Steel Knights in the Sky and Ominous Skeleton Soldiers

night.

Ade Kale Royal City.

Exhausted yet exhilarated, the new King Kedwen sat in a large oak chair in his study.

"I didn't expect the discussions about the succession ceremony to go so smoothly today. I thought those old guys would cause some trouble..."

Rado muttered to himself, leaning comfortably back in his chair.

"Next..."

"It's just a week from now, my father's funeral, and... my coronation ceremony."

"I hope everything goes well..."

"But the teacher will be here in a few days, and he'll definitely have a way to solve my problem..."

Just as Rado was envisioning how to make his people prosperous and the kingdom of Kedwen strong in the future.

The servant Philis rushed into the study, causing Rado to frown.

However, considering Philis's past loyalty and the potential scrutiny from other quarters, he suppressed his displeasure and asked kindly:

"What happened?"

"Why are you in such a panic?"

Philis took a deep breath and said:

"News has come from the caravan in Vengerberg: they have been attacked by a Greater Griffin..."

"What!"

Before Philis could finish speaking, Rado suddenly stood up from his seat.

As he walked past the oak table toward Philis, he asked anxiously:

"What about the teacher? How is the teacher?"

The new king's attitude startled Philis.

"Mr. Dite is alright..."

Rado instantly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had been a bit emotional. After clearing his throat twice, he asked curiously:

"Greater Griffin?"

"If I remember correctly, the Greater Griffin is the most powerful large monster besides the dragon..."

How were they rescued?

Philis hesitated for a second before saying:

"Because... because of two witchers from the School of the Wolf..."

"Witcher Master Vesemir and the newly appointed Witcher Master Ailin, known as the ' Blue Death '..."

Rado's expression was complicated upon hearing this.

These two witchers were closely connected to the death of their father.

Logically speaking, he should hate them.

after all.

Ever since that tragic news came back, countless people have been using the guise of comforting him to sow discord and exonerate Ben Ade, the sorcerer.

The most common excuse was that the late king had a tendency to eliminate the School of the Wolf, and the School of the Wolf, as the biggest beneficiary of the king's death, could not escape suspicion.

But such words...

It was full of mistakes and omissions, and even they themselves didn't believe it.

How could we possibly deceive his eyes and ears?

Rado was even genuinely grateful to the few witchers from the School of the Wolf.

They killed those monsters to avenge his father.

It's just a pity...

The current situation does not allow him to pay in person.

otherwise.

He will dismiss the court wizard Ban Ade and reinstate the position of the monster advisor in the court.

after all.

In any case, the School of the Wolf, which adheres to neutrality, is a hundred times better than the treacherous and cunning male wizards who extend their claws to places they shouldn't.

but...

Rado's lips curved into a smile.

That day is not far off.

Once the teacher arrives, once he ascends the throne, he will have complete control over Kedwen.

He will show those freaks in Ban Ade what happens when they plot to assassinate a king!

Just as Rado was imagining the miserable plight of the wizards...

"Knock knock knock~"

The knocking on the door interrupted Rado's reverie.

"Your Highness, Duke Donato has come to pay his respects."

The guard's voice came from outside the door announcing something.

Donato?

What is that old man doing here so late at night?

Rado frowned, sensing something was amiss.

However, Donato was one of Ad Calais's most prominent nobles and a distant relative, so it was impossible for him not to receive him.

therefore.

He took a deep breath and said:

"Come in!"

"Squeak~"

The door to the room was opened.

"Knock knock knock~"

The solid wood cane tapped slowly on the ground, whether intentionally or unintentionally matching the rhythm of Rado's heartbeat.

It's incredibly frustrating.

Rado forced a smile, his brow furrowed, and looked at the hunched-over old man, asking with some displeasure:

"Duke Donato, it's so late. Can't we talk about this tomorrow?"

Donato shook his head and retorted:

"National affairs cannot wait until tomorrow."

Although it was a matter of national importance, the Duke Donato spoke calmly and unhurriedly.

However, Rado could only hold back for now, remaining silent and waiting for him to continue.

"Thump!"

Donato tapped the ground with his cane:

"Your Highness, war has broken out!"

After Duke Donato finished speaking, the entire study fell silent for a few seconds.

"What? War?"

Rado seemed to have just come to his senses, his brows furrowed:

"Where did this war come from?"

"From Ard, my child," Donato shook his head helplessly, "I thought you should already know, but I never expected..."

Donato's condescending attitude infuriated Rado, who clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

However, before he could ask any more questions...

"Knock knock knock~"

Donato, who had only stayed for a moment, was already walking out of the study, tapping his cane as he muttered:

"Since Your Highness is unaware of this news, please think about it carefully first!"

"I will come to discuss this with Your Highness again tomorrow."

"Bang!"

The gate was closed.

The study was quiet for a while.

The air felt oppressive, as if it had solidified.

Philis and the other servants and guards lowered their heads, not daring to look at the soon-to-be-crowned King Rado, for fear of incurring his wrath.

"Bang!"

A loud explosion.

The scrolls and ink on the oak table were all thrown to the ground by the enraged Rado.

"Damn old bastard!"

"How dare you humiliate me like this!!!"

Rado started cursing.

"Your Majesty..." Philis, seeing this, forced herself to say a few words of comfort.

Unexpectedly, Rado glared at him with red eyes and loudly questioned:

"Why!"

"Why did I have to learn about such a big thing from a damned old bastard?"

"Ah?"

Where is my intelligence department?

As a servant who had served two generations, Philis knew the king was angry and didn't take his questioning to heart.

He just mumbled something, seemingly a little embarrassed.

"Speak! Where are our intelligence officers?" Rado demanded angrily.

Philis had no choice but to say:

"Since the late king ascended the throne, the court's intelligence officials have generally been male sorcerers..."

"Their magic has a natural advantage in intelligence gathering..."

"So..."

Rado's face darkened upon hearing this.

No wonder...

No wonder he was the last to find out...

That old scoundrel Donato actually gave him a hard time here...

Etc!

Rado had a sudden thought.

Aren't the court wizards of Ard also the wizards of Ben Ade?

"Did Professor Dite's letter mention that the Greater Griffin attacked them?" Rado suddenly asked.

Philis paused for a moment, then quickly said:

"Ailin... uh... Master Ailin found the meat of Greater Griffin and a foul-smelling, alluring fragrance among the caravan's cargo..."

"However, because they left in such a hurry, they didn't find the culprit..."

Rado's heart sank completely.

No need to think about it anymore.

The ones who did it were definitely the male witches.

Fortunately, Professor Dite encountered those two witchers.

otherwise...

Rado shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions.

The most crucial task now is to confirm the war threat coming from Ard.

After taking a deep breath, Rado looked at Philis and asked:

"Philis, go and check if the news of Ard launching a war is true."

Philis glanced worriedly at the new king, who was frowning.

Without asking him how to extract information from the wizards, he bowed and turned to leave.

"You all should leave too..."

Rado waved his hand.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The servants and guards in the study seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at the same time and left one after another.

"Smack!"

The door was closed.

The study fell completely silent.

Rado was left alone, staring blankly out the window at the pitch-black night.

"No wonder the enthronement ceremony went so smoothly today..."

Rado sighed softly.

"Ban Ade's wizards are really everywhere!"

Although Philis was sent to confirm the news.

But Rado knew that if Donato dared to say it, the threat of war from Ard must be real.

Given the current situation in Kedwen, and the threat from Ard...

We're doomed to lose!

unless...

[Your Highness, please think it over carefully. I'll come back tomorrow!]

Donato's words echoed in Rado's mind.

Think about it carefully...

"What are you thinking about?" Rado scoffed. "Are you thinking about whether you should put aside your father's murder and compromise with Ban Ad?"

Before he could finish speaking...

Dite, caravans, court wizards, Ard, war, intelligence, Donato...

As countless pieces of information gathered in his mind, Rado suddenly thought of a possibility, and his face turned pale instantly.

Could it be... could it be that this war was actually started by Ban Ade?

In silence.

The more Rado thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Gradually...

He felt like prey caught in a spider web, the more he struggled, the more tightly bound he became, making it hard to breathe.

Looking up at the dark sky obscured by clouds, Rado murmured to himself, seemingly lost in thought:

"Father..."

What should I do now?

On the other side.

After leaving Vengerberg, Ailin, Vesemir, and Mary headed towards Arland.

Due to the potential changes in the situation in Kedwen caused by war.

These past few days, apart from sleeping, the three of them haven't taken on a single job, and they've even spent most of their rest time camping in the countryside.

It was a very difficult and arduous life.

but.

Even Mary didn't utter a single complaint.

So in just four days, the group arrived at the border between Temeria and Ard – Gors Velen.

This is a port located in the Pontal Valley, built along the upper reaches of the river and surrounded by impassable wilderness forests.

Vesemir's trio had hired some fishermen in the previous village to bring them and their horses over in a small boat.

After disembarking from the boat and giving his wages to the fishermen, Vesemir looked around the port.

Although surrounded by desolate wilderness and forests, Gors Velen was particularly prosperous because many trade routes from the north converged here.

In fact, many merchants' large-scale transactions end here.

"Although it's still early, even if we get to Arland today, the city gates will definitely be closed."

"So we'll rest here for the night and find a caravan heading to Arland tomorrow. We should be able to get there before noon tomorrow."

Vesemir, leading his horse, looked at Ailin and Mary, who were covered in mud.

Neither of them, looking disheveled, had any objections.

Mary, in particular, was riding a horse for four consecutive days for the first time in her life.

Now I feel like my whole body is made of rotten black bread, and it's unbearable.

"Hurry up, Uncle Vesemir, let's find an inn!"

Mary urged.

Vesemir nodded and led the way with his horse.

He had been to Gors Velen many times; he could find a place to stay with his eyes closed.

However, it is different from other towns.

Since most of the people coming and going are male merchants and guards, there are actually no inns in the Gors Velen, only a large tavern - Blackbeard's Tavern.

Yes.

Just from the name, you can tell that this is a tavern run by dwarves.

It was afternoon.

Lunch was over, and the nighttime drinking and revelry hadn't started yet, so there weren't many people in the tavern.

A dwarf with a long black beard stood behind the bar, listlessly wiping a chipped wine glass with a piece of linen cloth.

Several voluptuous human waitresses were leaning against each other, dozing off by the table and chairs, generously revealing their deep and imposing cleavage.

"Welcome, guest. Are you here for a stay, or for a meal and drinks?"

Hearing the tavern door open and close, the dwarf didn't look up, but delivered his welcoming speech with practiced ease.

"Blackbeard, don't you recognize me anymore?"

A teasing voice came from the doorway, causing the dwarf to abruptly stop what he was doing and look up at the person who had entered.

"Vesemir?!" The dwarf's deep voice suddenly rang out, "Hahaha, when did you get here, you damned old bastard?"

"This time, I can't let my new, pretty waitress get away with it..."

Although there were many profanities in his words, judging from the exaggerated curve of the dwarf's mouth...

He was genuinely happy to see Vesemir.

Vesemir, who was all smiles, was initially happy, but his expression froze upon hearing the dwarf's words.

"Hmm... cough cough..."

He interrupted with a series of coughs and gestured to Ailin and Mary on either side of him.

The dwarf clearly noticed, his gaze sweeping over the two young but disheveled faces. He fell silent in unison, then asked curiously:

Who are these two?

But before Vesemir could even raise his head and show off...

Upon seeing Ailin's blue Cat Eyes, the dwarf suddenly narrowed his eyes:

"Is this Ailin, the newly appointed Witcher Master of the School of the Wolf Witchcraft, whom Ban Ad respectfully calls ' Blue Death '?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Vesemir asked curiously.

"Hahaha~" The dwarf stroked his glossy Blackbeard and laughed heartily, "Vesemir, where do you think you are right now?"

"This is Blackbeard's tavern."

"Any news from the Northern Continent, no matter where it is, will reach my ears within a week."

"I found out three days ago that the Glutton died in the territory of Ban Adler and his damned sorcerers..."

Vesemir smacked his lips.

The Witcher Master, whose "Show Off" skill had been interrupted by the dwarf, was somewhat annoyed and was about to step forward and say something.

Outside the tavern, a sudden commotion interrupted him for some unknown reason.

"What's wrong?"

Vesemir looked at the dwarf curiously, wondering if there had been some activity in the Gors Velen recently.

However, seeing that the dwarf also looked confused, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Buzz~"

"Buzz~"

The Wolf Emblem on Vesemir and Ailin's chests hummed.

At the same time, they also listened intently to the commotion outside.

Someone was shouting:

"A steel knight flying in the sky..."

"Ominous skeleton soldiers..."

besides...

"Wild Hunt!"