Chapter 844 (1/2)

Chapter 844: Messages Arriving at the Same Time

Translator: TransN Editor: Meh

The decision to have the Ministry of Agriculture farm rubber worms was not Roland’s latest flight of fancy. In his opinion, farming rubber worms was as important as exploiting oil, so he naturally wanted to have that industry under his control. If it was not for the potential threats the worms might bring to people, he would not have any intention to place the feedlot in the Third Border City.

After discussing with Barov, Edith and other people, he decided to adopt the explanation of “her ladyship and the fallen city”, which would be more acceptable to people than the saying of “the witch empire”. As now, only the City Hall’s senior officials and the main force of the First Army knew the truth of the Battle of Divine Will and Taquila, so it was very difficult to make the upcoming war known to the world. However, they worried about a blunt announcement would make people panic, so they had to rephrase their proclamation before unveiling the truth to the public. A good way to do so was to slowly send the reworded information out to minimize subsequent shock created among the public.

Roland would rather keep the dark history of the witch empire covered forever for the sake of the stability of the united front. If humans were fortunate to win the Battle of Divine Will, it would be easier to make them accept that unique period of history by the time archaeologists unearthed the lost record.

Knight Elk was left alone in the wormhole to do the research on his own, while Roland, invited by Pasha, entered the subterranean hall.

“They’re back, Your Majesty.”

“Who?” Confused by the random words, Roland could not help raising his eyebrow,

Pasha did not reply. She raised her tentacles and pointed at the deep, secluded passage on the other side of the hall, looking enigmatic.

He looked over his shoulder at the dark passage where there was a flash of white shadow swinging by. Moments later, two giant devouring worms crept out and crawled towards him, wriggling, their mouths wide open, revealing tusks and fangs.

“Your Majesty, do you remember us?”

One of them greeted Roland merrily.

Roland, slightly surprised, asked, “Are you Jasmine… and Lyra?”

How could Roland forget them? He could still remember the moment they had bade farewell and the calm look when they had said that they harbored no regrets before boarding the concrete boat heading to Great Snow Mountain. Even now, Roland could still feel their unfailing determination in their tones.

“Yes, we are. You do remember us!”

“Mind your manner!” Another worm poked her companion with its tail. “Whatever we looked like, do remember we are the Taquila…”

“Worm?” Jasmine finished the sentence for Lyra deliberately.

“Witch!” Lyra cried.

“They just arrived at Neverwinter. They persist in seeing you before their dormancy, so I have to keep them waiting beside the hall. I hope I didn’t frighten you.” Pasha drooped her main tentacles. “Thanks again for your assistance.”

“No, you didn’t frighten me. Honestly, I’ve been waiting for the good news of the successful transfer too.” Roland waved one hand and did not take it seriously. “Why… do they have to go dormant?”

“For we couldn’t afford to sustain the worm carrier, Your Majesty,” Lyra said solemnly. “Fran alone is capable of handling the daily tunneling and transportation. There‘s no need to keep all three carriers awake. Even Fran was dormant for the most of her time before coming here.”

Roland remembered that Lyra had the same bright and bubbly personality as Jasmine’s before her transfer. But now she gave him an impression of maturity as if she really grew up instantly after the Soul Transfer.

After staying with Phyllis and the other witches for a long time, Roland learned that not all Taquila witches had lived a long life. At the very beginning, due to the lack of carriers and God’s Punishment Warriors’ shells, they were forced to either to merge with Eleanor, one of the Three Chiefs, or to be transferred to a soul container and enter a state of dormancy.

In other words, only a few witches had lived for centuries. Most witches waited for a long time until the church was established in the Starfall City that could provide shells for them. Phyllis had changed two shells so far and had stayed awake for merely 150 years. The actual time when she was conscious was indeed shorter as there was a period of time at the very beginning when she felt bewildered and had to adjust herself to the new environment. Still, she was regarded as “the elder” among the Taquila survivors.

Jasmine and Lyra were among the youngest transferer. Apart from the time they spent in getting familiar with their shells, they were often asleep. So, their mental age was close to their real age. Roland was really impressed with the change in their mentality.