Chapter 866

Chapter 866: Night at the Tavern

Inside Baron Moroz’s castle.

Thick burgundy curtains blocked the windows, letting only a few rays of afterglow seep through the gaps into the room. A young girl, about 20 years old, curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees, her face hidden in the shadows.

Creaking, the mahogany door was pushed open. The castle butler, dressed in black formal attire, appeared at the door. He glanced at the dimly lit room and slightly frowned before walking over to draw the curtains.

Using the faint red afterglow of the sunset, the butler found the candle on the table and lit it, then turned back to look at the girl.

“Lord Moroz wants you to be prepared; actions will take place in a few days.” Compared to his amiable demeanor when greeting the trade caravans during the day, the butler’s expression was much colder now.

“I’ll bring your dinner later; remember to eat and don’t starve yourself.”

“Mm.” The girl responded softly without lifting her head.

Seeing her nod, the butler decided not to linger any longer and prepared to leave. His visit was merely to confirm that the girl hadn’t escaped—though she couldn’t possibly escape.

As the butler was about to leave, the girl finally lifted her head and asked weakly,

“Will my mother and brother be pardoned after I complete Lord Moroz’s task?”

Hearing her voice, the butler turned around and looked at the weary-faced girl, replying, “Yes, Lord Moroz wouldn’t lie to you.”

“You should feel fortunate. If not for your usefulness, your father and brother would have been executed long ago for their crimes.”

“Neither the royal army nor the followers of the Basca Family would tolerate such crimes.”

“Attempting to overthrow the Empire and recreate something like Clancia is nothing more than a joke. You must understand that every inch of land you stand on today was fought for with iron and blood by the heroes of the past. You are merely allowed to live here by the descendants of those heroes.”

“A traitor never has a good end.” He gave the girl a meaningful glance before turning away.

The door closed again, leaving the room in silence, only the flickering candle casting a faint smoke.

In another corner of the castle, in Baron Moroz’s study.

The baron sat at the desk, carefully studying the delicate creation in his hand. It was roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, entirely white with golden patterns. It was currently brimming with magic power and emitting a soft glow.

“Truly wonderful, like the music in the forest,” the baron thought as he admired the small sphere.

Knock knock.

A while later, there was a light knock on the door of the study.

“Enter.” The baron put away the sphere.

“Lord Moroz.” The butler bowed respectfully and entered the study.

“How is the girl?” Moroz asked.

“She’s in decent condition; she just finished her dinner.”

“Very good, very good.” Moroz repeated twice, a faint excitement showing on his face as he imagined future scenarios.

“At last, the day has come.” He turned to the wall behind him, where portraits of his ancestors hung alongside an ancient family crest shaped like crossed swords.

“Although many bugs were discovered near the forest recently, the plan has proceeded smoothly. With the help of the Sharin trade caravan, we finally managed to transport the key item from there.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched,” the butler said, bowing his head in praise.

“Heh, I bet those scouts didn’t expect me to have them place this crucial little thing among the vegetables and fruits, sending it here with a casual jostle.”

He took out the small item again.

After the Lenchin trade caravan arrived in the afternoon, the piano was temporarily placed in the courtyard, while the fruits were transported to the warehouse. He smashed all the fruits until he found this small item hidden among them.

“With this, we can break the seal in the ruins. What a waste of effort,” he sighed.

“I discovered this place 20 years ago, but I never expected the seal left by the Mercury Dynasty to still be so powerful, hiding such sacred relics in such secrecy.”

“But those are all in the past. Using this little item to break the seal, then having that special girl open the gate, the treasures inside will belong to the Moroz family. Hahaha.” As he thought of this, he couldn’t help but smile joyfully. He had endured nearly 20 years for this moment, and now he could finally let it all out.

“Your wisdom is unparalleled,” the butler said, looking at Baron Moroz’s exultant back, bowing his head once more.

“However, we must remain cautious in this operation.”

After laughing, the baron regained his composure and turned around.

“I know some minor bugs have detected some anomalies, perhaps they know something, but they certainly don’t know everything. We must achieve our goal before they figure it out. I don’t want things to escalate, attracting the attention of the Sage Council.”

“If those white-robed ones come, we won’t get anything from the ruins. These guys always consider underground artifacts as their own, completely unreasonable. Hmph.” Thinking of the powerful members of the Sage Council, the baron clenched his teeth.

As guardians of world order, the Sage Council had high priority in many matters. They protected ancient ruins and ensured all excavated items belonged to them.

“Alright, bring my dinner. We’ll prepare for the operation tonight.”

“Yes, my lord.” The butler bowed and left the room.

Night fell deeper. Although the castle was quiet with only scattered lights, the small town below was bustling with lanterns.

Though small, the town felt more intimate due to its size. Walking down the streets, everyone seemed familiar. The night in the small town wasn’t lonely.

In the largest tavern in the town, a captivating performance was underway. A poet in tattered shirt was playing a lute on stage.

“Back then, Miss Mesia picked up her sword, leaping gracefully like a nightingale in the woods, her elegant sword path flashing like a meteor in July, cutting through the night sky.”

“In that instant, she didn’t just strike the bear’s eye but also captured the hearts of all the men present. Oh, her fluttering dress and agile figure, reminiscent of the legendary Esmeralda, brought us victory.”

The impromptu bard became increasingly excited, closing his eyes in rapture, while the audience was equally enthusiastic.

“Oh, how beautiful.”

“My goddess.”

“Charming Miss Mesia.”

Lacking entertainment, the dull and monotonous life was occasionally brightened by such a captivating story. The mercenaries and adventurers were all immersed in the poet’s song.

Though lacking technique and often off-key, the atmosphere and emotion were right. Miss Mesia indeed added a vibrant splash to the gray lives, stunning and sigh-worthy.

So, a little exaggeration wasn’t considered a sin.

The only one slightly displeased was the swordswoman sitting in a corner of the tavern. She propped herself up with her hand, using an empty wooden cup to shield curious and admiring gazes, smiling wryly as she nodded to those waving at her.

(End of Chapter)