Chapter 348


    "Too many. They never expected the Commander to be rescued. They must be frantic."


    "We must make haste."


    Mari and Celesse were insistent.


    "Where can we go?" vin asked, his expression grave.


    Celesse replied, "We hide as far and as long as we can. It''s better than waiting here for death. We


    cannot let the Grand Elder get his hands on you, or all will be beyond redemption."


    "Lord Viperbane, Amber Valley, Cobalt Strike—all searching together. Can we really escape the


    forest?" E interjected, her timing inappropriate, yet her point was valid.


    Hamund stood, his expression resolute. "You take the Commander and leave."


    "What about you?"


    "Lord Viperbane''s forces have caught up. We might evade them momentarily, but we won''t escape


    the Cloudveil Woods. And even if we do, we can''t shake them off our trail. There''s only one way—I''ll


    draw them off, then circle back to Cobalt Strike and try to rescue the Botanic Haven Elder. If that''s


    impossible, I''ll end him."


    "What?!" The group was astounded.


    "He''s dead, so there''s no need to worry about the Grand Elder uncovering the secret. Take the


    Commander and seek refuge in Bloodlore. The various organizations of the Nortnds will deal


    with Lord Viperbane and the Grand Elder. No one will pursue the matter of the Kings'' eptance,


    and vin''s peril will be resolved." Hamund could have escaped, but only if he took Celesse alone.


    Yet, looking at the fallen Commander and those in the valley with vin, he couldn''t bear to


    abandon them.


    "No!" vin objected vehemently, moved by Hamund''s noble sacrifice. But what good would killing


    the Botanic Haven Elder do? The Grand Elder and their cronies would never let the Commander go


    easily. They would exhaust every means to pursue and blockade, making it near impossible to


    reach Bloodlore alive. And if by some fortune they did, the Nortnds would be thrown into chaos,


    fraught with uncertainties, and Stormcast would be in jeopardy.


    "Don''t be rash. Your survival means the Botanic Haven Elder did not die in vain." Hamund could


    only think of one way forward – to return alone and draw attention, ensuring vin and the others


    could leave alive and spread the word to the Nortnds, urging other organizations to punish the


    royal court and deal with the Grand Elder.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "No! Absolutely not!" vin paced the deep valley. He was not so cold-hearted and selfish as to use


    the deaths of Hamund and the Botanic Haven Elder to secure his secret.


    "It''s toote, you must go!" Hamund urged, signaling to Godfred and Grima to take vin away.


    Time was of the essence. He had to distract Lord Viperbane and his ilk quickly. Once surrounded,


    all would be lost.


    "Thank you!" Grima and Godfred expressed their gratitude.


    "Let’s return to Bloodlore. I won''t reveal your secret," E promised.


    "Wait!" vin raised his hand, gritting his teeth. He had made a decision. "Hamund, thank you for


    drawing away the search party, but don''t engage them by force, and don''t return to Cobalt Strike.


    Run as far as you can. Just keep Lord Viperbane and his followers upied. The rest of you, escort


    the Commander out, and after leaving Cloudveil Woods, spread the word that Kings'' eptance is


    with Stormcast, with me. Remember, don''t spread the news too early. Dy it as long as possible."


    "Have you lost your mind?" The others eximed in shock.


    "I have a n! I can resolve this."


    Hamund rebuked, "Madness! Once the news spreads, the whole Nortnds will converge on


    Stormcast. How will you handle that?"


    "That''s exactly what I want. Once the news is out, Lord Viperbane and Amber Valley will no longer


    cooperate with the Grand Elder, nor will they pursue you. They''ll turn their forces to surround


    Stormcast, and other organizations and the royal court will also gather there."


    "And then?" They looked at vin as if he were a fool or a madman.


    "If it were only the Grand Elder, he''d attack Stormcast directly, but with the Eight Orders gathered


    and the Five Lords present, all vying for the legacy, they won''t attack recklessly. They''ll check each


    other. Then, we''ll expose the Grand Elder''s treachery, sparking confrontation among the


    organizations and the royal court, buying time. I''ll return as quickly as I can."


    "What in the world are you nning?"


    "When chaos reigns, it''s time to strike with a heavy hammer! I''m going to get reinforcements. I''ll


    wipe them all out in one fell swoop! I''ll ensure that the vast Nortnds will never again dare covet


    the power of my legacy." vin shouldered his pack. His gaze was resolute. "Godfred, take me to


    Watchful Shore!"