The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 658: Volume Eighteen: Stormy Secrets, - Nine: The Law Stands Tall

Chapter 658: Volume Eighteen: Stormy Secrets, Chapter Nine: The Law Stands Tall

"You mean to say that our target for this trip is hidden behind that treasure room?" Boritz asked, breathless with excitement. If his companion’s speculation was true, then their journey wouldn’t have been in vain. But why didn’t his companion point it out at that time?

"No, I cannot be certain. After all, we have no evidence, no presence of dark energies, and no reason or authority to demand unconditional compliance with every one of our ideas. More importantly, if what we are looking for is truly hidden there, the situation could be far worse," Caru’s thinking was much more prudent than that of his partner. He planned each move carefully, considering each step. "But besides those filthy things, I cannot imagine what else they would have that is worth deceiving us to such an extent. Rebry should know the duties of the Court as well as my character. For matters unrelated to faith, whatever they might be, even if they pertain to other affairs of the Church of Light, we would not interfere."

"Caru, do you think those two dare to challenge us?" Boritz was annoyed with his companion’s caution. Having been embarrassed once within the magic array, he was eager to regain his dignity and didn’t want to waste this opportunity, which led to his dissatisfaction.

"Boritz, never underestimate your enemies. Let’s not talk about my former colleague for the moment; even the Lord himself is not to be taken lightly. I suspect that the Ice Puppet was a tactic of Viscount Sir, and my former colleague seems to have no interest in Puppet Magic," Caru sighed deeply. "The fellow has already reached a level above that of an Archmage. If we act hastily, we may not achieve our desired goal."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Boritz did not wish to engage in a war of words with his companion. He was eager to get rid of the trouble sooner rather than later.

"Boritz, we must consider the worst-case scenario. If both Viscount Sir and Rebry have become spokesmen for the Dark Forces, as the intelligence reports suggest, then we can expect that there will be no shortage of Dark Lineage masters hiding in the shadows of the Caucasus. If we want to clear them out in one fell swoop, then we should have more thorough preparations and a stronger force to ensure total success," Caru stated with a firm expression under the sun’s rays on the ship’s deck.

"Then why don’t we go straight back to Marco?" Boritz didn’t entirely agree with his partner but he had to admit that it was rather arrogant for just the two of them to take on the entire Caucasus.

"Hmph, none of those two, neither the Lord nor my former colleague are simple characters. Do you think they saw us off to Bahomon just out of respect for the Church of Light or personal friendship? They wanted to monitor our departure, and they wouldn’t rest easy until they saw us leave. Well, let them relax for now, which will make it easier for us when we come back here next time."

Caru’s words clearly indicated that he was already contemplating future plans. Returning to Marco was inevitable, and they would also need to contact Noyola. If the situation in the Caucasus being a dark den was true, then it would not just be the two of them that would come, which delighted Boritz. Finally, there would be such an opportunity, only it would be a while before then.

Neither Komer nor Rebry had imagined that their opponent could deduce such a profound truth from a small and seemingly negligible action. The high quality of Judges from the Religious Court was one reason, but the deeply ingrained mindset of ’better to over-prepare than to be caught unprepared’ among the Judges was another important factor.

However, at the moment, Komer truly had no inclination to consider these issues. He didn’t expect his seemingly flawless arrangements to have such a significant fissure exposed by the opponent’s conjectures. His focus was entirely captured by the shifting political landscape in the north of the Kingdom of Nicosia.

The Beastman Army has withdrawn! Despite countless speculations and explanations for the Beastmen’s retreat, the harsh reality facing the people of the Kingdom of Nicosia was that the Beastman Army had indeed pulled back, retreating so thoroughly that the Minotaur soldiers who had once occupied the fortress clusters began to fade into the wilderness of the North like a receding tide. Other than the occasional sight of Wolf rider scouts who seemed reluctant to leave, the heavy armored elites of the Tiger Clan, the light armored main force of the Cow Tribe, and the Fox Clan’s carved plume crossbowmen had all but vanished from the northern lands of the kingdom.

But what they left behind was a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. The entire north of the kingdom had turned into ruins, with countless cities and fairs reduced to rubble, and the fortress clusters, once considered barriers, were leveled without exception. Everything that could be taken was looted; the Beastmen had ample time to pillage and destroy with ease, without any resistance.

Great numbers of displaced northern residents continued to stream southward, their despair and fury at losing their homes and all their possessions undiminished. They were left only with humiliation, hatred, and pain. Having completely lost their sense of security, they could no longer trust that the central government of the kingdom could offer them comfort and solace.

In the midst of these southbound refugees, rumors discreetly spread: the Church of Light had been bribed by the Beastmen. They had allegedly agreed to worship the God of Light in exchange for the Church’s nonchalant response to Nicosia’s requests for aid. Another, even more sinister rumor claimed that the Church of Light had intentionally delayed support as a punishment for Nicosia’s policy of religious freedom. Even the earlier demise of Myron, Meine, and Susoer was said to be part of this punitive scheme, due to their adherence to the same policies as the kingdom. Now, it was rumored, the Beastmen withdrew because the kingdom was willing to support an initiative to worship War God Marco, though the Beastmen also faced pressure from the Church of Light, which was reluctant to see their influence expand too greatly.

These rumors spread widely among the refugees, quickly spawning countless variations. Some even colorfully described how His Majesty the King desperately pleaded for the Church’s assistance, how the Church brushed him off, and how the Beastmen’s leaders, the Tiger Clan’s chiefs, negotiated with the Church’s prominent figures on the Mogan Wilderness. This whirlwind of gossip had even caused an uproar in Jazair. While wisdom may end rumors, it only ends with the wise. To the vast populace cut off from information, these revelations completely toppled the holy towers in their hearts. Reflecting on their own misfortune and cold reception, their pent-up rage nearly made them lose their minds.

And the slave trading at Parluca Bay only heightened the despair and sadness of the refugees for their fates. Hundreds of thousands of common mortals from the north, captured by the Beastmen, had been sent in winding lines to Parluca Bay, on the northeastern coast by the Nether Sea, with queues extending hundreds of miles away.

The Beastmen lacked the technology and ability to construct harbor docks and ships, yet Parluca Bay appeared as a natural port bestowed by the heavens, never freezing over the year, its natural stone walls along the coast serving as the perfect dock. As news of the commoners of Nicosia Kingdom being sold off cheaply at Parluca Bay spread across the Blue Continent and the vast lands beyond, everyone from kingdoms along the Mediterranean coast to those in the middle and upper reaches of the Catania River were astir.

The Beastmen had seldom enslaved the general populace on such a large scale before, deeming themselves above such actions. But this time, they seemed to change their usual ways, as if the human ideology of materialism was slowly seeping into the minds of the Beastmen rulers. Slave traders, however, didn’t stop due to public outcry. As soon as the news broke, countless ships hurriedly sailed north to the once-insignificant Parluca Bay – first come, first served; pick first, buy first, and those buying first got the best deals. It was unexpected that the Beastmen would employ business competition tactics to attract slave traders, drawing inspiration from who knows where.

The booming slave trade business at Parluca Bay instantly drew the attention of every nation and town on the continent. Merchants from the colonial points on the Vast Continent emerged en masse. Such extensive open trade happening outside the domains of mortal nations of the continent undoubtedly meant avoiding immense taxes – an astronomical sum. For profit-driven slave traders, this was nothing short of a windfall. Anyone who saw the bustling crowds around Parluca Bay and the forest of masts within the harbor would believe it was a bustling city of a mortal nation. The massive slave trade propelled Parluca Bay into one of the most talked-about topics on the Blue Continent.

Soon, other rumors began to circulate that the Church of Light and the kingdom’s negotiations with the Beastmen over the captive commoners from the occupied areas were shrouded in mystery. The construction project of the Holy City initiated by Marco seemed to have hit a financial bottleneck, and in the issue of the northern commoners captured by the Beastmen, the Church of Light appeared to have reached some tacit understanding with them. The Church’s hitherto unsullied robes were now being splattered with all sorts of filth. Although no one dared to publicly question the possibility, seeds of doubt and mistrust had already taken root in the hearts of the populace. Once nourished by sunlight and rain, these seeds were destined to sprout rapidly and spread far and wide.

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