Chapter 222


    "My lord, what is your n?"


    "First, I wish to parley with Golden Scorch. I''m curious to see what they''re after."


    At noon the next day, vin, apanied by Lucan and over four hundred guards, approached the


    gates of Stormcast.


    The once-majestic gates were now battered and scarred. The thick stone walls were etched with


    cracks. The protective moat outside had dried to a vast pit, destely surrounding the ancient,


    crumbling city.


    "Who goes there?" came a shout from atop the wall.


    "Lord of Stormcast, vin!" he called to the high ramparts.


    The wall bristled with the Golden Scorch''s armored troops. Their golden armor gleamed in the


    sunlight, imposing and grand. They held bows and arrows, peering down at the gates.


    A golden-armored general shouted, "Lord vin, please wait. The Lord of Golden Scorch has been


    expecting you."


    "Be wary," Lucan murmured to the guard, and the four hundred men braced themselves, ready for


    what mighte.


    Soon, the dpidated gates creaked open, and a heavy drawbridge fell with a thud, kicking up thick


    dust.


    A procession rode forth on steeds, with a middle-aged man at the forefront. His skin was as pale as


    the moon, and his demeanor was extraordinary. He had amanding presence. He was the first


    to spur his horse forward,ughing heartily. "vin, I have been waiting for you for a day. All the


    riffraff of Stormcast have been expelled, the streets are swept clean, and the Lord''s manor has


    been prepared for you, just awaiting your return."


    This sudden, enthusiastic wee left vin and hispanions somewhat bewildered.


    "He is the Lord of Golden Scorch, Lawren!" Lucan whispered to vin.


    vin gestured for his guard to rx a bit, and he approached with a smile. "Lord Lawren, you are


    too kind."


    Lawren dismounted gracefully, and looked vin up and down, nodding with a smile. "In the blink of


    an eye, years have passed, and I hardly dare recognize you."


    "Indeed, I''ve been away for far too long." vin observed the dismounting entourage behind


    Lawren, and with a smile, he said nostalgically, "I didn''t expect you to clear out the ancient city for


    me and be here to wee me home. On behalf of the Mallister family and Stormcast, I thank you."


    "Think nothing of it. I was a good friend of your father back in the day, it''s just... s... don''t hold it


    against me for not being able to help then."


    vin nodded in understanding. "No one can control the decisions of Cobalt Strike."


    Lawren sighed, pping vin''s sturdy shoulder with force. "You''ve been wronged. After that


    incident, we, the lords of the four great cities, met in secret and were all baffled. Punishing the


    whole city just because a tribute was intercepted was a disheartening move from Cobalt Strike. The


    great ancient cities have served Cobalt Strike faithfully for years withoutint, and this is what


    they get in return. Yet, what can we do? Cobalt Strike was resolute, and despite our willingness, we


    were powerless."


    "That''s all in the past now."


    "Right, what''s done is done, and after hardshipes joy. Everything will get better."


    Such heartfelt words were truly moving. vin was touched but couldn''t help feeling a stir of doubt.


    Was Golden Scorch being too enthusiastic? Were they really here to help, or was he just being


    overly sensitive?


    "Lucan? And Godfred, it''s been many years." Lawren greeted them.


    "Lord Lawren, we thank you for everything you''ve done for Stormcast. Justst night, we feared..."


    Lucan and the others bowed respectfully.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "That I would usurp Stormcast? Ha, I would not take advantage of the vulnerable."


    Lucan''sughter was tinged with embarrassment. "Forgive us, we''ve grown used to hardships in


    Azure Mountain, and suddenly this..."


    "No more of that, I understand. Consider this a small rpense. From now on, Golden Scorch will


    fully support Stormcast, striving to restore its former glory."


    vin smiled. "I don''t know how I could ever repay you."


    "Let''s not talk of repayment. If I wanted that, I wouldn''t have prepared everything in advance for


    your homing. You were young back then, unaware of the friendship between your father and


    me; we were nearly sworn brothers," Lawren said, deeply moved.


    "My father often mentioned you," vin said, surprised by this revtion.


    "I''ve always regretted not being able to help you through the years. Thank the heavens, you''ve


    returned." Lawren patted vin''s shoulder again and, wrapping an arm around him, introduced,


    "Come, let me introduce you, this is Felir, and this is Dainis."