Chapter 196


    Days gone by. Unwittingly, they were nearing Azure Mountain, yet vin seemed to have vanished


    into thin air, unfindable. They even retraced their steps to no avail.


    Azure Mountain


    That very night, three hundred Protégés of Cobalt Strike were nearing the mining district. The man


    in ck, Garrat, infiltrated the area first, meeting Vandill in the depths of the estate.


    "vin, Shadowlord''s Messenger?" Vandill couldn''t believe his ears. It had not been long since he''d


    left the ranks of Cobalt Strike, and such inconceivable events were unfolding, utterly baffling. "Has


    the Commander truly decided to pardon the Mallister family?"


    Garrat stood like a shadow in the flickering candlelight. "The Commander has officially decreed it.


    The writ of pardon is en route as we speak and should arrive by tomorrow."


    "Why? Even if he meant to pardon them, why so soon? Is it just for securing a top five rank? Does a


    mere title carry such weight? Does the Commander intend to take vin under his wing as an


    apprentice?" Vandill was clearly irate.


    "I would wager the Commander has struck some sort of bargain with vin. It''s likely the Mollen


    family had a hand in it, too."


    "Hmph, the Mollen family''s reach grows ever further. When the Grand Elder takes power, we''ll see


    to their end. What are the Grand Elder''s instructions?"


    "The Grand Elder has made his will clear. Before the writ of pardon reaches Azure Mountain, the


    Mallister n shall be dealt with—everyst one of them. My men are already assembled outside


    the mining district and are ready to act."


    Vandill nodded. "What of vin? He poses a threat. How will you handle him?"


    "He won''t live to see Azure Mountain. And after the Mallisters are disposed of, we''ll drive all the


    miners into the forest to fend for themselves."


    Vandill pondered for a moment. "I shall gather the miners now, and in doing so, I''ll have my men


    and Lucan''s guards move to the square. The rest is up to you."


    "We''ll don the guise of bandits and plunder this estate."


    "Your time is limited. Ensure it''s done cleanly."


    Garrat vanished silently into the dark.


    Soon after, a somber toll of the bell shattered the night, rousing the sleeping mining district. In their


    modest quarters, miners opened weary eyes and stumbled outside. Why would the bell toll at this


    witching hour?


    "Assembly!"


    "All to the square, everyone!"


    "An urgent announcement, young and old, sick andme—all must gather."


    "Everyone must be present. Any who dare defy will face severe punishment!"


    Vandill''s people banged their gongs, and rushed through the quarters, rudely rousing the half-


    asleep miners. Here, men and women alike, weary from a day''s toil and barelyid to rest, were all


    too ustomed to this servitude, numbly dragging themselves to the square.


    Over two hundred thousand people, a dense throng from different quarters, moved like a dark flood


    toward the square. The crowd was immense, yet the atmosphere was stiflingly somber, save for the


    sound of footsteps and the cries of children.


    Lucan, upon receiving the news, rushed to the estate with his guard, pounding on the door to gain


    entry, and came face to face with Vandill, who was on his way out. "Vandill, what madnesspels


    you at this unholy hour?"


    "A piece of good news and a piece of bad. Which do you wish to hear first?" Vandill greeted him


    with a cold smirk, followed by many Cobalt Strike Protégés, each carryingrge sacks filled with


    valuables from the estate. They were ready to abandon the estate, leaving an empty shell for Garrat


    and his men to burn.


    Lucan frowned at the Protégés with their burdens. "The good news first."


    "The good news is that from this day forth, for at least a fortnight, none of you shall toil."


    "What do you mean?" Far from pleased, Lucan was on alert. How could such good fortune fall upon


    them? His guards also frowned, sensing a plot.


    "It means no work. Eat, drink, and rest well, then..."


    "Then what?"


    "Hit the road! Assemble tonight, count the numbers, and tomorrow, we will start moving to the new


    mining district."


    "Tomorrow?" The crowd''splexion shifted drastically. Weren''t they supposed to be given a


    month''s notice?


    Vandill''s dryugh followed. "Tomorrow it is."


    "Who will oversee the escort?" From here to the new mining district was leagues across the deepest


    parts of Cloudveil Woods, fraught with danger. Without sufficient protective forces, these twoThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    hundred thousand souls would be naught but fodder for Magi-Monsters. This wasn''t relocation; it


    was a feeding delivered to the Magi-Monsters.


    "The guard should be en route. I’m not clear."


    "Not clear?" Lucan''s voice rose, his gaze fierce.


    "I''m only here to give orders; the rest is not my concern. Make way!" Vandill shoved past, leading


    the Protégés out of the estate.


    "Captain, what''s happening?" The guards were panicking. They''d been mentally prepared for the


    journey to Mythic Boulder Valley, but without adequate protection, a hasty move was a death


    sentence.


    "Vandill, by whosemand do you act?" Lucan hastened after him.


    "Cobalt Strike''s affairs are none of your concern. Know your ce! You''re a captain of the guard,


    but you are a servant! Don''t overestimate yourself."