Chapter 166 - Eternal Sleepers (1/2)
Generations of the Kant Clan had resided in this ancient castle located in the north of the Kant territory. The aging Viscount Victor was currently in a meeting with the territory’s merchant association’s representatives.
The reception hall was lit up with plenty of lights, but the constant radiance emitted by the magic crystal lamps weren’t able to eliminate the darkness that lingered in this castle for many years. The rectangle-shaped hall only contained the viscount, a few of the representatives from the merchant association, and a few servants. Each of their shadows was pulled into long, bent, and hazy shapes due to the illumination of the magic crystal lamps.
Despite the case, none of the people that stood in the hall realized anything sinister or horrific in this place. In the opinion of the merchant association, the feudal lord was still as friendly and graceful as before. Furthermore, he was magnanimously promising benefits to the merchants and the residents.
“This year’s last batch of herbal medicine and magical medicine has been harvested. The provisions also had quite a good harvest.” One of the merchant association’s representatives bowed and said, “We have already found buyers for the magical medicine, but the sales of the herbal medicine aren’t as good.”
“Don’t worry, Mister Parques.” Viscount Victor smiled gently and consoled the territory’s merchant. “Very soon, the merchant group from the Plains of the Holy Spirits will arrive. Frost Wood Castle will purchase a large batch of medicinal ingredients so that this year’s labor will not be in vain.”
The aging viscount smiled very gently while his eyes constantly emitted kindness. It was very rare for a noble to use such an attitude to converse with someone that wasn’t from a noble clan. Their standard of etiquette made sure that even when they were speaking with people of low status, they would do so with flawless courtesy. However, their eyes and expressions wouldn’t be as ‘on point’; Viscount Victor was an exception.
He was famous for being a good person who was ‘amiable to commoners, friendly, just, and lenient’. He seldom appeared in noble society; however, he was an old feudal lord who was revered with love and respect by his commoners.
“Lord Viscount, thank you for your help to the people on the territory.” Another merchant association’s representative spoke with sincerity, “I hope you can also pay attention to your body.”
“Don’t worry. My set of old bones is still healthy.” Viscount Victor laughed and said, “My incompetent son is about to return from his travel at the Plains of the Holy Spirits. It wouldn’t be too late for me to rest after he takes over the clan’s businesses.”
Subsequently, the viscount started to ask the merchants about the territory’s trader traffic and the procuring of cotton and ores. His questions were detailed and professional, which was very rare among the current era’s nobles.
But suddenly, there was a faintly discernible wind that blew across the castle’s hall.
The magic crystal lamps shouldn’t be affected by the wind, but the radiance in the hall felt as though it was like a candle flame swaying to the wind, dimming the surroundings.
The merchants didn’t notice the changes in the hall, while the servants standing around didn’t have any odd reaction either. But Victor Kant had suddenly stood up to look at the castle’s gloomy ceiling. His eyes flickered with a purple magic halo that was like starlight.
He then revealed an apologetic smile to the merchant representatives and said, “Apologies, gentlemen. I am afraid I have to end the meeting today as I recalled that I have an important matter to attend to…”
……
At the same time, in a secret cave in the eastern region of Anzu Kingdom, the twisted and intertwined vines were meandering and growing. The vines formed a large vesicle on top of a giant boulder in the cave. All of a sudden, the vesicle opened, and a beautiful yet strange female figure was revealed.
She had dark green long hair, fair skin, and great looks. But underneath the priest-like female clothing, a terrifying body was revealed and looked just like the twisting tree roots.
She was the Oblivion Association’s female dean, Beltira. Since she left the extreme south region, she had been hibernating in this eastern frontline’s secret base. She made use of the plants everywhere to observe the entire eastern region’s situation changes. But one of the secret channels suddenly relayed information that ‘awakened’ her from her symbiotic state with the plants.
The female dean frowned. The dark green long hair at the back looked as though it was alive, as it squirmed slightly. “A bishop-class Eternal Sleeper… successfully approached and invaded Gawain Cecil’s spiritual world?!”
……
Gawain was walking in the darkness.
He could still clearly remember what happened previously. The suspicious mercenary leader suddenly lifted his head and revealed a weird smile to him and used a monstrous accent, which felt like it was mixed out of numerous voices, to call his name.
Subsequently, he was brought to this dark, chaotic, and strange space by an unknown force.
He was completely certain that he had been tricked by a powerful force. But this force shouldn’t be from the mercenary leader. His physical attributes and intensity of his aura were undoubtedly that of a low-grade Knight. When that mercenary leader suddenly lifted his head, Gawain could still remember that he felt a powerful and chaotic energy that suddenly emerged from the mercenary leader’s aura. The entire process was like an ‘arrival’. As such, he guessed that the mercenary leader was just a medium or a kind of sacrifice that was meant to bring this powerful force to Gawain Cecil.
After the initial panic, Gawain had already composed himself.