Chapter 280


    The Grand Elder stood, gazing into the night sky over Cobalt Strike, and spoke solemnly, "Set out at


    once, negotiate thoroughly, and show no weakness. And see to it that neither the Commander nor


    the Botanic Haven Elder learns of this. We must be cautious."


    "By yourmand!" The three Elders quickly departed.


    The Grand Elder remained silent for a long while before slowly clenching his fist. "You''ve forced my


    hand. Don''t me me. The ancient treasures of a millennium-old kingdom will be mine!"


    ………………


    Six dayster, vin returned to Stormcast. The town was abuzz with activity, as all its citizens


    worked tirelessly to rebuild the walls. Strangely, the outskirts were crowded with many caravans,


    and some appeared to be families fleeing in haste, throngs of them numbering in the thousands.


    "Lord vin! You''vee back!" Lucan approached vin, exhaling in relief, yet casting a curious


    nce at E, wondering why another woman of such beauty and grace,parable to Lady


    Mari, was in hispany.


    "What''s all this? Where did this person peoplee from?"


    "The Golden Scorch keep was ughtered, and now the entire city of Golden Scorch is in exile."


    "When did this happen?"


    "About a week after you left. It''s said that the Cobalt Strike Grand Elder led the attack on Golden


    Scorch himself. Two dayster, he ordered the massacre of everyone in the keep. If it weren''t for


    the incident at Watchful Shore that demanded their hasty departure, the Grand Elder might have


    razed the entire city. The people of Golden Scorch are terrified that the Cobalt Strike might return to


    finish what they started. Within three days, all who could leave, did, leaving behind a ghost town.


    However, it''s rumored that the Lord of Golden Scorch, Lawren, has escaped, and his whereabouts


    are unknown."


    "The Grand Elder is ruthless, fond of ughter," vin sneered. The Rocke family''s demise was


    well-deserved, and he had anticipated that the Cobalt Strike would not spare them. With their hand,


    vin felt a measure of satisfaction in his vengeance. If it weren''t for the current inconvenience, he


    would have preferred to be the one wielding the de.


    "We''re considering whether to take in these people," Lucan confessed, troubled, as Stormcast could


    barely protect itself, let alone others.


    "Settle them in the outer city. They must contribute a portion of their wealth to the ancient city''s


    reconstruction."


    Lucan pondered for a moment: "That might work. Not many are heading to Stormcast, and most are


    fleeing to other ancient cities."


    "Let’s focus on rebuilding the walls first, so we can all sleep soundly."


    "vin!" Oda, who had heard the news, came out joyfully and threw herself into vin''s arms. "I


    was so worried."


    "I''m fine, as you see." vin affectionately teased her little nose, the sight of his sister easing his


    heart and sweeping away the fatigue of the road.


    "Are you Oda?" E greeted Oda.


    Wow, she''s beautiful! It was then Oda noticed the stunning woman beside her brother, astonished


    by E''s beauty, though her bold attire made Oda blush slightly. "Hello, are you a friend of my


    brother?"


    "Yes, we''re very good friends," E giggled.


    Oda blushed even more. "You shouldn''t let Helna see you."


    "Why not?"


    "Helna might get the wrong idea," Oda said yfully, sticking out her tongue.


    "Stop talking nonsense," vin said with a mix ofughter and exasperation.


    Eughed, linking arms with Oda. "Come on, let''s go meet Helna, misunderstandings be


    damned."


    "Aren''t you afraid?"


    "I fear that Helna won''t misunderstand."


    "Haha, let''s go." Oda made a face at vin and pulled E back to the keep.


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


    "Thisdy is..." Lucan asked, his expression uneasy. This woman was enchanting, dangerously


    beautiful, with eyes of blood-red mischief.


    "The granddaughter of the Bloodlore Commander, E."


    "The Blood Elf E, one of the formidable five of The sh of Eight Orders?" Lucan had heard of


    her.


    "That''s her. Don''t worry, she won''t harm you. Is Balder around?"


    "In the keep."


    "Go about your business; I''ll go see Balder." vin, along with Cedrick, made his way to the keep.


    Lucan pulled Godfred aside to get a detailed ount of the events that had transpired during their


    absence.