One-Eyed Monster

Elder Rostellum’s mind was on golden treasures, yet he appeared to be bustling about. He instructed Aliusan of Black Mountain to continue recruiting people and also sent messages via Mail Birds to the Liuli City Administrative Office requesting aid. Although Mayor Babasha had passed away, the Liuli City Administrative Office was not thereby halted; it continued to function as usual. Moreover, the Liuli City Court of Guards had dispatched elite forces to assist, showing they regarded Mayor Babasha’s death with great importance.

It was strange, Mayor Babasha passing away just like that, without any prior indication.

And those individuals connected to Mayor Babasha’s death, despite being under the protection of the Government Administrative Office’s League Guards, were confined to Lubin Tavern by the Alchemy Workshop members. The youth who had escaped would probably be captured and brought back by the Alchemy Workshop members in a few days as well.

Considering these Alchemy Workshop people could even capture monsters from the mountains, let alone an ordinary child who had fled there—unless the child was unlucky enough to be devoured by a monster.

Elder Rostellum tugged at his beard, his mind still calculating how to obtain more shiny gold under the current circumstances, completely oblivious to Kuyi Tulan rising from the table opposite him.

”Relying on you people like this is too time-consuming.” Kuyi Tulan shook his head. While he admired the Politicians’ Sound Sensing Skill, he still felt that some things they established were too cumbersome. Order, regulations—some things simply didn’t need such complex procedures.

”Carmello!” Kuyi Tulan ordered the Alchemist beside him, his voice booming like a bell.

”Chief!” Carmello opened his eyes. As a Golden Seat, he had to ensure abundant Spirit Power reserves at all times, so he had kept his eyes closed, recuperating his spirit.

”Wake these daydreamers up. Fortunes aren’t made by just flapping one’s lips.” Kuyi Tulan drained his wine in one gulp. He was clearly invigorated after seeing the prison wagon.

”Yes, Chief!” Carmello took his orders and departed. Now, only he and the Chief remained at the foot of the mountain. He felt the weight of his responsibilities growing heavier. If he acted as recklessly as before, he could jeopardize the Chief’s plan—a risk he dared not take.

Moreover, it now seemed that Hector, who had just come down from the mountain, also needed help.

To quiet this agitated crowd, just shouting wouldn’t be enough. Those two beside Hector were undeniably trying hard, but their volume wasn’t enough to deter anyone. Shouts of that level probably couldn’t even scare a cat.

”Move aside!” Carmello slowly approached the huddled crowd, letting out a low roar.

This low roar was like a clap of muffled thunder, nearly knocking the crowd off their feet.

The Treasure Hunters involuntarily turned towards the source of this voice. They saw a well-built man standing steadily behind them, like a rock.

”Now, you can take a look at our Alchemy Workshop’s way of doing things,” Kuyi Tulan said to Elder Rostellum, again lifting his freshly refilled wine glass.

”Hmm...” Elder Rostellum peered out the window. Carmello’s low roar earlier had piqued his interest somewhat. He really wanted to see how this one person would disperse so many people.

”Move aside!” Carmello roared again. This time, it was like a tiger’s roar from deep in the mountains, already frightening many Treasure Hunters into trembling.

Even Baharo and Dastan in the prison wagon lifted their drooping heads to look ahead, wanting to see clearly what kind of person possessed such a powerful voice.

Just relying on shouting won’t make people obey, Elder Rostellum thought. At most, it can only add a little to his imposing manner. Once these Treasure Hunters calm down, he’ll still be helpless against the current situation.

Ultimately, it’s still a contest of presence, Elder Rostellum mused. If no one else were here right now, he would definitely give a noncommittal shrug.

But Carmello didn’t follow the script Elder Rostellum had imagined. After roaring, he immediately bent down and pressed one hand to the ground.

What’s he doing? A trace of confusion entered Elder Rostellum’s mind.

Hector, beside the prison wagon, showed a faint smile upon seeing this.

Kuyi Tulan gently raised his wine glass, his gaze drifting out the window as he let out a soft sigh.

”Sometimes, politeness doesn’t solve problems. You must have sufficient strength to make your words count.”

RUMBLE—

Sharp spears instantly erupted from the ground before Carmello. These spears, as if they had grown legs, kept leaping forward, their numbers multiplying endlessly...

In no time, the Treasure Hunters surrounding the prison wagon let out miserable cries.

In just a few short Gudu Time units, accompanied by Carmello’s roars of ”Move aside!”, the spears leaping from the ground had pierced the surrounding Treasure Hunters, sending them fleeing in all directions.

”A mob is just a mob; they can’t withstand such a test.” Elder Rostellum, though shocked, quickly adopted the demeanor of a Politician and began to compliment Kuyi Tulan. ”Your Excellency’s subordinates are truly masters, each capable of holding off ten.”

Kuyi Tulan smiled with satisfaction. This was his familiar method; it never took too much time.

”Looks like your enemies are all tricky characters,” Baharo remarked to Dastan in the prison wagon. Thinking about it now, my strength really is a bit weak, not enough to contend with anyone from the Alchemy Workshop.

”Shouldn’t they be your future comrades?” Dastan showed no great surprise at what was happening, appearing quite familiar with such situations.

”From the moment I acted, I had already thought through my future path. I won’t regret it.” A hollow chuckle escaped Baharo.

”Your courage is commendable, and I admire it greatly. But this storm was originally none of your concern.”

”To stand shoulder to shoulder with the Glorious Seven is my honor. I care about nothing else. I’ve said this before.”

”A pity. You’re still so young...”

”You still haven’t told me how you, once one of the Glorious Seven, ended up in this state.” Baharo struggled to lift his head. He wanted to look closely at Dastan; on the mountain earlier, he hadn’t been able to properly behold the man he revered.

”That story... you’ll know it soon enough.”

The spectating Treasure Hunters were driven to the roadside by the leaping spears. The mob, trembling with fear, watched helplessly as the cloaked, blond-haired man slowly approached the two prison wagons.

”Mr. Carmello!” Axia was so excited she stammered.

”Good work, Hector.” Carmello paid no heed to Axia’s fawning expression and greeted Hector instead.

Hector couldn’t speak but tried hard to make a sound, nodding repeatedly.

”Don’t talk if you’re injured. We still have more, and trickier, things to face. The storm is about to arrive.” Carmello gently patted Hector’s shoulder, then raised his head to look at the two figures locked in the cage.

”Hello, Dastan. We meet again.” Carmello said with a smile, as if he were greeting a large rabbit.