Pirates Who Came Uninvited

A biting cold wind howled in from Mistveil Lake, and snowflakes pattered against the glass.

In the second-floor room, Xia Lin was toying with the [Ring of Splendor].

The silver ring gleamed softly beneath the magical lamp.

He tried channeling a thread of magic into it. The ring immediately responded, wrapping his body in a faint deflection field. At the same time, he sensed that he could invoke the heart-stirring power contained within it at any moment.

(Not bad. Offense and defense in one, and it even grants a group buff.)

Xia Lin nodded in satisfaction and slipped the ring onto his index finger.

Amid the relatively peaceful atmosphere, faint cries of battle and clashing weapons suddenly rang out from the distant Dock District.

"Hm?" Xia Lin's ears twitched, and he stopped what he was doing.

Firelight in the distance illuminated half the sky.

Then came chaotic shouting, the clash of weapons, and the thunderous crash of something heavy collapsing.

Xia Lin rolled out of bed and went to the window. The dock area had already descended into chaos.

At least three warehouses were burning, their flames soaring into the sky.

Dozens of figures carrying torches and weapons raced through the streets, the Frostfang insignias on their chests especially conspicuous in the firelight.

"Pirate attack." Sera had appeared in his doorway at some point. "Looks like those hyenas are starving tonight and eager to drink their fill of blood."

Kade and Celia also emerged from their rooms, fully armed.

Celia went to the window and carefully lifted a corner of the heavy curtain to look outside. The distant docks were ablaze, and the chaotic cries of battle were spreading toward the city center. Crowds had begun running through the streets, shouting in panic.

"Are they robbing the warehouses?"

"Not just