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Chapter 277: The Impending Battle
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 08:06:37 +0000 UTC"No need to be so formal. In Dark Hawk City, it’s difficult to buy property in good areas without connections. Given your status, you’re entitled to certain privileges. I’ll have Riley pick out a house near the blacksmith shop for you, so it’s easier for you to visit your father in the future."
Aldis, with his rugged exterior, paused at these words, his thick eyebrows twitching with emotion as he said, "Thank you, my lord!"
"We’re all on the same side, so there's no need to be so polite. Besides, you’re now the most skilled blacksmith in this shop. I hope you can help raise the standard of the others and improve the overall forging capabilities of the blacksmith shop," Rhett said with a smile.
"You can count on me! I won’t let anyone down!" Aldis said, placing a hand over his heart.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, "My lord, I noticed there weren’t any mid-tier blacksmiths here before. Do you need me to forge a batch of mid-tier equipment?"
"Yes, start by forging ten sets of sword and shield combinations. After that, we’ll work on other equipment as needed," Rhett replied after a brief consideration.
"Understood!"
After arranging some further details at the blacksmith shop, Rhett began to stroll around Dark Hawk City. However, since walking the streets often attracted too much attention and disrupted his peace, after a quick inspection of some family businesses, he crossed an oval bridge and stepped onto the colorful brick-paved road leading to the busiest street in the Transcendental District.
At the southeast corner of the intersection, hanging high up, was a twisted sign, deep purple in color and shaped like a snake’s tail. It bore the name “Rattlesnake Tavern.”
Rhett scanned the area and easily spotted his destination before walking in.
The bustling tavern was filled with the smell of alcohol and the noise of chatter. Rhett’s eyes quickly found two unexpected figures in a corner—Mikael and Vedas.
The two appeared to be deep in conversation, with one listening intently while the other spoke animatedly.
Vedas was the one listening. With his wedding approaching, he had taken some time off. Being a novice when it came to weddings, and knowing that Mikael had just recently been married, Vedas had invited him to the tavern to gather some advice.
Suddenly, Vedas noticed his old comrade and waved excitedly, "Hey, Rhett, over here!"
The name seemed to carry a magical power, causing many to momentarily fall silent, though the tavern soon returned to its lively state. Under the covert glances of many, Rhett made his way to the dimly lit brown table in the corner and sat down, saying, "Well, you two seem to be in high spirits. It’s not even evening, and you’re already in the tavern drinking."
"Haha, of course! We might as well use these free drink vouchers while we have them!" Mikael laughed heartily, showing no shame in his words.
Rhett gave Mikael a sidelong glance before turning to Vedas. "How’s the wedding preparation going? If there’s anything else you need help with, just let me know."
"No need. Daisy and I have already planned everything out. Just make sure you attend the wedding," Vedas replied, shaking his head.
"Exactly, Rhett. Make sure you don’t disappear on us again!" Mikael added with a hint of reproach, recalling that Rhett had missed his own wedding.
"That’s all in the past. Let’s not bring it up again," Rhett said, a bit embarrassed. He took a sip of the strong liquor and, with a curious expression, remarked, "This drink is interesting—strong but not harsh, with a fiery taste that goes down as smoothly as a cool spring. Such a contradiction is rare!"
"Haha, that’s the new variety I mentioned last time. I told you it was good!" Mikael laughed joyfully.
"Indeed… What’s this drink called?" Rhett asked.
"The drink is called Desert Rose, Marquis Rhett."
Rhett had directed his question to Mikael, but a crisp female voice, like a tinkling bell, answered him from a few meters away.
Click, click.
The sound of boots on the wooden floor grew louder as Lilith approached. She wore tight red leather pants and a shirt that strained against her figure, her chest nearly bursting from the tightness. With a sassy sway of her hips, her arrival was visually striking. She asked with a playful smile, "How do you like the drink?"
"It’s quite good—fiery like the desert, yet as enchanting as a rose when it goes down."
Mikael’s eyes lit up as he stroked his chin. "Hmm… That’s a fitting description. It captures the essence perfectly!"
"Then I’ll use that as the promotional line for the drink, if you don’t mind," Lilith suggested.
"Go ahead. It’s not exactly a literary masterpiece, just something I said off the cuff," Rhett shrugged.
"It doesn’t matter. Just having your name, Marquis and renowned novelist, attached to it is enough," Lilith beamed. After a brief pause, she added, "Marquis Rhett, you haven’t visited the Rattlesnake Tavern much this past year. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us."
"Not at all. I’ve just been busy with other matters this year. But speaking of which, the variety of drinks here has certainly increased since I last visited. Your bartenders are quite skilled!" Rhett sincerely praised. When the Rattlesnake Tavern first opened, it quickly became the leader in Dark Hawk City's beverage industry, overshadowing all other taverns, including the Nightingale Tavern.
"Since it’s been a while, why don’t I bring you a sample of all our signature drinks?" Lilith offered.
"All of them? Didn’t you just say two were out of stock?" Mikael asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You wouldn’t lie about something like that, would you? That’s not the kind of quality expected from a leading tavern."
Lilith smiled. "How could I deceive you? The bartender just delivered a fresh batch."
Unable to detect any deceit in her expression, Mikael, though still skeptical, raised his glass and said, "Alright, I’ll take your word for it…"
Rhett, however, declined the offer and stood up. "I’ll pass. I have other matters to attend to later. Let my two friends enjoy the drinks instead."
"That’s a shame," Lilith said with a note of regret.
After leaving the Rattlesnake Tavern, Rhett stood by the street for a moment, contemplating that in less than half a month, news of the outbreak at the Coldstream Front would spread across the country. At that time, it would be necessary to rally the forces of the southwestern borderlands.
With this in mind, Rhett first visited the Alchemy Tower to check on the inventory of alchemical potions. He found that the stock of healing and antidote potions was more than sufficient.
Next, Rhett inspected the training grounds, ensuring that every knight was in top condition, all with considerable experience in fighting orcs, which allowed him to finally relax.
Returning to his room, Rhett sat on his bed, his mind clear and calm.
At this crucial juncture, he found himself oddly free of anxiety. He had prepared meticulously—training was thorough, and logistics were well-stocked.
Now, all that remained was to maintain his composure and patiently await the transmission of news.
Exhaling softly, he closed his eyes and began to quietly contemplate the profound mystery of Coalescence.
In the process of contemplating the mystery, Rhett lost track of time, pausing only briefly to attend Vedas’s wedding.
Before he knew it, April 19th had arrived.
As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed into his room, Rhett felt the space gradually warm. The air he breathed was filled with the scent of summer.
He opened his eyes and moved to the window, watching the training grounds where the soldiers had already formed into squads, going through their morning exercises.
"Hup."
"Hah."
"Hup, hah."
...
The soft cadence of their chants drifted to him as Rhett adjusted his attire in front of the mirror and left his room.
"Good morning, my lord."
"Good morning, Scarlett."
"Good morning, my lord."
"Good morning, Sveta. Aren’t you wearing too much? Summer won’t be kind to you in that heavy clothing!" Rhett commented, noticing the butler’s long, fur-trimmed sleeves.
"Thank you for the reminder, my lord. I’ll go change right away."
Rhett nodded, patting Sveta on the shoulder as he passed, exuding the calm and composed demeanor of a true head of the household.
Riley happened to be at the second-floor landing as his father came downstairs. Greeting him, Riley said, "Good morning, Father. You’re up early today, though breakfast might not be ready yet."
Rhett smiled. "I’m going to take a walk around the estate first. Riley, would you like to join me?"
"I’d be happy to."
The two left Dark Rock Castle, stepping out into the early morning. The air was already warm, the garden flowers blooming in vibrant colors, dancing in the breeze. The gardeners, who had risen even earlier, were watering the flower beds, their occasional laughter adding to the lively atmosphere of the estate.
Father and son strolled leisurely through the garden behind the castle. Listening to the birdsong and admiring the flowerbeds, Rhett casually asked, "Riley, has Lawrence arrived in Dark Hawk City yet? It’s been about two months since his transfer order was issued."
"Not yet, but he should be here soon. Given the round trip, it would take about two months of travel time," Riley replied after a moment’s thought, then added with a smile, "Father, you certainly seem very concerned about Lawrence. I’ve never seen you pay such close attention to any other knight."
Rhett simply smiled and continued walking among the flowerbeds.
Not long after, a swift figure dashed into the estate. Covered in dust and moving with urgency, the person first asked a gardener about the lord’s whereabouts, then bypassed Dark Rock Castle and headed straight for the back garden.
It was Lawrence, who had rushed over from the eastern town of Eagletown. Being closer to the capital than Dark Hawk City, he had received the news earlier and knew that it was a matter of utmost urgency. He had ridden hard, traveling day and night, to arrive at Green Manor today.
His strides were long, leaping over garden fences and ornamental rocks as he made a beeline for the back garden.
His commotion caught the attention of Rhett and Riley, who turned their heads in surprise.
"Lawrence, this is the estate. Walk softly and slowly!" Rhett gently admonished.
"And you look incredibly tense. Relax a bit. Did you run into trouble on the way?" Riley asked, still unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Rhett, too, pretended not to know, nodding in agreement. "Indeed. Whatever it is, just tell us calmly."
Only when Lawrence neared did he slow his pace. After swallowing hard, he saluted and said, "Good morning, my lord, Young Master Riley. I have urgent news to report."
"Please, go ahead," Rhett’s expression grew serious.
"My lord, the war at the Coldstream Front has fully erupted. The orcs’ sanctuary-level fighters have taken action, causing heavy casualties among our high-ranking transcendents. The royal family is furious and has issued orders to launch a full-scale assault on the orc camps at the Coldstream Front!"
"What? Lawrence, explain more clearly. What exactly happened?" Riley’s voice rose sharply, though he kept his composure. "Where did you get this information?"
"The news was delivered by messengers sent by Count Nilo. Since they are closer to the capital, they likely received the intelligence earlier," Lawrence replied, his expression grave.
Riley fell silent, recognizing the seriousness of the situation and the low likelihood of it being a false alarm. No one would dare fabricate such news, and given the tension at the Coldstream Front, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
He looked at his father and asked, "Father, what are your orders?"
Rhett remained silent for a moment. Under the watchful eyes of the two, he took a deep breath and said, with a serious tone, "Given what I know of the royal family, if this news has leaked, a nationwide mobilization order will likely follow soon, with a high probability. We… must prepare for war immediately and select those who will go to the battlefield."
Then, turning to Lawrence, he asked solemnly, "Lawrence, are you willing to join me on the battlefield?"
Lawrence hesitated for a brief moment before straightening his posture and replying loudly, "I, Lawrence, am willing to be the lord’s strongest shield, defending against all enemies!"
Rhett patted Lawrence on the shoulder, the latter towering over him by a head. Smiling, Rhett said, "Then prepare yourself well. We’ll likely be departing soon, and I hope you’ll shine on the battlefield."
"Yes, my lord!"
"In the meantime, don’t go anywhere. Stay in the training grounds and await my instructions," Rhett ordered.
"Understood!" Lawrence responded with a loud voice.
After Lawrence left, Riley’s brow furrowed with worry as he asked, "Father, who do you plan to send with us to the Coldstream Front this time? It’s not like the Canyon Front—the number of high-ranking transcendents is much greater, and the danger is far beyond what we’ve faced before…"
"What’s there to fear?"
Rhett smiled faintly, his spiritual energy spreading outward. Now at the level of a Grand Magus, his spiritual energy had undergone a qualitative change, comparable to a crystalline structure that could be shaped at will, further enhancing his control over elements. This was the foundation for unleashing the full power of advanced magic.
To Riley, the oppressive force was instantly palpable, shocking him before a wave of intense joy replaced it. In disbelief, he asked, "Father, have you broken through to become a Grand Magus?"
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