One-Eyed Monster

Both Estev and Stan Sol could sense someone gradually approaching the peak.

This spiritual power felt eerie. It lacked the deep and solid foundation that normal Adventurers with Class should possess. It was fickle, like a piece of dried cotton—light and floating.

The summit of Dawn Peak on Guru Mountain wasn’t very large. Now, nine people were crowded onto it. Aside from Estev and Stan Sol, none of the others could discern Spirit Power, including the three Black Crow leaders Estev had knocked unconscious.

”It seems like they come prepared,” Estev said to Stan Sol as he wiped his pipe. He had inadvertently begun to see Stan Sol as a comrade, though he hadn’t yet had a chance to ask why Stan Sol was guarding this mountain peak.

Qi Liu and Bunan stood frozen, like statues. They had witnessed everything that just happened and still felt like they were dreaming.

They hadn’t heard of the Black Crows before, so all of this felt new and unfamiliar.

However, these matters were too obscure for them. They had other worries and no spare energy to concern themselves with this unfamiliar situation.

The scene before them appeared relatively peaceful, giving Qi Liu an opportunity to ask the Hunter—who spoke in a halting manner—what exactly he had done to Young Master Hustace.

Of course, this was a decision he had mustered all his courage to make.

”Um, sir,” Qi Liu began, feeling a bit awkward. He didn’t know how to address the Hunter. One title felt unsuitable, another too presumptuous. His natural disposition as a Politician always made him struggle in such situations; an inner voice constantly urged him to say the right thing at the right time. But was this the right time? And what were the right words? He hadn’t fully stepped through the gates of becoming an Adventurer with Class. These social intricacies were still too foreign to him, making him seem incredibly naive.

”Sir, we didn’t have time to ask before... I just want to know what happened to our young master.” Qi Liu’s words came out awkwardly, sounding unnatural. However, his gesture towards the unconscious Hustace clearly conveyed his intention: he wanted to know what had befallen Young Master Hustace.

Stan Sol sized up Qi Liu without much surprise. This boy is no threat at all, he thought. He might even be a burden. Still, I’ve run into him on this mountain several times, and each encounter led to a fight. Will this time be any different?

What’s truly remarkable, Stan Sol mused, is that despite all those fights, this boy keeps showing up unscathed. It means he has impressive evasion skills. On this mountain, at least, he’s successfully avoided harm three times now, never getting caught in the crossfire.

”He’s my prey. Unharmed,” Stan Sol pointed at Hustace and said coldly.

Qi Liu understood Stan Sol’s implication: Hustace had been captured by this Hunter but was currently unharmed.

Young Master Hustace isn’t in danger, that’s a relief, Qi Liu thought. But now he’s this Hunter’s captive. A wave of helplessness washed over him. With his own meager abilities, rescuing Young Master Hustace from this Hunter would be incredibly difficult. He was keenly aware of his own limitations.

All I can do is take things one step at a time, Qi Liu thought helplessly.

Still, Young Master Hustace has been unconscious for quite a while...

But Qi Liu didn’t dare ask anything further. The Hunter’s gaze was like a torch, its intensity making him feel dizzy.

This Hunter seems to be on guard against something, Qi Liu sensed, and suddenly, the surroundings felt more ominous.

Qi Liu couldn’t help but shiver. He quickly darted over to Hustace’s side, huddling together with the trembling Bunan.

Strange, Qi Liu thought, I’ve never found Bunan this reassuring before...

”Hey!” Estev yelled at Qi Liu and Bunan, who were huddled in the corner.

Qi Liu looked up, his face puzzled as he watched the Court of Guards deputy chief, who seemed to radiate authority.

”Watch your young master, don’t cause trouble,” Estev said lazily, blowing a smoke ring.

Qi Liu nodded repeatedly. The oppressive atmosphere intensified, as if the entire sky had darkened, casting the whole mountain peak into shadow.

”’Looks like our visitor is hostile, and skilled in the Dark Arts,’ Estev muttered to himself, bracing for a tough fight.”

”’All... techniques... have... weaknesses,’ Stan Sol murmured, conserving his strength and gathering his Spirit Power.”

「On a nearby mountainside, a man cloaked entirely in black was trudging step by step towards the summit.」

This was Wizard Reed, another leader of the Black Crows.

Wizard Reed had arrived at Guru Mountain relatively late, bearing the latest instructions from their great leader, Lord Willem.

Halfway up the slope, he tilted his head. I can clearly sense my comrades’ Spirit Power weakening, he thought.

”’It seems the Soul Guardians acted first,’ Wizard Reed mused, squinting his eyes.”

The Obsidian Staff in his hand gleamed with a dark light, evidently imbued with a significant amount of fresh Spirit Power.

”’A pity,’ Wizard Reed mused, shaking his head. ’They won’t get to see it.’”

It all began in silence and will end in turmoil. Everything is in place; all that’s left is to await the opportune moment.

A strange smile touched Wizard Reed’s lips. I’ve waited for this moment for so long. Though I’ve never fully understood the great leader’s plans, my years with the Black Crows have taught me one thing: execute the orders.

Lord Willem’s thoughts are unlike anyone else’s; he often conceives of things in unique ways that most find incomprehensible. I’ve understood this for a long time, and it no longer bothers me. After all these years of toil and struggle within the Black Crows, I’ve come to accept many things. Now, I firmly believe that by simply following Lord Willem’s path, I will reach the destination I long for.

Clutching his Magic Staff, Wizard Reed resumed his ascent, one deliberate step at a time.

Once this step is complete, everything will be unleashed like a torrent. No more need for secrecy or holding back.

Wizard Reed glanced towards the summit and chuckled.

I wonder if my pets are up to the task... I do hope they can control their abilities as needed.

His reflections concluded, Wizard Reed surveyed his surroundings. The sky was darkening—a favorable sign for him.

Without the sun, the rhythm of events will quicken. Now, all I need to do is connect these seemingly disparate elements with a single thread.

The most effortless path in the world is to leverage existing forces, yet so many fail to grasp this. They stubbornly pursue a single direction, expending great effort only to fall short of their goal.

Wizard Reed recalled another of Great Leader Willem’s famous sayings, one that had always resonated deeply with him.

Sometimes, influencing a person doesn’t require overwhelming power. You merely need to show them the path they ought to take.

And once they see that path, all that remains is to give them a gentle nudge...