since the Second Era, the continent of Os has not seen a war of holy light against other races for a long time. However, at this moment, this ancient name has once again appeared in the hearts of all believers who cherish the holy light.
Also mentioned was the ancient covenant.
The dwarven friends, who had disappeared for countless years, have once again reappeared in the sight of the citizens of Thunder City—
The mountain dwarves, who had lent a helping hand to the Duchy of Campbell during the Twilight Province campaign, have also suffered from those rats for a long time!
The curses and insults emanating from the streets and alleys did not stop at mere words.
With everyone united as one, the war machine of the Principality of Campbell is operating at full speed with unprecedented efficiency!
The train station was packed with people.
The young men, carrying simple packs, bid farewell to their tearful mothers and wives, and boarded the special troop transport train bound for the Count of Spinol one after another.
Among them were Ryanians, Campbellians, and adventurers and mercenaries from various regions of the Whirlpool Sea.
Some fought for nationality or bounty, others to reclaim the dignity sold off by the king, and still others joined out of sheer fervor for the Holy Light.
In the summer of 1054 AD, Thunder City was not only inhabited by the profit-driven Mr. Horace; the vast majority of the inhabitants were still the holy citizens of Saint Sith who were devout to the Holy Light.
It wasn't just the people of Saint Sith who rushed to the front lines.
And the people of the Dragon God.
In an interview with the Thunder City Daily, Mr. Sak Gale, the envoy of the Kingdom of Gutaf, denounced the crimes of the ratmen in the Ten Thousand Mountains.
"This is a desecration of life! A defilement of the soul! The United Kingdom of Gutaf will never allow chaos to devour our world, even though our Dragon God has long since left this land, the roar of the dragons will never tolerate evil!"
Queen Ethermata declares war on the Carrion Clan!
Accompanied by this deafening speech, a special force departed from Mudswamp City, using the railway from Thunder City to head to the front lines.
Spinorburg, temporary train station platform.
With a long, piercing whistle, a fully loaded steel train, puffing out billowing white smoke, slowly pulled into the platform like a panting giant.
The wheels had just stopped turning, and before the doors could even open, a torrent of dark green water surged out from the doors and windows.
Those were thousands upon thousands of lizardmen, their tongues flicking out.
Their bodies were covered in scales, they swayed their thick tails, and their faces were full of excitement.
Most of them were real lizardmen, but some were "dragonborn" mixed in, and many were players who had just obtained closed beta access.
These guys were covered in a dazzling array of equipment; some carried cast iron hand cannons as thick as bowls on their backs, while others had colorful reagent bottles wrapped around their waists, making a clanging sound as they walked.
They scrambled off the bus noisily, some jumping wildly as soon as they landed, seemingly testing the flexibility of their new joints. Others pointed at empty air, their fingers slid rapidly through the void, as if operating some unseen panel.
Some people excitedly leaned on the platform railings, pointing at the towering Wanren Mountains in the distance and shouting, their tails wagging excitedly.
"Holy crap! Guys, look at this! The lighting effects on this new map are amazing! The mountains in the distance look so real!"
"Stop looking at the scenery! Where are the ratmen? My greatsword is itching for a fight!"
"Looking for a team! I need a powerful hand cannon lizardman to team up with, and I also need a healer!"
"No wet nurse available, do you need milk?"
"Get out of here! How can there be such disgusting lizardmen?!"
Players who enter the game through the expansion pack will have their characters randomly assigned; whichever lizard egg they are placed in determines their character.
It's worth mentioning that in Expert Mode, you lose your current character upon death and are relegated to Normal Mode as an undead.
In order not to lose their strong bodies, most players valued their lives and did not take advantage of this rare closed beta opportunity to cause trouble.
The chaotic scene was full of vitality, but it also plunged Spinorburg, which had never been so lively before, into an unprecedented panic.
The residents on both sides of the street closed their doors and windows in terror, drew their curtains, and only dared to peek cautiously through a narrow gap at these incomprehensible monsters.
Sometimes they would talk to themselves in the air, sometimes they would jump around repeatedly as if possessed, or they would grab their companions' tails like mad dogs in order to grab something that "no one can see".
To prevent riots, royal messengers rode back and forth on horseback, sweating profusely, loudly reassuring the frightened commoners.
"Don't panic! They are warriors from the Kingdom of Gutaf! They've come to help us fight the ratmen!"
By the end, even the royal messenger seemed a little unsure himself, and could only add a sentence as he was about to speak.
"They...don't eat people! Probably?"
In fact, these monsters not only did not eat people, but they were even more "polite" than most human soldiers, only a little curious about new things.
A little boy who was hiding at the entrance of an alley was discovered by a burly lizardman.
Just as the child was about to scream, the lizardman pulled out a few dark candies from his pouch and tossed them over with a grin.
"Hey kid! Do you know any lost kittens or old ladies around here who need to deliver mail? I mean... are there any hidden quests?"
At the entrance of the blacksmith's shop, a group of lizardmen were buzzing around the bewildered blacksmith standing in front of the anvil, like flies.
"Bro, can you add a buff to this hammer?"
"Brother! Mission! Mission!"
"Is your wife in jail? Don't be shy, buddy, I'll get her out!"
blacksmith:"???"
Unfortunately, none of the NPCs could understand what these "Gutaf warriors" were saying.
As one group of players left, looking rather disheartened, another group quickly followed, repeating the same thing over and over again, rambling on and on with the same nonsense...
That behavior was even more like an NPC's than an NPC's.
However, this bizarre contrast actually relieved the local residents who were originally terrified of these lizardmen.
They just seem to be a bit talkative?
However, the residents of Spinorburg soon found themselves in another layer of confusion.
I have a feeling these lizardmen aren't very bright...
Is everything really okay?
...
The chaos in front of the train station was just a minor incident.
If the residents of Spinor Castle knew the formidable reputation of "the Demon King's men" in the Twilight Province, they would certainly no longer doubt their fighting prowess.
These guys are "Holy Spirits" in the Dusk Province, but here they've just changed into "Gutaf" aliases.
The unrest did not last long.
Just as the royal messengers were at a loss, the lizardmen gathered around the train station suddenly seemed to receive a command and ran wildly in the same direction.
[Mission: March on foot to the border front north of Spinor.]
[Reward: 10 Contribution Points]
[Note: The first 100 people to arrive will receive an additional 100 contribution points!]
100 contribution points!
Upon seeing this line of numbers, almost all players held their breath, and some even began to suspect that the game developers had added an extra zero.
On the official forum of "Cataclysm Online" today, the three words "contribution points" no longer just represent extraordinary power, but have become a synonym for "succubus"!
Just as the Campbells were inspired by the "Bells," the players of "Catastrophe Online" were also ignited with passion by the legend of "Little Eagle"!
After accumulating contribution points for two and a half years, I was transformed from a skeleton into a succubus on the spot. This story is just too damn tempting—oops, it's inspiring!
Players in the Great Tomb stated that they were definitely not doing this to indulge in the fantasy of beautiful girls, but rather for the succubus's initial agility and growth multiplier!
"For my wife! I'm going first, brothers!"
A lizardman with the ID "Windwing" roared, landed on all fours, and burst out with astonishing speed, rushing off like a runaway motorcycle.
"Holy crap! How come your legs are so long?!"
The players behind immediately erupted in chaos.
"You're cheating!"
"Damn it, don't pull my tail!"
The diverse racial characteristics of the lizardmen were on full display at this moment.
Each player gets a different lizardman randomly, and even their "stamina bar" based on their diet varies considerably.
Those less common lizardmen who randomly acquired herbivorous traits, while slightly weaker in explosive power, clearly possessed greater endurance and quickly gained the upper hand in the long-distance race. In contrast, the carnivorous lizards, known for their explosive power, quickly succumbed to the challenge and became breathless in the long run.
As for the wild lizardmen from the southwestern swamps, seeing the "dragon descendants" running north, they didn't know what they were running for, but they all rushed in the same direction.
The garrison at Campbell breathed a sigh of relief.
They almost pushed the cannons onto the city walls, but now it seems these guys are really allies; they can push the cannons back now...
Just as the herd of livestock kicked up clouds of dust as they raced toward the northern front of the Spinor County, Mr. Sack Gale, traveling north by carriage, finally arrived at the northern border of the Spinor County with ease.
Compared to those loud and boisterous "pseudo-lizardmen," this lizardman, who truly came from the continent of Gana, displayed a refined aristocratic elegance... although he had learned this elegance from humans after arriving in Thunder City.
The carriage wheels rolled over the gravel and finally came to a stop in front of the military tent in the very center of the camp.
Coincidentally, just as Sak Gale stepped off the carriage, the dwarven delegation from the High Mountain Kingdom had just arrived.
Sak had just looked curiously at the group of short people when a loud, rough laugh came from the front and hit his knee.
"Haha! Look who's here!"
The visitor is an envoy from the High Mountain Kingdom, Alek Earth!
This short, stocky dwarf messenger looked like a bearded wine barrel, with a bright red nose inserted into a tuft of braided hair.
Upon seeing Sack Gale, he felt as if he had seen a long-lost brother, and without saying a word, he gave Sack a bear hug that could break bones.
"Welcome! A warm welcome! I knew it! In this darkest hour, our old friends from the First Age of the Dwarves, the great people of the Dragon God, would not be absent! Welcome back to this ancient land! We have missed you so much!"
Sak Gale, who was almost knocked over, was completely dumbfounded.
Although he was an envoy of the Kingdom of Gutaf, his mind was completely blank regarding the so-called First Age history.
To be honest, he didn't even know his ancestors had been here, and the murals of the Wind Howl tribe didn't mention it at all.
However, thinking of the task given to him by the Demon King, Sak coughed lightly, straightened his wrinkled pants, and put on a deep and nostalgic expression.
“Ahem… Of course, Mr. Alec. The ancient covenant is etched in our blood. Although time has passed, our friendship, like the Stairway to the Sun, will never fade with time.”
Fortunately, this enthusiastic dwarf friend didn't tactlessly say, "Then let me test you," but just laughed heartily and happily.
He released his grip and instead enthusiastically patted Sak's scaly thighs, loudly praising his broad wings and thick, powerful tail, saying he looked like a good buddy who could tear a griffin apart in the sky.
This excessive enthusiasm made Sack Gale a little embarrassed.
Who says dwarves are all rigid, stubborn, and stoneheaded?
This guy's mouth is even more glib than a human bard!
What Mr. Sack didn't know was that this guy, whose beard was long enough to be tied into a braid, was actually more embarrassed than he was.
Mr. Alec was so enthusiastic simply because the ancient stone tablets of the dwarves said that the people of the dragon god loved furry things the most.
For the future of the High Mountain Kingdom, he also put aside his dwarf pride and gritted his teeth to go all out!
Who would have thought that the Dragon God's people would be so careless, having long forgotten all the hobbies they learned from the Dragon God?
Just as the two men were gripping each other's toes tightly, the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and Archduke Edward came out of the tent to greet them.
At this moment, he was dressed in military uniform, with an infectious smile on his face. He naturally walked between the two and placed his hands on the shoulders of the two foreign envoys.
"Welcome, Mr. Alec Earth of the High Mountain Kingdom, and Mr. Sack Gale! At this critical juncture, our gathering here must be the will of the gods!"
He cleverly avoided using the word Saint Sith, instead using a term often mentioned in the First Age, thus bridging the gap between the two.
Seeing Archduke Edward approaching, Alec Earth finally released Mr. Sack, whose toes were gripping tightly. He nodded excitedly, his thick beard trembling violently with the movement.
“That’s right, Your Majesty Campbell! We’ve heard about what those damned rats have been doing in the cave! They’ve been treating our human brothers like livestock. This depraved behavior is utterly abhorrent! This time, we must join forces and solve this problem once and for all!”
Sak Gale also dropped the fake smile on his face, nodded seriously, and a cold light flashed in his amber vertical pupils.
"Queen Ethermata was also furious upon hearing this news. The shadow of chaos has returned! We will not stand idly by! The Kingdom of Gutaf will mobilize 100,000 troops to the front lines. We swear we will not let a single villain escape!"
He paused for a moment, then slowly turned around and looked out of the camp.
Where his gaze was directed, a heavy caravan escorted by lizardmen was slowly entering the camp, the heavy wheels leaving deep tracks on the ground.
The contents of the carriage were extremely strange, drawing curious glances from the soldiers at the camp gate.
"To deal with the large number of rats, we also prepared some... interesting little gadgets."
Everyone's gaze followed Sack's and fell on the carriages, where each carriage had a huge honeycomb-shaped wooden box placed on it.
Every hole in the wooden box was filled with a gleaming cone-shaped arrow, so numerous that they resembled a bristling hedgehog.
Upon witnessing this incredible scene, Quetin Bronzeforge, standing in the center of the dwarven delegation, widened his eyes in shock, revealing an expression as if he had unearthed a dead body.
As a dwarf lord who once fought alongside Eileen and others in the Dusk Province, he was extremely familiar with this thing!
That was the weapon that once appeared on the Salvation Army's battlefield and instantly vaporized an entire army of 10,000 Clan Rats!
Quitin never expected that this thing was actually the work of the Kingdom of Gutaf!
The thought that these lizardmen were summoned by Prince Colin made him even more wary of the prince's identity.
Just who is this guy?!
...
Just as the dwarves of the High Mountain Kingdom were shocked by the unfathomable strength of the Kingdom of Gutaf, the clan rats hiding deep in the mountains were also terrified by the unfathomable strength of their enemy.
In less than three days, the rat-man clan on Burial Bone Peak was soundly beaten by a mysterious giant hand, and they didn't even see who their enemy was.
What's worse is that not only is it unclear who the enemy is, but even the Shrek warlords guarding Burial Peak have disappeared!
That cowardly fellow actually slipped away!
And they ran away as soon as the fight started!
Upon hearing this news, "Soulbreaker" Mok was furious, jumping and shouting in his flesh and blood kingdom, raging with rage.
"A bunch of useless trash! They're all utterly useless!"
This usually arrogant rat-man chieftain was now completely devoid of his usual arrogance in front of the children.
His enormous belly trembled violently with his rapid breathing, and the gurgling sounds of indigestion were particularly clear in the silent hall.
That look of fear wasn't feigned; Moke was genuinely terrified.
The news that the scouts had recently sent back made him feel suffocated.
The army that has gathered at the border of Earl Spinol is not only Campbell's new human army, but these shameless human bastards have also gotten involved with the sworn enemies of the Skaven!
"Edgar! Edgar Kaufman! Get out here!"
Mok let out a sharp roar, his voice trembling with hysteria.
As the middle-aged human in the robes slowly emerged from the shadows, Mok charged forward without regard for his image, his ferocious rat-like face contorted with rage.
"This is the absolute safety you promised?! Dwarven hammers and human muskets are practically right under Mok's nose! And now I hear they're adding a bunch of tongue-wagging lizards to the mix! If I die, none of you will get away with it! I'll spill all the secrets! If we die, we all die together!"
The flying spittle sprayed all over Edgar. This is where the immaturity of the ratmen is. They started to become hysterical even before things had reached a dead end.
Looking at the ugly monster, Professor Edgar Kaufman frowned in annoyance, his eyes filled with contempt for the filthy creature.
He would never have associated with these disgusting bastards if it weren't for his pursuit of truth and his desire to rise above others.
However, there was nothing that could be done.
Looking around the entire academic community, only the Kingdom of Ryan could provide such a large and stable supply of souls to put his and his boss's theories into practice.
“Shut up, Moke, your screams are more ear-piercing than that millstone.”
Edgar calmly interrupted Moke's roar, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his indifferent eyes revealing not a trace of human emotion.
"That's just a rabble. The Ten Thousand Ren Mountains have complex terrain. Unless you're foolish enough to open the gates to them, the secret passages and poisonous gas here are enough to wear them down. Don't forget, you still have the alchemical golems we provided. Our friends from the Kingdom of Ryan won't stand idly by... So what are you afraid of?"
That cold, indifferent consolation was like a bucket of cold water, temporarily extinguishing Moke's madness, but not eliminating the giant rat's fear.
"Just... a bunch of rabble? Are you sure they're just a bunch of rabble? Do you think I'm stupid? They even drove away that being that has already descended upon Twilight Province!"
When that existence was mentioned, Moke's rat teeth trembled involuntarily, and a deep-seated fear was revealed in his fierce but cowardly little eyes.
That was the prototype for Gello, the Gluttonous Rat—
Urgos, the Claw of Eternal Hunger!
The mercenary summoned from another dimension by that great and indescribable being was slapped away by the god who never showed his face!
That clean and swift movement was like swatting a fly!
This is why the Carrion Clan, after suffering a setback in the Dusk Province, cowered in fear in the Ten Thousand Mountain Range.
This is terrifying!
"...Because Urgos, like you, insists that I tell you this cruel truth? That idiot's intelligence depends on you lot; apart from having bellies big enough to hold the sky, you're no smarter than any of the rats in this cave!"
Ordinary people are afraid of chaos, but the magicians of Xuebang are not afraid of that thing, especially those magicians who have actually come into contact with the virtual realm.
They knew very well that chaos was just one of many projections in the void, and that one day when they became powerful, they too could become one of them.
Edgar glanced disdainfully at the trembling fat rat, what a waste of the diamond power on this guy's fat body.
Giving it to them would be a real waste.
After calming the agitated mouse, Edgar turned around and cast his cold gaze at the silent shadow in the corner of the hall.
There stood a person completely wrapped in a black robe.
He was a high-ranking "gravekeeper" in the Kingdom of Laine, a confidant of Mr. Marius, and one of the owners of the Holy Water project.
"Ultimately, this is a mess you Ryan people made," Edgar's voice carried a hint of accusation and coldness. "I really don't understand why you encouraged those rats to attack the humans in the south. Do they look as easy to bully as you?"
The gravedigger in the shadows let out a heavy sigh, stretched out his withered fingers, and pulled down the brim of his hood to cover his tired and ashamed face.
It wasn't because of the phrase "as easy to bully as you guys," since he didn't consider himself included in that "you guys."
Rather, it's because it truly is a mess.
The magicians of the Academy often only consider research matters, while the tomb keepers who are loyal to the Devalu family have to prioritize the interests of the royal court.
The problems of Roland City were far more important to the nobles of Ryan than the Holy Water project. They didn't care about things like the ethereal realm or gods; they only cared about worldly interests.
If the Earl of Spinol is not used to restrain the Campbellians, the Duke will surely reach for what he shouldn't.
The Lionheart Knights have already withdrawn from the Twilight Province, and Lord Marius can only make this move on behalf of His Majesty, hoping to use the Ratmen as a pawn in the game of the Ten Thousand Mountains to bring the Academy into his camp and achieve a strategic advantage.
However, no one expected that the other party's reaction would be so unexpected. As soon as their underlings climbed through the window, something completely unexpected appeared in the house.
So much so that before the Campbellians could even make their move, a group of cave spiders and imps that appeared out of nowhere beat up the ratmen of Buried Bones Peak.
This mysterious force not only swiftly took control of the laboratories surrounding Burial Peak, but also destroyed Edgar's clone left there!
Clearly, the Campbells have more than just a prince behind them, and they may even have some unclear relationship with a core family in the Holy City.
The tomb keeper couldn't help but sigh as he thought about this.
Perhaps Mr. Marius should tell His Majesty the truth, but unfortunately, Mr. Marius also has his own interests in this holy water.
He could only use sweet words to coax His Majesty, promising wishes that were impossible to fulfill in order to protect his own interests... and that was the problem.
Perhaps, His Majesty is the truly pitiful one.
"Let me think of a way."
You'd better hurry!
Edgar snorted and tossed over the Thunder City Daily, which he had somehow acquired.
"Thankfully, those foolish reporters only wrote about 'the rat people's conspiracy' in their reports, preventing them from finding any truly useful evidence. If they had known what we were researching, even a demon god couldn't have saved us from such blasphemy!"
This was the only thing Edgar could be thankful for.
He probably only left behind a few notes and some raw materials. With Prince Colin's knowledge, he might be able to see some clues, but he could probably only associate them with the level of soul ascension or immortality. It was unlikely that he would discover that they were studying the nature of gods.
If it's just some evil ritual, as long as it doesn't attract chaos or cause too many deaths, it's unlikely to attract the Tribunal.
This is not a thousand years ago. The Church's dominance in the Old World is now a thing of the past, and the Empire has no interest in non-core interests.
However, upon hearing this, Moke, who had calmed down slightly, suddenly screamed again.
Mouse's news is always a bit delayed; he's still living in the fear of a thousand years ago, terrified of the "War of Holy Light" of the Os Empire.
"What do you mean by 'ratmen's conspiracy'? Ratmen don't have such things! Stop pinning all the blame on Mok! I'm not kidding, if we're going to die, we'll all die together—"
"Shut up!"
Edgar swept a cold glance over, and the mental pressure instantly shut the brainless rat up, and it scurried back to its throne.
To die together?
Edgar sneered.
You think you're worthy?
Forget about those true sages, even Lord Uriel Acleke is immobilized; at most, Edgar Kaufman, who's standing here, will accompany you to hell.
Edgar's aversion to stupidity has reached its peak. Why are other professors researching virtual worlds while he has to act alongside these lunatics who "live in parallel worlds"?
Edgar turned to look at the shadows again.
“I will request some support, but the top combat power must be provided by you. The professors at the Academy are not good at direct confrontation, and the most skilled mages have been transferred to the front lines of the New World by the Empire. The holy water we give you is not for you to use for banquets... you know what I mean.”
"Um."
The shadow flickered, and the figure standing there vanished, leaving only a faint trace of death.
Edgar frowned slightly, then a playful smile appeared on his lips.
It seems that Ryan's gravedigger is about to get serious.
"Looks like... we can have something to look forward to."
(End of this chapter)
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