One-Eyed Monster

Everyone was still quite puzzled by Xiso’s words. They could grasp the deeper meaning, but they couldn’t understand why Kuyi Tulan was allowed to leave. Kuyi Tulan was a threat, after all; they felt it was wrong to simply let him go. They still needed to wait for Xiso’s explanation.

”I don’t understand.” Kadi was the first to voice his objection. He was always straightforward, never mincing words and expressing his doubts immediately. ”I don’t see the connection between this deeper matter and pursuing Kuyi Tulan.”

Indeed, Kadi’s question was something many people wanted an answer to: what was the necessary connection between this matter and going after Kuyi Tulan? None of them understood; they all awaited Xiso’s answer.

The Great Mentor shook his head. He somewhat understood Xiso’s intentions, but he still felt Xiso’s approach conflicted with his own values. Isolated things are rare in this world. Most things are interconnected; every existing thing has connections, to a greater or lesser extent. There will always be links. The Great Mentor naturally understood this principle, so he could also comprehend Xiso’s meaning.

They might be able to trap Kuyi Tulan for now, but the matter was not as simple as they perceived. The Black Crow’s strategies were inscrutable. Its leader, Willem, harbored a hidden ambition that few could discern, an ambition that was growing steadily. Compared to Kuyi Tulan, Willem of the Black Crow and his ambition posed a far greater threat. This much was clear from the Great Mentor’s previous encounters with him.

Since Kadi had raised this question, someone had to answer. The answer might be vague, but a response was necessary.

”We’re letting Kuyi Tulan go because we need to concentrate our efforts on dealing with the Black Crow,” Xiso said.

”And what’s the Black Crow?” Kadi was becoming confused. This world was so complex, with one new thing cropping up after another, hardly giving him a chance to calmly think of countermeasures.

Xiso couldn’t answer this particular question from Kadi; this wasn’t a matter of confusion, but of ignorance. However, Kadi couldn’t be blamed for his limited understanding; having always lived in these mountains, he naturally knew very little about the outside world.

Nevertheless, after Xiso’s explanation to Kadi, his words had made his intentions clear enough for everyone to understand. The monsters of Guru Mountain were no ordinary beings; once Xiso spoke, they began to grasp the situation.

Across the entire world, virtually no forces could compete with the Empire’s Guardian Army. Almost every organization of Adventurers with Class relied on the Empire for survival. Whether Scholars, Fighters, Alchemists, or Wizards, their respective organizations—be it the Alchemy Workshop or the Wizard Alliance—needed the Empire’s support to exist and develop. The Dark Cabinet was the sole exception.

The Black Crow might not become a major power on its own, but everything changed when they possessed a means to transform their own strength. If the Black Crow truly grew powerful enough to require the Empire’s army, that instrument of force, to hunt them down, it would undoubtedly spell disaster for the world.

Currently, the Black Crow held the secret of Guru Mountain: the sealed scroll. This scroll could break the boundaries of the Eternal Tranquility Realm and allow a Soldier to exist in this world for an extended period. This power, once contained, was now on the verge of being exposed, and the world was on the brink of turmoil. Before the Black Crow fully mastered this method of breaking limits, their growth had to be restricted. How to restrict them became the crucial question.

Relying solely on the monsters of Guru Mountain would hardly be enough to halt the Black Crow’s expansion. The monsters were too conspicuous, and their movements too restricted. Moreover, they were few in number, making it impossible for them to contend with an entire organization. That was why Xiso had let Kuyi Tulan leave the mountain; he clearly had a strong purpose in doing so.

”To stop the Black Crow, we must use all available resources. Although Kuyi Tulan is a threat, he is, in our view, at least controllable.”

This was Xiso’s analysis. In his opinion, while Kuyi Tulan was detestable, he was still manageable. The Black Crow, however, was a different matter. They had no understanding of the Black Crow; it was a complete unknown. To say nothing of the recent battle on Guru Mountain, the Black Crow had already caused them considerable trouble.

On reflection, they realized they had never actually fought Kuyi Tulan. Instead, Kuyi Tulan had been helping them against that Dark Force, the very same Dark Force the Black Crow had just summoned. Thus, the stakes involved suddenly became much clearer: the greatest threat was indeed the Black Crow, the true invaders of Guru Mountain.

At this moment, if not for Xiso, they might very well have let their hatred for Kuyi Tulan guide their actions.

On further reflection, it was highly probable this was part of the Black Crow’s plan—to exploit their emotions, blinding them with hatred and causing them to overlook the most fundamental aspects. Xiso had now helped them realize this, but the Black Crow’s leader had already taken what he desired.

”Looking across the whole world, there really aren’t many organizations that can stand against the Black Crow,” Hand sighed, a note of helplessness in his voice.

”Such a dark organization should be eradicated by the Empire’s army!” Igor exclaimed, filled with righteous indignation. He deeply loathed such organizations.

”The Empire’s Guardian Army is currently preoccupied with its own affairs,” Kuren stated, his knowledge of the Guardian Army lending authority to his words. ”It’s difficult for them to divert attention to matters beyond protecting the Empire’s borders.”

Kadi listened, completely lost, like a fool who didn’t understand what they were discussing.

”Perhaps the Dark Cabinet could crush the Black Crow,” one of them mused, ”but they’ve always considered themselves superior and wouldn’t deign to provoke an organization like the Black Crow.”

”That leaves only the Alchemy Workshop and the Wizard Alliance!” another chimed in.

”And the likelihood of those two archenemies cooperating is minuscule,” a third added.

The monsters discussed the possibilities one after another, ultimately concluding that Xiso’s considerations were the most comprehensive.

Regardless, Kuyi Tulan was determined to make the Alchemy Workshop bigger and stronger; he also craved power. Now, having witnessed the Black Crow on Guru Mountain, it was impossible that his heart remained untroubled by it. Xiso understood Kuyi Tulan quite well, perhaps even better than the Great Mentor. He truly lived up to his reputation as Guru Mountain’s strategist.

”But what if Kuyi Tulan grows stronger?” Kadi piped up. ”Will we be able to restrain him then?”

Kadi always had a knack for asking inopportune questions at the most unsuitable times, just like this instance.