Charlotte's breakthrough proceeded without danger, and the Battle Qi surging through her body successfully shattered that invisible barrier.
In an instant, a sharp golden light flashed through her deep-blue eyes. A faint silver radiance spread across her body, like moonlight flowing over her.
This was the outward manifestation of a successful advancement and the qualitative sublimation of Battle Qi.
Although the phenomenon was quickly contained and faded away, her entire presence had already become more refined and powerful.
Battle Master Andre Stein relaxed slightly, a relieved smile appearing on his face.
He suddenly turned his head and fixed his gaze on the shadowy corner where Karl was hiding. In a booming voice, he said, "I imagine that, for an ordinary person, watching a knight advance from such close range must be quite a novel experience, wouldn't you say?"
Charlotte immediately reacted as well. Following Andre's gaze, she saw Karl stepping awkwardly out of the shadows.
She stood up and casually removed her heavy knight's helmet, revealing a pretty face covered in fine beads of sweat and flushed with a rosy hue.
Her golden curls were damp with sweat and clung to her temples and cheeks, adding even more spirited charm to her appearance.
Her tone carried a rare lightness and a hint of teasing. "Karl? I never thought we'd meet again so soon. What, did the desolation and dangers of the Northern Territory scare you back?"
The joy of advancing made her look much gentler than she had at the Governor's Office.
Karl smiled and stepped forward to explain, "Of course not. I've already led my people safely to Carnford and gained a preliminary foothold there. We've repaired part of the city wall, cleared the ruins, built shelters, and even begun spring farming and mining. I only came back this time because the territory's stored grain had run out, so I came to purchase supplies."
"Carnford?" This time, it was Master Andrei's turn to cry out in shock. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by an extremely complex expression mingling astonishment, nostalgia, and profound pain. "You... you went to Carnford?"
"Yes." Karl nodded firmly, his tone calm. "I'm the newly appointed Carnford Frontier Lord of the Goldflower Kingdom."
Master Andrei drew a deep breath, his gaze growing distant and sorrowful. He slowly said, "I... I was once part of Carnford's garrison as well. I served as an adjutant under Lord Marcus, the former lord."
When that name was mentioned, his voice clearly caught. "Five years ago... during that final battle to defend the city, Lord Marcus sent four knights, myself included, to break through and request reinforcements from Fran City... In the end, I was the only one who survived to reach the gates of Fran City. But... but the former governor of the Northern Territory refused the request for military aid..."
His fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles whitening from the force. The memory of that despair was clearly still scorching his soul.
Karl was silent for a moment before calmly describing Carnford's current state. "The outer city's drawbridge had rotted and fallen into disrepair, so we repaired it. The Iron Shutter in the inner city had fallen and jammed completely; it couldn't be raised. However, part of the inner wall had been violently destroyed and collapsed. There... skeletal remains and corpses from fierce battles were scattered everywhere. The garrison soldiers and the Sauron people were entangled together. Inside the castle... it was the same. Traces of battle could be seen in many rooms. The defenders had fought until the very last moment."
"On the second floor, I found a clerk who had died horribly, and... a woman holding a child. The third floor had been blasted apart by a catapult or some similar weapon. We gathered all the remains of the kingdom's soldiers that we could find, buried them properly at the foot of the mountain, and erected a monument."
Karl's calm account painted an unimaginably tragic and mournful picture, leaving all who heard it overcome with grief and suffocation.
Master Andrei's eyes had already reddened. He urgently pressed on, "What about the basement? There's a hidden basement beneath the castle! Lord Marcus's command center was located there! There... there may have been a final stand there!"
Karl shook his head. "I didn't know there was a basement. The entrance may have been buried beneath the ruins. We haven't finished clearing the inside of the castle."
Master Andrei suddenly grabbed Karl's arm, his voice filled with pleading. "Lord Karl! I'm asking you! Promise me one thing! If... if you find Lord Marcus's remains someday, please... please give him a proper burial on my behalf, all right? He was a true hero. He shouldn't be left exposed in those ruins!"
Karl looked at the profound grief and entreaty in the eyes of this iron-willed man and solemnly nodded. "I promise you, Master Andrei. If I find the remains of the former lord, I will rebury him with the highest honors and ensure that he may rest in peace."
"Thank you... thank you!" Master Andrei bowed deeply to Karl in a knight's salute. "I have nothing of value on me now and no way to repay you, but I, Andre Stein, will remember this kindness forever! If you ever need me, just send word. I will give my all and repay you!"
After steadying his emotions, he regained the composure of a Battle Master and sternly reminded him, "Lord Karl, choosing Carnford shows admirable courage, but you must understand its strategic position. It's a bridgehead overlooking all of Amber Bay, with immense strategic value. The Sauron people cannot occupy it for long right now, but they certainly won't stand by and watch the kingdom rebuild it so easily."
"You're weak at present, so they may not have noticed you yet. But once you develop and reveal a threat, they will surely launch a fierce attack! When that happens, if you need help, notify me immediately! I will definitely come!"
"I'll remember your warning and your promise," Karl said seriously.
At that moment, Charlotte's voice cut in, carrying a helpless laugh. "You two, discussing revenge plans and strategic warnings is certainly important, but can we take off these heavy suits before continuing? I feel like I'm about to be roasted alive."
Only then did Master Andrei realize that he and Charlotte were still wearing full suits of heavy plate armor.
He hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, sorry. I got too excited. Charlotte, you've just advanced, and your physical strength and mental power have been greatly depleted. You need to rest properly."
He loudly called for the guards outside to come in and help him remove his armor.
Charlotte, however, turned toward Karl, the corners of her lips curving into a faintly mocking smile. Her blue-green eyes gazed at him. "Karl, could I ask you to... help me remove my armor?"
Her sudden request left Karl momentarily stunned.
Helping someone remove their armor was usually the work of a servant or someone extremely close to them.
He looked at Charlotte's sweat-dampened temples and those sparkling eyes that held a trace of weariness, then nodded. "It would be my honor."
He walked behind Charlotte and began clumsily but earnestly undoing the complicated clasps and leather straps on the back of her plate armor.
The metal plates rubbed together with a faint sound. The two stood very close, and Karl could smell the distinctive mixture of leather, steel, and a young woman's sweat.
The process inevitably carried a certain intimacy, making the atmosphere subtly awkward and quiet.
Master Andrei had a guard remove his armor nearby. Watching this scene, a knowing smile flashed through his eyes, soon turning into a trace of worry.
This young lord seemed to be getting drawn into a whirlpool far deeper than he had imagined.
Before you continue